Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This week is a bit quieter than usual, but it does contain a major genre title or two that will impress those looking for a chill. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a while, be sure to check out one of these titles.
BIG NEW RELEASES!
THE MEAN ONE – If you’re looking for some early Christmas-themed entertainment, this independent horror/comedy begins in a sleepy mountain town where a vicious, Grinch-like figure attacks a family. The youngest daughter is the only survivor of the ordeal. 20 years later, she returns home on Christmas Eve, seeking to catch and kill the mysterious figure. Critical reception was not particularly strong for this effort. A small number were amused and called it a slight but fun holiday slasher with some wild moments that would entertain genre fans. Unfortunately, everyone else claimed it wasted its great potential. They wrote that the film was overly somber and didn’t either scare or provide the necessary number of laughs to recommend. It stars David Howard Thornton, Krystle Martin, Chase Mullins, John Bigham and Erik Baker.
MOB LAND – Set in the heart of Dixie, a town finds itself ravaged by drug addiction. When a financially-strapped family man robs a pill mill with his brother-in-law, their assault results in an unexpected death. The New Orleans mob boss who runs the factory sends an enforcer out to enact revenge. After the wife and daughter of one thief is threatened, a local sheriff tries to protect them from the skilled assassin. This action picture split critics. Nearly half commented that it was a grim and tense effort that benefitted from some decent action and a strong cast. But the same number (plus one or two) complained that the story was routine and that the pacing dragged as a result, minimizing the potential for genuine thrills. The cast includes John Travolta, Stephen Dorff, Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Benson, Kevin Dillon and Timothy V. Murphy.
NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY – This documentary tells a little-known story from the Cold War between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.. IN 1968, a Soviet nuclear submarine sank in the Pacific Ocean and could not be recovered. When the U.S. Navy and the Air Force heard faint traces of it under the sea a few years later, they undertook an elaborate operation to secretly locate the sub and gain vital intelligence. This film goes into new detail on the mission and massive cover-up used to avoid giving themselves away (billionaire engineer/businessman Howard Hughes played a vital role). So far, response towards this non-fiction feature has been uniformly positive. They all called the feature a well-paced and interesting documentary that sheds light on a little-known but significant secret government operation. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release.
PREY – The fifth movie in the Predator franchise is a prequel that takes place in the Comanche nation 300 years ago. A young woman wants to become a great hunter like her brother, but is ignored by other members of her community. After sighting the title monster while following a hunting party into the woods, she decides to hunt it down herself in the hopes she will prove herself as a true warrior. Critics were very upbeat about this feature, which premiered on Hulu and is now arriving on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. A small number didn’t think it measured up to the original, delivering an overly familiar narrative that didn’t deliver thrills or make the most of its intriguing concept. Still, the majority thought its stripped-down story worked and that it delivered on its promise, providing chills and a progressive, satisfying battle between the lead and the creature. It features Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLegro and Michelle Thrush. Here is this site’s take on the movie.
TALK TO ME – In this independent chiller from Australia, a group of teenagers discover a mysterious embalmed hand with magical powers. They discover that they can use it to communicate with spirits from beyond, and even allow themselves to be briefly possessed. At first the teens use the gift to their personal advantage, but they become addicted to it, resulting in disturbing, horrific consequences. The press raved about this horror picture. There was a minor contingent who felt that the characters were difficult to relate to, the screenplay contained plot holes and that the end result felt gimmicky. All others raved that the movie was remarkably atmospheric and effective, using genre conventions in an interesting way and generating chills throughout. Many referred to it as the best horror movie of the year. It stars Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, Otis Dhanji, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird and Marcus Johnson. There are numerous editions of this title, including two 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo editions and a Blu-ray and DVD set.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s a busy edition for older titles receiving 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray upgrades. Allied V is releasing the animated family film Animal Crackers (2017) on Blu-ray. A family uses a magical box of animal cracker characters to help save their business from ruin. The voice cast includes Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Ian McKellen, Danny DeVito, Sylvester Stallone, Raven-Symone and Patrick Warburton. This title had a troubled post-production history (a financing crisis and copyright lawsuit prevented its release for a few years) before its debut on Netflix. Now it’s getting a Blu-ray release.
If you like very, very creepy movies, you can now pick up the classic Don’t Look Now (1973) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo courtesy of Criterion. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie play a couple trying to get over the tragic death of their young daughter while working in Venice, Italy. When a disturbing figure who dresses like their child begins appearing around the canals, it creates fear and panic. Besides a 4K restoration, this edition includes a discussion with the film’s editor, a 2002 documentary on the movie featuring crew members, a 2006 discussion with composer Pino Donaggio, a program on the making-of the movie, with cast and crew, a program on the style of director Nicolas Roeg (Walkabout, The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Witches, Cold Heaven), a 2003 Q&A with Roeg and a trailer.
Best Buy is teaming up with Disney once again to release several animated classics in exclusive 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbooks. This week, those titles include Aladdin (1992), The Lion King (1994), The Little Mermaid (1989) and Moana (2016). As you might expect, these will only be available at Best Buy.
Readers will likely already be noticing the number of genre titles arriving this week. Lionsgate is also getting in on the game, presenting the Stephen King adaptation The Mist (2007) on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. It involves a group of characters forced to take shelter in a grocery store after a fog containing giant, hungry insects rolls into town. There is also a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook being made available. You can expect an upgraded picture and all previously released extras.
Paramount is delivering Scream: The Original Trilogy on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. It contains Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997) and Scream 3 (2000) with improved picture quality. The studio is also making Scream 3 (2000) available on its own in 4K Ultra HD only, as well as a 4K Ultra HD only Steelbook of the picture.
