Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Spree Blu-ray Movie Review

Crazy Taxi.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III October 26, 2020

Eugene Kotlyarenko's Spree isn't the first social media satire and it damn sure won't be the last, but this surprisingly dark and unpredictable thriller should hopefully have a longer shelf life than your average meme. It literally follows the life of one Kurt Kunkle (Joe Keery, Stranger Things), a video blogger who's repeatedly failed to "grow his brand" and would do just about anything to go viral. Unboxing videos? "Let's Play" gaming sessions? Food reviews? He's done all that and more but still languishes in online obscurity... unlike his famous friend Bobby (Josh Ovalle), who Kurt used to babysit a decade ago. His latest attempt at Internet fame arrives via the Uber-like "Spree" ridesharing app, where Kurt has decided to murder his passengers while livestreaming for a (hopefully) appreciative audience.

It's a ridiculous idea that's played for pitch-black laughs and softened by the fact that most of Kurt's victims are just as obnoxious as he is, from a racist motivational speaker to a skirt-chasing gym rat. Perhaps the lone exception is Jessie Adams (Sasheer Zamata), a local comedian whose quick wit and sharp tongue make her the only passenger to survive the car ride. Kurt obviously respects her but only because she's successful, unable to see the value in anyone who doesn't have a sizable following. After Jessie makes him an easy punchline at her next show, Kurt basically reverts to a slightly more insecure version of Arthur Fleck... but Spree is about more than that. It shows us a kid whose family life has been broken apart by a deadbeat dad (David Arquette), a culture overflowing with self-centered behavior, and bloodthirsty viewers -- here visibly represented as scrolling comments -- that lap up every last drop.

A front cover pull-quote trumpets Spree as "American Psycho for the digital age"; while this film isn't quite as clever or polished in its delivery, their almost identically gonzo demeanor at least warrants a base-level comparison. Spree might have been more successful if some of its most over-the-top moments were reserved for the final stretch rather than arriving before the halfway point, as this film doesn't need such a visceral hook to maintain viewer interest that early. Where Spree really shines are the performances (Keery's the obvious standout, but Sasheer Zamata isn't far behind) and its slick visual construction, which pairs YouTube-style formatting with hidden camera footage to maintain the fairly seamless illusion that disguises its repugnant but surprisingly rewatchable core story. It was obviously made by a cast and crew that understood both the material they were skewering and the canvas they had to work with.

Not surprisingly, I enjoyed Spree quite a bit more than expected and, while it could use a little refinement and tightening in a couple of areas (the ending, for example, is way too on-the-nose and feels more like padding than a victory lap), it's closer to "future cult classic" than disposable entertainment. RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray package offers some decent support too, including very solid A/V specs and a few well-fitting bonus features.

Spree Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Spree makes use of so many different techniques that it's difficult to pin down visually, as this all-digital production uses just about every trick in the book to break up what's essentially 90% "guy driving in a car". From Kurt's multi-angle in-vehicle setup (which features eight different perspectives) to pop-op on-screen graphics, occasional exterior shots, hand-held footage, stray security cameras, and split-screen shots, there's an awful lot of information on display at times... which is the reason why a few screenshots, including the one above, might look more like an advertisement at first glance. Aside from slight drops in quality dependent on the source material, RLJ's Blu-ray offers a razor-sharp and largely consistent 1080p transfer with crisp on-screen text, a solid amount of fine detail, and reasonably deep black levels in low-lit interiors and nighttime sequences. Colors are also nicely saturated, especially the LED lighting inside Kurt's car and some of the neon signage. Although small amounts of black crush and chunky noise can be spotted along the way, these again seem to be source material issues and aren't really distracting by any measure. Overall, it's a great-looking presentation of challenging -- and not typically attractive -- "fly on the wall" footage.

Spree Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio dresses up an otherwise plain-wrap presentation. In-car dialogue, not surprisingly, sounds a little hollow but still offers good placement when multiple passengers are on board, while exterior shots and other "normal" sequences obviously sound wider in comparison. The lone outlier is James Ferraro's score, which stands in contrast by looping around the rear channels and mixes nicely with the dialogue while purposefully overpowering it on many occasions. It's a satisfying effect that creates an equally surreal end result and suits the visuals very well. Optional English (SDH) and Spanish subtitles are also included during the main feature.

Spree Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

RLJ's Blu-ray arrives in a standard keepcase with appropriate cover art and a matching matte-finish slipcover.

• Audio Commentary - Writer/director Eugene Kotlyarenko contributes a candid and related commentary that covers all the expected bases including the original concept, development, social media influences and serial killers, "Elliot Rodger's Retribution", location scouting, setting up the driving scenes, establishing Kurt's ideology, visual effects and split-screen shots, casting the supporting characters, stunt driving, and much more.

• KurtsWorld96 Social Media Content (34:03) - 11 full-length clips glimpsed during the film including "Draw My Life", "Kurt Room Tour", "Street Art Story", "Beats Tutorial", "Vape Review", "Sneaker Unboxing", "Thai Iced Tea Review", "Gaming Day", "Kicked Off Spree", "Hard to Find Kurt", and "Announcing The Lesson".

Spree Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Spree could've been awful and obnoxious, like YouTubers who race for the first comment or return weeks later to post "EDIT: Thanks for the likes!!!". And while it's far from a perfect film, this relentless social media satire is at least well-crafted and features solid performances. It feels like it'll hold up well to repeat viewings (even if you just hunt through the on-screen comments for Easter eggs), and RLJ's Blu-ray adds support with a strong A/V presentation and a few decent extras. Recommended to established fans, and even as a blind buy for those who love pitch-black comedy.