Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. The last edition was quiet, which means that this one is jam-packed with so many titles that it’s going to take some time to get through them all. There are big Hollywood features, independents and a ton of classics that are receiving high-definition upgrades. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
AMERICAN EXPENDABLES: THE FILMS OF NORTH AMERICAN PICTURES – If you grew up in the 1980s, then you undoubtedly saw a great many action and genre pictures. This documentary looks at North American Pictures and their releases, which starred performers like Billy Blanks, Cynthia Rothrock and Bolo Yeung. You’ll get interviews with cast and crew of some of these low-budget efforts and hear details about the productions, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from many individuals involved in the productions. The picture has won a few awards at documentary and genre film festivals. So far only a handful of genre critics have seen the picture. While they admit the feature isn’t as strong or effectively put together as titles like the Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Pictures documentary, many state that it should still be plenty of fun for B-movies.
ANORA – A Brooklyn stripper/sex worker gets involved with the son of a Russian oligarch in this comedy/drama. While out partying. the two impulsively decide to get married, which causes chaos within the groom’s family. They send henchmen to annul the marriage, but can’t find the young man and have difficulty controlling his strong-willed bride. It results in a darkly funny and dangerous night. This picture was a critical darling and ended up winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Editing. One or two complained that the film was overlong and that its sense of humor trivialized the lives of sex workers. However, everyone else called the movie a fast-paced and wild ride with incredible performances that helped humanize those working in the profession. The film is available through Criterion as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray or a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Mikey Madison, Yura Borisov, Paul Weissman, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan and Mark Eydelshteyn.
BIRTH/REBIRTH – In this reimagining of the Frankenstein story, a morgue attendant begins experimentation on the dead. She successfully reanimates the body of a little girl, but the corpse’s mother ends up finding out. The two team up to steal biological materials from pregnant women in order to keep the undead subject functioning. This picture actually received a limited release at theaters and made its streaming debut on the Shudder site back in 2023. Now, it Is arriving on disc. The press gave the picture high marks. One or two reviews claimed the end result was a little dull and that it didn’t offer enough fresh ideas to make it stand out. All others suggested that the performances were exceptional and that the feature did an excellent job of updating the story with a feminist slant and its new take on the trials of motherhood. The cast includes Martin Ireland, Judy Reyes, A.J. Lister and Breeda Wool.
CANNIBAL COMEDIAN – A menacing cannibal feels unfulfilled at work and has a hard time finding potential targets. He decides to kill two birds with one stone and try his luck as a stand-up comic. The lead finds himself enjoying being a performer and finding some success on stage, but begins to feel badly after meeting his next victim at a show. He likes her so much that he doesn’t want to eat her and instead tries to convert her to his lifestyle. This little picture hasn’t been seen by many, but it played at various independent genre film festivals in 2023 and 2024, where it received plenty of compliments. Most wrote that the film’s bizarre concept was interesting and the filmmaker made the most of his limited resources, creating unique characters and grimy amusing situations. It features Aaron Prager, Edwin Neal, Austin Judd, Dana Kippel and Robert Dunne.
CORA BORA – Here’s another independent effort that debuted in limited release and on streaming sites and is now arriving on disc. It’s a comedy about a young woman struggling to put her life together. She leaves her girlfriend in Portland to focus on a music career, only to find no success in her field. The lead returns home to try to win her ex back, only to learn that the woman has moved on and is now living with another lady. In order to move forward, the protagonist tries to work on her self-centeredness. Reaction towards this film was more positive than negative. Slightly more than one-fifth of reviewers found the story overly familiar, and didn’t take to the lead character or laugh at the gags. Still, the majority called the film an amusing examination of a flawed but relatable individual. They found the protagonist and her misadventures entertaining. Megan Statler, Jojo T. Gibbs, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann headline the picture, which also features Darrell Hammond, Margaret Cho and Chelsea Peretti.
