Welcome to another look at some of the latest highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. There are a couple of big hits in this edition, as well as some interesting independents. 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!
ALIEN: ROMULUS – The latest feature in the long-running Alien franchise takes place between the 1979 original and its 1986 sequel. It’s set on a poor colony planet that a group of young people are hoping to leave. When they learn that an abandoned spacecraft is passing by the planetary rings above, they decide to raid it for parts that will help them travel to another world. But after arriving, they discover a deadly menace. This feature was a box office hit and fared well with critics. About one-fifth of them did complain that the series no longer offered any surprises or scares. However, the vast majority thought this effort was atmospheric, featured several strong performances and offered new and horrifying twists and wrinkles to the formula. The movie will be available as a 4k Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, and a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu. To read a full review of the movie, click here.
BLACK EYED SUSAN – A man struggling to find a job agrees to fill in for his best friend at a tech firm after a tragedy occurs. He learns that the company’s latest product is Susan, a BDSM sex-doll with AI technology. The lead begins interacting with it and finds himself being pushed into unusual acts. He soon begins to wonder if the doll might have been what caused his friend’s accident and if he might be another victim. This independent science-fiction thriller was generally liked by the press. In fact, as of right now, all who have seen the picture have given it a thumbs up. They called it a fascinatingly grim, boundary-pushing and disturbing effort. Several noted that, in some respects, it reminded them of the recent film Ex-Machina, provoking a lot of questions that stayed with them after the film ended. The cast includes Damian Maffei, Kate Kiddo and Scott Fowler.
THE DEAD DON’T HURT – Set in the 1860s on the Western frontier, this tale involves a woman who meets a Danish immigrant in California. She agrees to start a new life with him in Nevada. The Civil War breaks out and the man is forced to leave and fight. His partner struggles to keep their farm and must deal with a corrupt lawyer, the man’s business partner and his violent, amorous son. When the immigrant finally returns home, the couple must deal with these troubles and changes in their relationship. This picture was also well-liked by reviewers. A handful did complain about the time jumps and thought the drama may have worked better with a linear narrative. But everyone else was impressed by the performances and stated that this effort was a striking character piece with a few unexpectedly modern touches that impressed them. Vicky Krieps, Viggo Mortensen (who also wrote and directed), Solly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, Colin Morgan and Danny Huston headline the film.
THE FORGE – A teen just out of high school spends his days playing video games, much to the chagrin of his mother. Frustrated by his lack of ambition, the parent threatens to kick him out of the house unless he begins applying for jobs. He fills out an application at a fitness club and is approached by a man who turns out to be the company president. The kid doesn’t want to talk, but the figure hands him a card and asks him questions to provoke and inspire the youngster. This is a faith-based drama, so you probably already guessed what many of the questions will be about. The movie received more positive write-ups than negative ones. About one-third commented that the film didn’t feature much conflict (besides berating video games) and came across as preachy and tiring. Yet slightly more suggested that the characters were well-written and the movie would appeal to its target demographic. It features Cameron Arnett, Priscilla Shirer, Aspen Kennedy and Karen Abercrombie.
NEVER LET GO – In this chiller, a woman lives with her two sons in a remote house in the woods. She tells them that the world has essentially ended and that the youngsters need to stay together and attach themselves together with a rope whenever they leave their home. After years of living on the fringes, one of the boys asks if the parent is crazy. They decide to break the rules and potentially put the family in danger. Reaction towards this film was slightly more positive than negative. Close to half wrote that after an engrossing set-up, the movie fell prey to genre tropes and didn’t offer enough chills or surprises. Slightly more thought that the lead performance and atmospheric visuals helped the movie keep viewers guessing and deliver a number of jots along the way. It stars Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins and William Catlett.
RIPPY – Here’s a new take on the zombie picture. This Australian effort involves a new sheriff trying to prove herself on the job. She must deal with an eccentric uncle and suddenly investigates a series of brutal slayings in her remote community. Victims are torn apart and no one can figure out what’s responsible, until she discovers that… the culprit is a hungry, zombified kangaroo. The protagonist must find a way to stop the beast before it kills everyone. Only a few North American critics have seen it, and they were split about the movie. One did call the film entertaining and complemented some of the performances, saying they provided plenty of laughs and gore. But slightly more didn’t think the humor was biting and called the final effort sadly lacking. If you decide to give it a shot, it can be purchased in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook or as a standalone Blu-ray. The film features Michael Biehn, Tess Haubrich, Angie Milliken and Aaron Pedersen.
