Well, the holidays are arriving and movie studios are rushing to put everything they can out before the end of the year. This is one of the busiest weeks yet with numerous Blu-ray and DVD highlights arriving on store shelves. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
THE AMBUSH – Released under the title Al Kameen in some territories, this co-production between the United Arab Emirates and France is a war drama said to be loosely based on a true story. It follows three soldiers from the UAE deploying aid near southwest Yemen who are suddenly ambushed and trapped in hostile territory. When their commander learns of the predicament, he mobilizes his team to try and save them. Not many critics in this part of the world have seen the movie, but those who did mostly complimented it as being well made. They wrote that while it didn’t have a big budget, the filmmakers chose to simply on the soldiers involved and their experiences, making the final product tense and effective. It stars Omar Bin Haider, Marwan Abdullah, Mohammed Ahmed and Mansoor Al-Fili.
AMERICAN MURDERER – Also based on a true story, this crime film details the life of a con man who specializes in detailed scams. Frustrated that the criminal is living an extravagant lifestyle, an irritated FBI agent vows to take him down. As his stolen money supply dwindles, the con artist concocts his most elaborate scheme, targeting the man determined to stop him. Response has been very mixed for this effort. Almost half stated that the story itself was interesting and noted some strong performances from cast members. However, more complained that the screenplay didn’t do enough to make audiences care about the people involved and that it all felt dull and forgettable. The cast includes Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel, Jacki Weaver and Paul Schneider.
BANDIT – And here is another tale inspired by real events. The subject is a Canadian named Kenneth Leishman aka The Flying Bandit. A career criminal, this feature starts with the figure escaping from a Michigan prison and making his to Canada. After arriving, changing his identity and earning a pilot’s license and plane, he begins flying to various locales and committing robberies each day. He earns a reputation as a gentleman bandit. While things go well at first, his acts get the attention of the police and a noted gangster. Generally speaking, response was upbeat for this effort. A small number of press members commented that the subject matter of a nice-guy robber didn’t lend itself to much excitement or thrills. Still, three quarters of reviews thought the lead actor was excellent and thought it was a fun film detailing the life of an unusual criminal. Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson, Elisha Cuthbert and Olivia d’Abo headline the picture.
THE BLOODY MAN – This low-budget independent horror flick is set in the 1980s. It involves a young boy trying to deal with the unexpected loss of his mother. He finds himself becoming drawn into the world of comic books, in particular one title detailing a threatening figure. Soon, this fictional individual is summoned out of the pages and begins to cause havoc and torment in the child’s life. So far, only genre film critics have seen this title. Most of them suggest that while the movie is overlong and suffers from limited resources, some elements do work. They also enjoyed seeing several performers from 80s horror pictures appear in various roles. This looks like it may be a title specifically aimed at low-budget genre film enthusiasts. Tuesday Knight, Lisa Wilcox, KateLynn E. Newberry and Brian Cage appear in the title.
CALL JANE – A married, Chicago-based woman in 1968 finds herself expecting, but quickly learns that it will threaten her life if she continues forward with the pregnancy. After making the difficult decision to abort, the protagonist finds that no hospitals are willing to perform the procedure and that she must find an alternate treatment. She asks a group of suburban moms named “Call Jane” and becomes involved in their movement. Reviewers gave the movie good notices. A small contingent thought the script focused too much on speeches instead of making viewers care through the trials of the characters. Regardless, the majority wrote that while it was imperfect, there was plenty to appreciate and the cast were uniformly strong. It stars Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Mara, Chris Messina, Cory Michael Smith and Wunmi Mosaku.
CAN’T BE STOPPED – Those with an interest in graffiti may want to check out this documentary. Shot in Los Angeles, it tells the history of the “Can’t Be Stopped” or “CBS” crew of artists. Through interviews with various members and those familiar with the group, viewers are told the story of a man who began the outfit back in the 1980s. He mentors a group of boys, raising them from broken homes and helping to develop their artistic abilities on the streets. As years pass, they eventually earn acclaim for their work. The movie is said to be narrated by Everlast and features brief appearances by familiar musicians and actors who have crossed paths with the group. It appears that this feature is debuting on disc, so there are currently no reviews available for the movie.