HEAVIER TRIP – The 2018 Finnish comedy Heavy Trip told the story of a heavy metal band trying to make their big break in the Scandinavian music scene. This sequel picks up with the group now in prison (presumably because of what occurred during the first feature). A music producer discovers the band and offers them a big paycheck and slot at a major music festival. They immediately reject the offer, but after learning that one of their parents is in crippling debt, reconsider. They break out of jail to play the show and collect the money. This film earned better notices than its predecessor among North American critics. One voice couldn’t get on its wavelength and found the entire experience baffling. Everyone else called it a solid follow-up with likable leads and loads of laughs that cleverly poked fun at metal music. It stars Johannes Holopainen, Samuli Jaskio, Max Ovaska and Chike Ohanwe.
INVASION – This Dutch action/thriller follows a trio of rookie marines in the military. They are shocked to suddenly be called into action when a rogue nation invades Curaçao and Aruba (two island nations in the Caribbean that are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). The group arrive to help rescue a diplomat, but quickly find themselves on the frontlines and must adapt in order to survive and repel the enemy. Reviews for this picture have been middling. Most state the movie is polished and delivers some decent action scenes over its running time. However, they also note that the characters are very simply drawn and overly familiar. Additionally, they write that the filmmaker has difficulty figuring out who the lead character is and so the story jumps around more than it should. It features Tarikh Janssen, Gijs Blom, Ortál Vriend and Fedja van Huêt.
LAST BREATH – Based on a true story that occurred in 2012, this tale follows a group of deep-sea divers working to repair a gas line in the North Sea. When a storm and other problems on the surface result in their vessel losing tracking abilities and the line to their diving bell being severed, the individuals deep below must find a way to return to safety. If this story sounds familiar, that may be because the film is a narrative remake of a well-liked 2019 documentary. The press generally enjoyed this survival drama as well. About one-fifth did complain that the non-fiction film was more compelling and that this adaptation felt predictable. Regardless, the vast majority believed that this was a tense and thrilling story with solid performances that kept them on the edge of their seat throughout. The cast includes Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, Cliff Curtis, Mark Bonnar and MyAnna Buring.
LATE CHECKOUT – A knife-wielding psychopath in a welding helmet is at the center of this independent horror picture. As you might have guessed, the individual isn’t excited about fusing pieces of metal together, but rather tearing victims apart. That’s bad news for a group of students who arrive at a nearby cabin to party and have a good time. Before long, they’re all screaming in terror and trying to fend off the killer. So far, there are only a handful of reviews for this picture and they are mixed. A few suggest that the slasher is well-paced and offers some elaborate and effective murder scenes. But just as many stated that the entire exercise felt unoriginal and that the emphasis on pacing meant that the characters were not well developed. It features Felissa Rose, L.C. Holt, Chaney Morrow, Kamarra Cole and Bailey Herrington.
LOOKY-LOO – This low-budget, independent horror picture involves a maniac and aspiring filmmaker who stalks his targets before ending their lives. So much so that his actions have put the entire community on edge. One day, he becomes obsessed with a woman, capturing her and deciding to make her the star of his latest snuff picture. But will his voyeuristic obsession eventually lead to his downfall? This effort has played at a couple of small film festivals over the past year, where it won awards. Apparently, the entire story is told through the villain’s camera as a single point-of-view story. Currently, there are only a handful of reviews available for the movie. They all suggested that while it isn’t for everyone, the picture is very disturbing and unsettling as it puts audiences right in the middle of the terror. Miranda Blue, Courtney Gray, Kali Libby and Adi Loehe headline the picture.
