Mike Spring
What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – June 23, 2026
On the surface we’ve got one of the biggest hits of the year out this week, a kids’ movie that is sure to please! Behind that, though, we’ve got three intense foreign films, a couple of grown-up cult classics, and some other goodies. Check out what’s what below!
In This Week’s Column:
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
- Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (Blu-ray + Digital)
- Eraser (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
- Slither (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Steelbook)
- Children of the Wicker Man (Blu-ray)
- Godzilla: Kai-Sei Era – Godzilla: End of the Reign, Godzilla: Escape The Dead Zone, and Starship Godzilla: First Wars (Graphic Novels)
- Eagles of the Republic (Blu-ray)
- La Tete Contre les Murs (Blu-ray)
- Solo (Blu-ray)
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
Official Synopsis:
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie finds Mario and Luigi solving everyday problems in the Mushroom Kingdom with their “let’s-a-go” attitude. They meet a new friend in Yoshi, try to reform a miniaturized Bowser, and eagerly look forward to Peach’s birthday party. A call for help sends the crew across the galaxy to face new worlds, unexpected threats, and iconic characters like Rosalina and Bowser Jr.
The Movie:
When the first Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed something like a billion dollars at the worldwide box office ($1.36 billion, to be exact, with almost $550 million in the U.S. alone), it was as inevitable that there would be a sequel as it is that the sun will come up tomorrow. If you paid attention at the end of the first movie, there was a post-credits scene that hinted that a certain beloved green reptile character would be coming in the sequel, and here we are three years later and Yoshi has stolen the show.
This second film in what is now clearly going to be a long-running franchise is in some ways better and in some ways not as good as the first movie. The originality and surprise of the first movie is hard to replicate, and it feels like we’re revisiting ground we’ve already seen. That said, the idea to take the film intergalactic and add new characters gives the film more depth and fun new settings, leading to some fantastic sequences and some more great humor. Neither movie has wowed me enough to become favorites for me, but that’s okay because, A) I enjoyed them both well enough, and B) I’m not the target audience.
Kids will love The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and parents will enjoy it too. There’s not a lot more you can ask for from a family movie.
The 4K Video/Audio:
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie looks and sounds great, as an animated movie should on 4K. Blacks are deep and solid and image clarity is sharp, while colors are vibrant and backgrounds appear more vivid than you should rightfully expect. The surround soundtrack also bolsters the presentation, with a generous spreading out of surround effects through each satellite speaker. Dialogue is the focus here, and all of the voices sound crystal clear. Music is full and powerful, and the low end bass channel gives a nice underlying oomph. It’s a terrific A/V presentation overall.
The Bonus Features:
- Next Level: Making The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
- Cast of Characters
- Exploring the Galaxy
- Galactic Thematics
- Cosmic Tunes
- Power-Ups
- Secrets of the Galaxy
Digital Copy Included: Yes
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (Blu-ray + Digital)
Official Synopsis:
Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game. With four rival families hunting her, Grace has one chance to survive and claim the High Seat that controls the world.
The Movie:
If ever there was a movie that I didn’t think needed a sequel or could pull off a good one, it was Ready or Not, which was a breath of fresh air in the horror genre when it came out in 2019. And yet, here we are, seven years later, with a sequel I neither expected nor asked for, and somehow I loved every minute of it!
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come picks up literally the second the first movie ends, which is brilliant. I actually spent the first minute or two of the movie trying to figure out if they reused the footage from the end of the first movie or if they refilmed it, that’s how exact it is. And then the film does something that I absolutely loved: they showed the ramifications of the first film. I don’t want to spoil anything, but suffice it to say, what happens in the beginning of this movie is actually what would happen in real life, which was amazing to see.
And then the movie kicks into high gear, and it’s every bit as bloody, riotous, over-the-top, and fun as its predecessor. The addition of Kathryn Newton, a favorite of mine, as Grace’s sister is a great addition, and I loved every minute of the movie. I have no idea if we’ll get a third entry or not – a $39 million worldwide gross on a $17 million budget puts it right on the cusp of successful enough – but if there is one, I am 100% here for it!
