Welcome to the latest look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. If you read this column regularly, you’ll know that last week was remarkably busy. As a result, this edition is much quieter, although it does have one studio picture and some international efforts. 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!
HUNT THE WICKED – In a dangerous city riddled with crime, a police detective on the straight and narrow sets out to take down a vast network of gangsters. After realizing that his by-the-book moral code isn’t helping him find the crooks, he makes an arrangement with a vigilante who is looking for revenge on the same individuals. The pair team up and use their exceptional fighting abilities to get to the sinister leader, who turns out to be a major political figure in the city. This action picture from China hasn’t been reviewed by many critics yet. One or two online notices have appeared, stating that the action scenes are well-shot and high energy. They seem to suggest the film is well-produced, but that the story is a little routine and doesn’t make a lasting impression. It stars Miao Xie, Andy On, Andrew Lien and Shuang Hong.
OPERATION: RAQQA – Also released under the title Raqa, this Spanish-language spy film involves a Russian agent. The figure is sent to an area in Syria near the Iraq border to locate a leader of ISIS and bring down the fundamentalist organization. He soon encounters another spy, this one a Western European woman working for Interpol. They discover she has the same assignment and is posing as a nurse to get close to the enemy. The two become friends and try to survive acts of the oppressive leaders in order to accomplish their shared goal. There haven’t been many write-ups for this title outside of Spain, but reaction has been mixed. Most comment that the film is well-intentioned and benefits from impressive locations (the picture was shot in Morocco) and photography, but that the pacing is slow and that there isn’t a lot of onscreen chemistry between the leads. The cast includes Álvaro Morte, Mina El Hammani, Abdelatif Hwidar and Cristina Kovani.
PRESENCE – Steven Soderberg (Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven, Contagion) is having a busy 2025, with Black Bag and this title having already been released in the last couple of months. This is a supernatural effort told entirely from the point-of-view of a spirit in a suburban home. As the film begins, it watches as a new family moves in. The new arrival’s teenage daughter first senses something odd and tries to convince her brother and parents that there could be a ghost, but is dismissed. Eventually, more is revealed about the members of the family, as well as what is watching them. The press rated this effort highly. A small number had difficulty following the mystery and didn’t find the film compelling. However, the vast majority called it an effective experiment that built momentum as it progressed. They appreciated the use of the camera to present the spirit’s point-of-view, and how it showed a family under duress. The final twist also made a big impression. The picture is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or as a standalone Blu-ray. It features Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, West Mulholland and Julia Fox.
THE QUIET ONES – Inspired by a true story, this tale depicts the largest heist in Danish history. Appropriately enough, the film was made in Denmark. It introduces an ex-criminal struggling to care for his wife and daughter. He and a small group of compatriots discover a nearby vault with limited security that handles 20 percent of all financial transactions in Copenhagen. This team comes up with an elaborate plan to rob the site, dealing with various complications along the way. Alas, this picture received more negative reviews than positive ones. Less than half did comment that they were impressed by the different approach to the story and choice to focus on very morally gray characters, while also praising the camerawork. However, more complained that the set-up wasn’t very interesting, offering a bland plot and surprisingly little excitement over its running time. Gustav Dyekjær Giese, Reda Kateb, Amanda Collin, Christopher Wagelin and Jens Hultén headline the picture.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If the latest films aren’t for you, there are plenty of older titles arriving. The Rapacious Jailbreaker (1974) is being released as a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray from Radiance Films. This is a Japanese title about a convicted murderer and his accomplice, who are sent to a penitentiary to serve time. The pair plot an elaborate break-out attempt. Apparently, the movie is based on the real exploits of a seven-time prison escapee. The title arrives with a high-definition transfer, a yakuza film expert commentary track, and a visual essay on the picture, along with a booklet with an essay on the movie and an archival review. Only 3000 copies of this title will be available. Read a full review of the disc by clicking on this link.
Themroc (1973) is a French satire about a man who decides to shun every aspect of normal bourgeois life. In fact, he ends up turning his apartment into a cave. The movie features no dialogue, as the main character speaks in gibberish and grunts. It is well-regarded and won some film festival awards when it was originally released. This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray contains a 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative. It comes with a recently recorded critic analysis, an interview from 1973 with the writer and the director, a recent discussion about the star of the picture, promo materials, a booklet with writing on the feature, and a reversible sleeve featuring new and original artwork for the title. Like the other titles, only 3000 copies will be manufactured. Read a detailed review of the Blu-ray right here.
