Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This is yet another busy edition filled with interesting titles in a wide variety of genres. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS: THE MUSICAL – Based on the 1951 feature film, this story was adapted to the stage in 2014 as a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. The original was a grand success, featuring tunes written by George and Ira Gershwin. This theatrical recreation of the story retains all of the memorable numbers. The narrative follows a World War II veteran in France embarking on a career as an artist and falling for a socialite. As you may have already guessed, this release is a recording of a 2018 production from London’s West End. There haven’t been a great many reviews of the disc yet, but the ones that have appeared online state it is an impressively mounted show that will certainly impress theater fans. The cast includes Robbie Fairchild, Leanne Cope, Zoe Rainey, Sophie Apollonia and Daniela Norman.
ANTARCTICA – Two teenage misfits in small town America attempt to endure their final year of high school and support each other through this difficult time. They have a more unusual experiences than most over the course of their final classes, dealing with sex, drugs, gun crazy janitors and even time-traveling boyfriends. However, the toughest challenge arrives when they unexpectedly become popular with their fellow students. This independent coming-of-age comedy was well received by critics. A few commented that the film seemed smug and felt that the leads were unlikable and appeared to be overly self-involved. However, the vast majority wrote that the cast were charismatic and that the movie tackled numerous themes in interesting and amusing ways. It stars Chloë Levine, Kimie Muroya, Bubba Weiler, Steve Lipman and Clea Lewis.
DIE IN A GUNFIGHT – Using Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as inspiration, this romantic crime comedy involves two warring families in New York who run huge media empires. When a young man and woman from separate sides fall for each other, their relatives conspire to keep them apart. This only works for so long and the two are reunited while being chased by assassins, which causes bloodshed between both groups. This film was given a limited and streaming release last week. Reaction was very negative towards the movie. A couple of reviewers called it slickly-produced, campy fun that added something fresh to a familiar story. Yet almost everyone else thought it offered little in the way of wit or cleverness to back up its bravado – they called the end results dull and tiresome. Alexandra Daddario, Diego Boneta, Justin Chatwin, Wade Allain-Marcus, Billy Crudup and Emmanuelle Chriqui headline the film.
DREAM HORSE – Based on a true story, this biopic follows a woman who works as a bartender in a small Welsh town. Yearning for some excitement in her life, she overhears a conversation about breeding racehorses and tries to convince those in her community to pool their financial resources and give it a shot for themselves. They meet numerous obstacles along the way, but soon find their own horse competing professionally on the track. This British feature garnered a warm response from the press. There was a limited contingent who found it all a bit too sentimental and obvious in its attempts to manipulate audiences. Still, the consensus was that the performers were first rate and that the picture was an amusing and sincere tale certain to earn goodwill from viewers. It stars Toni Collette, Damian Lewis, Owen Teale, Joanna Page and Karl Johnson. For the time being, this feature is being released exclusively on DVD. If you’d like to read a full review of the movie, click this link.
FIRE – A group of Ariel Forest Protection Service Firefighters are detailed in this Russian narrative. The team commander becomes cranky after learning that his daughter is dating a firefighting rookie from Moscow. When the two men are assigned to protect a village from a massive blaze in the country’s interior, they are forced to put aside their differences and help each other survive. Also known as “No Escapes” and “Ogon” in its homeland, this feature was picked up for distribution in North America by Shout! Factory. Apparently, many of the dangerous stunts on display were done live and around real flames. It was nominated for a Best Picture APKIT Award in its homeland. The movie hasn’t been seen by many in this part of the world. Reviews from Eastern Europe say that while the story is predictable, the movie is technically accomplished and visually stunning. The cast includes Konstantin Khabenskiy, Ivan Yankovskiy and Stasya Miloslavskaya.
HELD – If horror movies tell us anything, it’s that attempting to reconnect with a loved one at a remote location is a terrible idea. That’s what the protagonists learn in this film after deciding to stay in a lavish estate with a top-of-the-line A.I. security system. The renters begin to suspect they are being watched and decide to leave, only to find themselves trapped inside by the automated protector. If that wasn’t bad enough, a voice with secret knowledge about their lives begins tormenting them on the loudspeaker. Critics also seemed to be tormented by what they saw. One third of them thought the movie was stylish and had enough twists to keep them interested. Still, more said that the film didn’t generate much suspense, had major logistical lapses and didn’t effectively address its themes. It features Jill Awbrey, Bart Johnson and Travis Cluff.