SCALA!!! OR, THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE RISE AND FALL OF THE WORLD’S WILDEST CINEMA AND HOW IT INFLUENCED A MIXED-UP GENERATION OF WEIRDOS AND MISFITS – Whew, that was a long one! While Severin Films is known for releasing restorations of cult movies, this documentary is a new effort that chronicles the history of the legendary Scala Theater in London, England. It served largely as a repertory house playing the craziest movies from around the globe to its, well, often wild patrons. The makers talk with directors like John Waters who visited the establishment, and go through the history of the building and how it inspired a generation of artists and cinema-goers. Every critic who saw the picture enjoyed it, describing the movie as a treat to watch. They appreciated the fun stories about the craziness going on within the walls, also calling it a beautiful argument for seeing films in theaters with friends (and strangers). If you want to know more, here’s a link to a disc review.
WATCHMEN: CHAPTER II – The first part of this R-rated animated adaptation of the famous Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons limited series arrived on disc in August. This tale is set in a nasty, violence-ridden world where superheroes have been banned from fighting crime. When a famous hero is murdered and his compatriots find themselves being targeted, the group must come out of hiding and find the responsible party. The previous entry was well-received, with many calling it a largely faithful and effective retelling. Like that edition, this title is arriving direct-to-disc and on streaming platforms without early reviews. So, interested parties can either dive right in, or wait for notices to begin appearing. The title will be available either on 4K Ultra HD or on Blu-ray. The voice cast includes Matthew Rhys, Katee Sackhoff, Titus Welliver, Michael Cerveris, Phil LaMarr, Troy Baker and Adrienne Barbeau.
WHITE BIRD – This prequel to the popular 2017 drama Wonder follows the bully character from the previous movie. After being kicked out of the prep school for tormenting the last movie’s protagonist (who has Franceschetti–Klein syndrome), his Parisian grandmother arrives. She tells him a story about her past in order to change his beliefs. The lady explains that she was a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France and goes into the horrors she experienced as well as being saved by a classmate with polio. The press was generally upbeat about the feature. About one-quarter of them commented that the film was overly sentimental, blunt, and offered no surprises. Still, the majority called the visuals gorgeous, thought the filmmaker’s heart was in the right place, and stated that the cast were so good that they made up for the movie’s weaknesses. Bryce Gheissar, Gillian Anderson, Helen Mirren, Ariella Glaser and Orlando Schwerdt headline the film.
THE WILD ROBOT – As this animated adventure begins, a robot boots up to find itself stranded on a strange, unpopulated planet. The wilderness surroundings are harsh, but the character eventually finds a task for itself when it comes upon an orphaned goose. The animal is shunned by other creatures around it, so the robotic being tries to teach the baby how to thrive in this world. This animated picture was very well received by critics. A very small number didn’t think that the movie offered particularly engaging characters and were left cold by the drama on display. However, everyone else stated that this was a dazzling effort that tugged at the heartstrings and showed managed to use its robot and animal lead to detail the pains of both parenthood and growing up. This title will be available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, as well as a standalone Blu-ray. The voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Stephanie Hsu, Kit Carter, Mark Hamill, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s a busy week for older titles too. Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray box set Shawscope Volume Three which contains 14 movies. You’ll get The One-Armed Swordsman (1967), Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (1969), The New One-Armed Swordsman (1971), The Lady Hermit (1971), Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972), The 14 Amazons (1972), The Magic Blade (1976), Clans of Intrigue (1977), Jade Tiger (1977), The Sentimental Swordsman (1977), The Avenging Eagle (1978), Killer Constable (1980), Buddha’s Palm (1982) and Bastard Swordsman (1983). A CD with soundtrack music is also included. There are some big movies in this set and the site will keep you informed on extras, but you will get multiple versions of some of the titles, cast and crew interviews and other bonuses. A FULL REVIEW OF THIS EXTENSIVE SET WILL APPEAR SHORTLY.
