Welcome back to another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There’s a solid mix this week of big features, independent titles and documentaries. So, since you likely can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
aTypical Wednesday – A man goes to visit his therapist for another weekly meeting. While there, he encounters a young boy at the institute who has been accidentally “left behind” and needs to get home. The lead decides to help the boy out and their journey takes them across town, where they run into various people in Gabe’s troubled life. The kid starts making observations about the protagonist, which results some treatment sessions on the fly. This comedy/drama has recently received an internet and disc release so there aren’t many reviews for it as of yet. One critical review that has appeared suggests that there are some funny moments but that the dramatic moments aren’t as effective. It stars J. Lee, Cooper J. Friedman, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Michael Ealy, Seth Green, Sujata Day and Bresha Webb.
The Burnt Orange Heresy – This neo-noir thriller is set in Italy and follows a charming art critic who falls for a visiting American with a mysterious background. The pair head to Lake Como and where they a powerful and wealthy art collector who makes them a very strange offer that is difficult to pass up. They are asked to befriend and steal a painting from a reclusive artist. The leads ingratiate themselves with the artist, but as the plan progresses both begin to suspect that things aren’t as they seem. This effort scored generally favorable reviews from critics. About a third of them complained that the movie wasn’t exciting and that they found the plot twists implausible. However, the majority stated that while low-key, it was impressively shot, entertaining and ended on a high note. The cast includes Elizabeth Debicki, Claes Bang, Donald Sutherland and Mick Jagger.
Deep Blue Sea 3 – The surprise 1999 killer shark hit film Deep Blue Sea spawned a straight-to-DVD sequel a couple of years ago and now a second follow-up made for the home market. This time out, a group of scientists studying climate change off of the coast of Mozambique encounter more super-intelligent sharks. Naturally, the heroes have to use their brains to avoid being devoured. Surprisingly, more members of the press have liked the flick so far than have disliked it. Those who panned it said that it was an improvement over the previous installment but still didn’t offer enough to justify its existence. Still, most have said that the talent behind the camera (the writer/director also helmed The Quiet Ones) elevate it over other recent shark movies and that it delivers some B-movie thrills. It features Tania Raymonde and Nathaniel Buzolic.
Fulci for Fake – This picture is described as the first ever biopic of Italian horror filmmaker Lucio Fulci (most famously Zombie, City of the Living Dead, The Beyond and The House by the Cemetery, although he worked in other genres as well), which purports to tell the story of the moviemaker and includes never before seen footage, photos and interviews with many genre figures from Italy like Antonella Fulci, Fabio Frizzi, Sergio Salvati and Michele Soavi. There haven’t been many reviews for the picture as of yet, but the ones that have appeared from genre critics have been upbeat. A few of them describe it as essential viewing for those who love Italian horror cinema of the 70s and 80s and suggest that it provides a detailed overview of the man’s career with discussions and interpretations of his pictures by many of those who worked with him.
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind – Famous Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot is the subject of this documentary. It explores the life, career, music and influence of the legendary performer responsible for tracks like If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, Carefree Highway, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and numerous others). It also catches up with the 81-year-old, who continues to perform to this day. Notices were generally excellent. One or two write-ups were from those who didn’t care for the performer and, as such, weren’t very interested in the movie. However, almost all others thought that this was simple and straightforward, but an enjoyable and finely delivered overview of an incredible performer. For now, this title is only being released on DVD only. Besides Lightfoot himself, it also features Sarah LcLachlan, Steve Earl, Anne Murray and Alec Baldwin.
In My Room – This eccentric foreign-language feature from Germany is about an aging bachelor unhappy with his life but unwilling or unable to change anything in it. When he wakes up the following morning, he’s shocked to discover that almost every human being on the planet has completely disappeared. Not knowing how or why any of this happened, the man is forced into coming to terms with his issues and starting afresh. The picture was nominated for plenty of awards at various European film festivals and earned plenty of praise from critics. A few couldn’t relate to the lead character and needed a more detailed explanation of why the event occurred. However, the consensus was a fascinating slow-burn of a movie with plenty of atmosphere and ideas to contemplate. Hans Low and Elena Radonicich headline the film. Presently, it is only available on DVD.
