Welcome back to another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This is a very busy edition with numerous flicks being made available in a wide variety of genres. So, since you can’t or likely shouldn’t go out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Archenemy – This science-fiction comedy follows an alcoholic bar-hopper who tells everyone around him that he’s actually a superhero from another planet who has lost his powers. Naturally, locals ignore the man, except for a teenager who enjoys listening to his fantastic stories. When the youth is kidnapped by a local gangster, the drunk decides that it’s time to save the day and prove to others that he is who he claims to be. Response towards this independent feature was upbeat. A small group thought that the movie was too unfocused and at times didn’t seem sure of what it was parodying. However, the majority thought that there was a lot of enjoyable story elements that were entertaining and stated that it had an infectiously rebellious spirit. It stars Joe Manganiello, Skylan Brooks, Paul Scheer, Amy Seimetz and Glenn Howerton.
Balloon Man – Bill Costen is the subject of this documentary. It follows this man’s life, starting with his early days as a pro athlete playing for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. After a personal tragedy forces him out of professional sports, the man decides to become the first African American hot-air balloon pilot. The picture then details his long history navigating various balloon and other aircraft through the clouds, eventually winning awards for his skills. Viewers learn what inspired him to take on this unusual career and hear his describe his own personal philosophy. This feature played at a few film festivals to appreciative response and is now debuting on disc this week. At this time, there aren’t many reviews of the feature, so those interested in the story will have to simply take a chance on this curious feature.
Breach – Those looking for a new low-budget, direct-to-disc action/sci-fi picture may be interested in this interstellar tale. It follows a group of humans feeling the Earth as a devastating plague arrives. After flying away on a large ark-like spacecraft, the leads encounter a shape-shifting alien force who wants to finish all humankind off. The press was not particularly fond of this feature film. A small percentage wrote that it was a reasonably entertaining little B-movie that packed a few thrills. Yet most complained that while it wasn’t as poor as other titles of its ilk, the flick still borrowed heavily from better movies like The Thing and wasn’t as memorable. For the time being, this title is being released exclusively on DVD. It features Cody Kearsley, Bruce Willis, Rachel Nichols, Kassandra Clementi and Johnny Messner.
La Casa – This Chilean, foreign-language horror movie claims to be loosely inspired by real events. The story follows a police officer who receives a call for help from a creepy old house. After hurrying onto the property and entering the house, paranormal forces begin attacking, leaving the protagonist to try and find his way out to safety. Some genre movie critics have managed to check out this international feature and more of them have been positive than negative about it. While a couple of write-ups said that the story was too simple and familiar to distinguish itself from other genre films, most argued that it was efficient, well-shot and definitely delivered a couple of good jolts. Gabriel Cañas plays the anguished officer, while Carol Campos and Felipe Silva Rodriguez appear in supporting roles.
Elyse – A troubled woman unable to get over the death of her son takes her various psychological issues out on her surviving family. After a particularly nasty encounter with them, she has a blackout and awakens to learn that she has committed vehicular manslaughter on one her children and the nanny. The lead is institutionalized and a psychiatrist and nurse do their best to help the woman recover her sanity and move forward with her life. This indie drama split reviewers right down the middle. About half of them complained that they didn’t find the writing or characters believable and couldn’t buy into the drama. The same amount thought that while the storytelling was flawed, the supporting performances were excellent and noted that they admired the movie for at attempting something a little different. It stars Anthony Hopkins, Lisa Pepper, Aaron Tucker and Tara Arroyave.
First Blush – This independent drama involves a couple whose traditional lifestyle changes dramatically after meeting another woman. The intense connection between all three parties leads them to consider becoming a romantic trio. Naturally, this dramatic change causes tension and friction as the new, larger family tries to cope with their changing roles within the group. Write-ups for this picture were generally good. Most suggested that the story did a decent job of tackling the joys and struggles that might occur during a three-person relationship. They also mentioned the excellent work of the leads, stating that the film wouldn’t have worked nearly as well without the efforts of the committed cast. Rachel Alig, Ryan Caraway and Kate Beecroft headline the feature.