Arrow Video is also putting out “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD discs of the gothic melodrama/chiller Crimson Peak (2015) as well as the greatly entertaining Star Wars knock-off The Last Starfighter (1984). This movie features some of the earliest computer-generated effects and is a fun story about an arcade game playing teenager who is recruited to save the universe in a space war. You’ll get all the same features included on the previous 4K disc.
Severing is delivering a Blu-ray set called Hard Wood: The Adult Features of Ed Wood. It’s pretty much exactly as it sounds. After Plan 9 from Outer Space, filmmaker Ed Wood was forced to make adult pictures in order to pay the rent. This set contains three movies and a bonus feature that he was involved with. You’ll also get over seven hours of bonus features including film historian commentaries, a great episode of the Incredibly Strange Film Show from the UK that details Wood’s life and career. There is also a featurette containing a discussion with Dana Gould and Bobcat Goldthwait about Ed Wood’s “twilight era” trailers, a talk with filmmaker Fred Olen Ray and more. Read a full review of the set by clicking this link.
Also from Severin is the recent documentary Scala!! Or, The Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the Mixed-Up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits (2023). It tells the story of the most important repertory cinema in London and the influence it had playing cult movies to a wide variety of patrons. The Blu-ray includes a director commentary and intro to the feature, extended interviews with participants, other documentaries about the Scala, outtakes, animations, a ton of shorts that played at the theater (some with commentary tracks), a video of an appearance at the cinema by Herschell Gordon Lewis (Blood Feast) and much more. Here’s that link again to a full disc review.
If you admire the work of Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Perfect Days), Criterion is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack of Paris, Texas (1984). It features a mute drifter trying to find and reconnect with his son after disappearing for four years. An archival Wenders commentary track is included, along with a 30-minute discussion with the director, cast and crew interviews, a talk with Claire Denis and Allison Anders (who were crew members on the picture and are now noted directors), a French featurette on the recording of the score, deleted scenes, promo material and a booklet with essays on the movie.
Eureka is making the Hong Kong feature The Sword (1980) available on Blu-ray. It follows a swordsman with a cursed blade. This one was due to be released a couple of weeks ago but was briefly delayed. The disc contains a 2K picture restoration, two film historian commentaries, a film critic interview, another discussion about the movie and the wuxia genre, a trailer, a booklet with an essay and a slip-card.
The Visit (2015) from M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Split, The Cabin in the Woods, Trap) is an underrated little thriller about a pair of kids who go to visit their estranged grandparents. The movie offers a found-footage approach that works quite well. Kino is now delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the movie. You’ll get a new master of the movie, a film historian commentary, a making-of, cast and crew interviews, 10 deleted scenes and an alternate ending, behind-the-scenes footage, and a ton of promotional materials.
Paramount Pictures is having a notable week. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Galaxy Quest (1999) is arriving in 4K Ultra HD and as a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook. It’s a hilarious comedy with Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub and Sam Rockwell playing actors from a Star Trek-like show who end up traveling to another world. Besides the picture upgrade, this release contains a new “Filmmaker Focus” with director Dean Parisot, and hours of legacy special features
You can also purchase a 30th anniversary “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning (for Best Original Screenplay) Pulp Fiction (1994). This one is an Amazon exclusive that presents a sharper picture, seemingly all legacy bonus content and a new slipcover with pop-up artwork.
Severin Films specialized in eccentric cult films, and in addition to the ones mentioned above, you can also pick up The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (1964) on Blu-ray. This eccentric effort is, in the eyes of some, one of those “so-bad-it’s-good” films. For this “Special Edition” the movie has been scanned in 2K from the original 16mm AB rolls. It also comes with three hours of bonus materials including an introduction from Joe Bob Briggs, multiple commentaries and archival interviews, along with deleted scenes, trailers and more.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the drive-in picture Satan’s Sadists (1969). It follows a group of patrons at a diner who are attacked by a violent biker gang and try to escape with their lives. The disc comes with an archival producer commentary, outtakes, trailers, TV and radio spots.
