Welcome to another look at just some of the highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. The last edition was slow, but this week more than makes up for it, with a huge number of major studio releases and noted independents. There is definitely something here for everyone. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
ABOUT DRY GRASSES – Released under the title Kuru Otlar Üstüne in its homeland of Turkey, this arthouse drama involves an art teacher who has been assigned a schoolroom in a remote village. While conducting classes and waiting for his chance to work in Istanbul, charges of inappropriate behavior are levied against him. Shocked by the accusations, he is shunned by the community but finds support in a female teacher from a nearby school. This three-hour plus feature earned excellent reviews from the press. One or two complained that the picture was too slow and talky, lacking dramatic flair or tension. All others admitted that this was a film full of dialogue scenes and meditations on ethics, but that it included numerous engaging story twists that consistently intrigued them. It stars Deniz Celiloglu, Merve Dizdar and Musab Ekici.
THE ARCTIC CONVOY – Inspired by real events, this tale is set on a Norwegian ship during World War II. Nazis are invading the Soviet Union and a barge from Norway sets sail for Murmansk to deliver supplies. They immediately find themselves in hostile waters. Rather than turning back, the captain insists on delivering the goods, causing conflict on the seas and with his own crew. Also known as Konvoi, his foreign-language film from Norway was well-received by critics. In fact, everyone who saw it rated it highly. They stated that the film has an old-fashioned feel about it, but that it was tense throughout. The makers were complimented for telling a little-known story about the region and noted that it paid nice tribute to the many Norse sailors who put their lives on the line during the war. It features Christian Siebenherz, Harald Rosenløw-Eeg and Lars Gudmestad.
THE BEAST WITHIN – Not to be confused with the 1982 genre picture of the same name, this horror tale is set in an English forest where a 10-year-girl lives alone with her family. They go about their days in complete isolation and the youngster can’t help but be curious about the world around her. She decides to follow her parents out one night as they go on a lengthy trek and learns a disturbing secret that changes everything. Response to this picture was slightly more negative than positive. Some appreciated the work of the cast and called it a low-key but slickly-made coming-of-age horror film. They said it effectively dealt with the loss of innocence and abuse. Unfortunately, more thought that the characters weren’t well written and that the movie came across as silly. These reviews stated that it was unable to deal with its themes in a potent way. Kit Harington, Ashleigh Cummings, Caoilinn Springall and James Cosmo headline the picture.
BORDERLANDS – Set on an alien world with deadly creatures, a bounty hunter is hired to locate the missing daughter of a powerful leader. While traversing this dangerous land, she forms an unexpected alliance with a group of outcasts. When they discover an incredible secret about the planet, they realize that the fate of the entire universe is in their hands. Based on a hugely popular video game, this feature was shot in 2021 and was tinkered with by the studio for some time before its release. The final product was critically reviled and only earned a few positive notices. A few admired the action scenes and thought the impressive visuals and talented cast earned the film a pass. Everyone else thought that the movie was big and noisy, but also dull and uninvolving. They also critiqued the pared-down, overly simple story and said there was no reason to care about the characters or situations presented. This film is being put out in multiple editions, including a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook, as well as a Blu-ray and DVD set. The cast includes Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, Jamie Lee Curtis and Haley Bennett.
CUCKOO – A 17-year-old with divorced parents tragically loses her mother. She is invited to stay with her newly married dad who is now living in the German Alps with a new wife and family. The lead gets on reasonably well with her mute half-sister, but begins noting strange the behavior of others. Her father’s boss acts particularly unsettling and begins manipulating the family in bizarre ways. She teams with a local detective to discover what is really going on. The press gave this horror picture more positive write-ups than negative ones. About one-quarter thought the movie wasted its potential with an absurd and, at times, incoherent story that was irritating instead of frightening. Still, most thought the leads were very good, the story was atmospheric and that the film delivered plenty of memorably creepy moments. It stars Hunter Schafer, Jan Bluthardt, Marton Csokas, Jessica Henwick and Dan Stevens.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE – Here’s a little superhero movie that you may have heard of. The second-highest grossing film of the year (behind the animated picture Inside Out 2) features Marvel character Deadpool, who is now single and lonely. The lead is captured by the Time Variance Authority, who have taken note of his illegal travels to alternate timelines. He learns that his own universe is about to disappear because of the death of Logan aka Wolverine. Deadpool decides to save his timeline by finding an alternate version of Wolverine and placing the hero in it. Besides being a box-office smash, the movie was generally well-liked by reviewers. Roughly one-fifth found the Deadpool character irritating and didn’t laugh at a myriad of jokes making fun of the Marvel universe. However, everyone else called it an entertaining superhero picture that poked fun at the genre while also delivering a nice farewell to many notable characters. There are several different editions of this title coming out, some of which feature multiple covers. You can find 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combos as well as standalone Blu-rays. The cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Dafne Keen and Jon Favreau, as well as cameos from some major Hollywood stars. Read a full review of the movie here.
GOOD GIRL JANE – A lonely teen from a broken home yearns to find friends and personal connections. She runs across a gang of misfits who take her in. Initially, she’s thrilled to find camaraderie and quickly falls for the group’s leader. Alas, the protagonist discovers that her beau runs an amateur drug operation and that she has been recruited to help out. She has to decide whether to stay with them or find a way out of his company. Critics gave this independent crime/drama more positive notices than negative ones. About one-third complained that the screenplay was repetitive and that the picture dragged as a result, tiring them out. However, the majority stated that the film was well-performed and did a solid job of showing how easily a desperate individual could find themselves initiated into the world of drugs and crime. For the time being, this is an Amazon-exclusive Blu-ray that can only be purchased on the site. It features Rain Spencer, Patrick Gibson, Andie MacDowell and Eloisa Huggins.
IN A VIOLENT NATURE – This title was supposed to be released at the end of September, but was delayed at the last minute. It’s an independent chiller from Canada involving a group of partying teens who discover a locket in the woods. A figure rises and begins to hunt them all down, determined to retrieve the item. Viewers essentially follow the mute slayer around, getting brief glimpses into his past and motivations as he seeks out his latest targets. This film was picked up and has been streaming on Shudder for a few months. Now it is receiving a DVD-only release. It was well-received by critics. About one-fifth of them didn’t like the unusual tactic of staying with the killer though most of the running time and found the movie extremely violent and difficult to endure. But most felt that the different perspective and presentation was what made this effort unique and fascinating. They were truly horrified by what they saw and also thought it provided effective commentary on the slasher genre. It stars Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love and Reece Presley.
ODDITY – A blind medium and curio business owner reels over the murder of her sister. One year later, she decides to use her psychic abilities to answer some nagging questions about the death. After meeting with the accused killer, the lead determines that he is not the responsible party. She then visits her brother-in-law and his new wife. A disturbing wooden mannequin also arrives at the house during the journey. It begins appearing in different positions over the course of the evening, causing strain as secrets are slowly revealed. The press gave this effort high marks. A few did comment that the movie didn’t offer many shocks or surprises and thus wasn’t memorable. Yet all others found the story disturbing and disquieting, stating that the cast and striking photography created an eerie atmosphere that didn’t let up until the credits rolled. Carolyn Bracken, Johnny French and Steve Wall headline the film.
SLINGSHOT – In this science-fiction thriller, an astronaut awakens from hibernation after two years on a trip to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. As it turns out, he and others have been jolted up briefly to use Jupiter as a means of propelling them for another long interval towards their destination. The protagonist sees visions of his past, and begins to feel more and more disoriented with every lengthy sleep cycle. He begins to doubt reality and what is really occurring. The independent feature received more negative write-ups than positive ones. Slightly less than half liked the performers and thought that the movie slowly built tension, resulting in an ending that was bold and unexpected. Alas, the majority were not as kind, suggesting that the psychological drama of the lead didn’t engage them and that the tale fell apart as it meandered to its climax. The cast includes Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham, Tomer Capon and David Morrissey.
SOUND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF POSSUM TROT – Based on a true story, this faith-based film involves a pastor and wife learning about the plight of foster kids. After discovering many who have been mistreated by the system, they decide to take in as many as they can. It’s a struggle to help the traumatized youths, but they eventually inspire others in their church congregation to adopt as well, resulting in the town making room for 77 children. Notices were generally good for the feature. About one-fifth of reviewers did think that the movie was more interested in the power of faith than actually showing the trials or dealing with the psychological suffering of foster kids. Still, the consensus was that the drama was inspirational with strong performances. They commented that its heart was in the right place and that it would appeal to those who appreciate faith-based movies. The movie features Nika King, Demetrius Grosse, Elizabeth Mitchell and Diaana Babnicova.
THE THROWBACK – A middle-aged couple struggling with parenthood get a shock when the wife, who works as a bank teller, is held up by a robber. She makes it out of the ordeal safe, but suffers from post-traumatic effects. When the husband arrives at the hospital to pick her up, he discovers that his significant other now believes herself to be a 19-year-old party girl. The energized woman insists on going out and living a wild life, while he struggles to deal with the radical change. This independent comedy was made available on streaming services earlier in the year and is now arriving on disc. It hasn’t been reviewed by any major news outlets, so curious parties will either have to take a chance on the movie or wait for some notices to appear after its release on disc. It stars Justina Machado, Will Sasso, Bobby Lee and Michelle Randolph.
TWISTERS – A young storm chaser in Oklahoma suffers a terrible tragedy at the beginning of this follow-up to the 1996 disaster picture Twister. She retires and years later finds herself working as a meteorologist in New York. A face from the past appears and convinces her to help research tornadoes back home. Upon her return, she encounters a group of storm chasers popular on social media and, despite her initial dislike, forms a close bond with their leader. Overall, the press was upbeat about the film. About one-quarter of reviewers thought the writing was poor, the characters one-note, and claimed the film failed to do much with the material that was new or interesting. Yet the majority thought it was fun popcorn entertainment with two very charismatic leads and plenty of dazzling visual effects. The picture is available in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook and a standalone Blu-ray. The cast includes Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea and Maura Tierney. Read this site’s review of the movie here.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s just as busy a week for older titles getting high-definition upgrades and, as you might have imagined for this time of year, there are several horror pictures coming your way. Arrow Video is presenting the Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment 4K Ultra HD box set of the first four features in the series. You’ll get the Clive Barker classic Hellraiser (1987), Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth and Hellraiser IV: Bloodline (1996) all with new 4K picture restorations from the original camera negative.
Bonuses are quite remarkable as well. All the pictures have been given new film historian commentaries in addition to archival commentaries featuring the directors, cast members and crew. There are two cuts included of the third and fourth movies in the series. Curiously, in the case of the latter movie, it’s a newly discovered workprint that shows all of the studio mandated changes that occurred to the title before its release. There are featurettes on the productions, archival interviews, publicity materials and so much more. There’s even a new feature-length critic appreciation of Hellbound included. If you don’t have a 4K player, you can also pick up a Blu-ray only version of the set. Read a full, detailed review of the set right here!
Cult Epics is presenting the Tinto Brass (Caligula) title Cheeky! (2000) on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray (there are also Blu-ray editions and versions available with alternate covers). This picture follows a woman apartment-hunting in London for her boyfriend who gets into a relationship with a lesbian real estate agent. In addition to a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative, it comes with a critic commentary track, an interview with the cinematographer, trailers, the isolated score, a booklet with writing on the movie, reproductions of lobby cards and a reversible cover with the original uncensored Italian poster art.