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror – The steaming horror-movie site Shudder premiered this documentary on its site a year or two ago. Now, the feature is debuting on disc. It tells the history of black horror movies and the role that African American filmmakers have played in the genre since its origins. Writers, directors and performers who have made and been inspired by various productions are interviewed, sharing their insights. Critics gave the picture uniformly excellent reviews. They wrote that it does a great job of championing the genre and showing how many black-themed features over the last several decades have both delivered chills and addressed important social issues. The movie includes interviews with Rusty Cundieff, Keith David, Ernest R. Dickerson, Ken Foree, Jordan Peele, Tony Todd and dozens of other onscreen and behind-the-scenes talent.
Host – Shudder is also responsible for this horror picture that is also arriving on disc. The story involves six friends stuck at home during a lockdown. They decide to perform an online séance for fun, but after raising a demonic spirit, the group quickly regrets their actions. The evil force moves from house to house, attacking the participants while their friends try to offer assistance over the computer. The horror press was very excited and enthusiastic about this small, hour-long chiller. Unlike the characters, all of them had nothing but good things to say about their experience watching it. After admitting that the concept wasn’t exactly original, they still asserted that the movie was well-acted and said the jumps were effectively executed. It features Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb and Radina Drandova.
The Last Blockbuster – This film was recently announced and then had its release delayed by distributors. Now, it’s arriving as a Special Edition that includes a Blu-ray and DVD. Remember the days of heading out to video stores and renting the latest new releases on VHS? This documentary tells the story of the Blockbuster franchise and focuses in on the only location still in operation today. The filmmakers go to Bend, Oregon and speak to the manager, who shares her struggles to keep the location open. Celebrities also appear and tell their memories of the video chain. So far, reviews have been upbeat, stating that the feature tells the rise and fall of Blockbuster in an interesting manner and will make one nostalgic for the golden age of video rentals. Kevin Smith, Ione Skye, Brian Posehn, Doug Benson, Paul Scheer, Jamie Kennedy, Ron Funches and Lloyd Kaufman share their memories for the amusement of viewers.
The Legend of Baron To‘a – A young Tongan man struggles to live up to the legacy of his father, a professional wrestling superstar. He visits his deceased pop’s home to clean things up and sell the property, but soon discovers that his dad’s championship belt has been stolen by a local gang. The lead must rise up to the challenge and recover the heirloom in order to close this chapter of his life and move forward with his own. This indie comedy from New Zealand received solid reviews in its homeland, but hasn’t been seen by many yet in this part of the world. Critics from Australia and New Zealand stated that it was a sweet and amusing little comedy that would entertain those who shared its quirky sense of humor. It stars Uli Latukefu, Nathaniel Lees, Jay Laga’aia, Shavaughn Ruakere and John Tui.
Let Him Go – One of the big releases this week is this western about an elderly couple who lose their son in an unfortunate accident. When their daughter-in-law takes up with a new man who possesses a criminal record, the in-laws become concerned. After she and their grandson disappear, the protagonists try to locate them. They eventually come into conflict with the criminal matriarch of the family who has taken possession of the baby and their daughter-in-law. The press gave this picture fine marks overall. A small group complained that too much of the plot was predictable, the villains were one-note and that the simmering tension never really caught fire. Still, most were taken by the excellent lead performances and thought that the actors were so compelling that they carried the movie over its rough patches. The cast includes Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Kayli Carter, Lesley Manville, Jeffrey Donovan and Booboo Stewart. Read a full review of the movie here.
Love, Weddings & Other Disasters – This romantic-comedy follows the love lives of various people who work as wedding planners. While they all prepare celebrations for their various clients, viewers see how crazy and outlandish their own personal lives are as they struggle to meet and connect with their own true loves. The feature was panned by most members of the press. Only one or two critics thought it was cute and worth the attention of viewers. All others called it a formulaic exercise with poorly written characters and situations that not only failed to inspire romance, but caused viewers great irritation moving from one unfunny scenario to another. Ouch! For those who do want to give the movie a try, it features Maggie Grace, Jeremy Irons, Diane Keaton, Andrew Bachelor, Diego Boneta and Jesse McCartney.
