Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s a slightly quieter week, but there are definitely some titles of interest in several genres. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies or need to stay indoors for a little while, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
CROC! – A bride and groom from England decide to hold their wedding festivities in the countryside. They find what they think is a lovely estate. But on their big day, the couple and their guests get an unexpected surprise in the form of a family of very hungry crocodiles living on the property that are determined to devour the attendees. This very low-budget British chiller hasn’t been seen by many in this part of the world. A few reviews have popped up online and they appear to be mixed. Most have commented that the lack of funding resulted in some less-than-convincing CGI monsters. Still, just as many suggest that the movie doesn’t take itself very seriously and will provide a few laughs for B-movie enthusiasts. Those interested should note that this is a DVD-only release. It features Sian Altman, Mark Haldor, George Nettleton and Antonia Whillans.
DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS – This family-friendly animated spin-off of the DC comics universe follows Superman and his best friend, Krypto the Superdog. After his owner and other Justice League heroes are kidnapped by a sinister threat, Krypto joins forces with other animals (including a turtle, a squirrel, a pot-bellied pig and many others) to hone their special powers and save the day. The press gave this effort more positive reviews than negative ones. Those who disliked the movie stated that it was a wasted opportunity with a bland story that felt more like a commercial than a family narrative. However, most thought the feature was appropriately frothy, had several funny moments and was more entertaining that recent live-action Justice League titles. The voice cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, John Krasinski, Marc Maron, Keanu Reeves, Jemaine Clement and Daveed Diggs.
DEAD FOR A DOLLAR – Looking for a western? This film follows a bounty hunter/private investigator who is hired by a man to locate and retrieve his kidnapped wife. The protagonist tracks the woman down and discovers that she was actually abused by her husband and has simply run off with a lover. As he tries to decide what to do, an old enemy appears seeking revenge for being caught and jailed by the lead years before. The press was split on this effort. Half complained that despite the great cast and veteran director Walter Hill (The Warriors, The Long Riders, 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire, Red Heat, Trespass, Last Man Standing), the script was terrible and that the film was slow-moving and ineffective. But the same number wrote that Hill was an expert in bringing hard-boiled characters to the screen and managed to deliver an interesting and enjoyable western on a tight budget. It stars Christoph Waltz, Rachel Brosnahan, Willem Dafoe, Warren Burke and Benjamin Bratt.
INTO THE DEEP – For years, many who have taken self-defense courses have been cautioned that following a stranger or new acquaintance to an unknown location is dangerous. The lead in this thriller clearly missed this advice. A woman is charmed by a handsome man at a marina and agrees to sail with him on his yacht for the afternoon. When the host’s girlfriend suddenly appears and joins them, things get very uncomfortable. At sea, the protagonist is asked to participate in a series of creepy games and desperately tries to escape. Critics didn’t enjoy this voyage. One of two thought that the climax provided enough thrills to earn the movie a pass. Everyone else wrote that the story was silly, implausible and that there was little-to-no suspense generated. The cast includes Ella-Rae Smith, Matthew Daddario and Jessica Alexander.
MY DONKEY, MY LOVER & I – This French romantic comedy follows a schoolteacher planning a summer holiday with her married lover (who also happens to be the father of one of her pupils). As the big day approaches, she gets a call from her sweetheart telling her that his wife has planned a surprise hiking vacation and that he can’t go away with her. Jealous and suspicious, she rents a donkey and ends up following the married couple on their grand trek. Reaction towards this feature was very upbeat. A tiny number didn’t like the main character and called the movie formulaic. However, the vast majority were charmed by what they witnessed. They claimed that it was breezy fun with a great cast and plenty of amusing moments. For the time being, this French-language title is a DVD-only release. Laure Calamy, Benjamin Lavernhe and Olivia Cote headline the film.
