Voyage of the Rock Aliens – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1984
Director: James Fargo
Writers: Edward Gold, James Guidotti, Charles Hairston
Cast: Pia Zadora, Craig Sheffer, Tom Nolan, Ruth Gordon, Michael Berryman, Alison La Placa, Gregory Bond, Craig Quiter, Patrick Byrnes, Marc Jackson, Jeffrey Casey

Release Date: May 31st, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 50 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.98

"A group of aliens in a guitar shaped spaceship are on the hunt to find the true source of Rock n’ Roll. After spotting teenage DeeDee and her boyfriend Frankie, each of whom are vying to become the top rocker in the small town of Speelburgh, the aliens land, only to set off of an increasingly strange series of events and musical mayhem that threatens the very existence of the town itself!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this releases transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 35mm interpositive."

Voyage of the Rock Aliens comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.4 GB

Feature: 26.1 GB

The source used for this transfer looks immaculate. Colors, image clarity, and black levels are solid, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a featurette with members of the band Rhema titled Where They Are Now: Reuniting the Band Rhema in the 21st Century (40 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), a making-of documentary titled Embarking on a Voyage: The Making of an Alien Dance Rock Opera (48 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), reversible cover art and an embossed slipcover limited to 5,000 units.

Summary:

Voyage of the Rock Aliens is a sci-fi musical that aesthetically is a fusion of 1950’s and 1980’s fashion. The opening sequence is actually a music video that has a West Side Story vibe. And though this sequence was a music video that was not originally part of the film, the way in which it is creatively worked into the plot suits the story at hand. Another way in which the 1950’s play a role in Voyage of the Rock Aliens is how it pays homage to 1950’s sci-fi films.

Voyage of the Rock Aliens was directed by James Fargo, a filmmaker who’s most known for his collaborations with Chuck Norris and Clint Eastwood. At least in the case of the former, most of the films they made together were comedies. That said, there’s plenty of humor throughout Voyage of the Rock Aliens, and James Fargo’s direction is solid.

When it comes to the performances, one would be hard pressed to fault any of the performances since the cast's enthusiasm is infectious. Notable cast members include Ruth Gordon (Harold and Maude) in the role of a dimwitted sheriff; Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) in the role of a chainsaw wielding psychopath who’s escaped from an asylum; Pia Zadora (Butterfly) in the role of Dee Dee, a young woman whose boyfriend won’t let her sing; and Craig Sheffer (Nightbreed) in the role of Dee Dee’s obnoxious boyfriend Frankie.

If you're a fan of choreographed musical numbers, 1980’s pop music, and irreverent humor, then Voyage of the Rock Aliens is a film that’s right up your alley.

Written by Michael Den Boer