Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition is a bit slower than the previous one, but there is a notable independent and a few curious titles arriving for adventurous viewers. 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!
APEX PREDATORS 2: THE SPAWNING – If you’re familiar with Wild Eye Releasing (the company behind the Ouija Shark series, Cocaine Shark, the Shark Exorcist series, Sharkula, Jurassic Shark and, well, you get the idea), their latest direct-to-disc and streaming title is a sequel to a 2021 effort from the studio. A volleyball tournament taking place in Long Beach, California takes a disturbing turn when players and visitors start appearing on the beach torn to pieces. As it turns out, flying sharks are the problem and it will take a legendary hunter to take down the man-eating predators and send them back to the ocean. This one hasn’t been screened for the press yet, so expect something similar to other titles from the studio (although one difference is that it does have a familiar name in the cast). The picture stars Vernon Wells, Christopher Showerman, Jennifer Nangle and Traci Burr.
BEATEN TO DEATH – This independent Australian horror picture has been available to stream for a year, but is now arriving on disc. The story involves a man and his wife who are desperate for cash. They decide to take part in a deal with a drug supplier. When things go south, the man is pursued and tortured to a near death state. Apparently, he survives and wanders off trying to find some kind of help. Reviews were all over the place for the title. More genre critics liked the movie than disliked it, but audiences have generally hated the picture. Over one-third of critics said that the film’s only goal was to shock by showing a character being brutally maimed for 90 minutes. They noted it was otherwise pointless. But more horror websites called it an effective, extreme horror movie that set out to turn their stomachs and succeeded. It features David Tracy, Thomas Roach and Benny Blake.
BETWEEN THE TEMPLES – A cantor (a man who sings songs of faith and leads prayer in a synagogue) has a crisis of faith in front of congregants. After getting into some trouble shortly thereafter in a bar, he encounters his grade school music teacher. They talk and go their separate ways, but soon reunite when she starts attending his Bat Mitzvah class. The two attempt to help each other go through major life changes. This independent comedy was well-received. A small number complained that the movie was put together haphazardly and that its quirkiness didn’t come off as amusing. However, the majority enjoyed the performances and were amused by the eccentric characters. They found the final product to be a funny story of friendship between two members of different generations. For the time-being, this is a DVD-only release. Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane, Dolly De Leon, Caroline Aaron and Robert Smigel headline the feature.
THE CHRISTMAS LETTER – An average family man working as a copywriter becomes frustrated by a wealthy friend’s series of annual holiday letters that seemingly boast about the good times he and his relatives are having. After losing his job, the lead decides to splurge and take his family on a globe-trotting vacation. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned as they make their way to various travel destinations. This picture has not been screened for the press and appears to be debuting as a DVD-only release (it may also be available to stream in the near future, but an official date isn’t available). The movie does feature famous names on the advertising, but otherwise little is known about it. It features Angus Benfield, Regina Schneider, with appearances from Chevy Chase, Brian Doyle-Murray, Randy Quaid and Brian Posehn.
DANCE FIRST – Irish novelist Samuel Beckett is the subject of this biopic drama. The film tells the story of his life and experiences as a Parisian bon vivant, a resistance fighter, and a Nobel Prize-winning playwright. It also examines his philandering ways and personal failures, as well as his later life as a recluse. This multinational production was shot in black and white and features familiar faces in the cast, but didn’t land with reviewers. Less than half called the picture a beautifully shot effort that showed intriguing aspects of the man’s life and benefited from some great performances. Alas, the majority stated that the movie handled the figure’s complexities in an overly simple manner and called the feature uneven and drab. The film stars Gabriel Byrne, Aiden Gillen, Fionn O’Shea and Sandrine Bonnaire.
HOLIDAY TWIST – This holiday picture is an independent production that received a limited release last year and then appeared on streaming services. It is now receiving a DVD-only release. It follows the high-powered, overworked and not particularly friendly CEO of a delivery service. While dealing with a series of package thefts, she takes part in an embarrassing interview and finds her life falling apart afterward. An angel appears unexpectedly to guide her back onto the right track. The feature wasn’t seen by many and the few who did review it were less-than-kind. They suggested that while its heart was in the right place, the movie was poorly written and failed to deliver any holiday magic. The cast includes Kelly Stables, Neal McDonough, Sean Astin, James Maslow and Emily Tosta.
HOUNDS OF WAR – A mercenary and other soldiers are hired by an old associate to take down the most powerful warlord in Libya. They are told where to go, but immediately find themselves in a trap. All are killed except for the central protagonist, who manages to escape. Seeking revenge for the set-up, he comes up with a plan and takes action as his employers set out to finish him off. This is a DVD-only release and it has been panned by the few online critics who have seen it. They suggest that while there are some good performers in the movie, this is a perfunctory, direct-to-disc action film that doesn’t do anything original or interesting with its concept. They found it dull and predictable. It features Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick, Rhona Mitra, Leeshon Alexander, Urs Rechn and Matthew Marsh.
MERCHANT IVORY: THE DOCUMENTARY – Also known simply as Merchant Ivory, this documentary follows the partnership of noted producers/filmmakers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. The two met and initially formed a production company to make English-language films in India for the international market. After achieving success, they began making movies in the UK and America, becoming famous in the process. They enjoyed great success with period dramas like A Room with a View, Howard’s End, Remains of the Day and many others. The doc tells their story, which is told from the point-of-view of Ivory (Merchant passed away in 2005). Critics responded very favorably to what they saw. One or two called it a series of clips from their features and little more, but all others stated that it was a sweet and interesting look into their unique partnership and the life of Ivory (who finally won his first-ever Oscar at the age of 89 for writing the recent drama, Call Me by Your Name).
SILENT BITE – This low-budget literal and figurative chiller from Canada follows a group of bank robbers who have just pulled a heist on Christmas Eve. With a snowstorm approaching, they search for a place to take shelter from the cold. The group book a room at a motel and try to lie low, only to discover that something much deadlier that they are is present at the location. Almost no one has seen this independent effort. After searching online, one review appeared suggesting that the movie is stylish and reasonably effective, with some great snow-covered locations and a few interesting plot twists. However, there are no other write-ups available yet, so one may want to wait for more notices to come before purchasing. Camille Blott, Dan Molson, Kelly Schwartz and Louisa Capulet headline the film.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There is plenty to choose from as far as older features go. Arrow Video is delivering a 4K Ultra HD only edition of the PG-13 horror/comedy Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988). When the lead arrives in a small conservative town, the staunch elders are not happy. Kids in the area are and help her to endure various attempts from officials to get her out. Extras on this include three archival commentary tracks (that appeared on the previous Blu-ray edition), as well as a director’s intro and publicity materials. There is a feature length documentary on the film and Elvira character that has been “newly revised” from the previous version. A featurette on the “Pot Monster” from the previous Arrow release is also included and is also “newly revised”, meaning that there may be a little more being offered in this edition. Read a full review of the release here.
The Invasion (2007) is the fourth official adaptation of the famous Invasion of the Body Snatchers story. This retelling focuses on a satellite that crashes to Earth with an alien virus that turns everyone it infects into a mindless follower. A psychiatrist and her friend discover the truth about the invasion and attempt to protect themselves and family members. This effort starred Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam and Jeffrey Wright. I recall this title being the weakest in the series, but it does have a few story elements that some say make it more relevant today than during its original release. The movie is available for purchase as either a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD or as a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray. Bonuses include a film historian commentary, two visual essays on the movie and its themes, an archival featurette about the science used in the film, behind-the-scenes EPK (electronic press kit) materials, as well as a trailer and image gallery. Read a full review of the disc by clicking this link!
88 Films is presenting some Hong Kong titles on Blu-ray. Facets of Love (1973) is a period costume drama about a 19th century brothel. Apparently, Jackie Chan makes a brief appearance in the film. Kid from Kwangtung (1982) is a Shaw Brothers action/comedy about two bickering martial artists who must team up to stop an evil master with supernatural powers. The Kung Fu Instructor (1979) is a well-regarded action picture about a trained kung fu master who finds himself in between two gangs warring for control of a small town. It’s obviously heavily inspired by Yojimbo, the Kurosawa classic. There don’t appear to be many extras on these discs, but at least they can finally be owned on Blu-ray.
Le Beau Mec (1979) is arriving on Blu-ray from Altered Innocence. It’s a French fantasy biopic about the secret life of the country’s first gay porn superstar. The film has been newly restored in 4K from the original 16mm elements and arrives with a film historian featurette, a movie expert commentary track, a commentary with filmmaker/fan Vera Drew (The People’s Joker), publicity materials, a 12-page booklet with essays and a trailer.
The Japanese drama 2/Duo (1997) is arriving on Blu-ray from Arbelos Films. It’s a character study about a boutique woman and her unemployed boyfriend attempting to decide they want to get married. The disc includes a trailer.
Roseland (1977) is a Merchant Ivory Production involving three interlocking stories set in New York City. Cohen Media Group is releasing a Blu-ray of the film with a new picture restoration, conversations with Ivory, as well as a trailer.
