Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition features plenty of well-regarded independent features, as well as some great older films getting major upgrades. 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!
2073 – Documentary filmmaker Asif Kapadia (Senna, Diego Maradona) mixes fact into a fictional narrative in this tale of a dystopian future. A woman living in a horrific, militarized future-world travels back in time to warn us about the direction in which we are headed. It notes the rising popularity of authoritarianism and brutal regimes in the world. The picture notes how technology is currently being used to manipulate the public, and how it will lead to our death and destruction. This unique feature split the press. Almost half stated that the approach was flawed and that the fictional science-fiction elements took away and diminished the movie’s important message. The same number and few extra voices thought the technique was interesting, the arguments were valid, and that this film would effectively provoke the ire of right-wing voters and warn others as the grave danger in trusting them. It stars Naomi Ackie, Samantha Morton and Hector Hewer.
ADULT BEST FRIENDS – Now in their 30s, two women who have been best friends since childhood begin to find their lives in different stages and their relationship being tested. One is living with her boyfriend and considering big changes, while the other currently resides with a roommate and is single. When her beau proposes marriage, the engaged woman takes the other on a trip to a favorite vacation spot in order to break the news. But as they meet old and new friends, the committed woman holds back on telling her pal, threatening their relationship. This independent comedy/drama has been very well received on the festival circuit. Everyone who saw it noted that while it has a few minor pacing issues, the characters are sweet and relatable and the script effectively deals with its themes in an amusing and moving manner. The cast includes Delaney Buffett, Hanah Campbell, Carmen Christopher, Mason Gooding and Zachary Quinto.
DADDY – Here is another independent comedy/drama vying for your attention. Set in an authoritarian, dystopian future, the state mandates who can have children. Four wannabe fathers are forced to attend a government-sanctioned program in California to prove their worthiness as parents. They arrive, only to find themselves alone and being watched as they follow instructions. The four go ahead and try to prove to each other that they have what it takes, often to comedic effect. So far, only a handful of critics have seen this picture, but they have all been upbeat. Most suggest that the film’s set-up is disturbing and fairly tense, with the doses of humor acting as an effective release during the competitions. It has been described as sharply written, brave and amusing. It features Britt Baron, Neal Kelley, Pomme Koch, Joseph Lopez, Yuriy Sardarov and Jono Sherman.
DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE – Horror enthusiasts may be excited by this documentary. It follows the life and film career of the late Gunnar Hansen, who was best known for his role in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as the terrifying Leatherface. According to the plot synopsis, friends, colleagues, filmmakers and fellow actors share stories and their experiences working with the performer (there is also some archival footage of Hansen included). The participants note just how soft-spoken and different the real man was from the monstrous role he became famous for. Only a handful of reviewers have seen the picture, but they all enjoyed it. They stated that while the movie does a very good job of detailing his career, it also surprised them with some revelations about the actor and some of the things he was up to when he wasn’t working or on-set.
HARD TRUTHS – The latest character study from noted British writer/director Mike Leigh (Naked, Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy, Another Year) follows a troubled woman living in England. She has a short fuse, constantly criticizing her husband and family, as well as picking fights with strangers. Everything everyone does comes under fire from the lady, and thus many have simply chosen to ignore her. The woman’s sweet and cheerful sister decides to try to get to the bottom of what is enraging the lead. Reviewers were very impressed with this drama. While it didn’t receive any Oscar nominations, the movie won numerous awards from critic groups around the world. One or two didn’t like the open-ended story and were disappointed that it didn’t resolve all the questions they had. Everyone else called it a brilliantly powerful examination of human behavior, specifically an unhappy person, as well as the turmoil they can cause. They also noted the incredible lead performance as being one of the year’s best. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, Tuwaine Barrett, Ani Nelson and Sophia Brown headline the film.
IN FLAMES – This horror film from Pakistan involves a mother and her teenage daughter who struggle to see eye-to-eye. When the family patriarch dies, they are left to fend for themselves in an old-fashioned society that offers them little assistance. The teen finds a boyfriend, but is then followed and stalked by a figure who disapproves of the romance. These two must eventually find common ground to fight back and save themselves. Write-ups were very good for this foreign-language feature. One or two didn’t think that mixing a tale of societal oppression with horror tropes worked particularly well. Still, the overwhelming majority called the film tense and terrifying as it creatively depicted the psychological toll of a patriarchy forcing its will onto the protagonists. It stars Ramesha Nawal, Omar Javaid, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Adnan Shah and Mohammad Ali Hashmi.