88 Films is releasing Lady of the Law (1975) on Blu-ray. It’s a Hong Kong period feature about an innocent man being pursued for a crime he didn’t commit by a relentless official (who is presumably female). This Shaw Brothers production has been given an HD transfer from the original camera negative and comes with a film historian commentary track and a stills gallery.
If you appreciate later Friday the 13th pictures, this is a very good week. Arrow Video is presenting a 2-disc 4K Ultra HD-only “Limited Edition” of Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993). This is the ninth picture in the series and features the title maniac, Jason Voorhees, rising from the dead once again to go on a murderous rampage. Along the way, viewers learn more about his family history, and the feature ends promising a future team-up film with another famous movie killer (the actual feature would eventually arrive 10 years later). This edition promises Dolby Vision 4K restorations of both the theatrical and unrated versions, with transfers that were approved by the director. Extras include an introduction with the filmmaker, multiple commentary tracks (including two with the director and another with horror movie historians), several lengthy cast and crew interviews, a look at various props used in the series, and additional TV footage with optional director commentary. There is also a reversible sleeve included, as well as a booklet with writing on the film and a double-sided foldout poster.
The follow-up, Jason X (2001) is also getting a 4K Ultra HD “Limited Edition” from the distributor. This sequel is set many years in the future and features the undead killer chopping his way through the crew of a spaceship. The picture has been restored for this release with a 4K scan of the original camera negative in the correct aspect ratio (it has been reported that earlier editions of the feature were misframed slightly). Bonuses on this release include an introduction to the movie from Jason Voorhees actor Kane Hodder, a director commentary, a co-writer commentary, as well as a horror movie expert audio track. You’ll also get an interview with the film’s composer, a making-of, cast and crew interviews, a history of Jason Voorhees featurette, behind-the-scenes footage, the electronic press kit, and a tone of publicity materials. A booklet and a double-sided foldout poster are also included in this release.
Criterion is focusing on the work of actor Richard E. Grant this week. First, How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) is getting the Blu-ray treatment. It’s about a London ad executive working on a pimple cream ad campaign. One day, he gets a boil on his shoulder that starts growing into a talking head which begins to take over his life. The picture has been given a 2K restoration approved by the director of photography for this Blu-ray release. It comes with a new documentary featuring interviews with the star, as well as writer-director Bruce Robinson, as well as a trailer.
Robinson and Grant also teamed up for the cult British comedy Withnail and I (1987), which is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo and as a Blu-ray release. This tale is set in the 1960s and involves a pair of unemployed actors who decide to take a vacation to the country, only for things to go horribly wrong. The movie is said to be a sharply written and quotable tale that is extremely relatable to anyone who might have pursued acting as a career. The film has received a 4K restoration approved by the director of photography and comes with a 2020 commentary featuring Robinson and Grant, as well as a second track from 2001 with other co-stars. There is a new short program with Robinson and Grant, a 1999 documentary on the film, a 2017 Q&A with the director and the star, a stills gallery and a trailer.
Kino is delivering a Blu-ray of The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965), a period comedy starring Kim Novak. This disc contains a 4K restoration from Paramount Pictures of the fully uncut version of the film. It comes with a movie historian commentary, a trailer, and reversible art.
Interested in killer bear movies? You can now pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of Prophecy (1979), It’s about a lumber mill in Maine spouting chemicals that turn a bear into an angry, mutated beast. It ravages the area, murdering several locals. While this horror feature was a flop during its initial release, it has become something of a cult item. Perhaps that’s because it stars Talia Shire, Robert Foxworth, Armand Assante, Richard Dysart and Kevin Peter Hall (in the bear costume) and was directed by John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, The Train, Seconds, French Connection II, Black Sunday, Ronin). You’ll get a new 4K restoration of the picture from the original camera negative, an entertainment journalist commentary, plenty of cast and crew interviews, radio spots and a trailer.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of Wonder Dogs! This is a two-disc collection of features, shorts and newsreels made between 1898 and 1928 that all feature pooches as leads. It comes with a film historian commentary, interviews with film curators and archivists, and an interview with the composer who created music for the silent titles included here.