PADDINGTON IN PERU – The third chapter in the popular British family film series sees Paddington receive word from a Peruvian retirement home for bears that his Aunt Lucy has disappeared. He travels with the Brown family to South America in order to try and locate her. The group end up in the jungle and find themselves in possession of a map that could lead to the relative and a vast fortune. The latest chapter in this series earned solid notices, although not as exemplary as those for the earlier chapters. A small number found this follow-up slow-moving, dull and more predictable than previous films in the series. The rest admitted that while it wasn’t as wonderful as the first two movies, there was still plenty to enjoy in this effort, from the amusing guest performances, to the sweet storyline and positive messages about family. It stars Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Oliva Colman, Antonio Banderas, and Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. Read a full review of the movie here.
RATS! – Despite the title, this isn’t a film about rodents. Instead, it’s an independent comedy that follows a young graffiti artist from Texas who is arrested by an aggressive police officer with a personal grudge. The protagonist is released and told to report for community service, but his mother kicks him out of the house and sends him to live with his eccentric cousin. Over the following days, the lead gets mixed-up in a sting operation, drug deals, and a plutonium deal gone wrong. This independent deadpan comedy was generally well-received. About one-quarter of write-ups did call the film more gross and over-the-top than engaging and funny. Yet the majority said it had the makings of a potential cult item, and suggested that behind the exaggerated humor was an important message about lower-class heroes. The cast includes Luke Wilcox, Danielle Evon Ploeger, Darius Autry, Khali Sykes and Ariel Ash.
SWEET DREAMS – After the patriarch of a wealthy family suddenly dies, the businessman’s widow calls his family together to read the will and settle affairs. The sudden arrivals include his pompous son, pregnant daughter-in-law, and an unexpected attendee… the man’s Indonesian housemaid and her son. Anger and power struggles erupt when it is revealed that the deceased has left his entire fortune to the boy, whom he fathered with the maid. This foreign-language drama from the Netherlands earned nothing but praise from the press. They all said it was a powerful, darkly comic film that sharply deals with issues like colonialism and wrote that it effectively turns the tables on a rich, entitled family. It features Hayati Azis, Renée Soutendijk, Florian Myjer, Lisa Zweerman, Muhammad Khan and Rio Kaj Den Haas.
THE VISITOR – A suitcase washes up on the banks of the Thames River in London. A naked refugee gets out of the luggage and shows up at the door of an upper-class family. They take him in, and he begins to seduce each and every member of the household. After leaving, the confused family tries to fill the void left behind in explicit ways. This dark comedy from the UK was co-written and directed by Bruce LaBruce, a Canadian filmmaker known for being a provocateur. Inspired by the films of Pasolini, you can expect plenty of X-rated LGBTQ material in this title. Notices were very good for his latest effort. One or two didn’t think this film was as strong as some of his earlier works and was overly blunt in its messaging. But while the majority suggested it would be too much for most audiences, they called the movie an effectively unflinching and confrontational statement about colonialism and hidden desires. Bishop Black, Macklin Kowal, Amy Kingsmill and Ray Filar headline the film.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s an incredibly busy edition for older titles as well. So busy that you’ll have to excuse my brevity on some of these titles. There’s so much to go over that I’ll simply never finish unless I summarize quickly.
The Adventures (1995) is arriving on Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment. This Hong Kong action movie from Ringo Lam (City on Fire, Twin Dragons, Full Contact) stars Andy Lau as a man who witnesses the murder of his parents as a child. Many years later, he goes undercover to find and murder the mobster responsible, only to end up in the company of the gangster’s daughter. They fall in love, forcing him to choose between his love and his goal. The film has been given a 2K restoration for this release and comes with a film critic commentary, an interview with another movie expert about the film, a talk with the picture’s co-writer and producer, a trailer, and a slipcase with new artwork for the movie. This edition is limited to 2000 copies. Read a detailed review of the release right here!
The Magnificent Chang Cheh set is another Blu-ray from the distributor that contains the period martial arts pictures The Magnificent Trio (1966) and Magnificent Wanderers (1977). The two pictures have been transferred in high definition and bonuses include Asian film expert commentaries on both titles, a video essay on the director Cheh, a booklet featuring new writing on the titles, and a slipcase with new artwork. A REVIEW OF THIS RELEASE WILL APPEAR SHORTLY.
