John Goodman is at his uproarious best as the William Castle-inspired movie promoter Lawrence Woolsey, who brings his unique brand of flashy showmanship to the unsuspecting residents of Key West, Florida.

It’s 1962, and fifteen-year-old fan Gene Loomis (Simon Fenton) can’t wait for the arrival of Woolsey, who is in town to promote his latest offering of atomic power gone berserk, Mant! But the absurd vision of Woolsey’s tale takes on a sudden urgency as the Cuban Missile Crisis places the real threat of atomic horror just 90 miles off the coast. With the help of Woolsey’s leading lady, Ruth (Cathy Moriarty), the master showman gives Key West a premiere they’ll never forget.

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Video Quality

Shout! Studios presents Matinee with a spectacular 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative supervised and approved by director Joe Dante with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was last released on Blu-Ray by the label in 2018 which was derived from a dated master that was crying out for major improvement. This new presentation serves as the dream visual presentation for this cult classic. This restoration has eradicated nearly every blemish and speck of print damage with nary a nick or scratch remaining. This disc is overflowing with sumptuous natural film grain which unleashes so much distinct texture in the period production design, the practical makeup effects, and more. This grain resolves favorably with nothing ever appearing clumpy or swarming even against the open sky. This disc thrives both outside and in the dim theaters.

The utilization of Dolby Vision serves up a tantalizing world of color that taps into great depth and nuance. The new presentation secures a level of accuracy and color detail that rivals the original prints. There are notable costumes and production flourishes that benefit from the complexity of the colors on display. Even the more muted colors achieve a greater level of accuracy. Black levels are firm with no crush present, and highlights never get too hot. The footage in the film representing the fictional movie Mant stays in line with the dated creative aesthetic. This is easily the best the film has looked on home entertainment, and fans will be overjoyed to add it to their collection.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc utilizes a new Dolby Atmos track and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track, in addition to the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track for the purists. The amount of audio options Shout! provides on this disc is unlikely to upset anyone. The Atmos track is not a night and day difference from the 5.1 presentation, but it does give the overall soundscape extra personality and a more deeply immersive quality. Dialogue typically stays anchored up front, but activity extends to the surrounds, rears, and overhead speakers when it comes to the music and key environmental sounds to make the world feel more robust and dynamic. The sounds up above are not constant, but they make an impact when it makes sense like the balcony starting to fall down.

The film satisfies when it comes to the music, as the speakers pump the Jerry Goldsmith score that stirs something emotional inside you. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting muddled amongst the competing elements. The low end effects from the subwoofer are mostly engaged to provide some extra texture to a few more thrilling moments. Directionality is never in question when it comes to atmospheric effects. For those who choose to go with the original stereo track, you will be treated to a rock-solid presentation that captures the original artistic intent. Shout! Studios provides a home run audio experience for this one. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Critics Drew McWeeny and Eric Vespe provide a new informative and entertaining commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, the drama behind the writing credits, how this encompasses the personality of Joe Dante so thoroughly, the performers in the film, references to other features, technical aspects of the production, and so much more that is an absolute delight to delve into for fans.

Florida Daydream – Interview with Actress Kellie Martin: A new 11-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses the audition process, working with Joe Dante, how she views the film from a modern perspective, the fun of shooting at Universal Studios in Florida, the difficulty of maintaining her hairstyle, and more.

Cold War Thing – Interview with Actor David Clennon: A new 13-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses his friendship with Robert Picardo, where he was in his life during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the influences on his character, and more.

Master of the Matinee – Interview with Director Joe Dante: A 21-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses being approached with the original idea for Matinee, how the story evolved over time, the initial reaction to the film, his memories of the performers, and more.

The Leading Lady – Interview with Actress Cathy Moriarty: A 12-minute interview with the actress in which she speaks about her role in the film, the direction she received from Joe Dante, her memories of John Goodman, the emotional dynamics of the narrative, and more.

MANTastic – The Making of Mant: A 25-minute piece with Mant/ant designer Jim McPherson and actor Mark McCracken, who plays Bill and Mant, that delves into the design of the character, the special effects work, performing in the suit, and more.

Out of the Bunker – Interview with Actress Lisa Jakub: A 16-minute interview with the actress in which she speaks about her love of Joe Dante before the film, the special qualities he has as a filmmaker, the qualities of her character, her memories of working with her fellow performers, and more.

Making A Monster Theatre – Interview with Production Designer Steven Legler: A 16-minute interview with the production designer in which he delves into the logistics of constructing various spaces for the film.

The Monster Mix – Interview with Editor Marshall Harvey: A 12-minute interview with the editor in which he reflects on the time period depicted in the film, his work on the film, collaborating with Joe Dante, the difficulty of weaving Mant into the film, and more.

Lights! Camera! Reunion! – Interview with Director of Photography John Hora: A 21-minute interview with the director of photography in which he discusses a lack of preparation for the production, the difficulty of shooting in Florida, and much more.

Paranoia In Ant Vision – Joe Dante Discusses The Making Of The Film: A slightly older 33-minute interview with Joe Dante from 2011 that touches on some of the details from the other interview while also revealing unique details.

Vintage Making Of Featurette: A nearly five-minute archival piece that gives a surface-level overview of the production.

Behind The Scenes Footage: An eight-minute fly-on-the-wall look at the production.

Deleted and Extended Scenes: A two-and-a-half-minute selection of unused material is provided.

Still Gallery: A selection of concept art, production stills, and more is provided.

Final Thoughts

Matinee is nearly a perfect encapsulation of the magic that a movie theater can provide for an audience. Joe Dante is the perfect person to bring this project to the screen that juxtaposes cinematic wonders with the realities of the world. The film tells a very intimate story in the midst of a larger societal conflict with every point of view given the proper amount of care. The performances are terrific from the dependable veterans to the younger ensemble. This movie is such a joy and one worth a proper cultural reappraisal as the classic that it is. Shout Studios! has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a top-tier A/V presentation and a dynamite assortment of special features. Even if you already own this one on Blu-Ray, this new presentation is not to be missed. Recommended

Matinee (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.