Criterion is upgrading a couple of their notable titles. Scarface (1932) will be available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set or a standalone Blu-ray. This classic features Paul Muni as the notable gangster climbing his way up through the world as a mobster, only to let his impulses ruin him (it was later remade in 1983 with Al Pacino). Besides a 4K picture restoration, you’ll get extras like an alternate ending from the censored version of the movie, a conversation about the film with author Megan Abbott and actor Bill Hader, a film scholar interview on the innovative use of sound and editing and an essay on the feature.
The Akira Kurosawa classic Seven Samurai (1954) is also getting the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment. If you haven’t seen it yet, the period effort follows a town that buys a group to help protect them from invading bandits (it was later remade several times in the US as The Magnificent Seven). In addition to a new picture restoration, it comes with two film scholar commentaries, a making-of documentary film, a two-hour conversation with Kurosawa, a featurette on the samurai traditions used in the story, trailers, a gallery of rare posters, behind-the-scenes photos and production stills, as well as essays on the movie.
A Film Masters “Special Edition” of the Roger Corman-produced drive-in feature Night of the Blood Beast (1958) is arriving on Blu-ray. When an American spaceship crashes to the group, the dead astronaut is used as an alien incubator. As a bonus, Attack of the Giant Leeches (1958) is also included. Both films have film historian commentary tracks, a booklet with writing on the productions, trailers, comparison videos showing the restoration of both titles, an 8mm version of the first film, and a new documentary on the movies.
Heavenly Bodies (1984) is arriving on Blu-ray from Fun City Editions. It’s a, well, Canadian knock-off of Flashdance about an aerobics studio that is forced to compete in a “Dance Marathon” in order to avoid closure. This one could only have been made in the 80s. This release includes the complete original soundtrack (apparently, previous video editions swapped some tracks out), an interview with star Cynthia Dale, a film expert commentary, essays on the picture (included in the first pressing booklet only) and promo materials.
Paradise (1982) is, well, Canadian knock-off of The Blue Lagoon and involves two teens whose families are killed by bandits. They are chased across the desert, before finding a safe place in an oasis. It stars Willie Aames and Phoebe Cates. It comes with a film historian commentary and a ton of promotional material. First pressings contain a booklet with essays on the movie.
Kino is presenting several titles this week. The Gregory Peck/Sophia Loren romantic thriller Arabesque (1966) is getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo release. The original camera negative was scanned for this release, which features a film historian commentary. A featurette on the Henry Mancini music is also included, along with three trailers, 5 TV spots and a poster gallery.
Circus of Horrors (1960) is an effective chiller set after World War II. The story follows a mad plastic surgeon on the run who takes patients and uses them in a circus he is using as a cover. The movie is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray pack and on Blu-ray only. The 4K image restoration is from the original camera negative and it comes with a film historian commentary and advertising materials.
Maniac (1934) Forbidden Fruit: The Golden Age of Cinema Vol. 17 is also appearing on Blu-ray. This is regarded by some as one of the “worst films ever made” and involves a madman who kills a scientist and uses his victim’s lab in order to conduct nasty experiments. Extras include a film historian commentary, an audio interview with the makers of the movie, true crime shorts made by the director, the original trailer and a 2024 re-release preview as well as trailers for more notorious titles from the filmmaker.
A “Special Edition” Blu-ray of Billy Wilder’s One, Two, Three (1961) features James Cagney as a Coca-Cola employee in West Berlin, Germany, who is tasked with stopping his boss’s daughter from marrying a communist. This disc features a film historian commentary, two interviews with Wilder (who also directed Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Ace in the Hole, Some Like It Hot and The Apartment) and a trailer.
Triumph of the Spirit (1989) features Willem Dafoe and Edward James Olmos and tells the story of a Greek Olympic boxer who was taken by Nazi forces to Auschwitz. He was permitted to live as long as, for the amusement of his captors, he fought in the ring and won. The disc has a film critic commentary and trailer.
Kit Parker Films is releasing Charlie Chase at Hal Roach: The Late Silents (1927) on Blu-ray. It contains 15 silent comedies that were hugely popular upon their release and considered some of the best works of the era. Most have never been seen since their original release. Special features include three bonus shorts and a photo gallery.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack of the classic A Christmas Carol (1951) featuring Alastair Sim. The picture has been digitally restored from a high-definition master from the 35mm negative and fine grain.