Lionsgate is giving the Jamie Foxx/Gerard Butler action picture Law Abiding Citizen (2009) a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. Foxx plays a Philadelphia lawyer dealing with a psychopathic, incarcerated criminal who vows to cause chaos in the city. This release boasts a 4K image in Dolby Vision, along with a producer audio commentary, featurettes on the production and a trailer.
The studio is also providing DVD-only releases of the Liam Neeson effort Retribution (2023), and the well-regarded Michael Keaton feature, Knox Goes Away (2023).
Powerhouse Films is an international distribution unit from the UK who have begun releasing pictures for both the British and North American market. This week, Girls Without Shame (1973) aka Schoolgirl Hitchhikers is arriving separately on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. It’s a Jean Rollin effort from France about a pair of lovers who are taken hostage by criminals and ultimately tortured. The film has received a 4K image upgrade taken from the original negative in Dolby Vision. You’ll get three versions of the title with a movie expert commentary, a featurette on this period in director Rollin’s career, another examining career of co-star Joelle Coeur, promo materials, a 4K restoration of an explicit short starring Coeur and an 80-page booklet with writing on the feature.
Another film from Rollin made the very same year, The Iron Rose (1973) is appearing as either a 4K Ultra HD release or a standalone Blu-ray. This genre effort is about a couple who get lost while visiting a cemetery and begin to panic as darkness sets in. The disc contains a 4K restoration from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision of two versions of the picture. Additionally, it comes with a film historian commentary, a 1998 introduction to the movie by Rollin, an in-depth documentary on the production, an archival discussion with Rollin, two interviews with the star, critical appraisals and appreciations of the title, promotional and publicity materials, and more. You’ll also get an 80-page book on the film.
Shout Factory is putting out Blaxploitation Classics Volume 1, an impressive 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray box set containing the cult classics Across 110th Street (1972), Black Caesar (1973), Coffee (1973), Hell Up in Harlem (1973), Truck Turner (1974) and Sheba, Baby (1975). These six pictures star the likes of Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Yaphett Koto and Isaac Hayes. You’ll get to see all of them kicking butt and taking names. It seems that if you’re interested in the blaxploitation genre, this is a great place to start. The 4K transfers are presented in Dolby Vision and extras include part one of a new documentary on Blaxploitation films. All of the movies have either a director or a screenwriter commentary and trailers are also included on the titles. Looks like a lot of fun.
Finally, Sony Pictures is releasing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of A Knight’s Tale (2001). This tale is set in the 14th century and stars Heath Ledger as a young man competing to win a jousting tournament. The movie is noted for using modern music and a few other elements in its storytelling. This release promises 4K restorations of both the theatrical and extended versions of the film, both presented in Dolby Vision. Five deleted and extended scenes are included, as well as a gag reel, a featurette on the second unit photography, as well as an archival commentary with the director and co-star Paul Bettany. There are 11 additional behind-the-scenes featurettes, six more deleted scenes with a director intro, an HBO making-of, a music video, and trailers.
The musical Oliver! (1968) with Oliver Reed and Hugh Griffith, is receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Standard Edition” this week. Based on the Charles Dickens novel, this effort won six Academy Awards including Best Picture. Obviously, this Sony release will offer a picture upgrade, but as of yet no word on whether or not any bonuses will be included.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a new title that might appeal to younger viewers.
LEGO Jurassic World Collection (Universal Pictures) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And here is a list of the week’s TV-themed releases.
American Experience: Forgotten Hero – Walter White and the NAACP (PBS) DVD
Bitten: The Entire Series (Lionsgate) DVD
Doctor Who: The Savages (1 season with William Hartnell from 1966) (BBC) Blu-ray
Father Brown: Season 12 (BBC) DVD
Hallmark 3-Movie: Branching Out, Romance in Style, Mid-Love Crisis (Hallmark) DVD
Happy Valley: Season 1 (BBC) DVD
Inspector Ellis: Series 1 (Sentai) DVD
LEGO Jurassic World Collection (Universal Pictures) DVD
Rookie Blue: The Entire Series (Lionsgate) DVD