Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition sees a nice mix of all types of features, including a couple of major releases. 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!
BROTHERS UNDER FIRE – A sergeant and his squad decide to celebrate one of their team member’s upcoming marriage by attending the ceremony in Mexico. At the wedding, one of the visitors gets into an altercation with another attendee, and both end up dead. As it turns out, the instigator is the brother of a major drug cartel. The kingpin immediately vows revenge on the squad. The sergeant and remaining men arm themselves and face off against the threat. This action/thriller film hasn’t been seen by many critics, and notices haven’t been strong. All state that while the movie is polished and the action scenes are decent, the story is overly familiar and little about it will remain with the viewer once the credits roll. This is a DVD-only release. It stars Keifer Sutherland, Tommy Martinez, Solly McLeod, Ashton Sanders, James Keach and Laura Osma.
CHEER DAD – Based on the 2021 book Dad in a Cheer Bow by Patrick Riccards, this autobiographical independent drama tells the story of a dad concerned that his teenage daughter hasn’t found any extracurricular activities of interest. When she takes an interest in cheerleading, he encourages it and then discovers that the school she attends has no program or coach. The father steps in cold and takes on the role for four years, learning how to inspire everyone around him. This low-budget production has only been seen by a handful of reviewers, but they were generally upbeat about the end product. While most noted that the film didn’t have high production values and was rough around the edges, the cast were solid and the end result was sweet and admirable. This is a DVD-only release. The cast includes Tim Perez-Ross, Joey Victoria Lezama, Tosha Carty and Joyce Licorish.
DOLLY – The latest chiller from IFC and Shudder involves a couple who decide to go for a hike in the remote woods. They discover a series of dolls hanging from trees, raising concern about who might have put them there. Indeed, they are attacked by a large figure in a doll mask. The threatening individual kidnaps the woman, takes her home and forces her to be a new “baby”. Terrified, the woman does all she can to escape. This horror feature earned slightly more positive notices than negative ones. A large contingent thought that the slim story was cobbled together from better genre pictures and that the dim-witted characters did little to earn audience sympathy. But slightly more thought it was a disturbing and effective homage to 1970s horror films with some memorably jarring moments. It features Fabianne Therese, Russ Tiller, Michalina Scorzelli and Kate Cobb.
EPIC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT – Back in 2022, filmmaker Baz Luhrmann made a biopic about legendary performer Elvis Presley. While making the movie, Luhrmann discovered never-before-seen Las Vegas concert footage of the star. He worked to restore the picture and sound, eventually creating an IMAX feature that includes performance footage and lost interviews with Presley. The press was quite taken by what they witnessed. One or two admitted they weren’t fans of the singer and thought that, since the movie didn’t really dive too deeply into its subject, didn’t present a deeper picture of the figure. But everyone else was wowed by the new footage, calling it a marvel and easily showcasing what an incredible live performer Presley was. They also were impressed with sections of the interview footage, noting that the artist really was trying to enact social change (particularly with his background singers), refusing to perform without them appearing on stage. It arrives as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack.
THE FURIOUS – Set in Bangkok, Thailand, this martial arts picture follows a man whose daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers. He goes to the police and receives no assistance, but does encounter a journalist looking for his wife (who has also disappeared). It becomes evident that they’re both seeking the same bad guys. The pair go on a rampage, fighting everyone they encounter in order to learn what happened to their loved ones. Response towards this effort was very positive. One or two complained that the plot was almost nonexistent and the endless fight scenes tired them out well before the climax. But all others liked the leads and stated that the action was incredible to behold. In fact, they noted that these bits were so good that, even with the story’s shortcomings, the film was still worth seeing. For now, the film can only be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” through the Lionsgate Limited website. It stars Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, Enyou Yang, Brian Le and Yayan Ruhian.
