Welcome back to this week's look at Heritage's Sunday night movie poster auction! Every week Heritage auctions off some truly unique finds across all movie genres, such as movie serials, animation, science fiction, romance, and more. Each week I find a few gems that could be overlooked! Here are my pics for this week's unique finds!
Prom Night II & Horror High Lot
This may seem like a hot take, but Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II is an absolute delight of a horror movie. This movie acts as a stand-alone from the first Prom Night film, with the only connection between the two being the high school. The movie was supposed to be its own movie, yet producers felt that slapping on the Prom Night name would boost ticket sales. It's somewhat silly and leans into the camp that later 80's horror films had. My favorite part of the movie was the rocking horse that became possessed, as it uses practical effects that truly blend camp, horror, and the 1980s. Prom Night II wouldn't do as well as the original movie, but would lead to 3 more sequels, and an eventual remake in 2008.
The second poster in this lot is for the delightful Horror High, a 1973 adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This movie went through a handful of changes before it was properly released, most notably with cuts that would change the rating of the film from R to PG. Horror High was also known by its alternative title Twisted Brain, which was coined for television for the Chiller Theater show that aired on WPIX New York. 1970s horror doesn't always get the credit it deserves, but horror movies from this decade are an absolute delight!
Both of these posters are unrestored and noted as being in Very Fine - condition.
In my opinion, Werner Herzog's 1979 Nosferatu is one of the better Dracula adaptations. Nosferatu blends cinematography with a haunting atmosphere, accompanied by strong acting - especially by Isabelle Adjani who portrays Lucy Harker. Adjani's facial expressions and large eyes remind me of the silent era actresses, which works beautifully well with how dreamlike this movie seems. While the vampire is Count Dracula in this version, I appreciate that Herzog decided to make him look like the 1922 Nosferatu (who was portrayed by Maz Schrek). A new Nosferatu is due out in Christmas 2024, so interest in Nosferatu / Dracula should start to peak around this time.
Heritage notes that this is unrestored and in Very Fine condition. This poster is beautiful, with bright, crisp colors.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)
Over ten years after the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre terrorized audiences, Part II hit theaters in August 1986. Unlike the first installment, this followed the lead of other 80s horror films - gore, camp, and dark humor. As a result, the movie received mixed reviews but has become a popular slasher film. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 did lead into a handful of other sequels, and an inevitable remake. This series is, in my opinion, a horror staple. While this installment may be more over the top in some departments, it's still a fun watch.
This poster absolutely grabs your attention. While the more well-known poster is a parody of The Breakfast Club, this poster leaves nothing to the imagination. It tells you this is a horror movie, and there will be gore! Heritage notes this poster is unrestored and in Very Fine + condition.
