High school is a complex place. One that is hardly a place you want to spend time in, yet also one that you miss when you leave. In Todd Solondz work, it is a place of peers, pressures and sexual demarcation. All done of course, with his acrid sense of humour dripping onto the floor like a bunch of teens vomit. Dawn “Wiener-dog” Wiener (played with relish by Heather Matarazzo and who graces the best interview I have seen in quite some time on the disc) knowns this well. Her school is akin to Dantes 6th circle of hell. She is perpetually teased, tormented and the butt of the schools bully, Brandon (Brendan Sexton III). All she really wants is to be popular, hey which kid doesnt? When she sees her brothers bands lead singer, Steve (Eric Mabius) it is literally the only thing she wants. He is her crush and the ultimate goal is a night in his arms. But what about Brandon and that strange way he looks at her?

I forgot how refreshing and volcanic, WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE was, when I saw it back in 1998. It appeared here as Todd Solondz was coming to be seen as a director on par with the great John Waters.

I saw it on VHS just before trooping off to see his (still best) film HAPPINESS, a confrontational tale of America and her vices. There are loads of great things here to relish. The HD transfer approved by the man, is a refreshing shift away from that fuzz and drain of the VHS. I hear on the grapevine that this scuzz made some more shocked by the film but I believe these people mistook this for KIDS. What you wont mistake is that the film has never looked nicer, in a state of 90s grunge joy at the least. There is a tongue in cheek commentary that blows hot and cold by BJ and Harmony Colangelo of the This Ends at Prom podcast. The great interviews I already mentioned, but Solondz is less crackling than Matarazzo. The essay video by Hannah Strong gives those new to Solondz work, a base camp to settle in and then search around. I dont fully agree with her in places, but admit she knows more than I will.

Limited Edition Special Features:

• High Definition digital transfer of the film with uncompressed original stereo audio, approved by director Todd Solondz
• Uncompressed stereo PCM audio
• Interviews with Solondz and star Heather Matarazzo (2022)
• Todd Solondz’s Suburban Nightmare: A visual essay by critic and author Hannah Strong on the film and its place within Solondz’s work
• Audio commentary by BJ and Harmony Colangelo of the This Ends at Prom podcast
• Trailer
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters
• Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on the film by A. S. Hamrah and Molly Lambert, archival writing by Solondz and Julian Murphet and extracts from contemporary writing on the film
• Limited edition of 2000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings