Maybe it’s time to start recycling composite cable from the rats and spiders in your basement, because Director Fede Alvarez has announced his movie Alien: Romulus Will be released on VHS limited edition on December 3rd, along with other physical formatsRD2024. alien Login to the theater. It will be presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio and will transport old VHS tapes in vintage sleeves that will feel right at home in any videotape movie collection.
Neither post-release pricing nor release numbers were revealed, but regardless, the announcement came with a curious question: Could this release be the start of a VHS comeback? Before anyone starts scouring eBay for used VCRs, let’s consider the realities of renewed interest in the format.
when dark sky selection announced Texas Chainsaw Massacre 50th Anniversary Chainsaw Edition Back in September, fans were quick to notice that a massive $299.98 bundle included a VHS copy of the movie as well as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray versions of the movie (all housed in a replica of the Leatherface Chainsaw) included in the package). Considering its price point and the critical nature of the upcoming release, the VHS surprise is a sign of gratitude for fans who may be experiencing movies in this format for the first time. This is a collector’s item that only a few people are likely to dust off their video recorder.
I think Alien: Romulus VHS is heading in the same direction. As it stands I think it is destined to become a collectible piece as it will likely be produced in small batches to appeal to collectors and will therefore gain value in the future.
It’s unrealistic to think that VCRs will be brought back into production to keep up with the market for nostalgia-based films that, for technical reasons, won’t benefit from the complex remastering and high-definition processing that have become the standard for the film medium (just look how standard, arrowand shout factory promote their version). This is no different than cassette tapes in music, although there are some key differences.
In recent years, classic music albums have been reissued or reissued on cassette tapes. from puppet master For Taylor Swift’s records, the move is notable enough to prompt speculation about whether cassettes will overtake vinyl as the analog option of choice. These cassette tapes began to be sold in music stores and online retailers, a development that triggered a small increase in the manufacturing of new cassette players. However, its market remains niche, only for those who are curious about it or want to buy music with an alternative tactile element (although their presence in stores has increased). In fact, it hasn’t replaced vinyl records yet. Noise cancellation and sound quality, while improved, are still lower than other formats for those who value fidelity.
As of this writing, VCRs are no longer produced (the last one produced was by Funai Denki 2016). You can still buy used machines at thrift stores, online, or elsewhere, and you can still buy blank VHS tapes, but there’s no sign that factories will start ramping up VCR production anytime soon.
Despite this, efforts are still being made to salvage and restore videos in the VHS format. vinegar syndromeA home video company that specializes in preserving genre movies has a label called Degaussing video The company contributed to the cause by producing films whose original material was believed to have been lost but can be found on tape. Degausser strives to maintain the inherent beauty of each recording to ensure the viewing experience that people who grew up watching movies on VHS have come to expect. Degausser even packages the films he processes in custom-designed hard-shell light boxes.
Projects like this can reach a wider audience and get more people on board the VHS bandwagon. worldFor example, another company introduced VHS tapes as part of its product line, believing there was enough community interest in them. what causes this Alien: Romulus Interestingly, the film was both a critical and commercial success. It’s still riding a wave of achievements, so any announcement about it will be cause for concern. also, alien has a very loyal fan base that’s always ready to take on anything the franchise throws at them. If this translates into sales, then the whole world is dominated by VCRs.
So, where do we stand? As it stands, a lot will depend on whether people are willing to indulge in the format, whether out of nostalgia or out of sheer curiosity from those who grew up not knowing what a VCR actually was. Until now, its fate lies in the hands of collectors. Before VHS reaches the level of cassette interest, which could lead to a resurgence in VCR production with a few modern tweaks to sweeten the deal, we’ll have another cool piece of nostalgia on our shelves. This is exactly where my copy is, right next to my copy Kenner swamp monster action figures and mine The Exorcist Original Soundtrack LP.
