Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. After a slow edition, this is among the busiest in some time. You’ll be able to pick from several major releases, as well as a number of international titles and independent fare. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, you can be sure that there will be something here worth checking out!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
BABY ASSASSINS 3 – Wow, the producers of this Japanese action/comedy series have certainly been busy with this series of films. The 2021 original focused on the exploits of two high school students who become assassins. In this chapter, also known as Baby Assassins: Nice Days, the two kids have become famous in the world of hired killers. They decide to visit a coastal town for a break, but find themselves being pursued by a noted hitman who wants to wipe them out and become the top-rated assassin. Reviews have been very strong for the latest effort. Pretty much every reviewer who saw the film stated that the chemistry between the two pals has only gotten stronger, and the interesting story added tension and fear to the proceedings. They also called the action scenes memorable. It stars Akari Takaishi, Saori Izawa, Sosuke Ikematsu and Atsuko Maeda.
EUREKA – A bird flies across the continent of North America, traveling through time and telling stories about Native Americans and their stories. One tale is set in 1870 and follows a man searching the west for his kidnapped daughter, while another takes place more recently and follows an actor interviewing people to prepare for a role in a western film. This multinational production from Argentinian filmmaker Lisandro Alonso (Jauja) earned a positive reaction from the press. A small number had trouble with the unique storytelling angle, stating they found the wraparound format odd and the plot slow-moving. However, most were impressed with what they saw, stating the movie was original, ambitious and cerebral. It was also described as fascinating in its observations on colonialism and its horrific impact on Native American people. The cast includes Aliana Clifford, Sadie LaPointe, Chiara Mastroianni and Viggo Mortensen.
GHOSTLIGHT – In this independent drama/comedy, a construction worker is struggling with a family tragedy. His teenage daughter has also developed behavioral issues and is in therapy. While waiting for her at a therapist, he wanders down the street and encounters members of a local theater troupe. The lead ends up secretly joining their latest production as an actor and finds it therapeutic, but wants to keep his newfound hobby secret from his family. This leads to complications when his daughter catches him rehearsing for a big play. The picture received almost unanimous raves from critics. One or two voices found that the picture was unsubtle and tried too hard to elicit sentiment from viewers. Everyone else couldn’t help but be charmed and moved by the proceedings. They called it an honest and sincere attempt to deal with grief, buoyed by great performances. The film ended up being listed as one of the year’s ten best independent films by the National Board of Review. It features Keith Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Dolly De Leon, Hanna Dworkin and Dexter Zollicoffer.
INVADER – Speaking of indie films, this littler chiller made an impression on the festival circuit, before receiving a brief theatrical release. It is now arriving on disc as an exclusive through distributor Terror Vision’s website. The story involves a young woman who arrives in an unfamiliar suburb trying to find her cousin. After finally locating the correct house, she enters and discovers unimaginable horror. A psychopath is there, tormenting all who enter the premises. More horror reviewers recommended the movie than panned it. Close to half wrote that the characters were poorly developed and that the nastiness on display was difficult to sit through. Slightly more were impressed by the tone of dread and fear the movie generated, complimenting it for trimming all unnecessary story and delivering home invasion tension and fear for its full 70 minutes. Vero Maynez, Colin Huerta and Joe Swanberg headline the film.
KARATE KID: LEGENDS – Who would have believed that a coming-of-age martial arts movie from 1984 would inspire multiple movies, TV series and video games? This is the sixth film in the franchise, and the plot follows a young martial arts prodigy who moves from China to New York City. He meets a girl and the two begin dating, but he is unexpectedly attacked by her ex-boyfriend, a karate champion. The protagonist meets two characters from earlier films, who agree to help him train and fight the bully in an upcoming tournament. This picture earned slightly more upbeats notices than it did pans. Almost half of write-ups complained that the story was lazy and predictable and the movie served as little more than a cash-in on the franchise’s legacy. Regardless, the majority countered that this was an entertaining effort with a charismatic cast that did manage to recapture some of the original film’s magic. This title will be available in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo set, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, and a Blu-ray-only release. The film stars Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight and William Zabka.