HYDRA – This Japanese feature is set at a Tokyo sushi bar. A chef works quietly behind the counter, avoiding any sort of interactions with customers. The reason for his antisocial behavior soon becomes clear. This man feels compelled to secretly watch and protect the owner of the establishment. When a crooked officer threatens the woman, we learn that the lead was once part of an organization devoted to eliminating police corruption. He soon realized that he may be forced into doling out his brand of justice. There aren’t many notices available for this feature yet and the ones that have appeared online are mixed. About half have complained that the characters and story aren’t well developed. Still, all the write-ups note that the fight choreography and action is exceptionally handled. The cast includes Masanori Mimoto, Miu and Tasuku Nagase.
INITIATION – Things at a college party during a university pledge week get even more unpleasant than usual in this tale. After entering the bedroom of a star athlete, a group of students discover his body impaled on a spire. Police arrive and the classmates involved try to investigate the death on their own. They discover a series of sinister social media messages that may reveal the truth behind the slaying. This horror picture earned slightly more positive reviews than negative ones. Those who disliked the picture thought it was a bit of a mess, writing that the characters weren’t interesting and that the story’s revelations were full of plot holes that were impossible to overlook. Yet, slightly more appreciated the movie’s attempt to address bullying and thought it would entertain genre enthusiasts. Isabella Gómez, Lindsay LaVanchy and Froy Gutierrez headline the film.
JAKOB’S WIFE – A pastor’s wife begins to feel taken for granted by her husband after 30 years of marriage. After an old flame returns to town and tries to rekindle their old relationship, she really begins to consider a change. Unexpected, supernatural events occur and the woman discovers that she has powerful abilities and a new taste for blood. It leads to various realizations and confrontations that turn violent. Overall, the press was very upbeat about this independent horror flick. A tiny number didn’t appreciate the humor and thought the movie was tonally unbalanced. Still, the consensus was that the leads were exceptional and that the film delivered plenty of laughs, memorable scenes and some insight into strained marriages. It stars Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Bonnie Aarons and Nyisha Bell.
SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW – In this spin-off of the “Saw” horror franchise, a trio of detectives investigate a new series of crimes involving brutal death traps. They research similar events that occurred in the past and try to find a connection between the old and new killings, soon finding themselves as targets in a psychopath’s nasty games. This is the ninth title in the series. Based on the critical reception, reviewers weren’t all that pleased with this follow-up. There was a minor contingent who claimed that it was a decent sequel with a memorably disturbing moment or two that would please “Saw” fans. Unfortunately, all others thought that the story didn’t make sense and that it felt like those behind the camera were simply delivering more of the same gruesomeness. The cast includes Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Samuel L. Jackson and Marisol Nichols.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s another remarkably busy week for older films receiving Blu-ray upgrades. Blue Underground are getting the ball rolling with an impressive “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray presentation of Dead & Buried (1981). This is a creepy horror gem that got lost in the shuffle during its initial release at theaters 40 years ago. The story involves a small-town cop investigating a series of violent slayings that appear to be the work of various locals. The performances are excellent and the movie features plenty of thrills and chills that have slowly turned this film into a cult classic.
Besides a major 4K restoration of the film with improved picture quality, the disc comes with four commentary tracks, behind-the-scenes footage, a look at the locations used in the feature, a new interview with the director and score composer, a discussion with the author of novelization and a special featurette on make-up effects man Stan Winston. You’ll also get an interview with co-writer Dan O’Bannon, a featurette on co-star Robert Englund (who would later star as Freddy Kreuger in A Nightmare on Elm Street) and tons of publicity materials. Additionally, this set comes with a CD of the complete score, as well as a lengthy essay on the film and its importance in the horror genre. This is an impressive set worth picking up. Read a full review of the Blu-ray here.
MVD Visual have some interesting discs coming your way as well. The first is a Double-Feature Blu-ray containing the action flicks, Close Range (2015) and Savage Dog (2015). The release includes trailers for both films and a couple of behind-the-scenes featurettes for the second title. 2014 marked the release of the critically acclaimed documentary Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films. It chronicled the careers of eccentric producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, who tried to create their own big Hollywood studio and made numerous films (most of which were incredibly cheesy) during the late 70s and 80s. As the previously mentioned documentary was being completed, the two subjects of the film decided to produce their own feature about their lives. The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films (2014) is now getting a Blu-ray release, so those who want to hear their version of events can now pick it up. The disc comes with a trailer.
