"Scanners" Original Insert. An experimental tranquilizer called Ephemerol, which was used on pregnant women, fails due to an unseen side effect on unborn children: It creates scanners. (Psychics with the ability to control minds, cause intense pain and in some cases, kill.) When the strongest of the Scanners starts an underground movement tasked with world domination, only other Scanners can stop him. I love this movie and although the poster art gives away the ending, the poster is great too. It spawned 3 sequels: "Scanners II: The New Order" (1991), "Scanners III: The Takeover" (1992) and "Scanner Cop" (1995). Here's the trailer. 1981.

"Heavy Metal" Original Half Sheet. "A shadow shall fall over the universe, and evil will grow in its path... and death will come from the skies." An animated sci-fi anthology based upon stories from Heavy Metal magazine that are tied together with a story about a flying orb containing the essence of evil, called the Loch-nar. Actors contributing their voice talent include John Candy, Harold Ramis and Eugene Levy. Interestingly, Elmer Bernstein's theme for Taarna was actually written for the character of Alex in "Saturn 3" (1980). The theme was never heard in the film, so Bernstein used it for this film. From 1981. Here's the trailer.

"So Fine" Original Insert. "A revealing comedy." When his father develops money problems, a man comes up with an idea that turns into an unexpected overnight fashion success - women's bluejeans with vinyl windows, exposing the butt cheeks. Ha ha. Okay, just so you know, I didn't buy this poster. It came in a lot of ten when I bought my "Scanners" insert. Here's a fake commercial for the jeans. Unbelievable. From 1981.

"Incubus" Original One Sheet. "It is real. It is alive. It is among us." An incubus, a sexual demon that preys on women, is stalking the town of Galen. The film also features the band Samson. (Bruce Dickinson's band from before Iron Maiden.) I've never seen the movie but have always liked this version of the One Sheet poster. I believe it's Drew Struzan art. Here's the trailer. From 1981.

"Horror Planet" Original One Sheet. "A crawling terror from the depths of doom!" "Horror Planet" is the U.S. cut version of the U.K. film "Inseminoid." On a distant planet, in a series of caves, a group of archeologists find an alien creature. It impregnates one of the team who then starts killing her coworkers to protect the alien babies. This movie is terrible. Super low budget and you never really get a clear shot of any aliens. Here's the trailer for "Inseminoid." It sort of contains nudity... I think. It's kind of hard to tell. 1981.

"Ms. 45" Original One Sheet. "It will never happen again." Aka "Angel of Vengeance." Thana, a mute woman (Zoë Lund), becomes a crazed vigilante after she is raped. She runs around town at night, killing men with a .45 handgun. From IMDB: The name of Zoë Lund's character, Thana, is reminiscent of the Greek god of death, "Thanatos". Sigmund Freud used the word to refer to the human "death instinct", which leads people to take risks, seek thrills or behave destructively in ways that could lead to death. I don't know if the movie's any good, but the poster's always been one of my favorites. From 1981. Trailer.

"Piranha II: The Spawning aka Flying Killers" Original One Sheet. I bought this one for the great art, and for the fact that it's James Cameron's directorial debut. (He was hired on as an effects guy and took over when the other director quit.) Those crazy scientists are at it again. This time they've crossed a regular piranha with a flying fish. This movie also has the recurring theme of the beach front resort owner who doesn't want to close regardless of the threat to tourists. Pretty much an open buffet for the piranha. They even fly through windows to get people. Ha ha. Here's the Japanese trailer. 1981.

"Deadly Blessing" One-Sheet. "Pray you're not blessed." Well, they can't all have good taglines. A supposedly good Wes Craven flick about an Incubus in an Amish community. I'm going to have to try to find this movie. Trailer here. Yep, that's a young Sharon Stone. 1981. UPDATE: I finally got ahold of a copy of this movie. It's pretty cool. Ernest Borgnine is perfectly within his element as the strict Amish father. Why do corny heavy metal bands always steal the name of good horror movies?