Welcome to another look at 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD highlights available for purchase. After a quiet spell, this edition picks up with several major releases and some noteworthy independent 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!
BALLERINA – This action spinoff from the John Wick franchise follows a young woman who is the daughter of an assassin. Unfortunately, her dad dies while protecting her from being taken by an underworld cult. Now an adult and a trained killer herself, she encounters members of the same group who murdered her father. She goes on the rampage, attempting to wipe them all out. Along the way, the protagonist crosses paths with Wick himself and other familiar faces. This picture received generally good reviews. One-quarter of critics complained that there were story and pacing issues, and that the feature had an overly somber tone in comparison with the Wick titles. But the majority suggested that, after a slow start, the picture eventually delivered entertainingly outrageous action that would please action fans. The movie will be available in a 4K and Blu-ray set, a 4K and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook, a 4K and Blu-ray Walmart exclusive Steelbook, and as a Blu-ray only release. It stars Ana de Armas, Angelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane and Keanu Reeves. Read a full review of the movie here.
BRIDE HARD – A woman expects to be asked to be the Maid of Honor for her best friend’s wedding, despite the fact that she works as an undercover secret agent. The protagonist decides to set up a bachelorette party at the same time recovering a bioweapon from international terrorists. Of course, her strange absences from the wedding party cause friction within the group. And when the big day arrives, armed terrorists interrupt the ceremony, resulting in complete havoc. The press panned this action comedy. A very small number thought that the movie had some chuckles and was an amusing throwback to 1980s action/comedies. However, everyone else thought that the picture was nothing short of a disaster. They called it a painful misfire that lacked effective gags, as well as any kind of thrills or excitement. The cast includes Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Stephen Dorff.
CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD – This homage to slasher features of old follows a teenager who has just lost her mother. She arrives in a new town with her dad, who is also grieving the loss, distracted and at odds with his offspring. The lead befriends the town mayor’s troublemaking son and his pals, who detail a nasty local legend. During a local celebration, several intimidating clowns appear and savagely hunt the group and other townspeople. This horror/comedy from writer/director Eli Craig (Tucker & Dave vs. Evil) was generally well-received. Roughly one-quarter of reviewers disliked the picture’s 80s slasher vibe. They found the plot routine and stated that the premise lacked originality. Still, the majority thought the film was fast-moving and offered numerous over-the-top murder sequences. They also noted that themes allowed for bonus subtext that added a layer to the proceedings. It is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, or as a standalone Blu-ray. It features Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Kevin Durand and Will Sasso.
ELIO – The latest animated feature from Pixar (the Toy Story, Cars and Inside Out series, among many others) and Disney is this science-fiction tale about an orphaned, space-obsessed child. When the boy makes contact with an alien species, he is beamed to a strange world and mistaken for an Earth ambassador. The protagonist must help one of his new alien pals find peace with an intergalactic warlord. This effort underperformed at the box office, but did earn solid reviews. About one-fifth of write-up stated that the picture had difficulty blending elements of grief with comedy. They believed that it simply wasn’t as strong as other Pixar efforts. Yet most were impressed that the movie attempted to deal with themes of loss and believe it handled these moments sweetly, as well as delivering amazing visuals and effective comedy. The picture can be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, or as a Blu-ray. The voice cast includes Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon and Brad Garrett.
ICE ROAD: VENGEANCE – The Ice Road was a 2021 action/thriller about truck drivers embarking on a dangerous journey through a winter storm. This follow-up sees the protagonist from the first picture trying to scatter the ashes of his deceased brother. He decides to do so atop Mount Everest in Nepal, but finds himself in the middle of a skirmish involving locals and a corrupt developer. The lead ends trying to help his new friends stop the villains. Reaction towards this picture wasn’t enthusiastic. A few gave the film a pass, stating that the action scenes were well-handled and that the snow-covered mountain photography was impressive. Unfortunately, the consensus was that this effort was formulaic and that action wasn’t exciting or memorable. They also noted that, despite the title, this film doesn’t feature any events set on icy roads. The film stars Liam Neeson, Fan Bingbing, Bernard Curry and Geoff Morrell.
JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH – The seventh entry in the Jurassic franchise picks up with a new storyline and characters. After events in the previous titles, dinosaurs have failed to adapt to the overpopulated, polluted Earth. The only place they can survive is along the equator and in quarantined zones. When a pharmaceutical company discovers a potential heart disease treatment using dinosaurs, operatives are employed to visit an abandoned island research lab and recover samples. The mission does not go according to plan. The picture was a big summer hit, but split the press. Almost half critiqued the movie for simply incorporating elements of previous installments, failing to deliver the awe and excitement that earlier entries did. The very same number thought the movie was fun and provided enough dinosaur-related adventure to keep viewers entertained. You can pick up this title in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, or as a Blu-ray-only release. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. Read this site’s review of the film here.
MATERIALISTS – This title was scheduled for release a couple of weeks ago, but there was a delay and it is only now arriving on store shelves. A single, professional New York City matchmaker caters to wealthy clients searching for a mate. While attending the wedding of a client, the lead runs into her old boyfriend, a struggling actor who is working at the venue as a waiter. The protagonist also meets a financier, who takes a romantic interest in the lead and begins courting her. She must ultimately decide If she does want to settle down, and if so, with whom. This drama/comedy was well received, although the reaction wasn’t as uniformly positive as it was for Past Lives, the previous film from writer/director Celine Song. Some complained that the movie didn’t resonate strongly with them, also suggesting that after a good start critiquing modern dating, the ending was ultimately disappointing. Regardless, more were charmed by the cast and thought the film was sharp-witted, clever and had a lot more depth than typical rom-coms. Dakota Johnson, Chirs Evans and Pedro Pascal headline the movie.
THE RITUAL – Looking for a new horror movie about exorcists? This effort purports to be based on a true story that occurred in 1928. A young woman on an Iowa farm begins experiencing supernatural phenomena, eventually acting out violently. Her family of devout Catholics become convinced she is possessed and contact the church for help. Two priests investigate the claim, and engage in a series of exorcisms for 23 days to expunge demons from her body. The press was not won over by this feature. A very small contingent called the picture tightly plotted and tense, benefiting from an excellent cast who effectively sold the story. But everyone else complained that the bland, predictable screenplay wasted its otherwise top-notch performers and that the end result was completely forgettable. It features Al Pacino, Daan Stevens, Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
Looking for an upgrade of an older feature. There are numerous options. Arrow Video is releasing a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of the Japanese film, Proof of the Man (1977). This title was a big crime/drama that made waves in its homeland, but has been little seen in this part of the world. A cop investigating the murder of an American man in Japan finds the trail leading to a wealthy local family. Eventually, he is forced to travel to New York and team with a local detective in order to find out about the victim’s past and solve the case. The cast includes Yusaku Matsuda and George Kennedy and features some impressive location work.
The film has been given a 4K restoration from Kadokawa for this release. There is an audio commentary with Asian American film scholar Rob Buscher and DJ Scheme Richards, a featurette with another Asian film scholar, a discussion with Japanese film critics Tatsuya Masuto and Masaaki Nomura about filmmaker Junya Sato (The Bullet Train) and the significance of this title, as well as publicity materials, a collector’s booklet with writing on the picture, and a reversible sleeve with new and original art for the movie. Read a detailed review of the release right here.
Criterion is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of High and Low (1963) from filmmaker Akira Kurosawa (Rashomon, Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo). The plot involves a shoe company executive whose chauffeur’s son is mistakenly kidnapped. The guilt-ridden figure must determine how to handle the situation. It’s an extremely well-regarded effort and was very recently remade as Highest2Lowest by noted filmmaker Spike Lee. Besides the improved 4K image quality, the release contains a commentary with a Kurosawa scholar, a documentary on the making of the film, interviews with stars Toshiro Mifune and Tsutomu Yamazaki, as well as a teaser and trailer. There is also an essay on the movie in the disc booklet and an on-set account of the production from a cinema scholar.
Sherlock Holmes’ Fatal Hour (1931) aka The Sleeping Cardinal is arriving on Blu-ray from Film Masters. This is the first feature in a series of British Sherlock Holmes titles starring Arthur Wontner in which the hero uncovers a murder plot orchestrated by his main foe, Professor Moriarty. The feature has been restored in HD for this release.
The Strange Woman (1946) is also arriving as a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray from the distributor. It’s a historical melodrama with Hedy Lamarr about a manipulative woman who marries her way into a wealthier family and attempts to seduce more men to continue her climb to the top. The film has been newly restored from archival elements and arrives with a film historian commentary, an illustrated booklet and a slipcase.
