#Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

#Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 28, 2025

Troma Entertainment doing a Shakespeare adaptation? Again? Well, not really, but screenwriter Brandon Bassham is trying to do something with The Bard in “Shakespeare’s Shitstorm,” which uses “The Tempest” as inspiration for…well, that thing Troma always does. Director Lloyd Kaufman hopes to conjure absolute madness for the endeavor, which combines a light appreciation for iambic pentameter and floods of fecal matter for this examination of revenge. Perhaps there’s an audience for “Shakespeare’s Shitstorm,” but that doesn’t make the feature magically appealing, watching Kaufman try to merge his tired sense of humor with feeble commentary on the state of the social justice world in 2018.

Avonbard Pharmaceuticals has brought Safespacia to the masses, with CEO Big Al (Abraham Sparrow) making a fortune with the pill, giving peace to an easily bothered generation of social justice warriors. Second-in-command Antoinette (Lloyd Kaufman) is looking to take over the company, secretly planning a scheme to acquire a fortune. Disrupting her vision is her brother, Prospero (Kaufman), a mad scientist seeking revenge on Avonbard for destroying his life, creating a “shitstorm” to bring the corporate team to Tromaville for a proper death via his toxic drug, Tempest.

One of the major sequences in “Shakespeare’s Shitstorm” involves a party on a boat organized by Big Al, who’s ready to celebrate his company’s achievements with an assortment of the rich and powerful. Instead of enjoying a day on the water, the gathering is soon hit by a “shit storm” of Prospero’s making, drenching the partygoers in ocean water mixed with orca diarrhea. It’s the first of many scenes that involve fecal matter, and sums up the comedic tone of “Shakespeare’s Shitstorm,” which often favors shots of characters covered in filth, screaming their lines.

There’s something of a plot in “Shakespeare’s Shitstorm” involving Prospero’s revenge, and he’s also a concerned father, watching as blind daughter Miranda (Kate McGarrigle) falls in love with Big Al’s son, Ferdinand (Erin Patrick Miller). Complications should ensue, but Kaufman doesn’t have the attention span for that, often too busy tending to a movie musical in the making, as characters express their desires through song. And there are subplots following the spread of Tempest, the origin of Prospero’s crack house lair, and the interrupting nature of social justice warriors, who seek to destroy anyone who doesn’t follow their vision for humanity. Kaufman gets dangerously close to Old Man Yells at Cloud territory with this distraction, stuck trying to make sense of his own criticisms of politically correct culture, while everything in the picture skates right by satire into pure cartoon, and not in inventive ways.

#Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

The image presentation (1.78:1 aspect ratio) for "Shakespeare's Shitstorm" deals with the usual in goopy textures from a Troma production. Detail is acceptable, examining the rough appearances of the characters, who are frequently covered in chunky or slimy bodily fluids. Differences in age stand out, and monstrous creations maintain rubbery construction. Sets are examined in full, detailing the chaos of decorative additions, and rare outdoor visits provide depth. Color handles with definition, exploring the deep greens of the Tempest drug and the vivid reds of makeup designs and costuming choices. And yes, fecal matter remains a distinct brown with yellow corn additions. Skin tones are natural. Blacks are acceptable, with a slightly milkier appearance at times. Compression mostly holds together, with some instances of mild banding. Light blockiness also sneaks into view on occasion.

#Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides a simple understanding of "Shakespeare's Shitstorm" and its bizarre world of messiness. Dialogue exchanges are clear, competing with the general cacophony of the movie, but performances are intelligible, and yelling matches don't slip into distortive extremes. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation, and musical numbers offer sharp vocals. Surrounds work to expand some musical moods and handle room atmospherics, but don't remain particularly active. Sound effects are distinct. Low-end isn't challenged, but a few explosions register.

#Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blu-ray Disc #1

• Intro (1:01, HD) finds Troma Entertainment honcho Lloyd Kaufman offering a message of solidarity with Ukraine the only way he can: by having the Toxic Avenger attack a Russian tank.

