It’s another busy week with all kinds of new releases arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. You’ll find all of the highlights below and, as always, links to click that will give you detailed reviews to several of the listings. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure and give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Captain Fantastic – A single dad decides to raise his six kids in the wilderness, but finds his grand plan falling apart when tragedy strikes and they are forced to reenter society. Reviews were quite good for this quirky independent drama/comedy. While a few thought that it got overly sentimental at the close, most wrote that it was a effectively sweet and believably rendered tale of a man’s yearning for a different life for his family. It stars Viggo Mortensen, George McKay, Missi Pyle, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn and Steve Zahn.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople – This one has already come out on DVD, but this week fans can also pick up the Blu-ray. It’s a comedy/drama from New Zealand about an orphan who is adopted by a family in the bush. After a series of miscommunications, the boy and his foster father end up on the run from authorities. The movie was a surprise success on and earned raves from the press. In fact, you’ll have to look long and hard to find any negative reactions. Critics have described it as a near perfect coming-of-age comedy, with as much heart as it has humor. It stars Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House and Rhys Darby. To read a full review, click here.
The Id – In this independent horror picture, a lonesome woman in charge of caring for her nasty, domineering father has to deal with her own personal demons after she reconnects with someone from her past. Unfortunately, this is arriving direct-to-DVD and there aren’t any reviews for it at all. So if you’re interested you’ll just have to expectations low, roll the dice and take a chance. It features Amanda Wyss, Patrick Peduto, Jamye Grant and Malcolm Matthews.
The Last Film Festival – Here’s one that almost didn’t happen. This independent comedy was shot way back in 2009 with ailing star Dennis Hopper (who passed away soon after production). Appropriately enough, the story follows a movie-maker who can’t find distribution for his latest project and makes a last ditch attempt at an obscure film festival. After the death of Hopper this feature sat on the shelf, but a recent Kickstarter campaign raised the funds to complete it. Reviews were tepid, calling it sweet but unmemorable. Still, it might be worth checking out just for performers like Hopper and Chris Kattan, Jacqueline Bisset, Leelee Sobieski and JoBeth Williams.
Lights Out – This surprise hit involves a young woman (as well as her friends and family members) being stalked by a malevolent spirit that resides in the darkness. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tries our heroine just can’t keep the lights on. Notices were decent for a scary flick. Everyone found it predictable and some stated that it was too silly to take seriously, but more were impressed by the terror sequences to ended up giving it a recommendation. The cast includes Teresa Palmer, Gabrielle Bateman, Billy Burke and Maria Bello. To read a full length review of the feature, just click here.
Mr. Church – A cook is hired to help take care of a single mother battling breast cancer and begins to make a personal connection the parent’s 10-year-old daughter. As the years pass, he eventually becomes something of a father figure to the girl. This small period drama got panned by the press. The lead performance received plenty of nods, but an overwhelming majority found the execution of the story to be maudlin and tooth-achingly sentimental. It stars Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone and Xavier Samuel.
Nerve – Throw out your smartphones, kids! In this suspense flick, a teenage girl finds herself playing a strange online game through her cell phone. Without warning, she is manipulated by the program into playing a very public version of “truth or dare” along with a stranger. Both of their lives hang in the balance. This effort actually received better-than-expected reviews, with the majority giving it a thumbs up. It has been called a ridiculous but fun and fast-moving thriller that provides plenty of entertainment value. The movie features Emma Roberts, Dave Franco and Emily Meade.
Papa Hemingway in Cuba – Note: This release is only arriving on DVD with a Blu-ray to follow in the coming weeks. Based on a true story, a journalist composes a fan letter to famed author Ernest Hemingway. Shockingly, the reclusive writer responds, inviting the reporter down to Cuba to hang out. Notices were poor. While just about every write-up commented on the beautiful photography and authentic locations (including Hemingway’s real home), almost all felt the bland and formulaic storytelling ruined the tale. It stars Giovanni Ribisi, Adrian Sparks, Joely Richardson, James Remar and Mariel Hemingway.
Skiptrace – It’s unfortunate that Jackie Chan movies are now only receiving limited releases, but such is the case with his latest buddy flick. He plays a detective who teams up with a gambler played by Johnny Knoxville. Apparently, the high roller possesses evidence that could put away a nasty gangster. The press who did see it weren’t particularly impressed by this effort. Some called the cast genial enough to watch and the martial arts action decent if not spectacular. However, many complained that this flick just didn’t match up to the star’s earlier efforts. Bingbing Fan and Eric Tsan also appear.
Blasts From the Past!
Lots of great stuff to get through this week, so let’s get right to it. Olive Films have a couple of classics as part of their new Olive Signature line. The first is Night of the Grizzly (1966), starring Clint Walker as a Wyoming farmer who must contend with a nasty neighbor, a bounty hunter and, of course, a rampaging bear. Besides a new high-definition digital restoration, this release features an audio Commentary by film historian Toby Roan, an essay on the film by C. Courtney Joyner, a couple of interviews with Clint Walker and archival footage from the movie’s world premiere. Sounds like a blast, doesn’t it? Read all about the flick here.
