Welcome to another look at Blu-ray and DVD highlights arriving on store shelves. It’s a remarkably busy week with several high-profile features, as well as well-received independent fare. There’s certainly something of interest available for anyone looking for something new. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay away from crowds, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
ABANDONED – A woman suffering from postpartum depression decides to move to the country with her husband and infant. They pick a remote farmhouse… always a bad idea! Soon after arriving, she begins witnessing strange apparitions. Her psychological issues begin to intensify as the family starts experiencing more and more phenomena, leaving the lives of everyone, including their newborn, in grave danger. The press was not impressed by this independent horror film. A small number thought that while predictable, the lead performance was intriguing and kept them intrigued. The rest complained that the characters weren’t fully developed or relatable and that the final product wasn’t compelling or tense. It stars Emma Roberts, John Gallagher Jr., Paul Schneider and Michael Shannon.
THE AMUSEMENT PARK – This new release is actually a recently recovered “lost” film from George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Creepshow, Day of the Dead). It was commissioned by the Lutheran Society in the 1970s to inform viewers about the poor treatment of the elderly, but the final product was considered too disturbing to release. The hour-long effort follows an elderly gentleman who visits a nightmarish amusement park and suffers many chilling indignities. This title was initially streamed on Shudder and is now arriving on Blu-ray. Response was almost uniformly positive. One or two commented that this picture wasn’t as strong as the filmmaker’s classics and didn’t grab them. Everyone else thought that while it wasn’t his finest work, it was a very effective commentary on how elders are treated with disrespect by the public and government. Lincoln Maazel headlines the title. Read this site’s full review of the feature here.
BLOOM UP: A SWINGER COUPLE STORY – This documentary involves a middle-aged Italian husband and wife who are pet shop owners. The pair decide to give swinging a try and a film crew follows them as they experiment with this new lifestyle. The distributor states that the movie is sex-positive and presents the material in a non-vulgar or exploitative manner. Response towards the picture was slightly more upbeat than negative. Those who disliked it thought that the director didn’t really have much to say about swinging, nor did the film offer much insight into the subjects or how they were affected by their intimate experiences with others. Still, more thought it was an honest look at relationships and how some have altered their approach in order to make them last.
CAVE RESCUE – The last year has already seen a couple of films (the documentary The Rescue and the drama Thirteen Lives) detailing the 2018 cave rescue of a young soccer team in Thailand. This is another narrative telling of the story, but one in which some of the actual individuals involved in the real events play themselves. After the group of Thai children and their coach are trapped deep in a flooding cave with water rushing in, Irish cave diver Jim Warny and an international rescue team do all they can to save the individuals before they drown. There haven’t been a great deal of reviews for this Thai production and the ones that have appeared online are mostly negative. These notices stress that the screenplay tries to wedge in too many characters and events into a very brief running time. As such, they claim the film is choppy, noting that the other titles on the same subject are much stronger. Besides Jim Warny, it also features Erik Brown, Saman Gunan, Eoin O’Brien and Mikko Paasi.
COSTA BRAVA, LEBANON – A family from Beirut attempts to escape civil unrest and their polluted hometown by going off the grid and building their own home in the mountains. Things go remarkably well until the government arrives and starts constructing a garbage landfill next door. With everything they wanted to give up suddenly on their doorstep again, tensions arise as they try to figure out their next move. This Lebanese foreign-language drama received praise at film festivals, as well as excellent reviews. There were only a couple of bad write-ups critiquing the character development and calling the final product cold. Everyone else found it to be a smart and engaging effort effectively dealing with how difficult it can be to achieve real change. They also wrote that it managed to combine family drama with politics in an interesting manner. Nadine Labaki, Saleh Bakri and Yumna Marwan headline the film.
ELVIS – The life of legendary rock and roll singer Elvis Presley is chronicled in this biopic from director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby). While this version does detail many important moments from his life, it focuses primarily on the singer’s unusual relationship with manager Col. Tom Parker. In fact, the movie attempts to show how the performer was manipulated and controlled by his friend, which ultimately led to his downfall. The movie received more positive write-ups than negative ones. Roughly one quarter thought that the flamboyant visual style overshadowed the actual story, leaving the characters underdeveloped and adding a layer of phoniness to the proceedings. However, the majority were dazzled, describing the movie as an enjoyable spectacle about a larger-than-life musician. They also admired the lead performance, who they believed was a perfect embodiment of Elvis. It stars Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh and Olivia DeJonge. Read this reviewer’s take on the movie here.
