Dogs in Space

Set against the late '70s punk scene in Melbourne, Australia, this low-key portrait of social dropouts, misfits, and musicians living together in a squalid house was a cult hit on its release in 1986, thanks in part to the dramatic debut of INXS singer Michael Hutchence. Seen from today's vantage point, writer-director Richard Lowenstein's Dogs in Space—partially inspired by his own experiences—comes across as a time capsule depiction of an era, with special attention to this particular subculture. At the center of the story is a rocky romance between heroin-addicted Sam (Hutchence), lead singer of an underground punk band called Dogs in Space, and his middle-class girlfriend, Anna (Saskia Post), who hangs out and becomes an adoptive big sister to the only female housemate (Deanna Bond). But the film is more impressionistic than plot-driven, offering a non-judgmental and vivid look at a lifestyle catering to immediate gratification as the characters quite literally live in a state of perpetual sex, drugs, and rock ‘n' roll, without giving much thought to the consequences. Extras include two audio commentary tracks with Lowenstein and his collaborators, Lowenstein's 2009 feature-length documentary “We're Livin' on Dog Food” (on the '70s punk scene in Melbourne), an archival “making-of” featurette, and a pair of music videos. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)