The Last Exorcism Poster

Battle Los Angeles Poster

The Most Violent Horror Movie Poster Ever?

Bloodrage aka Never Pick Up A Stranger

Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo Poster Competition

Poster by Christel Fearon

Last week we posted up the trailer for the beautiful new film ‘Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo’. Well a few months back, ‘Beetle Queen’ director Jessica Oreck opened up the floor for aspiring designers to produce a poster for the movie. You can see all the entries over at www.designer-daily.com , but here’s a few of our favourite designs.

Poster by Ken Dyment

Poster by Paul Devine

Poster by Laz Marquez

Best Worst Movie Trailer

In “Best Worst Movie,” Michael Paul Stephenson makes his directorial debut by taking us on an offbeat journey into the undisputed worst movie in cinematic history, Troll 2, in which he starred in as a child. In 1989, Italian director Claudio Fragrasso cast small—town dentist Dr. George Hardy and a group of unwitting Utah actors, including Stephenson, in the ultra—low budget horror film. Soon after Troll 2’s disastrous release, Dr. Hardy retired from his short—lived acting career and returned to dentistry in his hometown of Alabama, unaware of the legions of fans that would one day recognize him as a cult movie luminary.

Twenty years later, Dr. Hardy’s days of drilling cavities are met by nights of signing autographs at sold—out revival screenings throughout the world. Admiring fans champion Troll 2 through fan sites, viral videos, and even homage in one of the most successful video games today: Sony Playstation’s Guitar Hero 2. Best Worst Movie unravels the improbable, heartfelt story of the Alabama dentist—turned—cult movie icon and the Italian filmmaker who come to terms — or not — with this genuine, internationally revered cinematic failure.

The result is a tender offbeat journey that pays homage to lovers of bad movies and the people that make them.

Promoting The Porno: Adult Movie Posters of the 60’s & 70’s

The above poster for Wall Street Walker is one of an awesome collection of porno flick posters compiled in X-Rated: Adult Movie Posters of the 60’s & 70’s, by Tony Nourmand and Graham Marsh, curators at the Rare Poster Gallery in London.

As you can imagine, porno got a very limited theatrical run in 60/70, while those participating picture houses willing to take the risk of showing stag movies were less inclined to shamelessly promote the fact with a brash poster that would have passing grannies whipped in to a furore.

So it’s not surprising that the few posters that did make it off the printing press have become collector items.  Although the above book is now Sold Out, you could probably track it down on eBay if you were that way inclined. But for peek at some of the content, head over to www.xratedcollection.com and feast on the exquisite selection of posters for titles like Girls That Do, Divorcee, Debbie Does Dallas and Spread Eagles.

The Lost Art of Poster Art

Remember when you were a kid and you used to hang around in your local video store (mad props to Terry at Gelli Video!), scanning the shelves for hours, taking in all the titles and making lists of the movies you were going to watch, and in what order? No? Surely not just me?



Anyway, back in those days, (and I’m talking about the 80’s/early 90’s here...again), the poster or cover artwork of a film that I’d never heard of, never read the synopsis to, never heard of the star, could bend my mind to the point of obsession. Maniac Cop 2 (below) was a personal favourite!



Let’s jump straight to the point here. I guess what I’m getting at is that the art of poster art is dead. Since Photoshop reared its ugly head, every gimp with a Mac is a ‘graphic designer’. What happened to the illustrator’s man? The guys that used to create those kooky old movie posters that seem to make the heroes more heroic, monsters more terrifying, turn ladies in to vixens. Here’s an example. Check out how great Bridget Nielsen looks on the poster to Red Sonja (bad remake coming soon folks!!) compared to what she looks like in the movie. She’s the bomb in Rocky 4 tho!



And check out this poster for the film Madman, which had me shitting my pants as a kid. The thought of Madman Marz sitting in a tree outside my bedroom window turned me into a sobbing little fool!



But when he finally appears in the film, check out the shit make up job we’re landed with. He looks like Santa in a K Hole. What a jip!



The actual quality of the film doesn’t matter; we’re talking about the artwork here. If great artwork on an album can coerce you in to buying it, an aural medium which can never represent the art on the sleeve, then you know a great film cover will have you snatching it from the racks.

Look at the poster for the blockbuster vampire flick Twilight.



Now check out the poster for 80’s vampire love story Near Dark. It’s not an illustration, but I think I’ve illustrated my point. Which would you rather see?



Back in the day, good artwork sold films. Now we have access to trailers on TV, online, even on our phones. I guess this kinda negates the need for eye catching posters. Boo-Hoo for us!

Jesus, I’ve gone off on one completely. This post was intended to shine a light on some classic Sylvester Stallone illustrated posters. Here they are. “Noyce one Slllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy”!