QuoteVestron Video was the main subsidiary of Vestron, Inc., a home video company based in Stamford, Connecticut, that was active from 1981 to 1993, and is considered to have been a pioneer in the home video market.
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A nostalgic look back at the 100 most popular (IMDb voting count) Vestron Video bad movie releases. Including the notorious Madonna flop Shanghai Surprise (1986), the Nastassja Kinski failure Harem (1985), two Jodie Foster bombs (Backtrack & Mesmerized) and Patrick Swayze's dusty disaster Steel Dawn (1987). Vestron apparently also had a licensing deal with TV actor Lee Majors as they released several of his late '70s and early '80s theatrical movies. Enjoy.
1. Troll (1986)
2. Ghoulies (1984)
3. Amityville 3-D (1983)
4. Slaughter High (1986)
5. Squirm (1976)
6. Rawhead Rex (1986)
7. Blood Sucking Freaks (1976)
8. Shanghai Surprise (1986)
9. Deathstalker (1983)
10. The Mutilator (1984)
11. Steel Dawn (1987)
12. Ghoulies II (1987)
13. The Incredible Melting Man (1977)
14. The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989)
15. The Food of the Gods (1976)
16. Backtrack (1990)
17. Tentacles (1977)
18. C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud (1989)
19. Good Guys Wear Black (1978)
20. Final Justice (1984)
21. Don't Go in the Woods (1981)
22. The Final Terror (1983)
23. Deathstalker II (1987)
24. The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak (1984)
25. Barbarian Queen (1985)
26. Ghoulies Go to College (1990)
27. Don't Open Till Christmas (1984)
28. Mutant (1984)
29. Mortuary (1982)
30. Chained Heat (1983)
31. Joysticks (1983)
32. The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984)
33. Class Reunion (1982)
34. Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988)
35. Sweet Sixteen (1983)
36. 7 Angels (1979)
37. And God Created Woman (1988)
38. Physical Evidence (1989)
39. The Unholy (1988)
40. H.O.T.S. (1979)
41. Splatter University (1984)
42. The Creature Wasn't Nice (1981)
43. Jack the Ripper (1976)
44. 976-Evil II (1991)
45. Tomboy (1985)
46. Hard Rock Zombies (1985)
47. Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. (1970)
48. Frightmare (1983)
49. City Limits (1984)
50. Butterfly (1981)
51. Cat Chaser (1989)
52. Trick or Treats (1982)
53. Wacko (1982)
54. Death Warmed Up (1984)
55. The Godsend (1980)
56. Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
57. The Next One (1984)
58. The Last Chase (1981)
59. Transmutations (1985)
60. Women's Prison Massacre (1983)
61. The Other Hell (1981)
62. The Majorettes (1986)
63. Slapstick of Another Kind (1982)
64. Mesmerized (1985)
65. Wheels of Fire (1985)
66. Warrior Queen (1987)
67. Up from the Depths (1979)
68. Alley Cat (1984)
69. Rocktober Blood (1984)
70. Street People (1976)
71. Violence in a Women's Prison (1982)
72. The Norseman (1978)
73. Scream (1981)
74. Red Heat (1985)
75. Treasure of the Amazon (1985)
76. The First Turn-On!! (1983)
77. The Happy Hooker (1975)
78. Truck Stop Women (1974)
79. Gas Pump Girls (1979)
80. Ghost Warrior (1984)
81. Call Me (1988)
82. Double Exposure (1982)
83. Harem (1985)
84. Hot Moves (1984)
85. Too Scared to Scream (1984)
86. Chatterbox! (1977)
87. Future-Kill (1985)
88. Pyrates (1991)
89. The Terror Within II (1991)
90. Land of Doom (1986)
91. Assault in Paradise (1977)
92. Funland (1987)
93. Low Blow (1986)
94. The Power (1984)
95. The Devil's Gift (1984)
96. Whodunit? (1982)
97. The Agency (1980)
98. Bail Out (1989)
99. Vendetta (1986)
100. You Can't Hurry Love (1988)
I had no idea they had so many bad movie classics.
I'm not sure classics is even the right word to describe what they did but they were apparently the masters of bad 80s movies (which is honestly my favorite kind.)
I've seen exactly 1 of those: Final Justice
The local funders of Steel Dawn thought they had a massive hit on their hands with Patrick Swayze: unfortunately they didn't 😳
Quote from: claws on March 03, 2023, 10:47:08 PM
1. Troll (1986)
2. Ghoulies (1984)
3. Amityville 3-D (1983)
4. Slaughter High (1986)
10. The Mutilator (1984)
12. Ghoulies II (1987)
13. The Incredible Melting Man
15. The Food of the Gods (1976)
17. Tentacles (1977)
18. C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud (1989)
21. Don't Go in the Woods
26. Ghoulies Go to College (1990)
27. Don't Open Till Christmas (1984)
29. Mortuary (1982)
35. Sweet Sixteen (1983)
41. Splatter University (1984)
52. Trick or Treats (1982)
53. Wacko (1982)
62. The Majorettes (1986)
69. Rocktober Blood (1984)
73. Scream (1981)
78. Truck Stop Women (1974)
79. Gas Pump Girls (1979)
82. Double Exposure (1982)
seen these ones. some real crap in there. but THE MUTILATOR is awesome
SWEET SIXTEEN is probably the most accomplished, closest to being a 'good movie' of those I've watched
Quote from: claws on March 03, 2023, 10:47:08 PM
1. Troll (1986)
2. Ghoulies (1984)
4. Slaughter High (1986)
5. Squirm (1976)
6. Rawhead Rex (1986)
7. Blood Sucking Freaks (1976)
9. Deathstalker (1983)
10. The Mutilator (1984)
11. Steel Dawn (1987)
12. Ghoulies II (1987)
13. The Incredible Melting Man (1977)
15. The Food of the Gods (1976)
17. Tentacles (1977)
18. C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud (1989)
19. Good Guys Wear Black (1978)
21. Don't Go in the Woods (1981)
22. The Final Terror (1983)
23. Deathstalker II (1987)
24. The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak (1984)
25. Barbarian Queen (1985)
26. Ghoulies Go to College (1990)
28. Mutant (1984)
30. Chained Heat (1983)
32. The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984)
33. Class Reunion (1982)
34. Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988)
37. And God Created Woman (1988)
39. The Unholy (1988)
41. Splatter University (1984)
43. Jack the Ripper (1976)
44. 976-Evil II (1991)
46. Hard Rock Zombies (1985)
52. Trick or Treats (1982)
54. Death Warmed Up (1984)
55. The Godsend (1980)
60. Women's Prison Massacre (1983)
66. Warrior Queen (1987)
72. The Norseman (1978)
74. Red Heat (1985)
80. Ghost Warrior (1984)
93. Low Blow (1986)
94. The Power (1984)
95. The Devil's Gift (1984)
96. Whodunit? (1982)
Thats the ones I am reasonably sure I've seen.
are the DEATHSTALKER ones worth watching for a laugh? I see them crop up in 'best badmovies ever' lists, but I'm really not into the whole 'fantasy loin cloths and goblets of fire' type of schtick
my local HMV has 1 and 2 on a 2-dvd set
If you are not into that kind of movie, I'd say no. They are available online, I think on Amazon if you have that in case you decide you do want to watch them.
Cool, prob won't bother then. I didn't even like umberto Lenzi's token foray into that genre (IRON MASTER), and I love Lenzi...
Quote from: zombie no.one on March 06, 2023, 08:18:49 AM
are the DEATHSTALKER ones worth watching for a laugh? I see them crop up in 'best badmovies ever' lists, but I'm really not into the whole 'fantasy loin cloths and goblets of fire' type of schtick
my local HMV has 1 and 2 on a 2-dvd set
If you're not into the swords and sandals stuff, best stay away.
Quote from: zombie no.one on March 06, 2023, 08:04:21 AM
seen these ones. some real crap in there. but THE MUTILATOR is awesome
The opening sequence with the kid and the rifle is bad movie gold. The f/x are great and so is the cheesy theme song "Fall Break." The rest is amateur hour filled with bad dialogue and obnoxious characters. It is very entertaining though.
Quote
SWEET SIXTEEN is probably the most accomplished, closest to being a 'good movie' of those I've watched
Yeah, it feels like a real movie. It has its flaws and is kind of a borderline faux slasher with red herrings. It's like a cheap version of Happy Birthday To Me (1981). I'm sure the director got some inspiration from that film.
