By Mark Saldana
Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars)
This film has to be my favorite documentary at SXSW this year. As a huge film geek and someone who grew up renting and watching VHS movies, this film definitely struck a chord with me. Director Josh Johnson’s Rewind This! recounts the history of the home video cassette market. He takes his audience through the early years when VHS and Beta battled for domination and also addresses the emergence of pornographic movie market as VHS won that battle and changed the movie business forever. The film also covers the modern following of VHS by movie collectors who seek out rare movie titles that are not available in any other format.
I have nothing by high praise for this comprehensive, intelligent, witty and well directed and produced documentary. The film succeeds as an educator, entertainer and celebrator of the medium of VHS. It is a must see for connoisseurs of cinema, especially those who grew up in this awesome era of home video.