THE KING OF KINGS – Inspired by the Charles Dickens book, The Life of Our Lord, this animated Christian film begins with the author grappling to deal with his misbehaving son. He decides to tell the youngster the story of Jesus in the hopes that the child will learn some life lessons in the process. The kid is enthralled by the tale, eventually changing the way that he views the world and those around him. The press was generally split over this effort, although it did earn a few more positive reviews than downbeat ones. More than one-third of critics found it very blunt in its messaging, and this approach distracted them and kept them at an emotional distance from the main characters. Still, the consensus was that the film was warm-hearted and effectively delivered its story. They thought the film’s target demographic would appreciate it. The voice-cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Pierce Brosnan, Roman Griffin Davis, Forest Whitaker, Ben Kingsley and Oscar Isaac.
LILO & STITCH – Disney’s live-action remake of its 2002 animated film has become one of the highest grossing films of the year. This week the title is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook and Blu-ray combo pack and as a Blu-ray only release. A fugitive alien named Stitch crash-lands on Kaua’i and encounters an orphaned young girl being raised by an overwhelmed sibling. Child protective services threaten to separate the family, and things get more complicated when Stitch takes the girl on a wild and dangerous adventure. The film received more praise than pans from critics. Slightly more than one-quarter described it as another in a series of empty remakes that didn’t capture the charm of the original, nor did it impress them with updated themes and jokes. But overall, most awarded the film a passing grade, calling the end result a pleasant diversion that kids would love. They were also impressed with the work of the young star and thought other cast members effectively generated laughs. It features Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudon, Chris Sanders, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, Courtney B. Vance, Amy Hill and Tia Carrere. Read this site’s review of the film here.
LOCKED – A cash-strapped ex-criminal doesn’t have the funds to support his young daughter. Desperate, he walks past an unlocked luxury SUV and finds that he can’t help himself from entering. He searches for goods to steal, only to find himself trapped. The car owner appears on a monitor inside the vehicle and begins to ask the lead questions about his past. The figure tries to talk his tormentor down and figure out how to escape from the car with his life. Reaction to this thriller was moderately positive. About one-third had trouble getting invested in either of the two character’s plights and thought the claustrophobia and suspense wore thin as the story progressed. Yet more believed it was a well-acted, dark and effective genre picture that attempted to address modern moral issues. They commented that it left them impressed. For now, this is a DVD-only release. Bill Skarsgard, Anthony Hopkins and Ashley Cartwright headline the feature.
MATERIALISTS – A professional matchmaker in New York City caters to wealthy clients searching for a mate. Despite her profession, she is a single woman who has vowed never to marry unless it is to someone rich. While attending the wedding of a client, the lead runs into her old boyfriend, a struggling actor who is working at the venue as a waiter. The protagonist also meets a financier, who takes a romantic interest in the lead and begins courting her. She must ultimately decide If she does want to settle down, and if so, with whom. This drama/comedy was well received, although the reaction wasn’t as uniformly positive as it was for Past Lives, the previous film from writer/director Celine Song. A small number complained that the movie didn’t resonate as strongly with them as hoped for, also suggesting that after a good start critiquing modern dating, the ending was ultimately disappointing. Regardless, more were charmed by the cast and thought the film was sharp-witted, clever and had a lot more depth than typical rom-coms. Dakota Johnson, Chirs Evans and Pedro Pascal headline the movie. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RELEASE DATE HAS BEEN PUSHED TO SEPTEMBER 9th.
ONLY THE RIVER FLOWS – This foreign-language feature from China is set in the 1990s and follows the chief of police in a rural town. A series of murders occur and the detective quickly discovers an individual who appears to be responsible. Everyone in town is satisfied, but the lead finds new clues that raise serious doubts. He begins to learn dark secrets about the town and its people that suggests a different party could be responsible. Overall reception for this crime/mystery effort was good. A handful of write-ups noted that while the movie was stylish, it wasn’t particularly thrilling and left them cold. But all others liked the neo-noir, slow-burn approach to the storytelling, commenting that the film did a good job of developing the lead character, took some unexpected turns and kept them gripped until the finale. It stars Yilong Zhu, Chloe Maayan, Tianlai Hou and Tong Linkai.
