A Better Place (1997) Director's Cut Blu-ray (MVD)
MVD will be releasing the film A Better Place (1997) on Blu-ray in May, featuring a new Director's Cut of the film. They are releasing it under a new imprint called Smodcastle Cinemas, which they apparently will be using for films they have from View Askew Productions, a company co-founded by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier.
I'm announcing this here (on the Rewind page) because it's a project / release from the mid-latter 1990's that I have been working on for quite some time with director Vincent Pereira along with Executive Producer Kevin Smith. "A Better Place" represents an early "View Askew" production (but a gritty drama / thriller and not a comedy), that in my humble opinion, is one of the best films that Kevin backed as a producer early in his career and absolutely deserves a second look. I contemplated launching this as part of the "Rewind Collection", however, when other films owned by View Askew were made available to us, we decided to give these releases their own line / branding (hence the Smodcastle Cinemas banner). All that said, I'm super excited to announce this MVD Entertainment Group re-release, so let's get into it...
DEBUTING ON BLU-RAY MAY 27, 2025: Vincent Pereira's "A Better Place: Director's Cut"
FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER KEVIN SMITH
From View Askew Productions (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma) and Executive Producers Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier (Good Will Hunting) comes an all new extended cut of director Vincent Pereira’s “edgy teen thriller” (Filmmaker Magazine).
Barret Michaelson (Robert DiPatri) is having a bad first day at his new high school - he is badgered, ridiculed, and nearly beaten up. He finds an unlikely ally in local loner Ryan Walker (Eion Bailey, Almost Famous, Fight Club), an intelligent but misanthropic youth with a dark family past. A friendship quickly develops, but Barret begins to worry as Ryan's philosophical ranting turns increasingly violent. When Barret does the unthinkable and makes peace with the local teenagers Ryan so despises, Ryan loses all control and attempts to drag Barret down into his world of hatred and destruction and Barret must find a way to escape.
A harrowing depiction of teen violence and rage, 'A Better Place' has been called "a bracing, disturbing film with an underlying humanity" (Stephen Gallagher, The Hamptons International Film Festival) and "Sharply written, with stellar performances... A Better Place deals frankly with the dark side of the American teenage experience" (Mitch Davis, Fantasia Film Festival).
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• 2025 Director’s cut of the film presented in a brand-new 2K Restoration of a 3K scan of the OCN & first generation print elements in 1080p HD in its director intended 1.50:1 aspect ratio
• Audio: LPCM 5.1 Surround Sound
• Optional English Subtitles
• NEW! Introduction by Writer & Director Vincent Pereira
• Archival Commentary with Director Vincent Pereira & Cast and Crew members
• 2001 Version of “A Better Place” (presented in standard definition, 2.0 Stereo, 85 mins)
• Vintage Introductions by Executive Producers Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier (SD)
• Vintage "Goof" Commentary (on 2001 version) with Director Vincent Pereira and Cast
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Director Commentary (SD)
• Outtakes & Bloopers (SD)
• “A Better Place” 2025 Trailer (HD, 1:27)
• Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
* Special Features May Not Be Rated, Closed Captioned Or In High Definition.
TITLE: A Better Place (Director’s Cut)
SKU: MVD7392BR
UPC /Barcode: 760137739289
$29.95 SRP
Street Date: 5/27/25
Color, RT: 86 min
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.50:1
Year: 1997
Audio: LPCM 5.1 Surround
MPAA Rating: NR