Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There’s some interesting new stuff coming your way, along with few cult classics from years ago. 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!
The Barge People – A couple of sisters decide to head out on a getaway with their boyfriends, renting a barge and sailing on an English canal in a remote area. That’s always a bad idea in a horror movie. Before long, the group learns that toxic chemicals have been dumped in the waters and they find themselves under attack from cannibal mutant monsters. Can the group fight them off before they are devoured? This low-budget genre picture played at various horror film festivals over 2019. It didn’t end up getting a big release, but has managed to pick up a distributor on disc. As such, there aren’t many reviews for the movie. A few who did see the movie over the past year did post a few online comments, calling the flick a bit clumsy in its execution. The cast includes Kate Davies-Speak, Mark McKirdy, Makenna Guyler, Natalie Martins and Matt Swales.
The Collini Case – In this foreign-language crime drama, a young lawyer is tasked with defending a retired Italian worker living in Germany who has murderer a famous industrialist. The barrister accepts the case even after it is revealed that that he was a protégé of the victim. That might seem like a conflict of interests, but the protagonist continues and soon discovers a vast conspiracy around the slaying. The press appeared to be very positive about this title. A small group complained that the movie felt too conventional and overbaked to engage viewers. Still, far more complimented the performances and suggested that this was a solid legal drama that presented some interesting surprises along the way. It stars Elyas M’Barek, Alexandra Maria Lara, Heiner Lauterbach, Manfred Lapatka and Franco Nero.
Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons – The Movie – Regular readers will no doubt be familiar with all of the animated direct-to-disc features based on comic book superheroes being released. This R-rated entry from DC deals with Deathstroke, a family man by day and villainous killer by night. When his various attacks on the public result in his own son being kidnapped, the lead is forced to atone for his past and try to save his child. Critic response towards this effort was solid. There was as contingent who found it a little bland and thought that this title didn’t offer any twists to set it apart for other titles in the line. Still, most suggested that the feature was well animated and featured a lot of exciting (and bloody) action that would please adult comic book fans. The voice cast includes Michael Chiklis, Sasha Alexander, Asher Bishop and Castulo Guerra.
A Dog’s Courage – This title was supposed to have been released in April, but was pulled at the last minute and is arriving now. Known in some parts of the world as The Underdog, this animated feature from South Korea tells the story of a dog that is abandoned by its owner and forced to live on the streets. The lead finds a pack of stray pooches and joins them in their attempts to redefine themselves and make a new own human-free home. This movie played at several festivals in various countries including South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, where it appeared to earn a positive response. However, there are currently no detailed reviews available in this part of the world, so interested parties will have to throw caution to the wind and go into it cold. The disc itself presents both the original Korean-language version with English subtitles as well as an English-language dub.
Enter the Forbidden City – A famous opera singer in Imperial China gets himself thrown out of Beijing for vulgarity. After making a new start in another town, he takes on apprentices and teaches them the tricks of the trade. Years later, his work has resulted in a famous opera company and the group are invited back to the capital city for a big celebration. The lead must decide whether or not to accept the offer and if he returns, how to address and deal with those who had cast him out years before. This historical drama hasn’t been seen by many in this part of the world, but it was a success in its homeland. In fact, it nabbed several nominations and won a few awards at festivals and the Chinese equivalent of the Oscars. The cast includes Dalong Fu, Jinghan Ma, Yili Ma and Ziwen Wang.
Fragtime – While daydreaming, a teenager discovers that she has a very unusual gift… that she can freeze time for a few minutes. Unfortunately, she can only do it once a day and since it’s only for a brief period, she is unable to really use it to change much. However, when she decides to use the gift to approach another female classmate that she has a crush on, the lead is shocked to discover that her target is immune to her powers. The embarrassed student is put in an awkward situation and tries to make it up to the classmate, with their relationship developing in the process. There aren’t many articles about this picture as of yet, nor is there a critical perspective on it. One online review suggested that this movie is a sweet coming-of-age tale that could have developed its concept further, but still manages to charm.