HOKUM – After the death of his parents, a novelist experiencing writer’s block decides to scatter their ashes at the hotel in Ireland where they honeymooned. Not long after arriving, he hears stories about the site being haunted, as well as a local legend involving a witch who snatches children. He immediately scoffs at the claims, but as supernatural events start occurring, the lead begins to wonder if they might actually be true. This horror film was well-liked by the press. A small contingent claimed that the main character was too unlikable for their tastes, and that it didn’t generate enough in the way of tension or scares. However, the overwhelming majority called the film unexpectedly engaging, offering a twisty, compelling narrative that came together horrifically well during the final act, also benefitting from an excellent lead performance. The film is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. The cast includes Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot and Florence Ordesh.
HUNGRY – Friends vacationing in New Orleans, Louisiana decide to go on an alligator-watching riverboat tour. Before they leave, they are told the history of the swamplands, and that long ago traders attempted to integrate the hippopotamus into the region. While the tour group laugh at the claims, they get lost in the swamps and discover that one hippo has endured the location change with aplomb. The large mammal begins to hunt them down. This picture generally split the press. Almost half felt that once the hippo was introduced, nothing that occurred in the film was different from any other monster in the wild movie and that it all felt predictable. The same number and a few more were amused, saying it delivered on its premise and also provided some (perhaps) unintentional chuckles along the way. This is a DVD-only release. Madison Davenport, Tracey Bonner, Joaquin de Almeida, Michel Curiel and Samantha Cunningham headline the film.
PANDA PLAN 2: THE MAGICAL TRIBE – The Chinese feature Panda Plan with Jackie Chan was a big hit in its homeland in 2024, so the producers have quickly assembled a sequel. In the first film, Chan plays a fictionalized version of himself, a movie star who befriends a zoo panda cub and protects it from mercenaries. This follow-up continues their story, with the pair in the wild, encountering a tribe isolated from the modern world. The group believe that the panda was sent from the heavens to save them, and the two comedically struggle to break free from their clutches. The original wasn’t well-received in this part of the world, and this follow-up also earned mixed notices. A few thought it was a slight improvement over the original and would entertain Chan fans. However, more found this movie grating, and even more tedious than its predecessor, with juvenile gags, bad CGU, and a dull narrative. Besides Chan, it features Li Ma and Shan Qiao.
PROJECT HAIL MARY – Based on the book by Andy Weir (The Martian), this tale follows a middle-school science teacher and ex-molecular biologist who awakens on a space ship with amnesia. He immediately discovers that the rest of the crew have perished, and he is utterly alone. As his memory slowly returns, we learn that the Earth is in imminent danger from unicellular organisms that are dimming the sun. The protagonist does his best to try and find a solution to the problem, and makes another fascinating discovery along the way. This feature was a box office smash and received excellent reviews from critics. A tiny number found it slow-moving and weren’t invested in the lead characters. But all others were deeply impressed, noting how the film’s star carried the narrative. They also appreciated the spectacular visual effects, and theme about the importance of science, and working together to overcome planetary issues. The movie is available as a 4K Ultra HD, a Blu-ray, or a DVD. The cast includes Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce. Read a full review of the movie here.
SEVEN SNIPERS – A single mother living on a rural farm in Australia is surprised by the arrival of a strange figure. The two end up shooting at each other, and the lead must admit the truth to her daughter. Essentially, the lead states that she used to be an assassin, and that an old foe has finally caught up with her. The lead calls in some old friends and the group arms themselves, waiting to fight off the deadliest killer of them all. More write-ups for this independent, international thriller were positive than negative. About one-third complained that the characters weren’t well developed, and so there was little reason to care about what occurred. Still, the majority admired the work of the cast and felt the stand-off was creatively shot and tense throughout. Radha Mithcell, Tim Roth, Annabel Wolfe, Ioan Gruffudd and Ryan Kwanten headline the feature.