They also have the beloved John Wayne/Maureen O’Hara effort, The Quiet Man (1952). In this tale, a boxer returns to his childhood home in Ireland and gets involved with a local woman. This won 2 Academy Awards for director John Ford and cinematography. The image is sourced from a 4K scan of the original film negative, and there are bonuses like a film historian audio commentary, making-of featurettes on the film as well as appreciation pieces on O’Hara and director John Ford that include comments from Peter Bogdanovich and Leonard Maltin.
On a completely different note, Arrow Video are delivering The Herschel Gordon Lewis Feast set. For those unfamiliar with this low-budget B-movie auteur, he made his mark by producing graphic horror flicks on a shoestring. He used extreme violence for shock value, with plenty of fake blood oozing through his multiple murder scenes. His movies are also incredibly campy as a result of the amateurish acting on display. This collection contains fourteen “essential films” newly restored from vault materials, all in one 17 disc box set (the features come on Blu-rays while the numerous bonuses can be found on bonus DVD). The cult classics Blood Feast (1963) and Two Thousand Maniacs (1964) are present. Extras include new introductions, a feature length documentary on Lewis and hours of other extras on the films.
Shout! have The Exorcist III (1990) arriving in a new, 2-disc “Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray. Based on the 1983 William Peter Blatty novel, Legion, George C. Scott plays a detective who investigates a series of incidents with a connection to events featured in the original film. Of course, this sequel isn’t amazing, but it does have its freaky moments (including a chilling hospital hallway scene sure to send shivers down the spine). There are definitely some notable bonuses for this release as well. There are two different cuts; the theatrical version, as well as an original director’s cut. If memory serves, there were a lot of re-shoots on the movie (a climactic exorcism was added to the story at the last minute) so I’m curious to see how different the original cut was. It also comes with deleted scenes, bloopers, interviews as well as new featurettes on the production and the difference between versions.
Horror fans who enjoy the work of Italian director Lucio Fulci will be able to purchase Manhattan Baby (1982) on Blu-ray through Blue Underground. Considered one of the filmmaker’s more effective works (by Fulci standards, anyway), the story involves a family who are tormented by supernatural forces after visiting an Egyptian tomb. The disc comes with numerous features on the acting, music, make-up and writing. There’s seems to be an emphasis on composer Fabio Frizzi, as the release even includes a live studio performance of music from the movie.
Kino have Blu-rays of Boy on a Dolphin (1957) an adventure flick about a poor diver who finds a gold statue off of the coast of Greece and must decide whether or not to sell his treasure or give it to a museum. Wolf Lake (1980) is a thriller about a war veteran (Rod Steiger) who retreats to a lakeside cabin with some friends. When he learns that one of the youngsters staying in the area is a war deserter, he and his buddies go ballistic, leading to brutal violence.
Cohen Media Group are releasing Suddenly (1954) on Blu-ray. This film noir stars Frank Sinatra and Sterling Hayden and involves gangsters plotting to assassinate the President.
Criterion have a Blu-ray of the Spanish comedy/drama The Executioner (1963). It’s about an undertaker who marries the daughter of an executioner. Despite his protests, he’s forced by his new family to take up his father-in-law’s profession. I haven’t seen the film, but apparently it’s really, really good and grimly funny. As expected, you’ll get tons of extras on the Blu-ray, including a new, restored 4K digital transfer of the movie, a program on the movie’s director Luis García Berlanga, featuring interviews with his son José Luis Berlanga; film critic Carlos F. Heredero; writers Fernando R. Lafuente and Bernardo Sánchez Salas; and director of the Berlanga Film Museum Rafael Maluenda. Addiitonally, there’s an interview with filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar about his love of the movie, and a Spanish television program from 2012 on the flick featuring archival interviews with Berlanga.
Criterion also have a Blu-ray of The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978). This is an Italian drama about family working a farm at the turn of the 20th century and one boy’s attempts to attend school and benefit from an education. The movie has also been restored for Blu-ray release and comes with an hour long TV program detailing the production of the film as well as archival interviews and other bonuses.
The crime flick Private Property (1960) is arriving in high definition courtesy of Cinelicious. And Severin have some B-movie weirdness in the form of Burial Ground (1981) aka Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror, a zombie film that features a very bizarre and disturbing subplot involving mother/son incest. They also have the controversial documentary The Killing of America (1981), which details the exceedingly high levels of violence in the US (more so than most other countries in the world) and the country’s slow decline as a result. The movie never came out in North America, but is finally getting a belated Blu-ray release.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are this week’s options for younger viewers.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (Special Edition)
Shopskins Chef Club
Transformers Rescue Bots: Bots Battle for Justice
On the Tube!
And here is a listing of TV-related highlights arriving. Oh, and happy Halloween!
Agatha Raisin: Series 1
Ancient Aliens: Season 9 (History)
Best of Nature Collection (National Geographic)
India: Nature’s Wonderland (PBS)
Janet King: Series 2: The Invisible Wound
Miami Vice: The Complete Series
Nash Bridges: The Complete Collection
National Geographic: 125 Years
National Parks Collection: 10-disc Expanded Edition (National Geographic)
Transformers Rescue Bots: Bots Battle for Justice