INFLUENCER – Released as a streaming title on Shudder in 2023, this film is now being given a proper Blu-ray release. The story involves a social media influencer who makes plans to visit and review a tropical resort with her boyfriend. When he backs out of the trip, she goes by herself and befriends another young lady staying there. The new acquaintance convinces her to change plans. They camp and enjoy the country, but the main character soon discovers that things are not as they seem. Genre film reviewers were impressed by this movie. A few thought the characters weren’t well-written and that the story left them with more questions than answers. But all others found the tale tense and intriguing. They liked the social media critique and enjoyed trying to figure out what the villainous plot was. The movie features Emily Tennant, Rory J. Saper, Cassandra Naud and Justin Sams.
NEW LIFE – A mysterious woman is on the run in the Pacific Northwest as this tale begins. The government wants to catch or kill her before she can cross the border into Canada, and assign their top agent to find the woman. As the investigator discovers more about the case, the person learns that the target isn’t being pursued for the reason she thinks. The agent will ultimately come face to face with the individual and must decide the runaway’s fate. This independent thriller was well-liked by critics. A small contingent thought that the film didn’t explore its themes deeply enough, ran out of gas and ended on an ineffective note. But the majority thought the movie effectively tapped into current fears about pandemics and was a chilling, unnerving effort that made them queasy and provided plenty of shocking twists. It features Sonya Walger, Hayley Erin, Tony Amendola and Jeb Berrier.
OMAR AND CEDRIC: IF THIS EVER GETS WEIRD – American rock band The Mars Volta is the subject of this documentary. They’ve been around for more than 20 years and were originally known as At the Drive-In before changing their name. The group is known for their high-energy live performances and music that fuses multiple genres together. Their success caused a personal rift that broke the founding pair apart in 2013. This film tells the history of the band, their dissolution and return a decade later. The film is exclusively made from hundreds of hours of archival footage of the two principal members (with footage captured by the band). There haven’t been a great many write-ups for this effort yet, but most are positive. One reviewer found the movie overloaded and thought it needed more focus. Regardless, most believed that anyone who liked the band would be impressed with this documentary which freely showed every glorious and painful step in their careers.
PROJECT SILENCE – A family driving on a long, foggy bridge at night gets trapped with other motorists after a major accident occurs. As it so happens, one of the vehicles overturned is transporting a secret and powerful breed of creature. Several are released and go on the hunt. The military arrives to try and contain the situation, while the bridge starts to crumble and those in their cars endure numerous attacks. This foreign-language, South Korean horror picture was a big hit in its homeland, but split critics equally. Half thought that there were too many characters and that the accident scenario was scary enough and didn’t need monsters. In their view, adding them just created an air of silliness. The same number liked the lead characters, finding them sympathetic. They also called the movie fast-paced, action-packed, tense and creepier than anticipated. This title can be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Lee Sun-kyun, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Hee-won and Moon Sung-keun.
RAMONA AT MIDLIFE – An ex-writer and divorcee now focused on raising her daughter learns that unflattering stories about have been shared by a friend to a visiting filmmaker. A script and film based on the tales goes into production, focusing on her troubles and personal disappointments. Upset, the lead attempts to find out who was responsible, as well as shut the film down. This proves more difficult than anticipated, forcing her to find creative solutions to her problems. This independent comedy has been available to stream for a few weeks and is now arriving on disc. It has also played at a few film festivals. Reviews from those screenings were upbeat, saying it was a likable, relatable little film that cleverly showed its lead trying to rebuild her life through a very complicated situation. The cast includes Yvonne Woods, Rosemarie DeWitt, Josh Radnor, April Matthis and Alysia Reiner.
