Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. Once again, there’s a lot of interesting material to choose from in a variety of genres, as well as some great older features receiving high definition upgrades. 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!
Amulet – A homeless ex-soldier looking for a place to stay is offered a position from a mysterious woman. She tells him she needs his help caring for her dying mother. The lead accepts her proposal and moves in to their decaying house. It isn’t long before the new arrival not only develops strong feelings towards his boss, but starts suspecting that something dark and sinister may actually be going on within the locale. Reaction towards this independent British horror flick was slightly more positive than negative. Some felt that the movie was poorly paced and didn’t deliver the required chills. Slightly more complimented the feature for its atmosphere and suggested that it was unique and unusual enough to maintain interest. It stars Carla Juri, Imelda Staunton, Alec Secareanu and Angeliki Papoulia.
Batman: Death in the Family – This “interactive feature” is apparently something of a repurposing of an older title. Using footage from the animated 2010 DC feature Batman: Under the Red Hood along with some new material, the feature allows the viewer to decide the fate of one of its lead characters, Jason Todd (who was Robin for a time in the Batman universe and later became the character Red Hood). The disc also includes other previously released shorts from the Batman universe. There currently aren’t many write- ups for this release, only a few customer reviews. People online appear to dislike it, stating that it is poorly cobbled together. So, interested parties should be aware that this release may not satisfy those looking for anything new. The voice talent includes Bruce Greenwood, Vincent Martella, Zehra Fazal and Gary Cole.
Broil – After a violent incident at school, a troubled 17-year-old is sent to live with her nasty grandfather at his estate. The teen’s mother joins her at the mansion along with several other members of the family. While the daughter questions those present about the history of the clan, her mother hires a strange chef and instructs him to create a poisonous dish to be served to the cruel patriarch. This all leads to a night filled with deception and death. This title was been nominated for a prize at the FrightFest film festival early in the year. However, the only critic review so far hasn’t been as upbeat. Their article suggested that while there were some interesting ideas onscreen, the story wasn’t focused on any particular character, making the movie feel jumbled. It features Jonathan Lipnitki, Avery Konrad, Timothy V. Murphy and Anette Reilly.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie – This spin-off from the hit TV-series Breaking Bad follows the character of Jesse Pinkman and his adventures following the big series finale. The character sets out to create a new identity and life for himself while evading capture from the cops and crooks still on his tail. This movie premiered on Netflix late last fall and is now making its debut on Blu-ray. Reaction towards the feature was very strong. A small percentage did critique the movie as not being as fantastic as the show and stated that the follow-up was unnecessary. Still, the overwhelming majority wrote that the cast was great and the movie would provide thrills and fun for those who had been fans of the show. It stars Aaron Paul, Jonathan Banks, Matt Jones, Jessie Plemons, Tess Harper, Krysten Ritter and Bryan Cranston.
Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite – The original Cats & Dogs from 2001 was a moderately successful feature that detailed an elaborate and ongoing battle using spy technology between two cute animal species. The third feature in the series picks up some time after the previous installment with all the animals having enjoyed a lengthy truce. Unfortunately, a dog spy and cat agent realize that a sinister parrot wants to use high frequency radio waves to cause cats and dogs to fight once again. The heroic cat and dog set out to stop the bird. The press panned this sequel. One though it was fine for small kids, but everyone else called out this effort as being sloppily thrown together and suggesting that it was simply a cash-in on the franchise name. The voice talent includes George Lopez, Melissa Rauch and Max Greenfield.
Crescendo – This foreign-language drama from Germany follows a famous symphony conductor who accepts a new position to create an Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra. After finding some talented musicians to fit the bill, he brings them together… only to have to referee various conflicts from outside forces, as well as within the group. The movie was released in its homeland just before the recent pandemic and seemed to fare well with critics in Europe. They thought the feature did a good job of avoiding cliches and allowed the characters to deal with issues directly, creating some effective drama. It hasn’t been seen by reviewers in this part of the world yet, so it’s hard to say if the film will make the same kind of impact here. Peter Simonischek, Daniel Donskoy and Sabrina Amali headline the feature.
The Dog Doc – Veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein is the focus of this documentary. For years, he’s been treating pets whom other vets have given up on and attempted to heal them using new holistic and integrative treatments. Viewers witness his life story as well as his efforts to save a few sick animals using his unusual techniques. Reaction towards this feature was generally positive. There were some who thought that the movie felt like a commercial for the man and noted that the filmmakers did nothing to question his treatments or provide real evidence of its effects. Others thought that while people should still maintain some skepticism, the film was sweet and has some interesting points to consider about animal medical care.
