Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition has an impressive mix of big Hollywood spectacles, indie features and family-friendly efforts. 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!
BLAZING FISTS – Also released under the title Blue Fists: The Breaking Down of Young Blue Warriors, this Japanese action film is from noted director Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer, 13 Assassins). The plot follows two teens who become close friends at a juvenile detention center. They decide to rise above their lower-class backgrounds by entering a martial arts tournament. However, in order to succeed, they must resolve their troubled pasts. So far, only a couple of critics in North America have seen this picture. They had very different opinions. One was disappointed, stating that the fight scenes weren’t exciting to watch and that the film focused too much on melodrama. The other called the film an interesting change of pace for the director, challenging expectations and delivering interesting insight on the sport, as well as coming-of-age films. It stars Kanato Yoshizawa, Danhi Kinoshita, Gackt and Wataru Ichinose.
DEAD TO RIGHTS – Based on a true story, this Chinese period drama depicts the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre. During World War II, Japanese forces took control of Nanjing in China and committed a series of atrocities that included the mass rape, torture and murder of civilians. This film tells the story of a postman and photographer who uses his darkroom as a refugee center. His 15-year-old Chinese/Japanese assistant also collects images of the brutality, collecting them in an album and hiding it from invaders (this book was eventually used to prosecute those responsible after the conflict). Thus far, only a handful of reviewers have seen the picture, but all of them gave it positive reviews. They commented that the film was powerful, the cast fantastic, and noted that the movie wisely focused on only a handful of characters, helping viewers easily relate to their situation and suffering. The cast includes Hoaran Liu, Ye Gao, Daichi Harashima, Chuan-jun Wang and Xiao Wang.
DREAM EATER – In this independent horror feature, a filmmaker tries to help her boyfriend’s sleepwalking problem by recording him at night. She sets up a camera while they are on vacation at a remote cabin in the woods. It isn’t long before his behavior becomes stranger during sleeping hours, and she becomes more and more terrified by the recordings. The lead begins to fear that the cause of his condition might be supernatural in origin. Reaction towards the film was generally decent. About one-third of write-ups stated that the movie was overdone, and that viewers would be regularly rolling their eyes at the dopey actions of the main characters. Still, the majority called the movie creepy, and suggested that while it wasn’t perfect, it did create a sense of dread and was a better-than-average found-footage exercise. It features Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams and Robin Akimbo.
GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION – This sequel to the 2021 disaster movie Greenland picks up with the central characters having survived a devastating comet impact by taking refuge at the title location. This time out, the survivors decide to travel back through the largely destroyed world in order to determine whether they will be able to make a new start somewhere on the planet. Of course, they face various dangers as they survey the wreckage. While the first picture earned decent notices, the press was more downbeat than positive about this follow-up. Almost half enjoyed the work of the star and described the picture as a fast-paced feature about perseverance and survival in tragic circumstances. Alas, the majority claimed the writing here was weak, with little in the way of tension. They also complained that the film didn’t seem necessary after the spectacle presented in the previous instalment. The movie can be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a standalone Blu-ray. Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd, Scott Glenn and David Denman headline the picture.
HALLOW ROAD – The parents of a teenager get a shocking call from their daughter in the middle of the night. She tells them that she has accidentally struck a pedestrian with her car on a remote road. The couple race to the scene in order to survey the damage. After arriving, they become fearful of how the event will affect their child’s future, and decide to try and cover it up. But over the course of the night, more secrets are revealed that threaten to tear the whole family apart. This UK/Ireland/Czech Republic co-production was very well-received by critics. A small number commented that after a good start, the film ultimately fell apart with a hugely disappointing and unsatisfyingly fantastical ending. However, everyone else thought the movie was remarkably tense, with great performances and plenty of surprises along the way. The movie stars Rosamund Pike, Matthew Rhys, Megan McDonnell, Paul Tylak and Stephen Jones.