STREET TRASH – The gooey 1987 US cult horror film Street Trash shocked audiences back in the day with its tale of a toxic alcoholic beverage that literally melted drinkers. This remake from South Africa updates the story. It’s set in a dystopian future where the government is developing a substance to wipe out the homeless. When the poor discover what is happening to them, they decide to fight back, steal the newly developed substance and use it against those oppressing them. So far, only genre critics have seen the movie. Reaction has been slightly more positive than negative. A number have complained that while the message of the film is strong, the end result is tonally unbalanced and that large parts of the film were repetitious and dull. Slightly more have noted that the film equals the original and that the final production was pleasingly gross and gooey, with a sharp sense of satire and shocks. Sean Cameron Mitchell, Donna Cormack-Thomson, Joe Vaz and Lloyd Martinez Newkirk headline the film.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
Looking for something older? You have numerous options. Radiance Films is delivering a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of The Cat (1988) aka Die Katze, a German crime/action picture about a bank heist. A pair of robbers and their leader (who is tucked away in a nearby hotel and coaching them from the outside) try to steal a massive sum of money. This title was incredibly successful in its homeland and is noted for being more realistic and mean than other movies of the era. The Blu-ray arrives with a scene-selected director’s commentary, an hour-long discussion with the director, a 30-minute talk with the screenwriter and another half-hour conversation with the film’s producer. A trailer is also included, as well as a booklet with an essay on the movie. For a full review of the disc, click here.
Hokuriku Proxy War (1977) is a notable film from famed Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku (The Threat, The Green Slime, Japan Organized Crime Boss, Sympathy for the Underdog, the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series, Battle Royale) detailing a Yakuza battle between gang members. Much of it is set during the winter with snow surrounding the characters, adding a unique look to the proceedings. This film has a very interesting backstory and served as one of the last movies based on real Yakuza figures. The “Limited Edition” Blu-ray arrives with an interview with a cast member, a talk with the screenwriter, an overview from a historian about the real story the movie is based on and a trailer. Read a detailed review of this release right here.
Martial arts movie enthusiasts can purchase The Lady Assassin (1983) on Blu-ray from 88 Films. This period title follows a candidate to replace the throne of emperor. He hires the title character to wipe out his main competitor for the title. Extras on the disc include an interview with the fight coordinator, a stills gallery and a trailer. A foldout poster is also included and the sleeve contains reversible art for the film.
Arrow Video is releasing the Al Pacino crime film Cruising (1980) in 4K Ultra HD with a supplemental Blu-ray featuring added extras. This effort from William Friedkin follows a cop, played by Al Pacino, investigating a serial killer in the gay S&M subculture of New York City. During its release, a lot of people took issue with the way it was presenting the gay community. It has remained a cult film for decades and it is now receiving a 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative. This first edition contains a 120-page book on the movie with essays on the film and writing from Friedkin and Pacino. Two archival director commentaries are included, as well as a new commentary featuring musicians involved in the soundtrack. There is also a new interview with co-star Karen Allen, deleted scenes and alternate footage, on-set audio featuring club scenes and protest coverage, censored material reels and publicity materials.
On the extras Blu-ray disc, you’ll get a new interview with a detective/consultant on the film, a discussion with the editor, cast interviews, an archival talk with the manager of the club used in the picture, a new visual essay on the film, a short film about the protests that the shooting incurred, a featurette on the production, another segment addressing the controversy surrounding the movie and its legacy, a 2022 interview with Friedkin on the title, and more stills and promo materials.
Cinematographe is a relatively new distributor who has been putting out exceptional quality products in recent weeks. Two of their titles that had been exclusives are now available as “Standard Editions” through all retailers. Joyride (1977) is about three friends who head off to Alaska to find work, and end up becoming fugitives. It arrives on Blu-ray with a 2K restoration from the inter-positive, a film historian commentary track, an interview with the director, a discussion with the cinematographer and a trailer. A booklet with essays on the movie is also included.
You can also pick up a “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of Thieves Like Us (1974), a depression-era drama about bank robbers from Robert Altman (M*A*S*H*, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Gosford Park). Pictured above and to the left, Keith Carradine and Shelley Duvall play the lead characters. This 4K edition comes with a film historian commentary, an interview with the screenwriter, archival commentary tracks with Altman and Carradine, a trailer, and essays on the movie and its significance.
Criterion is also presenting a pair of notable titles. Guillermo del Toro’s debut Cronos (1993) is receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray upgrade. The story involves an elderly Mexican shopkeeper who finds a scarab that gives him vitality and power, but at a huge price. This edition delivers a 4K restoration supervised by del Toro from the 35mm camera negative. A 2002 commentary with del Toro is included, along with a track with the producers. There is also a short from the filmmaker that he completed in 1987, a trip to the director’s home filled with memorabilia, cast and crew interviews, a stills gallery, a trailer and a booklet with writing on the feature.
