Any time Larry Cohen casts Michael Moriarty, magic happens. Don’t believe me? Watch Q: The Winged Serpent or It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive… Though The Stuff may be their grand opus. A film that isn’t just deranged but a purposeful thematic critique of consumerism. As Mo Rutherford, former FBI strong-arm goon turned corporate spy, Moriarty is so attuned with the lunatic vibe Cohen creates through the runtime, even the most ridiculous moments are grounded by Moriarty’s insane performance.
Believe that The Stuff is an insane bit of Cohen storytelling. A man finds a white ooze bubbling out from the ground. The ooze a low-calorie, highly addictive substance, is quickly branded and marketed as The Stuff and takes a stranglehold on America. Like any viral sensation, people literally eat it up. A group brings in Rutherford to investigate and essentially find the recipe so they can produce it for themselves (shades of Pepsi versus Coke). Rutherford quickly finds The Stuff isn’t like any substance known to man, and if he doesn’t act quickly, the world will be consumed by this white ooze.
Cohen’s film is a blunt instrument of no tact or subtlety, but that has never been Cohen’s style. Like It’s Alive or Q: The Winged Serpent, The Stuff is right in your face about what it is and what it is about. How Cohen structures the film, cutting in and out of advertising, is one of the many adroit and funny choices the director makes. There’s something very modern about how direct and brazen the way the film handles the viral sensation of the Stuff itself. Even its branding is that sort of clean, unadorned atheistic that people fawn over.
The film would be good, but not the great that it is without Michael Moriarty’s performance as Rutherford. Even an over-the-top kung-fu fighting Garrett Morris or a General Patton on Cocaine Paul Sorvino can top Moriarty’s weirdo freak. There isn’t a moment where Moriarty isn’t doing something so strange or particular that you’re drawn to his presence on screen. Though even greater is somehow the actor is able to turn in a creditable heroic performance that has an arc taking Rutherford from sleaze bag to justice seeker.
The Stuff is a sight to behold. The true crown jewel of Cohen’s career. A take-down of consumerism and capitalism of the early 1980s. Unfortunately, The Stuff remains hyper relevant even forty years later. As they say
The Transfer
The all-new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative, presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), is another stunner from the boutique label. The transfer is sharp, clean, without any hints of scratches or blemishes on the negative. The Dolby Vision encoding imbues the image with deeper details within the blacks and color spectrum, producing an image that’s darker but far more luminous and more textured than prior editions. There isn’t a scratch, blemish, or issue during the entire runtime of the film. The 4K UHD edition of The Stuff is the best the film has ever looked, probably even better than its theatrical release. Another high-water mark for Arrow Video in their 4K releases.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
Brand new audio commentary by writers and critics David Flint and Adrian Smith
Archival audio commentary by writer/director Larry Cohen
Can’t Get Enough of The Stuff: Making Larry Cohen’s Classic Creature Feature, a documentary featuring Larry Cohen, producer Paul Kurta, actress Andrea Marcovicci, mechanical makeup effects artist Steve Neill and critic Kim Newman
Enough is Never Enough, a newly edited featurette featuring previously unseen interviews with director Larry Cohen and producer Paul Kurta, originally shot for the 2017 documentary King Cohen
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Notorious Street, a feature-length documentary exploring the history of New York City’s infamous 42nd Street, with first-hand accounts from an array of filmmakers, including Larry Cohen
Trailers and TV spots
King Cohen trailer
Image gallery
DISC 2 – PRE-RELEASE VERSION (BLU-RAY) [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
An early, pre-release cut of the film featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage and a different music score, exclusively remastered by Arrow Films
DISC 1 – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
The first of two audio commentaries is an all-new one by writers and critics David Flint and Adrian Smith, which begins with their credentials. Some of the details include the reviews and how divisive the film is – which leads to a larger discussion of Cohen’s films; a larger discussion of actor Michael Moriarty and his work with Larry Cohen beyond just The Stuff – how much they complemented each other with their improvisational styles; a discussion of the career and work of Michael Moriarty – including his time on Law & Order and how and why he was fired; how Cohen got so many famous actors to cameo or co-star in his films not just in The Stuff; the appearance of Garret Morris and why he was cast and Cohen’s first choice for the role which was Arsenio Hall; the editing of the film and how much was cut from the original pre-release form; the film’s origins and the closeness to films like The Blob and Invasion of the Body Snatchers – and its ties to the red scare of the 1980s; Cohen’s discounting of the similarities of those films; how the stuff lines up against the 1980s remakes of the 1950s sci-fi classics; the various themes that the film deals with; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; and much more.
