Late Night Classics Volume 1: Virgin High / Hot Under the Collar Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Late Night Classics Volume 1: Virgin High / Hot Under the Collar Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 1, 2023

With 1991’s “Virgin High” and 1992’s “Hot Under the Collar,” director/star Richard Gabai was determined to showcase his on-screen appeal, taking leading roles in both pictures. The films attempt to sustain the highs of teen horndog cinema from the 1980s, with Gabai committing to zaniness in full. Raunchiness? Not so much.

Click here for a review of Virgin High

Click here for a review of Hot Under the Collar

Late Night Classics Volume 1: Virgin High / Hot Under the Collar Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

See above for reviews.

Late Night Classics Volume 1: Virgin High / Hot Under the Collar Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

See above for reviews.

Late Night Classics Volume 1: Virgin High / Hot Under the Collar Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Virgin High

• Intro (3:37, HD) is a welcome to the Blu-ray experience from director Richard Gabai, who was inspired to make "'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' at catholic school" with "Virgin High." Impressing investors with his previous work, "Assault of the Party Nerds," Gabai was handed a larger budget and the chance to make a 35mm movie. Execs were happy with the results, ordering a sequel while selling the home video rights to "Virgin High" to Columbia Pictures, which gave the film a large presence in the marketplace.

• Commentary features director Richard Gabai.

• Image Gallery(11:00) collects BTS snaps.

• And a Trailer (1:47, HD) is included.

Hot Under the Collar

• Intro (3:37, HD) is a welcome to the Blu-ray experience from director Richard Gabai, who was inspired to make "'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' at catholic school" with "Virgin High." Impressing investors with his previous work, "Assault of the Party Nerds," Gabai was handed a larger budget and the chance to make a 35mm movie. Execs were happy with the results, ordering a sequel while selling the home video rights to "Virgin High" to Columbia Pictures, which gave the film a large presence in the marketplace.

• Commentary features director Richard Gabai and actress Melinda Clarke.

• Image Gallery (14:26) collects BTS snaps.

• "Pray and Meditate" (6:26, HD) is a "song and dance" sequence from "Hot Under the Collar," which includes a restored verse that was previously believed to be a bit too offensive for the original release of the picture. The clip also features an intro by director Richard Gabai.

• Behind-the-Scenes Footage (158:26, SD) is a lengthy examination of the "Hot Under the Collar" shoot, offering a terrific fly-on-the-wall look at the daily work put into the production. Most of the footage highlights the creation of shots (even inside an Arby's) and the atmosphere on set, but dips into catering and stunts are included as well. There's excellent atmosphere to study, along with some big behavior from the cast and crew.

• "These Days" (2:56, SD) is a music video from Richard Gabai's band, The Checks.

• And a Trailer (1:45, HD) is included.

Late Night Classics Volume 1: Virgin High / Hot Under the Collar Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Virgin High" and "Hot Under the Collar" are tough to sit through, though I'm sure there's an audience for these endeavors, especially people related to Gabai. Culture Shock offers pleasant presentations of the movies, and does fine with supplementary material, especially with "Hot Under the Collar" and its feature-length BTS video. That's great fun to watch. The two pictures? Less so.