THE FORGIVEN – A wealthy English couple head out to Morocco to attend the lavish birthday party of a friend. After getting lost, they accidentally hit and kill a teenager. Fearing the consequences, the pair continue to the event with the deceased and try to cover their tracks. But the next day, the youngster’s father arrives and demands the husband and wife return the body and help him bury his son. The couple agree, but begin to fear the family member will seek revenge on them. The general consensus was positive for this feature. One-third of write-ups did comment that the leads were unlikable and that the message was hammed home with the subtlety of a blunt object. But overall, reviewers seemed to be impressed that the characters were selfish and nasty. They thought it created a sense of anxiety and unpredictability. Reviewers also thought that the cast was excellent. The cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain, Matt Smith, Ismael Kanater, Caleb Landry Jones and Abby Lee.
HOLD YOUR FIRE – Back in 1973, four young African-Americans were cornered by the NYPD for stealing guns they needed for the purpose of self-defense. In a state of panic, the thieves took hostages. At the time, the policy of the police force was to deliver an ultimatum and then use deadly force. This documentary tells the story of the visionary police psychologist who attempted to convince his superiors to break with tradition and allow him to talk and negotiate with the men. Using never-before-seen film footage and interviews with survivors, viewers get a fuller picture of what transpired and the effects it had on law enforcement. Notices were excellent for the movie. Only one or two panned the movie, saying it was overlong and that the story didn’t necessitate 93 minutes of screentime. Everyone else praised it as being a layered, revealing and complicated look at issues within law enforcement.
KARMALINK – This independent co-production between the US and Cambodia is a science-fiction tale set in a futuristic Phnom Penh. In this world, the rich are forcing the eviction of average citizens. One of those targeted has a vision and becomes convinced he can save his community by finding a unique Buddhist statue. He and his best friend seek out the artwork, but find themselves being hunted in the process. Members of the press who saw the movie were very impressed. A couple of them did criticize the work of the inexperienced actors as being weak and found the story jumbled and confusing. Still, the majority thought the movie was very original and full of exciting ideas. They called it a stylish effort that would impress anyone looking for an original science-fiction film. Srey Leak Chhith, Leng Heng Prak and Sahajak Boonthanakit headline the movie.
LIGHTYEAR – The latest from Pixar and Disney is an animated spin-off of the Toy Story series. It is actually a fictional movie that supposedly inspired the creation of the “Buzz Lightyear” toy (featured in the above franchise). While traveling across the universe, Buzz Lightyear and his crew are stranded on an alien planet and lose their warp drive. After attempting to relaunch himself through space and losing time in the process, he returns to find that an enemy has taken control of the planet. The protagonist teams up with an inexperienced crew to try and stop the sinister force. Overall, critics were complementary about the movie. About one-quarter of reviewers didn’t appreciate the darker and more serious tone of this entry, calling it dry and lacking in thrills. The rest liked the different approach. They stated that the movie was visually spectacular and soulful as it sensitively addressed themes of loss and regret. The voice cast includes Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, James Brolin and Uzo Aduba. Click the link to read a full review of the movie.
SNIPER: THE WHITE RAVEN – In recent weeks, several Ukrainian films dealing with the conflict between themselves and Russia have found distribution. Set in Donbas during the 2014 invasion by Russia, this story involves a Ukrainian physics teacher who suffers a horrible personal tragedy. He vows to fight back, joins the military and becomes a sniper for his home country. The lead then sets his sights on his enemy’s best marksman, hoping to turn the tide and help his fighters reclaim their land. This foreign-language effort was well-received. One or two called the story predictable and complained that it focused more on the transformation of the lead character than battle scenes. But the consensus was that the movie was an interesting, suspenseful and relevant character study that helped explain the conflict and suffering of the Ukrainian people. It features Aldoshyn Pavlo and Maryna Koshkina.
