Hello and welcome to another look at new Blu-ray and DVD releases. There are a couple of big hits featured in this edition, as well as some interesting independent fare in a wide variety of genres. 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!
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween – A high school student writing an essay about fear gets some first-hand experience after discovering a magic manuscript. It brings a sinister ventriloquist dummy named Slappy to life, causing havoc for her family, friends and community. Based on the works of author R. L. Stine, this sequel to the 2015 hit garnered a mixed reception. About half complained that while it had its moments, it was a hastily patched together effort that didn’t match its predecessor. Still, others commented that there were enough jolts and laughs to recommended to younger viewers. It stars Madison Iseman, Wendi McLendon-Clovey, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Caleel Harris, Ken Jeong… as well as a surprise appearance of a cast member from the previous installment.
Halloween – This sequel to the 1978 horror classic ignores all of the previous follow-ups and attempts to spin the series off in a new direction. It follows killer Michael Meyers as he breaks out of a psychiatric institution 40 years after his first rampage. Survivor Laurie Strode, still suffering the effects, decides to take action and try to stop the monster herself. Reviews were quite good. A small percentage felt that while it had good ideas, it couldn’t develop them effectively enough and wasn’t as chilling as its predecessor. However, the majority complimented the movie for its look, action and thrills, calling it a horror sequel that delivers the goods. The cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak and Will Patton.
The Insufferable Groo – Those with an interest in movie production might be intrigued by this documentary about indie filmmaker Stephen Groo. A crew chronicles his story and his successful attempt to get performer Jack Black to star in one of his features… about a sheriff trying to take down a rogue elf. His production results in numerous difficulties and set-backs, including being unable to find a distributor. More critics liked this release than disliked it. A few reported having issues with the subject, essentially finding Groo to be a very difficult personality to watch. Still, more stated that while flawed, the filmmaker’s passion was admirable and the events intriguing.
Jonathan – A young man goes about trying to live his life under very unusual circumstances. He controls his body from 7 am to 7 pm, while another personality (or force) takes over for the following 12 hours. Each morning, the lead watches a video to find out what he’s done the night before. Unfortunately, the pair come into conflict when one of them finds a girlfriend and the other becomes jealous. The press gave this independent sci-fi drama decent marks. A number did think that the picture didn’t come together well, spending too much time with its central protagonist and not the alter-ego. Yet several found the lead performance excellent and described the story as unique enough to earn it a pass. It features Ansel Elgort, Suki Waterhouse and Patricia Clarkson.
The Old Man & the Gun – Robert Redford appears in what he claims is his final onscreeen performance. Based on a true story, he plays gentleman bank robber Forrest Tucker, who despite being 70, escapes from San Quentin and perpetrates a string of remarkable heists. Chasing after this character is a determined police officer. Write-ups for the movie were quite positive. A small number suggested that it was too slow and didn’t think that the story offered much detail about its protagonist. Regardless, most commended the lead as being extremely entertaining and enjoying watching the performer grace the screen one last time. Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Donald Glover, Tom Waits and Tika Sumpter also headline the feature.
Once Upon a Deadpool – After the enormous success of Deadpool 2, Fox and Marvel decided to cut together a PG-13 version of the film, using different takes and adding bonus material. Using The Princess Bride as inspiration, superhero Deadpool now retells his previous adventure as a bedtime story, all to a grown-up Fred Savage. This revision earned split notices. Half found the new material amusing and thought it would provide plenty of laughs for fans of the character. But just as many called this a crash cash-grab that didn’t offer enough new material to warrant its existence. This version stars Ryan Reynolds, Fred Savage, Josh Brolin, Julian Dennison, Morena Baccarin and Zazie Beatz.
Speed Kills – This independent action/crime picture involves a debt-ridden speedboat racing champion forced into leading a double life as a drug trafficker. Naturally, it isn’t long before the protagonist finds himself in the middle of a violent crossfire between the CIA and drug kingpins. As you might have guessed, reaction to the title has been poor. In fact, it has yet to receive a single recommendation. Criticisms have been launched at the editing and screenplay, with everyone suggesting that the main character is completely unlikable and that there is nothing about the story that’ll engage viewers. The cast includes John Travolta, Katheryn Winnick, Jennifer Esposito, Matthew Modine and James Remar.
Blasts from the Past!
It’s a pretty great week for older titles hitting high definition. First up is Arrow Video, who are bringing a new, 2-disc Special Edition Blu-ray of the Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water) elaborately designed ghost story, Crimson Peak (2015). If you liked the movie, you’ll be blown away by all of the extras. They include a new feature length documentary on the production, an audio commentary track featuring the director and film’s co-writer, a previously unseen Spanish-language interview with del Toro as well as featurettes on the movie and on Gothic horror. Additionally, there are interviews with cast and crew about all of the technical specs from costumes to production design. Deleted scenes, publicity material and pull-out posters are also included.
