The Good Movies of Vestron and Lightning Video

[RCMerchant]

1. Platoon (1986) I liked it.
3. Mad Max (1979) Great movie!
4. Metropolis (1927) Classic
5. Evil Dead II (1987) again- classic
6. The Running Man (1987) Fun!
7. An American Werewolf in London (1981) Also fun!
8. Re-Animator (1985) Modern classic.
9. Young Guns (1988) Eh- if I'm in the mood.
13. The Last House on the Left (1972) A classic of it's type. Not a date movie.
14. The Cannonball Run (1981) I don't care for this type of junk.
15. The Changeling (1980) OK...
16. Possession (1981) Magnificent!
18. Godzilla (1954) BEST!
22. From Beyond (1986) Love it.
24. Lifeforce (1985) ehhh...
32. They Came from Within (1975) LOVE this movie!
34. The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) I don't like it as much as others seem to.
35. The Gate (1987) OK.
36. The Wraith (1986) Stupid as f**k.
37. The Company of Wolves (1984) Enjoyed it.
42. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) One of Vinnie's best.
43. Chopping Mall (1986) Waste of time.
46. The House by the Cemetery (1981) If it's Fulci- I'm their.
48. The Masque of the Red Death (1964) One of the few Price Poe's that seemed very pretentious. I dunno.
50. Alligator (1980) Great!
51. Dead & Buried (1981) Spooky!
53. Waxwork (1988) Nope.
54. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) David Carradine- I'm there.
55. Class of 1984 (1982) Punk rock violence? I'm good with it!
57. Dolls (1986) Stupid fun.
58. Pieces (1982) HAHAHA!
63. Boxcar Bertha (1972) Carradine!
76. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956) Gimme the original cut anyday.
77. Gothic (1986) Ok.
82. TerrorVision (1986) Christ Wept.
85. Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) Yessir!
86. The Land That Time Forgot (1974) Blech!
88. Walking Tall (1973) Ok film.
91. Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) My favorite movie on this list hands down!
95. Suburbia (1983) - and this one!
99. Rodan (1956) It's awrite!

[claws]

50 more:

101. The Sicilian (1987) 2.5
102. Curtains (1983) 2.5
103. The Trip (1967) 3.5
104. Benji (1974) 3.5
105. The Premature Burial (1962) 4.0
106. Vigilante (1982) 4.0
107. Scream and Scream Again (1970) 2.5
108. Invasion of the Fleshhunters (1980) 2.5
109. Up the Creek (1984) 2.5
110. Three Men and a Cradle (1985) 4.5
111. Joe (1970) 4.5
112. A Blade in the Dark (1983) 3.0
113. Where the Red Fern Grows (1974) 4.5
114. Bloody Mama (1970) 3.0
115. Hail Mary (1985) 4.0
116. Mark of the Devil (1970) 3.5
117. Young Doctors in Love (1982) 2.5
118. The Coca-Cola Kid (1985) 3.0
119. The Private Eyes (1980) 4.0
120. Irreconcilable Differences (1984) 3.0
121. Secret Honor (1984) 5.0
122. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989) 3.5
123. 2019: After the Fall of New York (1983) 2.5
124. Strange Invaders (1983) 2.5
125. Shout at the Devil (1976) 3.5
126. Superstition (1982) 3.0
127. Blue Sunshine (1977) 3.5
128. Venom (1981) 3.0
129. Smooth Talk (1985) 4.0
130. Light of Day (1987) 2.5
131. Macabre (1980) 3.0
132. Go Tell the Spartans (1978) 4.5
133. Dance with a Stranger (1985) 4.5
134. Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) 4.5
135. They All Laughed (1981) 4.0
136. The Incubus (1981) 2.5
137. Saint Jack (1979) 5.0
138. Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) 3.0
139. The Born Losers (1967) 3.0
140. Man on Fire (1987) 3.0
141. The Children (1980) 2.5
142. The Big Town (1987) 3.0
143. The Family (1987) 5.0
144. Revenge of the Dead (1983) 3.5
145. Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1972) 3.5
146. Harry & Son (1984) 3.0
147. The Kindred (1987) 2.5
148. Far from Home (1989) 2.5
149. The Bostonians (1984) 3.5
150. McVicar (1980) 4.5

