DVD Roundup for October 15th, 2024

October 15, 2024

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. The last edition was jam-packed, which means that this one is considerably slower. However, there are a few interesting features old and new that might be worth checking out. 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!

THE BOY IN THE WOODS – Based on a true story, this tale is set in Eastern Poland during the Nazi occupation. A 12-year-old Jewish boy is taken with his family to a prison camp. His guardians encourage the youngster to try and escape. The child sneaks by guards and races out into the nearby forest, trying to survive the elements and evade soldiers hunting him. Along the way, he befriends a local peasant. This drama fared well at film festivals. It hasn’t been seen by a lot of critics, but all of those who have reviewed the picture have all been positive. They called the movie powerful and moving, noting that it was well-acted and effectively told its story from the point-of-view of an innocent child who must face the horrors of war. The cast includes Richard Armitage, Jett Klyne, Christopher Heyerdahl, Ari Millen and Tara Nicodemo.

THE FALLING STAR – This French/Belgian co-production involves a former activist turned fugitive. For the past 35 years, he’s been laying low and working as a bartender, but his past finally catches up with him when a one-armed, gun-toting figure arrives looking for revenge. The lead can’t believe his luck when he discovers his doppelganger living in town and attempts to use him as a decoy. However, the hunted man’s ex-wife threatens to ruin everything. Reaction towards this crime/comedy was muted in North America. About one-third of reviews commented that the physical gags and deadpan sense of humor worked for them and thought the tone would remind viewers of Charlie Chaplin. Unfortunately, the majority described the picture as a misfire, stating that most of the jokes were repetitive and fell flat. They also claimed that the plot twists were too preposterous to buy into. Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Philippe Martz and Bruno Romy headline the picture.

KILL ‘EM ALL 2 – Kill ‘Em All was a 2017 direct-to-disc action picture starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as a hospitalized man with a secret past fighting a gang that is hunting him down. Seven years later, the protagonist is trying to start life anew in Italy with his girlfriend. They barely even have enough time to begin house-hunting when the brother of the previous villain arrives for revenge. The hero decides to take care of business once again. Only a handful of reviewers have seen this picture and the response has been poor. One suggested that it was a reasonable low-budget action picture with a memorable antagonist. Everyone else stated that the movie was bland, predictable and, thanks to its pedestrian editing, didn’t deliver much in the way of thrills. Besides Van Damme, it stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Andrei Lenart and Peter Stormare.

THE LADY OF THE LAKE -The legend of Lake Ronkonkoma in New York is the inspiration for this independent chiller. Apparently, this bit of folklore involves a grief-stricken Native American princess who died in the body of water and has been blamed for hundreds of suicides/drownings there. A high school grad whose brother recently passed away in the lake struggles to process the death and, against her family’s wishes, decides to investigate the legend. She experiences supernatural phenomena and learns the truth about the legend. The small number of online critics who have seen the picture have been mixed-positive about it. They write that the movie takes a while to get going but does attempt to deal with issues of loss and guilt and eventually delivers a chill or two down the spine by the close. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. It features Nia Sioux, Sera-Lys McArthur and Del Zamora.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!

If nothing yet is catching your eye, you could try something a little older. The Bounty Hunter Trilogy from Radiance Films is being rereleased as a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray. You’ll get the period action pictures Killer’s Mission (1968), The Fort of Death (1969) and Eight Men to Kill (1972) with all the same extras. It’s only the packaging that is a little simpler with this version.

It was supposed to arrive a few weeks ago from Radiance Films, but the French buddy road movie Fill ‘er Up with Super (1976) is finally arriving on Blu-ray. It comes with a 2K picture restoration from the original camera negative, three interview short films with the cast, a lengthy discussion with the star of the movie, a critical appreciation of the feature, and a reversible sleeve featuring designs based on the original posters.