They also have an early Italian giallo film called, The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970). It’s about a woman who believes that her husband may be a murderer, as well as her relationship with a blackmailer who could be just as nasty. The film has been given a 2K transfer, a film historian audio commentary, a look at the music (composed by Ennio Morricone) used in the film, an interview with the actress and other bonuses. Could be a lot of fun for giallo fans.
Shout! Factory have some great Blu-ray releases to boast about too. The Glass Key (1942) is a well-regarded thriller featuring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake – the disc arrives with a film historian commentary track, a photo gallery and a theatrical trailer. If you’re looking for some B-movie not-so-good horror, you might enjoy Howling III: The Marsupials (1987). It features werewolf action in the Australian Outback. This release includes a new digital transfer of the movie from The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, as well as a new interview and audio commentary with director Philippe Mora. Additionally, you’ll get vintage interviews used in the documentary Not Quite Hollywood and the theatrical trailer.
And that’s not all. Shout! also have a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the impressive Brian De Palma thriller, Obsession (1976). It’s about a man whose wife and daughter are kidnapped and lost in a botched recovery. 10 years later, the man falls for a new woman who looks just like his old spouse. He then finds a duplicate note suggesting that she may have been taken as well. The Blu-ray includes a commentary with a De Palma biographer, new interviews with the producer and editor, vintage featurettes featuring the filmmaker and cast talking about the production and publicity materials.
The distributor are also releasing a Blu-ray of The Plague Dogs (1982). It’s based on the novel from Watership Down author Richard Adams and concerns two sad animals who escape from a lab and are hunted for are potentially carrying a horrific plague. While incredibly bleak, this is considered a great animated film. It contains both the theatrical and extended cuts of the movie scanned in 2K from an archival print, as well as an interview with the writer/director/producer.
You can also pick up The Plague of the Zombies (1966), a Hammer horror effort about black magic being used to raise dead miners. This release includes two new commentaries featuring film historians, an World of Hammer episode dealing with this movie and undead creatures, a making-of, a before-and-after restoration comparison of the movie as well as publicity materials.
Finally, Shout! are putting out a Blu-ray of the goofy Roger Corman-produced monster-comedy, Saturday the 14th (1981). It features a family who moves into a house already populated with various creatures. The disc comes with a new 2K scan of the movie and interview with producer Julie Corman, not to mention trailers and TV spots.
And there’s more. Kino have Blu-ray of the Italian, Mario Bava comedy, Four Times That Night (1971) and the Viking adventure flick, Knives of the Avenger (1966). Additionally, the company is putting out more animated Pink Panther escapades with The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Vol. 4 (1971-1975).
Criterion have given the Alfred Hitchcock classic spy thriller Notorious (1946) a new 4K transfer. This Blu-ray includes two audio commentaries, an interview with a Hitchcock biographer, a study of the film’s visual style, a film critic scene analysis and a 2009 documentary about movie featuring the cast and crew. There are also clips detailing the director’s approach to storyboarding, newsreel footage, a radio adaptation of the movie and other extras.
Warner Archive also have a Blu-ray of note in the feature, The Prize (1963). This one stars Paul Newman as a Nobel winner who travels to Stockholm to pick up his award and gets mixed up with all of the other attendees. You can now go to their site and buy it as a made-to-order Blu-ray.
And Mill Creek are re-releasing several of their Blu-rays with new, 80s VHS packaging. I must admit, the retro cases actually look pretty good. The titles featured are the slasher, Happy Birthday to Me (1981), the sci-fi adventure flick Krull (1983), and the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy, Last Action Hero (1993). The last one this week is first time high-definition debut of the John Candy comedy, Who’s Harry Crumb? (1989). I saw it as a little kid and remember nothing about it, but that packaging is so good it’s pushing me towards picking the flick up and revisiting it.
Finally, Severin are releasing a Blu-ray of the well received UK mystery flick, Jack the Ripper (1959), a fictionalization of the true crime story.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some titles that kids might enjoy.
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That: Season 3 Vol. 2
Nature Cat: Nature Cat and Mr. Hyde (PBS)
Paw Patrol: Pups Save Puplantis
Ready Jet Go!: Space Rocks! (PBS)
On the Tube!
And you’ll find the week’s TV-themed releases listed below.
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That: Season 3 Vol. 2
Nature Cat: Nature Cat and Mr. Hyde (PBS)
NOVA: Flying Supersonic (PBS)
Ready Jet Go!: Space Rocks! (PBS)