A CHRISTMAS KAREN – This independent holiday comedy combines two very different elements – the classic fable A Christmas Carol and the nickname given to entitled white women in the United States. In this tale, a nasty and privileged middle-aged lady alienates neighbors with her constant berating and bemoaning of others. One night, a trio of ghosts appear to try and change her outlook on others and life in general. So far, reaction towards the project has been muted from the few critics who have seen it. One thought that the movie was an intriguing update of a familiar tale that benefitted from the performers. But others stated that the film was awkward in execution and didn’t effectively satirize its subject or make any interesting points. The cast includes Michele Simms, Meghan Colleen Moroney, Rolin Alexis, Leyla Lawrence and Lee Karlinsky.
DON’T F*** IN THE WOODS 2 – Apparently, back in 2016 there was an ultra-low budget horror film that garnered some attention because of its provocative title. This week sees the release of a sequel to that title. It’s about a group of camp counsellors partying before the summer season begins. A mysterious woman arrives and not long after the youths are attacked by a group of parasitic monsters who are attracted to sexual activity. Like the first film, response from members of the press hasn’t been exceptional. It seems that, as of right now, most are complaining that the feature is terribly paced and poorly written. As a result, there aren’t many laughs to be had or much tension from the onslaught of nasty creatures. Brittany Blanton, Cheyenne Gordon, Jason Crowe and Julie Anne Prescott headline the feature.
LIFEMARK – This faith-based picture involves an 18-year-old happily living with his adopted parents. When his birth mother sends a message to the youngster asking to reconnect, the lead asks for advice from his guardians. They tell the story of this teenage mother and encourage him to build a new relationship. The process helps fill in some gaps and brings the entire group together. Based on a true story, this title was well-received. While few critics ended up seeing and reviewing the picture, those that did stated that the movie was above average for religious-themed fare. They called it a positive and sweet ode to the adoption process and noted that it avoided sermonizing to audiences and focused on the upbeat story. It features Raphael Ruggero, Kirk Cameron, Rebecca Rogers and Alex Kendrick.
LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE – Based on the poplar kid’s book series, this tale follows a youngster who moves with his family to New York City. Initially, he has trouble adapting to his new surroundings and feels like an outcast. That all changes after he meets and befriends a singing crocodile. The reptile not only shares his gift of song, but also encourages the youth to be bold and express himself. More members of the press liked this family flick than disliked it. A minor percentage found it too sugary and had a few issues with the movie’s message. However, the consensus was that while the concept was absurd, they couldn’t help but have fun with it. They thought the visual effects were impressive, the songs memorable, also admiring the work of the cast. It stars Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Winslow Fegley, Scoot McNairy and the voice of Shawn Mendes.
THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP DEAD – A sheriff investigating a murder in a small Mississippi town interviews the shifty stockbroker son of the victim and his girlfriend, a local waitress. The cop quickly discovers that the deceased figure (and perhaps the other interviewees) may have been involved in an insurance scam. The protagonist attempts to determine if one of those scammed out of cash is responsible, or if the family members were responsible. Unfortunately, no one who has seen this picture has had anything nice to say. They all suggested that the movie was cliched and that the screenplay was riddled with plot holes, ridiculous twists and dim-witted characters. The cast includes Cole Hauser, Morgan Freeman, Jaimie Alexander, Darren Mann and Andrew Stevens.
OLD FRIENDS: A DOGUMENTARY – Also released in some markets as Seniors: A Dogumentary, this non-fiction feature examines older pets. It shows their particular needs from family members that often go unmet. The bond between pet owners and older dogs is shown, as well as what can be done to help when an owner passes away or when these animals begin to slow down, suffer from ailments and start to be seen as a burden. The movie has only been by a small group of movie critics, but they have all sung praises of the feature. They noted that the movie does an excellent job at making us rethink how we view aging animals and what needs to be done to help them age gracefully. These notices also suggested that one may end up shedding a tear or two by the time the credits roll.
ONODA: 10,000 NIGHTS IN THE JUNGLE – Near the end of World War II, a group of Japanese soldiers on a remote island in the Philippines are told by their generals to keep fighting no matter what occurs. The war ends, decades pass and one lone soldier remains on duty, cut-off from the world., living alone and still standing guard in the jungle. In 1974, a Japanese reporter hears reports about the figure. He heads out to find the soldier and convince him that the country has surrendered. This multinational production is based on a true story and has earned raves and awards across the globe. There are no negative pieces for this foreign-language feature. All of the write-ups suggest that the movie avoids dealing with politics and instead is a moving character study about a man who follows orders and ends up losing much of his life in the process. It stars Yûya Endô and Kanji Tsuda.
