Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition includes a lot of independent pictures and documentaries, as well as a few older and even once-thought-lost cult features receiving 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!
CUSTOMS FRONTLINE – In this action/thriller from Hong Kong, a customs officer and his trainee are handed a case involving arms smuggling. Working jointly with Interpol, they discover that a criminal syndicate is using Honk Kong as a base point of operations to move in weapons from Thailand. As things escalate, the leads come into conflict with those around them, and end up having to use unusual tactics to stop the villains. This picture was largely panned by the press. A small number of reviewers thought that the action scenes were well-handled and the story had a few novel twists. Unfortunately, the vast majority were critical of the performances and the visual effects, calling the film ludicrous, nonsensical, and ultimately tedious to endure. It stars Jacky Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Karena Lam, Francis Ng, Yase Liu and Yase Liu.
DEATH STREAMER – The latest low-budget creeper from independent director/producer/distributor Charles Band (Parasite, Trancers, Meridian, Dollman vs. Demonic Toys, Evil Bong, The Gingerdead Man) is about a modern-day vampire who wears camera-glasses when he ventures out. He live-streams his nightly bloodsucking adventures to viewers, who pay to watch his violent exploits. Things go haywire for the undead figure when a trio of supernatural investigators begin stalking him. This title has only been seen by a handful of genre critics who specialize in reviewing direct-to-disc films. Their response appears to be mixed. Some claim that the picture delivers exactly what you’d expect of a Band production and delivers cheesy fun. But most call it a missed opportunity with a weak script and an abrupt, disappointing finale. The cast includes Sean Ohlman, Aaron Michael McDaniel, Emma Massalone, Kaitlin Moore and Chili Jean.
EAT THE NIGHT – A small-time drug dealer spends most of his free time playing an online video game with his sister. When the server goes down, the game-addicted sister panics and searches for help from her sibling. In the meantime, he ends up meeting and falling for another dealer. The increasingly strained relationship between the brother and sister begins to cause problems for his business and grave danger for both. This foreign-language drama from France has earned more positive notices than negative ones. Roughly one-third commented that the movie was bold and tried to tell a unique story, but that its characters weren’t fleshed out and that they didn’t feel invested in them. Still, many did complement the work of the cast and thought there were some effective, original, exciting and ultimately tragic moments that addressed technology and other modern themes. It features Theo Cholbi, Erwan Kepoa Fale and Lila Gueneau.
ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND – South African photographer Ernest Cole is the subject of this documentary. It details how, at age 27 in the late 1960s, the artist collected his work into a book exposing to the world the horrors of Apartheid. Viewers learn that despite the attention, Cole was forced to go into exile and spend the rest of his life dealing with anger and frustration at the western world for not acting faster and stopping the atrocities being committed. The filmmakers also recount how 60,000 negatives of the photographer’s work were recently found during the sale of a Swedish bank. All but one critic who saw this picture admired it. The lone voice complained that it generalized its subject and needed more intimate personal details. Still, everyone else wrote that the movie was a fascinating and powerful tribute that will help introduce many to an incredibly important figure. They also said that while depressing, by its close the movie felt inspirational. LaKeith Stanfield provides the voice of Cole.
EVERY LITTLE THING– If you happen to be in the mood for more documentaries, you can also check out this look at author and hummingbird rehabilitator Terry Masear. She is a Hollywood, California resident who became an expert at caring for these wounded birds. The picture shows what inspired her to devote her time to assisting them and then shows attempts to help several badly wounded hummingbirds recover from their injuries. Response to the picture has been very upbeat. One or two believed that, while sweet, there really wasn’t enough material here to justify a feature film. But all other reviewers described the film as wonderful and motivational, letting viewers learn more about the avian species as well as teaching empathy for all living creatures. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release.
SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY – Those who enjoy ultra-low-budget horror have another option this week with this indie horror effort from the director of the 1980s cult title The Dead Next Door. This tale is set during a pandemic and follows a science denier who refuses to get vaccinated. When he gets ill, he finally visits his doctor, who tells him that they’ve run out of doses. Desperate, he agrees to take an experimental drug instead. While the lead initially recovers, he starts experiencing very nasty side effects. Specifically, his body begins to literally fall apart. The lead then learns that the only way to delay decay is to eat human flesh. This is a direct-to-disc title funded through Kickstarter. There are currently no reviews for it yet, so if you’re interested, you’ll just have to take a chance on it. The cast includes James L. Edwards, Drew Fortier, Tina Krause, Sasha Graham and Brinke Stevens.