Sky Sharks – Some 75 years after the end of World War II, a team in the artic discover a Nazi airship frozen in the ice. After thawing some of it out, they find an entryway to a secret base housing a secret weapon. And yes, the weapons are genetically modified shark monsters. They fly through the air, armed and piloted by undead Nazis trying to take over the world. The film’s heroes must fight back to stop this very unusual enemy. As you might have already guessed, this is one of those intentionally corny genre films. It hasn’t been seen by many reviewers just yet and the ones that have appeared online haven’t been complementary. One or two called it fun in so-bad-it’s-good manner, but most state that that the gags are stale and that it all gets tiring very, very quickly. The cast includes Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Tony Todd, Naomi Grossman, Amanda Bearse, Mick Garris, Lar Park-Lincoln and Lynn Lowry.
Survival Skills – Imitating the style of old police training videos from the 1980s, this comedy follows a seemingly ideal policeman and his perfect family. However, when he is assigned to step in and handle a domestic violence case in the neighborhood, he quickly finds himself in over his head and his own flawless existence slowly unraveling. Response was generally very positive for this dark indie comedy. There was a small contingent who complained that they couldn’t get on its wavelength and said the movie ended up outstaying its welcome. Still, the vast majority described the title as a wild, surreal and trippy effort that hits the mark thanks to the lead performance. At present, it is only available on DVD. It stars Vayu O’Donnell, Spencer Garrett, Ericka Kreutz and is narrated by Stacy Keach.
Tesla – Inventor Nicolai Tesla is the subject of this biopic. The movie follows his efforts to bring his visionary concept for a new alternating-current electricity system to the masses. However, he faces threats from competitors including Thomas Edison, who see the protagonist’s advanced ideas as a dangerous threat to their own establishment. This title split critics, although it did receive slightly more positive write-ups than negative ones. Those who disliked the film didn’t care for the film’s tone and thought that the odd storytelling eccentricities on display hurt the movie rather than helped it. Regardless, many admired the lead performance were intrigued by the creative experimentation on display. The cast includes Ethan Hawke, Eve Hewson, Kyle MacLachlan and Jim Gaffigan. To read this site’s review of the movie, click here.
Tribes on the Edge – Filmmaker Celine Cousteau (granddaughter of renowned sea explorer Jacques Cousteau) travels to Brazil to shoot this documentary about tribes in the Brazilian rainforest. After being invited to the locale by Indigenous Peoples to capture their struggles and witness their fight for survival as invading groups move into their land. Cousteau shares their traditional way of life and hears incredible tales from her interview subjects about the ongoing threats affecting them. These challenges include illegal hunting, diseases, gold mining and deforestation among many other issues. There aren’t many write-ups currently available for this title in this part of the world, but those curious about the plight of the Brazilian ecosystem will likely find some ideas here to inspire them.
Wild Mountain Thyme – This romance focuses on an Irish woman living in the country who is determined to win the love of her neighbor. The task is made more complicated when she learns that the object of her affection may be suffering from a curse. When the neighbor’s father announces that he’s selling the family farm to his nephew, the protagonist sees this as an opportunity to help the man overcome his challenges and, in the process, win his affection. Response wasn’t very strong towards this picture. A few called it escapist fun with a great cast and stated that it would appeal to its target demographic. However, most complained that the lead characters were often kept apart, so they didn’t have much chemistry and the intended sparks never really flew. As of right now, the movie is a DVD only release. It stars Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken.
Blasts from the Past!
There are some interesting Blu-ray upgrades of older titles arriving as well. Kino have a 2K remaster of the Eartha Kitt drama, Anna Lucasta (1958), about a lady of the night who falls for a sailor (played by Sammy Davis Jr.). The disc also includes a trailer. They also have the thriller Dark Intruder (1965) which tells the story of cops trying to solve a series of killing committed by a cult. This title stars Leslie Nielsen (who would later become known more for his comedic work) as a detective on the case. The disc includes a 2K restoration of the movie, a film historian commentary, an interview with the son of the make-up effects artist and a trailer.