• "A Word from Lloyd Kaufman" (1:37, HD) is an intro (with poor audio) from Lloyd Kaufman, who shares excitement for this "lovingly recreated, digitally remastered" UHD release of "Shakespeare's Shitstorm." He's quickly interrupted by a member of the cast.

• Commentary #1 features producers Lloyd Kaufman, Justin Martell, John Brennan, and Mark Finch.

• Commentary #2 features actors Zac Amico, Teresa Hui, Amanda Flowers, and Dylan Mars Greenberg.

• "A Heaping Serving of Troma" (6:31, HD) is a "Patreon Buffet" show hosted by producer John Brennan and set designer Yuki Nakamura. The pair share a few tales from the making of "Shakespeare's Shitstorm."

• "Radiation March" (:56, SD) is a brief dance piece concerning the dangers of pollution.

• "Tromatized" (1:50, HD) is a music video by Abbie Harper.

• "Troma Now" (2:06, HD) is a commercial for the company's streaming service.

• And a Teaser Trailer (1:15), Trailer #1 (3:14), Trailer #2 (2:24), and Trailer #3 (1:23) are included.

Blu-ray Disc #2

• "Brown is the Warmest Color" (94:33, HD) is an extensive making-of for "Shakespeare's Shitstorm," taking viewers back to 2018, when production set up shop in New York, and on day one, work stopped immediately due to a flat tire. Director Lloyd Kaufman is firmly in charge, making impromptu speeches and dealing with his crew, even appearing in the picture as a woman, tasked with calling the shots while wearing a dress and makeup. His famous temper (glazed with passive-aggressiveness) is also on display, showing little patience for mistakes and slowness during the low-budget shoot. Interviews are collected from cast and especially the crew, with some members of the team sharing their professional duties, including the application of fake blood on a toddler, creating fecal matter for the storytelling adventure, and handling the clean-up of very real vomit. Did I mention the wrangling of a rubber chicken with a pronounced human penis? "Brown is the Warmest Color" is direct and candid, truly showcasing the Troma production experience as it goes through endless creative challenges and rising tempers. It's arguably better than the picture it's documenting.

• "Tromalbania" (26:32, HD) follows the Troma production team as they move operations to Albania to complete work on "Shakespeare's Shitstorm" in 2018, handed access to a ship and locals to get the job done.

• "Troma in Times Square" (1:01, HD) is a commercial for Troma Entertainment's streaming service, taking the action to an NYC tourist spot, where the Toxic Avenger does battle with evil streaming giant "Netpix."

• "Shakespeare's Shitstorm: Musical Numbers" (HD) include "Shitstorm's A Comin'" (1:28), "I'm A Proud Crack Whore" (:55), "My Miranda" (:58), and "Renaissance (In My Underpants)" (1:28).

• "Shakespeare's Shitstorm: Historic Auditions" (HD) include "Kate McGarrigle" (1:57), "Amanda Flowers" (2:31), "Zoe Geltman" (2:02), "Dylan Greenberg" (1:50), "Zoe and Dylan" (2:19), "Teresa Hui" (2:36), "Ahkai M. Franklin" (3:30), "Nadia White" (4:47), "Jeff Cleve" (2:56), "Ciara Constanti" (2:05), "Lou August" (1:29), "BJ Thorne" (4:35), "Dwayne Mendez" (2:30), "Kyle Rappaport" (1:28), "Seth Persons" (1:38), "Travis Irvine" (1:39), and "Ventiko" (2:32).

#Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Shakespearean additions are plentiful in the feature, with Shakespeare himself acting as a narrator for the film, adding clarity to characters Kaufman doesn't really care about. The helmer is after Troma-branded overkill, out to shock with visuals that favor the smearing of bodily fluids, and oversee campy performances that don't know when to quit. "Shakespeare's Shitstorm" plays like a collection of random ideas awkwardly rolled into a picture of debatable fun, though Kaufman does commit to the mayhem, stuffing the endeavor with nudity, violence, and monsters. He seems to be commenting on the state of the world, pleading for "perspective," but he's more interested in making a mess with a tedious exercise in excess.