Guest of Honour – This drama deals with a complicated father-daughter relationship. It begins after a teacher is jailed for sexual assault on a student. She doesn’t fight the charges, claiming that she should be imprisoned for something she did earlier in her life. Her anguished and angry father arrives to try and get her released. He has issues as well, taking his aggression out on others at his place of work. As we learn more about the characters, we learn about their troubled past and what led to their strange choices. Reaction was mixed towards this film. Some commented that this grim and downbeat feature was one of best later efforts from Canadian writer/director Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter, Ararat, Remember). However, a slightly larger percentage found the characters difficult to relate to and the story ponderous. It stars David Thewlis, Laysla De Oliveira, Luke Wilson and Rossif Sutherland.
I Am Vengeance: Retaliation – One movie that won’t be accused of being too intellectual or ponderous is this British action picture that is a sequel to the 2018 direct-to-DVD film, I Am Vengeance. This follow-up begins with its ex-Special Forces hero being tasked with transporting the criminal who betrayed the protagonist’s unit during their final mission. The hero would rather kill the villain, but agrees to the job and must evade assassins and mercenaries to get the bad guy to jail. Reaction was roughly split towards this follow-up. A group thought it was an entertaining B-movie that featured some decent action scenes. Still, more said the thinly drawn story was riddled with clichés that no gunfights and fisticuffs could overcome its deeper flaws. Stu Bennett, Vinnie Jones, Sam Benjamin and Jacob Anderton headline the feature.
Looks That Kill – This independent teen comedy features a lead with an incredible bizarre condition. He’s so attractive that he can kill anyone with his incredible looks. As a result, the kid is forced to wrap himself in bandages and make himself look unappealing to others. His life changes when he meets a girl with a bizarre ailment of her own. She decides to help the lead on a quest of self-discovery and two soon develop feelings for each other. This title was released on the internet last month and is now arriving on disc. There isn’t much press about the feature and, as of right now, only a couple of notices have appeared. They haven’t been overwhelming, stating that the cast are fine but that the story feels cobbled together and derivative. If features Brandon Flynn, Julia Goldani Telles, Ki Hong Lee and Annie Mumolo.
Open 24 Hours – A woman is released from an asylum after years of abuse from her serial killer boyfriend. Known as The Rain Ripper, the maniac used to force her to watch him as he mutilated people. Out on her own, the heroine quickly realizes that others are suspicious of her and she has difficultly finding a job. After taking a position as an all-night gas station attendant, she begins suffering from terrifying visions involving mutilated friends and co-workers… or could the bodies be real? Response towards this indie horror flick was split. Almost half said it could never get a handle on the proper tone and felt like a missed opportunity. Still, there were a few more who believed that this was a well-acted and effective creeper. The cast includes Vanessa Grasse, Brendan Fletcher, Cole Vigue and Emily Tennant.
The Outpost – Based on a true story, this war picture follows a group of soldiers stationed at the deadliest outpost in Afghanistan. When they are unexpectedly surprised by a massive force of Taliban insurgents, the men must guard the facility, fend off the onslaught and try to remain alive. This feature was recently released for streaming and is now arriving on disc. Despite a lack of publicity, the movie was well regarded by the press. One or two stated that by the end they ultimately decided that the enterprise had little of importance to say about the situation that what was displayed. However, the consensus was that the movie was an extremely tense and disturbing, expertly edited and nerve-wrecking throughout. It stars Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom, Jack Kesy, Cory Hardrict and Milo Gibson.
Prevenge – This UK horror/comedy has actually been around for a few years, but has been a streaming exclusive on Shudder in North America. Now it is finally being released on disc. The story involves a woman in the seventh month of her pregnancy who begins believing that her unborn child is influencing her behavior. Guided by her fetus, the mom-to-be goes on a rampage, killing anyone who gets in her way. Overall, critics enjoyed this dark comedy. A small number complained that beyond the unique concept, the flick didn’t have much to say and was in bad taste. Still, the majority did suggest that this was a clever flick and felt that it was hinting at more than what was on the surface. They also said that it benefited from an exceptional lead performance. The cast includes Alice Lowe, Gemma Whelan, Kate Dickie and Jo Hartley.
