The Rubber Gun Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Rubber Gun Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 20, 2026

Director Allan Moyle is best known for his work in Hollywood, overseeing such endeavors as 1990’s “Pump Up the Volume,” 1992’s “The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag,” and 1995’s “Empire Records.” The helmer actually made his debut in Canada, exploring the counterculture scene in Montreal with a collection of characters who deal with drugs, art, and life itself. 1977’s “The Rubber Gun” is a freeform examination of relationships and investigation, with Moyle joining actor Stephen Lack (who would go on to star in David Cronenberg’s “Scanners”) to loosely script a study of a “family” facing various tests of loyalty as they experience the world on their terms. “The Rubber Gun” has no dramatic meat to it, and displays of acting reach maddening lengths, but it definitely retains some appeal with its time period and setting, with Moyle trying to capture a moment in these young lives as they face the reality of responsibility coming for them.

Stephen (Stephen Lack) is the unofficial leader of a “family” living in Montreal. He’s a struggling artist with a big personality, living with Pierre (Pierre Robert) and Pam (Pam Holmes), who have a daughter in Rainbow (Rainbow Robert). And there’s Peter (Peter Brawley), who joins the gang as they discuss life, enjoy play, and deal drugs to make money and support their habits. A new shipment of junk has arrived at a local train station, with the bag placed inside a locker, but Stephen and the others can’t get to it without risking being busted by the cops, who are working hard to disrupt the family’s operation. Allan (Allan Moyle) is new to the scene, with the college student trying to infiltrate Stephen’s life, hoping to acquire enough experiences to inspire his master’s thesis. Allan learns more about the inner workings of the gang, with family members struggling in their lives, forced to face responsibility which, for Stephen, isn’t a future he’s interested in.

Allan provides an academic understanding of the family in “The Rubber Gun.” He finds his way into the gang via Stephen, who catches him shoplifting a book on drugs inside a college bookstore. Allen is introduced to the group, understanding the dynamic of the living space and the personalities who reside there, but he’s primarily connected to Stephen. The most flamboyant of the family, Stephen is an artist and a leader, creating a system for his friends to help move drugs through the community, using code and his wits to remain one step ahead of the police, who are actively going after the group, keeping a close eye on their activities.

The train station locker situation is as close as “The Rubber Gun” gets to a plot, keeping the family on edge as they try to figure out how to retrieve a bag of drugs without getting caught. It’s not the most commanding tale of desperation, but it’s all Moyle really has, with the rest of the feature handed over to improvised moments, watching the actors feel their way around scenes, often ending up nowhere special as the camera captures their choices. Lack is the star of the show, and his ramblings get old quickly, but Moyle doesn’t break away from the performance, testing patience with Stephen’s monologuing, while another scene simply follows a playdate between him and Rainbow. “The Rubber Gun” is filled with shapelessness, and most of it is quite tedious, but there are moments when Moyle finds something to work with, exploring Stephen’s issue with maturity and the family’s struggle to survive.

The Rubber Gun Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (1.37:1 aspect ratio) for "The Rubber Gun" is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 2K from the original 16mm A/B negatives by Canadian International Pictures." The picture maintains a fresh appearance throughout the viewing experience, and while the endeavor does wrestle with focus issues, softer detail is appreciable. Skin particulars on the actors maintain some texture, along with fibrous outfits and hairstyles. Housing interiors and the train station deliver appealing dimension, permitting viewers to examine decorative additions and signage. Exteriors are deep, observing street life. Color is refreshed, with crisp primaries, including sharp reds. Cooler hues are found with urban tours, and artful additions are appealingly varied. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is decently resolved. Source is in good condition.

The Rubber Gun Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is listed as "sound transferred from the answer print." "The Rubber Gun" has its technical limitations, but clarity remains during the listening event. Dialogue exchanges are understood, making sense of overlapping conversations. Musical selections maintain crisp instrumentation and vocals. Atmospherics are appreciable.

The Rubber Gun Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains writings from Nathan Holmes and P.M. Masse-Connolly.

• "Stumbling Forward" (29:46, HD) is a heavily edited interview with co-writer/director Allan Moyle, who tracks his adolescent experience, dealing with different parental personalities and drug experiences, growing up angry, with a hunger to experience life. A relationship with cinematographer Frank Vitale is remembered, and Moyle shares his entrance into filmmaking, reluctantly taking the gig. Casting is analyzed, with the helmer managing sometimes difficult, eccentric personalities. Technical credits are inspected. The road to release for "The Rubber Gun" is recalled, and the interviewee discusses his "Hollywood years," unable to be more collaborative with American studios and crews.

• "Different Thinking Boys and Girls" (21:03, HD) is an interview with co-writer/actor Stephen Lack, who recalls formative years in Montreal, ending up at McGill University, embracing the educational process before losing control of his drug experiences, changing focus to his art career. The experience on "The Rubber Gun" is detailed, working with co-writer/director Allan Moyle to help shape the endeavor. Co-stars are remembered, and the production's time period is assessed.

• "Different Thinking Filmmakers" (21:50, HD) is a second interview with co-writer/actor Stephen Lack, who pops up in a new location to discuss his time on "The Rubber Gun."

• "Plead the Fifth" (21:23, HD) is a dual interview with co-writer/actor Stephen Lack and composer Lewis Furey.

• "Golden Times" (17:26, HD) is a dual interview with co-writer/actor Stephen Lack and cinematographer Frank Vitale.

• "American Cinematheque Q&A" (34:19, HD) is a 2025 conversation about "The Rubber Gun" with co-writer/director Allan Moyle.

• "Fantasia Intro and Q&A" (31:17, HD) is a 2024 conversation about "The Rubber Gun" with co-writer/actor Stephen Lack and cinematographer Frank Vitale.

• Original Theatrical Exit Music (2:04) is credited to Lewis Furey.

• And a Theatrical Re-Release Trailer (2:10, HD) is included.

The Rubber Gun Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's not a lot of raw power to "The Rubber Gun," which is buttered up by folksy songs from Lewis Furey and showy acting. The picture is most engaging when it deals with crisis, watching the family turn on one another and deal with the locker situation. The rest of the offering is best appreciated as a time capsule, capturing Montreal life in the 1970s, and the shifting realities of counterculture participants as they try to manage the needs of life. Moyle is piecing together moments, not an entire film, and that may be enough for some viewers. However, he's prone to distractions, unwilling to rein in acting as it goes painfully broad, losing focus the picture could really use.