SIGNAL ONE – Two young scientists are hired by a tech billionaire and sent to an isolated island without information about their job. Once there, they encounter an older researcher who has created a machine that can communicate with alien species. They send out a message and wait for a reply. The group also questions the motivations of their financier and the possibilities of the discovery for the planet and human race. This independent science-fiction flick hasn’t been seen by a great many reviewers, but reaction from those who have has generally been positive. A small number commented that this was essentially a series of scenes involving talking heads and had little scope to back up its vision. But more noted that the film was well-acted, thought-provoking and offered up some interesting questions. For now, this is a DVD-only release. It features Isabella Fuhrman, Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis and Josh Hutcherson.
TUNER – A young man with an ear condition known as hyperacusis works as a piano tuner. His incredible skills are noted by criminals during his day job, and he is asked to crack a safe for them. Needing the cash in order to pay for his mentor’s medical bills and impress a new girlfriend, the lead’s takes on a financially beneficial relationship with the gang. But his sideline begins to draw attention from all around, putting himself in danger and causing dramatic complications to relationships. The press ranked this drama highly. A few suggested that the story was unbelievable and that the ending didn’t resonate strongly. But everyone else was very impressed, calling the performances fantastic, the story engagingly old-fashioned with well-written characters, and the tension palpable throughout. It stars Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Lior Raz and Tovah Feldshuh.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
Looking for something a little older? There are plenty of options. Arrow Video is delivering Ju-on: The Grudge (2002) as a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD. This is the original classic Japanese chiller about a haunted house that makes sure any human visitors don’t survive long after leaving. It spawned an American remake in 2004, which most agree couldn’t top the original. The disc specs state that the original 35mm camera negative was scanned and restored for this release. It is presented in Dolby Vision. Extras include an introduction from writer-director Takashi Shimizu, two commentary tracks (one from a film historian and a second from fans Sam Raimi and Scott Spiegel), and an English dubbed audio track. There are numerous cast and crew interviews, a featurette with a Japanese film expert on the franchise, on-set interview, deleted scenes with optional commentary, almost an hour of behind-the-scenes footage, an examination of two stories that inspired the movie, as well as trailers and an image gallery. It comes packaged with a booklet featuring writing on the film, and a reversible sleeve with new and original art for the title
Operation Scorpio (1992) aka The Scorpion King is arriving on Blu-ray from 88 Films. It follows a comic book artist who tries his hand at being a real hero, attempting to save a young woman from a prostitution ring and their leader. The film was produced by noted Hong Kong filmmaker Sammo Hung. The original negative has been given a 2K restoration for this release. It comes with a fil, historian commentary, multiple conversations and a commentary track with fight choreographer and stunt performer Won Jin, a sneak peak at an upcoming project by Jin, an interview with the lead actor, promo materials and more.
You can also pick up Stoner (1974) from the same distributor. This is a Hong Kong action film about an Australian cop trying to stop a drug supplier whose latest designer substance “raises the sexual appetites” of those addicted to it. The film stars George Lazenby, Angela Mao, Sammo Hung (who choreographed the action). The film has been given a 2K restoration from the original negative and comes with a movie expert commentary, an export cut of the film, a discussion with Kim Newman about this eccentric project, an alternate title sequence, image gallery and trailer. The packaging features a reversible sleeve.
Coup de Torchon (1981) is an existential crime thriller from France based on the novel Pop by Jim Thompson. The film has developed a large following over the years, and Criterion are now presenting the feature on Blu-ray. It deals with an ineffectual French police chief stationed in Senegal. He teeters on the brink of madness as everything around him goes wrong, eventually exploding into violence. The film deals with the absurdity and brutality of colonialism. The movie has been given a new 4K restoration and comes with a 2001 interview with director Bertrand Taverier (A Sunday in the Country, ‘Round Midnight). There is also an interview with a critic and poet about the work of Thompson, a making-of featuring on-set footage, an alternate ending and trailers.
