Overview: When her estranged father passes, twenty-something Nyla is tasked with the thing she hates the most – cleaning up his mess. Left behind are a collection of VHS tapes, and with them, the burden of returning them to “Blaster Video” a time capsule to an era in which cover art and a catchy movie title were king, run by Kevin, a human encyclopedia of VHS history and a friend of her father.

Amongst the returns is an unknown tape, a movie not even Kevin has heard of. Was this the last movie Nyla’s father watched before he died? The mystery is too much to resist. But when Kevin and Nyla press play, they unwittingly activate a long-dormant curse and a series of classic cinematic villains are plucked from B-movie heaven and hell to be unleashed into the store itself!

With style, charm and note perfect performances, The Last Video Store is a must for physical media fans. An elegy to the cinephilic havens of movie wisdom that could once be found on every corner, and the heroes like Kevin who staffed them.

Blu-ray Verdict: In truth, I’m not always a fan of horror or gore in film, so I was a bit nervous going in to watch this at first. However, within the first 10 minutes, I knew I was in for an absolute treat!

The tone and plot of this movie surprised me in a wonderful way. From its many comedic, self-aware moments to its collection of nostalgic references, I caught myself smiling and chuckling so much that my cheeks hurt while I was watching the credits roll! It was a fantastic homage to the b-movies it draws inspiration from.

As someone who grew up in Canada at the end of the era of the video store (and who still has a VHS player with a collection of classics at their family cabin), this movie hit all the right notes for me. It gave me that same feeling of wonder I felt as a kid renting tapes and/or DVD’s with my family - what adventures might I find in my chosen rental of the week? The possibilities were endless (and often a bit absurd).

Moments of gore, suspense, and seriousness broken up by hilariously clever nods to the bad CGI and questionable tropes of the 80’s and 90’s. A surprisingly catchy soundtrack and heaps of interesting framing/lighting choices. Fun, deliciously corny effects. A cast that clearly has a passion for the project and the era of the video store. A truly unexpected joy to watch! I’ll definitely be adding this one to the VHS collection at the cabin (if they actually release one, of course!)

Limited Edition Special Features:
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
Original DTS HD M5.1 audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
New audio commentary by film critics Matt Donato & Meagan Navarro
The Videonomicon Unleashed, a new visual essay by film critic Heather Wixson co-author of In Search of Darkness
Nostalgia Fuel, a new visual essay by film critic Martyn Pedlar
’Twas the Night of the Tree Beast, a 2012 short by Cody Kennedy & Tim Rutherford
M is For Magnetic Tape, a 2013 short film Cody Kennedy & Tim Rutherford
The Last Video Store 2013, the original short from which the feature grew
The Video Store Commercial, a 2019 short film by Cody Kennedy & Tim Rutherford
Clips from the first attempted feature version
Behind the Scenes
3 previs shorts
Trailer
Image gallery
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film critics Anton Bitel and Alexandra West
Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Pearson
Double-sided fold-out poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Pearson

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