Sugar Cookies: Tromatic Special Edition – Troma Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1973
Director: Theodore Gershuny
Writers: Theodore Gershuny, Lloyd Kaufman
Cast: George Shannon, Mary Woronov, Lynn Lowry, Monique van Vooren

Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 47 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $19.95

"Welcome to the world of wealth and privilege...where everyone lives life in the fast lane! Meet the beautiful people...at their most thrilling and dangerous sex game. A producer and her lover join forces to find an innocent young acting student and, in a bizarre experiment, transform her into the exact replica of a dead movie star." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Sugar Cookies comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.2 GB

Feature: 20.1 GB

Troma uses the same source that Vinegar Syndrome used for its 2014 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English with removable English subtitles. Although dialogue comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced range-wise, this track is limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Troma’s trailer for Sugar Cookies (2 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), original theatrical trailer (1 minute 43 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Lloyd Kaufman’s classic introduction for Sugar Cookies (7 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Making Sugar Cookies with Lynn Lowery (13 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Lloyd Kaufman Remembers Sugar Cookies (35 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Lynn Lowery (4 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Mary Woronov (4 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a featurette titled Looking for Oliver Stone (3 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include Troma’s JFK Assassination Theory (2 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Entombed Seeing Red music video (3 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Toxic Adventures (9 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Innards! music video (1 minute 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Radiation March (54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Spice Up Your Sleepover with Troma Now! (2 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), TA in 4K! (1 minute 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and trailers for Shakespeare’s Shitstorm, Eating Miss Campbell, Curse of the Werewolf, Sweet Meats, Kill Dolly Doll, The Toxic Avenger, Class of Nume ‘Em High, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., and Tromeo & Juliet. 

Summary:

Sugar Cookies was co-written and directed by Theodore Gershuny, who is most remembered for directing Silent Night, Bloody Night. Sugar Cookies, co-written and produced by Lloyd Kaufman and Oliver Stone (who was an associate producer), was made a year before Troma was founded.

An actress is hired by the lover of a recently deceased erotic film star who died under mysterious circumstances. She uses the actress's uncanny resemblance to her dead lover to exact revenge against the man who she blames for her death.

While Sugar Cookies has all of the elements that one expects from a revenge-themed thriller, the result is a film that tries to be too clever. After a strong opening setup, things start to lose focus and the narrative never manages to build momentum. That said, the narrative's shortcomings are easy to overlook because of its two leads, Mary Woronov (Eating Roul) and Lynn Lowry (The Crazies), who deliver captivating performances. When it comes to the rest of the performances, none of them leave a lasting impression.

The first thing that comes to mind while watching Sugar Cookies is how much it borrows from Alfred Hitchock’s thriller template. Another connection to the cinema of Alfred Hitchcock, Sugar Cookies, like Vertigo, revolves around doppelganger characters. Unfortunately, that's where any connection to Alfred Hitchcock ends, since Sugar Cookies is a film devoid of tension and offers few surprises.

When it comes to erotica, Sugar Cookies handles most of these moments in an artful way. There is never a shortage of moments where Mary Woronov and Lynn Lowry are in various stages of undress. That said, despite the abundance of nudity and a porno subplot, Sugar Cookies never comes off as cheap or exploitative. The most surprising aspect of sugar cookies is the visuals; it is a beautifully photographed film. Ultimately, Sugar Cookies is an unconventional thriller that works as well as it does because of the performances of its two leading ladies.

Sugar Cookies returns to Blu-ray via a strong release from Troma Films.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Luther the Geek: Tromatic Special Edition – Troma Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1989
Director: Carlton J. Albright
Writer: Carlton J. Albright
Cast: Edward Terry, Joan Roth, Stacy Haiduk, Tom Mills, J. Jerome Clark

Release Date: January 20th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 80 Minutes 19 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $19.95

"A young country boy is plunged into the depths of homicidal madness after witnessing the strange exploits of a carnival "geek," a caged drunk so desperate for whisky that he bites the heads off live chickens in front of a freak show audience. Thirty years later, Luther is all grown up and out on parole after spending his childhood behind bars for a series of grisly murders. Armed with only a pair of razor-sharp metal dentures and only able to communicate through chicken clucks, Luther restarts his bloody rampage as he terrorizes the citizens of a small town and takes a young mother and her family hostage in their isolated farmhouse. " - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Luther the Geek comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.9 GB

