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How a $5 VHS tape from a thrift store changed my mind about bootlegs
I used to think bootleg movies were a waste of time. Grainy picture and tinny sound, who wants that? Then last month I picked up a beat-up VHS of a 1980s horror film for $5 at a Goodwill in Portland. When I played it, I realized it had an alternate ending that was never released on any official DVD. Now I look at every weird tape as a potential treasure hunt. Has anyone else stumbled onto something like this with a random find?
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jessicac2828d ago
Hold up, "audio sounds like it was recorded in a bathtub"? That's actually the most accurate description I've ever heard for some of these tapes. I've got a copy of some obscure slasher from the 80s where every line of dialogue sounds like someone's talking through a pillow in a bathroom. But come on, you're telling me you've never had that rush when you find a tape that's completely different from what you expected? I get that the quality is trash, but the thrill is in the hunt, not the picture clarity. That one lucky find is enough to keep me digging through bins for years.
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hayden70928d ago
Wait, does anyone actually watch these things or just collect them? I get the appeal of finding something rare, but most of those thrift store tapes are just worn-out copies of movies that are already easy to find. In my experience, the excitement fades fast when you realize the audio sounds like it was recorded in a bathtub and the picture looks like a muddy mess. You might have gotten lucky once, but that's more of an exception than a rule. Personally, I'd rather spend my time on cleaner modern releases than chasing ghosts on old magnetic tape.
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