Those Who Deserve to Die – A small southern town is rocked by a series of savage murders committed by a figure dressed in a cape alongside a very sinister young girl. In the meantime, a troubled war veteran returns home to attend college and fulfil a family obligation. He soon begins dating a social worker. The more time they spend together, the more that the new girlfriend sees connections between the soldier and the maniacs. There currently is only one critic review available for this independent horror picture. It’s a middling write-up, suggesting that the flick has its strengths but sparks between the leads isn’t one of them, and as a result it doesn’t quite reach the heights that it’s aspiring to. It features Joey Sykes, Rachel Frawley and Lynn Lowry.
Blasts from the Past!
While most of this week’s new releases are for quirky and independent releases, that isn’t the case for all the older titles arriving on Blu-ray. Arrow Video are getting the ball rolling with the new release of the cult flick, Flash Gordon (1980). For those who aren’t familiar with the character or theme song by Queen, this hero is one of the greatest ever. In truth, he’s a football player tasked with taking down a sinister megalomaniac named Ming the Merciless, who wants to take over and destroy the Earth. The movie tanked when it was released 40 years ago, but has a cheesy charm, a great soundtrack and has developed a large following over the years.
You can get multiple Limited Editions from Arrow including a 4K version, as well as 2-disc Collector’s Set and a standard version. Apparently, this release features astounding picture quality, newly restored in 4K. You’ll get multiple archives audio commentaries, including one with director Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Black Rainbow, Croupier). You’ll also get interviews with just about all of the cast and crew, an archival documentary on the movie, an episode of the animated series spin-off (that was quickly cancelled after the film bombed), deleted scenes, ideas for the sequels that never happened, a 35th anniversary special that includes the director and cast discussing the feature.
There’s also a new and lengthy special on what happened behind the scenes of the movie. It seems that Nicholas Roeg (Don’t Look Now, The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Witches) was initially hired to make the movie, but left just before filming began. You’ll find out just what his version might have been like. You’ll also see a 2017 feature-length documentary on star Sam Jones and the effects both positive and negative that this flick had on his acting career. And much, much more. It sounds like an incredible and informative disc that should please anyone interested in the movie.
And they are re-releasing their out-of-print Special Edition Blu-ray of The Last House on the Left (1972). It’s an impressive, bonus-filled remastering of the early creeper from writer/director Wes Craven (The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream).
Arrow are also delivering the well-regarded sci-fi/horror/action flick, Pitch Black (2000). This marked an early starring role for Vin Diesel and remains one of his best flicks. He plays a convict on a spacecraft that crashes on a deserted planet. When the sun sets, the survivors discover that hungry aliens have come out to feast. The crew, passengers, an officer and the criminal must overcome their differences and team up in order to survive. This Special Edition includes new 4K restorations of the theatrical and director’s cuts of the movie, two archived audio commentaries (one with director David Twohy and cast members including Diesel, the other with the filmmaker alongside the producer and visual effects team). It also comes with brand new interviews with Twohy, the visual effects supervisor, the composer, all of the bonuses from older releases of the movie, behind-the-scenes footage, a short prequel to the movie, an animated short featuring Riddick, publicity materials and other extras.
Japanese monster movie fans, today is a big day. Arrow are also putting out an 8-disc Blu-ray box set called Gamera: The Complete Collection (1965 – 2006) which contains every film ever made starring the giant heroic monster-battling turtle (there are 12 full-length features in total). Some of the earlier films are silly and a few of the later ones stand tall with any Godzilla flick out there. All of them are loads of fun. You’ll get the uncut Japanese version of every flick and hours of extras (the most recent grouping of films is being given a 4K upgrade). The set also includes multiple historian commentaries and bonuses. In addition, you’ll receive a 120-page comic reprint of a four-issue series starring Gamera and book featuring a new retrospective on the series. It all looks incredible.
Shout! Factory are releasing a Blu-ray title as well. Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) is another period Hammer picture starring Peter Cushing as the legendary mad scientist, still alive making a new creation. This edition includes a film historian audio commentary, a new special on the career of the producer of the movie, an archived audio track with cast members and publicity materials.