Feature: 17.9 GB

It appears that Troma Films is using the same 2K master that Vinegar Syndrome used for their 2016 Blu-ray/DVD combo. Here’s the information about that transfer: "Newly scanned and restored in 2k from 35mm camera negative." The source is in excellent shape; the flesh tones look healthy, the colors are nicely saturated, the image clarity and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English, and removable English SDH. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), the original DVD intro featuring Lloyd Kaufman (5 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival introduction with director Carlton J. Albright (38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Carlton J. Albright (5 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor William Albright (2 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an extras titled A Conversation With Carlton (6 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Jerry Clarke titled Fowl Play (10 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Carlton J. Albright, and Fowl Takes: Fight Between Luther and the Police Officer (8 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), The Old Woman Getting Attacked by Luther (2 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Luther Getting Shot (1 minute 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and The Shower Scene  (7 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).  

Other extras include Troma’s Freak Show: The Archery Freak (1 minute 49 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), The Man Who Walks on Blades (1 minute 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), The Sword Swallower (52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and Tim the Torture King (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), INNARDS! music video (1 minute 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Radiation March (54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and trailers for Shakespeare's Shitstorm, Eating Miss Campbell, Curse of the Weredeer, Sweet Meats, Killy Dolly Kill, The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo & Juliet, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., Class of Nuke 'Em High, and The Children.

Summary:

A psychopathic killer is paroled after spending 25 years in prison, and immediately upon his release he reverts to his homicidal instincts.

Although Troma Films has a distinct brand of cinema recognizable instantly, they actually acquired a large number of films after other filmmakers completed them. While these pickup films have Troma’s core elements, an abundance of gore, and moments that gross you out, the result are films that ultimately lack the Troma Films vibe. Case in point, Luther the Geek, a horror film that never falls into the subversive humor that’s synonymous with Troma Films.

The opening setup does an excellent job establishing who Luther is and why it is not a good idea to let him back into society. A pre-credits sequence set in the past perfectly illustrates why he became the monster he’s become. That said, beyond this moment, no more time is spent fleshing out any of the other characters, and the focus shifts to Luther’s acts of violence.

The most memorable performance is Edward Terry’s portrayal of Luther, a character who speaks by squawking like a chicken and in place of his teeth, he wears razor-sharp dentures. What Luther lacks in words he more than makes up for with his physical presence. When it comes to the rest of the performances, they are merely serviceable.

The narrative is well constructed, and it is filled with tense moments that do an exemplary job building upon them. The focal point of the narrative is its gory moments of carnage, which all hold up extremely well. While exposition takes a backseat to the carnage, the narrative does manage to inject a well-placed moment of T&A. The most surprising aspect of Luther the Geek is Vern Carlson’s score, which does a phenomenal job heightening the mood. Ultimately, Luther the Geek is a well-crafted horror film that often exceeds the sum of its parts.

Luther the Geek gets a solid release from Troma Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Frightmare: Tromatic Special Edition – Troma Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1981
Director: Norman Thaddeus Vane
Writer: Norman Thaddeus Vane
Cast: Ferdy Mayne, Luca Bercovici, Nita Talbot, Leon Askin, Jennifer Starrett, Barbara Pilavin, Alan Stock, Jeffrey Combs

Release Date: January 20th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 36 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $19.95

"Following the death of legendary horror actor Conrad Radzoff (Ferdy Mayne, The Howling II, Conan the Destroyer), a group of overzealous drama students steal his corpse from his crypt and take it to the decrepit haunted house where his finest fright films were made. As the night goes on, the students learn the true meaning of terror, as Conrad's vengeful spirit takes them out one by one." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Frightmare comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.2 GB

Feature: 19.5 GB

It appears that Troma Films is using the same 2K master that Vinegar Syndrome used for their 2015 Blu-ray/DVD combo. Here’s the information about that transfer: "Restored in 2k from 35mm camera negative." The source is in excellent shape; the flesh tones look healthy, the colors are nicely saturated, the image clarity and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English, and removable English SDH. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 28 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an artwork gallery (posters/stills), the original DVD intro featuring Lloyd Kaufman and Debbie Rechon (2 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with cinematographer Joel King titled Man With A Camera (21 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio interview with director Norman Thaddeus Vane that plays like an audio commentary over the duration of the film, an archival historical audo commentary with David Del Valle and David DeCoteau, and an archival audio commentary with 'The Hysteria Continues' Podcast.

