Catnip Reviews: CLASSE TOUS RISQUES, SOLDIER (4K) and the Original RUNNING MAN

Snack-sized opinions from the frisky felines at Free Kittens…

CLASSE TOUS RISQUES (Blu-ray) - We here at Free Kittens are just now discovering the wonderful world of French thrillers from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Currently, we consider Le Circle Rouge the Citizen Kane of the genre, with Jean-Pierre Melville being our favorite director. In front of the camera, we’re particularly keen on Alain Delon, Lino Ventura and Jean-Paul Belmondo. Those last two actors star together in Classe Tous Risques, a crackling 1960 gangster movie about a fugitive mob boss trying to escape the executioner’s chair by fleeing to another country with his family. Ventura excels in the lead, while Belmondo also shines as the only man he can trust. Tough, violent, but also somber and poignant, this Claude Sautet-directed film hits all the right notes. Also available in a 4K version, the film’s been wonderfully restored and includes a few excellent archival bonus features. (1960/105 min/Criterion Collection).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼

SOLDIER (4H UHD) - Soldier didn’t leave much of an impression when first released nearly 30 years ago (in fact, it was a critical and commercial bomb). But like a lot of movies in Kurt Russell’s filmography, it has since become something of a cult classic, even enjoying a bit of critical re-assessment in some circles. While certainly no masterpiece, Soldier is arguably one of director Paul W.S. Anderson’s better efforts. Considering his track record, that might be faint praise, but the film has a lot going for it…a good premise, impressive production design and another great action role for Russell, who delivers a tough-yet-affecting performance despite having only 104 words of actual dialogue. This release features a solid 4K transfer and good selection of bonus features, most of them brand new. (1998/96 min/Arrow Video).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

THE RUNNING MAN (Blu-ray) - Edgar Wright’s 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man isn’t without issues of its own, but it’s Children of Men compared to the 1987 version with Arnold Schwarzenegger (when he was still struggling with the whole acting thing). Gleefully tossing damn near everything but the title, the film replaces the novel’s dark tone and serious themes with garish, dumbed-down buffoonery loaded with WWE glitz and plenty of Arnie’s eye-rolling one-liners. Back then, it was the biggest bastardization of a King story since Kubrick dug his mitts into The Shining and time has not been particularly kind to it…at least aesthetically. However, The Running Man still has its share of fans and admittedly serves up some lunkheaded fun at times. If nothing else…casting Family Feud legend Richard Dawson as the film’s evil, ratings-obsessed game show host was a masterstroke. (1987100 min/Paramount).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

Hire THE HOUSEMAID

THE HOUSEMAID (Blu-ray)

2025 / 131 min

Lionsgate

Review by Princess Pepper😺

We get these from time to time…a psychological thriller with a sexy cast that comes out of nowhere to become a sleeper hit. In that sense, The Housemaid could be seen as this decade’s Gone Girl and is definitely cut from the same cloth. This one’s more preposterous, heavy-handed and ultimately kinda predictable, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it.

Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) is a homeless parolee who lies about her past to get hired by Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) as the live-in housemaid for the mansion she shares with her successful, handsome husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), and daughter Cece (Indiana Elle). Almost immediately, Nina appears mentally unstable, repeatedly flipping on the crazy switch and directing most of her cruelty and venom at Millie. Since losing the job means going back to prison, Millie quietly suffers Nina’s increasingly vicious tirades. All the while, Andrew keeps apologizing for his wife’s behavior and becomes protective of Millie, which ultimately leads to…

…well, you’ll figure out where that particular relationship is going long before the characters do. At any rate, the film’s first hour sets up the meat of the story…a series of narrative plot twists calculated to have the viewer questioning who the real villains are. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won’t elaborate on any of them, but will say that some you’ll see coming, others might be a surprise. The Housemaid also snatches a page or two from the Gone Girl handbook for its own purposes, such as flashbacks presented to reveal the truth behind what we’ve already been shown. The film culminates in a wild, bloody climax clearly intended to evoke visceral reactions from the audience, which it more or less accomplishes.

Best sammich ever.

Though The Housemaid is longer than it needs to be, especially with its sometimes laborious first act, director Paul Feig manages to step out of his comfort zone (he’s mostly known for comedies) to deliver an engaging, occasionally lurid thriller that pushes a lot of the right buttons. And interspersed among scenes of gratuitous sex and some butt-puckering violence are welcome moments of black comedy (the final scene is particularly amusing). A couple of gonzo performances add to the fun. While Sweeney might be Hollywood’s current Flavor of the Month - largely for aesthetic reasons - both Seyfried and Sklenar easily steal the film. The former, in particular, serves up some wildly entertaining scenery-chewing.

