As a dedicated VHS collector living in the futuristic year of 2024, I must say that the release of the Alien: Romulus VHS has brought me back to my childhood days spent huddled around our family’s ancient VCR. It’s like someone took a time machine and dropped it right into my living room!
Disney, 20th Century, and Sony have made an unusual move that major film studios haven’t attempted for about two decades: They launched a fresh movie on VHS tapes. While boutique labels and passionate collectors have been selling new films on VHS for some time now, and occasionally smaller indie studios like A24 release a specific title on tape, it has been rare for big-name studios to officially release a VHS version of their movies since the launch of A History of Violence in 2006.
This month marked the home debut of Alien: Romulus, which was highly anticipated due to the success of the original Alien on VHS decades ago. The creators behind Romulus aimed to recreate that nostalgic feel for fans, and so Disney (now under Sony’s physical media umbrella) released a very limited edition of Alien: Romulus on VHS. These preorders were snapped up quickly, making official copies hard to find. Your best bet is to search resellers online, but be prepared to pay a bit more.
2024 finds me, a die-hard cinephile who treasures VHS tapes, utterly astounded by the latest news. The prospect of reviving such a cherished format in today’s digital age is nothing short of exhilarating. Though it’s merely a one-time, limited release, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of nostalgia at the thought. Disney was kind enough to send me a copy for closer scrutiny and penning my thoughts on this groundbreaking VHS renaissance.
The Good
The film “Romulus” seems remarkable in high-definition formats such as IMAX and 4K UHD, making it a bit unexpected for a physical release that doesn’t typically offer superior visual or audio quality. However, what took me by surprise was how authentically “Romulus” played on VHS, giving off a vibe reminiscent of an “Alien” sequel from the Blockbuster era.
Indeed, while the techniques and aesthetic are quite distinct from Ridley Scott’s 1979 approach, it maintains the same atmosphere. The hue and grain, elements you cherished on VHS tapes, don’t detract from the visual quality but instead elevate it, adding a touch of charm to the overall presentation format.
It’s worth mentioning that I actually watched the “Alien: Romulus” tape on an old-fashioned CRT TV (the big, non-widescreen models that were common in households nationwide). This meant I got the complete VHS experience, including its imperfections. Connecting a VCR to a modern HDTV using an adapter can feel like a mix of new technology and nostalgia, which isn’t usually preferred by VHS enthusiasts.
Regarding the tape’s production, there were no problems encountered. Some skepticism arose about a company not involved in VHS production for quite some time handling this format effectively, but the results exceeded expectations. The packaging is particularly striking, featuring artwork reminiscent of video store displays from 30 years ago.
One fascinating aspect of the VHS release of “Alien: Romulus” stands out – its rapid selling speed. Yes, dealers purchasing numerous copies was commonplace, but this was due to a strong demand from enthusiasts of physical media and collectors. Such sales success might well open doors for more limited edition releases similar to this one in the future.
The Bad
As a dedicated Alien: Romulus fan, I can’t help but express my disappointment over the VHS release. The primary challenges I faced were its cost and availability. Given that this type of release is usually limited, it’s unlikely we’ll see mass-produced VHS tapes in stores again. However, the demand among physical media collectors and Alien enthusiasts like myself was significantly higher than the supply available. To make matters worse, the steep price only exacerbated this frustrating predicament.
This was obviously going to cost a little more than a VHS used to, but $60 is a real tough pill to swallow for a tape. You can buy the 4K disc for half of that. Yes, this is more of a collector’s item than something someone is going to watch regularly, but that’s still a good chunk more than a lot of folks are going to be comfortable with. As excited as I was for the prospect of a new VHS (especially for a film I loved), I likely wouldn’t have bought a copy for that price.
While there’s no actual problem with the Alien: Romulus tape itself, there are a couple of tiny nitpicks that I wished were different — and I know most fans of the VHS would agree. The VHS is presented in widescreen format, which makes total sense, given that this is how almost every film is shot and released. Keeping it widescreen makes for a much smaller picture on the old CRT TVs, but it allows for everything to be seen at once.
The issue here is that this launch was intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia. It would have been terrific if the visuals were adjusted to match the standard home media format, providing an authentic throwback feel. If you’re aiming for nostalgia, let’s not hold back! Take it a step further and offer that “vintage TV screen adaptation” we’ve grown accustomed to.
Similarly, I’d be telling a white lie if I claimed not to feel a tinge of disappointment upon discovering that there are no commercials on this tape. Commercials were a fundamental part of VHS tapes. People who spent their childhoods with these tapes can likely still recite specific movie trailers by heart, as they played before their favorite movies. A tiny piece of me had wished for a few nostalgic trailers for upcoming Disney and 20th Century films on the Romulus VHS tape. However, instead, the tape begins right away with the studio logos at the start of the movie.
It seems clear to me that these details might appear minor and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. However, I believe that a special, limited edition VHS release, given today’s entertainment industry context, presents an excellent opportunity to truly pull out all the stops. While it may require a bit more effort, considering how rare such instances are, why not make the most of this unique chance to offer an exceptional VHS experience?
The Bottom Line
To put it simply, this VHS tape is hard to find fault with, especially for someone like me who collects VHS tapes. After all, you wouldn’t purchase an Alien: Romulus VHS if you weren’t already familiar with the format (unless you just want to display it). Therefore, it wouldn’t be fair to judge its visual or audio quality against that of a Blu-ray or streaming service.
With a VHS tape, you’re fully aware of the experience it offers. While “Romulus” may not meet all your expectations, it certainly provides everything essential for a VHS version. Frankly, it’s quite astonishing and still somewhat surprising that such a release was even produced at this point in time.
Kudos to whoever had the idea, I hope you got a big, fat raise.
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2024-12-20 03:11