PIRANHA WOMEN – A pair of detectives are assigned to investigate a brutal killing in a seaside town. After checking out the bodies and interviewing locals, they come to the shocking conclusion that a mad doctor may be using patients to create “piranha women” with oversized teeth and a voracious appetite. This is the latest title from low-budget, independent horror/science-fiction veteran Fred Olen Ray (Star Slammer, Cyclone, Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Alienator, Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfolds), who has also recently also been making a ton of Christmas-themed romance TV-movies. The movie is debuting on disc from Full Moon and hasn’t been reviewed as of yet. So, interested parties will just have to take a chance on it. The cast includes Houston Rhines, Jon Briddell, Carrie Overgaard, Shary Nassimi and Sof Puchley.
RIOTSVILLE, USA – This documentary addresses protest movements in the 1960s and how police departments became increasingly militarized in their efforts to stop them. The filmmakers uncover and show military training footage used to develop strategies to quell civil disobedience. Viewers see full model towns called “Riotsvilles” and witness practice exercises. Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to use any means necessary to handle crowds. Critics gave this effort high marks. A tiny number didn’t think that the film made the most out of its discoveries, calling it repetitive and the narration droning. Still, almost everyone else was stunned by what they saw. They claimed that it was an informative and effectively critical piece with modern day relevance that shows how the government overreacts and succumbs to paranoia.
THE ROUNDUP – Action/martial arts fans may be interested in this effort from Hong Kong. It’s a sequel to the 2017 hit feature The Outlaws and follows the heroic detective of the first movie. Some years later, he and his compatriots are asked to head to Vietnam to extradite a suspect for questioning. While there, they discover additional killings and try to stop a terrifying psychopath who targets tourists. Response was just as strong for this film as it was for the original. One or two reviewers didn’t like the protagonists or their tendency to break the rules in the name of justice. All others thought the leads were compelling and the action scenes phenomenally staged, writing that the film deftly mixed thrills and humor to maximum effect. It stars Ma Dong-seok, Sukku Son, Choi Gwi-hwa, Heo Dong-won and Park ji-young.
SMILE – A therapist witnesses the disturbing suicide of one of her patients during a session. Their discussion involves visions of a sinister, smiling figure whose appearance foretells imminent death. Wracked with guilt over the ordeal, the lead takes some time off. Unfortunately, she begins to experience the same trauma and unsettling sights as her client. She begins to fear that she is the next victim. The press was generally upbeat towards this chillier. About 20 percent of reviews believed that the title was nothing more than a collection of jump-scares that didn’t offer as much food for thought as the concept promised. Still, most admitted that it was tense throughout and noted that it would definitely impress anyone looking for a good scare. The cast includes Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert, Kal Penn and Rob Morgan.
TICKET TO PARADISE – After learning that their daughter is engaged and about to make the biggest mistake of her life, her separated and embittered parents head off to Bali to try and stop their child’s wedding. In order to complete their task, they are forced to work together. As they spend more time in each other’s company, old feelings return to the forefront and the pair begin to question the mission. Reaction was muted towards this rom-com, although there were slightly more positive reviews than negative ones. Those who disliked the picture commented that it didn’t focus enough time on its two marquee stars and that the script was bland. Other voices stated that the charisma of the two leads helped make up for the story problems and found it fun to witness. It features George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Kaitlyn Dever, Sean Lynch and Billie Lourd.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND – This documentary on the famous 1960s rock band debuted on Netflix at the end of 2021. It is now arriving on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. Considered one of the most influential rock bands ever, the film uses never-before-seen footage and interviews to delve into the New York underground music scene. It details how founding members Lou Reed and John Cale teamed up to write iconic music and collaborate with artists like Andy Warhol. The movie received exemplary notices. A tiny faction said that the movie didn’t offer anything that enthusiasts wouldn’t already know. Everyone else wrote that it was stylish, captured the era perfectly, presented facts in an unusual and compelling manner and served as a thrilling document of an exceptional band.
