Some Kind of Hate  (2015)

Reviewed for TheBluFile.com by Dustin Putman

(Release Date: November 3, 2015) – It is easier to admire "Some Kind of Hate" for what it is trying to do rather than for what it ultimately achieves. Director Adam Egypt Mortimer and screenwriter Brian DeLeeuw have made a film that is nothing if not socially relevant, but their metaphoric look at the consequences of adolescent bullying evokes more cringes than scares as its supernatural slasher theatrics ramp up. When high school student Lincoln (Ronen Rubinstein) violently fights back against an abusive classmate, he is unfairly sent to the desert-located Mind's Eye Academy, a school for troubled teens. He unexpectedly forms a connection with former cheerleader Kaitlin (Grace Phipps), but is once more accosted by his cruel peers—a situation none of the neglectful instructors seem to notice. Lincoln's wish for them all to die awakens the restless spirit of Moira (Sierra McCormick), a tormented teen from the past who committed suicide. Whether Lincoln was serious or not, the inadvertent spell has been cast, and the vengeful Moira is more than happy to begin knocking off anyone who gets in her way.

A coming-of-age cautionary tale and a gruesome horror pic in one, "Some Kind of Hate" is competently performed by its actors (even if the handsome, brooding Ronen Rubinstein is miscast as a harassed outsider) and doesn't quite lead where one is expecting. It is also decidedly muddled, complete with underserved motivations and a noticeable lack of suspense to go along with its gory death scenes. There are shards of truth in the film's discussion points about the reverberating effects of bullying, but 2015's craftier, more affecting "Unfriended" has beaten "Some Kind of Hate" to the punch.

 B-/B-

"Some Kind of Hate" attacks Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer showcasing the overall murkiness of its digital photography. This is definitely not the most visually appealing of films, with the daytime scenes full of the burnt browns and yellows of the desert and the nighttime scenes quite dark but unrefined in its black levels. While the image is clean and a few steps in clarity above its standard-def DVD counterpart, object detail is on the softer side for the format. The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is serviceable but nothing to write home about, with only music and the occasional sound effect taking advantage of the surround experience. Dialogue is clear, if not truly lively within the mix. This track is fine for what it is, but no one should be expecting aural fireworks.

• Audio Commentary with director/co-writer Adam Egypt Mortimer and co-writer Brian DeLeeuw
• Audio Commentary with director/co-writer Adam Egypt Mortimer and actors Ronen Rubinstein, Grace Phipps and Sierra McCormick
• Deleted Scenes (4:02, HD)

RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray release of "Some Kind of Hate" comes with two audio commentary tracks delving into the making of the picture—a plus adding definite value to the disc—but the film itself is only okay. While there are disparate elements worth commending and an overall well-meaning message to extol, the movie simply isn't as successful when it comes to delivering the requisite chills and tension the horror genre demands. My best advice: give it a rental if interested.