The King of Staten Island – One of the first high profile Hollywood titles to debut online after the pandemic outbreak is the Universal comedy/drama. It details the life of a man whose firefighter dad dies and leaves him psychologically scarred. Now in his mid-20s, living at home with his mom and possessing little ambition or drive, a series of new events force him to grapple with his issues and move forward. The press generally liked what they saw. A smaller group didn’t think it balanced the comedy and drama very well and took too long to get to the heart of the story. Still, most thought that while it took some time to build momentum, the supporting cast were funny and that the movie ended on a strong and compelling note. It stars Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow and Steve Buscemi,
One Night in Bangkok – This action picture begins with a hitman arriving in Bangkok on assignment. He hires a driver who soon realizes the trouble she’s gotten into after the body count starts. But of course, she can’t escape the killer’s reach. As it turns out, he’s seeking revenge on other baddies who caused the death of his wife and child. When a sharp detective ends up on their trail, more conflicts arise and a battle of fists and wits ensues with the driver pulled right into the middle of the fracas. There isn’t any information currently available about this independent effort, so there is no critical consensus about the movie’s quality. Interested parties will have to go in cold. The movie is directed by Wych Kaos (Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever) and features Mark Dacascos, Vanida Golten, Prinya Intachai and Kane Kosugi.
The Tobacconist – This Austria/Germany co-production is based on a bestselling novel by Robert Seethaler. Set in the late 1930s, the plot involves a 17-year-old who moves from the country to Vienna in order to apprentice at a tobacco shop. He soon becomes close friends with customer and psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud. When Nazi forces arrive and occupy the country, the two discuss their next move and whether to stay or flee Austria. Reaction was generally positive towards this historical drama. Those who disliked said it was certainly well-shot and performed, but thought the screenplay simplified the historical events too much leaving the picture feeling a little run-of-the-mill. However, more were impressed by the understated work of the actors and believed that they were enjoyable to watch. It features Simon Morzé, Bruno Ganz and Johannes Krisch.
The Trip to Greece – For those unfamiliar with this title, this UK production from Michael Winterbottom (Welcome to Sarajevo, 24 Hour Party People) is actually a TV series in its homeland. The plot involves fictionalized versions of actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon doing restaurant tours, reviewing cuisine and discussing their own personal issues with one another during the journey. Each season has been edited down into a feature-length movie for international audiences. This release marks the fourth and final film (or series, if you’ve been watching the UK TV show) as the characters eat in Greece and try to sort their complicated lives out. Like the other pictures, this understated comedy received high marks from the press. One or two have still expressed issues with the improvised talks and loose narrative structure. All others said that the bickering between the leads was endlessly amusing and hoped the pair might return to the franchise at some point in the future.
Uncle Peckerhead – Being in a band is tough, especially when you can’t get the proper assistance to help you tour and find an audience. One punk group thinks they’ve managed to start to break through after they set out a number of gigs across the country and prepare for their first major road trip. Unfortunately, they soon learn that their roadie is a man-eating demon who may not only kill off their fans, but themselves as well. This independent horror/comedy earned a lot of good press at festivals early in the year and with reviewers. In fact, as of right now everyone who has seen the film has enjoyed it. They wrote that the characters were likable and that the movie was a remarkably entertaining gross-out horror/comedy that hits the right comic note the majority of the time. It stars David Bluvband, Greg Maness, Chet Siegel, Jeff Riddle, Ruby McCollister and David Littleton.
Blasts from the Past!
This is a particularly busy week for older flicks receiving high definition upgrades. Arrow Video get the ball rolling with a Special Edition Blu-ray of The Comic (1985), a UK horror/sci-fi fill about a struggling stand-up comedian who starts murdering his competition to rise through the ranks of talent and become a star. Described as a bizarre and at times baffling 80s cinematic oddity, it certainly sounds like the kind of flick that needed some time to find its audience. The distributor is providing a new 2K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative and have included a newly filmed interview and introduction to the flick with the director.
Shout! Factory are bringing the Roger Corman monster movie, Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), to Blu-ray. This tale follows a group of scientists who arrive on an island in the Pacific searching for some missing compatriots. They discover at atomic energy has caused crustaceans to grow and mutate, leaving the visitors to fight for survival. The disc includes a 2K scan of a fine-grain print of the movie, a film historian audio commentary, a salute to Roger Corman himself featuring Corman, Joe Dante, Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Fonda and others as well as a trailer.
If you enjoy Japanese animated features, you’ll be excited to learn that Shout! are presenting special Steelbooks of two Studio Ghibli Hayao Miyazaki classics. Those titles are Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984). Features like audio commentaries and storyboards will be the same as with previous editions, so this release is really more about the collectable packaging.
