The Last Video Store (2023)

 

"Nowhere Near as Good as it Could or Should be"

Back in February 2023 I reviewed a no-budget British anthology horror film called VIDEO SHOP TALES OF TERROR that, while often crude in its execution, made up for that with dollops of enthusiasm and occasionally a little style.

THE LAST VIDEO STORE, due out on Blu-ray from Arrow Films, feels almost the opposite. Don't get me wrong - this isn't a big budget affair, but everything that made VIDEO SHOP TALES OF TERROR watchable and ultimately extremely entertaining is lacking in this, a film which features stilted acting, terrible pacing, and a near-plotlessness that makes its 78 minute running time feel much longer than it actually is.

When her father dies, he leaves Nyla (Yaayaa Adams) a note asking her to return some outstanding VHS cassettes to the shop of the title. This includes a mysterious, unlabelled tape that, when played, unleashes a whole load of 1980s movie-style trouble.

And that's where THE LAST VIDEO STORE's strength and major failing lies. The film is packed with visual references to straight to video tat of the 1980s, but rather than use that as background colour it seems to be the sole reason for the film's existence, which means watching it for more than 20 minutes is a bit like sitting next to someone very annoying who keeps poking you and saying 'Weren't the '80s great?'

It also makes the mistake of having posters for Astron 6 productions everywhere (and Adam Brooks turns up at one point) which only helps remind you how much better that team are at this sort of thing. The terrific short DEMONITRON: THE SIXTH DIMENSION gets pinched and redubbed to the film's own ends, again just reminding you of how much better other satires of, and tributes to, this kind of material have been than this.

Unsurprisingly, THE LAST VIDEO STORE started life as a short film (and probably should have stayed as one). You can find the short film on the extras along with the first attempt to make the subject into a feature. Other extras include a commentary track by critics Matt Donato and Meagan Navarro (they're both far kinder to it that I've been), new visual essays by Heather Wixson and Martyn Pedlar, three more short films from the same directors, behind the scenes, a trailer and more. 

There's also a booklet with new writing from Anton Bitel and Alexandra West, a reversible sleeve and a double-sided poster. 

THE LAST VIDEO STORE is now available to stream on Arrow and on Limited Edition Blu-ray