PLAGA ZOMBIE: AMERICAN INVASION – If you’re looking for genre fare, this flick is the fourth in a series of do-it-yourself, no-budget zombie movies from Argentina. The first Plaga Zombie arrived in 1997 and told the story of an alien zombie invasion in Buenos Aires. After three films with the same heroes, this effort features all new central characters. It follows some monster-slaying leads who learn that the US city of New Bedford, Massachusetts has been infected and that the US government has set it adrift into the North Atlantic Ocean. They must find a way to get onto the landmass, fight the undead and prevent it from crashing into the Azores islands. No reviews are currently available for the title, but you can expect gory, low-budget blood and over-the-top silliness similar to that you would see in a Troma film. It features Ben Tolosa, Corey Spencer and Matthew Hill.
THEY CRAWL BENEATH – A young man has a really, really bad day in this horror picture. While attempting restoration work on a classic car at his uncle’s remote ranch, an earthquake hits and traps the lead and his relative under the vehicle. If that wasn’t enough, monstrous worm-like creatures begin rising from open fissures in the group. Wounded and trapped, the hero must survive an onslaught and avoid becoming a meal for the creatures. There are very few notices available for the picture. A few that have popped up online have come from genre movie fans. They have suggested that the movie is set almost entirely within one room and plays like a low-budget knock-off of the entertaining 1990 film Tremors. Still, the same people state that the creature effects are decent and that it delivers a few laughs for monster movie enthusiasts. The cast includes Joseph Almani, Karlee Eldridge and Michael Pare.
WATCHER – This independent chiller follows a young American woman who moves to Bucharest, Hungary with her husband. They settle in a nice apartment, but the lady becomes concerned when she sees a silhouetted figure watching her from an apartment across the street. With a serial killer terrorizing the neighborhood, the protagonist experiences paranoia and terror as her concerns are ignored by her spouse. Critics were chilled to the bone by this title. A handful stated that after a strong beginning, the movie’s ending was bland and disappointing. However, the consensus was that the film was remarkably stylish and effective at developing a sense of dread. They also complimented the lead performance and thought the movie effectively captured the frustration of a woman having her claims dismissed by others. It stars Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman and Burn Gorman.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There are plenty of options for anyone looking to catch up with an older title (particularly if one appreciates horror pictures). Criterion is updating their release of Night of the Living Dead (1968) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It contains an even newer and sharper transfer of the movie alongside all of the previously released extras. If you haven’t yet picked up this iconic zombie classic, this seems like the version to own.
Every so often, Mill Creek Entertainment will release Blu-rays of films from the 70s, 80s and 90s with box art imitating a VHS cover that would have been available for rental when it was originally released on tape. This week, all of their new titles have this packaging. First, the distributor is putting out The Cure (1995), a well-regarded drama about an 11-year-old loner who befriends another child diagnosed with AIDS. He vows to help find a cure for his friend.
The Paper (1994) is also arriving as part of the line. This feature from director Ron Howard (Willow, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, Rush) follows a day in the life of a New York City tabloid editor as he endlessly juggling family and professional responsibilities. Things get even crazier when a major story comes across his desk. The cast includes Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Marissa Tomei, Randy Quaid, Jason Robards, Jason Alexander and Catherine O’Hara.
If you enjoy action pictures, The Replacement Killers (1998) is appearing on Blu-ray. This effort marked Hong Kong action hero Chow Yun-Fat’s first US film project. He plays a hitman trying to free himself from the control of a mob boss and escape to China. Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker, Kenneth Tsang, Jurgen Prochnow and Danny Trejo co-star.
And those who appreciate drama can pick up a Blu-ray of the Anthony Hopkins/Debra Winger drama Shadowlands (1993). This film is based on a true story and tells the unexpected love affair between conservative author C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) and free-spirited poet Joy Gresham.