Radiance Films is delivering the Italian classic Girl with a Suitcase (1961) on Blu-ray. This tale follows a wealthy teenage boy who falls for a 20-something struggling singer whom his playboy brother unceremoniously dumps. She’s flattered but attempts to dissuade him while trying to reconnect with the brother, only to find herself in dire straits. Claudia Cardinale plays the female lead. The original camera negative was given a 4K restoration for this disc, and it also contains interviews with the assistant director and the screenwriter. There is also a film critic analysis of the career of the film’s director, a video essay on the title, a booklet with writing on the movie and a reversible sleeve with new and original artwork for the film. This Blu-ray is a “Limited Edition” of 3000. You can read this site’s detailed review of the disc by clicking on this link.
A few years back, the company released the Hong Kong cult film A Moment of Romance (1990) and is rereleasing a Blu-ray of the title this week.
Additionally, Radiance Films is putting out a Blu-ray of the Japanese feature A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness (1977). The plot involves a female golfer who goes pro and becomes a media sensation. Unfortunately, she has to deal with the problems that fame brings, and gets into even more trouble when she and her manager get into a hit-and-run accident. In addition to the high-definition transfer, this release contains a film critic commentary, an interview with the editor, and a trailer. It also comes with a booklet featuring writing on the picture. This is also a “Limited Edition” of 3000 copies. A full disc review of the new disc can be found here.
Arrow Video is making the Blu-ray box set V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets & Betrayal available to Japanese film fans. You’ll get Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage (1989) (pictured to the left), Neo Chinpira: Zoom Goes the Bullet (1990), Burning Dog (1991), Carlos (1991), Danger Point: The Road to Hell (1991), Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat (1991), The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses (1991), Stranger (1991) and XX: Beautiful Hunter (1994). These were all films shot on video for the burgeoning market of movies being produced for the format. For those who pick up the set, you’ll get the best possible presentation of all the features, new introductions to the titles by a film expert, video essays on many of the titles, as well as trailers.
Bleeding Skull has a Blu-ray title called Cannibal Orgy and the Films of J.T. IV, which contains two ultra-low-budget, made-in-Chicago movies. In fact, they were shot on Super 8 film. Nightmare City (1984) and Cannibal Orgy (1985) are the films, and the disc includes numerous shorts from the filmmaker as well as a movie authority commentary on the second feature.
Speaking of cannibals, Canadian International Pictures is putting out Cannibal Girls (1973) on Blu-ray. Despite the title, this picture is actually a dark comedy and was the second movie directed by Ivan Reitman (Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Twins). It stars Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin as a couple who encounter hungry, murderous ladies. The material used for this transfer was scanned in 2K with a new color grade and extensive dirt and damage repairs. There’s also an alternate soundtrack with a warning bell. Extras include a film expert commentary track, a podcast episode about the picture, two interviews with a film historian about the movie, archival interviews with Reitman and producer Daniel Goldberg, as well as Eugene Levy. There are never-before-seen outtakes, tons of publicity materials, an early Reitman short film presented uncut for the first time, a commentary on the short, a booklet with archival interviews and reversible cover artwork.
You can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971) from Celluloid Dreams. It’s an Italian thriller about an American reporter searching for a girlfriend who has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Barbara Bach is featured in the movie and the score was composed by Ennio Morricone. Newly restored and presented in 4K ultra-high resolution for the first time from the original camera negative. It comes with “countless extras” and a 64-page booklet on the film.
Cinematographe is presenting the unusual zombie film Shanks (1974) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Standard Edition”. For those unfamiliar with the title, famed French mime Marcel Marceau plays a mute puppeteer who finds a device that allows him to control dead bodies. The picture was transferred from the original camera negative, and you’ll also get a film historian commentary, a video essay on producer William Castle, an archival interview with Marceau, vintage radio spots, and essays on the feature.
