Vague Visages’ The Last Video Store review contains minor spoilers. Cody Kennedy and Tim Rutherford’s 2023 movie on Amazon features Kevin Martin as Kevin, Yaayaa Adams as Nyla and Josh Lenner as Viper. Check out the VV home page for more film criticism, movie reviews and film essays.

Physical media fans: prepare yourself to experience the power of cinema. With The Last Video Store, directors Cody Kennedy and Tim Rutherford celebrate the nostalgic aspect of VHS collecting and the bonds that form along the way. The most excellent Kevin Martin stars as Kevin, the owner of Blaster Video who charges hefty rewind fees after surviving “The Format Wars.” When the daughter of a deceased customer shows up with a mysterious (and rather late) VHS rental, all hell breaks loose as various baddies and protagonists from obscure films travel from their cinematic worlds to Blaster Video through the magic of movies (and electricity).

The Last Video Store could easily take place in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse. Regardless of whether the directors view that comparison as a compliment, the protagonist Kevin bears many similarities to that franchise’s beloved characters like Silent Bob from Clerks (1994) and Banky Edwards from Chasing Amy (1997). Meaning, the owner of Blaster Video has BIG opinions about various topics, specifically the “fan’s perspective” while discussing cinema. He’s an expert of films likes “Preystalker” and “Beaverlake Massacre Part 4,” and the cinephile is also an aficionado of Canuxploitation films. So, when various movie characters emerge from a television in The Last Video Store, Kevin naturally keeps his cool (for the most part) while offering some crucial advice to his most loyal customer’s young daughter (Yaayaa Adams as Nyla): “You have to have faith in me, like I have faith in the movies.”

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VHS lovers will have a helluva time with The Last Video Store, as Kevin doesn’t just defend the fan’s perspective while strategizing against unexpected guests, but rather explains in depth how they can be defeated and/or utilized. Every one-liner pops, most notably when a confused Canadian hockey player shows up (Matthew Kennedy as Taggert) and starts snarling about a “doobie cigarette with marijuana in it.” Nostalgia obviously plays a prominent role in The Last Video Store, but it’s quite charming when considering both the fan’s perspective and the meta movie characters’ point of view. For example, Kevin makes a razor-sharp observation about the aforementioned hockey player and his connection to the main protagonist of a Canuxploitation film series. The Last Video Store also features a traditional 80s action hero (Josh Lenner as Viper), whose presence amplifies the inherent comedy while developing the final act conflict involving the film’s primary Big Bad. Overall, though, Kevin is the main attraction, due to the actor’s over-the-top theatrics and genuinely captivating monologues about his line of work (or hobby).

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On paper, The Last Video Store might seem like a nostalgic homage to VHS culture. And yes, it is indeed that. But the production design sets the film apart from similar productions, which in turn allows viewers to immerse themselves in the mise-en-scène. It’s one thing to moan about “The Format Wars,” but it’s another thing entirely to showcase an understanding of the film industry’s past, present and future — which is figuratively splattered across the walls of Blaster Video. (There’s a visual nod to the 2020 horror film Psycho Goreman, which was directed by Steven Kostanski, who created The Last Video Store’s special effects). And the inclusion of a Black female (the aforementioned Adams) is a statement in itself, as the horror community is well-known for gatekeeping and shunning outsiders. In fact, the directors of The Last Video Store even poke fun at self-serious VHS collectors who reject change — a timely storytelling device that enhances the overall viewer experience.

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It’s always quite painful when the horror community props up majorly flawed films as genre masterpieces. It’s also painful when directors reject criticism because they “worked really hard” or just wanted to “have fun.” The Last Video Store is a nostalgic horror production that talks the talk and walks the walk. Just turn down the volume and take a look around Blaster Video. While the dialogue is hilarious and spot-on, the editing and directorial finesse communicates the narrative essentials, aided by the impressive silent cinema-esque acting.

The Last Video Store released digitally on December 9, 2024 and can be streamed via Arrow Player.

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor. Thank you for reading film criticism, movie reviews and film essays at Vague Visages.

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