[claws]

50 more. The less IMDb votes, the more obscure:

151. Sole Survivor (1984) 3.5
152. The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975) 4.0
153. China Girl (1987) 3.5
154. My Chauffeur (1986) 2.5
155. Tender Cousins (1980) 2.5
156. How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980) 3.5
157. Radioactive Dreams (1984) 2.5
158. Tai-Pan (1986) 2.5
159. Eyes of Fire (1983) 4.0
160. Lianna (1983) 5.0
161. Hider in the House (1989) 3.0
162. Salome's Last Dance (1988) 4.0
163. Personal Services (1987) 4.0
164. They Call Me Bruce (1982) 2.5
165. The Earthling (1980) 5.0
166. Good Morning Babylon (1987) 4.5
167. That's Life! (1986) 3.5
168. The Rainbow (1989) 3.5
169. Impulse (1984) 3.0
170. Hester Street (1975) 5.0
171. Big Man on Campus (1989) 3.5
172. The Destructors (1974) 3.0
173. Madame Rosa (1977) 5.0
174. Short Eyes (1977) 5.0
175. Holocaust 2000 (1977) 2.5
176. Walking Tall Part II (1975) 3.5
177. Promised Land (1987) 3.5
178. Blastfighter (1984) 3.0
179. Out of Order (1984) 4.5
180. The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper (1981) 2.5
181. The Odd Angry Shot (1979) 4.5
182. The House by the Lake (1976) 3.0
183. The Lady in Red (1979) 4.0
184. The Evictors (1979) 2.5
185. The Prize of Peril (1983) 4.5
186. Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978) 3.0
187. For the Love of Benji (1977) 3.0
188. Mister Johnson (1990) 4.0
189. The Wild Beasts (1984) 2.5
190. Smash Palace (1981) 5.0
191. Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977) 3.0
192. Dog Day (1984) 2.5
193. Between the Lines (1977) 4.5
194. Alpine Fire (1985) 5.0
195. Drum (1976) 2.5
196. Passion of Love (1981) 5.0
197. The Last Hunter (1980) 3.0
198. The Craving (1981) 3.0
199. Strange Shadows in an Empty Room (1976) 4.0
200. The Loreley's Grasp (1973) 3.0

[M.10rda]

Good times, Claws - I thank you for posting these - I find them peculiarly fascinating. I don't want to admit to you how many amazing titles on these last 2 lists I've NOT seen - and yet I own dozens of these unseen gems... just have never made time to watch them. And yet, somehow, I've seen THE LAST HUNTER! 

[claws]

Glad you are enjoying these. I spent most of my teen years in video rental stores and loved the Vestron and Lightning releases. Here are 50 more:

201. Love Letters (1983) 3.0
202. The Pointsman (1986) 5.0
203. The Escape Artist (1982) 3.5
204. Cinderella (1977) 2.5
205. Return to Macon County (1975) 2.5
206. Streetwalkin' (1985) 3.0
207. California Dreaming (1979) 3.0
208. Turtle Diary (1985) 4.5
209. Walking the Edge (1985) 3.5
210. Tribute (1980) 3.5
211. Naked Vengeance (1985) 3.0
212. Anna (1987) 4.0
213. Lady on the Bus (1978) 3.5
214. The Black Panther (1977) 4.5
215. Jennifer (1978) 2.5
216. High-Ballin' (1978) 2.5
217. Liar's Moon (1981) 3.0
218. Streets of Gold (1986) 3.0
219. Killer Force (1976) 2.5
220. Till Marriage Do Us Part (1974) 4.5
221. Obsession (1981) 3.0
222. The Disappearance (1977) 3.0
223. St. Helens (1981) 3.5
224. Native Son (1986) 3.5
225. Silver Dream Racer (1980) 2.5
226. Steel (1979) 3.0
227. The Fruit Machine (1988) 4.0
228. Seven Alone (1974) 2.5
229. Heartbreakers (1984) 3.5
230. Golden Rendezvous (1977) 2.5
231. Roseland (1977) 3.0
232. A Formula for a murder (1985) 3.0
233. Over Her Dead Body (1990) 2.5
234. Burning Secret (1988) 4.0
235. Arnold (1973) 2.5
236. The Double McGuffin (1979) 4.0
237. Harry Tracy: The Last of the Wild Bunch (1982) 3.5
238. A Small Town in Texas (1976) 2.5
239. The Projectionist (1970) 3.0
240. Joyride (1977) 2.5
241. The House of the Yellow Carpet (1983) 3.5
242. Welcome Home (1989) 3.0
243. Lifespan (1975) 3.0
244. Tuck Everlasting (1981) 4.0
245. Search and Destroy (1979) 3.0
246. Love Hurts (1990) 2.5
247. Always (1985) 2.5
248. The Killer Is on the Phone (1972) 2.5
249. Terminal Choice (1985) 2.5
250. Prime Risk (1985) 2.5