They are also putting out a Collector’s Edition of the horror anthology, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990). This is a fun little genre flick with a trilogy of tales and a wraparound featuring all sorts of spooky creatures. If memory serves, the first segment featuring a mummy is a particularly strong one that stars Christian Slater and features Julianne Moore and Steve Buscemi in supporting roles. This release includes a new commentary with co-producer David R. Kappes. Additionally, there’s an archived commentary that includes the director and co-screenwriter George Romero (he worked on the second segment). You’ll also get a new feature-length documentary on the making of the film including interviews with the director, make-up team, producer, director of photography, editor and cast members James Remar and Rae Dawn Chong. It also comes with a wealth of publicity materials and behind-the-scenes material.
You can also pick up their latest genre film box set, the Universal Horror Collection: Volume 6. This one contains The Black Castle (1952), Cult of the Cobra (1955), The Thing That Couldn’t Die (1958) and The Shadow of the Cat (1961). All of the films have been given a 2K scan from a fine grain film element and also include film historian audio commentary, trailers and TV spots.
Kino are also back with a large selection of Blu-ray releases. All I Desire (1953) is a melodrama from director Douglas Sirk (All That Heaven Allows) with Barbara Stanwyck. The Balcony (1963) stars Shelly Winters, Peter Falk and Lee Grant. It involves events occurring inside a brothel as a violent revolution occurs outside. And Breezy (1973) is an early directorial effort from Clint Eastwood featuring Kay Lenz and William Holden about a teenage hippy who befriends a middle-aged divorced man. If you prefer westerns, Hell Bent (1918) is an early picture from John Ford (The Searchers) about a cowboy trying to cross the desert on foot. All of these discs include film historian commentaries as well as trailers, and a couple also include interviews with cast or crew members.
They are also releasing Hollywoodland (2006) on Blu-ray. This biopic deals with the unsolved murder of George Reeves (who played Superman in the 1950s TV-series). It’s a well-regarded drama with a great cast including Ben Affleck, Adrian Brody, Diane Lane, Bob Hoskins and many others. This one comes loaded with bonuses, including a new entertainment journalist commentary discussing the film and real-life crime, an archived director commentary, numerous featurettes on the production, deleted scenes and a trailer.
The Reginald Denny Collection (1924 – 1926) contains Blu-rays of three comedies made with the actor during the silent movie period. This set includes The Reckless Age (1924), What Happened to Jones? (1926) and Skinner’s Dress Suit (1926). You can expect 4K restorations of the movies and multiple audio commentaries along with separate music score tracks.
The Sign of the Cross (1932) is a historical drama set during Roman times from director Cecil B DeMille (Sunset Blvd., The Greatest Show on Earth, The Ten Commandments). This release comes with two movie expert commentaries and a trailer. Kino’s last Blu-ray of the week is another Douglas Sirk melodrama featuring Barbara Stanwyck. It’s called There’s Always Tomorrow (1955) and the disc also features a movie historian audio track and movie preview.
There are plenty of other films arriving on Blu-ray as well. Synapse are releasing the independent comedy Suckers (2001) as a Newly Restored Special Edition. Personally, I haven’t seen it, but it’s highly rated by voters on IMDB and is about sneaky used car dealers. The disc includes a second feature from the same filmmaker called Six Days in Roswell (1999). Both titles have been given 4K restorations, come with director, cast and crew commentaries, making-of features, deleted scenes and other extras.
Cold Heaven (1991) is a psychological thriller from Nicolas Roeg (Don’t Look New, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Flash Gordon, The Witches) about an unfaithful woman whose irritated husband comes back from the death to haunt her. It stars Teresa Russell, Mark Harmon and James Russo. This hard-to-find flick is arriving through Scorpion Releasing and the disc comes with a trailer. If you’re interested in a Blu-ray, you have to buy it through the company’s official site, Ronin Flix.
Not to be outdone, Severin also have some impressive genre titles hitting Blu-ray. Aenigma (1987) is an Italian horror flick from director Lucio Fulci (the figure mentioned in the new documentary Fulci for Fake). Apparently, the film has been given new color grading for this release and comes with a commentary featuring an Italian horror authority, an interview with the screenwriter and additional bonuses. They have another flick from the director in the form of Demonia (1990) about satanic nuns on a killing spree. This disc includes similar extra features.
The Beast Must Die! (1974) is an entertaining little Amicus horror flick from the UK about a series of murders at a large estate that have been committed by a werewolf. It’s something of a mystery film in which the guests have to determine which of them is responsible for the killings. The flick is also famous for having a thirty-second break during the climax with a ticking clock, in which you can process the evidence and discuss with your friends who you think is the monster before the final reveal. The movie has received a 4K restoration and comes with a director commentary, an archival interview with the filmmaker, additional discussions with crew members and a trailer with an optional genre scholar track.
