Never doubt the powers of the discriminating VHS tastes of us Allegheny pugwackers splashin’ about the Three Rivers confluence . . . as it all began with an “Apoc Week” review in November 2021 of the lost Denver, Colorado-made sci-fi action-western, The Spirits of Jupiter. Now, the reissue has arrived!

Initially released locally in Denver in 1984, the film never received an official U.S. release — only to finally arrive on U.S. shores by way of overseas VHS bootlegs. Yeah, there’s nothing like a 40-year cult following pulling a lost VHS’er out of the analog snows of VCR dreams and into our digital streaming clouds.

Russell Kern, the writer and director of this lost, home video classic, has released a test-print of his completed restoration of the film to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Unlike the ’80s bootlegged-version print we know and adore, which clocked in at a never-intended-for-release one hour fifty minutes (110 minutes), the new “Uncut” version offers the opportunity to watch the intended one hour twenty minute version (80 minutes) — with a full image restore. Cross those fingers and toes for a wider platform release, including a hard-media version for our home libraries.

You can watch the world of Russell Kern — one where “Yellowstone meets The Night of the Living Dead” — on Amazon Prime. And be sure to visit with our original review from November 2021 to enjoy Russell Kern’s July 2022 insights behind the film’s production.

Our thanks to Mr. Kern for the B&S About Movies exclusive on this exciting news!

— R.D Francis