Performance (1970) is a cult item from the UK about an East London gangster who transforms his identity while hiding out in the home of a reclusive rock star. The movie is notable for having Mick Jagger (from The Rolling Stones) co-star as the musician. The film is coming out in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo and as a Blu-ray only release. The 4K restoration was approved by the producer. Special features appear on the Blu-ray and include a documentary on the movie, a making-of documentary, a new visual essay on the film, another documentary focusing on the cast, a featurette on the dialogue overdubs done for the US release of the film. There is also behind-the-scenes footage, a trailer, and essays on the title.
If you enjoy crazy game shows from Japan, MXC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge – Set 2 (containing two seasons of the program) is arriving on Blu-ray from Discotek Media. You can watch competitors wipe out whilst racing through an elaborate obstacle course.
Videoman (2018) aka Videomannen is a Swedish horror/comedy arriving on Blu-ray from ETR Media (this was originally available exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome but is now being released everywhere). It follows a VHS collector who discovers an incredibly valuable tape, only to have it stolen from him. He must hunt it down before it disappears forever. The disc comes with director, as well as cast and crew interviews, an origin story featurette, deleted scenes, a Samantha Fox music video, two shorts from the filmmaker and a trailer.
Film Masters is presenting a Blu-ray of The Emperor Jones (1933), an early film about a killer who escapes prisons and bluffs his way into becoming the emperor of a Caribbean nation. The movie has been newly restored for this release. The disc contains a documentary on the film’s star Paul Robeson, and also comes with a film historian commentary, a full color booklet with essays on the picture. It also arrives in limited edition packaging.
Once Were Warriors (1994) is the debut feature of Lee Tamahori (The Edge, Die Another Day, The Devil’s Double), an award-winning drama about a Maori family struggling to get by in South Auckland, New Zealand. Film Movement is releasing a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of the well-regarded picture, with a film expert commentary, a video essay on the feature, a behind-the-scenes featurette and an essay on the picture by a New Zealand movie critic.
Vive L’Amour (1994) is a Taiwanese feature about three individuals sharing a supposedly empty apartment in Taipei. They intersect, resulting in drama and humor. This Blu-ray contains a 2K picture restoration and also contains a featurette on the title, as well as a 16-page booklet with an essay on its themes.
Fun City Editions is presenting Welcome to Fun City (2024) on Blu-ray. So, what is it? It’s a collection of genre and cult movie trailers for independent efforts made in New York City from the mid-1960s through the 1980s. There are more than 200 trailers, along with TV ads and radio spots. The spots all come with commentary from a varied roster of esteemed film writers and professionals. Sounds like fun!
IFC is also making The Canyons (2013) available from all retailers (this is another disc that was a Vinegar Syndrome exclusive, up until now. Lindsay Lohan stars in this tale of young Hollywood actors and filmmakers trying to achieve fame and power. It comes with a film historian commentary, an interview with director Paul Schrader (Touch, Auto Focus, First Reformed), a featurette on the production, a trailer and a booklet with an essay on the movie.
Kino is releasing several notable films on disc. Body Parts (1991) is a horror picture arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. It’s about a criminal psychologist who gets into a car wreck and has a limb replaced with that of a serial killer. Suddenly, he begins acting out. The movie stars Jeff Fahey and Kim Delaney. This edition includes a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, a commentary with the co-writer/director, deleted footage with director commentary, cast and crew interviews and publicity materials.
The Conqueror (1956) is a John Wayne adventure film in which the actor plays Genghis Khan. It is noted as being a movie shot near a nuclear test site. Many members of the cast and crew later contracted cancer, which some attribute to the shooting location. The disc arrives with a film historian commentary and a trailer.
Graveyard Shift (1990) aka Stephen King’s Graveyard Shift is also arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack or as a standalone Blu-ray. Based on the King story, the plot follows workers in a textile mill who come into contact with hungry rats, including a monstrously oversized rodent. The 4K picture restoration comes from the original camera negative, and the set arrives with a film historian commentary, director and cast interviews, and a trailer.
And, you can pick up a Blu-ray of the Pierce Brosnan TV mini-series Noble House (1988). The actor plays the chairman of the oldest and largest of the British-East Asia trading companies, who gets into trouble with the Chinese mob. All four segments of this production feature TV historian commentaries.
