"The Perfect Host"
‘Frasier’ star an unexpected ‘Perfect Host’
Niles Crane as a serial killer? That’s the kooky, attention-grabbing premise, essentially, of “The Perfect Host’’ (2010), a low-profile thriller that blithely deems no twist too preposterous - and half gets away with it. The movie opens on John (Clayne Crawford, recalling early Ray Liotta), a desperate-looking character limping away from an LA robbery turned complicated, and searching for someplace to lie low. He randomly scams his way into the impeccably appointed home of Warwick (David Hyde Pierce of “Frasier’’ fame, naturally), who’s got his suspicions but nevertheless invites his visitor to stick around for the dinner party he’s preparing. Turns out that Warwick is a homicidal nut, and that John is the one in peril after Warwick serves him “a cheeky little drop’’ of drugged cabernet. The movie gives away Hyde Pierce’s Hannibal-esque routine in its advertising, apparently satisfied that subsequent surprises make up for the spoiler. Maybe, maybe not, depending on your inclination to roll with their shaky logic. But you’ll certainly be surprised by some of the shades Hyde Pierce displays here, from violent to voraciously sexual. Oh, and he does some pretty fancy stepping to the 1970s hit, “Car Wash,’’ too. Extras: In a featurette, Australian writer-director Nick Tomnay discusses making his debut with the film, and offers a glimpse at the black-and-white Aussie short in which he first sketched the premise. (Tomnay admits he had doubts about whether he could expand the story). Standard praise for his cast includes a shout-out to Helen Reddy, who plays a nosy neighbor. (Magnolia, $26.98; Blu-ray, $29.98)
DRAMA
PROM (2011)
You’ve heard the old contention that Seventeen magazine is really for readers years younger. Here’s the multiplex equivalent, a silly confection front-loaded with gooey, vaguely creepy scenes making prom invites seem like wedding proposals. The movie does better once it gets past the phony analogizing and settles into a teen-soap groove, with the class overachiever (Aimee Teegarden) drawn to the Johnny Depp punk (Thomas McDonell), among other familiar story lines. Extras: featurette; short film with the movie’s answer to “Say Anything’’ - vintage John Cusack - right down to calling the character Lloyd. (
TELEVISION
THE TWILIGHT ZONE: SEASON 5 (1963-64)
In the hi-def debut of the anthology’s final season, Rod Serling shuts the door he’d unlocked with the key of imagination - but not before hosting a look at William Shatner’s “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.’’ Another highlight: the Lee Marvin episode “Steel,’’ adapted from the same robot boxing yarn as Hugh Jackman’s upcoming “Real Steel.’’ There’s also the hilariously dark “Living Doll,’’ in which churlish Telly Savalas trades evil stares - and death threats - with his stepdaughter’s Talky Tina toy. Extras: 20 new commentaries, including tracks by “Nightmare’’ director Richard Donner, fantasy writer Neil Gaiman (“Coraline’’), and “Zone’’ historian Marc Scott Zicree. (Image, $99.98)
ANIMATION
THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS (2005)
It’s “Man on Wire’’ for kids, as the Scholastic Storybook Treasures series, which typically tackles picture book shorts like “Corduroy,’’ this time animates Philippe Petit’s famed World Trade Center feat. Jake Gyllenhaal narrates the adaptation of Mordicai Gerstein’s book, part of a 50-minute, four-story collection. As fascinating a subject as ever, in any medium. In other new family-friendly releases, Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas’’ gets a reissue on 3-D Blu-ray, while animators with the combo to MGM’s vault mash up a pair of studio treasures in “Tom and Jerry & the Wizard of Oz.’’ (New Video, $14.95)
TROLLHUNTER (2010)
Norwegians track the monsters of their folklore in this “Blair Witch’’-style import. Extras: production featurettes. (Magnolia, $26.98; Blu-ray, $29.98; available now)
IN A BETTER WORLD (2010)
A bullied Danish boy’s opportunity for revenge is paralleled by the brutality witnessed by his father, a humanitarian doctor, in an African refugee camp. This year’s Oscar winner for best foreign language film. (
TOP GUN (1986)
Tom Cruise feels the need for speed. You feel the need for souped-up picture and sound. Here’s a Blu-ray debut to make everyone happy. (Paramount, $19.99)
MURPHY’S LAW: SERIES 4 + 5 (2006-07)
James Nesbitt retires his troubled undercover cop in the taut British crime drama’s final two seasons. (Acorn Media, $39.99)
HENRY’S CRIME (2011)
In this caper comedy, Keanu Reeves gets wrongly jailed for a bank robbery, plots a real job with cellmate James Caan, and gets involved with stage actress Vera Farmiga. (Fox, $22.98; Blu-ray, $29.99; available now)
GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)
Robin Williams and a couple of unlikely Oscar-winning scribes named Damon and Affleck try on their local accents in the drama’s Blu-ray debut. (Lionsgate, $19.99)
SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS (2011)
Christopher Thornton transforms from club DJ to wheelchair-using faith healer after a fateful accident. (Maya Entertainment, $27.98; Blu-ray, $29.98; available now)
WRECKED (2011)
Adrien Brody is a trapped, disoriented crash victim in an indie unevenly cast in the mold of “127 Hours’’ and “Buried.’’ (IFC Films, $24.98; Blu-ray, $29.98)
Titles are in stores Tuesday unless specified. Tom Russo can be reached at trusso2222@gmail.com. 
© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.