Red Sun (1970) is also arriving courtesy of the distributor. The story follows a German hitchhiker who runs into an ex-girlfriend on the road. She agrees to put him up, but the lead soon discovers that the lady and her roommates may have other plans for him. This Blu-ray arrives with a new transfer overseen by the director, two visual essays on the movie, a commentary track with the lead actress’ boyfriend, who served as inspiration for the picture, and a reversible sleeve with designs based on original posters for the movie.

88 Films is delivering The Project A Collection, either in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack or as a standalone Blu-ray. You’ll get Project A (1983) and Project A 2 (1987). These films are considered two of Jackie Chan’s best and contain some of his most elaborate and dangerous stunts. As you might already expect, the set contains a ton of extras. Besides the 4K remasters, the first title is presented in both its Hong Kong cut as well as an extended Taiwanese version, film historian commentaries on both editions, numerous interviews with cast and crew, outtakes, the ending from the Japanese cut of the film, a making of, and publicity materials. Two different versions of the sequel are included, as well as movie expert commentary, a documentary on the Jackie Chan stunt team, interviews, the Japanese ending, trailers, stills and more. Sounds like a blast!

Criterion is putting out the Japanese genre film Demon Pond (1979) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set (a Blu-ray only edition is also available). Using myth as its inspiration, the story follows a man who visits a run-down village troubled by a mysterious pond full of spirits. The picture has been given a 4K restoration that was supervised by the director, and comes with a movie scholar interview, a program on the picture’s special effects, and an essay on the movie.

Pandora’s Box (1929) is a silent German title about a femme fatale whose actions end up getting her in trouble with various lovers. The picture has been given a 2K restoration and there are four different scores that can accompany the movie. There is also a film historian commentary, a 1998 documentary on the film’s star Louise Brooks, a rare interview with the performer from 1971, a discussion with the director’s son and an essay on the picture.

Kino is presenting some interesting films as well. The excellent, high-school-set Joseph-Gordon Levitt neo-noir Brick (2005) is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package. The star plays a teenager who must investigate the disappearance of his girlfriend. Besides the picture upgrade, the discs come with a commentary track with writer/director Rian Johnson (Looper, Knives Out, Glass Onion), a film historian commentary, 8 deleted and extended scenes, a casting featurette, trailer and reversible picture art with a slipcase.

Cowboys & Aliens (2011) was a big-budget studio summer flop that combined western and science-fiction elements. Now you can see it again and decide if the bad press surrounding the picture was truly warranted. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford appear as cowboys who fight off alien invaders. The picture is being put out in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package (the theatrical cut is presented in 4K while the extended version appears on the accompanying Blu-ray). It comes with a director commentary, production featurettes and publicity materials.

The Oscar-nominated period biopic Cross Creek (1983) follows the life of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings as she writes the classic novel The Yearling. Mary Steenburgen, Rip Torn and Peter Coyote headline the cast. This Blu-ray from Kino contains a film historian commentary, an interview with Steenburgen and a trailer.

Garbo Talks (1984) stars Ron Silver and a young man determined to help his dying mother (played by Anne Bancroft) meet the famous screen star Greta Garbo before she dies. The cast includes Carrie Fisher and Catherine Hicks. This release also includes a film historian commentary track and a trailer.

Paramount Pictures is releasing the horror remake The Ring (2002) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set and are also making it available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. As mentioned, this is the hit US redo of the Japanese classic about a nasty, supernatural videotape. If the viewer watches the disturbing tape and doesn’t show it to anyone within a short period of time, they meet a horrible end. Obviously, this edition promises a nice picture upgrade over previous editions.

Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief (1955) with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly is arriving on 4K Ultra HD only as a Paramount Presents title. This line contains the special fold-out cover packaging containing the poster and other nifty extras. It comes with an intro from famous critic Leonard Maltin, a featurette on the stars, a film historian commentary track and more.

