Welcome to another look at some of the highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. This edition includes major releases as well as some interesting independent fare. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or shouldn’t be out in big crowds, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
BABY ASSASSINS – This action/comedy from Japan follows two high school seniors who moonlight as hired killers. When the organization they work for tells them to move in and share an apartment over their final year of class, things go badly and their relationship begins to sour. In addition to normal coming-of-age problems, the relationship turns violent and they begin targeting one another. This foreign-language effort earned solid notices from critics who saw it. They all said that while the concept could have been further developed and even funnier, it was entertaining to see two young assassins get into a petty battle with each other. The action scenes were also complimented as being well shot and amusing. The cast includes Yukina Fukushima, Saori Izawa, Masanori Mimoto, Atom Mizuishi and Mone Akitani.
THE BLACK PHONE – A shy 13-year-old finds his life in imminent danger after being kidnapped off of the street by a masked sadistic killer. He is immediately locked by his captor in a soundproof basement, where a disconnected phone begins ringing. The youngster answers and discovers that the murderer’s previous victims are calling to give him advice on how to escape. The latest from writer/producer/director Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange, Sinister) was generally well received by the press. A small number complained that there wasn’t much about the final product that was memorable and that it wasted its big star in an underwritten role. However, the majority thought that the entire cast gave stronger than expected performances. They stated that this was an atmospheric and slickly made effort that reminded them of chillers from the 80s. It stars Mason Thames, Ethan Hawke, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies and E. Roger Mitchell.
BLOWBACK – The is the latest low-budget action picture to be released as an exclusive made-for-disc title (it will also be available on streaming platforms). It’s about a master thief who is set up during a bank heist and left for dead. He manages to evade capture and sets his sights on getting revenge on those responsible before the police and mobsters catch him. Notices were unsurprisingly poor for this feature. A small number appreciated that it didn’t follow every action film trope and attempted to throw a few twists into its story. However, everyone else said that the screenplay was focused so much on its little turns and that it was overly talky and unexciting. This is a DVD-only release. Randy Couture, Cam Gigandet, Louis Mandylor, Michele Plaia, Rafael Cabrera and William McNamaar headline the film.
FRANK AND PENELOPE – A man with a criminal past decides to run from his troubles after falling for an exotic dancer. They head into the desert, hoping to find a quiet place to make a new start. However, they end up at a small compound run by a cult leader. The pair decide to stay for the night, only to learn that their hosts may not only be dangerous, but also cannibals ready to gorge on them. Write-ups for this film were not positive. About one third appreciated the movie’s attempts to meld multiple genres together (including thriller, horror, dark comedy and drama) and found it intriguing. Still, the consensus was that the film was cliched and that the events depicted came across as mean-spirited rather than grimly amusing. It features Caylee Cowan, Billy Budinich, Kevin Dillon, Sean Patrick Flanery (who also wrote and directed the picture), Johnathon Schaech, Donna D’Errico and Lin Shaye.
JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION – The biggest release of the week is this dinosaur-themed blockbuster. It’s the third and final film in the Jurassic World trilogy (which also includes connections to the original series from the 1990s). This follow-up begins four years after the previous installment with the previous movie’s survivors living off the grid. After villains arrive and kidnap one of them, the others seek out the responsible party. They cross paths with characters from the original series, who are investigating a strange new breed of genetically engineered locusts. The trail leads to a dinosaur sanctuary run by a private genetics company. Sadly, this feature received the weakest reviews of any title in the series. A handful did enjoy seeing all of the characters together and enjoyed the action scenes. Regardless, the majority claimed the story had major logic lapses and also found it overlong, noting that its best scenes were repeats of moments from earlier chapters. It stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, BD Wong, Omar Sy, Isabella Sermon and Campbell Scott. Read a full review of the movie here.