TIN CAN – This horror/science-fiction hybrid begins with a woman awakening in a cold and dark metal chamber. Imprisoned, viewers learn that the lead was a scientist nearing completion on a cure for a deadly plague. Now trapped, she attempts to figure out how and why she came to be placed in the box… and perhaps most importantly, how to escape. Write-ups for this little independent chiller from Canada were surprisingly strong. A small number complained that while starting well, the movie didn’t tie up its loose ends and left them frustrated. Everyone else thought the feature was incredibly atmospheric and memorably grim. They were impressed with the cast and make-up effects as well, suggesting the title reminded them of early works by countryman David Cronenberg (The Brood, Videodrome, The Fly). It stars Anna Hopkins, Simon Mutabazi and Michael Ironside.
THE WATER OF LIFE: A WHISKEY FILM – If you enjoy a drink now and again, you might be interested in this crowdfunded documentary. It’s about the history and evolution of the famous beverage, which ultimately focuses on the recent rise in popularity of single-malt whiskey. A film crew interviews various modern-day craftsmen, chemists and renegades who have helped develop the drink and transformed the industry. They also travel to the island of Islay, Scotland, where some of the world’s best whiskey is produced. There aren’t a lot of reviews available for this title yet and it appears to be debuting on disc. However, a few have popped up online and that have been favorable. The upbeat notices suggest that the film is full of charming and charismatic characters who do a great deal to explain the history of whiskey and its development. One can also expect some good drinking recommendations.
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING – Based on the bestselling novel by Delia Owens, this period drama/mystery involves a young woman in North Carolina who is abandoned by her family and decides to raise herself in the marshes outside of town. Despite isolating herself, she manages to find two suitors vying for her affection. So, when one of the men with ties to the reclusive lady is discovered dead, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. Unfortunately, this effort wasn’t very well received by the press. A small number described it as a well-shot, entertaining and slick adaptation of the novel with solid performances. Alas, the majority stated the movie wasn’t nearly as engrossing as the book, calling it overly glossy, corny and uninvolving. They also said that it failed to deal with the story’s themes of poverty and abuse in a compelling manner. Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Garret Dillahunt, Michael Hyatt and David Strathairn headline the movie.
WIRE ROOM – The latest direct-to-disc and streaming action film coming your way is this tale set in a Homeland Security command center. At this site, agents listen in and monitor the country’s most dangerous criminals. A new recruit is tasked with monitoring a cartel member and arms smuggler providing the bureau with information. After sinister forces attack the smuggler and the wire room itself, the lead decides to break protocol and contacts the individual. The two must help each other survive the onslaught. So far, critics have uniformly panned the movie. They all note that the action scenes are flat and unexciting and that there is nothing about the picture that will resonate with viewers after the credits roll. The cast includes Kevin Dillon, Bruce Willis, Oliver Trevana and Texas Battle.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
And there are just as many older features receiving the high-definition treatment. First off, this writer is impressed to see Massacre at Central High (1976) arriving on Blu-ray from Synapse Films. This exploitation flick about a violent revolution within a California school became a cult sensation after “New York Times” critic Vincent Canby saw and praised the feature. He called it a sharp and edgy political and social metaphor. Many agreed, but the film fell out-of-print and has been hard to find for some time. Synapse have spent a great deal of time remastering and restoring the film for Blu-ray. The disc arrives with a lengthy documentary on the production featuring interviews with crew and cast members (including Andrew Stevens, Derrel Maury, Robert Carradine and many more). Additionally, it comes with a commentary track featuring interviews with those who appeared in the picture, as well as another audio track containing an interview with director Rene Daalder. You’ll also get all sorts of publicity materials like trailers, TV and radio spots, as well as still for the film. This Blu-ray is a real winner. Read all about Blu-ray right here! Click the link!
Code Red is presenting the Chuck Connors/Ken Foree action picture Terror Squad (1988) on Blu-ray. It follows a group of small-town Indiana locals taking on terrorists who want to take control of a nuclear power plant. The movie has been given a 2K restoration and features a trailer and interview with co-star Kavi Rez.
