Greetings and welcome to another edition detailing the highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. Once again, it seems like just about every genre is represented, as well as a massive Hollywood blockbuster. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Angel of Mine – A woman in grief over the death of her daughter makes her neighbors very uncomfortable when she begins to believe that her girl may not only still be alive, but is now residing next door as a different family’s child. As her psychological state worsens, the protagonist takes more drastic actions to reconnect and the parents next door become increasingly confrontational. This independent thriller earned reasonable reviews. About a third of write-ups commented that the movie was too simplistic in its treatment of themes and didn’t offer many surprises, but more reviews suggested that the cast were strong enough to make up for the story’s deficiencies. It stars Noomi Rapace, Yvonne Strahovski, Luke Evans and Richard Roxburgh.
Black Mother – This documentary focuses on a spiritual exploration of the country of Jamaica. The filmmakers travel across the country from its big cities like Kingston to quiet and scenic villages, talking to all those who make the island their home. The crew examines the history of the nation as well as the varied personal beliefs and religious rites of its citizens. Reaction towards the film was very positive. In fact, there were no negative notices. Most described the picture as a soulful and moving sensory experience focused more on feeling and observation over statistics and information. In the end, they thought that this feature was well put together and felt it would make a strong emotional impact on the viewer.
Bloodline – Taking its inspiration from horror films of the 1970s, this little flick follows a family man who works as a high school guidance counselor. Unfortunately, he also hides a violent temper that explodes whenever he feels that women and children are being threatened. After conversing with students and parents and hearing some unsavory information, the school employee becomes enraged and takes on the role of vigilante. The press reviews were split on this effort. Half complained that the movie followed genre tropes and didn’t quite nail the tone. Still, just as many admired its commitment to emphasizing its characters just as much as the brutal murders and appreciated the effort. It features Seann William Scott, Mariela Garriga and Dale Dickey.
Blue – A woman in her 20s feels she’s fighting a losing battle with depression and anxiety and ends up deciding that suicide is the only solution. However, her plans go awry and she fails in her attempt. Of course, this leads to even worse troubles as the lady is put in therapy and her medical bills pile up. After making new acquaintances that include an ER nurse, a psychiatrist, and a business executive, she is forced to deal with her issues and make changes in her life. This indie title has played plenty of festivals over the past couple of years and received praise from viewers for its attempts to deal with depression, but as of right now there aren’t any reviews available online. The cast includes Judith Scott, Jordan Trovillion and Chelsea Lopez.
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway – In case you haven’t heard, there’s a big Hollywood adaption of the Midway story that will be hitting cinemas this November. Naturally, that means that there is also a new low-budget take on the story which is posed to cash in on its higher profile competition. This war drama follows the famous battle between American and Japanese forces in the Pacific involving a dramatic counter-offensive launched by US Naval carriers to stop the encroaching threat. The picture is debuting on disc so you won’t be able to find any reviews for it at this time. Still, given the limited funding and hasty release, one shouldn’t expect a cinematic classic. C. Thomas Howell, Judd Nelson, James Austin Kerr and Drew Garrett headline the feature.
David Crosby: Remember My Name – Most readers will be very familiar with this musician, who is perhaps most famous for his work as a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. In this documentary, the performer opens up on camera about his life and work. The synopsis promises an honest and unflinching portrait of the man, his obsessions, regrets and what he hopes to accomplish in the future. Critics were generally impressed with this picture. There were a few who didn’t care for Crosby’s narration of the film, thought the story could have been presented more efficiently, and believed it lagged towards the close. Still, almost everyone found the figure to be a fascinating, intriguing and troubled personality, describing his various personal struggles as compelling.
The Dead Center – This little horror picture follows a psychiatrist at a hospital who gets more than he bargained for from an odd new patient. Confused and afflicted with amnesia, the sufferer insists that he passed away while being admitted and has returned from the dead… bringing back something horrifying that could endanger the lives of those all around. While disbelieving at first, the protagonist begins to wonder after several treatments if there isn’t some truth behind the man’s story. Critics seemed to enjoy this creeper. Admittedly, some stated that it was so low-key that it wouldn’t go down as the scariest picture ever. Yet they all thought the movie established an eerie mood and featured strong performances. If features Shane Carruth, Poorna Jagannathan and Jeremy Childs.
The Lion King – The Disney animated classic gets a photo-realistic redo in the week’s highest profile release. Once again, the story follows Simba, a lion who is forced out of his tribe after his father is slain by a sinister uncle. The cub leaves and makes new friends outside of his social circle, before returning to save the pride from their tyrannical leader. This version of the picture didn’t earn raves like the original did and split the press. About half thought that it was an unnecessary cash-grab that lacked the heart and sharpness of the animated version. The rest did comment that while it all felt too familiar, the story still worked and they admired the spectacular visuals. The voice cast includes Donald Glover, James Earl Jones, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Beyonce. To read this site’s review, click here.