THE WOMAN KING – Based on real events, this drama tells the story of a faction of all-female warriors called the Agojie who served in the African kingdom of Dahomey. A young woman joins the group after refusing to take part in an arranged marriage. She ends up training under General Nanisca and doing battle with a foe who threatens their entire country. Response towards the movie was very strong. A small number critiqued the liberties taken with the actual story, called the presentation formulaic and thought that the battle scenes weren’t as epic or exciting as they should have been. Still, the majority were impressed by the central performances and thought the female perspective given was inspiring and exciting. It stars Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and John Boyega. Read a review of the movie here.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
And there are just as many older films receiving high-definition upgrades. Creature from Black Lake (1976) is arriving on Blu-ray from Synapse Films and is getting prominent placement in this article because I’ll be reviewing the disc on the website shortly. It’s an independent feature about a pair of college students who head down to Louisiana to improve their thesis on bigfoot. Once out in the swamps, they interview locals who have sighted a creature in the region and soon become targeted by the monster. The movie boasts cinematography by a young Dean Cundey (who would go on to shoot Halloween, The Fog, The Thing, Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit Jurassic Park, Apollo 13 and many more). This disc includes a 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative, a film historian commentary, an interview with Cundey, as well as a trailer and radio ad for the feature. Read a full review of the Blu-ray by clicking this link.
88 Films is presenting Blood and Diamonds (1977) on Blu-ray. It’s an Italian thriller about a diamond thief who is set up and arrested, only to seek revenge on those who double-crossed him upon his release. This title also contains a 4K restoration of the movie, a commentary from an Italian movie authority, a feature-length documentary on the director and more.
Ghostwatch (1992) is appearing on Blu-ray as a Limited Collector’s Edition from 101 Films (MVD Visual is apparently handling the distribution of the disc). Like War of the Worlds in the 1930s, this is a case of a hoax program that was broadcast to unsuspecting audiences. It’ original aired on British TV in 1992 and used real television hosts to report on a supernatural occurrence in a London flat. According to reports. The film is very amusing. This release includes a retrospective on the production, two commentary tracks detailing background info about the special and an archival featurette with the director.
If you have a 4K Ultra HD setup, you can now pick up the science-fiction cult classic Silent Running (1972) on the format. Pictured above and to the left, the Bruce Dern film is presented with the highest visual and sound quality available. It also includes all previously released extras including multiple audio commentaries, interviews and more. Unfortunately, the only thing it doesn’t come with is an actual Blu-ray of the film.
Cinema Guild is releasing Three Films by Hong Sang-soo on Blu-ray. The set contains the South Korean features Nobody’s Daughter Haewon (1976), Oki’s Movie (2010) and Our Sunhi (2013). The box includes a few press conferences with the filmmaker and promotional materials.
The independent comedy A Fish in the Bathtub (1998) is getting a Blu-ray from Cohen Media Group. This is a story about a daughter acting as a matchmaker for her elderly, eccentric parents. The cast includes Jane Adams, Jerry Stiller, Mark Ruffalo and Doris Roberts among many others. You’ll get a new restoration of the movie, a Q&A with the director and co-writers and trailers.
You can also pick up a double feature Blu-ray of the Raphael D. Silver dramas On the Yard (1978) and A Walk on the Moon (1987). The set includes a trailer for the first title.
The coming-of-age drama Cooley High (1975) is getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment. It’s a well-regarded and bittersweet tale about life for two students in a black vocational high school in Chicago in 1964. The disc includes a 4K image restoration, a conversation with the director, a program on the making of the feature, a 2019 panel discussion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It includes the filmmaker, casting director and cast members.
The distributor is also putting out Three Films by Mai Zetterling. It’s a set of Swedish titles from the feminist movie-maker that includes Loving Couples (1964), Night Games (1966) and The Girls (1968). The movies have all gotten 2K restorations. It also comes with bonuses like multiple interviews with Zetterling, her co-screenwriter, as well as cast and crew, television footage from one of the premieres and plenty more.
Hallucination Generation (1966) is a trippy drama set in Spain about beatniks on LSD that Diabolik DVD is presenting on Blu-ray. In addition to the regular feature, the disc has a black and white version, a producer interview, archival video of test subjects being given LSD, a featurette with painting brought to hallucinatory reality, a “trip” to a garden of earthly delights and a grocery store and an image gallery.
