DVDs also in stores this week...

"Thirst" (R, 2009, Focus/Universal): Even priests have crises of confidence, and in Father Sang-hyeon's (Kang-ho Song) case, it's enough to propel him to participate in an experimental blood transfusion that could benefit society but also is so risky as to be arguably suicidal. What wasn't explained to him was the possibility that, upon death, he could wake up as a vampire. But it's too late for warnings now, so here we are. Yes, "Thirst" is yet another vampire movie. But Father Sang-hyeon is unstably hungry, thoroughly rattled by the blow his faith's been dealt, a bit angry, a bit scared, but also completely enraptured by his newfound strength and abilities. In Korean with English subtitles. No extras.

"Bruno" (R, 2009, Universal): Borat Sagdiyev is one seriously tough act to follow, and perhaps no one knows that quite as intimately as the man who created him. "Bruno" plays out in similar fashion to "Borat," with Sacha Baron Cohen once again undercover in the titular role as he tries to achieve fortune in America. Fans of Cohen's "Da Ali G Show" already know Bruno, whose segment regularly followed Borat's on the show, so it's not as if he's a brand-new creation hastily devised in light of "Borat's" big-screen success. But even with that said, it's pretty clear "Bruno" is trying to out-Borat "Borat," which is also "Bruno's" problem: The vast majority of Cohen's antics revolve around the same gag (making prudes deeply uncomfortable), and the thoroughly coarse nature of the stunts feels far more confrontational than Borat's hilarious but outwardly well-meaning social flaps. That doesn't mean "Bruno" doesn't have its moments, because it absolutely does.

Extras: Revelatory commentary with Cohen and director/partner-in-crime Larry Charles, deleted/alternate/extended scenes, extended Larry Robinson (makes sense if you've seen the movie) interview.

"How to Be" (NR, 2009, IFC Films): For those unnerved and annoyed by the return of "Twilight" fever and Robert Pattinson's thousand-mile stare assaulting television commercials and movie posters everywhere, here's an early holiday present from the man himself. In "How to Be," Pattinson (starring here as depressed supermarket clerk and wannabe musician Arthur) is on the verge of either an epiphany or full-scale nervous breakdown, and he's flailing wildly away at anyone and everyone in hopes of getting someone to understand. "Be," for its part, travels on a similarly unstable path, regularly flirting with both light and dark comedy while also veering into darkly dramatic waters every once in a while.

Extras: Director commentary, behind-the-scenes feature, Pattinson interview, audition footage, photo gallery.

- McClatchy-Tribune News Service