Media started it all for me: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, HALLOWEEN, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, SLEEPAWAY CAMP....they were the king of horror!
No but seriously, I was born in 87 so my recollection of the 80's is zero to nil. :lol: I guess I'd have to go with Media as well, as they're the only ones I honestly remember.
Wizard is my favorite. They released some real treasures! Media was pretty good too. I'd also have to add Vestron and Lightning even though all of these companies were actually related because Charles Band owned them all before starting Full Moon.
Too many to choose from, but here are my favorites: Media Wizard Vestron Lightning Embassy Thorn EMI Republic, Night of the Demons Key Video Charter Entertainment, I currently have 1 video from them, Crimewave Prism I.V.E Thriller Video Continental Video It's a shame that probably all of these are out of business now. A lot of the videos I rented from the late 70's through the 80's came from these video companys.
media released some classics, and vestron did as well, but for me the absolute favorite 8 for giving lots of slashers and other horror a break ) is Embassy
Vestron was my favorite.They always had lots of cheesy titles to choose from and those great trailers you could find at the end of some tapes. Media had lots of great titles too but for some reason here in Canada they were cut to pieces.Until Anchor Bay came along I had never seen an uncut version of Day of the Dead. Another that comes to mind that was cut really badly was Class of Nuke 'em High.
Definitely Vestron for me. The sheer volume of trash classics and their full cover art utilizing mostly original theatrical poster art really made them something special. Media was a close second, they distributed most of the independent horror offerings (Night of the Living Dead, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Tourist Trap etc.)... Embassy was good too.
I went with Media...they put out more of my all time favorites than anyone else. Vestron was great too.
Vestron probably released the most films I enjoyed. However, all of the other companies released some treasures. Hardly any of those companies exist as a seperate entity anymore, sadly.
They all have great ones, but I went with Media Home Entertainment because of releases like Knightriders, Schizo, Hell Night, Schock, C.H.U.D., and others.
Of course,they released Chopping Mall! Another one not mentioned is Nelson Entertainment who released Sleepaway Camp 2 & 3
Being in Australia I dont' know those companies, but we had out own, like you that specialised is Trash and Classics. It was quite funny here.........the censorship Board initially did not pay mush attention to the Video indutry. As a result because the film Industry was slow to release product on Video, companies had to go to 'other product'.......needless to say......EXPLOITATION!!!. As a result we got lots of Wishman, Sarno etc and pretty much uncut roughies. But for me it was Palace Video..........man they had the GOOD STUFF!!! Blood Feast, Bloodsucking Freaks etc........
Voted "other" in honor of Paradise Video. Vestron was a distant second as far as the 80's is concerned!
Wizard was the best in my book! :glasses: Other personal favorites were Media, Vestron, Paragon, and Embassy.