Kino have a great many Blu-rays on offer. They include the Richard Widmark western Backlash (1956) and the World War I feature, The Eagle and the Hawk (1933), starring Cary Grant and Carole Lombard. The drama Old Boyfriends (1979) has been given a 4K Blu-ray remaster. This drama stars Talia Shire (Rocky) as a psychiatrist whose marriage falls apart. She decides to find old boyfriends to see if their bad behavior influenced her or caused her marriage to implode. The movie also stars Keith Carradine, Richard Jordan and John Belushi. All three of these titles come with film historian audio commentaries and trailers.
Raid on Rommel (1971) is a World War II action adventure with Richard Burton as a Captain behind enemy recruiting a new group of soldiers to fight with him. The Red Ball Express (1952) is another war feature in the same vein featuring Jeff Chandler and Sidney Poitier. Soldier Blue (1970) was promoted as an anti-racist western with Candace Bergen. And Wake Island (1942) is, yet again, a World War II flick about Marines fighting off Nazis. All four of these Blu-rays include film expert audio commentaries.
Recently, the distributor also started delivering Double Feature Blu-rays of hilariously out-of-date educational films as part of their Forbidden Fruit line. Their latest addition contains She Shoulda Said ‘No!’ (1949) and The Devil’s Sleep (1949). This is the sixth volume and both of the flicks are anti-marijuana movies that exaggeratedly detail the problems associated with smoking cannabis. The disc includes a historian commentary on one of the pictures and a trailer gallery.
Sony are delving into their back catalog with Blu-rays of catalog films. The first is the Robbie Benson Olympic ice-skating drama/romance Ice Castles (1978). Rubin & Ed (1991) is a quirky comedy starring Crispin Glover and Howard Hesseman about an odd recluse and a desperate salesman who end up teaming up in order to seek out a burial spot for a deceased cat. The pair end up stranded together in Death Valley. The feature includes some trippy images of the feline – count me in as being very interested in catching up with this flick.
If you miss action pictures from the 1980s, you can now see Fred Dreyer take on baddies in Scorpion’s release of Death Before Dishonor (1987). The Blu-ray includes a new HD master of the movie, as well as a recently recorded interview with the director and another talk with co-star Kasey Walker. You’ll also get a trailer.
Criterion have two new Blu-ray releases as well. The first is for the star-studded drama, The Comfort of Strangers (1990). Set in Venice, it follows a couple working on their relationship who are manipulated by a stranger they encounter in the city. Rupert Everett, Natasha Richardson, Christopher Walker and Helen Mirren headline the movie. The transfer comes from a new 4K master and the Blu-ray includes two commentaries (one with director Paul Schrader and a second with a film historian), interviews with Christopher Walken, cinematographer Dante Spinotti and many others. It also comes with a trailer.
Town Bloody Hall (1979) is a documentary from D. A. Pennebaker (Monterey Pop, Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back) and Chris Hegedus (Jimi Plays Monterey) in which he records a debate and discussion between rabble-rousing author Norman Mailer on female liberation with members of the women’s movement. No doubt he comes off looking quite bad. The film has been restored in 2K, includes a new interview and commentary with Hegedus, footage from a 2004 celebration of the film, an appearance by Mailer on The Dick Cavett Show and archival interviews with Germaine Greer and Mailer.
Warner Archive are making the Whoopi Goldberg period drama Clara’s Heart (1988) available as a made-to-order Blu-ray. She plays a housekeeper in Baltimore who forms a bond with the troubled teenage boy (a very young Neil Patrick Harris) in the family.
Paramount are putting together four horror releases and repackaging them as the Thrills & Chills! 4-Movie Collection (2018 – 2019). The Blu-rays includes are the recent remake of Pet Sematary (2019), A Quiet Place (2018), Crawl (2019) and Overlord (2018). There are a couple of flicks in there that are entertaining.
Finally, Universal also have a Blu-ray of their horror picture, Curve (2015). This one is about a woman who tries to commit suicide by crashing her car in the mountains. She survives, but finds herself trapped in the vehicle and tormented by a psychopath.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some releases that may appeal to youngsters.
A Dog’s Courage
Emma! 2: Dance Spectacular! (The Wiggles)
On the Tube!
And here are the week’s TV-themed titles.
Batwoman: Season 1
Cursed Films (five-part Shudder documentary series)
Matching Hearts (Hallmark TV-movie)
The Terror: Infamy: Season 2