If you are digging through a thrift store or an estate sale, keep an eye out for these markers:
The Succubus VHS is more than a movie; it is a time capsule. In an age of 4K streaming and algorithmic content, these bulky plastic bricks represent a dangerous, unregulated era of storytelling. They are the nightmares your parents didn't know you were renting.
Whether you are a seasoned collector looking for a specific Japanese import from 1987, or a curious Gen Z kid who just discovered the word "succubus" on TikTok, the journey is the same. You will enter the dark basement of the video store. You will pick up the tape with the red cover. And you will take it home, not realizing that in the world of analog horror, the succubus isn't just on the screen.
She’s in the tracking lines.
Have a rare tape tip? Check the forums under #SuccubusVHS.
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The cardboard sleeve was blank, save for a strip of masking tape with the word "SUCCUBUS"
scrawled in Sharpie. I found it at the back of a bin in a closing thrift store, wedged between a fitness tape and a dusty copy of
The plastic felt brittle, clicking as I slid it into my aging VCR. The screen flickered to life—not with a movie, but with heavy, rhythmic static. Then, a low hum vibrated through the floorboards.
The footage was grainy, overexposed. It showed a woman sitting in a darkened room, her back to the camera. She was brushing her hair, the sound of the bristles against her scalp amplified into a wet, scraping noise. Every few seconds, the tape would glitch, her silhouette jumping closer to the lens.
I leaned in, squinting at the tracking lines. On the next glitch, she wasn't sitting anymore. She was standing at the edge of the frame, her eyes—too wide, reflecting the camera's light like a cat’s—fixed directly on me.
The hum in my living room intensified. I reached for the power button, but my fingers felt heavy, leaden. On the screen, she leaned toward the camera until her face filled the glass. Her lips didn't move, but a voice, syrupy and ancient, echoed through the speakers: "You looked. Now I can see you, too."
The VCR groaned, the tape ribbon snarling and snapping inside the machine. The screen went black, but the humming didn't stop. It was coming from right behind my chair. succubus vhs
I didn't turn around. I just watched my own reflection in the dark television screen, and the pale, slender hand that slowly reached over my shoulder. If you enjoyed this short horror story, you might like: Exploring the "Analog Horror" genre on platforms like for more "cursed tape" aesthetics. Checking out classic horror anthologies like Tales from the Crypt for similar supernatural themes. Discussing your favorite "monster versions" with the
Beyond this specific film, the keyword also taps into the analog horror trend, where retro VHS aesthetics are used to tell supernatural stories, and a recent 2024 film titled Succubus that explores demonic themes through modern digital "screen life" formats. The Icon of Analog Terror: Lily from V/H/S
In the original V/H/S (2012), the segment "Amateur Night" follows three men who bring two women back to a hotel room with hidden cameras, only to discover one of them, Lily, is a lethal succubus.
The Character: Portrayed by Hannah Fierman, Lily is characterized by her wide-eyed, unsettling innocence that shifts into a terrifying, bird-like predatory form.
The Appeal: Unlike many horror monsters, Lily has been described as a "sympathetic monster," with her performance drawing parallels to classic figures like Frankenstein.
Legacy: The character was so popular that she received her own spin-off feature film titled Siren in 2016. Modern Evolution: Succubus (2024) Succubus Review - Fan Dads
In 2024-2025, we are seeing a massive nostalgia bubble for physical media, but specifically for "sleeze horror." Here is why the Succubus VHS is the crown jewel for collectors:
The Sleep Paralysis Connection Modern horror fans are obsessed with sleep paralysis. The Succubus is the original sleep paralysis demon. Unlike slasher villains (Jason, Freddy), the succubus attacks you in the most intimate, vulnerable space: your bed. Watching these films on VHS—a format known for its "dream-like" analog warmth—enhances the liminal terror.
The Cover Art Let’s be honest: nobody is buying a Succubus VHS for the acting. They buy it for the box. The artists who painted these covers were unhinged geniuses. Think airbrushed gradients, impossible anatomy, red satin sheets, and glowing yellow eyes in the background. These covers are now being framed as high art in underground galleries from Los Angeles to Tokyo.
The "Lost Media" Factor Many of the films that feature succubi were never transferred to DVD. The masters were destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire, or simply thrown away by studios that went bankrupt in the 90s. The only way to see the uncut version of Night of the Demonic Embrace (1989) is to find an original VHS rip. This scarcity drives the keyword search volume.
