Welcome to another look at highlights headed your way on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s another busy edition filled with intriguing independent features and big studio fare. So, since you likely can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
American Tragedy – Those looking for a documentary dealing with some heavy subject matter may be intrigued by this project. The picture details the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, committed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. More than 20 years later, Dylan’s mother Sue attempts to reconcile how she missed all of the warning signs and if she could have prevented his horrific actions. She details all of the conversations they had previous to the event and attempts to analyze them with new insight. The movie also details the importance of mental health and treatment, as well as her efforts to provide prevention techniques and warnings to others about what they need to look out for. This film has played at a few festivals, but is primarily debuting on disc. As such, there aren’t many reviews of the picture at this time.
American Wisper – Based on a true crime case that occurred in 2016, this independent feature involves a successful African-American businessman. When his entire family is gunned down in their suburban New Jersey home, authorities quickly call out the husband and father as the prime suspect in the case. While being investigated, the lead begins his own search to find out what happened and who might be responsible. The trail leads to shocking revelations and discoveries. The low-budget movie was picked up by a small distributor and premiered on Amazon Prime at the end of March. It is now being released on disc. At this time, there aren’t many reviews available for it yet, but at least on can stream it in order to see if it’s worth adding to one’s collection on disc. The cast includes Christian Barber, Naaji Kenn, Lanisha Javon Gholston and Kenishia Green.
Blood and Money – A war veteran living in Maine decides to head out in his camper and hunt in the isolated winter wilderness. He doesn’t only find game, but also discovers a dead woman with a duffle bag full of cash. The moment as the lead decides to pick it up, a team of crooks arrive ready to collect the body and goods. Trapped in the snow, the protagonist becomes the hunted and must try to escape the area with his life. Reaction was mixed towards this action feature. Almost half of reviewers thought it was a solid B-movie with a strong and identifiable lead performance. Slightly more commented that while the acting was capable, the story was predictable and didn’t offer anything to genre fans that they hadn’t already seen in other titles. It stars Tom Berenger, Kristen Hager and Paul Ben-Victor.
Gamemaster – Enjoy board games like Ticket to Ride and, well, just about any other recent release you can think of? This documentary examines the newfound popularity of gathering together around a table with friends and/or family and playing games. Apparently, there has been a resurgence over the past decade and it has now become a $3 billion dollar industry. The movie is described as a deep dive into the world of new board games. It follows four people attempting to sell their game ideas to companies. The film also includes interviews with the creators of the hugely popular Settlers of Catan, Quirkle and Exploding Kittens, which are some of the most popular ones out there. This picture will premiere exclusively on disc, because (kiddingly) enthusiasts currently have no interest in taking a break from their hobby. However, this film should be of interest to anyone who enjoys board games.
Hershell Gordon Lewis’ BloodMania – Back in the 1960’s writer/director Herschell Gordon Lewis made a series of no-budget, terribly acted, drive-in horror flicks like Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs! Over time, they have become cult items, largely among enthusiasts who appreciate so-bad-it’s-good, do-it-yourself moviemaking. Lewis passed away recently, but not before completing work directing two of the four segments in this anthology. The filmmaker’s chapters include one about a man who loses his hand and has it replaced with a possessed hook. The second involves a hair-eating hag who terrorizes a family. There aren’t many write-ups for this picture and the ones that have appeared online suggest that horror fans should keep their expectations in check, saying it varies between being cheesy fun and terrible to watch. Faith Amantea and Stuart Bentley headline the picture.
Hope Gap – In this British drama, a woman is shocked to learn that after 29 years of marriage her husband has decided to walk away and leave her for another woman. This announcement causes chaos and confrontations within the family, including their children who can’t believe that these elderly parents are separating. Alone and confused, the ex-wife eventually takes a step forward, determined to find confidence in herself and begin enjoying a new life. Critics generally liked this tale. A small group complained that the feature was overly restrained in its approach and felt that the emotions on display were a little too forced. Still, a larger percentage found it to be a reserved but extremely well-acted film that built up to big, emotional finale. It stars Anette Benning, Bill Night, Josh O’Connor and Aiysha Hart.
I, Pastafari: A Flying Spaghetti Monster Story – For those unfamiliar with this satirical religious movement, Pastafarianism was developed in 2005 by a university student poking fun at creationism. It gained attention and millions of followers, with the man behind it writing a textbook called The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. This manual defines their belief system and the book’s title creature, who created all life on Earth. The documentary details the history of the organization and those involved as they fight for the freedom to express their views and make others consider the belief systems they have adopted. The film is quite short with a running time listed at about an hour. It is premiering exclusively on disc and on streaming platforms. There have only been a couple of write-ups so far. The ones that have appeared call the movie an amusing and enjoyable introduction to this movement.
Proximity – In this science-fiction thriller, a young NASA scientist working on jet propulsion technology gets abducted by aliens. One supposes that the good side to this predicament may be that the researcher gains unexpected access to advanced technology. Anyway, the lead is ultimately returned to his home, but finds few willing to believe his story. He becomes obsessed with proving that he was taken by otherworldly forces. Critics gave the movie more negative notices than positive ones. Those who liked the picture said that it didn’t make sense but had a lot of energy and a likable cast that made it enjoyable to watch. The rest critiqued the movie for its flawed story and logic, stating that these issues were too distracting to overcome. The cast includes Ryan Masson, Highdee Kuan and Christian Prentice.