The Doorman – An ex-military sergeant returns home from abroad after years in service. Needing work, she takes a job as the doorman at a posh New York City apartment where her niece and nephew live. After most of the residents leave for Easter weekend, the building comes under assault from a group of armed crooks who are trying to steal a priceless work of art hidden in the building walls. The protagonist attempts to save her family members and stop the threat. This action picture was largely panned by reviewers. One or two called it a reasonable B-movie that offered an interesting spin or two on the genre. All others complained that the script left its stars little to work with and felt that the movie was a dull and ineffective retread of the 80s action classic, Die Hard. It stars Ruby Rose, Jean Reno, Askel Hennie and Rupert Evans.
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story – There was a brief period of time in the early 90s when the animated Nickelodeon series The Ren & Stimpy Show become a pop-culture phenomenon. It followed the adventures of a psychotic Chihuahua and his best pal, an extraordinarily dim-witted cat. The bones of the show resembled old-fashioned buddy cartoons, but the animation and adult-oriented humor was new and created a stir. This documentary details the rise and fall of the groundbreaking animated series as well as its controversial creator, John Kricfalusi. The feature earned decent notices from the press. There was a contingent who didn’t like the way that the movie was edited and suggested that it could have gone further into the darker aspects of its creator. However, the majority thought it served as an effective examination of how one man’s inflated ego eventually destroyed a popular TV show.
Killer Weekend – This independent horror picture involves a young coed who spends her free time using a “sugar daddy” app in order to find older, wealthy suitors. After seeing them for a time, the lead has the men murdered, taking their riches. This devious woman soon meets her match when she begins dating a handsome and rich man. It soon becomes clear that he is actually a serial killer and that she may be the one about to meet an untimely end. This little B-movie is debuting on disc, so as of right now there are no reviews available. Those interested by the synopsis will just have to go in cold and hope that the movie delivers a few thrills and chills. The cast includes Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Richard Gunn and Caitlin Keats.
The Short History of the Long Road – This tale involves a teenager who lives a life on the open road in an RV with her nomadic father. After an unfortunate event leaves the youngster on her own, she drives off to find her long-lost mother in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After breaking down, the lead is taken in by an auto body shop owner. The two begin to form a bond and the teen starts considering living there permanently. This feature played at several film festivals over the past year, picking up some awards. It also earned strong critical notices. One or two wrote that the movie was too slow-moving to recommend, but the majority enjoyed its low-key, naturalistic approach and commented that the performances were great. It stars Sabrina Carpenter, Danny Trejo, Maggie Siff and Steven Ogg.
Ultraman R/B: The Movie – Also known as Ultraman R/B the Movie: Select! The Crystal of Bond, this Japanese family-friendly giant monster flick is a cinematic sequel to the TV show of the same name. After saving the world numerous times, the young human heroes who can turn into giant, robotic Ultraman heroes are enjoying some peace and quiet. However, they are put back into action when new threats from another dimension (including a sinister Ultraman figure) threaten the planet. Other family members join in the fight, leading to an epic showdown. This is an iconic character in its homeland, but isn’t as well known in this part of the world. As such, this feature is debuting on Blu-ray and hasn’t been seen by any overseas critics. However, fans of Japanese giant monster flicks should know exactly what to expect and will likely appreciate what they see. Ryosuke Koike and Yuya Hirata headline the flick.
Weedjies: Halloweed Night – Horror fans are likely familiar with producer Charles Band, who has released numerous low-budget genre films through his Full Moon Features banner. Just some flicks include The Puppet Master, Trancers and Gingerdead Man movie series. His latest venture is about a group of ladies organizing a massive party and scavenger hunt at a Las Vegas location. They accidentally open an interdimensional portal and unleash the title creatures, a group of mischievous monsters. Naturally, the strange beings cause chaos and death at the event. One can expect plenty of drug-related humor and horror in equal measure. This feature was made directly for the home market and so there are currently no write-ups for the feature. The cast includes Brett Hargrave, Victoria Strange, Yo Ying and Johnny Lee.
Blasts from the Past!
There’s a lot of excellent material to get through in this edition, so let’s get right into it! Arrow Video are releasing a 2-disc, 25th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-ray of the Kevin Smith comedy, Mallrats (1995). This movie tells the story of two comic book fans who are dumped by their girlfriends. They head out to the local mall and encounter quirky characters as they try to sort their life out. This is definitely a cult item that has amassed a large following over the years and the Blu-ray package certainly won’t let fans down.