Other extras include a gory lesson from the set of Meat For Satan’s Ice Box (5 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), INNARDS! music video (1 minute 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Radiation March (54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and trailers for Shakespeare's Shitstorm, Eating Miss Campbell, Curse of the Weredeer, Sweet Meats, Killy Dolly Kill, The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo & Juliet, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., and Class of Nuke 'Em High.

Summary:

Drama students, who are fans of the recently departed actor, steal his corpse from his crypt. From there they pay tribute to their idol by taking him back to the place where he shot several movies. And what started off as a joyous celebration quickly turns dark when it becomes apparent that their guest of honor has been awoken from the beyond.

Frightmare is a film filled with misdirection and right from the get-go it gets the ball rolling in this regard with its opening sequence. Frightmare begins with a young woman who remains unaware of the vampire lurking behind her. After he bites her neck, a director yells, "Cut." This moment serves as a film-within-a-film scene, highlighting the protagonist, Conrad Radzoff, as he grapples with his latest performance. This moment is crucial in Frightmare, as it clearly defines the protagonist, his motivations, and the lengths he is willing to go to achieve his desires.

Although most of the performances are serviceable, none of them hamper Frightmare in any way. The most memorable performance is Ferdy Mayne (The Fearless Vampire Killers), who portrays an iconic horror actor named Conrad Radzoff. Famed horror actor Christopher Lee was the original choice for Conrad Radzoff, and while he did not take on the role, he does still appear in Frightmare via old film clips. The cast features a few recognizable faces, like Luca Bercovici (Parasite) and Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator).

Without a doubt, Frightmare’s greatest asset is its visuals, which create a remarkable atmosphere and effectively reinforce the film's tone. When discussing these visuals, it's important to acknowledge the contributions of cinematographer Joel King (Just Before Dawn). Also, when it comes to the visuals, one can see the clear influence cinematographer Mario Tosi (Some Call it Loving) had on this film. Joel King had previously worked with Mario Tosi of Brian De Palma's Carrie.

When it comes to the death sequences, they all deliver the goods and then some. A standout moment of carnage features a scene in which one of the drama students is decapitated. Another brutal moment that pushes the boundaries of gore is a scene where one of the drama student’s tongues is ripped out of their mouth.

The narrative executes well; it finds a good balance between its highs and lows. Unfortunately, those seeking character backstory may be disappointed, as the film is populated with typical caricatures that have become overly familiar due to their frequent use in the horror genre. The good news is when it comes to each of these types of characters, it's easier to cheer on their demise. Ultimately, Frightmare is a highly entertaining film that immediately grabs your attention with its devious premise.

Frightmare gets a first-rate release from Troma Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Tromeo & Juliet - Vinegar Syndrome (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1996
Director: Lloyd Kaufman
Writers: James Gunn, Lloyd Kaufman, Andrew Deemer, Jason Green, Phil Rivo
Cast: Jane Jensen, Will Keenan, Valentine Miele, William Beckwith, Steve Gibbons, Sean Gunn, Debbie Rochon, Lemmy, Stephen Blackehart, Tamara Marie Watsonm, Tiffany Shepis, Joe Fleishaker

Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 107 Minutes 30 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $66.98

"The Ques and the Capulets have been engaged in a years-long rivalry, which has fostered such a vicious feud that they’ve each forbidden their children from having any contact with those of the other. When lovable and smut-obsessed slacker Tromeo Que and his friends decide to sneak into a lavish party being hosted by the chaste and proper Juliet Capulet, the two fall in love at first sight. Realizing that they must keep their passion for each other secret, especially as Juliet’s father has pledged her as a bride to a meat-obsessed business associate, their forbidden love threatens not only to destroy their families but also begins causing mayhem and bloodshed all around them." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD, Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative."

