Tusk

It's apparent from the get-go that Kevin Smith's latest feature was created while under the influence of marijuana, a fact readily admitted by the writer/actor/director in the special features on the Blu-ray of "Tusk". If you missed the wacked-out horror/comedy hybrid that came and went this past summer, now is the time to witness this insanely macabre kidnapping tale.

Think "Silence of the Lambs" meets "Clerks" in Smith's wickedly offbeat story about a podcaster (Justin Long) that meets his match when he enters the home of an idiosyncratic recluse (Michael Parks). "Tusk" takes place in Canada, where Smith ranks on everything from the country's accents to the offbeat people and culture. The dialogue between characters has to be one of the most original this viewer has witnessed, along with the litany of bizarre situations, some of which involve Parks' character's love of large mammals.

Audiences didn't really know what to think of Smith's first feature film in years, and he talks about it in detail in both the Blu-ray's "20 Years to Tusk" featurette and his lone audio commentary. "20 Years to Tusk," at an appropriate 20 minutes in length, features an interview with Smith, where he discusses his career over the past two decades. It's an insightful and frank discussion, highlighting the peaks and valleys of his films.

"The Making of Tusk" gets split into about 10 segments. Behind-the-scenes footage is featured, as well as in-depth looks at how certain scenes were filmed. Rounding out this must-have Blu-ray are two deleted scenes (showing Parks' character telling more crazy stories) and Smith's podcast that inspired "Tusk," called "The Walrus and the Carpenter."

"Tusk"
Blu-ray
www.lionsgate.com