Quote from: claws on March 07, 2023, 09:56:05 AM
Quote from: zombie no.one on March 06, 2023, 08:04:21 AM
seen these ones. some real crap in there. but THE MUTILATOR is awesome
The opening sequence with the kid and the rifle is bad movie gold. The f/x are great and so is the cheesy theme song "Fall Break." The rest is amateur hour filled with bad dialogue and obnoxious characters. It is very entertaining though.
Yeah amateurish but I find it endless re watchable, so many classic dumb moments...The sequel is done (the same director, who hasn't made any films in the mean time) and features some of the original cast. If it's even vaguely decent I'll be happy
I've seen 28/100 - which seems low - and even then I would struggle to tell you much about a few of those, seen once decades ago and forgotten in all but title.
I honestly think MUTANT is pretty darn good - another unpopular opinion, however.
BLOODSUCKING FREAKS is at least, errrr - hard to forget.
BACKTRACK stars Jodie Foster, Dennis Hopper, John Turturro, Joe Pesci, Dean Stockwell, Charlie Sheen, Vincent Price (!), and Bob Dylan in a cameo w/ a chainsaw (!!!) - but is otherwise terrible!
BUTTERFLY is a period drama about father/daughter incest starring Stacy Keach and Pia Zadora, w/ a supporting cast that includes Stuart Whitman, Ed McMahon (?!), and ORSON WELLES... who gives, I s**t you not, an Oscar-worthy, highly entertaining late career performance.
Oh - and SLAPSTICK OF ANOTHER KIND was the first movie I ever confidently felt was the worst movie ever made. From a Kurt Vonnegut novel, no less - I presume Vonnegut did not watch the movie and ask "If this isn't nice, what is?" Appallingly. mind-numbingly awful. Of course, that's only based on one watch during the 80s, but the math checks out. If Jerry Lewis playing a giant developmentally disabled extraterrestrial baby isn't the worst movie ever made, "what is?"
Quote from: M.10rda on March 09, 2023, 08:12:46 AM
I've seen 28/100 - which seems low - and even then I would struggle to tell you much about a few of those, seen once decades ago and forgotten in all but title.
I've seen 36 that I can recognize by title. I'm sure if I sat down and turned them on, I could recognize another 5-to-10. At least.
Trivia:
The Final Terror (1983) and Too Scared to Scream (1984) were both filmed in 1981, but not released until years later.
Jodie Foster and director Dennis Hopper didn't get along on the set of Backtrack (1990). Apparently Foster called Meryl Streep and warned her about Hopper. Streep was planning to work with Hopper but didn't after she got the call from Foster.
Kelly McGillis didn't make another movie for a decade becaus of her traumatic experience filming Cat Chaser (1989).
Physical Evidence (1989) was ment to be a sequel to the Glenn Close thriller Jagged Edge (1985), but it was also written as a stand alone film. When Close declined Theresa Russell was hired to play her part. The movie was a financial flop and critics didn't like it. Columbia Pictures produced and released the film. Vestron was a co-producer through a third party, securing home video rights in the U.S.
The Devil's Gift (1984) was filmed in 1982 but not released until 1984. in 1996 director Kenneth J. Berton removed all the violence from The Devil's Gift and included the edited version into his kid-friendly movie Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders.
Quote from: claws on March 09, 2023, 12:38:48 PM
Trivia:
The Final Terror (1983) and Too Scared to Scream (1984) were both filmed in 1981, but not released until years later.
Okay, make that twenty-NINE for me - I watched TOO SCARED TO SCREAM only last summer and REALLY liked it - yet the title failed to register at all when I scanned this list. Because of course the title fails to describe the contents of the film at all and sounds like any number of other films.
FTR, TOO SCARED TO SCREAM is a perfect film to recommend on this website: sleazy, frequently undermined by poor directorial judgment and/or hasty rewrites and/or wacky editing, yet also filled with fun oddball scenes, hilarious dialogue, and a lot of good acting - including Ian McShane from DEADWOOD and JOHN WICK giving a virtuoso performance in one of the lead roles.
I've seen at least 13 of them, probably more, plus a number that were featured on MST3K.
I loved that ident for some reason.
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gnr5ipNXLw#)
I wonder how many of these Andrew's reviewed...