It contains a new restoration of both the theatrical and extended cuts of the movie, as well as the TV edit. In addition to all the previously released bonuses being included like a commentary track, deleted scenes and outtakes, as well as an assortment of all-new features. They include an introduction to the movie with Kevin Smith, loads of recently recorded interviews with cast and crew members, an animated making-of documentary featuring Minnesota crew members who worked on the film, and dozens of other extras. In fact, there’s so much stuff included that it’s impossible to go through it all here. If you enjoy the movie, you’ll want to pick this up.
They also have a Special Edition Blu-ray of Warning from Space (1956), the first Japanese science-fiction film to be shot in color. It’s about one-eyed aliens who arrive on Earth to deliver an important message to humankind. You’ll not only get a high definition copy of the US, English-language cut of this hard-to-find feature, but also a monster movie expert commentary track, theatrical trailers and am image gallery.
MVD Visual are putting out some fascinating Blu-rays as well. They include a Director’s Cut of Delirious (2006), a feature starring Steve Buscemi as a small-time photographer trying to make it big. This Special Edition disc arrives with an introduction from the filmmaker, a new director commentary, the original theatrical cut of the flick in addition to tons of publicity materials. They are also releasing the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) on Blu-ray. It comes with loads of bonuses about the movie and what occurred after its release. Additionally, they have the thriller New Blood (1999) on Blu-ray. This disc includes a new introduction and interview with the director, as well as a pre-existing filmmaker commentary.
And if you like really cheesy movies, you can now purchase a Special Edition DVD of the feature adaptation of the arcade game, Double Dragon (1994) with Scott Wolf, Marc Decascos and Alyssa Milano. It’s really terrible but has built up a cult following based on people’s affection for the source material and the flick’s general badness. Besides all of the extras present on previous releases, it comes with a feature-length making of that includes interviews with the producer, Wolf and Decascos who describe their experiences working on the movie. You’ll also get a pilot for the animated series and an assortment of more publicity materials.
VCI are releasing a 4K restoration Special Edition Blu-ray of the Abbott & Costello feature take Jack and the Beanstalk (1952). Transferred from an original 35mm archival print, it comes with a film historian commentary as well as a bonus feature from the stars called Africa Screams (1949).
Just in time for Halloween, Shout! have an epic Blu-ray box set collection featuring one of horror’s most iconic movie series. The Friday the 13th Collection (1980 – 2009) contains all 12 movies in the franchise, from the original through the Freddy vs. Jason flick, as well as the remake. The only thing that isn’t in there is the TV series (which didn’t actually have anything to do with psychotic killer, Jason Voohees). These discs contain the newest transfers available of the features as well as multiple extended cuts of some of them as well. There are literally so many other extras contained in this box that they can’t all be listed here. If you love 80s slashers pictures and have the money required, then this set is a must own.
They are also releasing the dark horror/comedy Motel Hell (1980) as a Steelbook Blu-ray. The extras for this edition are the same, but it comes in nice new metallic packaging with fancy artwork.
Here’s a title that will be a nostalgia trip for many readers. In the early 80s, horror movies were so popular that there were compilation films released at theaters showing clips from some of the scariest titles out there. Terror in the Aisles (1984) was hosted and narrated by Donald Pleasance and Nancy Allen, who were both veterans of the genre. Together, they provide a general overview of the genre show a collection of great moments from numerous titles. The distributor is releasing the film with some great extras. You’ll get new interviews with co-host Allen, as well as a talk about the score with its composer. Additionally, the disc includes an interview with the editor and a commentary track with a pop culture historian. And it comes with the rare television cut (which removed some of the more graphic footage and replaced it with alternate movies and clips), not to mention loads of promotional material for the feature. Looks amazing!
Kino have plenty to offer this week as well. The first is a Blu-ray of The Chalk Garden (1964), a British drama with Deborah Kerr about an emotionally troubled youngster and her governess. The disc comes with a film historian commentary and a trailer.
In 1989, movies set at the bottom of the ocean were all the rage, with the releases of The Abyss, Leviathan, Endless Descent and many others. One of those titles was DeepStar Six (1989) from Sean S. Cunningham (Friday the 13th). It was about a crew on an underwater rig at the ocean floor who are attacked by a monster after it sneaks in. While the movie was relatively popular during its original release, it disappeared from view over the past two decades. This feature is now arriving for the first time on Blu-ray as a Special Edition. The disc includes a commentary with Cunningham and the visual effects supervisor, along with a separate track featuring the screenwriters. There’s an isolated score selection and an interview with the composer, discussions with the effects team, talks with stars Greg Evigan and Nancy Everhard, an interview with stunt coordinator Kane Hodder and a ton of publicity materials.
