The Last Video Store

The Last Video Store (2023) knows its audience.  It’s a film for cinema nerds and nostalgia junkies.  A film for people who know the difference between Cannibal Holocaust and Cannibal Apocalypse.  For people who treasure their Blu-ray slipcovers and movie tie-in fast food glassware. But most of all it’s for people who are self-aware enough to know that their celluloid obsessions aren’t above being made fun of now and again.

After returning a bizarre VHS tape to a back-alley video store, Nyla (Yaayaa Adams) and store-owner Kevin (Kevin Martin) are beset by aliens, serial killers and actions stars come to life via an inexplicable NTSC portal.  Kevin’s knowledge of trash cinema comes in handy as the duo must find a way to disconnect this Videonomicon before they’re trapped forever in B movie hell!

 

The concept isn’t exactly unique.  Terror brought forth from our televisions has been a staple since The Twilight Zone right up to the 1992 comedy Stay Tuned.  But the home video era gives co-directors Cody Kennedy and Tim Rutherford free reign to dig into the back shelves with arcane bits of trivia, clever references and easter eggs only the enlightened will really enjoy. Everything from early ‘90s CGI monsters, slasher sequels and sweaty workout montages get pinned on the big board and mocked with good-natured enthusiasm.  And it’s all shot with a slick, supersaturated color scheme straight out of the “format wars.”  Not every joke lands, but enough for fans of the bygone era  – both old and new -  to pay the late fee to watch this one again.

 

Arrow Video’s Blu-ray limited edition is packed with three of the directors’ previous shorts – including the original 2013 version that grew into the feature film – plus an audio commentary, visual essay, behind the scene footage, collector’s booklet and fold-out poster.  

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