Cohen Media Group is putting out a Blu-ray of the French arthouse feature Entre Nous (1983). This is a WWII drama with Isabelle Huppert about a Jewish refugee living in occupied France. The distributor is presenting a 4K restoration of the movie and is including a 40-minute interview with the director.
Take Out (2004) is a very well-regarded drama about an illegal Chinese immigrant with bills piling up who is also trying to deal with a massive smuggling debt. The film was co-directed by Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project) and Shih-Ching Tsou (who now acts as producer for Baker). Criterion is releasing the Blu-ray, which contains a 4K restoration of the movie, alongside a commentary with Baker, Tsou and lead actor Charles Jang. Extras also include new cast and crew interviews, a program about the making of the film, deleted scenes, screen tests and a trailer.
Drafthouse is reissuing a couple of Blu-rays. The first is for the underrated French romantic/drama Mood Indigo (2013) by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). It’s a bittersweet effort, but one that is engaging and a visual wonder from beginning to end. This disc contains two cuts of the film. The second Blu-ray reissue title is the kinky Japanese effort, R100 (2013) which follows a man being tormented by dominatrices.
Kino is also delivering some impressive films on Blu-ray. They include the Arthur Kennedy/Peggy Dow wartime drama, Bright Victory (1951). This film is being given a 2K restoration and comes with a movie critic commentary and trailers.
If you’re looking for a comedy, you can pick up The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave (2000) on Blu-ray. This character appeared on the Canadian sketch comedy TV-series Bizarre (which ran from 1979 to 1986) and follows the ill-advised stunts of an Evel Knievel-style daredevil. Bonuses include a commentary track with the director.
Speaking of Canada, I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987) is an award-winning story told with video-confessions of a shy woman and art gallery employee who is impressed by and falls in love with a painter. She soon discovers that behind closed doors, her girlfriend isn’t exactly the person she expected. The movie has been given a 4K restoration for Blu-ray and comes with a director commentary and Q&A (the filmmaker also provides an introduction to the film), as well as a visual essay on the feature.
Kamikaze Hearts (1986) is an American drama about two lesbian adult film actors who try to maintain their relationship while working in the sex industry. The disc includes a director and cast commentary, a making-of documentary, a short by the filmmaker and a trailer.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the WII drama So Proudly We Hail (1943) starring Claudette Colbert and Veronica Lake. It comes with a 2K restoration of the movie, a film historian commentary and a trailer.
Kino is also presenting the rom-com Some Girls (1988) on Blu-ray. This effort stars Patrick Dempsey as a college student invited by his sweetheart (played by Jennifer Connelly) to stay with her family over the Christmas holiday. Her parents and sisters end up being much quirkier than anticipated. It comes with a trailer and a director commentary, as well as a featurette with the filmmaker answering more questions about the movie.
Additionally, the distributor is putting out a Blu-ray of the wild, all-star comedy Tropic Thunder (2008) remastered in 4K. The movie stars Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Steve Coogan, Tom Cruise and features loads of cameos. It’s about a group of actors shooting a war movie who end up being forced into becoming soldiers. You’ll get both the theatrical and director’s cuts as well as hours of bonus features. Readers should note that an actual 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of the picture will also be released by Kino next month.
MVD Visual is debuting the comedy Canadian Bacon (1995) in high definition. This marked the first and only narrative feature from documentarian Michael Moore (Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11). The story involves a lowly rated US President who decides to get his poll numbers up by invading Canada. It has an all-star cast including John Candy, Alan Alda, Rhea Perlman, Rip Torn, Jim Belushi and many more. The disc only comes with a trailer, but this is the only time it has ever come out on Blu-ray, so pick it up while you can.
Paramount is delivering The Addams Family (1991) in a special 4K Ultra HD Steelbook package. It appears that no Blu-ray is included in this release. Thankfully, the 35th Anniversary edition of the Michael Douglas/Glenn Close thriller Fatal Attraction (1987) is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set with improved picture quality on both discs. And you can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD edition of the slasher classic, Friday the 13th (1980). As with the first title mentioned in this paragraph, the studio has chosen not to include a Blu-ray for this horror release.