The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) is a pre-code thriller from James Whale (Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, Show Boat) about a man attempting to use temporary insanity as a defense for the murder of his wife after he catches her having an affair. This Blu-ray includes a film critic commentary and trailers. You can also pick up a Blu-ray of A Man Called Adam (1966), a drama about a tormented musician that stars Sammy Davis Jr.. This disc arrives with a new 2K master. In addition, they are releasing the documentary Nationtime (1972), which captures the 1972 National Black Political Convention held in Gary, Indiana. This Blu-ray includes interviews with the director’s kids and an essay by an American history scholar.
Paramount are delivering plenty of catalog titles at discounted prices, some of which are new to Blu-ray. The first is Ladybugs (1992), a cheesy comedy with Rodney Dangerfield about a inexperienced soccer coach trying to win a girl’s championship by forcing the athletic son of his fiancée to dress in drag and pretend to be female. The distributor also has that reimagining of the famous collie-flick, Lassie (1994). In this update, the homeless dog helps a family from the city who move to the country. The collie saves them from wolves and other threats that they aren’t prepared for.
Mouse Hunt (1997) is a fun family comedy about a pair of nasty but equally clumsy oafs trying to wipe out a clever little mouse that resides in a large, run-down mansion. If memory serves, there are some amusingly elaborate stunts and pratfalls in the flick. The movie is premiering this week on Blu-ray along with Revolutionary Road (2008), a drama from Oscar-winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, 1917) with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Small Soldiers (1998) is an excellent family picture from director Joe Dante (Gremlins, Innerspace) about a line of toy commando soldiers that spring to life and end up attacking the neighborhood. Some of the kid’s sweet-natured monster figures are eventually faced with helping save their owners from the militaristic threat. The cast Kristin Dunst, Jay Mohr, David Cross. Phil Hartman and Denis Leary. It also features the voice talents of Frank Langella, Tommy Lee Jones, George Kennedy, Jim Brown, Christopher Guest, Michael McKeabn, Harry Sheare and many others. The movie underperformed when it was released some 20 years ago, but was actually a lot of fun and deserves to continue building an audience. It’s now premiering on Blu-ray. The studio is also releasing the family comedy Yours, Mine & Ours (2005) with Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo.
Another studio releasing some catalog titles is Universal Pictures. This week, they have new Blu-rays of The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974), Circle of Friends (1995), a 4K edition of Do the Right Thing (1989), the Fifty Shades Trilogy (2015 – 2018), Kissing a Fool (1998), Prime (2005) and That Funny Feeling (1965).
If monster movies are more to your liking, the recent giant monster picture Shin Godzilla (2016) is receiving a new Blu-ray courtesy of FUNimation. The movie has been previously released and is out-of-print, so this is likely a new edition with the same extras.
Code Red are putting out the Italian genre flick, The Great Alligator (1979) on Blu-ray. The movie arrived in the late 70s at the height of nature-on-the-rampage movies like Jaws, Piranha, Grizzly, Day of the Animals, The Swarm and King Kong (among many others.). As you might expect, it focuses on an alligator eating up tourists at a vacation resort. Barbara Bach is one of those who finds herself being chomped at. The disc was originally released a few years back but sold out quickly. This new edition includes all of the same bonuses.
Finally, Scorpion are releasing a Blu-ray of the action picture, The Norseman (1978). It stars Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man) as a Viking warrior taking down enemies. The disc includes a trailer.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some titles that may appeal to youngsters.
Llama Llama: Fun with Friends (With Happy B-Day Llama Llama Book)
Magic School Bus Rides Again: All About Earth
Sesame Street: Elmo’s World – Things Elmo Loves
On the Tube!
It’s a quieter week for TV-themed releases, but there is one made-for-cable title arriving on shelves.
Country at Heart (Hallmark)