[RCMerchant]

^ I regret having to say this,- but I never seen any of these movies. Never even heard of them! 

[claws]

^ I regret having to say this,- but I never seen any of these movies. Never even heard of them! 

From the last post, these might be of interest:

Cinderella (1977) - early Charles & Albert Band production starring Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith. Erotic musical based on the classic Cinderella story.
Streetwalkin' (1985) - sleazy and violent crime thriller about whores and pimps.
Naked Vengeance (1985) - mind blowing rape and revenge action with nasty gore.
Jennifer (1978) - AIP "Carrie" rip-off about a bullied girl who can make snakes appear.
Terminal Choice (1985) - Canadian horror about a computer killing patients in a hospital. Very rare as it never made it to DVD or Blu-ray and isn't streaming anywhere.

[bob]

of those last groups I've seen exactly 1....

The Coca-Cola Kid - this was not good

[claws]

Might as well do the rest:

251. Americana (1981) 4.0
252. Mean Dog Blues (1978) 3.5
253. On the Edge (1986) 4.5
254. The Bell Jar (1979) 2.5
255. C.O.D. (1981) 2.5
256. Lily in Love (1984) 3.0
257. Waltz Across Texas (1982) 3.0
258. Running Hot (1984) 3.0
259. The Girl in the Picture (1985) 3.5
260. Klondike Fever (1980) 2.5
261. Campus Corpse (1977) 2.5
262. Mr. Patman (1980) 2.5
263. The Train Killer (1983) 3.0
264. Violated (1984) 2.5
265. The Irishman (1978) 4.0
266. Hometown U.S.A. (1979) 2.5
267. The Eyes of the Amaryllis (1982) 5.0
268. Billy Galvin (1986) 4.0
269. Scarred (1983) 3.0
270. Strike Back (1981) 3.5
271. A Savage Hunger (1984) 3.5
272. Options (1989) 3.0
273. Manny's Orphans (1978) 3.5
274. Maurie (1973) 5.0
275. Ocean Drive Weekend (1985) 2.5
276. Texas Godfather (1985) 3.5
277. Wild Rose (1984) 4.5
278. I Was a Teenage TV Terrorist (1985) 2.5
279. Hurry Up, or I'll Be 30 (1973) 3.0
280. Suzanne (1980) 3.5
281. Just Tell Me You Love Me (1978) 3.5
282. Drying Up the Streets (1978) 4.0
283. Kostas (1979) 4.0
284. Prince Jack (1984) 3.5
285. Invitation to the Wedding (1983) 3.0
286. Real Life (1984) 3.5
287. Stuckey's Last Stand (1980) 5.0
288. Treasure: In Search of the Golden Horse (1984) 3.0
289. Elmer (1976) 3.0
290. Rebel Love (1985) 5.0
291. Amateur Night (1986) 3.0

[M.10rda]

^ I regret having to say this,- but I never seen any of these movies. Never even heard of them! 

