Videoman (2018)

"Endearing Tale for the VHS Generation"

After premiering at last year's festival, Kristian A Södertröm's VIDEOMAN gets a VOD and DVD release on the FrightFest Presents label from Signature Entertainment.

Stefan Sauk is Ennio, a man obsessed with two things: drinking, and collecting VHS tapes. When he comes across a cardboard box containing the ultra-rare 'Zombie' (from the cover it looks like Lucio Fulci's CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD) it may be the answer to his money problems. Unfortunately, after he makes a deal with a shady voice on the telephone, one that may belong to someone who has been killing tape collectors, giallo-style, the tape goes missing...

A hit at FrightFest, VIDEOMAN is going to appeal most to those who grew up with, and were consumed by, the VHS boom of the 1980s. Director Söderström is presumably a VHS obsessive himself, or if he isn't he's quite brilliant at depicting the mindset of VHS collectors, and he also knows his movies, so part of the fun is seeing if you can catch him out.

The press notes describe VIDEOMAN as 'Mike Leigh meets Dario Argento'. There's certainly more of Leigh in the grim Swedish tower block settings and bleak wintry weather, and don't go expecting any bold flashes of colour or over the top artistic set pieces. Do expect, however, for the warmth of the director's love for his characters to shine through. 

Low budget and certainly promising of greater things for its director, VIDEOMAN is the perfect film for those who fancy a bit of subtitled Swedish social realism set in the world of movie obsessives. Signature's VOD copy was provided for review & as far as I'm aware the DVD contains no extras. 

Kristian A Södertröm's VIDEOMAN is out on VOD and DVD on Signature Entertainment's FrightFest Presents label now.