SELF DRIVER – A cab driver having difficulty keeping financially afloat learns about a new app that wealthy clients use for rides. If he moonlights after work and spends the evening using the service and getting some big extra fares, it might solve his problems. He decides to try it out, but after picking up his first customer immediately starts regretting the decision. The driver finds himself in the criminal underworld and the endless evening ends up testing his moral and ethical values. This is a small independent feature, but reviewers who have seen it have all been very excited about the final results. They found themselves gripped by what was occurring onscreen, stating that the film did an excellent job of generating tension in a small space and examining just how far desperate people can potentially push themselves to earn extra money. The cast includes Nathaneal Chadwick, Catt Filippov, Reece Presley and Lauren Welchner.
SHARKSPLOITATION – Everyone enjoys the classic 1975 thriller Jaws, but did you know that the film has inspired hundreds of imitators? Okay, you probably are aware of that fact, but this documentary goes into specifics about the many wild shark-centric horror movies that have been released over the last 50 years. The filmmakers present an overview of the subgenre, talking to many knowledgeable parties, as well as many who have been involved in these productions. The picture has been available to stream for about a year, but is now arriving on Blu-ray with both the movie and a few new extended/deleted interviews. Horror journalists all had a good time with the picture, stating that the moviemaker did a lot of research, revealing incredible new tidbits and information about these pictures. Apparently, it’ll leave most with a list of shark movies to catch up with. Some of the interview subjects include Wendy Benchley, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Michael Gingold, Carl Gottlieb, Adam Rifkin, Mario Van Peebles, and many, many more.
SOVEREIGN – Inspired by real events, this grim drama is about a boy taught and raised outside of traditional schooling by his father. The two have become anti-government extremists who consider themselves “Sovereign Citizens” and travel across the country to spread their beliefs. They eventually find themselves in a standoff with police, resulting in a manhunt that results in violence. Notices for this indie feature were very strong. A few didn’t think that the movie dealt with the issues it raised in a clear or satisfying manner and seemed too vague about its final message. Yet everyone else commented that while the movie was difficult to watch, it was exceptionally well-performed and delivered a powerful tale of how extremism can lead to tragedy. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. Nick Offerman, Jacob Tremblay, Dennis Quaid, Martha Plimpton, Nancy Travis and Thomas Mann headline the film.
STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH – Here’s an unusual one. This is an English-language Danish/Swiss period exploitation film from director Mikael Håfström (1408, The Rite, Escape Plan). The trailer claims that the story is based on true events. It begins in 1520, when a village is raided by a King and his army planning on taking control of Sweden. Two women seek revenge on the King and others who murdered their family. They lead their own team on a blood-filled rampage against the invaders. North American critics were slightly miffed by what they experienced. A few found the title to be twisted fun, with a likable cast, outrageous action scenes and a few unexpected story twists. Unfortunately, more reviewers here couldn’t get on the movie’s wavelength, finding the mix of drama, chuckles and graphic violence off-putting and ineffective. It features Sophie Cookson, Claes Bang, Alba August and Mikkel Boe Folsgaard.
THEY CALL HER DEATH – Those who appreciate micro-budgeted exploitation western titles will be happy to check out this effort. The plot involves a woman who seeks revenge on those who murdered her husband. She rides from town-to-town, gunning down all evil-doers who cross her path. The synopsis for the film also states that she is joined on her journey by the embodied specter of Death, who makes sure she keeps on killing. This effort popped up on streaming sites last year and is now appearing on disc. There are only a handful of reviews available from online genre film sites. They all call the film a homage to European horror and western pictures. Some called it entertainingly unique with plenty of wild moments, while others suggested that you really do have to be forgiving of the film’s miniscule budget and some technical flaws. The cast includes Sheri Rippel, Jeff Boyer, Dane Shobe and Devan R. Garcia.
THE UNHOLY TRINITY – Speaking of westerns, this independent effort takes place in 1870s Montana and involves a son whose father has been convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. The dad tells his boy to murder the person who caused the tragedy and the young man sets out to do just that. After arriving in a town called Trinity, filled with vicious strangers, the protagonist finds himself caught between the town’s sheriff and another mysterious arrival. The press was not overly thrilled by this feature. Close to half did think it was an entertaining throwback to old-fashioned westerns and enjoyed the work of the familiar faces appearing in the title. But the majority complained that the movie was slow-moving and predictable, also claiming that it had difficulty establishing an authentic look and feeling. The film stars Brandon Lessard, Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, Veronica Ferres, Gianni Capaldi, Q’orianka Kilcher, David Arquette and Tim Daly.