WILDCAT – This biopic tells the story of novelist/short story writer Flannery O’Connor, who lived in Georgia and whose work was known for being disturbing and violent for its era (the 1950s). The film follows her personal trials as she attempts to complete her first major novel, while also dealing with criticism from family, editors and readers for the violent tone of her pieces. The film was co-written and directed by Ethan Hawke and stars his daughter Maya Hawke as the noted writer. The press gave this independent drama more positive write-ups than negative ones. A sizable number stated that the screenplay went on too many eccentric and fantastic tangents and they had trouble getting involved in the story. However, the majority found the lead performance to be exceptional and thought the movie presented an interesting take on a very complicated and difficult but fascinating figure, as well as the creative process. It also stars Laura Linney, Philip Ettinger, Rafael Casal, David Towne, Cooper Hoffman and Steve Zahn.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s a notable week for those interested in picking up some older titles. Horror fans who grew up in the 1980s will no doubt remember the heavy metal-themed Trick or Treat (1986). This entertaining genre pic follows a high school kid whose favorite artist dies tragically. When he gets his hands on the last recording from the musician, he plays it backwards on his turntable. The demonic heavy metal star is resurrected and goes on the rampage, while the kid attempts to stop him. Marc Price, Glen Morgan, Lisa Orgolini, and Tony Fields along with actual rockers Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne, are featured in the movie. It made an impression on many teens during its original release and has plenty of memorable moments, but disappeared soon after and has been hard to find.
Synapse Films is now releasing the movie on both 4K Ultra HD as well as on Blu-ray. The picture has been restored in 4K from the original camera negative, and supervised by the film’s director of photography Robert Elswit (Punch-Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood). This means that after decades of poor transfers, the picture essentially looks like a new movie. The release contains three commentaries, including one with director Charles Martin Smith, another with co-writer/producer Michael S. Murphey, and co-writer Rhet Topham, alongside a third track giving a detailed history of the “Satanic panic” music of the 1980s and the history of backmasking.
There is also a lengthy retrospective documentary on the movie with most of the cast and crew, featuring director Charles Martin Smith, actors Marc Price, Glen Morgan, Elise Richards, and Larry Sprinkle, writer/producer Joel Soisson, costume designer Jill Ohanneson, assistant set costumer Francine Decoursey, construction foreman Tom Jones, Jr., special make-up effects artist Everett Burrell, music executive producer Stephen E. Smith, composer Christopher Young, and a special appearance by Gene Simmons. Additionally, you’ll get a tribute to Tony Fields, the actor who played the villain in the film. There is also a featurette on the locations used in the movie, a music video from its release, trailers, TV spots, radio spots and a still gallery with an optional interview with the photographer. Vintage press kit materials are included as well, and it comes in fancy packaging with reversible cover artwork. Read a full review of the disc here!
The impressive James Caan thriller Thief (1981) is getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack from Criterion. This stylish effort from Michael Mann (The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Collateral) tells the story of an ex-con trying to pull off one last score, but running into notable difficulty while doing so. This set contains a 4K restoration of the director’s cut supervised by Mann. You’ll get an archival commentary track with the director and star, interviews with Mann, Caan, and a discussion with a member of Tangerine Dream who contributed to the score. It also comes with a trailer.
Deaf Crocodile Films is delivering some interesting European genre efforts on Blu-ray. The Golden Fern (1963) aka Zlate Kapradi is a moody Czech fairy tale about a shepherd who discovers a magical plant that grants powers, but also corrupts its owner. The picture has been restored from a Czech film archive for this presentation. A movie historian commentary, a visual essay on the title, an interview with the son of the late filmmaker, and a trio of three rare shorts by the director are listed as bonuses.
Kin-dza-dza! (1986) is a Russian sci-fi comedy about two men who accidentally travel to a strange alien world. The disc contains a new picture restoration from the camera negative, a film historian commentary, an hour-long interview with the lead actor, a video essay on the themes in the title, a special featurette on the history of Soviet sci-fi cinema, and a written essay on the picture.
The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians (1981) is a Czech satire based on the writing of Jules Verne that follows an inventor in the late 19th century and his wild inventions. Apparently, the original pressing of this title from a year ago sold out, so this is a second edition containing all the same impressive features as the previous version.
