THE PLOT THUS FAR
An exploding industry without rules! Direct to-video madness! VHS vs. Beta! In the 1980s, videotape changed the world and laid the foundation for modern media culture. REWIND THIS! traces the rise and fall of VHS from its heyday as the mainstream home video format to its current status as a nostalgic relic and prize to collectors who still cherish it. Featuring interviews with both filmmakers and enthusiasts from the VHS era, including Troma legend Lloyd Kaufman, indie auteur Atom Egoyan, and Hobo with a Shotgun filmmaker Jason Eisener, REWIND THIS! is the definitive story of the format that came to be synonymous with the home video revolution. So gather up your friends and start the pizza party just make sure to have your tapes back on time.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Rewind This” is a short look at the rise and fall of VHS. Honestly, I can’t believe the level of talent they got to discuss the matter. It shouldn’t be a surprise, as VHS was what broke the Western World into media culture. It was the first real shot across the bow that allowed the world to rediscover cinematic history and cult gems hidden in the murky underworld. There’s so much to do with the material and there’s such a bizarre series of protocol attached to it. It almost feels painfully criminal that we only got a 90 minute documentary.
VHS will always hold a special place in my heart. I can’t remember a time before it, but I remember it being the first tool I ever used to reach out and discover the world of film. I caught crap in college because I kept using it to discover random movies while not falling back on DVD for the far more popular films. That was OK, as I knew what I wanted. That kind of discovery is on full display in this documentary and it’s a touchstone for all of those that learned about cinema through this format.
The DVD comes with commentary, original animations, music video, interviews and more! The A/V Quality is pretty solid for a documentary celebrating VHS’s heyday. However, the Dolby track seemed to be thin. It wasn’t terrible, as it added to the overall aesthetic. In the end, I think it might be one of the best documentaries of 2013.
RELEASE DATE: 01/14/2014