The New Kids Retro Cover Blu-ray Review

VHS was, when I was a kid the wave of the future. Everyone owned multiple VCR’s. Programs were recorded off tv at a record pace. The video store was the place to go to on Friday and Saturday nights. If the cover struck your eye you rented it. You didn’t read the back, you just grabbed the coolest one you could find. Lot of them even had the Rewind sticker on them. For you young folks, you had to rewind those tapes of you would get charge, depending on where you rented between $1-5.00.
 
VHS collectors are still out there. In fact, there are many who prefer to watch VHS over Blu-rays and 4K’s. I don’t get it to be honest, but I understand how the nostalgia factor can kick in. So why not take the best of both worlds. The VHS covers and the Blu-ray transfers. Well the fine folks over at Mill Creek have done just that. They are releasing Blu-ray’s and packaging them in a cover that looks like a VHS tape sliding out of the box. It’s pretty genius as they are using the old school style artwork. The New Kids, the newest release from Mill Creek even has the tattered "Rated R" sticker on the side
 
The New Kids stars Lori Loughlin, and James Spader.  Directed by famed Friday the 13th Horror Director Sean S. Cunningham. Loughlin plays Abby.  Abby and her brother Loren are moving into live with their Aunt and Uncle in a small Florida town after their parents are killed in an accident. They are your typical nice kids who now have to make all new friends at their new High School.  They do ok and seem to fit in pretty good until they run afoul on the town gang leader Dutra (James Spader with albino like hair). He runs a gang that is pretty much responsible for anything bad that happens in town.  He takes quiet a shine to Abby as does Gordo, another member of his gang.  The bet on who can have sex with her first.
 
Unlike the average humor bet that was popular in these films from this time, Spades goes crazy when he’s rejected.  Like really crazy, attempted rape and beat crazy.  Loren is no punk so he has no problem taking action again Spader and his boys.  Problem is Spader is nus and he eventually kills some people and kidnaps Abby so he can get Loren out of the way.  They have a cool final act in the town amusement park, which is owed by Abby and Loren’s aunt and uncle.
 
This is not a typical 80’s teen movie.  Its more like a very intense slasher.  Its along the lines of films like Boys Next Door, and in some cases Friday the 13th.  The editing and score really help as the film moves at a fast frantic pace.  Spader is fantastic in the evil psycho part, and at times comes off downright terrifying.  This is a great alternative to the standard 80’s teenage flick.  Its still holds up great to this day.
 
I love the film and the transfer Mill Creek has done is stunning. The audio and video quality are fantastic. Everything pops off the screen and the audio blasts through your speakers. I had the film on DVD and I must say this is a marvelous upgrade.
 
Throw that in with the retro VHS packaging and you have a winner. I would recommend fans pick these up and collect them now while they are available. There priced to own and look really cool displayed with your other films in the retro series.
 
Overall 3.5 out of 5 Stars