And fans of Jess Franco can pick up the possession genre flick, Shining Sex (1977), on Blu-ray. This title arrives with a scholar commentary, plenty of interviews from experts on the filmmakers, as well as a discussion with the producer.
Dark Force are releasing The Last Victim (1975) aka Forced Entry on Blu-ray. This thriller stars Tanya Roberts as a woman being stalked by a psychotic mechanic. The disc includes the R-rated version as well as a PG cut which played in certain areas. They are also releasing a Special Edition Blu-ray of The Dead Pit (1989). This is a low-budget zombie flick about an earthquake in a psychiatric hospital that releases the dead (and other creatures) to terrorize the patients and doctors.
Bad movie fans are encouraged to pick up Dark Force’s Special Edition DVD of Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century (1977) on Amazon. This is a low-budget Italian flick shot in Canada and made to ride on the wave of publicity for the 1976 King Kong remake. It features a… he’s actually more of an enormous, hairy, caveman-like guy who is found frozen in a block of ice in Newfoundland. When he’s thawed out, he goes on the rampage in downtown Toronto. Thankfully, there are a couple of kids who befriend the troubled figure and try to help him out. It’s incredibly ridiculous and has developed a cult following because of its cheesy effects, bad acting, nonsensical plot and, well, everything else about it. If you want a high-quality version, you may be able to find a Blu-ray of it too if you do a search on Dark Force’s store page, darkforcesuperstore.com. Check the site out – but if you can, leave me the last Blu-ray of Yeti!
Blue Underground are presenting another Jess Franco adult-themed title, Cecilia (1983), on Blu-ray. The flick has received a 2K restoration and comes with some extras, interviews with the filmmaker, publicity materials and a full-length documentary about Franco’s career. In the past, the company have released some spectacular Blu-rays of Lucio Fulci horror flicks. They’re rereleasing a couple of them with upgraded 4K transfers, so now your can see The House by the Cemetery (1981) and The New York Ripper (1982) with crystal clear clarity.
Flicker Alley are putting out a Blu-ray of the Austrian silent feature The City Without Jews (1924). This remarkable picture tells a story about an antisemitic metropolis removing all Jewish citizens from the population and suffering as a consequence. According to reports, it’s depicts a shocking forecast of what happened in Europe shortly after the movie was released. All copies of the movie itself were thought to have been destroyed by the Nazis after their rise to power. A few bits and pieces were located, for the most part the film was believed to have been lost. Yet nearly a century after its release, a complete nitrate print of the film was found in 2015 at a Parisian flea market. In addition to the movie, this release includes numerous discussions with historians about the importance of the film and its rediscovery.
Toni (1934) is a French classic and early work from Jean Renoir (who would later helm The Rules of the Game and La Grande Illusion) about a community of immigrants in the south of France and a love triangle that leads to tragedy. Criterion are presenting the film on Blu-ray with a 4K digital restoration and newly translated subtitles. Bonuses include a film critic commentary track, an introduction to the film with Renior that was shot in 1961, a TV special on the making of the film, a video essay on the feature and a movie scholar essay.
Those with a taste for science will be please to see Corinth Films releasing a Blu-ray of the documentary Einstein’s Universe (1979). This picture was produced to celebrate the centenary of Albert Einstein’s birth and features renowned physicists explaining many of the historic figure’s ideas in the Theory of General Relativity as well as other advancements he made in his field. The disc doesn’t offer bonuses, but is considered a solid introduction to the figure’s work.
Finally, Warner Archive have three more made-to-order Blu-ray selections. They include the romance/war picture The Big Parade (1925) as well as two Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn rom-coms, Pat and Mike (1952) and Without Love (1945).
You Know, For Kids!
It’s a quiet week for kid’s entertainment, but there is one release featuring a famous Looney Tunes character.
Taz-Mania: Season 3 (Warner Archive)
On the Tube!
Here is a selection of TV-themed releases.
Chicago Fire: Season 8
Chicago Med: Season 5
Dead Still: Season 1
Endeavour: Season 7 (PBS)
The Flash: Season 6
SEAL Team: Season 3
Strike Back: Season 7 – Final Season (Warner Archive)
Taz-Mania: Season 3 (Warner Archive)
Washington (History Channel Biopic)