Scared to Death (1980) – Original UK Quad Poster
A striking and seldom-seen UK Quad for Scared to Death (1980), the low-budget cult sci-fi-horror that first introduced audiences to director William Malone and his creature-feature sensibilities. This is one of the most visually arresting exploitation posters of the period — dominated by explosive hand-painted artwork, lurid colours, and a monstrous bio-creature straight from the golden age of VHS-era nightmares.
Painted by Tom Chantrell and printed for the film’s original British theatrical release, this Quad embodies the high-impact aesthetic of late-70s/early-80s horror marketing: dramatic brushstrokes, screaming victims, and a title treatment that looks ripped from the pages of a pulp paperback. It’s pure exploitation era theatre-wall energy — and exactly the sort of poster collectors hunt due to its rarity and unapologetically graphic design.
Poster Specifications
-
Film: Scared to Death (1980)
-
Director: William Malone
-
Starring: John Stinson, Diana Davidson
-
Origin: United Kingdom
-
Format: UK Quad (30" x 40"), Single-Sided, Rolled
-
Year: 1980 (first-release printing)
-
Printer/Distributor: Entertainment Release
-
Style: Painted artwork; exploitation / creature-feature design
-
Artist: Tom Chantrell
Condition
Listed in Very Fine condition. Colours remain bold and saturated, with the artwork retaining its dramatic contrast and detail. Minor fold wear consistent with age, but overall a superb example of a poster that rarely surfaces in such strong display shape. No major restoration, trimming, or colour loss.
Collectors of sci-fi horror, creature features, and late-70s exploitation art will appreciate just how rarely this title appears — especially in a clean, archivally sound state.
Why This Poster Matters
The UK Quad for Scared to Death is highly sought after for several key reasons:
-
Early creature work by filmmaker William Malone, later known for Creature (1985) and House on Haunted Hill (1999).
-
Classic exploitation poster art, with dramatic hand-painted figures and sensational taglines.
-
Low UK distribution, making surviving originals significantly scarcer than more mainstream horror titles of the era.
-
A perfect representative of the drive-in, grindhouse, and VHS boom aesthetic prized by genre collectors.
For fans of Cronenberg, Carpenter, and 80s monster cinema, this Quad is an essential centrepiece.
