It’s a freaky-deaky week in home entertainment, folks! Scarlett Johansson plays an alien on the prowl for horny men to absorb in Under The Skin, men who make heads explode go to war in 1980s horror classic Scanners, and a gay man struggles with the life-suck that is meth addiction in Meth Head. Finally, a Jewish family goes all meshuggah when their son comes out in Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!
($24.99 Blu-ray, $19.98 DVD; Lionsgate)
Director Jonathan Glazer’s adaptation of Michel Faber’s novel sees Scarlett Johansson play an alien. Driving around the UK, she attempts to lure men back to a house where they are ultimately absorbed in a mysterious black liquid. In the process, she slowly develops what may be empathy… This is seriously creepy stuff that haunts you long afterwards – particularly a bit involving a beach, and sequence depicting what happens to the absorbed men — and yes, you do see the alien unmasked by the end. That some of the men Johansson attempts to pick up had no idea they were part of a movie is revealed in the extras’ making-of featurette.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
($21.99 DVD; Breaking Glass Pictures)
When a Long Island Jewish mother, Shirley Hirsch, learns that her son Nelson is gay and has a boyfriend, Angelo (Jai Rodriguez), she gets all sorts of meshuggah. From a plot to get Nelson to sleep with a girl to collaborating with Angelo’s family, nothing can stop the couple from being together… especially when the prospect of adopting a baby comes up! Extras include outtakes, world premiere footage, and more.
($24.99 DVD; Gaiam)
Thirty-something gay man Kyle (Lukas Haas) is in a rut. When introduced to the pleasures of partying on crystal meth, he also plunges into its inescapable spiral of self-destruction.
($39.95 Blu-ray, $29.95 DVD; Criterion)
Director David Cronenberg’s 1981 horror classic about head-bursting telepaths gets a souped-up, 2k digital transfer Criterion edition chock full of extras! Those include a brand new documentary, interviews with actors Michael Ironside and Stephen Lack, Cronenberg’s entire first feature film, 1969’s Stereo, and more. Essential Cronenberg realness, people!
ALSO OUT:
ErOddity(s)
Pickpocket (Criterion)
Rio 2
The Face of Love
Open Grave
boring
Note: SCANNERS is NOT-OPTIONAL.
GET THAT SHIT, YO.
CivicMinded
“Oy vey” is it the new “Mambo Italiano”?