The second audio commentary is an archival one by writer/director Larry Cohen opens with the director discussing the real snowfall that happened in upstate New York when filming and the issues it caused. Some of the details include the opening in the original cut of the film; the casting of Scott Bloom as the kid in the film, and how that came about; the VFX/stop motion that they employed to bring The Stuff to life; the wild incidents that happened on the yacht during filming; a great story of a location that caused an issue with the Teamsters (they were a non-union shoot); a great story about Michael Moriarty and hair pieces that Cohen made him use; what Cohen envisioned for some real clever advertising – they did not chose to go with; the release of the film – and its failure; his feeling of the longer cut of the film after showing it at a film festival years later; the various items that the actors ate as the Stuff; a discussion of the SFX work and how frustrating it was having to keep his eye on it week to week to ensure he was getting specifically what he wanted; a larger discussion of how Cohen approached directing on set and revisions to script during production; a larger discussion of the performance and collaboration with Michael Moriarty – including some great anecdotes about the actor; a discussion of all the various actors that appear in the film and their ties to Cohen and other work they collaborated with him on or projects he loved them in; and much more.
Can’t Get Enough of The Stuff: Making Larry Cohen’s Classic Creature Feature (52:09) – this archival making-of featurette with great humor and detail on how The Stuff came to be developed, produced, and released. The featurette goes into detail about Cohen’s style; the collaboration between Moriarty and Cohen; the various cast members and the casting process, Cohen’s time on Television and how that informed his films; the commercials and design of the stuff and how much detail went into it; the effects work that made up the film; and much more. Featuring interviews with director Larry Cohen, producer Paul Kurta, actress Andrea Marcovicci, mechanical makeup effects artist Steve Neill, and critic Kim Newman.
Enough is Never Enough (16:44) – is an all-new featurette featuring previously unseen interviews with director Larry Cohen and producer Paul Kurta, originally shot for the 2017 documentary King Cohen, discussing the making of The Stuff.
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Notorious Street (81:45) – This feature-length documentary is more of a true discussion of the rise and fall of 42nd Street during its “heyday” as sex shops and third-run grindhouse theaters. Beginning with the Art Deco theaters of the 1900s that played vaudeville acts to the decline of those theaters eventually turning into Stag Houses and Second Run Theaters that specialized in genre films and European films. The interviewees discuss with some enthusiasm and relish those times from the late 60s into the late 80s of watching films and the sort of wild experiences one would have there. Robberies, prostitution, unhoused, drug deals, drug abuse, and the mentally ill were all a part of the theater experience. Director Calum Waddell gives us a documentary worthy of not just the films and the era, but what it was like watching what are now classic cult cinema. Featuring interviews about the films and their experiences, including Larry Cohen, Frank Henenlotter, Lloyd Kaufman, Joe Dante, William Lustig, Veronica Hart, Tom Holland, Jeff Liberman, and more.
Original Trailer (1:34)
Alternate Trailer (1:10)
TV spot (0:31)
Arrow Trailer (1:33)
King Cohen trailer (2:39) – a truly great documentary on Larry Cohen’s singular career. You can read my review here!
Image gallery – 12 production stills. The gallery can be navigated by using your next and back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
DISC 2 – PRE-RELEASE VERSION (BLU-RAY) [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
An early, pre-release cut of the film featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage and a different music score, exclusively remastered by Arrow Films.
I’m of the belief that this cut, though interesting, is inferior to the theatrical cut. The film in the pre-release form just doesn’t have the force and narrative drive that the theatrical cut of the film does. The biggest problem for me is the musical score; it doesn’t work as well as the theatrical score, which feels more akin to Cohen’s other work. There are some great character moments throughout the film, especially when it comes to the back half of the film with Jason (Scott Bloom), Rutherford (Moriarty), and Nicole (Andrea Marcovicci). The extra plot makes them feel more like a family with how they relate to one another. The Stuff in its extended pre-release form does make for a fascinating special feature, and some will find it a superior experience.