Skyman – If you’re looking for more alien abduction-related material, this faux-documentary offers a second option. A movie crew introduce Carl Merryweather, a man who believes that he was taken at the age of 10 by a UFO full of strange, otherworldly creatures. As an adult, he shares his experience with the filmmakers and heads back to the site where he was kidnapped in the hopes of figuring out exactly what happened. The press was split on this title as well. Nearly half thought the flick was a simple and straightforward, but effectively told and offered an interesting spin on the sci-fi formula. However, slightly more stated that the picture was slowly paced and that the central figure’s story simply wasn’t interesting enough to hold their attention. Michael Selle, Willow Hale and Paul Wilson headline the picture.
Sorry We Missed You – The latest drama from English filmmaker Ken Loach (I, Daniel Blake, The Wind that Shakes the Barley) depicts a struggling family trying to make ends meet. The husband purchases a new van and starts up his own franchise as a self-employed delivery driver for online businesses, while his wife takes on extra hours as a health care worker. Despite their best efforts and desire to succeed, the two begin to realize they’re fighting a losing battle, bringing tensions to a boil. Reviewers were very impressed by what they saw. One or two found it all difficult to watch as problem after problem stacked up repetitively against the movie’s protagonists. Everyone else raved and called it devastating to watch, saying it shows what is happening to lower-class families exploited by a capitalistic system. It features Kris Hitchen, Debbie Honeywood, Rhys Stone and Katie Proctor.
Sweetness in the Belly – A young English girl visiting Africa is orphaned and forced to fend for herself. When civil war breaks out in Ethiopia, she returns to the UK as a refugee. After arriving in London, the lead begins working as a nurse and a befriends other refugees. She and her friends decide to help asylum seekers find family members who have moved away from their home. Based on the 2005 novel by Camilla Gibb, this adaptation received a wide variety of responses, although in the end the negative write-ups outweighed the recommendations. Positive reviews noted that while flawed, the movie was earnest in its intent and did attempt to deal with a variety of complex issues. Those who didn’t care for it commented that the movie bit off more than it could chew and was an oversimplification of complex issues. The cast includes Dakota Fanning, Wummi Mosaku, Kunal Nayyar, Yahya Abdul-Marteen II.
Trolls World Tour – This sequel to the hit animated family musical features the characters from the first movie learning that they are one of six different troll tribes located around the world, each with an appreciation for a different style of music. When the leaders of the hard-rock outfit decide that they want to destroy all other genres, including country, funk, jazz, pop and techno, our heroes must find each other and unify the trolls against the menace. Response was decent for this follow-up, although not exceptional. A large quantity called it an empty, formulaic and forgettable flick that simply strings together a series of musical numbers. Slightly more stated that it was a bright, colorful, positive film that would entertain children. The voice talent includes Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, James Corden, Ron Funches, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Rockwell, George Clinton, Mary J. Blige, Kenan Thompson and Kunal Mayyar.
The Wild Goose Lake – This foreign-language crime film from China is about a small-time mob boss who mistakenly kills a cop. After a dead-or-alive reward is placed on his head, the figure ends up leaving his family behind and going on the run from both law enforcement and underworld figures. He finds a bit of assistance in the form of a mysterious young woman. However, the paranoid man can’t determine if she’s helping him or setting him up to take a fall. Reaction was very positive towards this picture. One or two didn’t think it made the most of its concept and could have developed the characters more. Yet almost everyone else raved that the movie was exciting, beautifully shot, consistently surprising and unique and different from other films of its ilk. It stars Ge Hu, Lun-Mei Kwei, Fan Liao and Regina Wan.
Zombie for Sale – Also known as The Odd Family: Zombie for Sale, this South Korean horror/comedy tells what happens when a pharmaceutical company conducts illegal experiments and accidentally creates zombies. When one of the undead test subjects escapes and stumbles into a nearby gas station owned by a misfit family, they discover that when the zombie eats flesh, it becomes revitalized. The clan decide to exploit the situation for their own financial gain, charging locals to be bitten and become immortal. This flick was extremely well received by the press. A tiny contingent stated that the concept didn’t speak to them, yet he overwhelming consensus was that the picture was hilarious, delivering sharp satirical elements and providing a welcome and invigorating twist on the zombie movie formula. Jung Jae-young, Kim Nam-gil and Uhm Jji-won headline the feature.
Blasts from the Past!
You’ll also be able to find some interesting older titles on Blu-ray with spiffy new transfers and bonuses. Arrow Video have the supernatural thriller, Black Rainbow (1989). This feature from writer/director Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Flash Gordon) is about a clairvoyant who has visions of brutal murders and does all she can stop these events from occurring. It stars Rosanna Arquette, Jason Robards and Tom Hulce. The movie has been given a new restoration from the original camera negative approved by Hodges. You’ll also get an archived commentary on the film from the director and a new audio track featuring film historians discussing the production. Additionally, there’s a wealth of archival materials, including a making-of documentary, interviews with the cast and crew as well as a trailer. Sounds like a great package for fans of this underseen chiller.