Satanic Panic – A pizza delivery driver gets herself into plenty of trouble in this horror/comedy at the end of her shift while dropping off her last order for the night. She’s shocked to discover that the manor is home to some hungry Satanists who, in addition to wanting a midnight snack, are on the lookout for a human sacrifice. The lead desperately attempts to avoid being sacrificed by the sinister cult. Response towards this independent feature was mixed-positive. Those who didn’t care for it thought that while some of the jokes worked, the picture was uneven and didn’t push any genre boundaries. Slightly more suggested that it did everything possible to entertain viewers; they found it very funny and enjoyed the lack of pretense. It stars Rebecca Romijn, Ruby Modine and Jerry O’Connell and Ruby Modine.
Sprinter – In this drama, a Jamaican sprinter rises in the world of track & field, hoping that his efforts will allow him to enter the US and reunite with his mother. Unfortunately, he must balance his success with various personal issues at home. These problems include a violent father and a con-man brother hoping to use the lead’s success to further his next scam. The press appeared to enjoy this story, giving it favorable reviews. A small contingent did suggest that while well-intentioned, the film didn’t quite click or make a big emotional mark. Yet most described it as an earnest, thoughtful and inspirational picture with a very likable lead character. It features Dale Elliott, David Alan Grier, Lorraine Toussaint and Bryshere Y. Gray.
Strange But True – When a high school student dies in a tragic accident, his parents spend the next five years attempting to come to grips with their loss. They get a sudden shock when their son’s ex-girlfriend arrives on the doorstep, telling them that she is pregnant with the deceased teen’s child. The disbelieving family try to dismiss the claim, but in doing so begin to unravel unexpected secrets about the clan. This suspense flick also received divided notices from reviewers. Nearly half couldn’t get on its wavelength, found it bizarre and stated that the ending was mishandled. Still, slightly more complimented the great cast and called the film unique and surprising. The cast includes Amy Ryan, Nick Robinson, Margaret Qualley, Greg Kinnear, Blythe Danner and Brian Cox.
Tone-Deaf – The second indie horror-comedy to hit disc this week is this tale of a millennial enduring a rough patch at work and problems in her personal relationships. She decides to head out to the country for the weekend, renting a home from a quirky widower. Alas, the protagonist soon discovers that the owner is hiding a psychotic personality and that the peace and quiet she yearned for isn’t any easier to come by in rural areas. Critics weren’t especially enamored with this picture. While a few did find it amusing and appreciated the ongoing conflict between two characters from different generations, most didn’t feature any likable characters and became repetitious as it progressed. Amanda Crew, Robert Patrick, Hayley Marie Norman and Ray Wise headline the picture.
Viewer Discretion Advised – This documentary deals with the way that we view entertainment and how our lives have changed over the past couple of decades. A 21-year-old who streams and watches programming independently at his own pace decides to follow his TV-obsessed dad and understand the old-fashioned way that he watches shows. The youngster notes how entertainment has changed, and how programs that used to bring families together and create water-cooler talk at work the following day are now fragmented; in fact, the new model seems to separate individuals. This movie has played a few festivals and been nominated for some prizes, but hasn’t garnered many reviews yet, so interested parties will have to make an appointment on their own to check it out.
Wonder Woman: Bloodlines – DC and Warner Bros. have been making a great deal of animated, direct-to-disc superhero films over the past decade. The latest addition to the franchise is a Wonder Woman adventure that follows the Amazonian warrior as she attempts to assist a young girl who has fallen in with a deadly organization called Villany Inc. (I guess these criminals are open and public about their nefarious activities). To save the day, she must inspire the youngster and vanquish the bad guys. The press gave this effort decent marks. Some did note that the movie tried to juggle so many plot threads that it wasn’t involving and didn’t rank as highly as the previous Wonder Woman animated film. Still, most stated that the action was exciting and the attempts to develop the characters were more than welcome. Marie Avgeropoulos, Rosario Dawson, Jeffrey Donovan and Michael Dorn provide the voices.
Blasts from the Past!
Once again, there are a great many older titles hitting high definition with all sorts of new upgrades. Arrow Video have a Special Edition of Crimson Peak (2015), the visual impressive Gothic creeper from director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water). This haunted mansion fable featuring a malevolent spirit arrives with all sorts of bonuses that include a commentary with director/co-writer del Toro, a feature-length documentary on the production, a Spanish-language interview with the filmmaker, four featurettes detailing specific aspects of the movie, an examination of Gothic romance featuring the cast and crew, a discussion about the use of color in the picture, a look at the elaborate costumes, and clips detailing the production design and sets. And that’s only the half of it. You’ll also get deleted scenes, more interviews about the film, its ghostly creations, publicity materials and a video essay on the director and his work. If you liked the movie, this disc contains just about everything you could possibly want.