Paramount is rereleasing the comedy classic Airplane! (1980) on Blu-ray. For those who haven’t seen it, this is one of the best comedies of its day and inspired dozens of features in the same style that contain rapid-fire slapstick jokes and references. This particular effort satirized disaster films and other popular trends of the era. The movie went out of print, but can now be purchased once again in high definition.
Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me if You Can (2002) with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks is coming out in a special “Limited Edition” Steelbook, which contains a Blu-ray and digital copy of the movie inside a hard case. This excellent comedy/drama tells the true story of a famous con man and the FBI agent who attempted to hunt him down.
Just in time for Halloween, the studio is also rereleasing the horror flick The Last Exorcism Part II (2016) on Blu-ray. Additionally, you can purchase a 25th anniversary 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the popular sequel, Scream 2 (1997). It picks up where the 1996 original left off with lead Sidney Prescott heading off to college and dealing with a new killer targeting her.
Shout! Factory are also upgrading some of their familiar titles. Army of Darkness (1992) with Bruce Campbell facing an undead medieval army is being presented as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Collector’s Edition. If you aren’t interested in the Blu-ray, you can also purchase a 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition Steelbook.
As if that wasn’t enough, the distributor is releasing The Halloween 4K Collection: 1995 – 2002, which contains the first 8 films in the series. This is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set containing updated transfers of the movies with improved and superior picture quality to anything that has come before.
And on a different note, Bad Santa 2 (2016) is arriving on Blu-ray through the company. The original Bad Santa from 2003 is an excellent comedy with Billy Bob Thronton as an alcoholic thief with a horrible personality who takes a job as a department store Santa at a business that he plans on robbing. This follow-up came many years later and follows the character on a new scheme to rob a charity on Christmas Eve. It wasn’t nearly as well-received as the first movie, but those who want both pictures can now pick up the sequel in high definition. You’ll get the theatrical and unrated cuts, plus featurettes, a pilot for an animated series based on the flick, a gag reel, an alternate opening, deleted scenes and trailers.
Finally, Sony is also upgrading some of their catalog titles. The stylish chiller Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) with Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder and Anthony Hopkins is getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Those who purchase the film can expect the dazzling visuals to look even better on this release. You can pick up either a regular edition or a Steelbook edition (the only difference is the packaging). One assumes all bonuses from previous discs will be included.
Their other title is the effective horror/comedy Fright Night (1995). This is also a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. For those who haven’t seen it, the movie follows a teenager who suspects that a vampire has moved in next door to him. After his girlfriend is targeted by the bloodsucker, the youngster decides to contact his favorite late-night horror show host and convince the aged actor to help him fight the threat. For genre fans, this picture is a winner, with plenty of laughs and chills and stands as one of the better vampire titles of its era (there eventually was a 2011 remake, but that effort missed the mark). You’ll get a vastly improved picture along with all of the previously released extras from earlier editions.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here are some new titles for kids!
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Big Rig to the Rescue! (Nickelodeon) DVD
Blue’s Clues & You! Rainbow Puppy Adventures (Nickelodeon) DVD
DC League of Super-Pets (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray or DVD
The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 2 (2021 series) (Nickelodeon) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And here are all of the week’s TV-themed releases.
Bel-Air: Season 1 (Universal) Blu-ray
Call the Midwife: Season 11 (BBC) DVD
Dexter: The Complete Series and Dexter: The New Blood (Paramount) Blu-ray
Hallmark 2-Movie Christmas Collection: The Christmas Promise & Christmas for Keeps (Hallmark) DVD
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday & Sister Swap: Christmas in the City (Hallmark) DVD
Melrose Place: The Complete Series (Paramount) DVD
Mr. Mayor: The Complete Series (Universal) Blu-ray
The Other One: Series 2 (Acorn) DVD
Picard: Season 2 (Paramount) Blu-ray or DVD
The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 2 (2021 series) (Nickelodeon) DVD
Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (Showtime) Blu-ray
Walker: Season 2 (Paramount) DVD
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: Season 1 (HBO) Blu-ray