This week’s releases include a hauntingly real series; a long-coming sequel; a family dramedy; spiritual revelations; and bizarre thrillers.
Disturbing Behavior (Blu-ray)
Achieve, be excellent…and be afraid. For when the esteemed Blue Ribbon club of Cradle Bay High take their slogans too far, things in the small coastal town begin to go wrong. Dead wrong. And when a “dark sinister force” begins turning the school’s curricularly challenged into the soulless, academic elite, three “outsiders” join in a desperate race to avoid becoming insiders and losing their individuality forever.
Released in 1998, this film really spoke to a generation of high school outcasts whose worst nightmare would be conforming to the status quo. While it’s not always portrayed that way, sometimes not being popular is a two-way street with rejection on both sides. As the new kid, Steve (James Marsden) can choose where his allegiance lies, but the fight for his loyalty is unexpectedly bloody and weird. After all, no one expects to be dropped into the middle of a teenage version of The Stepford Wives. The brainwashing’s weakness is perfect for the demographic, while the still normal kids prove very resourceful in investigating the experiment. The cast is rounded out by then “it” kids, Katie Holmes and Nick Stahl, who are also joined by Ethan Embry, William Sadler and Bruce Greenwood.
Special features include: commentary by director David Nutter; alternate ending and deleted scenes with optional commentary by director David Nutter; and theatrical trailer. (MVD Rewind Collection)
Euphoria: Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)
A drama series that follows a group of high-school students as they navigate a mine field of drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love and friendship in today’s increasingly unstable world.
This series is reminiscent of the ‘90s breakthrough film Kids in its raw depiction of teens engaging in all the things of which their parents are afraid. It’s both captivating and disturbing as these adolescents make life-altering decisions some adults wouldn’t even be willing to make, highlighting their comfort with drugs, sex and social media — much of which frequently cross paths. Zendaya’s Rue is the show’s focal point as she struggles with addiction, inviting viewers into the mind of an addict and how they can rationalize some of the worst moments of their life. Since her character is based on show creator Sam Levinson’s real-life experiences, it’s not surprising they ring very true. Other subjects addressed via Rue’s circle of friends include trans identities, sexual orientation, partner abuse, abortion, sexual exploitation, self-esteem and depression. It’s an incredibly heavy series, but its honesty in covering these subjects makes it worthwhile.
Special features include: “Euphoria in Conversation: Zendaya and Sam Levinson”; “Storyboard to Scene”; “Euphoria Scene Breakdown”; “Euphoria Unfiltered: Zendaya”; “Enter Euphoria Part 1: Rue”; “Enter Euphoria Part 2: Jules”; “Euphoria: The Craft”; “Costumes of Euphoria”; “Enter Euphoria”; and “Euphoria: Set Tour with Sydney Sweeney.” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. (Blu-ray)
Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall) is the proud first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch who, together with her husband, Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown), once served a congregation in the tens of thousands. But after a scandal forces their church to temporarily close, Trinitie and Lee-Curtis must reopen their church and rebuild their congregation to make the biggest comeback that commodified religion has ever seen.
To some degree, elements of this movie will remind viewers of The Eyes of Tammy Faye as Trinitie devotes her life to her church and congregation, only to have all her work jeopardized by a scandal created by her husband. However, it’s clear early on that they weren’t just in the business of saving souls, showing off their many riches obtained via the donations of their parishioners. Followed by a fly-on-the-wall documentary crew, all the ups and downs of their big comeback is captured “unfiltered,” which doesn’t always offer a flattering angle. As the story evolves, their relationship devolves under the pressure of public scrutiny. It’s a critical depiction of the monetization of faith and the hypocritical nature of those leading the congregation, presented in a palatable and occasionally amusing package.
Special features include: alternate opening; deleted/extended/alternate scenes; and gag reel. (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
Satan’s Little Helper (Blu-ray)
Nine-year-old Dougie (Alexander Brickel) loves two things in life: his older sister, Jenna (Katheryn Winnick), and his favorite video game, “Satan’s Little Helper.” Dougie is thrilled when he learns Jenna is coming home for Halloween, but that excitement comes to a halt when he discovers she’s bringing her boyfriend, Alex (Stephen Graham), home as well. After an argument with Jenna, Dougie meets a man in a Satan costume placing a dead body in his front yard like a Halloween decoration. Believing this to be the Satan from his video game, Dougie asks for his help to send Alex to hell, which is very bad news for his family and the entire town.
This is a bizarre story in which a young boy’s inability to differentiate between fantasy and reality gives a psychopath an all-access path to his life. Dougie’s obsession with his sister is a little incestuous, which makes everyone else’s encouragement all the more uncomfortable. Moreover, even though the video game isn’t really shown, based on his interactions with “Satan,” it doesn’t seem appropriate for an impressionable nine-year-old. Nonetheless, the Satan character has a field day fulfilling the boy’s violent requests, which include a shopping cart rampage in a parking lot. There’s definitely some poor choices by some of the other characters, particularly in the very last scene, but most of the film’s draw is seeing how far the villain can go before someone tries to stop him.