Tromeo & Juliet comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 61.8 GB

Feature: 61.4 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Tromeo & Juliet comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 28.9 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an archival audio commentary with director Lloyd Kaufman, an archival audio commentary with screenwriter James Gunn and actor Sean Gunn, an archival audio commentary with James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman, and an archival audio commentary with editor Frank Reynolds and Poultrygeist editor Gabriel Friedman.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include the original video trailer (2 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Lloyd Kaufman DVD introduction (3 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Lloyd Kaufman laserdisc introduction (3 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), deleted scenes with optional audio commentary with James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman (14 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Lloyd Kaufman interviews the Penis monster (4 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), rehearsal footage with actresses Jane Jensen and Debbie Rochon (2 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with James Gunn and Stephen Blackehart (7 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the making of Lloyd Kaufman and James Gunn’s commentary track recording (6 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Tales from the Crapper with Lloyd Kaufman and James Gunn (4 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman visit Eli Roth’s birthday party (8 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Lloyd Kaufman’s video diary from the set of James Gunn’s Slither (12 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), fan reenactments of classic Tromeo & Juliet scenes (9 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), archival interviews: Stephen Blackehart (13 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Sean Gunn (8 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Tiffany Shepis (9 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Debbie Rochon (6 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Wendy Adams (1 minute 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Lisbeth Kaufman (1 minute 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Lemmy (6 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Joe Lynch and Stephen Blackehart (8 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Willie Wisely (6 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Andrew Weiner (11 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Franny Baldwin (6 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Sandee Brockwell (3 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Dylan Forer (12 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and Daniel Epstein (4 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette with producers Franny Baldwin and Andrew Weiner titled The Tromatic Experience (15 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette with Debbie Rochon, Tiffany Shepis, and Valentine Miele: the supporting cast of Tromeo & Juliet titled A Punk Rock Chorus (19 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette with lead actors Will Keenan and Jane Jensen titled The Lasting Love of Tromeo & Juliet (17 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a conversation with Lloyd Kaufman and film programmer Jesse Berberich titled The Bard of Barf (15 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Lloyd Kaufman, an archival audio commentary with James Gunn and Sean Gunn, an archival audio commentary with James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman, and an archival audio commentary with Frank Reynolds and Gabriel Friedman.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (limited to 8,000 units), and a 40-page perfect-bound book with an essay titled Whipped, Clipped, & Double Dipped: Troma Gets Alternative in Tromeo & Juliet written by Heather Drain, an essay titled Jumping the Gunn: How Tromeo & Juliet Establishes James Gunn’s Special Blend of Churlishness and Heart written by Bill Bria, and an essay titled Star-Crossed F*ckers: A Tromeo and Juliet Retrospective written by Jesse Berberich.

Summary:

Tromeo & Juliet was directed by Lloyd Kaufman, the creative force behind Troma Films. Notable films he’s directed include The Toxic Avenger and Terror Firmer. Tromeo & Juliet is a modern-day adaptation/parody of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Star-crossed lovers from two feuding families fall in love, and their families do everything possible to keep them apart.

Although William Shakespeare's works have been well represented in cinema, Romeo and Juliet is the play that many familiar with his writings would recognize most readily. It is a story about two lovers whose love is threatened by a feud between their families, and their only way out is joining each other in death. Tromeo & Juliet is best described as a film that borrows the core elements of Romeo and Juliet and then funnels them through the distorted view of Troma’s brand of cinema.

When discussing the core elements synonymous with Troma Films—such as gore, grotesque imagery, and politically incorrect humor—Tromeo & Juliet excels in delivering these aspects abundantly. The well-crafted narrative effectively draws you in and keeps your attention with a series of outrageous moments, culminating in a finale that offers a surprising twist regarding Tromeo & Juliet’s love affair, serving as an ideal coda. When discussing Tromeo & Juliet, one should not overlook James Gunn's contributions as co-screenwriter. Although Tromeo & Juliet stays in the areas that Troma Films is known for, there is something special about the dialogue and humor that sets it apart from other Troma Films.

All around the cast are excellent, especially Jane Jensen and Will Keenan in the roles of Juliet and Tromeo. Another performance of note is William Beckwith’s portrayal of Juliet’s deviant father, who gives off some serious incest vibes. There are numerous occasions where Juilet wakes up from a nightmare and her father is lying next to her in nothing but his underwear. In one scene he puts her in a glass cage with nothing but her bra and underwear for punishment. While the performances are undoubtedly over-the-top, they are surprisingly effective.

Anyone expecting a faithful adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is in for a big letdown. Nowhere is it Troma’s intention to remain true to its source, and anyone familiar with their other films not only has a clear idea of what to expect but also should thoroughly enjoy Tromeo & Juliet. That said, if you don’t like off-color humor, then Tromeo & Juliet and you are not Troma’s target audience. Ultimately, Tromeo & Juliet takes a familiar, revered story and turns it into a wholly new creation that is arguably one of Troma’s best films.