Disney/Buena Vista is leaning into holiday chillers with 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo packs of the M. Night Shyamalan films Signs (2002) and The Sixth Sense (1999). The first involves a family locking themselves into their farmhouse during an alien invasion, while the second features a child psychologist dealing with a youngster who claims that he, “…can see dead people.” They are both exceptionally well-made thrillers. In both cases, the original negative was scanned at 4K resolution in High Dynamic Range (HDR) for optimal quality. No word yet if any extras are included, so you’ll have to read up to find out more when it is released.
Broken Oath (1977) is a revenge picture about an orphan who learns martial arts, and, as an adult, tries to take revenge on those who slaughtered his family. Eureka Entertainment is releasing the picture on Blu-ray with a 2K picture restoration, two film historian commentary tracks, an interview with a cast member, a video appreciation of the movie, a collector’s book with writing on the movie and a slipcase.
Film Masters is putting out a double-feature “Special Edition” Blu-ray containing Creature with the Blue Hand (1967) and Web of the Spider (1971). Both transfers are from 4K restorations and film historian commentary tracks and documentaries are included. An HD version of a film from the same distributor called The Bloody Dead (1987) is added as a bonus, along with publicity materials.
Kino is delivering the early, silent horror classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo which has been released in other countries in 4K to great acclaim. Along with the picture upgrade, it arrives with two scores, two audio commentaries, a video essay on the picture, a talk with a historian, a 52-minute documentary on the feature, pieces about the restoration of the movie, a trailer and a booklet.
Fluke (1995) is a family picture about a man who dies in a crash and is reincarnated as a dog. He remembers his past and tries to reconnect with his family. The Blu-ray has a commentary track and interview with the director and a trailer.
Helen Mirren plays a prostitute in the British drama, Hussy (1980). This Blu-ray comes with a film historian commentary and trailer. Meryle Streep stars in the post-World War II drama Plenty (1985). This disc contains a conversation with director Fred Schepisi (A Cry in the Dark, Six Degrees of Separation), a film historian commentary and a trailer.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) is a well-regarded feature about an outlaw and a drifter on the run from the law. It stars Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. A 4K Ultra HD edition already exists from Kino, but the distributor is now releasing a “Special Edition” Blu-ray disc with the same features.
They’ve also released Up the Creek (1984) on Blu-ray before, but are putting it out again as a “Special Edition”. The plot follows college students (sure, they look like they’re in their 30s, but okay) who compete in a white-water raft race to earn their diplomas (don’t think too hard about the logic). Bonuses include interviews with cast members and the casting director, a video featuring the title song by Cheap Trick and a trailer.
And Youngblood (1986) features Rob Lowe as a minor league hockey player hoping to make the big time. Patrick Swayze co-stars in the title. This “Special Edition” Blu-ray rerelease includes a director commentary and a trailer.
Paramount Presents is putting out another in their elaborate 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray sets. They’ve put this title out before, but Ghost (1990) is getting a re-release. The hit supernatural romance with Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg follows a man trying to reconnect with his true love after he is murdered. The set comes with the fold-out poster packaging, an interview with the director and a few other extras.
El Vampiro: Two Bloodsucking Tales from Mexico includes The Vampire (1957) and The Vampire’s Coffin (1958) on Blu-ray. Powerhouse Films is releasing the set with a 4K and 2K picture restorations, an audio commentary, interviews with crew, as well as film historians, publicity materials and much more.
The Babadook (2014) is receiving a 10th Anniversary Blu-ray from RLJE Entertainment. In addition to the film itself, the disc comes with eight cast and crew interviews.
Here’s a great picture that seems to have slipped under the radar. After being out-of-print for more than a decade, The Name of the Rose (1986) is reappearing on Blu-ray from Samuel Goldwyn Films. It’s a period mystery about a murder in an isolated abbey. A determined priest with nonconformist views investigates the crime. Director Jean-Jacques Annaud (Quest for Fire, The Bear, Enemy at the Gates) teams with stars Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham, Christian Slater and Ron Perlman.