Jennifer (1978) - AIP "Carrie" rip-off about a bullied girl who can make snakes appear.
Terminal Choice (1985) - Canadian horror about a computer killing patients in a hospital. Very rare as it never made it to DVD or Blu-ray and isn't streaming anywhere.

As per RC's comment, you are now really getting in the weeds w/ these, Claws! Many many titles on this list that I've never seen and don't own and additionally have never heard of! HOWEVER, I have seen JENNIFER and TERMINAL CHOICE.

I'll also throw a mention to THE DISAPPEARANCE - a great, bleak 70s thriller starring Donald Sutherland and a lot of other famous actors - which I am surprised to see ranked so low... except presumably not many people have seen it and rated it... sharp flick, though.

[M.10rda]

Also, pretty sure I've not seen nor heard of any of the films on the final list.

Also also - I realize in retrospect I could've referred to THE DISAPPEARANCE as just a great 70s thriller starring Donald Sutherland rather than redundantly as "a great, bleak 70s thriller starring Donald Sutherland" - 'cause are there any other kind of 70s thrillers starring Donald Sutherland? 

[claws]

Well, as a bonus here are Vestron and Lightning Video's TV and DTV releases ranked by IMDb voting counts:

1. Elvis (1979 TV Movie)
2. Ghoulies Go to College (1990 Video)
3. The Wind (1986 Video)
4. An American Christmas Carol (1979 TV Movie)
5. Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978 TV Movie)
6. Fear (1990 TV Movie)
7. Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983 TV Movie)
8. Murder by Natural Causes (1979 TV Movie)
9. A Child's Christmas in Wales (1987 TV Movie)
10. The Fourth Wise Man (1985 TV Movie)
11. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1984 TV Movie)
12. W.B., Blue and the Bean (1989 Video)
13. The Guardian (1984 TV Movie)
14. Arthur the King (1983 TV Movie)
15. Nightforce (1987 Video)
16. Between Friends (1983 TV Movie)
17. Takin' It Off (1985 Video)
18. Long Day's Journey Into Night (1987 TV Movie)
19. The Kid from Left Field (1979 TV Movie)
20. City in Fear (1980 TV Movie)
21. The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank (1978 TV Movie)
22. Frankenstein (1984 TV Movie)
23. Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker (1979 TV Movie)
24. Wimps (1986 Video)
25. The Vegas Strip War (1984 TV Movie)
26. The President's Mistress (1978 TV Movie)
27. A Christmas to Remember (1978 TV Movie)
28. Secrets of a Married Man (1984 TV Movie)
29. R.S.V.P. (1984 TV Movie)
30. High Ice (1980 TV Movie)
31. Great Performances - Episode: You Can't Take It with You (1984 Stage Play Live Broadcast)
32. The Best Legs in Eighth Grade (1984 TV Movie)
33. Murrow (1986 TV Movie)
34. Children in the Crossfire (1984 TV Movie)
35. Scout's Honor (1980 TV Movie)
36. Coda (1987 TV Movie)
37. Return Engagement (1978 TV Movie)
38. Touch and Die (1992 TV Movie)
39. Portrait of a Stripper (1979 TV Movie)
40. Father Figure (1980 TV Movie)
41. Operation Julie (1985 TV Movie)
42. Queen of the Road (1984 TV Movie)
43. The Streets of L.A. (1979 TV Movie)
44. The Birthday Boy (1986 TV Movie)

[claws]

are there any other kind of 70s thrillers starring Donald Sutherland? 

wiki lists Don't Look Now (1973) as a thriller though there are strong elements of horror and drama.

[M.10rda]

are there any other kind of 70s thrillers starring Donald Sutherland?  

wiki lists Don't Look Now (1973) as a thriller though there are strong elements of horror and drama.

Sure. DLN, THE DIAPPEARANCE, INVASION OTBS '78, KLUTE, DAY OF THE LOCUSTS... I'm sure I'm forgetting a few. EYE OF THE NEEDLE fits the bill but was '81, I think. Sutherland was a really edgy guy notwithstanding the big goofy perm.  

[RCMerchant]

1. Elvis (1979 TV Movie)

5. Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978 TV Movie)

These are the only 2 I've seen.