A slice of life film about a kid who must decide between choosing the future his father wants, or following his dream of becoming a pro skater.

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Video Quality

North Hollywood arrives on Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that represents its intended look exceedingly well. The transfer captures the natural aesthetic with the ideal amount of finesse and care. It reveals texture within the clothing and production design that adds welcome depth to the picture. There is a nice exhibition of suburban vibrancy throughout with some splashes of colors, and the movie never falters in the complexity found in the darker spectrum of the palette. Highlights hold together well with no indication of blooming, and the blacks are deep and do not struggle with any crush or compression artifacts. Skin tones are nicely detailed and natural all around. Brainstorm Media has done a respectable job with this release.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with an effective DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that manifests this story with ease. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overshadowed by competing sounds. Environmental flourishes expand the soundscape to give the world a bit more personality. The sound design is not overly aggressive, but elements are balanced perfectly in the mix. Music permeates the room when it needs to with a standout presence. The soundtrack adds texture to the low end at memorable moments. The audio portion of the disc is a winner. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the theatrical cut.

Special Features

Theatrical Cut (1:34:00) and Director’s Cut (1:34:05)

Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Mikey Alfred, Actress Miranda Cosgrove, Costume Designer Lindsey Hartman, Cinematographer Ayinde Anderson, and Actor Ryder McLaughlin provide an entertaining commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, inspiration for certain moments, scenes that were difficult to capture, the location shooting, the atmosphere on set, and more.

Original Trailer (2:30)

Final Thoughts

North Hollywood is an entertaining, coming-of-age skater tale that takes familiar beats and finds new life within them. The ensemble of established players and newcomers blends well for an energetic melange of talent that oozes authenticity. There are a lot of laughs in this one with some moments of heart that land well. The film is a little shaggy in spots, but it is a promising debut from Mikey Alfred that is worth seeking out. Brainstorm Media has released a Blu-Ray featuring a favorable A/V presentation and a few welcome supplements. Recommended

North Hollywood is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome/OCN Distribution.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Brainstorm Media & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.