The Stuff 4K Ultra HD [Limited Edition] Review

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

The Premise

The Stuff (1985) is one of those wonderfully weird B-movies that could only come from Larry Cohen. A white goo bubbles up from the Earth; someone tastes it—and boom, it becomes the hottest dessert in America. It’s sweet, fat-free, doesn’t stain your carpet, and oh yeah… it might be alive. As the Stuff starts turning consumers into creepy, zombie-like followers, a smooth-talking industrial saboteur named Mo and a skeptical kid named Jason try to uncover the truth behind the goo.

Personal Appreciation & Thematic Depth

I’ve always had a soft spot for The Stuff. Like most of Cohen’s work, it’s clever, scrappy, and sharper than it first appears. Rewatching it recently, I was struck by its thematic parallels with They Live. While not a perfect match, both films dissect consumerism, mass manipulation, and shady government-corporate alliances. Pair them for a double feature, and you’ve got a perfect night of subversive sci-fi horror.

Satire and Tone

The film’s brilliance lies in balancing absurdity with biting satire. It never takes itself too seriously, yet avoids pure silliness. Through fake commercials, cheesy jingles, and corporate doublespeak, Cohen skewers American brand culture and our addiction to consumption—both literal and metaphorical. Think of it as The Blob for the Reagan era, served with an extra scoop of dark humor.

Performances and Legacy

Michael Moriarty anchors the film with a signature offbeat performance—equal parts gumshoe and wisecracker. He’s ideal for a story dancing between creepy and campy. Bolstered by solid support from Garrett Morris and Paul Sorvino, plus gloriously gooey practical effects, it remains a cult classic that holds up. The Stuff may be weird, but it’s got flavor.

The Video

Arrow Video’s 4K restoration of The Stuff is a gooey delight, sourced from the original camera negative and presented in its proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancements. Detail is sharp throughout most of the runtime, revealing the gritty charm of the film’s practical effects and low-budget locations. Colors get a nice boost: those pastel ’80s palettes and gooey whites pop beautifully without looking artificial. Black levels are deep and stable, and the film grain feels natural without ever overwhelming the image. The video looks great for the most part, though a few scenes toward the final act—particularly the showdown—show their limitations due to more compromised source materials. That said, this is easily the best the film has ever looked on home video, and longtime fans should be very pleased with the upgrade.

The Audio

The Stuff arrives with two audio options depending on which cut you’re watching. The theatrical version features an English LPCM 2.0 (dual mono) track, while the pre-release cut is presented in English LPCM 1.0 (mono). Both are clean, well-preserved, and true to the film’s roots. The 2.0 track on the main feature handles dialogue and effects with clarity—Michael Moriarty’s dry delivery and the satirical commercials come through with zero distortion. There’s not a huge dynamic range, but the mix still packs decent punch, especially during goo-filled action moments. The score and sound effects are well-balanced, never stepping on the dialogue. The 1.0 track on the extended cut is flatter but still serviceable. This mix does exactly what it needs to, keeping the film’s offbeat charm intact while sounding better than it has any right to.

The Supplements

Arrow Video knocks it out of the park with this 2-disc limited edition, making The Stuff feel like a collector’s dream. The first disc packs the newly restored 4K UHD feature in Dolby Vision, along with two commentaries—one brand-new from David Flint and Adrian Smith, and a vintage one from Larry Cohen himself. The feature-length documentary Can’t Get Enough of The Stuff dives deep into the film’s production, with interviews from cast and crew, while Enough is Never Enough adds unseen interview footage originally intended for King Cohen. But the real highlight for me? 42nd Street Memories. This feature-length doc explores the gritty glory days of New York’s most infamous movie strip, packed with first-hand stories and classic grindhouse flavor. What a time to be alive!

The set also includes trailers, TV spots, a photo gallery, and the King Cohen trailer. The second disc is an exclusive Blu-ray featuring the elusive pre-release cut, which runs over 30 minutes longer and features an alternate score. It’s a great alternate viewing experience that fans of the film will really appreciate. Rounding it all out are a reversible sleeve with new artwork by Chris Barnes and a collector’s booklet with writing from Joel Harley and Daniel Burnett. This release is absolutely stuffed with value—pun totally intended.

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 – 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
• 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

The Final Assessment

If you’ve made it this far into The Stuff 4K UHD Blu-ray review, you already know the deal: Arrow has absolutely outdone themselves with this release. The new 4K restoration looks fantastic, the mono audio is clean and true to the era, and the bonus features are a collector’s dream. From the alternate cut to that amazing 42nd Street Memories documentary (seriously, what a time that was), there’s so much packed in here that it’s hard not to gush. Whether you’re revisiting this cult classic or diving in for the first time, this is the version to own. Larry Cohen’s satirical horror still oozes relevance, charm, and that scrappy, indie spirit. Don’t let this one pass you by—grab The Stuff 4K UHD Blu-ray while you can, and experience the gooey madness the way it was meant to be seen.

The Stuff [Limited Edition] is out on 4K Ultra HD July 22, 2025 from Arrow Video

• Rating Certificate: R
• Studios & Distributors: Larco Productions | Arrow Video
• Director: Larry Cohen
• Written By: Larry Cohen
• Run Time: 87 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85.1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono (Theatrical) | English LPCM 1.0 (Pre-Release Cut)
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Street Date: 22 July 2025