PARIS, 13th DISTRICT – Released under the title Les Olympiades, Paris 13e in its homeland, this drama/comedy/romance film from France involves three women and a man whose lives become romantically intertwined. Viewers witness how their relationships develop and the complications that arise in what the distributor describes as a “modern love story” set in Paris. The title was nominated for the Palm d’Or as well as some Cesar Awards (the French equivalent of the Oscars) and earned nods at various festivals. Reaction towards it was generally positive in this part of the world. A small number complained that the film was overly melodramatic and didn’t make a strong emotional impression. But most thought it presented an interesting perspective on romance between people in their late 20s and early 30s and enjoyed the work of the cast. Lucie Zhang, Makita Samba, Noémie Merlant and Jehnny Beth headline the feature.
SNIPER: ROGUE MISSION – The ninth feature in the Sniper movie series (the first flick was the only one to get a theatrical release, all others have been direct-to-video or direct-to-disc follow-ups) picks up with the hero from the last five movies going rogue after learning that one of his superiors is involved in a human sex trafficking ring. Another young agent and some old acquaintances join the protagonist as they all band together to stop the criminal organization. This feature is premiering on disc and streaming platforms, but hasn’t been shown to many members of the press. Of the few reviews that have appeared, most have stated that it isn’t a classic. But they note the movie is an improvement over the more recent adventures and say it has a welcome sense of humor. It features Chad Michael Collins, Ryan Robbins, Sayaka Akimoto, Josh Brener, Brendan Sexton III and Dennis Haysbert.
THE SUMMONED – Two celebrity couples are summoned to an exclusive self-help retreat to receive therapy. They agree to the three-day session and head out to the remote countryside, only to quickly realize that the on-site therapist has villainous motives. The group are forced to examine the cost of their success and begin experiencing disturbing visions and paranoid delusions. More critics enjoyed this horror picture than disliked it. Those who did take issue with the film wrote that the story was slowly paced and simply took too long to get to the interesting material. Still, others appreciated that the screenplay attempted to throw a few curveballs at viewers and called it a fun and humorous little horror picture. For the time being, this is a DVD only release. The cast includes J. Quinton Johnson, Emma Fitzpatrick, Angela Gulner, Salvador Chacon and Frederick Stuart.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you would prefer to catch up on some older titles, there is plenty coming your way as well. Code Red is releasing a Blu-ray of the romantic comedy The Boyfriend School (1990) aka Don’t Tell Her It’s Me with Steve Guttenberg, Jami Gertz, Shelley Long, Kyle MacLachlan and Madchen Amick. This is a tale of a lonely cartoonist and cancer survivor whose sister coaches him on how to create a fake persona and win the woman of his dreams. I never saw this movie, but I remember it playing at theaters and on video under the second title listed and wonder why the first moniker now appears to be the more common one. Whatever the case may be, this disc includes a 2K restoration of the film, alternate titles and art and a trailer.
Criterion is presenting Daddy Longlegs (2009) on Blu-ray. Pictured below and to the right, it’s the first film from Josh and Bennie Safdie (Good Time, Uncut Gems) and involves a father struggling with his parental responsibilities and getting himself and his young kids into a lot of trouble during a wild and crazy two-week visit. The movie has been given a 4K digital transfer approved by the directors and comes with cast interviews, a 2017 documentary about the Safdies, a making-of, a short film by the Safdies, deleted scenes, publicity materials and more.
The distributor is also making the indie feature Frownland (2007) available on Blu-ray. This title was made by the lead actor in Daddy Longlegs and examines misfit alienation through the eyes of a maladjusted social outcast whose life begins spiraling downward. This title comes with a new 2K digital transfer of the movie, an introduction from the director, a conversation between the filmmaker and Josh Safdie, deleted scenes and other extras.
The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004) is arriving on Blu-ray courtesy of Epic Pictures. The synopsis states that the story is set in 1714 Peru and deals with the trial of a friar who questions God and the church after five of his parishioners die in a rope bridge accident. It has an all-star cast that includes Gabriel Byrne, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Kathy Bates, F. Murray Abraham and Geraldine Chaplin. Apparently, this is a restored cut of the movie with over 40 additional minutes of unseen footage.
Kino is delivering Coming Apart (1969) with Rip Torn and Sally Kirkland. It’s about a disturbed and obsessive psychiatrist who begins recording sessions with female patients and ends up capturing his own mental breakdown. There’s a 2K restoration of the film on this Blu-ray, along with a director interview, a Rip Torn memorial from 2019, a 50th anniversary discussion of the movie and numerous shorts made by the filmmaker in 2020.
