Working in a video shop means I’m constantly bringing tapes home, and I won’t lie, they’re not all great. Some of them aren’t even watchable. Some of them are fantastic though, and what kind of blogger would I be of I didn’t give you a fun little list of 5 great (in my opinion) movies that I’ve watched on tape.
1. Dolls
This was a weird one to say the least. A dysfunctional family breakdown as they drive to their vacation destination, and due to the storm, they take shelter in a near by house. An old couple live there, and the man makes dolls, and of course things get weird from there.
It’s gory, funny, and sometimes actually quite scary. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a movie so bad it’s good, and that’s why I loved it.
2. Heavenly Creatures
This has been in my top ten favourite films for a while, but it definitely looks best on tape. It’s an early Peter Jackson film, my favourite director, and is a sort of artistic but still realistic telling of the real life story of two New Zealand girls who murdered one of their mothers when she tried to separate them.
It’s really tastefully done in my opinion, respectful towards the woman who lost her life, while portraying the girls as both being young and too involved in the fantasy world they create together, and old enough to know what they were doing.
The special effects and otherworldly scenes in this movie are incredible, especially considering the time it was made, and the budget they had. There’s also fantastic performances from young Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynsky.
3. The Silence of the Lambs
I wrote a full review for this movie over on Purple Revolver after watching it for the first time, but I have to mention it here too. Following FBI Agent in training Clarice Starling, she collaborates with known cannibal, Hannibal, to find the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill.
Its truly a fantastic movie, and I know Im late to the party on this one, but if you somehow haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.
4. Mallrats
Mallrats is one of my all time favourite movies, I adore Kevin Smith, and honestly I highly recommend any movie he’s involved with, because they’re all great.
Mallrats expecially is pure, honest 90’s fun. Mall culture, young adult love stories, and absolute madness, this movie is on Netflix in the UK, so give it a watch if you can!
5 . Alien
Another one I’m well behind the party on, but you really can’t beat having your first introduction to Alien be on tape. It’s a classic for a reason, and Sigourney Weaver is an icon for a multitude of reasons.
Tape might not be the format everyone’s loving right now, but I definitely think it’s going to make a come back in a similar way to vinyl! Why not get on it now before it’s too expensive? You can even buy tapes from us at Videodyssey, dubbed the last video shop in the UK, over on ebay!
-Dana
Carry on Beautiful! 