Consumerism Turns Carnivorous in This Cult Classic

Read Time:6 Minute, 34 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Stuff [Limited Edition]
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Genre: Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Year Released: 1985, Arrow Video 4K 2025
Runtime: 1h 27m
Director: Larry Cohen
Writer: Larry Cohen
Cast: Michael Moriarty, Andrea Marcovicci, Garrett Morris, Paul Sorvino, Scott Bloom, Danny Aiello, Patrick O'Neal, James Dixon, Alexander Scourby, Russell Nype, Gene O'Neill
Where to Watch: available July 22, 2025, pre-order your copy here: www.arrowvideo.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Just when you thought dessert couldn’t be deadly, THE STUFF oozed into your nightmares—and your fridge. Larry Cohen’s bonkers consumerism satire disguised as a mutant dessert thriller is exactly the cult insanity that thrives under 4K restoration. Equal parts horror, comedy, conspiracy thriller, and low-calorie fever dream, this 1985 oddity serves up more goopy weirdness than anyone asked for, and that’s kind of the point.

The plot starts with the kind of wild premise that practically demands a raised eyebrow: a new dessert called “The Stuff” bubbles out of the ground, is instantly packaged for mass consumption, and becomes a national obsession overnight. But when a kid named Jason (Scott Bloom) sees it moving in the fridge, things escalate from “mildly weird” to “is that yogurt eating people?” at warp speed. Thankfully, Michael Moriarty shows up as David ‘Mo’ Rutherford—a Southern-drawled ex-FBI agent turned industrial saboteur—ready to take on Big Dessert with a grin and a trench coat.

Let’s be real: this isn’t a film you watch for narrative cohesion or subtlety. THE STUFF operates on the logic of a Saturday morning cartoon filtered through a tabloid fever dream, and that’s precisely what makes it memorable. Cohen’s direction doesn’t smooth over the story’s inconsistencies or goofy moments—it embraces them. The film knows it’s ridiculous and weaponizes that ridiculousness into satire.

As horror, THE STUFF leans more into the uncanny than the gruesome. The practical effects range from charmingly dated to wonderfully grotesque, especially when victims begin convulsing, stretching, and bursting under the influence of their favorite new snack. The titular “Stuff” itself looks like a cursed mix of shaving cream and marshmallow fluff—innocent enough until it starts slithering up walls or erupting from people's faces. It’s never quite terrifying, but it is deeply unsettling in a ‘what-the-hell-am-I-watching’ way.

Moriarty is the MVP of the madness. His performance is impossible to pin down, drifting between deadpan and deranged with the casual energy of a man who knows he’s in a B-movie and is going to make damn sure you enjoy every minute of it. Supporting turns from Andrea Marcovicci as Nicole and Garrett Morris’ role as 'Chocolate' Charlie keep things moving. However, Paul Sorvino steals his scenes with his portrayal of Col. Spears, a right-wing military nut, and his own ideas about defense. Cohen uses these characters to lob grenades at everything from government corruption to blind consumer worship, and while the satire isn’t subtle, it is surprisingly sharp in places.

Arrow’s new 4K UHD release goes above and beyond, digging deep into the whipped chaos with a stunning restoration and a mountain of extras. Including a pre-release cut with over 30 minutes of additional footage is a real gift for fans, offering a glimpse into what Cohen originally envisioned before the film was trimmed down. Add to that commentaries, new and archival documentaries, and some previously unseen interviews, and this release practically demands a spot on your shelf, just not in your refrigerator.

Of course, THE STUFF isn’t perfect. The tone is wildly inconsistent, the pacing is uneven, and some characters exist only to scream and melt. The horror elements sometimes clash with the comedic ones, and the film never quite settles into a rhythm. But complaining about that feels like critiquing a fireworks display for being too loud. This is B-movie mayhem with a brain, and the flaws are baked into its charm.

You're in the wrong aisle if you're looking for polished horror with exquisite tension and airtight logic. But if you’re craving something that feels like John Carpenter, Roger Corman, David Cronenberg, and a deranged food scientist got locked in a room together, THE STUFF will be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s gonzo, gooey, and entirely unashamed of itself—and that alone makes it worth a taste.

Bonus Materials:
2-DISC 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Barnes
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Joel Harley and a new essay by Daniel Burnett

DISC 1 – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Original lossless English 1.0 mono audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary by writers and critics David Flint and Adrian Smith
Archival audio commentary by writer/director Larry 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
Can’t Get Enough of The Stuff: Making Larry Cohen’s Classic Creature Feature – documentary featuring Larry Cohen, producer Paul Kurta, actress Andrea Marcovicci, mechanical makeup effects artist Steve Neill, and critic Kim Newman
Enough is Never Enough – 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
High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
Original lossless English 1.0 mono audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

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[photo courtesy of ARROW VIDEO, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

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