Shout! Factory is releasing Night of the Demons (1988) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” filled with extras. For those who haven’t seen the movie, it involves a group of teenage girls who hold a Halloween séance at a funeral parlor and end up raising demonic forces. You’ll get a new restoration of the unrated negative three audio commentaries with the director. In one, he is joined by cast members and the make-up effects team, another contains the filmmaker and producers and the third features the casting director and actors Linnea Quigley and Philip Tanzini. There are also new interviews with cast and crew members, as well as the international cut (in standard definition). The Blu-ray also contains a 70-minute documentary on the title, bonus interviews with co-stars, a workprint of the movie (in standard definition), alternate titles and alternate scenes and tons of publicity materials. If you like the picture, you’ll have a hard time finding a more complete package.
Additionally, Night of the Demons 2 (1994) is receiving a “Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray. The disc contains a new, sharper transfer of the movie, a new cast commentary track, an archived commentary with the director and director of photography, interviews with the directors of both the first and second movies, cast interviews, a discussion with the make-up effects artist, a talk with the producer, some dailies from the shoot, a photo gallery, a trailer, as well as a workprint of the film (in standard definition)
And if you’re picking up the first two titles, you might as well get the “Collector’s Edition” of Night of the Demons 3 (1997). It comes with a director commentary, a new commentary with the writer (who also directed the original movie) and special effects artist. You’ll also get interviews with the director, writer, producer and cast members. Additionally, it arrives with a director’s cut workprint (in standard definition), a TV cut (in standard definition), behind-the-scenes footage, an alternate title sequence, some dailies from the shoot and trailers.
You can also pick up a box set containing all three titles with extra posters, slipcovers and more directly from Shout! Factory.
Universal is rereleasing Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy on Blu-ray, containing the original Back to the Future (1985) and its sequels Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990). It includes hours upon hours of bonus features that will please anyone who enjoys these science-fiction features.
The horror film The Black Phone (2021) is getting an upgrade with a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo set from Universal. Besides the picture upgrade, it comes with all previously released bonuses.
The Studio is also starting a new line called the Universal Essentials Collection. This week, It Came from Outer Space (1953) is getting the deluxe treatment, arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray. This fun science-fiction classic follows a spacecraft that crashes in the Arizona desert. The aliens onboard attempt to repair their ship without attracting attention from locals. Ray Bradbury Jr. wrote the original story that the movie is based on and it’s considered a thought-provoking genre classic. Besides the 4K picture restoration, it comes with a film historian commentary, a featurette on Universal science-fiction films from this era, and a trailer. There’s also an extra-fancy “Limited Edition” with a collectible booklet, film cell replica, art cards and a certificate of authenticity.
You can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of The Sting (1973) with Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Set in 1930s Chicago, two con men attempt to get revenge on a criminal banker by setting up a big scam involving the racetrack betting. The latest edition of this Best Picture-winner contains a 3-part documentary on the creation of the film including interviews with Redford, Newman and many more cast and crew members. There is also a restoration featurette, a look at Universal’s titles from the 1970s and more. You can also pick up a “Limited Edition” with a 42-page booklet on the movie, a film cell replica, 4 behind-the-scenes photos and a certificate of authenticity.
Additionally, the Universal Monsters line is receiving an upgrade. You can now pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack of The Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) is getting a release that comes with the film on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray. The Mummy (1932) is appearing in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, along with Phantom of the Opera (1943). Expect all of the old bonuses along with improved picture quality.
Evil Dead Rise (2023) is receiving a Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook courtesy of Warner Bros., which contains the latest entry on both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray.
And Zach Snyder’s Justice League Trilogy is also getting the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment. It contains Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Ultimate Edition and Zach Snyder’s Justice League (2021). Essentially, these are longer versions of the titles with improved image quality.
And finally, Well Go USA would like you to know that you can pick up the Donnie Yen martial arts epic, Ip Man (2008) in new, Blu-ray Steelbook packaging.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Kids will likely appreciate the titles listed below.
Aladdin (1992) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray – Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook – Disney
The Lion King (1994) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray – Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook – Disney
The Little Mermaid (1989) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray – Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook – Disney
Moana (2016) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray – Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook – Disney
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the week’s TV-themed releases can be found here.
Hallmark 9-Movie Collection 2: The Holiday Sitter, Christmas at the Golden Dragon, Christmas Class Reunion, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, My Southern Family Christmas, In Merry Measure, When I Think of Christmas, The Most Colorful Time of the Year, Noel Next Door (Hallmark) DVD
Hallmark 6-Movie Collection 2: A Holiday Spectacular, We Wish You a Married Christmas, Jolly Good Christmas, #XMAS, Christmas Bedtime Stories, Ghosts of Christmas Always (Hallmark) DVD
Endeavor (Masterpiece Mystery): The Complete Collection (Pilot and Seasons 1 – 9) (PBS) DVD
Metalocalypse: The Complete Series (Studio Distribution Services/Adult Swim) DVD
NCIS: Seasons 9 – 12 (Paramount) DVD
NCIS: Hawai’i: Season 2 (Paramount) DVD
Sandition (Masterpiece): The Complete Collection (PBS) DVD
Sister Boniface Mysteries: Season 2 (BBC) DVD
Van Der Valk: Season 3 (PBS) DVD
The Wedding Veil Trilogy 2: The Wedding Veil: Expectations, The Wedding Veil: Inspiration, The Wedding Veil: Journey (Hallmark) DVD