The distributor is also releasing the unsettling Japanese feature, Inferno of Torture (1969) as a Special Edition Blu-ray. It’s about a debt-ridden woman who agrees to earn cash as a geisha, only to find her boss and the working experience violent and arduous. This disc provides a high definition presentation of the film along with a Japanese cinema expert commentary and a lecture on the country’s cult counterculture.
Scorpion always do a stellar job of upgrading genre pictures and giving them stellar treatment. This week sees them delivering the Jean-Claude Van Damme action picture, Death Warrant (1990). It has been made available in the past, but this new version includes a new 2K scan of the inter-positive, meaning the image quality in this edition will be dramatically improved. It also comes with extras, including a commentary with director Deran Sarafian (Gunmen, Terminal Velocity), new interviews with a couple of supporting cast members and a trailer. This title will be available this week specifically on their Ronin Flix website. I’ve ordered through the site before and they provide excellent service to customers.
Wrestling enthusiasts will also be happy to learn that Grunt! The Wrestling Movie (1985) is hitting Blu-ray. Made in the 80s and Inspired by the ratings success of the WWF (now WWE), this tale follows a professional wrestler who completely vanishes. Other competitors try to take his spot, including an unknown masked figure who may actually be the missing star in disguise. This movie, featuring ring legends Dick Murdock and Exotic Adrian Street, vanished from view not long after its release. It arrives on disc with a 2K master and trailers. This particular Scorpion release title will be available for purchase on Amazon and at Kino films, who are also involved in its Blu-ray debut.
Speaking of Kino, they have some fascinating discs coming as well. One is a Special Edition of the British disaster flick, The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961). It’s about a newspaper reporter who discovers that the Earth has been knocked off of its axis and is veering towards the sun. I saw it many, many years ago when it was only available on VHS in very poor quality. While I didn’t care for it at the time, I’ve come around after finally seeing the movie presented correctly in 2.35:1 widescreen. The scope and proper framing make a huge difference and the end result is quite eerie and effective. This Blu-ray presents viewers with a spiffy new 4K master of the feature, a film historian audio commentary, a second track featuring co-writer/producer/director Val Guest (The Quatermass Experiment, Quatermass 2) and loads of publicity materials.
They also have a Special Edition Blu-ray of the period Peter Cushing horror flick, The Flesh and the Fiends (1960). This one is about a surgeon who kills the homeless in order to obtain more bodies in order to forward medical experimentation. The film has been given a 2K trailer and two different cuts are presented on the disc, along with a movie expert commentary and trailers.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the British musical revue flick, Go Go Mania (1965). This title presents remarkable concert footage of The Beatles, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Herman’s Hermits, The Spencer Davis Group and many others. This disc comes with an audio commentary from a pair of entertainment and music journalists as well as trailers.
Here’s a Blu-ray title that has been out-of-print for some time. Spaced Invaders (1990) follows a group of dimwitted, 4-foot-tall Martians whose spaceship has engine trouble. They crash near a small Illinois town and plot to invade and then fix their UFO. Little do they know that they have arrived on Halloween and that no human is surprised or terrified by their appearance. Comedic situations follow. The disc includes several interviews with the cast and crew. It also comes with a new group commentary of them all re-watching and discussing the film. It also comes with a trailer.
That’ll Be the Day (1973) is also arriving on disc courtesy of Kino. It’s a British coming-of-age film about a young man trying to find his way in the world. He becomes involved in the area’s bustling musical scene and gets enthused about it, but also falls in with a local criminal element. The movie is noteworthy for its supporting turns from the likes of drummers Ringo Starr and Keith Moon. It also features a great soundtrack including songs from The Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dion, Del Shannon, Little Richard, Frankie Lymon, Bobby Darin and Ritchie Valens.
This week, Criterion are putting out Blu-ray of the Academy Award-winning science-fiction classic, The War of the Worlds (1953). Based on the H.G. Welles story, it begins when a strange flaming meteor crashes to the ground in rural California. Locals are initially excited, but their response turns to fear and panic as Martians appear and begins an assault on Earth. The survivors must find a way to fight back and defeat the alien menace. The feature has been given a 4K digital restoration so that it looks better than ever. You’ll also get a 2005 audio commentary with director Joe Dante and other film authorities, a program about the Oscar-winning visual effects and sound design, and a segment on the restoration of the movie. It also contains an interview with producer George Pal recorded in 1970, a 2005 documentary about the flick, the 1938 radio adaptation of the story with Orson Welles (that caused a panic when it first aired), a 1940 radio interview with author H.G. Welles and publicity materials. Sounds phenomenal!
Finally, Redemption are offering a Blu-ray of Neurosis (1982) aka Revenge in the House of Usher, a Jess Franco horror flick. This title comes with a film historian commentary and a trailer.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are the week’s child-friendly features.
Trolls World Tour
On the Tube!
And if you’re looking to catch up some TV-themed material, it looks like this is your only option.
Murdoch Mysteries: Season 13