Looking for more? Scorpion is releasing a trio of interesting Blu-rays this week. Land of Doom (1986) is a post-apocalyptic action B-movie with Deborah Rennard. You can also pick up the high-profile futuristic sports feature Rollerball (1975) with James Caan. It follows an athlete trying to survive competing in a brutal sport. This Blu-ray is a Special Edition and looks like a reissue, so you might be wise to visit the Scorpion site in order to see what the exact bonus features are.
And Voyage into Space (1970) is also arriving on Blu-ray from the distributor. This Japanese effort is actually four episodes of the TV series Johnny Sokko that were edited into a feature movie for international audiences. The story is about a kid fighting enormous monsters with his giant flying robot. Apparently, it comes with some vintage film trailers.
Not to be outdone, Shout! Factory is premiering the live-action/animation hybrid Cool World (1992) on Blu-ray. Directed by Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat, American Pop), the story follows a comic strip vamp who tries to woo her cartoonist creator so that she can cross over into the real world. It stars Gabriel Byrne, Kim Basinger and a young Brad Pitt. This “Collector’s Edition” features a 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, a retrospective featurette on the movie with Basinger, Bakshi and more, as well as some trailers.
The horror classic The Fog (1980) is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It includes new and improved image quality and all previously-released extras. They also have a Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of the Oscar-winning Viet Nam-set war drama, Platoon (1986).
Sony is putting out the Sandra Bullock drama 28 Days (2000) on Blu-ray, as well as the thriller Caught (1996) with Edward James Olmos and Maria Conchita Alonso. You can also pick up the British comedy, A Weekend with Lulu (1961), in high definition.
But for this writer, the highlight of the week from Sony is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of the comedy, Real Genius (1985). This hilarious film follows a group of students who end up discovering that their science project is being stolen by their professor to be used as a deadly weapon for the US government. The brainy, eccentric kids do their best to make sure that their nasty instructor doesn’t succeed. It’s a very, very funny movie starring a young Val Kilmer that features tons of memorable lines and funny moments. Now it has finally been given the upgrade it deserves. Not only has the image quality been improved, but the set includes the famous “balloon chair” deleted scene and the TV version of the film with alternate takes. A director commentary from Martha Coolidge (Valley Girl, Rambling Rose) is also included. I’m already sold on this release!
And there’s more. The shot-on-video B-movie Slaughter Day (1991) is arriving on Blu-ray from Visual Vengeance. Like other titles from this distributor, it will be chock full of bonus features. So, if you like the flick this is certainly the edition to own.
The Japanese chiller Evil Dead Trap 2: Hideki (1992) is arriving on Blu-ray from Unearthed Films.
Additionally, Universal Pictures is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of the hysterical comedy Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983). You can also pick up the Pitch Perfect Trilogy 10th Anniversary “Limited Edition” Blu-ray Gift Set. This is a Target exclusive and can only be purchased at the store.
Finally, you can also pick up Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) on Blu-ray through Warner Archive.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here are all the week’s kid-friendly releases.
Clifford the Big Red Dog/Paw Patrol: The Movie 2-Movie Collection (Paramount) DVD
Paw Patrol: Cat Pack Rescues (Nickelodeon) DVD
PBS Kids! Secret Superheroes (PBS Kids!) DVD
Voyage into Space (1970) (Scorpion) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
Below is a list of this edition’s TV-themed titles.
Cobra Kai: Season 4 (Sony) DVD
Eli Roth’s History of Horror: Season 3 (RLJ Entertainment) Blu-ray
Father Brown: Season 9 (BBC) DVD
Flowers in the Attic: The Origin (Lifetime) DVD
The Great American Muslim Road Trip (PBS) DVD
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: Where Your Heart Belongs & Warming Up to You (Hallmark) DVD
Ken Burns Presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness (PBS) Blu-ray
London Kills: Series 3 (Acorn) DVD
Lucifer: The 6th and Final Season (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
Magnum P.I.: Season 4 (Paramount) DVD
Masterpiece Mystery!: Guilt: Season 2 (PBS) DVD
Paw Patrol: Cat Pack Rescues (Nickelodeon) DVD
The Pursuit of Love (BBC Miniseries) DVD
Seal Team: Season 5 (Paramount) DVD
Sister Boniface Mysteries: Season 1 (BBC) DVD