Kino is presenting a 4K restoration of Girl on a Motorcycle (1968). Marianne Faithful plays a woman going on a biking odyssey. It comes with a director commentary, a film expert audio track and a trailer. The distributor is also releasing a 2K restoration of the John Sturges western The Hallelujah Trail (1965), starring Burt Lancaster, Lee Remick and Donald Pleasence. It’s an epic and the disc contains the Roadshow Overture, Intermission, Entr’acte and Exit music, as well as a film historian commentary and a trailer for the film.
The cult classic action flick Highlander (1986) is being rereleased from Lionsgate. The Director’s Cut (which includes the World War II flashback and other extensions that wasn’t in the original US cut) is being given a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray with upgraded picture quality. Naturally, all of the previously releases bonuses will be included.
The company’s Vestron line is delivering the Silent Night, Deadly Night Collection too. It doesn’t have the first two movies in the franchise – Shout! Factory owns those titles. Instead, this set contains Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! (1989), Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation (1990) and Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker (1991). All of the films have commentary tracks, cast and crew interviews, trailers and still galleries.
Mill Creek would like it known that Thrillers from the Vault: 8 Classic Horror Films is arriving on Blu-ray. The films featured in this set are The Black Room (1935), The Man They Could Not Hang (1939), Before I Hang (1940), The Man with Nine Lives (1940), The Devil Commands (1941), The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942), The Return of the Vampire (1943) and Five (1951). All of the titles star Boris Karloff except for the last two listed above.
Sandpiper Pictures is a great little company that have been rereleasing out-of-print titles on Blu-ray. This week, Assassination Tango (2002) with Robert Duvall is arriving on the format, along with Martin Scorsese’s Boxcar Bertha (1972) and the James Caan/Jane Fonda drama, Comes a Horseman (1978).
Walk Proud (1979) is a drama about a young Chicano gang member who pursues a relationship with a white high-school girl. Scorpion Releasing is releasing the Blu-ray with a 2K restoration of the film as well as interviews with the many cast members.
Severin is another great company that specialize in genre pictures. The company is making the action pictures Born to Fight (1989), Cop Game (1988) and Double Target (1987) available on Blu-ray. All of the movies have received 2K restorations from the original camera negative and arrive with cast and crew interviews, as well as publicity materials.
Those looking 4K Ultra HD upgrades should take note that Shout! Factory are presenting some incredible films. The first is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the Brian De Palma horror classic Carrie (1976). This set includes all of the great previously released extras and a new, sharper picture.
They also have a couple of great animated titles from Laika. You can now pick up Coraline (2009) in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray alongside a ParaNorman (2012) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. These are both incredible features that really benefit from the picture upgrade. And again, the discs include all the previously released materials from earlier editions. Both will be available in regular and limited Steelbook packaging.
Additionally, Shout! is putting out a Collector’s Edition of the Mandy Moore teen romance flick A Walk to Remember (2002). This Blu-ray has a retrospective featurette with Nicholas Sparks (the author of the book the film is based on), a director and cast commentary, an author and screenwriter track, a music video and a trailer.
And there’s more! Sony is delivering a Blu-ray the David Arquette drama Dream with the Fishes (1997) about a suicidal man who spends his days watching neighbors. The Julia Roberts rom-com My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) is being given the 4K Ultra HD treatment, but this release will not include a Blu-ray. Additionally, you can purchase a Blu-ray of the David Cronenberg creeper Spider (2002), which stars Ralph Fiennes as a mentally disturbed man struggling to control his impulses.
Additionally, Troma is releasing the comedy, The First Turn-On! (1983). As with all of their other Blu-ray titles, expect it to come with plenty of bonus features.
Finally, Unearthed Films is delivering the German genre title, La Petit Mort (2009) on Blu-ray.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
You’ll find the week’s kid-friendly titles listed below.
Coraline (2009) (Shout!) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
ParaNorman (2012) (Shout!) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And here are all of the TV-related titles coming your way.
Dawson Creek: The Complete Series (Mill Creek) Blu-ray
Dia De Lost Muertos (PBS) DVD
Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor: Season 13 (BBC) Blu-ray
Evil: Season 3 (Paramount) Blu-ray
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: SnowComing & Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Hallmark) DVD
Hogan’s Heroes: The Complete Series (Paramount) Blu-ray
Mystery Road: Origin (Acorn) DVD
Players: Season 1 (Paramount) Blu-ray
Reacher: Season 1 (Paramount) Blu-ray