Back in the 80s, just about every kid rented a VHS tape from Vestron Video. Most of the titles they released with low-budget genre films. Lionsgate picked up their catalog a few years back and started to put out Blu-rays under the Vestron name. They took a break from putting out new product for a little while, but have returned with a new disc this week. The Wraith (1986) is about a mysterious figure who appears in a desert town, driving around in an impressive black roadster and seeking revenge on a gang of killers. It’s a ridiculous flick that features some great driving and, if memory serves, a very memorable explosion about two thirds of the way into the feature. Charlie Sheen, Sherilyn Fenn, Nick Cassavetes, Randy Quaid and Clint Howard make up the notable cast.
This Blu-ray is reasonably priced and includes extras like a director commentary, an audio track with a couple of members of the supporting cast, interviews with the filmmaker, Clint Howard, the stunt coordinator, the visual effects producer. There’s also a featurette on the locations, an alternate title sequence and publicity materials. For the price listed online, it seems pretty hard to resist.
Severin are also putting out Blu-rays of a selection of genre films as well. Born for Hell (1976) is a multinational production between Canada and a few European nations about a Vietnam vet who goes on the rampage and terrorizes nurses at a hospital. The story was loosely based on real-life figure Richard Speck. This “Director’s Cut” arrives on disc with a 2K image restoration and comes with cast interviews, numerous discussions about Speck himself, as well as the alternate US release cut.
Siege (1983) aka Self Defense is another notable Canadian exploitation film that was made in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It follows a group of right-wing vigilantes who decide to hunt down the patrons of a gay bar. The survivor takes refuge in an apartment and attempts to fight back. I can recall watching an old VHS copy of this movie decades ago and the image quality was so dark that it was difficult to make out what was going on. Severin have found the original negative and given the movie a 2K restoration transfer for Blu-ray, so it should look like a new movie. The disc comes with a co-director audio commentary and trailer.
And they also have the US-made horror comedy Skinned Deep (2004), about a family being pursued by deranged killers. Like the others, this title has received a 2K restoration for Blu-ray and comes with a cast & crew commentary, a look back at the feature with interviews from the participants and archival material. Interested parties should note that if you order this title directly from the Severin website, you’ll also receive a CD with the soundtrack.
Code Red have a 4K Blu-ray of J.C. (1972) about a biker in a gang who becomes something of a prophet and gets into a violent confrontation with local authorities. Studio Canal provided the upgraded transfer and the disc also includes a trailer.
Scorpion are delivering the low-budget, Australian sci-fi/action picture, The Time Guardian (1987) on Blu-ray. It’s set in a desolate future where monsters rampage the land and follows a man as he travels back in time to try and save the world. The movie has been given a new HD master from a 2K Scan of the inter-positive and the disc also includes a trailer.
Shout! Factory are premiering Eight Legged Freaks (2002) on Blu-ray. This is a fun, PG-13 genre film about a small desert town being invaded by giant, mutant spiders. It stars David Arquette and Kari Wuhrer and features an early appearance by a very young Scarlett Johansson as the female lead’s teenage daughter. The movie is being presented with a new 2K scan and comes with a newly created making-of featuring interviews featuring many members of the cast and crew. You’ll also get a previously recorded commentary with the director, producer and star Arquette. And there are eight added scenes included, as well as a trailer and a short film with a similar concept from the director.
If baseball is more to your liking, the distributor also has a Blu-ray of Little Big League (1994). The story involves a 12-year-old boy who inherits the Minnesota Twins baseball team and decides to manage them personally. Extras include interviews with cast members Luke Edwards and Timothy Busfield as well as a vintage behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer.
A Stranger is Watching (1982) is a thriller from Sean S. Cunningham (Friday the 13th, DeepStar Six) about a woman and daughter who are kidnapped by a psychopath under Grand Central Station in New York City. The pair have to find a way to escape and fend off the maniac in the process. This feature has also been given a 2K restoration and comes with an interview and an introduction from Cunningham, a film historian commentary and publicity materials.
Kino have a great many new Blu-rays arriving this week. The first is a Double-Feature containing the war pictures 633 Squadron (1964) and Mosquito Squadron (1969). Both movies come with film historian commentaries and trailers. The Bride Comes Home (1936) is a screwball comedy with Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray, while The Gilded Lady (1935) is another comedy featuring Colbert. Both titles arrive with a movie critic audio track and a trailer. And the distributor is delivering another Double-Feature Blu-ray containing 2K upgrades of the potboilers Girl Gang (1954) and Pin-Down Girl (1951) aka Racket Girls. This release contains trailers and commentaries with exploitation film authorities.
They also have the silent French drama Nana (1926) from director Jean Renoir and based on the classic Emile Zola novel. The Blu-ray presents a 4K restoration of the movie and arrives with a film critic commentary, a before-and-after restoration comparison and a new score by Antonio Coppola. Cecil B. DeMille’s western The Plainsman (1936) is also arriving on disc. It comes with a commentary track with a movie historian. The same features are present on Thunderbolt (1929) and DeMille’s Gary Cooper period feature, Unconquered (1947). And the distributor is releasing another silent Renoir title called Whirlpool of Fate (1925). The movie has also received a 4K restoration and arrives with a film expert commentary, a restoration comparison and music by Antonio Coppola.
Criterion are presenting a Blu-ray of the French Riviera-set drama, La Piscine (1969) with Alain Delon. It’s about a group of vacationers who get violent as sexual tension arises at the pool. The distributor is providing a 4K digital transfer of the title. This disc also comes with the English-language version of the film, a 2019 documentary on the production featuring interviews with the cast and crew, a discussion with a critic about the movie’s legacy, archival footage of the production, an alternate ending and trailers.
The action/comedy The Boondock Saints (2000) has built up quite a following over the years and Samuel Goldwyn films have decided to celebrate the feature with a 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray. At present, the bonuses haven’t been listed so you’ll have to seek out the details to find out more.
With the recent arrival of Spiral: From the Book of Saw on Blu-ray, Lionsgate are rereleasing Blu-ray of all previous chapters in the Saw franchise. They have new packaging and presumably come with all of the same extras as previous versions.
Fans of classic science-fiction pictures may be interested to know that The Film Detective are putting out an elaborate “Special Edition” of Flight to Mars (1951). It’s about a group of astronauts who arrive on the red planet and meet an alien species, only to learn that these creatures may be planning to steal their ship to invade Earth. The Blu-ray arrives with a 4K restoration of the feature, a film historian commentary, a documentary short about sci-fi movies of this period and a full color insert booklet.
Sony have several Blu-rays on offer, including the musical Bye Bye Birdie (1963). With the release of Snake Eyes at cinemas this week, the studio is also putting out 4K editions of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013). Pal Joey (1957) stars Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra plays a nightclub singer trying to raise the funds to open his own club and starting a love triangle in the process. And action fans can pick up the original Sniper (1993) on Blu-ray with Tom Berenger and Billy Zane.
Paramount are offering a DVD box set this week called Jerry Lewis – The Essential Twenty Film Collection. As you might have guessed, it includes numerous movies made by the studio starring the legendary comedian, including The Bellboy (1960), The Nutty Professor (1964) among many others.
Finally, Warner Archives are releasing a trio of new made-to-order titles. In case you haven’t been to their site recently, they have moved operations and are now officially part of Amazon. So, that’s where you’ll have to go in order to find their catalog of Blu-ray and DVD titles. This week, you can pick up Blu-rays of the film noirs I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes (1948) and Step by Step (1946), as well as the musical Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949).
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
There isn’t much for kids this week, but if you’re desperate, you could try some older movies featuring comedian Jerry Lewis.
Jerry Lewis – The Essential Twenty Film Collection DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And here are all of the week’s TV-series releases.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 1
Bordertown: Season 3
The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 7
Gangs of London: Season 1
Great Performances: Broadway Musicals – A Jewish Legacy (PBS)
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: Just the Way You Are & Be My Valentine (Hallmark) DVD
Head of the Class: Season 3
Inside the Met (PBS)
Love in Design (Hallmark) DVD
NOVA: Fighting for Fertility (PBS)
Shameless: Season 11
Star Trek: Discovery: Season 3
The Walking Dead: Season 10