Nightmares Video Review
- Lemax Spooky Town

From the front, the Nightmares Video is brimming with detail. The large pumpkin character on the roof, with its ghastly green hands clutching a VHS tape, is impossible to miss. Just beneath it sits the glowing store banner, lit with a backlight that makes the piece stand out beautifully in the dark. The storefront is lined with windows that allow you to peek inside, where customers browse racks of horror films across different categories. Thanks to the clever interior lighting, none of that detail is lost—on the contrary, it’s highlighted, giving the store a sense of depth and bustling activity.

There are also plenty of clever touches around the exterior. A bold banner above the entrance reminds visitors the store is in its final “closing down sale”. To the left, another lit sign advertises the snack bar, complete with a movie return drop box beneath the watchful eye of a looming Grim Reaper. Perched on the roof is a creepy clown, bathed in an eerie underlight, staring menacingly at anyone daring to enter.

A 360° look at this piece only adds more to admire. On the right-hand side, there’s a shadowy trash alley and more branding for Nightmares Video. The left-hand side features delightfully creepy movie posters, while the back reveals a boarded-up window and door, barely holding together, with exposed brickwork showing through the crumbling paint. Every angle offers something new, which makes this piece such a joy to display.

The overall atmosphere is perfect for a spooky high street scene. For me personally, it captures the exact feeling of picking up a scary film as a child at Halloween—the mixture of excitement and unease, stepping into a place that’s both inviting and a little unnerving. The backlit banners do wonders here: while there’s no mechanical animation, the lighting ensures this piece is anything but static. It genuinely feels like a living, breathing corner of Spooky Town.

That said, the only drawback is the price. Currently retailing around £100, it does feel a touch steep given the piece’s size and lack of animation. Still, it’s difficult to feel any buyer’s remorse once you see the effect it creates in person. The intricate detail, atmosphere, and sheer presence it adds to a display more than make up for its shortcomings. If you’re hesitant, I’d highly recommend viewing it in person first (Trowell Garden Centre have it in their display if you can make the trip!) —you’ll quickly see why it’s worth considering.