The Final Thought
Arrow Video continues to release the best in cult cinema, upgraded to 4K UHD. The Stuff is a truly worthy upgrade. Highest Possible Recommendations!
Michael Moriarty and Larry Cohen team up for the cult classic The Stuff. New to 4K UHD from Arrow Video.
The Film
Any time Larry Cohen casts Michael Moriarty, magic happens. Don’t believe me? Watch Q: The Winged Serpent or It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive… Though The Stuff may be their grand opus. A film that isn’t just deranged but a purposeful thematic critique of consumerism. As Mo Rutherford, former FBI strong-arm goon turned corporate spy, Moriarty is so attuned with the lunatic vibe Cohen creates through the runtime, even the most ridiculous moments are grounded by Moriarty’s insane performance.
Believe that The Stuff is an insane bit of Cohen storytelling. A man finds a white ooze bubbling out from the ground. The ooze a low-calorie, highly addictive substance, is quickly branded and marketed as The Stuff and takes a stranglehold on America. Like any viral sensation, people literally eat it up. A group brings in Rutherford to investigate and essentially find the recipe so they can produce it for themselves (shades of Pepsi versus Coke). Rutherford quickly finds The Stuff isn’t like any substance known to man, and if he doesn’t act quickly, the world will be consumed by this white ooze.
Cohen’s film is a blunt instrument of no tact or subtlety, but that has never been Cohen’s style. Like It’s Alive or Q: The Winged Serpent, The Stuff is right in your face about what it is and what it is about. How Cohen structures the film, cutting in and out of advertising, is one of the many adroit and funny choices the director makes. There’s something very modern about how direct and brazen the way the film handles the viral sensation of the Stuff itself. Even its branding is that sort of clean, unadorned atheistic that people fawn over.
The film would be good, but not the great that it is without Michael Moriarty’s performance as Rutherford. Even an over-the-top kung-fu fighting Garrett Morris or a General Patton on Cocaine Paul Sorvino can top Moriarty’s weirdo freak. There isn’t a moment where Moriarty isn’t doing something so strange or particular that you’re drawn to his presence on screen. Though even greater is somehow the actor is able to turn in a creditable heroic performance that has an arc taking Rutherford from sleaze bag to justice seeker.
The Stuff is a sight to behold. The true crown jewel of Cohen’s career. A take-down of consumerism and capitalism of the early 1980s. Unfortunately, The Stuff remains hyper relevant even forty years later. As they say
The Transfer
The all-new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative, presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), is another stunner from the boutique label. The transfer is sharp, clean, without any hints of scratches or blemishes on the negative. The Dolby Vision encoding imbues the image with deeper details within the blacks and color spectrum, producing an image that’s darker but far more luminous and more textured than prior editions. There isn’t a scratch, blemish, or issue during the entire runtime of the film. The 4K UHD edition of The Stuff is the best the film has ever looked, probably even better than its theatrical release. Another high-water mark for Arrow Video in their 4K releases.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
DISC 2 – PRE-RELEASE VERSION (BLU-RAY) [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
DISC 1 – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
The first of two audio commentaries is an all-new one by writers and critics David Flint and Adrian Smith, which begins with their credentials. Some of the details include the reviews and how divisive the film is – which leads to a larger discussion of Cohen’s films; a larger discussion of actor Michael Moriarty and his work with Larry Cohen beyond just The Stuff – how much they complemented each other with their improvisational styles; a discussion of the career and work of Michael Moriarty – including his time on Law & Order and how and why he was fired; how Cohen got so many famous actors to cameo or co-star in his films not just in The Stuff; the appearance of Garret Morris and why he was cast and Cohen’s first choice for the role which was Arsenio Hall; the editing of the film and how much was cut from the original pre-release form; the film’s origins and the closeness to films like The Blob and Invasion of the Body Snatchers – and its ties to the red scare of the 1980s; Cohen’s discounting of the similarities of those films; how the stuff lines up against the 1980s remakes of the 1950s sci-fi classics; the various themes that the film deals with; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; and much more.