The distributor is also putting out the unusual crime thriller, Who Killed Teddy Bear (1965) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Standard Edition”. Sal Mineo stars in this picture that involves a busboy with sexual problems who stalks a disc jockey. A cop who has similar problems takes a serious interest in the case. You will receive the completely uncensored theatrical release version, adding back several minutes of never-on-video material, newly restored from original 35mm negative materials. It also includes a film historian commentary, a video essay on the picture, a featurette on the New York City locations used in the production and a gallery of archival press clipping about the film.
Criterion is releasing Basquiat (1996) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack and a standalone Blu-ray. The film is a biopic of the famous artist and stars Jeffrey Wright in the title role. Viewers see him transform into an art icon and deal with sudden fame, racism, and struggles with addiction. The set contains a 4K restoration of the director’s preferred 2004 black-and-white version of the film, as well as the original 1996 edition. Extras include a film historian commentary track, a new interview with star Wright, 1996 discussions with the director and co-star David Bowie, and a trailer. An essay on the feature is also included in the release.
The Mexican chiller 36 Especial (1992) is arriving on Blu-ray from Degausser Video. It follows a detective and radio personality hunting down a religious fanatic killing innocent women. The picture has been newly restored from the best surviving tape master and arrives with a film critic commentary, an interview with the director and inside sleeve artwork.
Film Movement is presenting The Oldest Profession (1974) on Blu-ray. This is a Japanese drama about a sex worker. The Nikkatsu Studio provided a 4K restoration of the film for this disc, and it comes with a video essay on the film, and a 16-page booklet about the feature.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of Tarpon (1973) from the distributor. The documentary is considered one of the first fly-fishing films and is noted for its beautiful Key West cinematography. This release contains a 4K picture restoration, a video essay on the movie, a pair of video introductions and a 16-page booklet with essays on the feature.
The Beyond (1981) from Italian horror filmmaker Lucio Fulci (Zombie) is considered one of his best and is a huge cult item. Actually, it is his best movie with lots of imagery viewers won’t soon forget. The film is about a woman who inherits a hotel in Louisiana and discovers that it houses a gateway to Hell. Pretty soon, all kinds of nasty stuff like zombies, hungry tarantulas and more come right through, bringing down the property value and delaying the opening in a big way! Grindhouse Releasing is presenting a 4K Ultra -HD/Blu-ray/CD edition of the film, which can be ordered through their website. You’ll receive a new 4K scan of the original version of the film from the Technicscope camera negative in Dolby Vision, a composer’s cut (with a new surround sound re-mix and reimagined score) and an optional Italian language track. There are three archival commentaries with the cinematographer, the make-up artist and the stars of the picture, in-depth interviews with cast and crew, newly discovered archival interview with cast members, and much, much more.
The crime drama Kisapmata (1981) from the Philippines is arriving this week from Kani as a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray. Despite being a well-regarded thriller about the horrors of patriarchy, it hasn’t been seen in many in this part of the world. It follows a young, engaged couple who are tormented by the bride’s authoritarian father. The film has been given a 4K restoration and arrives with an introduction and selected scenes commentary with the director, an introduction to the film, crew member interviews, an interview with a cast member, behind-the-scenes footage and a booklet with photographs and writing on the movie.
Kino is presenting some interesting efforts. You can now pick up the made-for-TV docudrama The Bermuda Triangle on Blu-ray. The effort details some of the strange events that have occurred at the location. A 4K picture restoration was provided by Paramount Pictures for this release. It also comes with a producer commentary and early copies arrive in a slipcase.
The Kirk Douglas/Bruce Dern western Posse (1975) is also receiving a Blu-ray release. Douglas plays a tough marshal hunting down a criminal who forms a posse and ends up turning his own town against him. The disc boasts a new master from a 4K scan of the original camera negative and comes with a film expert commentary and a trailer.
Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995) is a dark crime comedy that was produced on the heels of the hit Pulp Fiction and earned a fair amount of good press upon its release. Alas, it didn’t make as big a splash at the box office, but is now getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo (as well as a Blu-ray only version). The plot follows five oddball criminals who botch a job and find themselves being hunted down. The cast includes Andy Garcia, Christopher Walken, Christopher Lloyd, William Forsythe, Bill Nunn, Treat Williams, Jack Warden, Steve Buscemi, Fairuza Balk, Gabrielle Anwar and more. The 4K restoration comes from the original camera negative and bonuses include a director and screenwriter commentary, a movie expert commentary, cast and crew interviews, a production featurette, and theatrical trailer. A trailer for an international release of the movie is featured at the bottom of the page.
The recent Gerard Butler action film Plane (2023) is being given a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook courtesy of Lionsgate. One expects all the contents to be the same, just in new packaging.
The satirical horror feature Severance (2006) is arriving on Blu-ray from Magnolia. The story involves the sales division of a weapons manufacturing company being sent on a team-building weekend. The employees soon find themselves being hunted down and wiped out in creative ways. If memory serves, it’s a pretty solid genre picture. This edition contains a new commentary track with the director and the co-writer, as well as an archival commentary with the filmmaker and cast. There are several featurettes on the production, deleted scenes, rehearsal footage, an alternate ending storyboard, one hour of uncut EPK material, promo trailers and TV spots, a booklet with writing about the movie and more.
The Dish and the Spoon (2011) is appearing on Blu-ray from Music Box Films. It is a rom-com with Greta Gerwig and Olly Alexander about a married woman who learns her husband is having an affair, Unsure of what to do next, she befriends a marooned British teenager. Extras on this disc include deleted scenes, cast interviews, a location scouting featurette, a short by co-star Alexander and a trailer.
Not to be confused with the later remake starring Madonna, the original Italian feature Swept Away (1974) is arriving exclusively on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray from RaroVideo U.S.. A rich capitalist and a communist sailor end up stranded on a deserted island together and fall in love while attempting to get over their political differences. The film was recently restored from the original negative for this release, which also comes with a film historian commentary, an archival commentary with an authority on the director, an interview about the picture and trailer.
A ”Standard Edition” Blu-ray of Lydia Lunch: The Gun is Loaded (1989) and Road Rant (2012) is arriving from Saturn’s Core Audio & Video. These are independent collaborative works of female artists Lunch and Merrill Aldighieri that come with numerous bonuses and archival interviews involving the pair.
Severin Films is presenting some options too. Motorpsycho! (1965) is an early Russ Meyer (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls) biker flick that can be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set or a standalone Blu-ray. The original camera negative has been given a 4K restoration and this release comes with a film historian commentary, interviews with cast members and a trailer.
The Italian effort Night Train Murders (1975) aka Last Stop on the Night Train is receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Standard Edition”. It’s an extreme horror film about two high school girls who are terrorized on a train by a pair of psychotic hoodlums and a female nymphomaniac. Extras include a director commentary track, a film historian commentary, cast and crew interviews, a video essay and a trailer.
The Pick-Up (1968) is a well-reviewed but very violent independent crime thriller about mob money couriers in Las Vegas who lose their million-dollar package to two con women. The crooks try to recover the funds in Los Angeles before they’re murdered by their employers. The Blu-ray arrives with a video essay on the film, a photo gallery with commentary and a trailer.
For those who can’t get enough of Russ Meyer, you can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray or standalone Blu-ray of Up! (1976). Not to be confused with the Pixar animated film, this effort is about a hitchhiker who arrives in a town filled with perverts and other eccentrics. The film was co-written by famous film critic Roger Ebert. Once again, the release contains a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative along with a film historian commentary, an interview with a cast member, and a radio spot for the film.