The Irish title The Outcasts (1982) is also getting the Blu-ray treatment. It’s a period effort about a widower whose young daughter gets accused of being a witch. This disc boasts a 2K picture restoration from the 16mm original negative, along with interviews with the director, the score composer, early 8mm films from the director with cast members like Peter O’Toole, Charlton Heston, and Sammy Davis Jr.
Heading back to Eastern Europe, Prague Nights (1969) is a Czech anthology horror film with all of the tales set in the title city. The Blu-ray has an interview and commentary track with the daughter of the picture’s co-director and co-writer, short films made by the filmmaker, an essay on the making of the movie, and new art for the box.
And Zerograd aka City Zero (1989) is a Russian satire about a repairman arriving at an estate and encountering so much trouble from the corrupt government that he can’t seem to leave. This is another out-of- print Blu-ray from the distributor that is getting a repressing with the same features and bonuses.
Kino is presenting some interesting titles this week. Back in the day, the comedy Best Defense (1984) earned a lot of press in the weeks leading up to its release. It starred Dudley Moore as a tank designer and Eddie Murphy as the man tasked with taking the weaponry into combat. The movie intercut the two characters in different timelines. The film was poorly received and considered a flop back in the day. It has been hard to find for some time, but is now debuting on Blu-ray. Those interested can see if it has aged well and is ready for rediscovery. The disc contains a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, a recently recorded audio commentary from the screenwriter/producer, and a trailer.
Cry, the Beloved Country (1951) with Canada Lee and Sidney Poitier is also arriving on Blu-ray. The story involves a man searching for his lost son in South Africa. This disc includes a HD master from Studio Canal taken from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, as well as a film historian commentary and bonus interview.
Disaster movie enthusiasts can now pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the Sylvester Stallone effort Daylight (1996). Stallone plays a man trying to save motorists who become trapped under a collapsed tunnel linking New Jersey and Manhattan. The large cast also includes Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Barry Newman and Dan Hedaya. You’ll get a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative, a director commentary, a making-of, an EPK featurette, a music video from the film, and trailers.
The Peter Sellers comedy Two-Way Stretch (1960) is also arriving on Blu-ray. The comedic legend plays a prison inmate who plots to escape his cell in order to pull off a big heist and then return before anyone notices. The disc features a film historian commentary and trailer.
The Japanese martial arts action/comedy Samurai Fiction (1998) is also arriving on Blu-ray this week from Media Blasters.
Additionally, Mondo Macabro is presenting The Hungry Snake Woman (1986) on disc. It’s an Indonesian genre picture featuring a nasty supernatural figure who transforms one of her victims into a vampire and has him do her bidding. It’s considered one the craziest and most surreal genre titles ever made in this part of the world. The disc includes a 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, as well as new cover art for the release.
The Killer Is Not Alone (1975) is a Spanish slasher about a young man stalking beautiful women. This “Standard Edition” Blu-ray contains a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, an interview on the title with a film expert, a movie historian commentary track, and a trailer.
Troma is delivering a Blu-ray of the low-budget horror/comedy Eating Miss Campbell (2022). The plot follows a Vegan goth girl who begins to crave human flesh. Like other releases from the distributor, it comes packed full of extras.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the extended director’s cut of 100 Tears (2007) Unearthed Films. This genre picture involves two journalists hunting down a serial killer who dresses like a clown. Before long, they become the targets of the maniac. Bonuses include two director commentary tracks, an interview with the filmmaker, a making-of, behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, and childhood short films made by the director.
I have never heard of this title, but VCI is releasing a Blu-ray of the well-regarded Irish comedy, Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970). The feature about a working-class family stars Gene Wilder and Margot Kidder and details embarrassed relatives trying to deal with a troubled individual (played by Wilder), who’s obsessed with scooping up horse dung and selling it for use in flower gardens. The disc contains a movie authority commentary and a restored original trailer.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here is a list of what’s available on disc this week for children.
PBS Kids: Every Day is Earth Day (PBS Kids) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And below you can find all of the TV-themed releases coming your way.
All Creatures Great and Small: Season 5 (PBS) Blu-ray or DVD
Fraser: Season Two (2023 series) (CBS) DVD
Morning Show Mysteries: Complete Movie Collection (Hallmark) DVD
NOVA: Lost Tombs of Notre Dame (PBS) DVD
Quantum Leap: Season 2 (2022 series)