Okay, hold the phone there, fellow tape-heads. While I appreciate the suggestion, "Rejected" (2000) falls a bit outside the usual dusty aisles of our beloved "VHS Heaven" sanctuary.
Our focus here is squarely on those glorious artifacts of the 80s and 90s – the films that filled the shelves of local video stores, the ones we excitedly rewound (be kind, please!) and popped into our VCRs, often accompanied by the distinct hum of a CRT TV. Think big hair, practical explosions, synth scores, and maybe some questionable fashion choices we now look back on with fondness.
"Rejected," while a brilliant and influential piece of animation by Don Hertzfeldt, arrived right at the turn of the millennium (2000) and really found its cult status through different channels – film festivals, animation compilations (maybe some DVDs later?), and significantly, the burgeoning internet culture of the early 2000s. It's a fantastic short, known for its absurdist humor and unique style, but it doesn't quite carry that specific nostalgic weight tied to the experience of discovering a well-worn VHS tape of a blockbuster action flick, a slasher horror gem, or a goofy teen comedy from the Reagan or Clinton eras.
The vibe we cultivate at "VHS Heaven" is deeply rooted in that specific pre-DVD, pre-streaming experience. We're talking about the tactile feel of the cassette box, the slightly fuzzy picture quality, the thrill of finding that one copy of Die Hard or The Goonies that wasn't already rented out on a Friday night.
So, while I have immense respect for Hertzfeldt's work, reviewing "Rejected" wouldn't quite fit the mission brief for this particular blog. It belongs more to the dawn of the digital/internet age of discovering unique content, rather than the golden age of the video rental store.
However, if you've got another title rattling around in that mental video library – something firmly planted in the 80s or 90s, maybe with some car chases, creature effects, or quotable one-liners – toss it my way! I'm always ready to dust off a classic (or a forgotten oddity) and give it the "VHS Heaven" treatment. Let's find something that truly smells like rented plastic and possibility!