To me, action star Jean-Claude Van Damme was really at his peak during the early 1990s with Hard Target, Universal Soldier, Sudden Death and a picture that is now arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack from Shout Factory. Timecop (1994) features Van Damme as a cop whose wife is shockingly murdered. A decade later, time travel becomes a reality and the officer takes a position as a time enforcement officer. When a politician decides to use this technology to change the past and control the future, the hero follows him back to 1994. However, he also finds himself wanting to alter history by rescuing his spouse from her untimely fate. You can pretty much already figure out what happens by this synopsis, but it is a fun ride. While no extras are listed, the movie does arrive with a new 4K transfer from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision, so at least it’ll look better than it ever has before.
Shudder is delivering the recent chiller Spoonful of Sugar (2022) on Blu-ray. There was a release a couple of years back of the title on DVD, but is now getting a higher quality edition. One expects any bonuses to be identical to the previous version.
Sony Pictures is releasing two major titles as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbooks. The first is the Oscar-winning epic Gandhi (1982). This biopic tells the story of the lawyer who became a non-violent protester and leader of the Indian revolts against British rule. It won Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design, and now you can see it with a 4K image restoration in Dolby Vision from the original camera negative. This is actually a three-disc set with one disc of Blu-ray extras that include featurettes, newsreel footage about Gandhi, discussions with star Ben Kingsley about his role, and much more. The Blu-ray of the film also contains a director commentary with Richard Attenborough and a picture-in-graphics track with details about the production.
The classic Bill Murray comedy Stripes (1981) is the other beneficiary of a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. Murray plays a joker who loses his job and, out of cash, decides to enlist in the Army. He causes problems in boot camp with a group of misfits. This hit also stars Harold Ramis, John Candy, Sean Young, P.J. Soles, John Larroquette, Judge Reinhold, Joe Flaherty and Dave Thomas. Purchasers will get 4K restorations of the theatrical and extended versions of the film from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision. There is an archival 40-year retrospective of the movie with Murray and Reitman (as well as the cinematographer), a director commentary on the extended version, 11 additional deleted and extended scenes, a 1983 TV version of the film, a documentary on the feature, and more.
Vinegar Syndrome often releases exclusives that can only be purchased through their website, before being made available through regular retailers a month or so later. This week, you can go there and pick up a double-feature Blu-ray of Devil Doll (1964) and Curse of the Voodoo (1965). These are two early made-in-the-UK B-movie chillers from Canadian Lindsay Shonteff (The Million Eyes of Sumuru). The Blu-ray contains 4K restorations of both movies from the original camera negatives, multiple film historian commentary tracks, an interview with the editor of the second film, movie critic analyses of the films, alternate scenes and inside sleeve artwork.
Another double-feature Blu-ray contains Devil Fetus (1983) and Her Vengeance (1988), two extreme Category III (adults only) Hong Kong genre pictures. The films have been newly color-graded and restored from studio supplied masters and arrive with movie expert commentary tracks, video essays, an interview with a cast member from the first film, trailers and promo materials for the films, a 20-page booklet with an essay, as well as reversible sleeve artwork.
Vinegar Syndrome is also teaming up with Cinematograph to present a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo and site exclusive of the Wesley Snipes action film Drop Zone (1994). The star plays a US Marshall hunting down the ex-agent/skydiving bandit who killed his partner. The cast includes Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Michael Jeter, Gary Busey and Yancy Butler and the feature was directed by John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, Blue Thunder, WarGames, Stakeout). This set contains a new 4K image restoration from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision, a new director commentary with the cinematographer, a film historian commentary, a video interview with the producer, a discussion with a music historian about Hans Zimmer’s score for the feature, a video essay on Badham, text essays on the movie and more.
Murderock (1984) aka Murder-Rock: Dancing Death from Lucio Fulci (Zombie, The Beyond) is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray exclusive release at the Vinegar Syndrome website. It’s about an Italian slasher about a maniac targeting ballet students at a prestigious New York school. Like other titles from the distributor, it comes with a 4K picture restoration presented in Dolby Vision. Both the English and Italian language audio tracks are included, along with a film historian commentary, a ton of cast and crew interviews, an audio discussion with Fulci, an original video trailer, a 40-page book with essays on the movie and reversible sleeve artwork.
