News

The Criterion Collection has grown and evolved a lot over the years. From DVD’s to laserdiscs and now 4K blu-rays, the boutique label of physical media releases is the benchmark of quality to hard-core collectors. But one thing that has remained unaltered is their dedication to bringing a varied library of new and old classics to life with the highest quality of visuals and sound.

Related Criterion Collection: Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid Review

The September 2024 lineup was stacked, with Happiness being among the most anticipated inclusions by fans. I reviewed that release earlier this month, and you can find that review here. Also among the new releases was Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, consisting of the films Totally F***ed Up, The Doom Generations and Nowhere.

The Criterion Collection’s Release of Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy The Doom Generation, part of the Criterion Collection...

The latest cult classic to get a 4K re-release is Gregg Araki’s 1997 Gen X trip “Nowhere,” courtesy of Strand Releasing. An apocalyptic dive into a world of teens more hedonistic and revelry-making than the scary wake-up call of Araki’s “The Doom Generation” two years prior, the perverse L.A.-set “Nowhere” has a killer soundtrack including Radiohead, Slowdive, Hole, Sonic Youth, Massive Attack, Portishead, Nine Inch Nails, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and much more to add to the teenage moodiness. Strand is currently touring the restored (and uncut) film nationwide starting Friday, October 6, and IndieWire shares the exclusive new trailer below.

The cast is led by James Duval, Rachel True, Nathan Bexton, Chiara Mastroianni, Debi Mazar, Kathleen Robertson, Christina Applegate, Ryan Phillippe, Heather Graham, and Mena Suvari, with appearances from Denise Richards, Shannen Doherty, Rose McGowan, and John Ritter. The final film in Araki’s “Teen Apocalypse” trilogy,...

★★★★★ Nowhere (1997) follows Totally F***ed Up (1993) and The Doom Generation (1995) as the third and final instalment in renegade filmmaker Gregg Araki's Teenage Apocalypse trilogy. Jam-packed full of rampant, libidinous teens that exist in a multicultural, pop art, dystopian fantasy, watching Nowhere is what might happen were you to read Naked Lunch before bed. Araki's muse James Duval is at the centre of the action, his character Dark Smith the embodiment of the apocalypse. He edits tapes in an attempt to control his life, whilst his bisexual girlfriend, Mel (Rachel True), simply can't commit to him.

This lack of commitment sees Dark's mind become a mass of bubbling confusion, especially after meeting Montgomery (Nathan Bexton). The theme of alienation follows Dark like a heavy cloud, eventually taking on literal form in a scene involving a ghastly explosion that would make undoubtedly have made Franz Kafka proud. Various interconnected sup-plots...

What can you say about a movie called Evilution? The title alone dictates one of two feelings the viewer will have about this movie. Either it will be a "so bad, it's good" movie, one in which the absurdness of the film is recognized and is played as such, or it will be a "so bad, it is really bad" movie. If I went by the first 5 minutes of the movie, I would have gone with the first option, but then the real movie kicked in and, unfortunately, it becomes the latter. this dreck is played straight as an arrow, serious and earnest, when it needed to be a hamfest of the highest order.

The plot, if you want to call it that, centers on a scientist and Captain named Darren Hall, the sole survivor of the opening scene. Hall, who escapes the blood and carnage of an army facility...

Coming to DVD this September 22 "Evilution," will shock the system and scar the psyche all in your own home. From writer Brian Patrick O'Toole (Cemetary Gates) and director Chris Conlee (Butterfly Effect 2, Abominable) "Evilution," will be released through BrinkDVD. Fans are sure to get a kick out of the unique premise of an alien microscopic life form that can "resurrect the dead." Have a look at a action packed trailer inside.

A partial synopsis for "Evilution," here...

A microscopic alien life form has been discovered with the ability to possess the living and resurrect the dead. The United States Army tried to communicate with it and failed. So, instead, the military tried to create a genetically altered version of the alien in order to resurrect dead soldiers on the battlefield. The alien fought back; turning soldier against soldier.

Release Date: September 22, 2009.

Director: Chris Conlee.

Writer: Brian Patrick O'Toole.

Cast: Marie Antoinette,...

The extreme highs and lows of contemporary teens witnessing the "end of everything" provide some of the funniest and most insightful scenes in the subversive cinema of Gregg Araki, whose new low-budget film "Nowhere" completes his "Teen Apocalypse" trilogy that includes "Totally F***cked Up" and "The Doom Generation".

With a downright surrealistic supporting cast -- from Jaason Simmons and Thyme Lewis to Beverly D'Angelo and Jeremy Jordan -- "Nowhere" is a sexy, savory cinematic cocktail for savvy moviegoers, but distributor Fine Line has its work cut out. Best theatrical results will come in major markets, but over the long haul "Nowhere" should find many appreciative fans as a video rental.

Loosely structured, even for Araki, and less biting than his previous five films, "Nowhere" again features the talented James Duval ("Independence Day") as a sensitive soul afoot in a swirling atmosphere of partying and pop culture that reflects and magnifies every emotion and physical urge.

A wild day in the life of Dark (Duval), "Nowhere" has bimbo-vaporizing aliens, drag queens, a scary televangelist, and characters called Zero, Dingbat, Handjob and Ducky, but at its romantic core the film explores the perils and pleasures of relationships, both serious and casual.

Dark's love interest Mel (Rachel True) is too wild to commit. She has a bitchy butch lover (Kathleen Robertson), and late in the game she gets down with gorgeous twins Surf and Ski (Keith and Derek Brewer).

Dark fantasizes about nice-guy Montgomery (Nathan Bexton), but the former is so confused he can't make any progress. It doesn't help when he starts to see a lizard-like alien zapping friends and strangers.

Other subplots include the downward spiral of a drugged-out musician (Jordan) who has a painful encounter with a dominatrix duo (Chiara Mastroianni, Debi Mazar); the dream-shattering encounter of sweet-girl Egg (Sarah Lassez) with the dreamy Teen Idol (Simmons); and the sexual adventures of brother-sister twins (Ryan Phillippe, Jordan Ladd) with their respective potent lovers (Heather Graham, Lewis).

The film goes nowhere Araki hasn't gone before, but the wickedly shocking finale underscores the filmmaker's go-for-broke sensibilities and piercing wit. There's even a bit of violence to balance out the film's inverted sitcom charm. Whether or not it's true for every viewer, Araki seems to maintain control of a film that's genuinely unpredictable.

NOWHERE

Fine Line Features

Why Not Prods.

Writer-director-editor:Gregg Araki

Producers:Gregg Araki, Andrea Sperling

Director of photography:Arturo Smith

Production designer:Patti Podesta

Costume designer:Sara Jane Slotnick

Casting directors:Rick Montgomery, Dan Parada, Mary Margiotta, Karen Margiotta

Color/stereo

Cast:

Dark:James Duval

Mel:Rachel True

Montgomery:Nathan Bexton

Kriss:Chiara Mastroianni

Kozy:Debi Mazar

Running time -- 85 minutes

MPAA rating: R...