Rocket Attack U.S.A. Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.0
Video		1.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.0

Rocket Attack U.S.A. Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 6, 2025

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of the Blu-ray release of Invasion, U.S.A. by Film Masters.

It's probably salient to mention at the get go that whatever reputation this film has managed to muster may well be due its inclusion as part of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and in fact that very episode is included as a supplement on this disc. While the always reliable commentator C. Courtney Joyner along with Mark Jordan Legan may make valiant attempts to suggest some kind of reassessment of the film may be in order, the fact is it may be best to simply sit back and enjoy (?) the hilariously if frankly also disturbingly overwrought histrionics on tap in Rocket Attack, U.S.A> as those dastardly commie pinkos have the audacity to bomb the stalwart United States of America. Rather unsettlingly, at least when stacked up against Invasion, U.S.A., the other film in this set, there's no "it was all a dream" denouement, which makes this odd piece even more of a downer even as its unintentionally laugh out loud horrible.

It's perhaps indicative of this film's overall lo fi ambience that the one even slightly recognizable name in its cast list is Art Metrano, and even he isn't really a featured player. There's some interesting background information imparted here (and available to enterprising internet sleuths) about producer and director Barry Mahon that is frankly more captivating than anything this ultimately ridiculous narrative has to offer. Suffice it to say there's a kind of Fail Safe adjacent storyline wherein a seemingly inevitable rocket attack simply needs to be dealt with. The effect of this inherently sad tale might have been pretty effective in more seasoned and capable hands, but here it's just peculiarly laughable most of the time.

Rocket Attack U.S.A. Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Rocket Attack, U.S.A. is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Film Masters with AVC encoded 1080p transfers in either 1.37 or 1.85:1. Perhaps just slightly hilariously, while the IMDb lists 1.37:1 as the original aspect ratio, I almost wonder if 1960 screenings may have been in 1.66:1, as the 1.37:1 framing here often has a lot of headroom while the 1.85:1 framings conversely often chop off the tops of heads. The aspect ratio conundrum is just one issue here, though, and as can probably be seen by the screenshots (in both aspect ratios) I've uploaded to accompany this review, this appears to be a secondary (possibly tertiary) source element that is kind of muddy looking, with anemic contrast and pretty consistent deficits in fine detail. There's also recurrent if typically minor age related wear and tear.

Rocket Attack U.S.A. Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rocket Attack, U.S.A. features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track that is unfortunately in about the same questionable condition as the video side of things, though perhaps arguably a bit better overall. You can hear slight distortion and a pretty thin high end from the get go with the blaring underscore accompanying the credits, and some of the later sound effects are also less than completely reverberant. The entire track is pretty boxy sounding, but dialogue is understandable (or at least audible, and, yes, that's a joke). Optional English subtitles are available.

Rocket Attack U.S.A. Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Mystery Science Theater 3000 Episode featuring Rocket Attack, U.S.A. (SD; 1:37:35) may frankly be the best, most entertaining, place to start on this disc.


• Atomic Era Shorts Collection: Part 2

Our Cities Must Fight (SD; 8:46) is a civil defense piece urging preparedness in urban centers in particular.




Warning Red (SD; 13:50) is from 1956 and is still preaching preparedness.

• Re-cut Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:29)


• Commentary is by C. Courtney Joyner and Mark Legan and is accessible under the Setup Menu.

Rocket Attack U.S.A. Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This particular disc may be more interesting for its commentary and the bizarrely intriguing atomic era shorts than for the film, but that said, technical merits are far from optimal for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.