People have wanted to watch their favorite movies at home and share them with others for generations. In the late 1970s, the VHS (Video Home System) tape was introduced as a new way to watch content. In the 80s and 90s, VHS became the dominant video format, and numerous video stores popped up worldwide. Unfortunately, as time progressed and technology advanced, the need for physical media diminished in favor of digital content. While DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD are still around, most consumers are happy using their favorite streaming service. However, in the early 2010s, there was a sudden resurgence in the popularity of the VHS format. In 2012, Tom Seymour and Ken Powell began working on a documentary detailing the rise and fall of home video. After years of work, VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media was released by Troma in 2016.
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Synopsis
New York City film fans Tom Seymour and Ken Powell started a podcast about cult cinema and B-movies. During their show, they decided to create a series called VHS Massacre, where they find random tapes and riff them. Along the way, they conducted a series of interviews with cult film figures about home video’s impact and its decline. Subjects include genre journalist John Bloom, aka Joe Bob Briggs, Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman, and cult actress Debbie Rochon. They also chat with B-movie figures like Troll 2‘s Deborah Reed, Samurai Cop‘s Mark Frazer, and The Room‘s Greg Sestero. Sadly, almost every video store the documentarians visit closes shortly after, showing the decline in physical media. They discuss how streaming and the internet killed home media in some ways and the benefits of streaming. But the question remains: is there still life in VHS, or will physical media be phased out entirely?
Review
VHS Massacre has a lot going for it, first and foremost being the genuine passion and love for the subject. These guys have a love not just of movies but of VHS that shines throughout the documentary. You feel their excitement when they find an obscure tape in a small New York East Village store. Also, the interviews they get are highly entertaining and informative, detailing how the VHS boom helped independent filmmakers. We hear Lloyd Kaufman talk about how the conglomerates and media corporations ruined it for the independents. We also hear from fans of VHS, who show off their collections and talk about their appeal amongst collectors. A brief history of home video formats is discussed, from the VHS and Betamax rivalry to the rise of DVD. Interestingly, the documentary isn’t entirely one-sided since people like Joe Bob Briggs talk about the benefits of streaming.
As well-intentioned as the documentary is, parts of it come off as somewhat scatterbrained, namely some of the subjects. One minute, they’re talking about VHS tapes they found, followed by an interview with Deborah Reed from Troll 2. As entertaining as the discussion is, it has nothing to do with the subject, which happens quite a bit. Someone will talk about physical media, then another random interview with cult film figures will be interjected. If they discussed the VHS release of Troll 2 or Samurai Cop, that would’ve been relevant, but it’s not mentioned. At 72 minutes, it’s quick, but you’ll wish they had discussed the rise and fall of physical media more. Still, this documentary does an excellent job of highlighting how physical media should be preserved and remembered. Overall, VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media is a solid, if unfocused, documentary perfect for cinephiles.
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