Vinegar Syndrome gives Tromeo & Juliet a definitive release. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Shakespeare's Shitstorm – Troma Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2020
Director: Lloyd Kaufman
Writers: Brandon Bassham, Lloyd Kaufman, Gabriel Friedman, Frazer Brown, Zac Amico, Doug Sakmann
Cast: Lloyd Kaufman, Erin Patrick Miller, Abraham Sparrow, Kate McGarrigle, Amanda Flowers, Debbie Rochon

Release Date: October 21st, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 24 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French, Portuguese
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"Mad scientist Prospero runs away with his blind daughter Miranda to Tromaville, hiding from evil pharmaceutical execs, including his sister Antoinette, who ruined his career after he found the cure against opioid addiction. With the help of a handicapped crack-whore, he releases a massive amount of laxative to whales while his enemies are on a cruise ship to North Korea. A humongous shitstorm washes the boat away and brings them to Tromaville. Prospero can now fully realize his ultimate vengeance." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (4K UHD), 4/5 (Blu-ray)

Shakespeare's Shitstorm comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 61.7 GB

Feature: 57.7 GB

Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity is solid, black levels are strong, and although compression generally looks acceptable, there is some mild banding. 

Shakespeare's Shitstorm comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.6 GB

Feature: 29.1 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4.5/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a DTS-HD stereo mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clear and balanced, and they are robust when they should be. Included are removable English SDH and removable Spanish, French, and Portuguese subtitles.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a teaser trailer (1 minute 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the first theatrical trailer with an introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (3 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the second theatrical trailer (2 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the third theatrical trailer (1 minute 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), A Word From Lloyd Kaufman (1 minute 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Lloyd Kaufman, Justin Martell, John Brennan, and Mark Finch, and an audio commentary with Zac Amico, Teresa Hui, Amanda Flowers, and Dylan Mars Greenberg.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a teaser trailer (1 minute 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the first theatrical trailer with an introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (3 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the second theatrical trailer (2 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the third theatrical trailer (1 minute 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), A Word From Lloyd Kaufman (1 minute 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with producer John Brennan and set designer Yuki Nakamura titled A Heaping Serving of Troma! (6 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Radiation March (54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a music video by Abbie Harper titled I've Been Tromatized! (1 minute 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a promo for Troma’s streaming service titled Invite Troma to Your Next Sleepover! (2 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Lloyd Kaufman, Justin Martell, John Brennan, and Mark Finch, and an audio commentary with Zac Amico, Teresa Hui, Amanda Flowers, and Dylan Mars Greenberg.

Extras on a second Blu-ray disc include a feature-length documentary about Shakespeare's Shitstorm titled Brown is the Warmest Color (94 minutes 33 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette about Troma’s production team working in Albania titled Tromalbania (26 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a promo for Troma’s streaming service titled Troma in Times Square (1 minute 1 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Shakespeare's Shitstorm: Musical Numbers: Shitstorm's A Comin' (1 minute 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), I'm A Proud Crack Whore (55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), My Miranda (58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and Renaissance (In My Underpants) (1 minute 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Shakespeare's Shitstorm Auditions: Kate McGarrigle (1 minute 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Amanda Flowers (2 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Zoe Geltman (2 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Dylan Greenberg (1 minute 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Zoe and Dylan (2 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Teresa Hui (2 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Ahkai M. Franklin (3 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Nadia White (4 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Jeff Cleve (2 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Ciara Constanti (2 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Lou August (1 minute 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), BJ Thorne (4 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Dwayne Mendez (2 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Kyle Rappaport (1 minute 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Seth Persons (1 minute 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Travis Irvine (1 minute 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Ventiko (2 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include reversible cover art and a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Shakespeare's Shitstorm was directed by Lloyd Kaufman, the creative force behind Troma Films. Notable films he’s directed include The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo & Juliet, and Terror Firmer. Shakespeare's Shitstorm is a modern-day adaptation/parody of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. 

A mad scientist with a vendetta against evil pharmaceutical execs exacts his revenge by getting them to take his latest drug that he’s invented.