The Nesting (1981) aka Phobia is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release. This chiller involves a writer who retreats to the country to write her next book and starts experiencing supernatural phenomena. The longer, complete Phobia cut of the film has been newly restored for this release in 4K from its original camera negative and is presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with a film historian commentary, cast, crew and movie expert interviews, a lengthy audio interview with the co-writer, a featurette containing outtakes from the film, trailers, TV and radio spots, an alternate jump scare scene from a different cut, cuts and trims, unused dailies and more. Reversible sleeve artwork is also included.
If you’d prefer to shop elsewhere, Vinegar Syndrome is delivering a wide release too. The Belly of an Architect (1987) is a psychological drama from Peter Greenaway (The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover) about a paranoid architect who initially believes that his wife is having an affair, but then starts to think that she is actually attempting to murder him. It stars Brian Dennehy and Chloe Webb. The picture features a 2K restoration from the original camera negative, a film expert commentary track, an interview with the editor, and a talk with architect/novelist Gianpolo Ercolani about the movie.
Warner Archive is putting out a variety of interesting titles on Blu-ray. They include the Michael Keaton rehab drama Clean and Sober (1988), the musical Lili (1953), and the well-liked Farley Granger film noir Side Street (1949). You can also pick up the Gary Cooper western Springfield Rifle (1952), and the Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly action thriller Three the Hard Way (1974), in which three martial arts experts take down a white supremacy organization.
You can also pick up the fun animated show Wacky Races: The Complete Series (1968 animated series) on Blu-ray.
Finally, Warner Bros. is upgrading some catalog titles. You can now pick up a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook or regular 4K Ultra HD of Dirty Harry (1971). It comes with a critic commentary, about two-and-a-half hours of material on star Clint Eastwood and his career, as well as archival cast and crew interviews, featurettes, a new appreciation of the movie and a recently made look at legendary cinematographer Bruce Surtees, who shot most of Eastwood’s movies, as well as Beverly Hills Cop and many others.
The studio’s Best Buy exclusive 2020 4K release of Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987) is receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook rerelease that will be available at all retailers. The contents are identical to the previous edition.
The buddy cop film Lethal Weapon (1987) with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover is coming out as a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook (no Blu-ray is included). No word yet on whether it contains the director’s cut as well as the theatrical version, so curious parties might want to wait until exact specs appear.
Looking for more Clint Eastwood. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) is also arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook combo, and can also be purchased as a regular 4K Ultra HD. This western is said to have received a significant picture upgrade, and arrives with new featurettes on the movie and its significance, a look at the film’s iconic cinematography, as well as an old critic commentary track, a making-of and more.
Pale Rider (1985) can also be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo Steelbook or a regular 4K Ultra HD. After spending several years starring in more contemporary pictures, Eastwood returned to the western genre in this hit about a mysterious figure who rides into a mining town to help the poor folk fend off a nasty industrialist. Besides the picture upgrade, this release contains a new interview with co-star Sydney Penny (who was a teenager at the time), a tribute to the cinematographer’s work on this picture, a featurette on Eastwood westerns and more than two-and-a-half hours of special material on Eastwood.
The studio is also releasing Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (2019) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. Contents are the same as previous versions, just in new packaging.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a list of titles that may appeal to youngsters.
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (2019) (Warner Bros.) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook
Wacky Races: The Complete Series (1968 animated series) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the week’s TV-themed releases can be found below.
The Bermuda Triangle (1979 Made-for-TV Movie) (Kino) Blu-ray
Mayfair Witches: Season 2 (RLJ Entertainment) Blu-ray
Rick and Morty: The Anime: Season 1 (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Star Trek: Section 31 (Paramount) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook