Welcome to another edition detailing some of the Blu-ray and DVD highlights coming your way. The holidays are arriving, which means that there are a great many new releases too that include one of the biggest films of the year. So, since you can’t or likely shouldn’t be going out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Abrakadabra – This independent co-production between Mexico, Argentina and New Zealand pays homage to Italian “Giallo” thrillers of the 1970s and 80s from filmmakers like Dario Argento (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Deep Red). The story involves a washed-up magician with a drinking problem who becomes the prime suspect the murder of a woman. The performer sets out to prove that he has been framed and find the real culprit. This movie has been released in most countries over the past couple of years, but is only now arriving in North America. There aren’t a great many reviews for it here just yet, but those from the rest of the world have been reasonable. They suggested that while some of the story aspects are a little clunky, the tone and mood of this stylish flick is spot on and should impress fans of the genre. It features Germán Baudino, Eugenia Rigón, Gustavo Dalessanro and Clara Kovacic.
Alone – Scheduled to be released on disc earlier in the year, this title disappeared at the last minute and is finally arriving on shelves this week. A widow in the Pacific Northwest endures great hardship after being targeted by a serial killer. She is kidnapped and taken to a remote cabin in the woods. After breaking free into the wild with no idea where she is, the protagonist must survive the harsh elements and escape from the pursuing psychopath. The press was positive about this indie thriller. One or two of them griped that the story was much too familiar and that the lead wasn’t well-written enough to make us care about her plight. However, most thought the performances were solid and stated the movie was expertly shot and edited, maintaining tension throughout the running time. It stars Jules Wilcox, Marc Menchaca, Anthony Heald and Jonathan Rosenthal.
Audrey – Actress, fashion icon and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn is the subject of this documentary. The film details her remarkable life, beginning with early years in which she was abandoned by her father and forced to live in Holland under Nazi occupation. It details how these traumatic events shaped her as her career progressed and she won an Academy Award at the remarkably young age of 24. Response to the feature was mixed-positive. A sizable group thought that the movie was overly sweet and didn’t do much but provide a series of interviews about note how wonderful the star was. However, slightly more felt that while the moviemakers didn’t dig into the figure’s life as deeply as they could have, this was still an interesting portrait detailing the many efforts of an altruistic and noteworthy individual.
Aviva – An online relationship between two very different dancers on opposite sides of the globe develops into something more in this independent drama with musical elements. The two become romantically involved and the feature follows the love affair and marriage that follows. Naturally, the pair face hurdles as they come together, facing internal and external cultural struggles as they attempt to build their new life together. Response was largely upbeat towards this effort. A few did complain that the movie tried to tackle too much and ended up feeling unfocused and underdeveloped. Still, the majority commented that most of the experiments worked, resulting in a unique effort with impressive dancing scenes. It stars Zina Zinchenko, Tyler Phillips, Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber.
Battle of the Bulge: Winter War – One of the major offensive campaigns near the end of WWII was the Battle of Bulge, in which German soldiers mounted one last surprise attempt to seize control northern European coastlines (that including Belgium and France). This biopic follows a group of American soldiers tasked with protecting a vital supply depot. With forces encroaching, the men do their upmost to fight and slow down Nazi forces. This picture had a video streaming premiere a few weeks back and is now debuting on disc. Thus far there are no reviews for it, with the exception of a couple of online notices from a few who rented it. These write-ups suggest that the low-budget limitations and historically inaccurate elements negatively impact the production. The cast includes Tom Berenger, Billy Zane, Steven Luke and Aaron Courteau.
The Beach House – This thriller involves a couple with relationship troubles who decide to head out on a romantic getaway in order to reconnect. When they arrive, they unexpectedly run into their parent’s friends who are staying nearby. The two try to be pleasant and spend a bit of time with the older couple, but events and interactions become more and more threatening after the introduction of a strange infection at the vacation site. Overall, response towards this independent film was positive. A couple of notices suggested that the movie ran out of ideas and thrills as the story progressed. However, the majority called it an eerie and effective little creeper that offers viewers plenty of unsettling surprises. It features Liana Liberato, Noah Le Gros, Jake Weber and Maryann Nagel.
Beasts Clawing at Straws – A struggling restaurant owner caring for his unwell mother discovers a large bag of cash in a locker. Meanwhile, a customs official finds himself in serious trouble after his girlfriend disappears with a large sum of money he borrowed from a gangster. As you might have guessed, both of these stories eventually intersect, leading to a lot of danger for the protagonists. This foreign-language feature from South Korean played at several film festivals around the world this year and won many accolades. The press also enjoyed the picture. They admitted that some of the characters were simple archetypes, but called the movie an exciting and engaging suspense picture that moved at a zippy pace and reminded then of early works by the Coen Brothers. It stars Jeon Do-Yeon, Woo-Sung Jung and Sung-Woo Bae.
The Call – Horror fans might be curious about this picture, which some will note features a couple of familiar faces. Set in 1987, the story begins with a group of friends getting into a tragic accident. They hurry from the scene to a nearby home to try and get help, but find that the occupants are less than helpful, and perhaps even dangerous (there is even some suggestion of some kind of demonic possession). The youngsters must survive the night and try to find their way back to safety. There currently aren’t many reviews available for this picture. A few have popped up online, but they aren’t very positive. In fact, many have complained that the story takes too long to get going and doesn’t deliver the necessary chills. The cast includes Lin Shaye, Tobin Bell, Chester Rushing and Erin Sanders.
Chick Fight – A woman in a funk and struggling to turn her life around is introduced to an all-female fight club. She joins and become involved in their unusual competition, only to discover that she is more connected to the history of the organization that she ever could have imagined. No double this comedy is inspired in part by the popular 1999 drama, Fight Club. Unfortunately, reaction towards the feature has been less than enthusiastic. One or two reviewers called it an entertaining and fun B-movie. However, most referred to the feature as a dull and routine effort that doesn’t take any chances and deals with the issues it raises in an insincere and less-than-amusing manner. Malin Akerman, Bella Thorne, Dulcé Sloan, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Nash and Alec Baldwin headline the film.
The Dark and the Wicked – In this independent horror flick, several relatives arrive at a secluded farm in a rural town to visit a dying family member. The mood is already somber between them, but things take an even darker turn when the group begin experiencing waking nightmares and visions. They soon start to believe that a dark force may be trying to take over the entire brood. The press wrote that this little creeper was very effective. A small contingent found it so downcast and uneventful that they didn’t find it very tense. However, most appreciated the focus on character and mood rather than graphic shocks. They believed that the eeriness on display would make an impression and stay with you long after the credits roll. It stars Marin Ireland, Michael Abbott Jr., Julie Oliver-Touchstone, Lynn Andrews and Xander Berkeley.
Echo Boomers – Loosely based on a true story, this heist film follows a group of struggling college graduates in debt with various tuition fees and expenses from school. After finding the economy and corporate world unfair and build on a lie, the group plot an elaborate scheme. They decide to steal from Chicago’s richest citizens and redisperse the funds to themselves. Naturally, after setting the plan in motion, they find the cops on their tail. Thus far, critics have had more complaints than compliments for this feature. One thought it was a well-acted little flick that followed a familiar formula but did so with aplomb. However, most felt that the themes weren’t well formed and the drama didn’t suspend audience disbelief. The cast includes Michael Shannon, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Pettyfer and Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Fisherman’s Friends – This British comedy follows a London record executive searching for the next big thing. The cynical protagonist leaves the city in frustration for a stag at a remote Cornish village. One of his pals pranks him by telling him to sign a group of local, shanty-singing fishermen to their label. Over the course of his stay, he befriends the eccentric performers and begins to question his own career choices. Reaction towards this picture has been mixed-positive. Some found the characters and story too predictable and formulaic to recommend. Others found it entertainingly sweet and heartfelt, while another faction thought the musical performances were so good that it made up for any script issues. James Purefoy, Meadow Nobrega, David Hayman and Maggie Steed headline the picture.
Hello World – When computer software development began, it was a mostly women-led industry. Over time, the employees and leaders slowly evolved into a white male and Asian majority. This documentary follows the beginnings of the industry and how the work force slowly changed, eventually tackling the topic of why women, as well as many minorities don’t pursue careers in software design. The makers hope to demystify the profession and encouraging those of all backgrounds to become involved in this ever-growing field. This interesting title is debuting on disc and on iTunes for streaming this week. As of right now, no one has seen it so is no critical consensus on the picture. Interested parties will just have to take a chance on it.
Here on Out – Here’s another independent production that little information is available for. According to the press synopsis, it’s about a group of childhood friends celebrating their college graduation by going to a cabin in the woods… bad idea! As hope for the future gives way to terror of the unknown, the party start to suspect that something sinister may be stalking them. Believe it or not, it isn’t a horror movie but instead is described as more of a thriller. Again, there aren’t many reviews available for it, but a couple have appeared online. Surprisingly, the write-ups state that this movie, while made with limited funds, does offer good performances and a few surprises. It features Nicole Brydon Bloom, Austin Larkin and Claire Lord.
Infidel – One of the higher-profile releases this week is this thriller set in Cairo, Egypt. An American man is asked by a friend to travel to the city and speak to an audience about the nation’s recent military uprisings. Unfortunately, he soon finds himself kidnapped and held hostage by a fringe group. His wife decides to head off to Egypt and attempt to free her husband from the captors. Reaction towards the thriller was slightly more positive than negative. Those who disliked the picture stated that it was all over the place tonally and had so many contradictory ideas that it was difficult to determine what the message was. A slightly higher percentage wrote that while it didn’t make the most of its concept, the cast were excellent and the movie delivered enough thrills and action to earn it a pass. The movie stars Jim Caviezel, Claudia Karvan, Hal Ozsan and Stelio Savante.
The Last Sermon – This documentary comes from two filmmakers who were patronizing a bar in Tel Aviv, Israel back in 2003. A suicide bomber suddenly appeared out of the blue and almost killed the pair. Years later, the two men travel across Europe to learn more about terrorist groups and what inspires their acts. Notes about the film state that while visiting refugee camps and mosques, the two encounter dynamic characters, healing music and a tragedy that pushes them forward in their quest. This title is debuting on streaming services and on disc at the same time, so very few have actually seen the finished product. It did earn some accolades at the Queens World Film Festival earlier in the year, picking up a pair of awards there.
The Opening Act – The plot of this comedy follows a struggling comic who finally gets a break from his stand-up hero when is asked to be emcee on a tour. It doesn’t take long for the protagonist to experience some shocking realities as his favorite comedian deals with hecklers, drunken groupies and other unexpected issues. The lead realizes that even if he can manage to survive the chaos, he still has to find a way to prove himself onstage. Reaction was quite upbeat towards this feature. A few didn’t think that the story was detailed enough in depicting life on the road. However, the overwhelming consensus was that while the movie unexpectedly teetered towards drama at certain points, it was a sweet, fascinating and funny flick that felt authentic. The film stars Jimmy O. Yang, Alex Moffat, Cedric the Entertainer, Bill Burr, Ken Jeong, Jermaine Fowler, Whitney Cummings, Tom Segura and Iliza Shlesinger.
The Reason – Universal Pictures are releasing this faith-based drama this week exclusively on DVD. The story follows a mysterious stranger who arrives in a small town. He introduces himself to locals, who are suffering from all kinds of personal problems. There’s a five-year-old boy who has leukemia as well as a blind pastor who hasn’t spoken in nearly 40 years. Miracles soon begin occurring, with the unusual visitor bringing citizens together with the power of faith. Subtlety does not seem to be emphasized in this religious drama and as of right now no one has seen it. It will be debuting on disc, so anyone interested will simply have to go in trusting that the movie is a quality product. The cast includes Lou Gossett Jr., Tatyana Ali, Beverly Todd, Kelly Carlson and Burgess Jenkins.
Tenet – The big release of the week (or year, for that matter) is this thriller from writer/director Christopher Nolan, known for features like Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar and Dunkirk. This tale follows a nameless man who journeys on a time-bending mission involving international espionage in order to save the planet from a menacing threat. The press responded favorably to the latest adventure from the filmmaker, although not quite as strongly as they have for some of his other works. A small group didn’t think there was much emotional heft to the proceedings and were confused by the numerous twists. Still, most commented that the movie was a technical accomplishment with plenty of wild thrills. They also commented that it possessed an unexpected sense of humor. The movie features John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh, Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Himesh Patel and Michael Caine.
Waiting for the Barbarians – This period drama is set at an isolated outpost in an unnamed country run by a colonel magistrate. When his own nation’s army arrives on site with the intention of interrogating locals about an impending uprising, the lead is horrified by the cruel and vicious methods. He begins to suffer a crisis of conscience and tries to figure out what he can do to help those being tormented by his superiors. Critics were split about the finished film. Almost half thought the movie was slow and heavy-handed in its approach. offering simple and obvious solutions to complex problems. However, just as many noted the it effectively depicted some of the horrors of colonialism and felt it benefitted from impressive performances. The cast includes Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, Greta Scacchi and David Dencik.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow – A werewolf begins causing trouble for a small mountain town after a murder victim is found during a full moon. Of course, the town sheriff isn’t initially convinced that this is the work of a monster, instead fearing that a psychopath is rampaging through his community. He sets out to identify the culprit before the lives of more citizens are taken. This picture played at drive-ins earlier in the year and is now arriving on disc and streaming platforms. Word on the movie was very upbeat. A small contingent complained that they didn’t care for the tone and exaggerated humor. Regardless, most said that once you got on its wavelength, it was an enjoyably oddball low-budget effort that effectively mixes humor and horror on its own terms. It stars Jim Cummings, Riki Lindhome, Robert Forster, Chloe East and Will Madden.
Blasts from the Past!