Electra Glide in Blue (1973) is a cult movie with Robert Blake as an Arizona-based motorcycle cop who is promoted to his department’s homicide division and is tasked with solving an incredibly difficult case. The movie has been released on Blu-ray before, but this “Special Edition” delivers a 4K restoration of the title, a new commentary with the screenwriter, an archived track with the director, as well as new interviews with the screenwriter and supporting cast member Mitchell Ryan.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the action flick Kill a Dragon (1967) with Jack Palance as a soldier of fortune out to steal a dangerous load of nitroglycerin that has fallen into the hands of a dangerous criminal. It comes with a trailer. Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World (1961) is a sword-and-sandal pic being given a “Special Edition” Blu-ray that includes the international and US cuts of the movie, a critic commentary and trailers. Additionally, the Tim Conway comedy They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978) is arriving on Blu-ray. Conway plays one of a pair of slow-witted cops who go undercover in a penitentiary. When their boss passes away unexpectedly, the two must find a way to break out of the slammer. This disc comes with a trailer and TV spots.
Lionsgate is giving Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) the 4K Ultra HD and digital treatment. Fans of the movie should note that this set does not contain a Blu-ray and can only be played on 4K Ultra HD equipment.
Paramount is releasing some of their back catalog on Blu-ray. They have The Back-Up Plan (2010) starring Jennifer Lopez and the SNL spin-off comedy Coneheads (1993) with Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin as pointy-headed aliens trying to adapt to life on Earth.
The studio is giving Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) a special presentation in a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook set. This release does not include a Blu-ray of the film.
Last Vegas (2013), Stalag 17 (1953), What Women Want (2000) and the excellent, Oscar-nominated Johnny Depp/Leonarda DiCaprio drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) are also receiving Blu-ray releases. The latter title also stars Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Kevin Tighe, John C. Reilly and Crispin Glover.
Shout! Factory is giving the original Child’s Play trilogy special treatment. They are presenting Child’s Play (1988), Child’s Play 2 (1990) and Child’s Play 3 (1991) in an elaborate 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. For those who don’t remember the series, the films feature a possessed toy doll named Chucky who goes on a violent and darkly comic killing spree. And if you’d just prefer one or two of the franchise titles, they can also be purchased individually. Be sure to go through all the listings to find out which package is right for you. All of the movies were given new 4K scans from the original negative with incredible picture upgrades. Each film has all of the previously recorded commentaries and extras from earlier editions, as well as new interviews with cast and crew members. Truth be told, there is simply too much bonus material to list here!
The distributor also is putting out a Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the action picture Red Dawn (1984) with Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Grey as high school students attempting to survive an invasion by Soviet forces. Besides the upgraded picture, you will get all of the previously released extras from earlier editions.
Finally, a Blu-ray of the independent comedy Denise Calls Up (1995) is arriving courtesy of Sony Pictures. And bizarrely, the studio is releasing Johnny Mnemonic: In Black and White (1995). This Keanu Reeves science-fiction flick was shot and released in color back in the day. For some strange reason, it is now being rereleased with a black and white picture.
Perhaps draining the color improves some of the out-of-date visual effects? The original, out-of-print version is not being included on the disc. Those desperate to own this not-so-great epic are advised to wait until a version arrives containing both the color version and black and white edition.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here are some titles that may appeal to youngsters.
Bluey: Seasons 1 & 2 (Universal/BBC) DVD
Play Date Triple Feature! (Nature Cat/Molly of Denali/Wild Kratts) (PBS Kids) DVD
Rainbow Rangers: Rangers Assemble! (Nick Jr.) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the TV-themed releases are listed below.
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston (PBS) DVD
Bluey: Seasons 1 & 2 (Universal/BBC) DVD
Feeling Butterflies (Hallmark) DVD
Firebite: Season 1 (RLJ Entertainment) Blu-ray
Hidden Assets: Series 1 (Acorn) DVD
NCIS: Season 19 (Paramount) DVD
South Park: Season 24 (Paramount) Blu-ray