DVD Review: Special

MAGNOLIA
Street: March 31
Prebook: March 3
> Oddball superhero thriller exceeds its budget limitations.

If a younger David Cronenberg had directed Hancock, it might look something like this science-gone-amuck suspenser that offers dabs of dark humor. Michael Rapaport plays a parking authority cop who takes an experimental drug and soon thinks he has superpowers. He begins a one-man anti-crime crusade, but two mysterious drug company henchmen want him put away, and the cops view him as emotionally disturbed. The low-budget production adds to the film’s homespun creepiness, as does Rapaport’s convincingly frenetic thesping.

Shelf Talk: Despite good reviews, only an extremely limited theatrical exposure and an appearance on Magnolia’s On-Demand channel on Comcast Cable preceded this 2006 picture to DVD. Comic book fans probably have heard of the title, and those who like their sci-fi gritty should be willing to take a dose of Special. Magnolia is looking for coverage in the appropriate fanboy places, electronic and otherwise.