If you’re looking for more chills, the company are re-releasing the Clive Barker adaptation of Rawhead Rex (1986) in special Steelbook packaging. It’s exactly the same Blu-ray as the previous version, only in a new case. They also have a Blu-ray of the disaster flick, S.O.S. Titanic (1979). Like other flicks of its era, it features an all-star cast trying to survive as the cruise liner sinks. David Janssen, Cloris Leachman, Susan Saint James, Helen Mirren, Ian Holm and David Warner all appear in this take on the real-life story. You’ll get a new 4K restoration of the theatrical cut, a new HD master of the extended TV version (which is 40 minutes longer), a film historian commentary, as well as features and newsreels about the actual ship. And the distributor is also releasing a Double Feature Blu-ray of the seventh release in their Forbidden Fruit series. The flicks are Test Tube Babies (1934) and Guilty Parents (1948). In a very out-of-date and unintentionally funny manner, the films advise viewers of the dangers of bad parenting.
Criterion are putting out the drama Claudine (1974) on Blu-ray. This romantic comedy tells the story of a mom struggling to raise her six children in Harlem. It features an Oscar-nominated performance Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones plays her love interest. The movie has been given a new 4K digital restoration and comes with a 2003 commentary track featuring the lead actors and crew, a new conversion about the movie with filmmaker Robert Townsend. It also comes with excerpts from an audio seminar about the feature with star Carroll.
Cult Epics have a Special Edition Blu-ray of the Italian giallo film, Death Laid an Egg (1968). This chiller is about a woman conspiring to kill her lover and his wife. The movie has received a 2K restoration and remaster of the complete director’s cut (the shorter edition of the film has also been given the same treatment). You’ll also receive a movie historian commentary, a discussion of the production with another critic and a short film from the director.
Mill Creek has some low-price Blu-rays coming your way as well. They are putting out a Double Feature disc containing the thrillers, Imaginary Crimes (1994) and Silent Fall (1994). Additionally, they are releasing a Triple Feature of Incognito (1997), Diabolique (1996) and The In Crowd (2000). And the group have also prepared the Jack Nicholson suspense picture, The Pledge (2001) for Blu-ray.
Sony have some impressive titles as well. You can now pick up a 4K Blu-ray edition of the South African science-fiction hit, District 9 (2009). If you’re looking for scares and enjoy The Exorcist, they are also premiering the two different versions of the fourth flick in the series, called Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) and Dominion: A Prequel to the Exorcist (2005). For those unaware of the history behind these movies, writer/director Paul Schrader (Cat People, Affliction, Auto Focus, First Reformed) was hired first to make the follow-up. He turned in his cut and the studio hated it, giving it to Renny Harlin (Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Deep Blue Sea) to reedit, reshoot and punch-up significant portions of the feature. Sometime after the more commercial Harlin version was released to theaters in 2004, several critics who had seen the previous cut and enjoyed it helped campaign to get the Schrader edition released. Now, horror fans can own both versions on Blu-ray and compare them for themselves. And the studio also has a Blu-ray of the William Holden/Kim Novak romance, Picnic (1955) ready for release.
LionsGate are presenting a 4K edition of Requiem for a Dream (2000) from Darren Aronofksy (Black Swan, The Wrestler), a horrifying drama about the lives of a trio of drug addicts. No doubt the hi-def picture quality will certainly make this movie all the more disturbing to viewers.
And finally, Warner Archive are releasing a couple made-to-order Blu-rays which can be ordered through their site or on online stores. One is the Oscar-winning true-crime drama, Reversal of Fortune (1990), which tells the story of Claus von Bulow and the… suspicious death of his wife. The movie stars Jeremy Irons, Glenn Close and Ron Silver. They also have the WWI drama, Sergeant York (1941) with Gary Cooper.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some titles that may be of interest to children.
Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series (Warner Archive)
Ultraman R/B: The Movie aka Ultraman R/B the Movie: Select! The Crystal of Bond
On the Tube!
And these are the week’s TV-themed releases.
The American West: Season 1
Fleabag: The Complete Series
Fleabag: Season 2
Masterpiece: Van Der Valk (PBS)
Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series (Warner Archive)
Vikings: Season 6, Volume 1