Hello and welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. It’s a holiday week, which means that there isn’t much in the way of new releases. However, there are a few eccentric efforts coming your way, as well as some excellent upgrades of some fine older films. 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!
20,000 SPECIES OF BEES – This Spanish feature follows an 8-year-old girl who has self-esteem issues and feels different from others. She is sent for a time to live with extended family members, one of whom is a beekeeper. As the weeks pass and the youngster becomes more involved with caring for insects and learning about them, she begins to grow bolder and more confident. This picture won accolades at festival showings in 2023 and is now arriving in this part of the world on disc. Reaction was very positive. A few didn’t appreciate the naturalistic approach to the story, finding the movie slow and lacking drama. However, the vast majority stated that this was a sensitive and engagingly intimate portrait of a young person trying to find their true self with an authentic approach. It stars Sofia Otero, Patricia Lopez Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain and Itziar Lazkano.
RED ROOMS – A young woman preoccupied with a serial killer case learns that she can watch his trial online. As the hearings progress and the lead learns that she bears an eerie similarity to one of the victims, she becomes even more engrossed. The prosecutors reveal that a tape of this victim’s slaying has yet to be found, and the viewer decides to try and locate it herself. Reality and morbid fantasies begin to intertwine, leaving the character’s sanity in question. This foreign-language Canadian feature impressed critics. A tiny contingent became tired trying to differentiate between reality and imagination, eventually losing interest. Everyone else called the movie incredibly intense and said it was extremely polished, leaving them with a lot to consider regarding the negative psychological impact of online obsessions. The cast includes Juliette Gariepy, Laurie Babin, Elisabeth Locas and Maxwell McCabe-Lokos.
SALOUM – Some time ago, the streaming service Shudder picked up the rights to this 2021 Senegalese/French crime/horror movie. It is now finally arriving on Blu-ray. A trio of African mercenaries are hired to find a Mexican drug lord in Senegal. They attempt to lie low in a remote area, but are identified by a woman. As more is revealed about the men, tensions arise and strange supernatural creatures begin hunting them down. The press enjoyed the picture. One or two suggested that the film was marred by its low-budget and poor visual effects. But the general consensus was that this slow-burn chiller was consistently surprising and unique, with some genuinely scary moments that were difficult to forget. It features Yann Gael, Evelyne Ily Juhen, Roger Sallah and Mentor Ba.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
As mentioned, there is plenty to choose from as far as older titles go. AGFA is presenting a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of the famously cheesy Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964), along with Other Holiday Hallucinations (this version doesn’t come with a slipcover). If you haven’t seen it, Martians kidnap Santa, and a pair of kids (including a young Pia Zadora) step up to try and rescue the bearded figure. The disc includes an 88-minute “Roadshow” version of the movie, a 60-minute compilation of trailers and snipes from the movie, numerous eccentric Christmas shorts and an insert with writing on the movie.
Big World Pictures is releasing The Owners (2019) aka Vlastnici on Blu-ray. It’s a dark comedy from the Czech Republic about a lady trying, and mostly failing, to get other tenants in her building to resolve some housing issues before it causes them all harm. The disc contains trailers for other titles from the distributor.
Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) is arriving on Blu-ray from Dark Star Pictures. Based on the 1936 outrageous anti-drug cult classic Reefer Madness, this update is presented like a documentary and tells the story with musical numbers. The cast includes Alan Cumming, Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell and Steven Weber. It comes with trailers.
Film Movement is putting out Takeshi Kitano Double Play, a two-movie Blu-ray set containing Violent Cop (1989) and Boiling Point (1990). Both discs arrive with featurettes on the films and trailers.
The “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of Bent (1997). This NC-17 drama details the lives of gay men living under Nazi rule. In order to survive, some are forced to lie and later deal with the reckoning of their decisions. This picture features Clive Owen, Mick Jagger, Ian McKellan, Jude Law and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The disc also comes with cast and crew videos, a Mick Jagger video, behind-the-scenes footage and a new essay written on the movie.
Kino is delivering the Arthur Dong Collection Blu-ray box set. It contains features and shorts from the movie-maker (with either Asian-American stories of LGBTQ tales) that include Sewing Woman (1962), Forbidden City, U.S.A. (1989), Hollywood Chinese (2007), The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor (2015), Coming Out Under Fire (1994), Out Rage ’69 (1995; episode 1 of a 4-part series entitled The Question of Equality), Licensed to Kill (1997) and Family Fundamentals (2002). Bonuses include other projects by the moviemaker, numerous interviews with Dong, additional shorts, outtakes and trailers.
The action picture Cherry 2000 (1987) is receiving a Special Edition Blu-ray with a 4K picture restoration. The story involves a man whose android wife breaks down. The lead has to travel into the wasteland to find replacement parts, but ends up falling for the bounty hunter he hires to help him. Melanie Griffith plays the hired gun. You’ll also get a film historian commentary, a Steve De Jarnatt director commentary, short films writer or directed by the moviemaker, audio readings of two award-winning stories by De Jarnatt, trailers, a feature length making-of documentary on the film, crew interviews, storyboards, a tribute to the movie, archival making-of featurettes, a 2015 interview with Tim Thomerson, deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, and much more.