The second audio commentary is an archival one by writer/director Larry Cohen opens with the director discussing the real snowfall that happened in upstate New York when filming and the issues it caused. Some of the details include the opening in the original cut of the film; the casting of Scott Bloom as the kid in the film, and how that came about; the VFX/stop motion that they employed to bring The Stuff to life; the wild incidents that happened on the yacht during filming; a great story of a location that caused an issue with the Teamsters (they were a non-union shoot); a great story about Michael Moriarty and hair pieces that Cohen made him use; what Cohen envisioned for some real clever advertising – they did not chose to go with; the release of the film – and its failure; his feeling of the longer cut of the film after showing it at a film festival years later; the various items that the actors ate as the Stuff; a discussion of the SFX work and how frustrating it was having to keep his eye on it week to week to ensure he was getting specifically what he wanted; a larger discussion of how Cohen approached directing on set and revisions to script during production; a larger discussion of the performance and collaboration with Michael Moriarty – including some great anecdotes about the actor; a discussion of all the various actors that appear in the film and their ties to Cohen and other work they collaborated with him on or projects he loved them in; and much more.
Can’t Get Enough of The Stuff: Making Larry Cohen’s Classic Creature Feature (52:09) – this archival making-of featurette with great humor and detail on how The Stuff came to be developed, produced, and released. The featurette goes into detail about Cohen’s style; the collaboration between Moriarty and Cohen; the various cast members and the casting process, Cohen’s time on Television and how that informed his films; the commercials and design of the stuff and how much detail went into it; the effects work that made up the film; and much more. Featuring interviews with director Larry Cohen, producer Paul Kurta, actress Andrea Marcovicci, mechanical makeup effects artist Steve Neill, and critic Kim Newman.
Enough is Never Enough (16:44) – is an all-new featurette featuring previously unseen interviews with director Larry Cohen and producer Paul Kurta, originally shot for the 2017 documentary King Cohen, discussing the making of The Stuff.
42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Notorious Street (81:45) – This feature-length documentary is more of a true discussion of the rise and fall of 42nd Street during its “heyday” as sex shops and third-run grindhouse theaters. Beginning with the Art Deco theaters of the 1900s that played vaudeville acts to the decline of those theaters eventually turning into Stag Houses and Second Run Theaters that specialized in genre films and European films. The interviewees discuss with some enthusiasm and relish those times from the late 60s into the late 80s of watching films and the sort of wild experiences one would have there. Robberies, prostitution, unhoused, drug deals, drug abuse, and the mentally ill were all a part of the theater experience. Director Calum Waddell gives us a documentary worthy of not just the films and the era, but what it was like watching what are now classic cult cinema. Featuring interviews about the films and their experiences, including Larry Cohen, Frank Henenlotter, Lloyd Kaufman, Joe Dante, William Lustig, Veronica Hart, Tom Holland, Jeff Liberman, and more.
Original Trailer (1:34)
Alternate Trailer (1:10)
TV spot (0:31)
Arrow Trailer (1:33)
King Cohen trailer (2:39) – a truly great documentary on Larry Cohen’s singular career. You can read my review here!
Image gallery – 12 production stills. The gallery can be navigated by using your next and back chapter stop buttons on your remote.
DISC 2 – PRE-RELEASE VERSION (BLU-RAY) [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
An early, pre-release cut of the film featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage and a different music score, exclusively remastered by Arrow Films.
I’m of the belief that this cut, though interesting, is inferior to the theatrical cut. The film in the pre-release form just doesn’t have the force and narrative drive that the theatrical cut of the film does. The biggest problem for me is the musical score; it doesn’t work as well as the theatrical score, which feels more akin to Cohen’s other work. There are some great character moments throughout the film, especially when it comes to the back half of the film with Jason (Scott Bloom), Rutherford (Moriarty), and Nicole (Andrea Marcovicci). The extra plot makes them feel more like a family with how they relate to one another. The Stuff in its extended pre-release form does make for a fascinating special feature, and some will find it a superior experience.
The Final Thought
Arrow Video continues to release the best in cult cinema, upgraded to 4K UHD. The Stuff is a truly worthy upgrade. Highest Possible Recommendations!
Arrow Video’s 4K UHD Edition of The Stuff is out now!
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