Only 200 copies were ever mailed direct-to-video through an old horror fan club catalog. A fire at the duplication plant destroyed the master tapes. Director Corina Vells disappeared in 1996 — though some claim she is Roxi Meridian, working under a pseudonym.
In collector forums, the “true” Succubus VHS is said to degrade with each play, even if you rewind. The final working copy, last tracked to a Portland collector in 2019, reportedly shows a blank, buzzing blue screen — and a single phrase burned into the phosphor: “You summoned me. Now feed me your nights.” If you are digging through a thrift store
Most often, collectors searching for this are looking for the cult horror film directed by Jesus Franco.
" story from the 2012 found-footage anthology V/H/S (IMDb)—officially titled " Amateur Night
"—is widely considered the breakout segment of the franchise. Directed by David Bruckner, it subverts the "sleazy guys on a night out" trope into a visceral supernatural nightmare. 📼 The Plot
The segment follows three friends who set out to film a "hidden camera" amateur adult video. They bring a mysterious, wide-eyed girl named Lily back to their motel room.
The Twist: Lily is not a victim, but a predatory siren-like creature.
The Climax: The night devolves into a gory massacre as Lily reveals her true form—complete with talons and wings—and claims her "favorite" of the group. 👁️ The Icon: Hannah Fierman
The character Lily, played by Hannah Fierman, became an instant horror icon due to her:
Uncanny Performance: Her ability to hold an unblinking, predatory gaze.
Signature Catchphrase: The soft, chilling whisper: "I like you."
Legacy: The character was so popular she received a standalone spin-off film titled Siren (2016). 🎬 Why It Works
POV Terror: The found-footage format makes the creature’s lightning-fast movements feel chaotic and real.
Subversion: It punishes the predatory behavior of the protagonists, turning the "hunters" into the hunted. Keywords used: Succubus VHS, horror VHS collectors, erotic
Practical Effects: The transformation remains one of the most effective uses of low-budget horror makeup in the 2010s.
🔥 Fun Fact: Director David Bruckner went on to direct other major horror hits like The Night House and the 2022 Hellraiser reboot. Have you seen the full-length movie, or do you prefer the original short?
The "succubus" from the franchise is the breakout character , who first appeared in the segment "Amateur Night" from the original 2012 horror anthology. The "Amateur Night" Story The Premise
: Three friends—Clint, Shane, and Patrick—rent a hotel room and head to a bar with a hidden camera built into a pair of glasses. Their goal is to film a "girls gone wild" style video. : They meet a shy, wide-eyed woman named
(played by Hannah Fierman) who rarely speaks, only occasionally whispering "I like you" The Transformation
: Back at the hotel, Lily's behavior becomes increasingly erratic. After one of the men tries to force himself on her, she brutally attacks them, revealing her true form as a winged succubus with sharp teeth and claws. The Conclusion
: She devours two of the men and, after Cornering Clint, carries him off into the night sky. Legacy and Spin-off
The character was so popular that she received a full-length feature film spin-off titled SiREN (2016)
, which expanded her lore and backstory. In the film, she is a mythical creature being held captive by an occultist, and her "I like you" line becomes a central part of her predator-prey dynamic. Villains Wiki Confusion with the "Succubus" Video Game It is common for "Succubus VHS" searches to overlap with Succubus (2021)
, an action-horror game by Madmind Studio. While it also features a demonic female lead (Vydija) and "hellish" aesthetics, it is movie franchise. Are you interested in more details about the lore of the other segments in the original V/H/S movie? V/H/S (2012) - Plot - IMDb
Lily devour Shane alive. Lily, who kills and eats Patrick. Lily then transforms into a vampire-like creature.
Here’s a write-up for a fictional Succubus VHS concept, written in the style of a cult horror blog or video store recommendation.
TITLE: SUCCUBUS VHS (1995)
ALSO KNOWN AS: Night Feed (European cut), Dream Lover Tapes (bootleg title)
DIRECTOR: Uncredited / “Alan Smithee” (suspected to be underground filmmaker Corina Vells)
FORMAT: Shot on Hi-8, transferred to S-VHS for distribution
RUNTIME: 74 minutes (some prints run 68 min)
STATUS: Out of print. Only known surviving tape circulates among private collectors.