VERMIGLIO – This historical drama from Italy takes place in a rural mountain village in 1944. A war deserter from Sicily arrives in the town and is allowed to stay with the family of a local teacher. He becomes romantically involved with the lady’s daughter, eventually marrying her. Further complications arise in the form of a pregnancy. Then, the husband asks his wife to allow him to return to his home in order to tell his family of his new life. This foreign-language effort earned raves for its realism and was nominated at last year’s Academy Awards for Best International Film. A very small number complained that the film never took issue with its characters and their very selfish decisions. All others thought the movie felt incredibly authentic, presenting all the positives and negatives of rural people living difficult lives as World War II came to a close. Giuseppe De Domenico, Martina Scrinzi and Tommaso Ragno headline the picture.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you thought that there were a large number of new releases, you’ll find just as many older features receiving big upgrades. Teenage Gang Dolls (1966) is arriving on Blu-ray from AGFA. It’s about a teenager who moves to New York and, in order to fit in, joins a gang. Obviously, this leads to a lot of trouble. The image is taken from a 35mm print, and extras include a film historian commentary, the bonus movie The Rebel Set (1959), shorts about juvenile delinquency, a trailer reel and a booklet with an essay on these types of pictures.
Arrow Video is delivering The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) as either a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD disc or a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray. It might sound confusing, but this title is a prequel to the 2003 remake of the 1974 horror classic that shows the history of Leatherface and his cannibal family. The release contains 4K restorations of the theatrical and uncut versions of the movie presented in Dolby Vision. A new film expert commentary is included, along with three archival tracks featuring the director and various cast and crew members. You’ll also get new interviews with the director, cinematographer, as well as cast and crew. There is a making-of documentary, and an in-depth look at the life of Ed Gein (a serial killer who was the inspiration for Leatherface). If that wasn’t enough, deleted scenes, screen tests, and promotional materials are also included. And the disc comes with a booklet with writing on the film, in addition to new and original cover art also featured on a foldout poster included in the set.
A Man of Integrity (2017) is a noted Iranian feature arriving on Blu-ray from Big World Pictures. It’s about a man who moves to the country to escape government corruption, only to find the same kinds of problems within his new community. The disc contains a trailer and an essay about the film.
Canadian International Pictures has been restoring and releasing some great titles for a few years now. Their latest release is The Heatwave Lasted Four Days (1975) is a TV movie about a television cameraman who captures footage of a convict trying to fake his death. The protagonist is soon drawn into the criminal’s dark world. It stars Gordon Pinsent and was highly rated when it aired in the US on ABC’s Wide World of Mystery. Because it made its way around various countries, three versions of the feature (a TV cut, an extended cut, and a four-episode edition) are included. They have been scanned and restored in 2K from 16mm interpositives provided by the National Film Board of Canada. A film historian commentary is listed as a bonus, as well as an overview of the differences in the various versions, two shorts from the director, another award-winning TV-movie from the filmmaker, and a press gallery. You’ll also receive a press gallery and a double-sided poster for the title (both images are also featured on the reversible cover).
Criterion is delivering Compensation (1999) on Blu-ray. This well-regarded film drama depicts the experiences of deaf African-Americans during two different time periods. It’s considered by many to be a landmark of American independent cinema. The film has been given a 4K restoration supervised and approved by the director in conjunction with the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Sundance Institute. The disc features a director commentary (accompanied by the screenwriter and the cinematographer), a Q&A with cast and crew, two shorts by the filmmaker, a 2021 interview with the director, a featurette about the archival photos and symbols used in the feature, a trailer, and a booklet with an essay, a director’s note, and more.
Saving Face (2004) is a queer rom-rom also arriving on Blu-ray from Criterion. It’s set in New York and follows a daughter opening up to her traditional mother about her sexuality. They pair try to find common ground, leading to some humorous exchanges. The image is from a high-definition digital master approved by the director. It comes with interviews with the filmmaker and co-star Joan Chen, deleted scenes with optional commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a program on the title from the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and a trailer. A booklet and essay are also listed as a bonus.
