Cheap Thrills Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Cheap Thrills Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 6, 2026

This film's title probably can't help but recall a famous album for some music fans, though in that regard it's kind of hilarious that evidently Janis Joplin initially proposed Sex, Dope and Cheap Thrills as the Big Brother and the Holding Company release's title, only to have that suggestion summarily rejected by Columbia Records. In a way, Joplin's original formulation might be perfectly at home with this film as well, with liberal doses of all three of those aforementioned elements on ample display once this tale kicks into high gear, albeit in a kind of smarmy environment that arguably plays like a black comedic version of Indecent Proposal (not that that film didn't have its own kind of camptastic humor for those willing to look for it). Drafthouse Films released Cheap Thrills on Blu-ray in 2014 (see below for a review link), and now Arrow Video is revisiting the title with Arrow's typically generous supply of bonus content.

As mentioned above, Cheap Thrills was released on Blu-ray in 2014 by Drafthouse Films, and Michael Reuben's Cheap Thrills Blu-ray review has plot information, a list of supplements and Michael's reaction to the technical presentation.

Cheap Thrills Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Cheap Thrills is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.45:1. Arrow's insert booklet only offers some fairly generic information about the presentation:

Cheap Thrills is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio. The high definition master was supplied by Drafthouse Films / Giant Pictures.

Despite the misrepresentation of the aspect ratio, it should be noted that this presentation's aspect ratio matches that of the older release from Drafthouse itself. As is also probably none too surprising given that fact and the background that according to the verbiage above it doesn't sound like any subsequent work was done by Arrow in this particular case, based on screenshots, this seems to be very similar to the older Drafthouse presentation. I've tried to come close to replicating some of the screenshots in Michael's review so that those interested can do side by side comparisons in full resolution, but I personally see no significant difference in detail levels or color temperatures.

Cheap Thrills Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Cheap Thrills features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that I suspect also mirrors the one on the Drafthouse Films release. As Michael noted in his review, the lo fi ambience of the production probably keeps this from being a surround whirlwind, but there are some nicely immersive moments in several scenes, including the opening bar vignette and even later once the "games" have begun. As Michael also mentioned, there's some interesting positioning of scoring. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Cheap Thrills Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: More information on the supplements ported over from the prior Blu-ray release from Drafthouse Films is available in Michael's review, linked to above.

• Audio Commentaries

Commentary by E.L. Katz & Pat Healy




Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas is new to this edition.

• With Friends Like These (HD; 19:00) is a newly produced interview with director E.L. Katz and producer Travis Stevens.


• Money Talks (HD; 36:35) features more newly produced interviews with Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, David Koechner and Sara Paxton.


• Double Down (HD; 19:08) is a newly produced interview with writers Trent Haaga and David Chirchirillo.


• Ketchup, Cheese and (Fake) Blood (HD; 11:47) is a new interview with special effects make up artist Hugo Villasenor.


• Vital Heat: The Making of Cheap Thrills (HD; 39:47)


• Cheap Thrills at Fantastic Film Festival 2013 (HD; 6:09)


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:28)


• Image Galleries

Cheap Shots (HD) features a gallery of photos supposedly taken by Violet




On Set Production Photos (HD)

This Limited Edition also features a reversible sleeve featuring two art options which are also available on an included double sided foldout poster. A collector's booklet has some interesting writing by Heather Wixson and Matt Donato. Packaging features a slipcover.

Cheap Thrills Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cheap Thrills has what I might call a kind of nascent Coen Brothers sensibility, and that includes sudden tonal shifts from hilarity to horror, at times with a completely peculiar simultaneous mixing of those two seemingly disparate elements. This deconstruction of an elusive American Dream suddenly morphing quickly into an American Nightmare isn't for the faint of heart or overly squeamish, but it's a roller coaster ride of a viewing experience that may well be as similarly exhilarating in its own way as any visit to a carnival. Technical merits are solid and as usual Arrow is providing fans with a wealth of newly produced supplements. Recommended.