Lionsgate is presenting the Chinese-American Jackie Chan/Jet Li fantasy The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) in an Amazon exclusive 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. Besides the picture upgrade, this feature includes a director commentary, numerous featurettes on the production, a blooper reel, and deleted scenes with filmmaker commentary.
The studio has their own website as well that is releasing a pair of exclusive titles under their Lionsgate Limited line. They’re expensive, but boy do they look fantastic. The first is a 75th anniversary 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray exclusive Steelbook of The Third Man (1949), which is considered by many to be the greatest British film of all time (I think it’s my favorite film of all time as well). Written by Graham Greene and directed by Carol Reed, this film-noir is about an American writer who travels to Vienna at the end of World War II after receiving a job offer from his old friend. When he arrives, he is told that his pal is dead, and the confused writer sets out to find out what happened, with surprising results. The movie stars Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Orson Welles and Trevor Howard.
Besides the 4K upgrade, the set includes a 56-page booklet featuring photos and essays on the movie, a collector’s poster, art cards, a forged passport, and more. You’ll also get an audio commentary with background info on the production, an interactive tour of Vienna, a radio performance of the movie, an interview and Zither performance, as well as a behind-the-scenes still gallery. Additionally, this set features an alternate opening voice-over narration, featurettes on saving the film and restoring it. There is also a bit about the movie’s influence, a “shadowing” featurette, and a 75th anniversary trailer. Anybody out there have some extra cast I can borrow so that I can pick this up?
You’re Next (2011)) is a brilliant horror/comedy feature that is also receiving a Lionsgate Limited 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook available only through their website. The story involves a strange family who end up being targeted by masked assailants. Little does anyone know that the new girlfriend of one of the members has special abilities to fight back. This edition boasts a new image restoration, a 2024 audio commentary with the director and the film’s writer, as well as an interview with the pair. There are also producer and cast and crew interviews, featurettes on the making of the movie and how the movie plays with slasher film tropes. You’ll also get animated storyboards, two archival commentary tracks from the original Blu-ray release, a different making-of and a trailer. Now I need even more cash.
Documentary Now!: The Complete Series contains all four seasons of the hysterical show on Blu-ray. Made between 2015 and 2022 by Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, each episode pokes fun at a famous documentary film. It’s a blast. The elaborate set comes with fake film poster cards, a booklet on the series and more.
Saturn’s Core Audio & Video is releasing a double-feature Blu-ray of Jacker (1993) and Jacker 2: Descent to Hell (1996), two ultra-low-budget features about a psychotic carjacker. The original analog master tapes were used for this release, which comes with tons of extras including a commentary, cast and crew interviews and more.
Severin Films is presenting a Blu-ray of The Mask of Satan (1989). This is an Italian TV-movie from Lamberto Bava (Demons, Demons 2) that is a remake of his father’s 1960 classic Black Sunday. It follows some skiers who get lost in the mountains and encounter a dangerous witch. The film has received a 2K restoration from the original camera negative and features an interview with Bava, and separate discussions with two of the film’s co-stars. Looks interesting! Read a detailed review of this release right here!
You can also pick up Thong Girls (1987), Jess Franco sex-comedy about three couples getting into trouble while vacationing in Spain. The movie has been scanned in 2K from the original camera negative with over 2 hours of new special features, like a film expert audio commentary, as well as movie historian interviews and a Part 11 of a lengthy disc documentary series on director Franco.
Sony Pictures is presenting a Blu-ray of the Dutch drama, Character (1997). This title won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and is a period film about a murder investigation.
The surprisingly effective coming-of-age drama My Girl (1991) is receiving a 4K Ultra HD release (no Blu-ray is included). It follows a young, death-obsessed girl whose father is a mortician. When something tragic does occur, the youngster is forced to confront and deal with mourning. The tear-jerker stars Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis and Macaulay Culkin. For this release, the disc boasts a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative, a writer commentary, a day on set featurette, behind the scenes featurettes and a trailer.
Respiro (2002), the Italian-French film about a free-spirited woman who is accused of madness by conservative villagers, is arriving from Sony on Blu-ray.
The life of Russian serial killer A.R. Cikatilo is depicted in Evilenko (2003) which is arriving from Unearthed Film in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray pack or as a standalone Blu-ray. The film was scheduled for release a while back but was unexpectedly delayed at the last minute. It is now available for purchase.