Shout! Factory is presenting a few 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray packs. The first is a “Collector’s Edition” of the cult period epic Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) from Werner Herzog. It stars Klaus Kinski as the leader of a Spanish expedition to El Dorado. For those who haven’t seen the film, the journey goes horribly wrong. Besides a new 4K transfer of the film, the set includes two Herzog commentary tracks, a trailer and a still gallery.
The Gift (2000) is an effective thriller from Sam Raimi that is also receiving the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” treatment. It stars Cate Blanchett as a fortune teller who is pulled into a devious plot. Besides a new 4K picture restoration, you’ll get two film critic commentaries, an isolated music and effects track, new cast and crew interviews, original promotional materials including more talks with those involved in the production, not to mention a ton of promotional ads and other materials for the film.
And the monster movie Pumpkinhead (1988) is being released as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Limited Edition” Steelbook. The contents are essentially the same as last year’s 4K release of the movie, only in new packaging.
Sony Pictures is making The Blood Ship (1927) available on Blu-ray, along with the British comedy/drama Crush (2001) starring Andie MacDowell and Imelda Staunton.
The Brad Pitt/Anthony Hopkins period drama Legends of the Fall (1994) is getting a 4K Ultra HD only release to celebrate its 30th anniversary. This release contains a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative and comes with archival bonuses like a director commentary, cinematographer and production designer commentary, making-of featurette, production design featurette and trailer.
And the Cary Grant comedy The Talk of the Town (1942) is also receiving a 4K Ultra HD-only release from the studio.
Universal Pictures is presenting a Shaun of the Dead (2004) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray 20th anniversary Steelbook for purchase, as well as a regular 4K and Blu-ray combo pack. This is one of the best zombie comedies ever made and this edition includes all archival commentaries, bonuses as well as one new extra… a 20-year retrospective on the movie with director Edgar Wright and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Sounds like fun.
Vinegar Syndrome made a few big release announcements over the Thanksgiving holiday and made a few new titles available for purchase (you can find them on their website if they are still available). The highlights include a two-disc Blu-ray set of the musical/comedy Cannibal! The Musical (1993). This was the first indie project made by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. It’s a surprisingly funny and effective little homemade effort with a few hilarious tunes. It includes a video restoration from the best surviving Betamax elements and a 4K restoration of the only surviving 35mm film print. The set comes with a commentary with Parker, Stone and some of the cast, a crew commentary, a new cast and crew commentary, a 67-minute making-of documentary, new interviews with cast members, a featurette on the adapting the story to stage and so much more that there isn’t enough space to go into it all here.
Congo (1995) was an all-star intended summer blockbuster about scientists (along with the gorilla of a group member, who can communicate using signals attached to a voice box) on an expedition in Africa for rare blue diamonds. The movie was ridiculous and flopped at the box office, but despite its initial failure has developed a cult following. The film can now be picked up in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It comes with a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative, a film historian commentary, a new 50-minute making-of documentary, a conversation with the FX team, an archival making-of, behind the scenes photo gallery, trailers and a 40-page book with essays on the movie.
You can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the Diane Keaton drama, Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). This 4K restoration also comes from the original camera negative and the release includes a scholar commentary, a making-of special, a visual essay on the movie and promo materials.
Finally, Warner Bros. is delivering two 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combos that are Walmart exclusives. The first is the Gerard Butler period action picture 300 (2006) and the second is the recent sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Expect all the features to be the same, just in different packaging.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
If you’re a kid, then your best bet this week is likely the title listed below.
The Wild Robot (Universal Studios) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray or Blu-ray only
ON THE TUBE!
Below is a list of all the latest TV-themed releases.
Ahsoka: Season 1 (Disney/Buena Vista) 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition Steelbook
A Biltmore Christmas (2023 TV-Movie) (Hallmark) Blu-ray
Hawkeye: Season 1 (2021 series) (Disney/Buena Vista) 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition Steelbook
Loki: Season 2 (Disney/Buena Vista) 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition Steelbook
The Mandalorian: Season 3 (Disney/Buena Vista) 4K Collector’s Edition Steelbook
A Merry Scottish Christmas (2023 TV-movie) (Hallmark) Blu-ray
South Park: The End of Obesity Special Event (Paramount Pictures) Blu-ray