Shout! Factory is presenting the comedy/horror Death Becomes Her (1992) in a “Collector’s Edition” that includes 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs. The story follows two self-obsessed ladies worried about their mortality who discover a potion to give them eternal life. Their battle results in some nasty acts that sees them literally falling apart. This release includes a new 4K transfer of the movie from the original camera negative, a lengthy making-of with director Robert Zemeckis and the crew, a vintage making-of featurette and publicity materials.
The remake of The Wolfman (2010) is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition,” as well as another version with posters that is available exclusively through the Shout! website. Benecio Del Toro stars as the title character in this remake. This set contains three discs. The first two contain 4K Ultra HD restorations of the unrated director’s cut and the theatrical version. Extras include a film critic commentary. There is a discussion on the title with a folklorist, a make-up effects analysis, alternate endings, deleted and extended scenes, and featurettes on the production.
Sony Pictures is putting out the Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 5, which is a massive box set containing several notable films from the studio vaults. You’ll get 4K Ultra HD and Blu-rays of All the King’s Men (1949), On the Waterfront (1954), A Man for All Seasons (1966), Tootsie (1982), The Age of Innocence (1993), Little Women (2019) and a bonus disc containing early features The Belle of Broadway (1926), Ladies of Leisure (1926), The Desert Bride (1928) and The Scarlet Lady (1926). There are numerous special features on every disc.
The Japanese title Village of Doom (1983) involves a young man on a killing spree. It is arriving on Blu-ray from Unearthed Films. Extras include a film expert commentary, a production featurette and promo materials.
The low-budget action/comedy Kung Fu Rascals (1992) is arriving on Blu-ray from Visual Vengeance. Shot on Super8, it’s about a thief and his pals trying to save the world from an ancient dark lord. This marks its first appearance on the format. It features hours of bonus features like commentary tracks, rare behind-the-scenes footage, and a feature-length documentary on the making of the film.
Finally, Warner Bros. is delivering interesting fare. If you’ve never seen it, The Hitcher (1986) is one of the creepiest cult films of its era. The story involves a young man driving a car cross country who picks up a hitchhiker in the desert. The passenger turns out to be a serial killer, hunting and tormenting the lead over the course of the film. It stars Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The movie is remarkably tense and features some unexpected story twists and incredible driving stunts. After being released on DVD, the film languished due to rights issues and has been unavailable on disc in North America for decades. Now, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray and standalone Blu-ray only is being released. A commentary with the director and the screenwriter is a notable bonus, as is a retrospective interview with the filmmaker. A trailer is also included.
The Robert De Niro/Anne Hathaway comedy The Intern (2015) is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release.
Tag (2018), the comedy with Ed Helms, Jeremy Renner, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm, Lil Rel Howery, Annabelle Wallis, Isla Fisher, Nora Dunn, Leslie Bibb and Rashida Jones is getting 4K Ultra HD only release, as is Vacation (2015), which follows the grown-up son of Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold taking his family on a cross-country road trip. Ed Helms stars with Christina Applegate.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
You’ll find kid-friendly releases listed below.
Fluke (Kino) Blu-ray
The Legend of Zelda: The Complete Series (NCircle) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the TV-themed releases can be found below.
1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! (TV miniseries) (MVD Visual) Blu-ray
CSI: Vegas: The Complete Series (CBS/Paramount) DVD
Evil: The Complete Series (CBS/Paramount) DVD
Evil: The Final Season (CBS/Paramount) DVD
The Legend of Zelda: The Complete Series (NCircle) DVD
Masterpiece Mystery! Van der Valk: Season 4 (PBS) DVD
Never Been Chris’d (Hallmark) DVD
Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale: Season 1 (Sundance Now) DVD
So Help Me Todd: The Complete Series (CBS/Paramount) DVD
Veep: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Walker: The Complete Series (2021-2024 reboot) (CBS/Paramount) DVD