Review: The Last Broadcast
Blu-ray: The Last Broadcast (1998)
Before The Blair Witch Project took the “found footage” genre into the mainstream, there was The Last Broadcast; shot on consumer level video equipment, with a budget that wouldn’t cover the cost of 1 days catering on a mainstream movie.
Looking like a low budget television documentary (bordering on ‘mockumentary’) about the Jersey Devil, its slow narrative pacing could well put people off, but its naturalistic presentation and locations may also draw you deeper into its world and help you buy into what is happening on your screen.
This is a ‘talky’ movie, with no money for extravagant locations, flashy special effects, or professional actors. Your enjoyment of it is predicated upon your tolerance (and past viewing history) of micro-budget movies.
My previous viewing was on VHS, so this new blu-ray release from 101 Films (the 23rd in their fantastic ‘Black Label’ series of releases) is MUCH better in every way, though you still have to keep in mind what equipment this was originally filmed and edited on.
If some low (almost zero!) budget found footage horror interests you, then treat yourself to this limited edition blu-ray, complete with special features that make it all the more enticing.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• A New Broadcast: Interviews with co-directors Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler (NEW)
• Limited Edition Booklet: Includes ‘Welcome to the Digital Age: The Last Broadcast and the horrors of the Internet’ by Phillip Escott and ‘Fact or Fiction?’ by Sarah Appleton (NEW)
• Commentary with co-directors Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler (1999)
• Commentary with co-directors Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler (2006)
• Behind-the-scenes documentary: Production
• Behind-the-scenes documentary: Post-production
• Behind-the-scenes documentary: Distribution
• Exclusive interviews
• Fact or Fiction: rare clips from the infamous public access show
• Jim Seward: Alive and Well performing two folk songs
• Lucas: What really happened?
• Gallery of Gore: Pine Barrens murder crime scene and autopsy images, Last Broadcast poster and box art from around the globe
• Trailer
N.B. Cover art is ‘clean’, with title on an external sticker
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by 101 Films.