It’s another busy week for Vinegar Syndrome. You can pick up the Curse of the Devil (1973), The Vampires Night Orgy (1973) and Demon Witch Child (1975) Blu-ray triple-feature set from the distributor. All of the titles are from Spain and Paul Naschy stars in the first title and the third is directed by Amando de Ossorio (of the Blind Dead series). All titles were scanned in 4K from the original camera negatives and comes with cast and crew interviews and featurettes.
The chilling serial killer film Deranged (1974) was released a month ago as a Vinegar Syndrome website exclusive. Now you can pick up the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set everywhere. Based on the life of Ed Gein, it’s an incredibly creepy effort that’ll make your skin crawl, and the release includes a ton of bonuses.
Female Perversions (1996) was a Cinematographe/Vinegar Syndrome exclusive, but now is available from most retailers on Blu-ray. It marks an early leading role for Tilda Swinton as a female attorney who wallows in excess while dealing with personal issues. And Joy of Sex (1984) from Cinematographe/Vinegar Syndrome is also now widely available on Blu-ray.
Pictured above and to the left, Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) is being made available everywhere in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo package. Diane Keaton plays a teacher by day who cruises bars at night for romantic flings. As things worsen and she experiences money problems, she also turns to dealing drugs. It also stars Tuesday Weld, Willaim Atherton and Richard Gere. The 4K restoration is from the original camera negative and the release includes a film expert commentary, a making-of, interviews, a visual essay on the film and publicity materials.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the oddball British sci-fi effort The Terrornauts (1967) from most retailers, which also comes jam-packed with extras like a commentary track and more.
The 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of the science-fiction/action picture Virtuosity (1995) is now available as well. It’s about a virtual entity with the personality of 150 serial killers. When he gets himself implanted into an android, he goes on a rampage and is hunted down by an ex-cop. Denzel Washington plays the hero and Russell Crowe is the maniac. The film was restored in 4K from the original 35mm camera negative for this release. Bonuses include a director commentary, a film historian commentary, an interview with the director, a talk with the producer, a featurette about the VR elements used in the movie, a talk with the screenwriter, bits on casting the picture and an image gallery.
Visual Vengeance is a distributor that puts the utmost care into releasing ultra-low-budget, shot-on-video films with improved picture and sound. This week, you can pick up Dinosaur Valley Girls (1996) which is making its Blu-ray debut. A macho Hollywood action movie star is zapped back in time via a magic artifact to a prehistoric world of flesh-hungry dinosaurs, angry cavemen, and a tribe of exotic, love-starved cavegirls.
This B-movie is remastered from the original tape elements and comes with a newly recorded and archival commentary with the director. There’s also an interview with the filmmaker, a look inside the director’s dinosaur home museum, a making-of, an alternate PG-13 cut of the film, deleted and alternate scenes, audition reels, a music video reel, songs from the film, storyboards, production image galleries trailers, and more, along with special packaging, a sticker, a reversible sleeve, an insert, a mini-poster and more. If you like cheesy flicks, then try to support distributors like this one, who put their all into giving viewers the best possible release of obscure genre titles.
Finally, Warner Bros. is delivering a 4K Ultra HD edition of the Oscar-winner Amadeus (1984). It’s a biopic of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that deals with the musical genius and the court composer Salieri who may have shortened his life. The movie stars F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce and won 8 Academy Awards. This new edition was digitally restored by the Academy Film Archive. Besides the improved picture quality, you’ll get a making-of featurette and a new, 40th anniversary featurette about the movie and its longevity.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
It’s a bit of a quiet time for family-friendly entertainment. Hopefully the next edition will have more.
ON THE TUBE!
Below is a list of all the week’s TV-themed releases.
A Beautiful Place to Die: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery (Hallmark) DVD
Doctor Who: Sylvester McCoy: Season 2 (BBC) Blu-ray
Documentary Now! (2015-2022): The Complete Series (4 Seasons) (Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray
Funny Woman: Season 2 (PBS) DVD
Head Over Heels (Hallmark) DVD
Love at the Shore (Hallmark) DVD
The Mask of Satan (1989 Italian TV-movie) (Severin) Blu-ray
MXC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge – Set 2 (2 Seasons) (Discotek Meddia) – Blu-ray
Noble House (1988 Pierce Brosnan TV mini-series) (Kino) Blu-ray
Truth Be Told: The Complete Series (Apple TV+/Fifth Season) Blu-ray