The horror film Barbarian (2022) is receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook from, of all studios, Disney/Beuna Vista. It involves a woman who rents an Airbnb while going on a job interview and discovers something horrifying within its walls. The film arrives on 4K with an HDR presentation, a writer/director and a producer commentary, an interview with the moviemaker and cast discussing horror titles and the inspiration for the story, and deleted scenes.
Film Masters is releasing Elementary Cinema: The Early Films of Sherlock Holmes (1900 – 1954) a “Special Edition” Blu-ray containing early adaptations of the famous detective. You’ll get a 30-second short produced in 1900, a short film from 1912, a comedy short, a feature called A Black Sherlock Holmes from 1918 presented both as a uncut 2K scan and a restored edition, a couple of cartoons featuring the sleuth, a television adaptation of The Case of the Blind Man’s Bluff from 1954 and an audio recreation of another tale. If you’re a Holmes completist, this will all be of interest.
And Fun City Editions is putting out Spike of Bensonhurst (1988) as a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. This is a coming-of-age drama about an Italian kid who aspires to be a boxer and ends up in trouble after falling for a woman who happens to be the daughter of a mobster. So, well, it’s a unique coming-of-age story. Anyway, the movie was also directed by Paul Morrissey, who made Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula for Andy Warhol in the 1970s. The film has been given a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, and arrives with a commentary, recently recording interviews with the director of photography and casting director, an archival talk with Morrissey, alternate takes from a 35mm workprint, an isolated music track, image gallery and trailer. There is a booklet with an essay on the movie, and it comes packaged with legacy and newly created artwork.
The Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis 3D comedy Money from Home (1953) is being given a 3D Blu-ray and regular Blu-ray combo release from Kino Lorber. This is the first time the film has ever been available in 3D. The plot involves a gambler trying to fix a race, presumably hurling things at the screen while this occurs. Paramount Pictures has delivered a 4K image restoration from the 35mm Dynoptic 3D Technicolor camera negatives. You can watch it in stereoscopic and anaglyph 3D formats, as well as 2D. Two film historian commentaries are included, along with a documentary short on the production, a music short with Dean Martin, an on-set slideshow, a Martin and Lewis Fox Theatre promo, and trailers. A slipcase is also included with early orders.
Lionsgate is making a couple of titles available as exclusives through their Lionsgate Limited website. The first is the horror sequel, The Descent: Part II (2009) which is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Limited Edition” Steelbook. I’ll be honest and state that while the original is a masterpiece (it can also be purchased exclusively through the site), this sequel, well, doesn’t hold up as well. But, if you’re a completist, you can now own both movies. The film has been remastered in 4K (although it was shot on film and finished in 2K) and is presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with cast interviews, and legacy special features like a director and cast commentary, a making-of, a look at the “reasoning” (or, more accurately, rationalization) for the follow-up, deleted scenes with optional commentary, EPK materials, a production design gallery, a storyboard gallery, and trailers.
One title this writer is thrilled to announce is the Sing Street (2016) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Lionsgate Limited exclusive. This fantastic coming-of-age movie is set in Ireland and follows a bunch of kids from a working-class neighborhood trying to start a band. It’s a wonderful, charming and funny film from writer/director John Carney (Once, Power Ballad) that comes highly recommended. For this release, the movie has been given a 4K upgrade and is presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with a new retrospective piece on the feature, as well as an archival making-of, an interview with Carney and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, cast auditions, a trailer, TV spots, B-roll footage, and a music video for the song, “Drive it Like You Stole It”.
