Video Vault

If Quentin Tarantino owned a video store, it would closely resemble Video Vault. With a stunning collection of classic films (organized by starlets or directors), horror films (including the Blind Dead collection), obscure cult classics, westerns, Asian fetish films, silent movies, and a nicely edited selection of current releases, the cramped shelves both excited and intimidated me, temporarily shorting my film circuits in a sublime manner. Clearly the owner has a great, informed passion for cinema, an obsession best nestled in a basement with close walls and fleeting beams of sunlight. Sadly, the store is going out of business, a pernicious trend affecting so many independent shops. If you’re in the mood to explore a shrine to the grand (and grandiose) history of filmmaking, you must visit soon.

The Video Vault has everything. Silent movies, mainstream Sandra Bullock chick movie garbage, obscure cult classics, documentaries, mockumentaries, rockumentaries; it is all there. Sadly, the days of the independent neighborhood video store are coming to an end and the Video Vault is going out of business. They are closing their doors on April 30^th, 2010. The entire stock of Video Vault movies is now for sale. So if you are in the market for a previously viewed copy of Plan 9 from Outer Space, get your ass down to Old Town before it is too late.

After the lonely Blockbuster in Old Town suddenly closed its doors, I found myself in somewhat of a dilemma. I really wasn’t ready to jump over to the dark side and subscribe to Netflix — I am the most temperamental of video watchers, and change my mind often about what I want to watch. I have walked by Video Vault many times, but just wasn’t sure if I was ready to take the plunge.
I finally did. It’s true, the VV coupon that I received in the mail taunting its superiority and offering free membership (usually $ 10) caught my eye (Pays Local Taxes and Wages! New Releases are Actually Available! Movie Experts at Your Service!).
This place has a lot of movies. If you’ve ever been interested in finding out why all those movie snobs continuously scoff at you for seeing only movies that star Damon Wayans, you should come here. They have a great section that is organized by famous director, and that is where I’ve started. It’s fun to rent all those old movies you’ve heard about and seen on so many Best Movies lists. And it’s fun to support local business.
Their prices are pretty reasonable as well — $ 3.00 for a non-​new release DVD and $ 2.00 for a VHS. Also, Tuesdays are 2 for 1 and Thursdays are 3 for 2.

Yes, they have a ton of videos– as in VHS. This is a matter of pride to them and a bit of a pain to those of use who threw away our VCRs when replacing them after they broke cost more than one should pay for obsolete technology. I completely understand that it is impossible to get some movies on dvd, so it’s great that they kept what they had. However, there are tons of not so old movies and classics that have now been released on dvd that you’ll be hard pressed to find here. I am a bit of a film geek (I will only watch movies in widescreen) and I have to admit that their foreign section is pretty good. Make sure youv’e got a list of what you may want to rent because it could take a while to find it (on dvd). Hate to say it, but, I am now a Huge fan of Netflix– if I can’t wait, though, I always come here and try my luck.
There is no official parking area– you can risk parking in the alley way or fight for a spot in old town. FYI: there is a $ 10.00 min. credit card charge

Have you ever been rendered sleepless at night because you can’t find that out-​of-​print copy of Peter Weir’s «Picnic At Hanging Rock?» Or maybe you’ve been scouring the area for a Criterion Collection version of Antonioni’s «L’Avventura?» No? Maybe I’m just weird then. Call me a movie snob.
Similar to Baltimore’s Video Americain, if Video Vault doesn’t have it then you probably won’t find it. They do have a smattering of new releases (DVD & VHS), but if you are a film conoisseur, then this is the place pour vous. The store is small, but there are more films packed into this space than in most chains. At Video Vault, not only are the movies separated by genre, but also by director. You’ll also find a huge selection of cult favorites. The cult section is also separated into subgenres like Blaxploitation, Twisted Teens, and many many more.
One downside to VV is parking, however, a really cool thing that VV does is curbside service. Call ahead to order your films and they will bring them to you so you don’t have to find parking. A few words of advice: have an idea of what you want to watch beforehand, otherwise you’ll get a crick in your neck looking sideways at the rows and rows of DVD’s. Otherwise, go experience a hidden treasure in Alexandria.