Kino have a wild array of Blu-ray coming as well. This includes the period mob picture, Billy Bathgate (1991) featuring Bruce Willis, as well as the Rudolph Valentino silent action/comedy, The Eagle (1925). The movie has been restored in 2K from a 35 mm print and this particular disc boasts a few added features like a new musical score and a film historian audio commentary.
If horror is more to your liking, the distributor is presenting Parasite 3D (1982) as a Special Edition Blu-ray. This means you can watch all of the gooey monster mayhem in an added dimension. It’s about a scientist who creates a deadly parasite which attaches itself to him. The new host must find a way to kill it before it does the same to him and others – the movie features Demi Moore in an early role as the film’s co-lead. You’ll get both the 2D and 3D versions of the film, as well as an interview with the screenwriters, director, production manager, art director, make-up effects man and the composer. It also comes with a commentary track featuring a cinema expert and one of the film’s co-writers.
The thriller Phobia (1980) is also getting a Special Edition high definition upgrade. This one is about a group of patients with crippling fears who are slowly driven mad by an experimental new therapy technique. John Huston directed this picture, although it’s admittedly not one of his best. Still, the thriller may provide some laughs to genre fans in the right frame of mind. The film had received a 4K master and comes with a film historian commentary and interviews with some of the cast members.
The high seas adventure film Tamango (1958) is also being put out by Kino with a critic commentary, as well as the TV-movie horror sequel Trilogy of Terror II (1996), which features another contingent of creepy tales (including a second go-round with the violent Zuni fetish doll from the original picture). Perhaps most amusingly, they are also releasing Zoltan: Hound of Dracula (1977) aka Dracula’s Dog on Blu-ray. This film is devoted to Dracula’s vampiric pooch as he is un-earthed and goes out searching for a new owner… specifically, his Transylvanian master’s last living relative, a genial family man living in LA. The movie has also been given a 4K master and comes with a film historian commentary and publicity materials.
With the release of a new Charlie’s Angels movie around the corner, Sony are upgrading Charlie’s Angels (2000) and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003) to 4K and giving them another release. The studio also is ready to put out a Blu-ray of the Oscar-winning drama, A Man for All Seasons (1966).
Criterion have the fantastic documentary When We Were Kings (1996) arriving on Blu-ray. This picture details Mohammad Ali’s trip to Zaire in 1974 for his “Rumble in the Jungle” match with George Foreman. When the event was delayed, the filmmakers were lucky enough to capture Ali for a much longer period of time, making this a more detailed portrait of the man than had ever been seen before. The film has been newly restored in 4K and comes with a 2008 doc about the Zaire music festival which was going on at the same time. It also includes interviews with the producer and the director as well as a trailer.
Cohen Media group are putting out a Blu-ray of the Oscar-nominated French drama, The Return of Martin Guerre (1982), which was later remade in English as Sommersby (1993). This disc comes with a discussion with the lead actress and some trailers.
Scorpion have the drama Covergirl (1984) remastered in 2K for its Blu-ray debut. It follows the trials and tribulations of an up-and-coming supermodel. They also have Talking Walls (1987) a thriller about a voyeur who takes over a motel as sets up cameras to conduct a morally and ethically disturbing experiment.
Warner Archive are upgrading one of their popular made-to-order DVDs for Blu-ray. This time it’s the effective TV-horror flick, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973). This title is about a creepy old house hiding some monstrous residents; it was eventually remade and released to cinemas in 2010.
Finally, Mondo Macabro were set to release The Killer of Dolls (1975) a week or so back. Unfortunately, its release was delayed, but it is finally hitting shelves this week. They also have Woman Chasing the Butterfly of Death (1978), a South Korean chiller about a student making friends with an elderly book salesman obsessed with some dark materials. Based on the synopsis, it sounds like it may contain some similar elements featured in Stephen King’s eerie Apt Pupil. The disc also includes a 4K transfer with numerous interviews and bonuses.
You Know, For Kids!
Looks like it’s a slow week for tyke-friendly releases, but here’s what is available (please note that the Wonder Woman animated film is rated PG-13 and is intended for slightly older audiences).
Wonder Woman: Bloodlines
On the Tube!
And here are all of the TV-themed disc coming your way!
Charmed: Season 2
Christmas at the Palace (Hallmark TV-movie)
Delicious: Series 1
Delicious: Series 2
Delicious: Series 3
A Gingerbread Romance (Hallmark TV-movie)
Masterpiece: Press (PBS)
Shetland: Season 5
Veronica Mars: Season 1 (Warner Archive Blu-ray)