Severin Films is making a couple of low-budget horror films available on Blu-ray. They always give their titles the best possible treatment, meaning that if they are of interest, the discs will certainly present the cleanest versions of the title. Alison’s Birthday (1981) was initially released as part of a “folk horror” compendium, but is now receiving its own Blu-ray release. The Australian title involves a 19-year-old whose life is put at risk by a coven of sorts. It comes with producer and cast member interviews and a video essay on the feature by a film critic.

The Demon (1963) is another “folk horror” effort from the same set. This is an Italian production about a jealous woman who is thought to be a witch by those in her village. The Blu-ray contains a film historian commentary, a profile on the lead actress and another feature on the film’s director.

Shout! Factory is giving the Oscar-winning western Dances with Wolves (1990) a Walmart-exclusive Blu-ray Steelbook Collector’s Edition. Everything about it should be the same as previous releases, except for the packaging.

Perhaps more notably, George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead (2005) is being upgraded and arriving as a “Collector’s Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. This is the fourth title in the director’s zombie series and a very solid entry, featuring a class-war between the residents of a walled-in city that is surrounded by zombies. You’ll get a new 2024 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative of the unrated cut (two accompanying Blu-rays contain the unrated and theatrical cuts). All previous extras will be included, like a Romero commentary, a zombie cast commentary, making-of featurettes, cast interviews, the Dream of the Dead documentary on the production, deleted scenes, promo materials and more.

Sony is delivering a 4K Ultra HD disc of the amusing documentary American Movie (1999), following a Wisconsin man trying to make a low-budget horror film. Extras include a director and cast commentary, deleted scenes, trailer, and the “Coven” short.

You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the well-regarded Argentinian crime picture Nine Queens (2000), which involves a pair of con artists trying to swindle a stamp collector. Another critical darling, Secret Ballot (2001), is arriving on Blu-ray. It follows a female election agent in Iran attempting to collect votes for a local election.

Thanksgiving (2023) is getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. Based on the short trailer from the film Grindhouse, this tale involves a pilgrim slaughtering locals during the titular holiday season. This edition includes upgraded picture quality, two “must-see” behind-the-scenes featurettes shot by the cast, a letter from director Eli Roth to fans and, of course, the special packaging.

Undercrank Productions is delivering a Blu-ray of The Bat (1926), an atmospheric crime picture set in a creepy old mansion. In addition to a 2K picture restoration, bonuses include a featurette on the director’s career and a 20-minute short from the same era

Finally, Warner Archive is making Robert Altman’s final film, A Prairie Home Companion (2006), available on Blu-ray. It’s an all-star ensemble picture that tells a fictional behind-the-scenes story about the famous radio show. Lily Tomlin, Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Tommy Lee Jones, Garrison Keeler, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Virginia Madsen, Maya Rudolph, Robin Williams and many more appear in the movie.

Just in time for Halloween, Warner Bros. is releasing A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) on 4K Ultra HD (no Blu-ray is included). The theatrical and uncut versions of the horror classic are presented in 4K. It comes with two archival commentaries featuring director Wes Craven. One includes cast members and the other is a patchwork of himself and the crew. Also featured is behind-the-scenes footage, alternate takes, alternate endings, a retrospective featurette, a nearly hour-long documentary on the production and another featurette about dreams.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!

You can find this edition’s kid-friendly releases listed below.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Limited Series: Three-Season Collection (2019 – 2022 series) (Paramount/NIckelodeon) DVD

Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise (Warner Bros.) DVD

PAW Patrol: Ultimate Film & TV Collection (Boxset) (Paramount) DVD

SpongeBob SquarePants: Another 100 Episodes (Paramount/Nickelodeon) DVD

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best 300 Episodes Ever (Paramount/Nickelodeon) DVD

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Classic Series Collection (1987 animated series) (Paramount) DVD

ON THE TUBE!

Below is every TV-related release coming your way.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Limited Series: Three-Season Collection(2019 – 2022 series) (Paramount/NIckelodeon) DVD

Babylon Berlin: Season 4 (Kino) Blu-ray