The Bonus Features:
- The Game Goes On: The Making of Ready or Not 2 in 4 Parts:
- Written in Blood
- Casting the Chaos
- Designed for Destruction
- Blood, Guts, & Practical Mayhem
- Rules of the Game
- Gag Reel
- Two Cast & Crew Audio Commentaries
Digital Copy Included: Yes
Eraser (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
Official Synopsis:
Schwarzenegger’s back and tougher than ever! As an elite marshal for the Federal Witness Protection Program, he faces the toughest challenge of his lifetime in the electrifying action thriller Eraser When Lee Cullen (pop music star Vanessa Williams–The Pick Up Artist) stumbles upon a scheme to deliver a new superweapon into the hands of a hostile foreign power, her life as she knows it ends. Enter John Kruger (Arnold Schwarzenegger–The Terminator films), the only man who can protect her from conspirators who will go to any extreme to silence her. To secure her future, Kruger must “erase” her past even if he becomes the next target.
The Movie:
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the biggest movie star in the world for most of the 1980s and 1990s, hands down. 1996’s Eraser is an interesting film in his filmography, however. Produced at a cost of $100 million, the film was expected to be a massive hit. After all, megahit True Lies had just come out two years prior. But the film only grossed $100 million in the U.S., which was definitely seen as a disappointment. (It did gross over $250 million worldwide, luckily.) But this was the start of something of a downturn in Arnold’s career, at least for movies in which he was the sole leading man and didn’t have the word Terminator in the title.
Regardless of its box office fortunes, Eraser is not only a pretty spectacular action film, but it holds up surprisingly well. Journeyman director Chuck Russell (The Mask, The Scorpion King) might not be James Cameron or Tony Scott, but he managed to put together an extremely engaging action thriller that sees Schwarzenegger as an “eraser,” someone who helps endangered witnesses disappear. It had been several years since I watched the movie, and not only was it great to revisit Arnie in his prime, but I really enjoyed the film, I think more even than I did when it originally came out. That’s even more surprising considering that a major plot point revolves around technology, and 30-year-old technology doesn’t always hold up in movies, but it works here.
This week we get the debut 4K Ultra HD release of Eraser to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film. If you haven’t watched it in a while, I highly recommend revisiting it via this awesome new release.
The 4K Video/Audio:
The 4K Ultra HD presentation of Eraser offers up a nice audiovisual upgrade. Image clarity is nice and sharp, and the print is free of any blemishes or artifacts, and that’s what you would hope for. The color saturation is solid, with some moments where some real vibrancy shines through, and the film has a nice, warm tone to it that gives it a lot of life. The surround soundtrack nicely bolsters music and dialogue, both of which sound great, while the action scenes take on new life and fill in the satellite speakers nicely. A very strong effort overall.
The Bonus Features:
- Reinventing the Modern Action Hero: The Evolution of Arnold
- ‘90s Action Thriller Reimagined
Digital Copy Included: Yes
Slither (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Steelbook)
Official Synopsis:
Prepare yourself for this terrifying, twisted, and chilling film. From director James Gunn comes the deliciously demented story of an unnamed evil wreaking havoc on a small town. Intent on devouring all life on Earth, this dark force is infecting anyone in its path. Now, it’s up to the local sheriff, Bill Pardy (Nathan Fillion), and his team to stop the spread of rampant devastation—and shocking mutilation—before it’s too late.
The Movie:
I’ll be honest, with the exception of Guardians of the Galaxy, I’ve never really been a huge fan of James Gunn’s films. Slither was one I wanted to revisit, however, as it was one of his earliest and also it stars Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks. But there’s something about his movies – I always describe it as a mean streak – that keeps me from really loving them, and that’s evident nowhere more than Slither.
Upon revisiting Slither with Scream Factory’s new 4K Ultra HD Steelbook, I wish I could say that I’ve completely come around and now love the film. But I don’t. There are parts of it I like, but it’s just not quite the cult classic it is for me that it is for some people. The gore and guts are over the top, and Gunn seems to revel – as he often does – in his characters’ misfortunes. And I know, I know… nobody agrees with me. Everyone always yells at me when I criticize James Gunn, but I know what I see when I watch one of his movies, and I think Slither embodies that mean streak to a ‘T’. You’re allowed to disagree, but I think it’s there. And it’s just not my cup of tea.
Still, this new 4K edition is overloaded with great extra features and comes in a (rather grotesque) Steelbook that is a nice collectible. If you are a Slither fan or a James Gunn completist, this release is a must-have for fans.