Hatari (1962) with John Wayne is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo set or as a standalone Blu-ray. Wayne plays a man who traps animals in Africa and sells them to zoos. His ideals are changed after meeting a wildlife photographer. The original 35mm camera negative was given a 4K scan for this release. It also comes with a film historian commentary and trailer.
The Richard Gere/Andy Garcia thriller Internal Affairs (2990) is also appearing on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray or as a Blu-ray only release. It involves two detectives investigating a cop who might have shady dealings. Besides the picture upgrade taken from the 35mm original camera negative, there is a film critic commentary, numerous lengthy archival cast and crew interviews, extended and deleted scenes, an alternative ending and trailer.
The Killer Is Loose (1956) with Joseph Cotten is receiving a “Special Edition” Blu-ray as well. It’s about a crazed bank robber who breaks out of prison intending to murder the detective who accidentally killed the criminal’s wife during the arrest. The disc includes a film historian commentary and a trailer.
This writer is thrilled to see that the underrated drama Miracle Mile (1988) is also getting a 4K restoration and “Special Edition” Blu-ray. This gem is about a young man who meets the girl of his dreams. They make a date, but he misses it. While racing to the diner to try and find her, he picks up a ringing phone. The voice on the other end tells him that nuclear war is about to begin. The protagonist has to figure out if what he’s hearing is the truth and where to find his new love. The original camera negative was given a 16-bit restoration for this release, all approved by director Steve De Jarnatt. There is a new film historian commentary, a director commentary, another track with De Jarnatt and the crew, as well as short films directed by or written by the moviemaker. You’ll also get a 2015 supporting cast reunion featurette, interviews with stars Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham, deleted scenes, outtakes and bloopers, an alternate ending and many more extras. Sounds incredible!
Monte Walsh (1990) is also receiving a “Special Edition” Blu-ray. This western with Lee Marvin arrives with a film historian audio commentary track and a trailer.
The TV-movie Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023) is also appearing on the format. The lead crime investigator steps out of retirement to help his stepdaughter after her fiancé is murdered. It comes with TV spots.
If you like martial arts movies starring Sho Kosugi, this is your week. Pray for Death (1985) is arriving on Blu-ray. You’ll get the unrated and R-rated versions of the movie on separate discs, along with a film historian commentary, lengthy interview with Kosugi and a trailer. Rage of Honor (1987) appears on Blu-ray with a movie expert commentary, another interview with the star, a video essay on the film, a talk with the score composer and a trailer.
Snake Eyes (1998) with Nicolas Cage is being given a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo set, as well as a Blu-ray only release. The actor plays a somewhat shady cop who unearths a conspiracy at a boxing match in Atlantic City. He tries to do the right thing when an innocent woman’s life is put at risk over the following few hours. This is a visually dazzling effort from Brian De Palma (The Untouchables. Carlito’s Way, Mission: Impossible and many more) that’s a lot of fun. The only unfortunate aspect is that the climax of the film (involving a tidal wave crashing through the casino and the leads having to fight for survival) was cut by the studio before the movie was completed, resulting in an abrupt close for the picture. It would be fantastic if one day that footage could be found, finished and restored (it’s highly unlikely that’ll ever happen, though). In the meantime, this release contains a vastly improved picture, a film historian commentary and trailer.
If you like horror, the Kino Cult line is presenting a Blu-ray of The Beast Within (1982). It’s about a teen who learns that his father may be a swamp monster. He suddenly begins to transform and target locals. The disc comes with two director commentary tracks, a screenwriter commentary, a making-of, a storyboarding featurette, as well as promo materials.
Blood and Lace (1971) follows a teen who loses her parents and must fight off her guardians/tormentors at an orphanage. This Blu-ray arrives with a film expert audio track, alternate opening titles and a trailer.
The period drama The Lords of Flatbush (1974) is arriving on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures. It marked early appearances by Sylvester Stallone, Henry Winkler and Perry King as a rebellious gang in 1950s Brooklyn.
The Australian satire Hercules Returns (1993) is being released on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment. It follows the struggling owner of a movie theater chain who is forced to make changes and redub a picture in order to draw in audiences. This disc contains the 2023 restoration of the movie from the original 35mm materials. You’ll also receive a cast and crew commentary track, the full dub of the movie-within-the-movie, a Hercules rap film clip, multiple trailers and more.
Finally, Warner Archive is delivering Blu-rays of the Fred Williamson crime picture Black Eye (1974), the Candace Bergen/Giancarlo Giannini romance/drama A Night Full of Rain (1978) and the period political drama The Spanish Main (1945).
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
It’s a quiet week for children’s fare, but hopefully more releases will appear in the next edition.
ON THE TUBE!
And here are this week’s TV-themed releases.
Adult Swim Yule Log (2022 made-for-cable movie) (Dekanalog) Blu-ray
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023) (Kino) Blu-ray
VOCES: American Historia – The Untold History of Latinos (PBS) DVD
Warehouse 13: Season 1 (Universal) Blu-ray
Warehouse 13: Season 2 (Universal) Blu-ray
Yellowstone: Season 5 – Part 2 (Paramount) Blu-ray