Special features include: commentary by director Jeff Lieberman; vintage behind-the-scenes featurette; “The Devil and the Details: Making Satan’s Little Helper”; “Mister Satan’s Neighborhood,” a tour of the filming locations with director Jeff Lieberman; and trailer. (Synapse Films)
Summer Ghost (Blu-ray)
An urban legend says that lighting fireworks at an abandoned airfield will beckon the “summer ghost,” a spirit that can answer any question. Three teenagers, Tomoya, Aoi and Ryo, each have their own reason to show up one day. When a ghost named Ayane appears, she reveals she is only visible to those “who are about to touch their death.” Compelled by the ghost and her message, Tomoya begins regularly visiting the airfield to uncover the true purpose of her visits.
There are some pretty heavy subjects dealt with in this movie, from suicide to disease to murder. Yet, it’s treated in a manner that’s not overwhelmingly sad or morbid. The teens don’t actually expect to meet a ghost, so they’re somewhat shocked when Ayane appears. But there’s more to her than just a directionless spirit as she is mischievous and in search of answers herself. The narrative doesn’t always flow evenly, but the story is relatively compelling as Tomoya digs deeper into Ayane’s death, determined to help her find peace in her afterlife. Aoi and Ryo are satisfied by their one night with the ghost and find it difficult to understand Tomoya’s obsession with her, but are still willing to help their newfound friend on his mission. The warm, water colour aesthetic adds to the sense of summer whimsy that permeates the picture as the conclusion takes their friendship full circle.
Special features include: “To You Before Dawn” documentary; feature animatic; and interview with loundraw. (GKIDS & Shout Factory)
The Test (DVD)
The Castillons seem like the perfect family. Dad, Laurent (Philippe Katerine), is a doctor working from home and mom, Annie (Alexandra Lamy), is a happy housewife and mother, whose whole life revolves around their four endearing children: two brilliant and sensitive older sons, Max (Joaquim Fossi) and César (Matteo Perez), and a teenage daughter, Poupi (Chloé Gaillard), who helps her mother take care of the youngest sibling, Antoine, still a toddler. One day, Annie discovers a positive pregnancy test in their bathroom. Is it Juliette’s (Louvia Bachelier), César’s girlfriend? Poupi’s? Another woman in her husband’s life? Does Max have girlfriends? Whatever the answer, there is no good news… Annie thought she had everything under control, but with the discovery of the test, her seemingly perfect life starts unraveling — for better and for worse.
This movie is part family drama, part mystery and part comedy as Annie makes an earnest attempt to figure out whose pregnant and how it could affect her seemingly perfect family. Of course, putting her family under the microscope reveals previously unknown aspects of their lives. César is sure his girlfriend would have told him, but the inability to confirm while she’s offline for a trip begins to sow doubt in his certainty. Annie is shocked to learn Max is far more experienced than she’d ever expected, leading to a long day and night of questioning. She’s also not naïve enough to not turn the spotlight on her husband, wondering if some secret infidelity has resulted in an accident. Searching for the answers is a humorous and eye-opening experience for Annie with no one emerging unmarked by the investigation.
There are no special features. (Icarus Films)
Top Gun: Maverick (Blu-ray & Digital copy)
After more than 30 years of service as a top naval aviator, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot. Yet, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past when he returns to Top Gun to train a group of elite graduates and comes face-to-face with Lt. “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his former wingman, “Goose.” Bitter rivalries ignite as the pilots prepare for a specialized mission, which will require the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.
There’s definitely no attempt to escape a sense of nostalgia with the sequel as the opening credits are very similar to the original. Even Maverick feels it as he pulls his former Top Gun attire and wheels out of storage. Lines can also be drawn between the personalities of the graduates and the class of 1986, particularly between Rooster and Goose as he managed to inherit some of his father’s best traits even though he barely knew him. There’s unquestionable tension between Maverick and almost everyone else, from his students to his superiors to a former flame, but he eventually wins them all over with his charm and daredevil antics. The advances in technology since the first film allows filmmakers to better put viewers in the cockpits and alongside the planes as they execute daring stunts — one of the key reasons Cruise wanted to make the sequel. The highly intricate mission is meant to be the narrative’s climax, but the post-mission events end up being some of the picture’s most entertaining. Notably, the cameo by Val Kilmer is a heartfelt tribute to the man and his character, Iceman.
Special features include: “Cleared For Take Off”; “Breaking New Ground”; “A Love Letter To Aviation”; “Forging The Darkstar”; “Masterclass with Tom Cruise”; “Hold My Hand,” Lady Gaga music video; “I Ain’t Worried,” OneRepublic music video; and trailer. (Paramount Home Entertainment)