Just in time for the release of the sequel next week, Paramount Pictures is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of the Oscar-winning film, Gladiator (2000). It looks like a rerelease of the 2020 Steelbook which contains two cuts of the film with commentaries and all bonuses from the earlier edition.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) is being put out in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook. This Steve Martin/John Candy comedy classic involves two strangers forced to help each other get home in time for Thanksgiving. Again, this is likely identical image-wise to the 2022 release of the movie, only in new packaging.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) is receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. It was previously released in Steelbook packaging in July, but this is a normal version in a regular box. The discs themselves are completely identical
Those who enjoy Italian crime pictures can now purchase The Boss (1973) with Henry Silva on Blu-ray from Raro Video. This disc contains a 4K image restoration from the original camera negative, a film historian commentary, an archival documentary on the roots of the mafia, and trailers.
If you read this site, then you’re already aware that Severin Films is a phenomenal distributor who gives smaller and sometimes obscure genre films incredible treatment as they transfer them to disc with tons of bonuses. This week sees the release of the box set All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror Volume 2, which contains 24 international horror films made over the last 70 years or so, with over 55 hours of extras. You’ll receive stellar versions of To Fire You Come at Last, Psychomania aka The Death Wheelers, The Enchanted, Who Fears the Devil, The White Reindeer, Edge of the Knife, Born of Fire, Io Island, Scales, Bakeneko: A Vengeful Spirit, Nang Nak, Sundelbolong, Suzzanna: The Queen of Black Magic, Beauty and the Beast. The Ninth Heart, Demon, November, Litan, Blood Tea and Red String, Nazareno Cruz and the Wolf, Akelarre, From the Old Earth, The City of the Dead and The Rites of May. There’s too much here to go into, but I can vouch for the enjoyable crazy Psychomania (1973) and The City of the Dead (1960) with Christopher Lee (pictured to the left). And I’m sure most of the others are winners too. A bonus CD is also included
Shout! Factory is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” combo of the Oliver Stone Vietnam war film and Ron Kovic biopic, Born on the Fourth of July (1989). The set contains a 4K restoration from the original camera-negative, supervised and approved by director Stone, as well as a film historian commentary track and an archive commentary from Stone. It also includes new interviews with Stone, the make-up effects artist and an associate producer on the title. Press materials can also be found on the release.
Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers is a Blu-ray box set contains the steamy Hong Hong features Sex and Zen (1991), Erotic Ghost Story (1990), Erotic Ghost Story II (1991), Erotic Ghost Story III (1992), Doctor Vampire (1990) and Robotrix (1991). A few of the titles feature multiple cuts. And there are tons of new movie expert commentaries, cast and crew interviews and promo materials.
And, the distributor is re-releasing the family animated title The Last Unicorn (1982) “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. Contents are exactly the same as the previous edition from a few months back, only in new packaging.
The unrated, gory post-apocalyptic animated film Infinite Santa (2013) is arriving on Blu-ray from Synapse Films. In this tale, Santa has become a warrior in the wasteland, fighting mutants to rescue Mrs. Claus. This director’s cut of the film contains a creator commentary, the complete 13-part original web series, cast and crew featurettes, promo trailers and music videos.
Universal is giving The Sugarland Express (1974) a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo release. This is the first official movie from acclaimed director Steven Spielberg (it was a follow-up to the TV-movie Duel) and features Goldie Hawn and William Atherton. Hawn plays a mom who breaks her husband out of prison and attempts to save her son from adoption. Besides the improved picture quality, it comes with a bonus feature called From Vault to Screen: The Art of Restoring Universal Cinematic Legacy, which one assumes focuses on the picture transfer.
Finally, Warner Archive is presenting The Complete Thin Man Collection on Blu-ray. The six-disc set includes the William Powell/Myrna Loy mystery/comedy features The Thin Man (1934), After the Thin Man (1936), Another Thin Man (1939), Shadow of the Thin Man (1941), The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) and Song of the Thin Man (1947).
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
All of this edition’s kid-friendly titles can be found below.
The Last Unicorn (1982) (Shout! Factory) “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook
PBS KIDS: Barnyard Buddies DVD (PBS Kids) DVD
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) (Paramount Pictures) “Standard” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And the week’s TV-themed titles are listed here.
Criminal Minds: Evolution: Season 17 (CBS) DVD
The King of Queens: The Complete Series (Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray
PBS KIDS: Barnyard Buddies DVD (PBS Kids) DVD
Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine – A NOVA Special Presentation (PBS) DVD
Star Trek: Prodigy – Season 2 (Paramount) Blu-ray
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 1 (Paramount) Blu-ray