Not to be confused with the 1980s action picture starring Chuck Norris, Invasion, U.S.A. (1952) is arriving as a “Special Edition” Blu-ray from Film Masters. This is a different “Red Scare” movie about the patrons of a bar who learn that the U.S. has been invaded by Russia. The film has been newly restored from original 35mm archival elements. It comes with a brief presentation that accompanied the movie when it opened in theaters, a professor commentary track, an interview with the son of the star, and a film historian essay. Additionally, you will get the film Rocket Attack, U.S.A. (1958) presented from its 16mm archival elements. This title also gets a film historian commentary track, an essay on the movie, a featurette on Hollywood vs. Communism in the 1950s, a Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode of the second title, still galleries, atomic short films, and more.
Film Movement is delivering the Blu-ray set Nature and Nature: Three Films by Naomi Kawase, which contains the Japanese dramas Still the Water (2014), Radiance (2017) and True Mothers (2020). Apparently, there is also a discussion included between the director and Juliette Binoche about the third title.
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2001) is another Japanese title that the distributor is presenting on Blu-ray about an unemployed salaryman who begins an affair with an unusual woman in a fishing village. The disc boasts a new restoration of the film for this release, along with a video essay and a lengthy booklet with an essay on the feature.
The 4-plus-hour road movie/documentary Route One/USA (1989) is arriving on Blu-ray from Icarus Films. It follows two men traveling the entire length of Route 1 from the Canadian border to Key West, Florida. A documentary about the filmmaker is also included, as well as a booklet with writing on the movie.
And if you’re a horror fan, then you may have seen and been disturbed by the unsettling Mexican cannibal picture We Are What We Are (2010). IFC Films is releasing it on Blu-ray. The disc includes a new film expert commentary track, an archival making-of featurette, and a trailer.
This is a busy week for Kino Lorber. First off, the company is releasing Blu-rays of the Paul Auster/Wayne Wang all-star indie comedies Blue in the Face (1995) and Smoke (1995). Smoke is a narrative about the personal lives of various customers who shop at a tobacco store. Blue in the Face is an improved series of comedic events involving many of the same individuals (both films were shot together in just a handful of days). Smoke cast members include Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, Giancarlo Esposito, Jose Zuniga, Jared Harris, Forest Whitaker, Stockard Channing, Ashley Judd and more, while Blue in the Face also includes Lou Reed, Michael J. Fox, Rosanne Barr, Jim Jarmusch, Lily Tomlin, Madonna, Mira Sorvino and Keith David. The two titles can also be purchased together in a Double-Feature Blu-ray for a discounted rate.
The Rundown (2003) marked an early effort for action star Dwayne Johnson. He plays a nice guy bounty hunter who travels to the Amazon to find his employer’s son, only to have to square off against a tyrannical treasure hunter. The cast also features Christopher Walken, Seann William Scott, Rosario Dawson, Ewen Bremner and Arnold Schwarzenegger (in an uncredited role). This film is now arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. If you pick it up, you’ll get a recently created 4K master of the movie from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision, along with a new film historian commentary, archival commentaries with director Peter Berg and star Johnson, as well as a track featuring the film’s producers. Additionally, there are tons of archival featurettes, deleted scenes, and a trailer.
Also appearing on Blu-ray is the Jack Lemmon drama, Save the Tiger (1973), about a disillusioned American acting out after becoming resentful of his suburban life. The disc contains a 4K picture restoration from the original negative provided by Paramount Pictures. It also comes with a movie authority commentary track, an archival track with director John G. Avildsen (Joe, Rocky, The Karate Kid) and a trailer.
The amusing Woody Allen comedy Scoop (2006) is also being made available on Blu-ray. This effort stars Allen, Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. The latter plays a journalism student who thinks she may have unearthed a big story about the illegal activities of an aristocrat. She drags an older magician into her investigation. It comes with a trailer.
Lionsgate is delivering a 4K Ultra HD-only “Director’s Cut” Amazon exclusive of the film, But I’m a Cheerleader (1999). This is a dark comedy about a high school student who is sent to rehab camp when her parents begin to believe that she might be a lesbian. The cast includes Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams, RuPaul, Bud Cort, Mink Stole, Cathy Moriarty and Melanie Lynskey.
Severin Films also is putting out some notable titles. If you enjoy behind-the-scenes stories about moviemaking, you’ll definitely want to pick up The Ghost of Peter Sellers (2018). This title tells the first-hand story of the making of Ghost in the Noonday Sun, 1974 a pirate comedy starring Peter Sellers. Haven’t heard of that film? Well, there’s a reason.