HUMANE – Here is a picture that has been available to stream since late 2024 on sites like Shudder, but is only now receiving a Blu-ray release (as an exclusive through the Vinegar Syndrome website). It’s a chiller from Caitlin Cronenberg (daughter of filmmaker David Cronenberg) set in the future during a global environmental crisis. Governments decree that, to control the population, citizens must volunteer to take part in a euthanasia program, or else be conscripted to do so. A privileged, wealthy family meets to discuss options. Of course, things turn argumentative and bloody over the course of the story. The film garnered strong responses from the press, with the majority recommending it. About one-quarter didn’t think that the satire was particularly amusing. They also didn’t feel there was anyone to root for in the story. Still, most called the film cutting and darkly humorous in showing just how desperate and cruel people will become in order to save themselves. They also liked the performances. The cast includes Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Sebastian Chacon and Peter Gallagher.
MARTY SUPREME – Very, very loosely based on the life of professional ping-pong player Marty Reisman, this drama is set in the 1950s. The plot involves a young table tennis player from the wrong side of the tracks who is determined to achieve fame by any means necessary. He attempts to promote himself and the game, get a business started, while also involving himself with a married woman, and taking part in scams to make ends meet. As the pressure mounts, his extreme acts begin to catch up with him. The film was nominated for a number of Academy Awards and earned mostly raves from reviewers. A small number hated the character and found the film noisy and exhausting. All other critics were wowed. They stated that while the lead character was deplorable, the movie was a rush to watch, with incredible photography, memorable performances and plenty of nerve-racking scenarios. It is available in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set or as a Blu-ray-only release. It features Timothée Chalamet, Gweneth Paltrow, Odessa Azion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher.
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS – The latest animated family feature starring the popular sea-faring character (and based on the famous television series) finds the lead struggling to overcome a phobia. When he accidentally raises The Flying Dutchman from the underworld, its pirate captain promises to train the sponge and make the protagonist fearless. But in reality, the skipper only intends to steal SpongeBob’s soul in order to return to the regular world. Reaction to the picture was generally solid. A handful thought that this sequel was aimed exclusively at kids with mostly juvenile humor, and wouldn’t impress parents like previous films in the series did. Still, the majority of reviewers were amused by the constant supply of exaggerated and silly gags and eccentric references, suggesting that once you got onto its wavelength, you’d likely be chuckling along with the film. It can be purchased as a Blu-ray and DVD combo. A Walmart exclusive Blu-ray Steelbook is also available. The voice cast includes Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Regina Hall, Mark Hamill and George Lopez.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
This is a big edition for horror enthusiasts. Salem’s Lot (1979) is arriving as a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video with both the original miniseries version (which you can watch as the two-part miniseries or as an extended movie) and the international theatrical cut. I’m a huge fan of the miniseries, which I still feel is one of the best Stephen King adaptations. For those unfamiliar with the story, a mysterious figure moves into a small town. It turns out to be a vampire, who slowly sucks the town dry. A visiting writer and a young boy team up to fight the threat. Directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), it’s an incredibly atmospheric and effective chiller with great performances and tons of memorably unsettling moments.
For this release, the original 35mm camera negative of the TV Cut version and a 35mm interpositive of the Theatrical Cut version were scanned in 4K and presented in Dolby Vision. The mini-series version comes with a new movie critic commentary, an archival commentary with the late director Hooper, alternate TV footage, commercial bumpers and the original broadcast version of the “antlers” death. There is also a shooting script gallery. The theatrical version includes a film expert commentary, an interview with a Stephen King biographer, a new movie authority appreciation for the title. Mick Garris (director of The Stand, The Shining and Bag of Bones King miniseries) talks about the title, and there is a featurette on locations, two other film critic examinations of the feature, as well as promo materials. It also comes with a booklet containing essays on the title, a reversible sleeve with two artwork options, a sticker, and a double-sided fold-out poster with the artwork. Read a detailed review of this new package here.
Arrow Video is also releasing the “Limited Edition” Eiichi Kudo’s Samurai Revolution Trilogy on Blu-ray, which contains 13 Assassins (1963), The Great Killings (1964) and 11 Samurai (1967). This set contains high-definition transfers of all the titles, film critic commentaries on all three movies, video essays on aspects of the pictures, archival interviews and more.
Some time ago, Cinematographe put out elaborate “Limited Editions” of a couple of titles. Now, you can pick up The Gambler (1974) as “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, as well as a “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the great Michelle Pfeiffer comedy, Married to the Mob (1988). Specs and bonuses should be exactly the same, only in simpler packaging.