Back in the day, Martin Scorsese made a music-centered film starring Liza Minelli and Robert De Niro that flopped at the box office. It followed a couple whose relationship falters after they find success in the music industry. Like many older films, the title has found its admirers and is now making its way to 4K. New York, New York (1977) contains a 4K Ultra HD disc of the expanded cut and a Blu-ray of the international cut of the film. As noted, the 4K disc contains a 4K, 16-bit restoration from the camera negative of the extended cut presented in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio. It arrives with an intro from Scorsese, and a director commentary. The Blu-ray promises the international cut, a lengthy documentary on the production
We’ve been getting several reissues of Jean-Claude Van Damme movies recently. The latest is Death Warrant (1990) arriving from the MVD Rewind Collection as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. The star plays a member of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) who goes undercover in a penitentiary to investigate a murder and ends up imprisoned with the killer he’s been searching for. A martial arts battle ensues. You’ll get a 4K restoration taken from the original camera negative, a director commentary, cast interviews, a talk with co-star Cynthia Gibb, promo materials including a Van Damme trailer gallery and more. Also included is a 4K “LaserVision” mini-poster for the film. A Blu-ray-only edition is also available.
Paramount Pictures is presenting Beverly Hills Cop (1984) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. The contents are exactly the same as previous editions, only in fancier packaging. The same goes for the John Clancy adaptation of Clear and Present Danger (1994) with Harrison Ford. This is the third title (after The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games) in which a CIA analyst is drawn into an illegal war the US starts with a Columbian drug cartel. This is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, which is identical to the previous version, only in new packaging.
Just a few weeks ago, Samuel Goldwyn Films put out RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate (2025). Now, they’re releasing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the title with the highest possible picture quality. If you’ve wanted the movie and haven’t picked it up yet, this may be the version to purchase.
Severing Films is delivering The War Game (1965) as a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD or a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray. This harrowing drama depicted England being hit by a nuclear missile. It was so shocking that it was initially banned for being too graphic, before being rediscovered. It’s now considered a classic and is getting special treatment. The image has been scanned in 4K from the original 16mm A/B rolls for the first time ever, and arrives with more than 5½ hours of all-new special features. Some of the bits include an intro from Alex Cox, a commentary with Kim Newman, video essays on the movie, interviews with crew members and much more.
The Italian slasher, A Bay of Blood (1971) is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Standard Edition” release. This film is the prototype for movies like Friday the 13th, following a group of family members being slaughtered by a mysterious killer after the death of the family matriarch. Three versions of the movie are presented here, all scanned in 4K from superior vault elements, with nearly five hours of new and archival special features. If you appreciate horror movies from Italy and didn’t pick up the “Limited Edition”, this is a must own.
Shout Factory is presenting the theatrical cut of JFK (1991) on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. The distributor previously released the director’s cut on 4K and Blu-ray last summer, and are now offering the theatrical edition separately. This version contains a 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative, supervised and approved by Oliver Stone and presented in Dolby Vision. It also arrives with a Stone commentary.
Universal Studios is delivering several Blu-rays of catalog titles. They include Blindfold (1966) with Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale, the Cinderella update First Love (1939), the musical/comedy I’ll Be Yours (1947), Madame X (1966) with Lana Turner, and Portrait in Black (1960) again starring Turner.
Warner Archive is presenting the swashbuckling epic Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) with Gregory Peck on Blu-ray.
And finally, Warner Bros. is releasing Mars Attacks! (1996) as both a regular 4K Ultra HD and a 4K Ultra HD “Limited Edition” Steelbook. This highly entertaining sci-fi comedy and disaster movie parody from Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow) is based on a series of trading cards that depicts Martians invading Earth and wiping out most of the planet. The film focuses on a variety of human characters trying to survive the onslaught and save the planet. It includes a massive cast that includes Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Lukas Haas, Danny De Vito, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Short, Michael J. Fox, Pam Grier, Rod Steiger, Jim Brown, Natalie Portman, Lisa Marie, Jack Black, Joe Don Baker, and Tom Jones (as himself). Besides the 4K upgrade, the movie is presented in Dolby Vision, and comes with a retrospective featurette, and another bit about the aliens from the movie.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a title that might appeal to kids (although you might want to seek out the original first if you haven’t seen it).
Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe (Well GO USA) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
Below is a listing of the week’s sole TV-related release.
Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (Universal Studios) Blu-ray