Film director Peter Medak recounts his experiences as a young director building a career with films like The Ruling Class. After being introduced to Sellers, the comic actor was friendly and mentioned that he was writing a draft of a major studio comedy. Sellers convinced the filmmaker to take the directing assignment on the picture, but things immediately went awry. Once on set, the star suddenly turned on Medak, causing disruptions, acting out and actually sabotaging the production. Using outtakes and unseen footage from the shoot, Medak tries to deal with the lasting trauma it caused (he wasn’t able to find work for years after this project). Thankfully, Medak eventually did make a name for himself with films like The Changeling, The Krays, Let Him Have It, Romeo Is Bleeding and other films, but it was an experience he still shudders at. The Blu-ray comes with an audio interview with Medak, some of Medak’s production albums, a visual essay on the director, and a trailer.
High Tension: Four Films by Lamberto Bava is a Blu-ray box set containing, swell, exactly what it promises. You’ll get Eye Witness (1993), The Man Who Wouldn’t Die (1993), School of Fear (1993) and The Prince of Terror (1996). While Bava is perhaps best known for the Demons series, these harder-to-find shockers should still entertain any fan of exaggerated Italian chillers. All of the titles have been given 2K restorations and come with interviews with Bava and other crew members. Eye Witness and The Prince of Terror even come with a film historian commentary track. A CD of choice cuts from the movies by composer Simon Boswell is also included.
Speaking of Peter Medak, Severin is also presenting his first feature on Blu-ray. Negatives (1968) stars Peter McEnery, Glenda Jackson and Diane Cilento in a bizarre love triangle. The original 4K negative has been scanned in 4K by the British Film Institute for this release and a bonus movie is also included. It’s called Sparrows Can’t Sing (1963), and Medak was the assistant director on the feature.
Years after the Peter Sellers debacle, Medak finally found another gig with the black comedy The Odd Job (1978) starring Graham Chapman. It’s about a married man who becomes suicidal after his wife leaves him. He hires a stranger to kill him. When his wife returns home, the lead discovers that the individual he hired still has every intention of murdering him. Chapman stars, along with Sir David Jason, Carolyn Seymour, Simon Williams, Bill Patterson and Richard O’Brien. This hard-to-find title has been scanned in 2K from Medak’s personal 35mm print. The director also delivers an intro for the film. There is also an audio interview with the filmmaker, a Zoom reunion between Medak and Jason, as well as cast and crew interviews.
Shout Factory is presenting the Hong Kong action film City on Fire (1987) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo set. Chow Yun-Fat stars in this effort from Ringo Lam (Twin Dragons, Full Contact) about a cop who ends up in the middle of a conflict between the police force and a criminal who has been honorable with him. You’ll get a 4K Ultra HD picture restoration presented in Dolby Vision, a film historian commentary, new interviews with the screenwriter and various authorities on the production, as well as a trailer and image gallery.
Deathstalker (1983) and Deathstalker II (1987) is a “Collector’s Edition” Double-Feature 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package containing two low-budget fantasy pictures made on the heels of Conan the Barbarian. Both movies have been given 4K restorations from the interpositive and are presented in Dolby Vision. They come with director commentary tracks and trailers.
Larry Cohen: Mystery and Misdirection is a Blu-ray set that will be available only through the Shout Factory website. It contains The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977), Special Effects (1984) and Wicked Stepmother (1989). The first and third titles listed have been given new 2K scans from the original camera negatives. There is also an interview with a music expert on the 1977 film, and a discussion with the editor of the last title in the set (some sources suggest this was a troubled production in which the director clashed with star Bette Davis). Trailers are included on all three titles.
A “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of Slaxx (2020) is now available from Shudder. The streaming site made this title available on their platform some time ago and are now making it available on disc. The horror story involves a demonically possessed pair of jeans. The disc contains a director/co-writer and co-writer/co-producer commentary track, and a booklet with new writing on the film.
Since Sony is debuting the latest Karate Kid title this week, they are also making the Karate Kid Ultimate 6-Movie Collection 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook available for fans of the series. You’ll get all the movies made between 1984 and 2025 in one package.