Criterion is delivering The Blade (1995) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo and a Blu-ray only disc. Hong Kong director Tsui Hark (Shanghai Blues, the Once Upon a Time in China series. Twin Dragons) helms this martial arts revenge tale. The movie was newly restored in 4K for this release and is presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with a Hong Kong cinema expert commentary, a 2006 documentary about wuxia action films, a video essay on the movie, footage of Hark from the 2011 New York Asian Film Festival, an alternate English-dubbed track, the English-version opening and closing credits, and a trailer.
The distributor is also making the French feature A Man and a Woman (1966) available on Blu-ray. Two widowed single parents experience the trials of raising children alone and begin to fall in love with each other. A 2K restoration of the movie was supervised and approved by the director, and the disc includes a director interview, a making-of documentary, archival footage of the movie debuting at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival, as well as a short from the filmmaker, and trailers.
Discotek Media is releasing the original Bangkok Dangerous (1999) on Blu-ray. It follows a deaf-mute hitman working in the title location. You can also pick up a Blu-ray of Cutie Honey: Tears (2016), a Japanese effort about a woman fighting for the rights of the poor (who may be a cyborg). The wild and crazy zombie picture Sars Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis (2004) is also getting a Blu-ray release.
The Australian drama Somersault (2004) is appearing on Blu-ray from Film Movement. It follows a teen who must restart her life after an encounter with her mother’s boyfriend. The film has been restored in 4K from the original 35mm master negative. It comes with a director commentary, a short from the director, a making-of, a featurette on the cinematography, and deleted scenes with commentary.
It’s another busy edition for Kino Lorber. I wouldn’t pick this up, but if you really want to, you can own Leni Riefenstahl’s German drama, The Blue Light (1932), which comes with a film historian commentary.
Malfeasance: Four Films by Yves Boisset is a Blu-ray set of the French titles Angel’s Leap (1971), Mad Enough to Kill (1975), The Woman Cop (1980) and Rise Up, Spy (1982). It’s a mix of thrillers and crime pictures. Three of the four have been given 4K restorations (the other has received a 2K upgrade) and there are film historian commentaries for all the features.
The President of Zenda (1979) is a Peter Sellers comedy about two lookalikes (a cab driver and a king) who switch places. And there’s also a new film historian commentary and a trailer included on the Blu-ray.
A couple of Kino releases were delayed and are finally arriving today. You can now pick up the Oscar-winning biopic Ray (2004) with Jamie Foxx in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, and the excellent Peter Sellers comedy The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a standalone Blu-ray.
And a double-feature Blu-ray of the exploitation pictures The Sexploiters (1965) and Raw Love (1965) is also available from Kino. Extras include an audio commentary and trailers.
As mentioned, Greenland 2 is a new release this week. If you’re a fan, you can also go back and purchase the original Greenland (2020) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or as a standalone Blu-ray from Lionsgate. Besides the 4K upgrade, now specs on the release have been listed as of this writing.
After receiving a Paramount Presents edition a few years back, the comedy The Court Jester (1955) with Danny Kaye is now being offered as a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray from the studio. Set in medieval times, the plot involves the title character being mistaken for a deadly assassin. Details will be the same, only in simpler packaging. Since that was a few years ago, it includes a 6K picture restoration, a featurette with Leonard Maltin talking about the film, and a trailer.
The same is true for the Kirk Douglas/Anthony Quinn western Last Train from Gun Hill (1959), which initially arrived as a Paramount Presents title, and now a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray. It also should arrive with a Leonard Maltin featurette and trailers.
Severin Films is rereleasing “Standard Editions” of some cult items from some months back. The British science-fiction movie The Final Programme (1973) is coming as both a “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD and a separate “Standard Edition” Blu-ray. The “Standard Edition” Razor Blade Smile (1998) can be picked up as either a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or standalone Blu-ray. The latter title is a British effort about an assassin who also happens to be a vampire.
A “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the Jess Franco feature She Killed in Ecstasy (1971) is arriving. This has everything on the previous edition except the soundtrack CD. And the same filmmaker’s Vampire Lesbos (1971) is also being made available as a “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo.
Shout Factory is rereleasing the Adam Sandler comedy Little Nicky (2000) as a Blu-ray Steelbook. Again, all the contents are the same as the previous edition, only in new packaging.
The distributor is putting out one fresh title this week. Outbreak (1995) is getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition”, which is wonderful because it hasn’t been available for some time. This is an all-star disaster movie about a deadly airborne virus that spreads in California. A team of Army doctors and scientists do their best to try and control the outbreak while trying to create an antiserum before the area is bombed into oblivion. The cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Donald Sutherland, Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Patrick Dempsey and Zekes Mokae. The film has been given a 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative and is presented in Dolby Vision. Alas, it doesn’t look like the title will have much in the way of special features, but at least you will be able to pick it up with a high-quality image.
Universal Studios is releasing some classic titles on Blu-ray. They include the Bob Hope comedy, The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938), Gambling Ship (1933) with Cary Grant, the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical The Gay Divorcee (1934), Give Me a Sailor (1938) with Hope, as well as This is the Night (1932) featuring Cary Grant, and another Bob Hope comedy, Variety Girl (1947).
Vinegar Syndrome is putting out several new titles this week, although most are exclusives available only through their website. The first is the Italian horror film Bakterion (1982) aka Panic, which is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. It’s about a scientist who turns into a blood-drinking monster. An agent must stop him before he spreads his condition to others. The film has been restored in 4K from the 16mm original camera negative and is presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with a film historian commentary, interviews with make-up artists on the movie and alternate English titles.
Body of Evidence (1993) is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo Vinegar Syndrome exclusive. This thriller stars Madonna and Willem Dafoe and was considered a flop during its original release (winning a Razzie and being nominated in several categories). Both the director’s cut and the theatrical version have been given 4K restorations from the original camera negative and are presented in Dolby Vision. Additionally, there is an interview with the director, the cinematographer, a video essay on the movie, an archival making-of featurette, promo materials, and a 40-page book with writing on the feature.
You can also pick up the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Vinegar Syndrome website exclusive of the feature, Demonwarp (1988). It’s a nutty science-fiction/horror movie that features kids fighting off a bigfoot monster and aliens. George Kennedy stars in the picture. This release features a director and producer commentary, numerous lengthy cast and crew interviews, and an image gallery with tons of promo materials.
The Devil’s Rain (1975) is a film about a Satanic cult terrorizing a family who unknowingly hold a book of importance to the villains. It features Earnest Borgnine, Eddie Albert, William Shatner, Ida Lupino and Tom Skerritt. You can pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Vinegar Syndrome exclusive version or “Standard Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray that will be available everywhere. The film has been given a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, and comes with a director and a film historian commentary. Numerous cast and crew discussions, as well as promo materials, are listed as bonuses.
Forgotten Gialli: Volume 9 is also appearing on the company’s website. This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray set contains 2K restorations of the Italian thrillers Murder in Blue Light (1991), Bugie Rosse (1993) and Madness (1994). Film historian commentaries and cast and crew interviews are listed as extras on the release.
Intensive Care (1991) is a chiller from the Netherlands about a surgeon who falls into a coma and wakes up years later as a monster. It features George Kennedy in a small supporting role. This Vinegar Syndrome website exclusive Blu-ray delivers the film newly restored in 2K from the 35mm camera negative. It also boasts a film historian commentary, a discussion with the director, behind-the-scenes footage and an international trailer.
Finally, Warner Archive is putting out several made-to-order Blu-rays of catalog titles. You can pick up The Gay Divorcee (1934), Honky Tonk (1941), It All Came True (1940), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) and Tea and Sympathy (1956). Additionally, if you appreciate old Saturday morning cartoons, the Scooby-Doo spin-off, Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Season 1 (1977-1978) is also arriving on Blu-ray.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
If you’re looking for kid-friendly entertainment, here are this week’s options.
Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Season 1 (1977-1978) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
The SpongBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (Paramount) Blu-ray and DVD or Walmart exclusive Blu-ray Steelbook
ON THE TUBE!
And below is the one TV-related title coming your way.
Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics: Season 1 (1977-1978) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