Flicker Alley is making He Who Gets Slapped (1924) available on Blu-ray. Based on a Russian stage play, this silent classic stars Lon Chaney as a depressed clown who is hit repeatedly as part of his act. It turns out that he is actually a scientist who was robbed of his research by a baron, and has spent five years plotting his revenge. Norma Shearer co-stars in the picture. For this release, the film has been restored from a first generation 35mm safety print and a 16mm dupe negative. It arrives with two different scores, an audio commentary with a Chaney expert, one live-action and one animated short film from the same era, an original featurette that details the early days of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (who produced the movie), an image gallery, a booklet with essays on the feature and a Blu-ray slipcover.
Kino is delivering a Blu-ray of Dear Ruth (1947), a hit romantic-comedy with Joan Caulfield and William Holden about a teenager who has been impersonating her sister and using her name to write steamy letters to a soldier during WWII. One day he appears at the door, causing confusion in the household. The disc contains a film historian commentary.
Father Brown, Detective (1934) involves a Catholic priest who moonlights as a crime-solving sleuth. Based on a popular book series, this is likely the first adaptation of the material (there is a recent BBC series still on the air with Mark Williams as the title character). A film scholar commentary is included.
The recent and well-received Nicolas Cage film The Surfer (2024) was released a few months back as “Lionsgate Limited” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set that was available exclusively through the company website. Now, you can now order a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack of the film through most retailers. Cage plays a man who returns to his favorite childhood beach in Australia, but gets into increasingly violent skirmishes with local surfers at the locale.
Mondo Macabro is presenting “Standard Edition” Blu-rays of a couple of their recent releases. One is the French effort The Punishment (1973), while the second is the Indian film, Veerana: Vengeance of the Vampire (1988). The first title features a 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative, while the second feature is presented from a 2K restoration of the original camera negative. Both discs contain various bonus features.
Shout Factory is releasing the horror film Ouija (2014) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. This appears to be a repackaging of the 2023 release of the movie, which contained multiple filmmaker audio commentaries, featurettes on the making of the film, and promotional materials. It should all be the same, just in a new, fancier case.
The period fantasy picture Samurai Resurrection (2003) is also arriving on Blu-ray from the distributor. The plot involves the deceased leader of an army of peasants who died fighting off the Shoganate, returning and resurrecting several swordsmen to take revenge. No word yet on whether or not this release comes with any extras.
The Terror Vision website is releasing a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, and a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Standard Edition” of the slasher Arbor Day (1990). It follows a boy who goes into a catatonic state after the murder of his parents. Twenty years later, he awakens and takes revenge on those responsible using garden tools.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray and CD pack of the independent slasher film, Sledgehammer (1983). Some teens partake in a séance and bring forth the spirit of a missing child with a mean streak. They begin being hunted down and wiped out with the title instrument. It was made by David Prior, who will be familiar to cheesy movie fans for Deadly Prey (1987), a bonkers, ultra-low-budget action film. The Terror Vision website will go into the details on the bonus features included in the release.
And Universal Pictures is making a few titles available for purchase. The first is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack of Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), the Academy award-winning biopic of country music artist Loretta Lynn. Sissy Spacek won Best Actress for her work in the picture. Besides the upgraded image quality, the release contains an archival commentary with Spacek and director Michael Apted (thedocumentary Up film series, Gorillas in the Mist), an archival interview with co-star Tommy Lee Jones, a discussion with Lynn and an AFI tribute to the feature.
With Jurassic World Rebirth now available Universal is now making the Jurassic World: 7-Movie Collection available for purchase. It contains 4K Ultra HD versions of all of the films in the series (no Blu-rays are included, just 4K discs).
And finally, the studio is putting out the entertaining animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) out as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. This edition comes with a sharper picture, filmmakers’ commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes and more.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a list of titles that may appeal to youngsters.
Ben 10 Classic: The Complete Collection (Warner Bros.) DVD
Elio (Disney) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook or Blu-ray only
Kung Fu Panda 2 (Universal Pictures) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set
Sesame Street: Elmo’s Happy Halloween Party (Shout Kids) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And all the week’s TV-related titles can be found below. According to a press release, the Little House on the Prairie set marks its first appearance on Blu-ray, and comes packed with bonus features.
Ben 10 Classic: The Complete Collection (Warner Bros.) DVD
Chicago PD: Season 12 (Universal) DVD
Dark Winds: Season 3 (RLJ Entertainment) Blu-ray
Sesame Street: Elmo’s Happy Halloween Party (Shout Kids) DVD
Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Series (Lionsgate) Blu-ray
NCIS: Season 22 (Paramount) DVD
Spenser For Hire: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.) DVD
The White Lotus: Season 3 (HBO) DVD