VHS MASSACRE: CULT FILMS AND THE DECLINE OF PHYSICAL MEDIA (2016) **

VHS Massacre:  Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media presents a hodgepodge of ideas that never quite gels into a cohesive whole.  It focuses on a variety of subjects, but never does any of them justice.  It’s a shame too because if the filmmakers had just taken the time to flesh out their ideas a bit more, it could’ve been quite entertaining.

The main focus is giving the viewer a history of home video formats.  They cover the rise of Blockbuster, which ultimately spells the end of the old mom and pop video stores.  The various oddball movies that you can only find on VHS are also discussed.  

The most fun comes from the filmmakers hunting for the worst VHS tapes they can find.  Then, they present their findings to a panel of judges, who will name the worst VHS of all time.  This idea is a lot of fun and really should’ve been the main thrust of the film as the scenes of the filmmakers scouring old video stores are among the best in the entire movie.

Ultimately, VHS Massacre just jumps around too much.  Any one of these topics properly explored could’ve made their own documentary.  Trying to make a film about all of them at once sort of spreads everything out too thin.  Mostly, it just seems like shameless promotion for the filmmakers’ various movies and podcasts than anything.

The interviews are best part.  The most insightful interviews come from Troma president Lloyd Kaufman, drive-in guru Joe Bob Briggs, and Scream Queen Debbie Rochon.  Kaufman is especially knowledgeable given his firsthand experience in the video market trenches.  There are also interviews with the stars of Troll 2, Birdemic, and The Room.  I have a feeling the directors could’ve just filmed a seventy-minute interview with either Joe Bob or Lloyd and it would’ve been preferable to the patchwork finished product.