Not knowing anything about William Shakespeare's The Tempest is not essential to enjoying Shakespeare's Shitstorm. Troma has firmly established a brand of cinema, notably regarding their humor, which leans heavily into political incorrectness. Shakespeare's Shitstorm is a film that takes on many hot-button topics like gender identity, safe spaces, wokeness, the patriarchy, cancel culture, and social justice warriors. Of course there are your standard Troma jokes and sight gags, like characters covered in shit, a blind character, and some sexually themed humor.

The cast delivers enthusiastic performances that exceed expectations. Director Lloyd Kaufman portrays two characters: a scientist named Prospero Duke, who was betrayed by his sister, who runs a pharmaceutical company, and Prospero’s sister, Antoinette Duke. Debbie Rochon's portrayal of a U.S. senator under the influence of big pharma is another noteworthy performance. In one scene she dresses up like a Mexican wearing a poncho and sombrero with a mustache painted on.

The opening setup does an excellent job setting the stage for what follows. The narrative moves quickly, and there is an abundance of off-color humor that, admittedly, for some is an acquired taste. There are also a lot of gory and grotesque moments, and the special effects hold up surprisingly well. Ultimately, while Shakespeare's Shitstorm may not reach the classic status of films like The Toxic Avenger or Terror Firmer, it stands out as Troma's best film in the past 25 years.

Troma Films gives Shakespeare's Shitstorm a solid release that comes with a wealth of extras, recommended for fans of Troma’s brand of cinema.

                                                         Blu-ray Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Last Horror Film: Tromatic Special Edition – Troma Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1982
Director: David Winters
Writers: Judd Hamilton, David Winters, Tom Klassen
Cast: Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro, Susanne Benton, Judd Hamilton, David Winters, 

Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 87 Minutes 19 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $19.95

"A New York taxi driver stalks a beautiful actress attending the Cannes Film Festival, which coincides with a series of violent killings of the lady's friends." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

The Last Horror Film comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37 GB

Feature: 22.5 GB

The source is a marked improvement over Troma’s 2015 Blu-ray release. Although no information is provided about this transfer, it appears to use the same source Severin Films used for their 2023 4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo release. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity is solid, black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a trailer under the title Fanatic (32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a second trailer under the title Fanatic (31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a trailer under the title The Last Horror Films (57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (4 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a short film titled Mr. Robbie, starring Joe Spinell, directed by Buddy Giovinazzo (8 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival locations featurette (14 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with musician-actor Sal Sirchia titled Like a Father Figure (21 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio interview with producer Judd Hamilton titled My Last Horror Film Ever! (18 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Joe Spinell’s best friend Luke Walter, an archival audio commentary with actress Caroline Munro and Frightfest’s Alan Jones, and a second archival with Luke Walter.

Other Troma-related extras include The Return of Dolphin Man (4 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), highlights from The Tromadance Film Festival (5 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a full episode of Kabukiman's Cocktail Corner (9 minutes 44 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and trailers for Return to Nuke 'Em High: Volume 1, Return to Nuke 'Em High: Volume 2, The Toxic Avenger, Class of Nuke 'Em High, and #Shakespeare's Shitstorm.

Summary:

David Winters directed The Last Horror Film. He’s known for Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare, That Was Rock, and Thrashin'. The Last Horror Film has been released under these alternate titles: Fanatic and Maniac 2—Love to Kill.

A psychopath with dreams of becoming a big-time director becomes obsessed with an actress who he wants to be the star of his film.

Although the premise of a deranged nobody who craves the limelight makes perfect fodder for a horror film, the narrative has its flaws. It feels disjointed and cobbled together, and the ending is somewhat of a letdown. That said, things do start off strong with a clever opening sequence where a woman is electrocuted in a hot tub, and then the camera pulls back to reveal an audience watching.

The Last Horror Film is a film made around its two leads, Joe Spinell and Caroline Munro. It was quickly put together after the success of William Lustig’s Maniac, which also starred Joe Spinell and Caroline Munro. All of the performances work well within the story that unfolds, especially Joe Spinell’s portrayal of Vinny, an aspiring filmmaker who’s unstable.

Despite posing questions like the negative effects horror cinema has on society, there is nothing really deep about what The Last Horror Film is trying to say. Although it comes up short in many areas, the same cannot be said about its moments of carnage, which always exceed expectations. Ultimately, The Last Horror Film is a by-the-numbers horror film that knows its audience, and in this regard, it succeeds.

The Last Horror Film gets a first-rate release from Troma Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer