THE HISTORY OF SOUND: Slow, But Not Without Its Rewards

THE HISTORY OF SOUND (Blu-ray)

2025 / 128 min

MUBI

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😽

On one hand, The History of Sound was a pleasant surprise. Here’s a film with two main characters whose brief romantic relationship is the crux of the narrative. However, the fact that it’s a gay relationship has no actual impact on the plot. You could swap out David or Lionel for a Debbie or a Linda without changing a single scene or line of dialogue. We need more movies like that.

Granted, I haven’t seen a ton of gay-themed films, so maybe I’m behind the times. But most of the ones I have seen are either tragedies or deliberately provocative (or both), where the characters’ sexuality is central to the story. So if nothing else, this film eschews such cliches with protagonists who just happen to be gay.

On the other hand, The History of Sound is kind of meandering and too deliberately paced for its own good. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it boring, but despite a decent story, worthy themes and excellent performances, there were moments when I thought a car chase or something (if only just a bit of external conflict) would liven things up a bit. Music students Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O’Connor) have sort of a meet-cute in a local tavern, where they discover a mutual love of folk songs. This is followed by a brief romance before David is drafted to fight in World War I.

"No, seriously...your feet really stink."

Lionel returns to his family farm in Kentucky, where he stays for a couple of years and helps his parents, but he’s no longer happy. When David returns, he gets a position at a college in Maine, then invites Lionel to travel the region recording folk songs performed by locals. The two briefly rekindle their relationship until David returns to the college and Lionel heads to Europe. Though Lionel continuously writes to David, he never gets a response. Years pass, and during that time, Lionel becomes a respected singer and conductor, moving from Rome to Oxford, and even having a relationship with a young woman. 

However, he’s not satisfied with his life, so when he learns his mother is dying, Lionel returns home and doesn’t come back. Without ever saying so, it’s obvious why he hasn’t felt complete or happy all these years, despite being very successful. The viewer won’t need a slide-rule to figure any of this out, either. We’re just waiting for the inevitable to unfold. While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, director Oliver Hermanus draws things out longer than he needs to, compounded by a main character who might be a little too self-absorbed to be totally invested in. Sure, we kinda like Lionel, but he often seems indifferent to the impact his actions have on others.

Still, these characters feel real, as does the episodic nature of the story and the film’s overall aesthetic. One might even mistake it for a true story, which is a credit to everyone involved on both sides of the camera. The History of Sound is a little too subdued and slow to justify its length, but it does reward the viewer’s patience with a bittersweet conclusion.

WE BURY THE DEAD: Something a Little Different

WE BURY THE DEAD (Blu-ray)

2025 / 95 min

Vertical Entertainment

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

You might be thinking one of two things: Oh great…another zombie movie. Or Yay! Another zombie movie! Either way, We Bury the Dead is something a little bit different, which could be either a good or bad thing. I’m leaning towards the former, though I can certainly see some people hating it.

It’s got a great premise. An experimental American bomb accidentally explodes on the island of Tasmania, instantly killing everybody…or so it initially seems. Some people wake back up, but not quite alive. Why some are reanimated and others aren’t is never answered (though the question is asked). At first, they’re still essentially brain dead, but as time passes, they become increasingly aware…and aggressive.

Daisy Ridley plays Ava, who volunteers with others to go to the island and help locate bodies for disposal. If they come across one of the undead, they’re to signal the military, who’ll come and finish them off. But she has an ulterior motive…her husband was on the island for a business retreat during the explosion, and even though she suspects he’s already dead, Ava wants to find him in hopes that he’s reanimated. After managing to convince her volunteer partner, Clay (Brenton Thwaites), to take her, the two hop on a motorcycle to look for him.

Daisy wins another argument.

We’ve all heard that term, It’s not the journey, it’s the destination, which certainly applies here. Along the way, they meet a soldier, Riley (Mark Coles Smith), who recently lost his pregnant wife and turns out to be disturbingly psychotic. It’s also revealed that Ava’s marriage was actually falling apart and she’s possibly looking for closure. The undead themselves are initially lethargic and docile, but grow more menacing as the story unfolds.

However, those seeking zombie hordes and the usual gut-munching should take a hard pass. We Bury the Dead boasts a few gruesome moments - and a final scene that’s kinda jawdropping - but overall, the deliberately paced narrative is more focused on Ava and her state-of-mind than the ghouls she encounters (which are actually few and far between). As such, the film isn’t without its rewards, including some affecting ones.

The film is well written and directed by Zak Hilditch (whose These Final Hours still haunts me) and features good performances by the two leads. Having seen more than my fair share of zombie flicks - good, bad and ugly - I appreciated the effort to make this one just a little bit different.

THE POOP SCOOP: Machines & Monsters Edition

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

THE BRIDE! On Digital April 7 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 19 from Warner Bros. This is a bold, iconoclastic take on one of the world’s most compelling stories. Written, directed and produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Bride! stars Academy Award winners Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Academy Award nominee Annette Bening, Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz. 

SPEED RACER on 4K UHD May 19 from Warner Bros. Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live action Speed Racer stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon, and Matthew Fox. Directed by The Wachowki’s (“The Matrix” Trilogy), the newly remastered film will also include new bonus content featuring the filmmakers reflecting on the making of the film and its legacy. 

FALLOUT SEASON 2 on Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 19 from Amazon MGM Studios. While Fallout Season 1 took us through the dangerous remains of Los Angeles, Season 2 picks up after the epic finale and takes us on a journey through the “Mojave Wasteland” where Lucy (Purnell), Maximus (Moten), and The Ghoul (Goggins) travel to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Staying true to the world that Bethesda Game Studios originally created, Fallout not only embraces the lore and retro-futuristic setting of the original game, but it invites viewers to come along on a new adventure and experience the Wasteland like never before.

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER 4K Collector SteelBook Coming June 2 from Warner Bros. The collectible steelbook will include a Blu-ray bonus disc with special features created by Paul Thomas Anderson along with a 24-page booklet with behind-the-scenes photos. 

“WUTHERING HEIGHTS” on Digital March 31 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD May 5 from Warner Bros. Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell’s bold and original interpretation of one of the greatest love stories of all time.

Sam Raimi’s SEND HELP on Digital NOW and on Blu-ray & 4K April 21 from 20th Century Studios. Featuring over two hours of bonus content that takes audiences deeper behind the scenes of Sam Raimi’s twisted survival thriller, Send Help is a darkly comedic reversal of power. 

PRIMATE on Blu-ray and DVD April 21 from Paramount. Lucy’s tropical island homecoming was supposed to be beaches and best friends—not a fight for her life. When her family’s exceptionally clever chimp spirals into a savage rabid frenzy, the night explodes into terrifying chaos.

STRANGER THINGS: THE COMPLETE SERIES Coming to 4K and Blu-ray July 26 from Arrow Video. Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series will be available for purchase, featuring an array of exclusive bonus content. The Deluxe Edition is presented in custom packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork, alongside a wealth of extra material. PRE-ORDER HERE!

The Fantasy Thriller, DUST BUNNY Coming to 4K and Digital from Lionsgate. Some monsters are real in this fantastical and wickedly inventive feature directorial debut from visionary creator Bryan Fuller.

MERCY Coming to Blu-ray, 4K and DVD from Alliance Entertainment. Mercy follows Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt), who stands accused of murdering his wife. On trial before the advanced A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, he has just 90 minutes to convince it that he’s innocent and stave off execution. 

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE coming to 4K and Blu-ray April 21 from Sony. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival—the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.

Gore Verbinski’s GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE on Digital Now, on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD April 21 from Universal. A man claiming to be from the future (Sam Rockwell) recruits an unlikely group of diner patrons to join him on a genre-defying adventure to save humanity from the perils of social media brainrot and the impending AI apocalypse! 

INNERSPACE on 4K and Blu-ray April 28 from Arrow Video. Director Joe Dante (Gremlins) takes his brand of cinematic fun inside the body of a man with Oscar-winning visual effects. The limited edition release features a brand-new restoration from the original 35mm negative.

SLEEPERS 30th Anniversary Edition on 4K April 21 from Warner Bros Discovery. Based on the book of the same name by Lorenzo Carcaterra, Barry Levinson’s film features an all-star ensemble cast, including Academy Award winners Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Brad Pitt, along with Kevin Bacon and Jason Patric.

SOLDIER, Starring Kurt Russell, on 4K April 28 from Arrow Video. The limited edition release features a brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films approved by director Paul W.S. Anderson, hours of special features and newly commissioned extras.

Finally! BLUE THUNDER Limited Edition 4K Coming May 5 from Arrow Video. A landmark of analog-age futurism, it remains a razor-sharp thrill ride that fires on all cylinders from beginning to end. Includes numerous new and archival bonus features.

THE BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA on 4K and Blu-ray May 12 from Celluloid Dreams. This giallo classic will arrive in a beautiful slipbox that features the film, along with a vast array of bonus features that provide more insight into the film and its production than ever before. It is now available for preorder on the Celluloid Dreams website.

POINT BLANK Coming to 4K and Blu-ray April 21 from Criterion Collection. Free Kittens’ CEO bought himself an older Blu-ray copy of this action classic, then literally the next day, Criterion announces this release! In addition to a 4K restoration, this disc comes with a bunch of bonus features.

MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN on 4K and Blu-ray April 14 from Criterion Collection. Featuring ribald Roman puns, sharp political commentary, and an audacious crucifixion-themed musical number, the Pythons’ most ambitious film is a hilarious satire of dogma and blind faith in which nothing is sacred.

BEAM ME UP, SULU Needs a Little More George

BEAM ME UP, SULU (Blu-ray)

2025 / 90 min

Tribeca Films

Available at MovieZyng

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Fanboy😺

Not that this isn’t worth seeing (especially for Trekkies), but the title is somewhat misleading. Beam Me Up, Sulu suggests a documentary about George Takei himself. Considering his place in Trek history, to say nothing of his current status as an LGBTQIA+ icon, a feature length biography seems overdue.

While some of it certainly is biographical - and the best part of the film - Beam Me Up, Sulu tackles three different Trek related subjects. The most amusing is the resurrection of Yorktown: A Time to Heal, an unfinished fan film from the ‘80s conceived by film student Stan Woo, who was forced to abandon the project to focus on his studies. Still, he managed to wrangle Takei himself to participate, as well as another legendary Asian actor, James Shigeta (probably best-known on this side of the pond as Takagi from Die Hard). In addition to chuckleworthy footage of the film itself, several other participants are interviewed.

The film also delves into Star Trek’s history of erasing racial barriers and boasting the concept of inclusiveness to present an optimistic vision of the future. Lengthy segments feature interviews with other Trek actors and fans at conventions, who discuss how the show’s commitment to representation inspired them. While certainly enjoyable, this is where the film treads pretty familiar ground that has been covered plenty of times elsewhere over the decades.

"Of course, I have my own trailer."

By far, Beam Me Up, Sulu is most compelling when focusing on Takei, who candidly reveals his harrowing childhood years in a Japanese internment camp, the challenges facing Asian-American actors in an era when most available roles played into cultural stereotypes, his motivation for coming out as gay, and of course, what Star Trek meant to his career, as both an actor and role model. He also discusses his reasons for agreeing to appear in a cheap fan film while the Trek franchise was still flying high. His life is interesting enough to warrant an entire film.

In that respect, Beam Me Up, Sulu sort of short-changes us, perhaps biting off a little more than it can chew. Overall, the film is very entertaining, even inspirational at times, but the biographical segments are so powerful that scenes depicting efforts to complete Woo’s old fan film, engaging as they are, might seem anti-climactic. And it’s too bad the finished 24-minute short isn’t included (at least as a bonus feature), because it looks like a real hoot.

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - Additional interview footage featuring George Takei, Eugene Roddenberry, Garrett Wang, Alexander Siddig, Christina Chong, Ian Alexander, Chase Masterton.

BEHIND THE SCENES SLIDESHOW

LURKER: You Don't Need a Friend Like Matthew

LURKER (Blu-ray)

2025 / 100 min

MUBI

Review by Princess Pepper😺

Sometimes it pays to stick with a movie, even if you’re tempted to shut it off because it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. That’s how I felt about Lurker. Not only was the first act meandering, the two main characters weren’t anyone I felt prepared to spend 100 minutes with. And even as the plot began to develop, I assumed this was gonna be yet another “thriller” about a crazed fan and the pitfalls of fame.

To a certain extent, Lurker is indeed about a crazed fan. Matthew (Theodore Pellerin) is a seemingly laconic clothing store employee who’s unexpectedly befriended by rising pop star Oliver (Archie Madekwe). He’s invited to a show, and soon afterwards, becomes part of Oliver’s entourage…first as kind of a gopher, but later asserting himself as a documentarian, even making creative suggestions regarding Oliver’s music videos. In the process, Matthew becomes something of a social media celebrity himself.

However, when Matthew’s co-worker, Jamie (Sunny Suljic), is also embraced by Oliver and his crew, he grows increasingly jealous and resentful. Then following an incident in which Matthew intentionally injures Jamie during a video shoot, he’s ostracized and abandoned. Here’s where Lurker takes an unexpected narrative turn. Matthew’s continued obsession with Oliver doesn’t lead to violent revenge. Not only is he desperate to cling to his new-found fame, he still considers Oliver a friend. So instead, he blackmails Oliver into letting him continue making the documentary, at which time Matthew takes it upon himself to make most of the artist’s decisions.

Matthew shares his collection of cat videos.

Matthew is generally an off-putting character to begin with, but as he comes out of his shell (so to speak), he grows increasingly unnerving, in both his words and actions. Hence, Lurker turns into an uncomfortable viewing experience. We become appalled by the situation - especially Matthew’s sudden arrogance - but like witnessing a terrible car accident, it’s difficult to look away. The narrative surprises don’t end there, either…Lurker concludes on an ambiguous note that might be a little maddening, but is effective nonetheless. 

Lurker ends up being morbidly fascinating, with a main character whose behavior drives the unpredictable story into dark places. It isn’t unnecessarily a “fun” film, but like the recent black comedy, Friendship, we feel compelled to see it through. Once is probably enough for me, though. I don’t think I’d want to spend more time with Matthew than I already have.

DREAM EATER and the Usual Found Footage Questions

DREAM EATER (Blu-ray)

2026 / 89 min

Alliance Entertainment

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

Because found footage is an overused gimmick, I always find myself immediately asking two questions while reviewing yet another one:

1. Is there an actual narrative reason for the movie to be shot like this?

2. Is this the type of story where characters would realistically feel compelled to film everything happening?

Regarding Dream Eater, the answer to both is largely no, though it isn’t completely without merit.

The basic story itself ain’t bad. Alex (Alex Lee Williams) has a history of chronic sleepwalking, but his actions while asleep are becoming increasingly dangerous, which includes purposefully harming himself. So his girlfriend, filmmaker Mallory (Mallory Drumm), begins to document things at the behest of a doctor. This being a horror movie, Alex’s behavior grows more ominously erratic and threatening, to both himself and Mallory. 

It later becomes clear that there are supernatural doings related to Alex’s family history, when his parents were part of a bizarre cult. After a meandering start, the film boasts a few creepy sequences, and there are times where found footage is effectively utilized to create tension. The climax, in particular, packs a few great jolts. And for a couple of non-actors, the two leads are pretty decent in their roles (Williams & Drumm are also the film’s co-writers & directors).

Available for birthday parties.

However, why the characters decide to document all this at an AirBNB in the middle of nowhere is anyone’s guess. If Alex’s sleepwalking problem is so dangerous to everyone involved, shouldn’t they stay where emergency help is close by? And since Alex’s condition is serious, shouldn’t a professional somnologist at least be on-hand? Elsewhere, the film struggles to justify why Mallory would be compelled to shoot every waking moment, including times she’s using her PC, having breakfast with Alex, and most distractingly, when her own life is in danger. 

I guess we aren’t supposed to think about such things, but since the novelty of found footage wore off years ago, I can’t help it. These days, it takes a hell of a lot for me to forget about the camera, which Dream Eater doesn’t always do. Is it a deal-breaker? Not necessarily, because the story itself develops into something just interesting enough to make it worth our while. 

I also gotta add that the packaging is terrific. The Blu-ray cover, slipcase and mini-poster all feature distinctly different (and creative) artwork. Such nifty physical accoutrements are increasingly rare these days - especially for a largely obscure film - but I’ll attest that physical media fans appreciate the effort.

EXTRA KIBBLES

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FEATURETTE - This is actually more of a Q&A with executive producer Eli Roth talking with actors/co-directors Alex Lee Willaims, Mallory Drumm and Jay Drakulic. Roth also gushes unabashedly about the movie itself, and is also a bit self-congratulatory when discussing how he ‘discovered’ the film and made creative suggestions regarding the reshot climax.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By the directors.

GALLERY

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