The 4K Video/Audio:
Slither is still a lower-budgeted horror-comedy from 20 years ago, so it’s not like it suddenly looks completely brand new and like it cost $100 million. That said, you’ll notice brighter colors, a sharper picture, and good contrasts than you’ve seen on home video before with the new 4K Ultra HD transfer. There is a relatively active soundtrack (mostly making sure the dialogue is clear and the music sounds good) that also offers up some effective surround activity to help fill in the soundfield. It’s hard to complain about any of those things.
The Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director James Gunn and Actors Nathan Fillion and Michael Rooker
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director James Gunn and Actor Nathan Fillion
- We’ve Got Worms: Interview with Director of Photography Gregory Middleton
- Feed the Fear: Interview with Editor John Axelrad
- Just a Bee Sting: Interview with Special Make-up Effects Designer Todd Masters
- What’s Gotten into You: Interview with Composer Tyler Bates
- The Genesis of Slither: Interview with Writer/Director James Gunn
- The Other MacReady: Interview with Actor Gregg Henry
- Deleted and Extended Scenes with Optional Commentary with James Gunn
- Visual Effects Progressions
- Slithery Set Tour with Actor Nathan Fillion
- The Sick Minds and Slimy Days of Slither Featurette
- Brewing the Blood Featurette
- Bringing Slither’s Creatures to Life Featurette
- Lloyd Kaufman’s Video Diary
- Gag Reel
- Who Is Bill Pardy? Featurette
- Theatrical Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
Children of the Wicker Man (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
With his 1973 directorial debut, Robin Hardy fought to craft what would eventually be recognized as one of the greatest horror movies ever made. But for his loved ones, Hardy created a very different kind of nightmare. Now art historian Dominic Hardy and filmmaker Justin Hardy (A Feast at Midnight) – half-brothers and self-described “far-flung spawn” – explore their late father’s complicated legacy in this “incredibly brave and touching documentary that will take you on a journey unlike any you’ve been on before” (MovieJawn): Through stacks of decades-old correspondence, a pilgrimage to the original locations and new interviews with friends, family and the movie’s surviving personnel, Robin’s sons uncover the personal costs of the film’s chaotic production, their father’s war with the studio British Lion, his bitter falling-out with friend, business partner and screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, the financial and sexual improprieties that tore families apart and their own lifelong traumas as Children of the Wicker Man.
The Movie:
If you’re even a casual film fan, you should be familiar with The Wicker Man, either the 1973 original or Nicolas Cage’s ill-fated 2000s remake. It’s one of the most notorious and renowned horror movies of the 20th century, and it’s been dissected and discussed to death. But never like this.
Children of the Wicker Man is a documentary by half-brothers Dominic and Justin Hardy – and that ‘half’ connotation is important because Wicker Man director Robin Hardy had eight children by nearly as many women. And it’s that fact that drives much of the film’s narrative: Robin Hardy’s life post-Wicker Man was a mess. This isn’t a movie about the making of the film. Instead, the movie sees the Hardy Boys (sorry, I couldn’t resist) come into possession of a collection of notes, letters, and sketches by the late Hardy Senior, and use it as the launching point to explore Hardy’s life and their feelings towards him. After the tumultuous making of the film, Hardy went through financial troubles, infidelity, child abandonment, non-stop relationship issues, bankruptcy, and so much more. His children clearly did not get to enjoy a healthy relationship with their father, and it’s clear in the movie that there are a lot of unresolved feelings built up in the Hardy brothers.
Children of the Wicker Man probably won’t be what you’re looking for if all you want is another Hollywood making-of doc. But if you want a fascinating look at the behind the scenes of the behind the scenes, then look no further.