The comedy classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) is also getting the 4K Ultra HD Steelbook treatment from Sony. Apparently, the 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision looks absolutely stunning. If you haven’t seen it, this comedy is a retelling of the Knights of King Arthur starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. You’ll also get a “near-theatrical” slightly shorter version of the movie in HD resolution with some alternate takes. There is also a 50-year tribute to the movie, two archival commentaries that feature all five stars, a 2015 Q&A with the cast, various featurettes with Jones and Palin, outtakes and extras scenes, three songs to sing-along and much more.
A 25th anniversary Blu-ray of Psycho Beach Party (2000) is arriving from Strand Releasing. It’s a send-up of beach movies with Lauren Ambrose, Thomas Gibson and Amy Adams. The disc contains a director commentary, music video, and trailers.
Universal Pictures is presenting the Academy Award-winning Julia Roberts drama Erin Brockovich (2000) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. The 4K picture is presented in Dolby Vision and the disc contains archival bonuses like deleted scenes.
You can also pick up the Twisters Double Feature 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray pack containing the recent 4K editions of Twister (1996) and Twisters (2024) together in the same package.
Vinegar Syndrome is releasing a number of titles as well. Many were originally available only through their website, but now they can be purchased anywhere. These titles include the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of Dario Argento’s The Card Player (2004) and the notoriously cheeseball E.T. rip-off Mac and Me (1988), also co-starring Ronald McDonald, is also arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. The same goes for the sequel, The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999) and the classic giant creature-feature, Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967).
If you head over the Vinegar Syndrome website for some exclusives, you’ll find Castle of Evil (1966) available to order on Blu-ray. This is a whodunit? murder mystery set on a Caribbean island. The original 35mm camera negative has been scanned and restored in 4K for this release. It comes with a pair of film historian commentaries, an interview with a genre film expert and reversible sleeve artwork.
Of Monsters and Madness: The Films of Larry Fessenden Volume 1 is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set containing the two titles, No Telling (1991) and Habit (1995). The release is limited to 6000 and contains the No Telling newly scanned & restored in 4K from a 16mm original negative and a 35mm blowup interpositive, both presented in Dolby Vision. Three commentary tracks are presented on the disc, an archival making-of featurette, behind the scene footage with an intro by Fessenden, as well as a short by the filmmaker. Habit has been restored in 4K from its original 16mm camera negative in Dolby Vision, and arrives with four commentary tracks, tons of archival bonuses, another short by Fessenden, and publicity materials.
Robo Warriors (1996) is a low-budget direct-to-video science-fiction tale with James Remar. The title has been newly restored in 2K from its 35mm interpositive and arrives with a director of photography commentary track, a 42-minute making-of documentary on the production featuring interviews with crew members, as well as a double-sided poster and reversible sleeve artwork.
With another sequel arriving in just another week or two, Warner Bros. is presenting the horror hit The Conjuring (2013) in a 4K Ultra HD package and as a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook. This release marks the film’s debut on the 4K format and it arrives with improved visuals and two new featurettes. One features the cast and creators of the movie talking about the series and its biggest shocks. The cast and crew also reflect on their experiences shooting the movie. Additional archival extras are also included.
Warner Archive is delivering Blu-rays of 7 Women (1966), The Hard Way (1943), Intruder in the Dust (1949) and That Midnight Kiss (1949).
Perhaps most notably, the line is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of the Michael Caine tough-guy picture Get Carter (1971). He plays a mob enforcer whose brother is killed. He sets out to find the party responsible and get his revenge. This set contains a new 4K restoration of the title from the British Film Institute in Dolby Vision, along with a vintage commentary with Caine, the director and the cinematographer. There is also a film historian commentary, an hour-long archival conversation with the director, a look at the film’s score, an interview with co-star Petra Markha, and a discussion with the son of the film’s producer. A standalone Blu-ray is also available.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a list of the week’s kid-friendly titles.
The Huckleberry Hound Show: The Complete Original Series (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
The King of Kings (Vidangel Studios) Blu-ray
Lilo & Stitch (Disney) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook or Blu-ray only
ON THE TUBE!
All of this edition’s TV-related titles can be found here.
Emergency!: The Complete Series (Universal Studios) Blu-ray
The Huckleberry Hound Show: The Complete Original Series (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
Matlock: Season 1 (Paramount) DVD
NCIS Origins: Season 1 (Paramount) DVD
You: Season 4 (Netflix) DVD