None of this will ever be mistaken for high art, but it’s generally a lot of fun. As psychological thrillers go, what The Housemaid lacks in originality (and perhaps plausibility) is compensated by pure exuberance. Being a surprise hit, a sequel has already been announced, but since the premise precludes any notion of lightning striking twice, I think everyone involved should quit while they're ahead.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - From Page to Panic: Making The Housemaid is a pretty decent 35 minute behind-the-scenes doc featuring numerous interviews; Secrets of the Winchester House: A Housemaid Tour looks at the mansion itself; A Peek Inside is a brief promotional doc. 

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - Both feature director Paul Feig, with others involved with the film joining him for the second one.

DELETED SCENES

TRAILER

A Lonely Old Man's Take on THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS (Blu-ray)

2025 / 88 min

Paramount

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Barnacle Boy😽

With my kids all grown up, it’s been a long time since I’ve revisited Bikini Bottom. But I spent many years enjoying the show on the living room sofa with them, and later taking my oldest daughter to the first movie when it came out…perhaps a little put-off at paying for something that was still on TV for free (but since this particular night at the movies wasn’t about me, I kept it to myself).

SpongeBob SquarePants was always a bit more creative, clever and funnier than a lot of other shows aimed at kids, so I seldom watched it with my girls out of a sense of duty. But alas, there comes a time to put away childish things, and once my kids lost interest in it, so did I. And that’s okay, because like The Simpsons, the show was starting to get a bit stale anyway (though it’s still airing on Nickelodeon, and as of this writing, is among the longest running cartoons in history).

I couldn’t convince either of my girls to join me for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, even out of a sense of nostalgia. So here I am…a middle-aged man watching a SpongeBob movie all by himself, more out of journalistic obligation than anticipation. (sad sigh)

This is the fourth theatrically released SpongeBob movie. While aware of the previous two sequels, I never watched them, but I was a little taken-back that this one is largely computer animated. I dunno…maybe that was done to assure today’s parents they’re getting something that is not on TV for free. Whatever the case, the animation isn’t bad and the settings are just as bright and colorful as the original show, but I’m kind of a purist. While I realize I’m not the film’s intended audience and every kids movie is GC these days, I miss the quaint charms of hand-drawn animation (which not even Disney bothers with anymore).

"Keelhauling? IIII'm ready!"

Other than that, it’s business as usual, with a bit more mild crude humor and butt jokes to earn its PG rating. In this one, the main antagonist is The Flying Dutchman, a ghostly pirate who needs an innocent soul to break his curse so he can return to the real world. And sorry SpongeBob fans…no free Krabby Patty for figuring out whose soul is at stake, for the plot is in the title. While everyone’s favorite yellow invertebrate ventures off with the Dutchman to prove his bravery (with Patrick in-tow, of course), Mr. Krabs, Squidward and Gary follow them to the Underworld to save him.

The story is basically an extended episode, and as such, the film should please fans, though some endearing secondary characters (Plankton, Sandy, etc) don’t get nearly as much screen time as they deserve. Like any extended episode, it sometimes struggles to justify its length, but I can’t imagine anyone who enjoyed the other films not digging this one.

Even though it’s sometimes very funny, I didn’t laugh much. But the problem is obviously with me. While I’m not too old to appreciate the film for what it is, a big reason I always found SpongeBob amusing is because my kids did. If they were by my side - and 10 years old again - their laughter would’ve been infectious.  

So as the end credits finally rolled, part of me felt a little melancholy. Unless one of my daughters becomes suddenly stricken by the nostalgia bug, it’s unlikely I’ll ever enjoy SpongeBob like I used to. However, if you’re a still a parent with young ones - and perhaps grew up on the franchise yourself - Search for SquarePants makes an agreeable family movie night

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - The SpongeBob Ensemble: The Veteran Voices features interviews with the main cast; The SpongeBob Ensemble: The New Crew focuses on new cast members; The Flying Dutchman: Animated Artistry and Live Acting is about the main antagonist; From Bikini Bottom to the Underworld is about the various settings of the film.

MUSIC VIDEO - “Big Guy,” by Ice Spice, who also voices one of the characters.

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

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 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.