The Bonus Features:
- Audio Interview With Co-Directors Justin Hardy, Dominic Hardy And Chris Nunn, Moderated By David Gregory, Director Of THE WICKER MAN ENIGMA
- Q&A With Co-Directors Justin Hardy, Dominic Hardy And Chris Nunn And Producer Alison Palmer
- Making-Of Featurette
- Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
Godzilla: Kai-Sei Era – Godzilla: End of the Reign, Godzilla: Escape The Dead Zone, and Starship Godzilla: First Wars (Graphic Novels)
Official Synopsis:
Godzilla: End of the Reign – Brand-new Godzilla design! Brand-new talking monsters! Brand-new kaiju-powered humans! Brand-new world! A new Godzilla comics universe begins here! In 1954, experimentation with a mysterious energy source known as Kai-Sei awakened Godzilla and a host of immortal kaiju. In the years that followed, humanity has been pummeled by near-constant monster attacks. While Japan has begun to treat the kaiju like natural disasters—understanding that their attempts to fight Godzilla only make the threat worse—the American G-Force is going to fight, fight, fight. And the Americans have just discovered the ultimate tool in the fight against kaiju: A young boy named Jacen with the power of Godzilla. Able to harness the mysterious Kai-Sei in the same vein as the King of the Monsters, this boy will either save the world…or bring about its doom. Join Tim Seeley (Grayson, Hack/Slash, Local Man), and Nikola ?ižmešija (Sword of Azrael, Batman and Robin) on the ride of a lifetime! Collects issues #1–6 of the brand-new ongoing series—and concludes with the most shocking twist Godzilla fans have ever seen. This volume is the entry point to the new Godzilla connected comic book universe shared with Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone and Starship: Godzilla!
Starship: Godzilla – First Wars – Join a crew of cosmic misfits as they soar through the stars in Mechagodzilla in this series that ties in with the all-new Kai-Sei Era of Godzilla comics! You didn’t think kaiju were only on Earth, did you? In the fight for galactic supremacy, no weapon is more powerful than a kaiju…and no team is better equipped to capture and transport these titanic monsters than the crew of Starship Godzilla! This ragtag group flies through space in Mechagodzilla and takes high-risk, high-reward missions across the galaxy. A kaiju heading toward your planet? Give them a call. A colossal space pest clogging up your trade route? They’ll get rid of it. A galactic civil war utilizing kaiju on both sides? They’ll…uh…do their best to stay out of it. But where there’s a galactic war, there’s a galactic conspiracy, and our crew members may not all land on the same side of this fight. A brand-new kaiju space epic starts here in Starship Godzilla from Chris Gooch (In Utero, Under-Earth) and Oliver Ono (Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp)! Part of the new Godzilla connected comic book universe with Godzilla: End of the Reign and Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone!
Godzilla: Escape the Dead Zone – What’s going on inside the Deadzone?! Find out in this comic series set in the world of the all-new Godzilla Kai-Sei Era. Inside the new IDW Godzilla universe, there exists a mystery larger than any other…what is the Deadzone? Inhabitants of this new world know the Deadzone to be a walled-off portion of the Pacific Northwest, cordoned off after the most disastrous Godzilla attack the country has ever faced. The government would have its citizens believe that nothing is still alive inside the Deadzone…but do you believe that? There are stories of a man…or rather, a half kaiju, half man…who travels freely throughout the Deadzone. Some say he can even kill a kaiju. Some say…this “wanderer” is not the only of his kind. Follow the Wanderer as he encounters the strangest characters to hit comics in a decade: Glasseater and Runt! Two kaiju-controlling kids who are being hunted for their strange abilities. Together, these three will run afoul of Godzilla-worshipping churches, the world’s biggest Godzilla fan (literally!), and an underground kaiju fight ring. Journey into this mysterious new world with writers Griffin Sheridan and Ethan S. Parker (Kill Your Darlings) and artist Pablo Tunica (Godzilla/Ghostbusters 2, Sea Serpent’s Heir). Part of the new Godzilla connected comic book universe with Godzilla [Kai-Sei Era] and Starship: Godzilla!
The Books:
For those of you who may not be versed in every nuance of the Godzilla universe, the big green guy’s tenure has been broken down into eras, not unlike Taylor Swift (although he’s not quite as good a singer.) For example, the Toho Era ran from 1954 – 1989 and reflects the period when the Toho film company produced Godzilla movies that were a little simpler, mostly just a guy in a rubber suit fighting against other guys in rubber suits.
The Kai Sei Era, by contrast, is a new initiative from IDW Publishing, which sees three new ongoing comic book series being published monthly that form a shared universe and are taking the stories in a different direction than the movies or previous comics have. While the previous IDW Godzilla universe that started in 2011 had wide range of Godzilla stories that were comprised mostly of stand-alone series and miniseries, the Kai Sei era is more interconnected, with a not only the aforementioned shared universe, but a similar tone throughout. (It’s named for an in-universe energy source that led to the emergence of Godzilla and other kaiju.)
The first book is Godzilla: End of the Reign, which radically shifts the Godzilla paradigm, giving us a new take on the monsters that populate the Godzilla universe and a different visual style than we might be used to. This one is actually a little hard to say too much about without spoilers, as there are some big changes in the book, but it’s pretty darn neat. I’m not typically the biggest fan of writer Tim Seeley, but he does a nice job with this one, keeping things moving and bringing in some familiar faces from the history of the franchise. He also introduces some new ones, such as a mysterious and powerful teenager who will play a big part in things. Artist Nikola ?ižmešija absolutely knocks it out of the park! His artwork has a slightly manga-influenced look, but it’s so dynamic and grand that it feels like you’re watching a Godzilla movie instead of reading a comic book. This is one of the best-looking books I’ve seen in a while!
The next book is Starship: Godzilla – First Wars. Imagine Godzilla crossed with Star Trek, and you kind of get some idea of what to expect here… except the Starship Enterprise is actually Mechagodzilla! I mean, if that doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what will. Starship Godzilla really dives into the sci-fi aspect of the G-Man in a way that’s fun and different. You won’t see much of Godzilla himself, but the spirit of the kaiju films and the sci-fi trappings are all present, so it’s still an exciting ride.
The final book released this week is Godzilla: Escape the Dead Zone. I’m not gonna lie, this one is the oddest book of the three, and I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, even six issues in. It has a strong European feel to it; if you’ve ever read any European comics, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Even the art by Pablo Tunica – which I like a lot and really fits the story – feels like I’m reading a book that was originally written in another language. The series protagonist is a human/kaiju hybrid, and while the post-apocalyptic setting is certainly intriguing, the story took me a little while to get into. I think I’m going to like it eventually, but I’m still not entirely sure.
Each of these three graphic novels collects the first six issues of their respective series and are a great jumping on point to the Kai Sei Era! I wish IDW had maybe spread out the releases a bit to be easier on your wallet, but that’s a minor complaint for an exciting new era of Godzilla comic books.
The Specs:
- Publisher: IDW Publishing
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 168 pages/160 Pages/152 Pages
- Cover Price: $24.99 each
Eagles of the Republic (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
Egypt’s most adored actor George Fahmy (Fares Fares, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) is pressured to star in a film commissioned by the highest authorities. He reluctantly accepts the role and finds himself thrown into the inner circle of power. Like a moth drawn to the flame he begins an affair with the mysterious wife of the general overseeing the film.
The Movie:
The first of three foreign film releases this week is easily my favorite of the trio, even though all of them are quite interesting. If I described to you a movie in which a famous actor made a few mistakes in their private life and suddenly found their professional life and career being dismantled by a shadowy government force, you would be forgiven for assuming it was a 1970s-era conspiracy thriller a la The Parallax View or Three Days of the Condor. Alas, it turns out it is not, and is instead a movie made in Egypt just last year: Eagles of the Republic.
In it, Egyptian movie star George Fahmy is the biggest and most recognizable actor in the country. When he steps out of line politically, mysterious forces and shadowy figures start ruining his life and his career. Now, there was a time when a movie like this would have elicited thoughts like, “That’s only a movie trope,” or, “Sure, that could happen in Egypt, but not in the U.S.”
Uh-huh. Sure.
In an era when political figures in our government set out to ruin anyone who doesn’t agree with them, the story of Eagles of the Republic is timelier and more resonant than ever. The film fills you with a sense of creeping dread as it goes along, not least of which because while Fahmy makes some poor decisions, nothing he does warrants such a response from the government. Real life Egyptian star Fares Fares is outstanding in the lead role, starting the film as a completely spoiled playboy and progressing through paranoia, fear, and panic. The film isn’t all tension, though; it works in some humor to lighten the mental load, and it will keep you engaged from start to finish. Check out Eagles of the Republic, and just remind yourself that it’s only a fiction and nothing like this could happen in real life. You’ll sleep easier that way.
The Bonus Features:
There are no extra features on the disc.
Digital Copy Included: No
La Tete Contre les Murs (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
After he steals money from his wealthy father one too many times, the rebellious François is forcibly committed to a psychiatric institution.
After he steals money from his wealthy father one too many times, the rebellious François (Jean-Pierre Mocky, Litan) is forcibly committed to a psychiatric institution. Labelled a delinquent and an arsonist, he endures the dehumanizing treatment reserved for society’s rejects, and attempts to thwart the archaic methods of the cruel Dr. Varmont (Pierre Brasseur, Children of Paradise). Adapted by Mocky from Hervé Bazin’s shocking autobiographical novel, this poetic and furious debut feature from Georges Franju (Eyes Without a Face) features an all-star cast including Anouk Aimée (La Dolce Vita) as François’s only visitor, Paul Meurisse (Diabolique) in the role of the more modern Dr. Emery, and Charles Aznavour (Shoot the Piano Player) as a long-time resident of the institution.
The Movie:
The second foreign release this week is the first of two featuring French film star Jean-Pierre Mocky. The 1959 French film, La Tete Contre les Murs, known in most English-speaking countries as Head Against the Wall, is probably most notable for being directed by Georges Franju. While his name may or may not ring a bell, he’s best known for directing Eyes Without a Face, one of the most notorious and critically acclaimed psychological thrillers of the 1960s. This film, which predates Face by a year, still has elements of a psychological thriller in some ways, although it’s equally – if not more so – a melodrama.
It’s not hard to draw comparisons between La Tete Contre Les Murs and One Flew Over a Cuckoo’s Nest. Both are set in mental institutions with protagonists who don’t necessarily fit the definition of mental illness and try to escape. The story elements are different in the details, but there’s a connective tissue there you don’t have to look too far to see. The film does take a little while to get moving from a narrative standpoint, but once it does, Jean Pierre Mocky and Pierre Brasseure give strong performances that anchor the film. It gets pretty heavy at points, but I can’t imagine you’d go into this kind of film expecting a laugh riot.
This new release from Radiance Films offers up a new transfer of the film, new artwork, and a collection of bonus features that will be sure to please any fan of the movie or Franju’s films.
The Bonus Features:
- Archival interview with screenwriter and star Jean-Pierre Mocky (2008, 10 mins)
- Archival interview with director Georges Franju and actor Charles Aznavour (1958)
- Interview with Jean-Pierre Mocky’s assistant and friend Eric Le Roy (2023, 25 mins)
- Archival trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
Solo (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
A womanizing violinist and jewel thief (Jean-Pierre Mocky, Litan) must abandon his carefree lifestyle when he learns that his younger brother is part of the leftist revolutionary group responsible for the brutal murders of powerful men. Determined to save the life of his idealistic sibling, the cynical drifter becomes embroiled in a struggle that is not his to fight.
A decade after appearing in La Tête Contre les Murs, Jean-Pierre Mocky returned to acting with this profoundly satirical crime drama. Unflinching and heavily influenced by American cinema, Solo captures the visceral feeling of disillusionment of a post-1968 French society brimming with rage at the sinister powers that be.
The Movie:
Our final foreign movie this week sees Jean-Pierre Mocky once again taking a lead role, in the 1970 movie Solo. Now, I’m fairly new to Mocky, but it turns out the man was a powerhouse of French cinema. After his role in La Tête Contre les Murs, Mocky took time off from the screen for a decade to focus on writing and directing, returning to a leading role 11 years later in Solo, a film he also wrote and directed. (Mocky has hundreds of credits on screen as well as behind, and he stayed impressively active in performing and filmmaking until 2019, when he passed away.)
If you read the official synopsis, you’ll see the phrase, “Solo captures the visceral feeling of disillusionment of a post-1968 French society brimming with rage at the sinister powers that be.” Now, I won’t pretend to have much insight into the political situation in France in the late 1960s, so that particular subtext isn’t something I picked up on, but I can say that I’m smart enough to realize that the film does have a message, and it certainly isn’t “Hey! Everything is great in France right now!”
It’s interesting how different two films from the same country starring the same actor are and how reflective of the times they were made in are. La Tête Contre les Murs came at the end of the 1950s and feels like a distant relative of something like Rebel Without a Cause, while Solo seems to be a preview of the darker and more complex storytelling that would come in the 1970s. I have to admit, I liked Solo better of the two Mocky films, although both are worthwhile.
The Bonus Features:
- Archival interview with screenwriter and star Jean-Pierre Mocky (2018, 12 mins)
- Interview with actor Anne Deleuze (2022, 16 mins)
- Interview with Jean-Pierre Mocky’s assistant and friend Eric Le Roy (2022)
Digital Copy Included: No