It’s an equally busy time for older flicks getting high-definition upgrades. Arrow Video are releasing a Special Edition Blu-ray the fantastic cult classic, Tremors (1990). This is a comedy/horror flick about giant worms who attack a small desert town, trying to eat up the locals. Two handymen (played by Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward) team with a scientist and local citizens to survive the rampaging threat. It’s a near perfect popcorn flick with hilarious performances and plenty of entertaining monster action. The movie’s following has grown so much over the years that the picture that has inspired an entire series of sequels which, well, don’t match the quality of the original.
While the movie has been released on Blu-ray before, the disc was criticized for its poor picture quality. That problem has now been rectified. The Blu-ray has a 4K restoration of the film from the original negative that has been approved by the director and cinematographer. The set comes with two new commentary tracks (one with the filmmaker and a second with an expert on the series) and a lengthy documentary that includes recent interviews with the cast and crew. There’s also a separate discussion with the co-producer who details the movie’s rocky road to the big screen. If that weren’t enough, there are also individual talks with the director of photography, the associate producers, the film’s composers and funny clips of TV airings with the swear words replaced. You’ll also get all of the bonuses from the earlier releases, including another documentary, deleted scenes, promo material and other extras.
Olive films have a Blu-ray of Nelson Algren Live (2016). It’s a recording of a celebration of writer Nelson Algren (perhaps best known for his novel, The Man with the Golden Arm) on what would have been his 100th birthday. Many celebrities appear to do readings, including a standout moment from Willem Dafoe. The disc comes with essays on the Algren, a photo essay and trailers.
Those looking for some action can pick up Guncrazy (1992) on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual. The movie is about a pair of young lovers who go on a killing spree. It stars Drew Barrymore and James LeGros. This release includes a feature-length making of, a feature on the director as well as a commentary featuring the filmmaker. You’ll also get behind-the-scenes clips, a 1992 making-of featurette, and publicity materials for the feature.
VCI have a Blu-ray of the drama, Mutiny (1952), about sailors plotting against one another to steal some loot during the War of 1812. This title arrives with an upgraded transfer, as well as a newsreel about the movie and a gag reel.
Shout! Factory are digging into the vaults to release some animated features from Japan. They have new Blu-ray Steelbooks of the Hayao Miyazaki films, Castle in the Sky (1986) and the Oscar-winner, Spirited Away (2001). These titles feature all of the expected extras in impressive new packaging. You can also purchase From Up on Poppy Hill (2011), which Miyazaki co-wrote. This film tells the story of a group of Yokohama teens who try to save their school from being torn down for the 1964 Olympics. This disc arrives with extras as well, including both the Japanese and English-language versions, a well as features on the production and voice acting.
Kino are always good for some interesting older flicks and this week is no exception. They’ve got a Blu-ray of the Phoebe Cates/Bridget Fonda/Tim Roth/Eric Stoltz drama, Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993). You’ll get a 4K restoration of the movie, a director commentary, behind-the-scenes footage and plenty of publicity materials. The distributor also has the thriller, Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970). This title comes with a commentary featuring the screenwriter and a film critic.
They also have Ladybug Ladybug (1963), a drama about a school forced to contend with panic after sirens going off warning the facility of an imminent nuclear attack. This film has been given a 2K restoration and also includes a trailer. And they are releasing a Blu-ray of the Faye Dunaway drama, Puzzle of a Downfall Child (1970). This release features an interview with the director, a film historian commentary, a restored theatrical trailer, an alternate opening scene and more.
Blue Underground, run by filmmaker William Lustig, always do an exceptional job of remastering great genre pictures. This week they have new 4K Blu-rays of two Lustig cult greats…. The psycho killer flick Maniac (1980), as well as the action movie Vigilante (1982) with Robert Forster and Fred Williamson. Both of the features are said to look stunning with their new upgrades and come with so many extras that it might take several days to get through them all.
Speaking of action, Well Go USA is also presenting a legendary martial arts series in 4K. Ip Man: The Complete Collection (2008 – 2019) presents all four films in the Donnie Yen franchise detailing the famous Hong Kong figure. They’re impressive action movies with great fight choreography and now everyone can see every punch and kick with crystal clarity. Apparently, the set includes a poster and a compendium book with facts about the productions.
Additionally. genre film fans can pick up a Blu-ray of the thriller American Rickshaw (1989) courtesy of Cauldron Films. It’s about a Miami rickshaw runner who finds a mysterious VHS tape in his carriage and becomes a target of killers who want to retrieve it. Experts say it’s a bizarrely entertaining flick and horror veteran Donald Pleasance even puts in a brief appearance. This picture was only released on VHS back at the end of the 80s and is finally making a high-definition debut with a 2K restoration from the original camera negative. You’ll also get a film critic commentary, an interview with the director and the production designer as well as a few other bonuses.
Full Moon Features are putting out a Blu-ray of the Paul Naschy flick, Orgy of the Living Dead (1973) with a new restoration. And Dark Force are readying another in their series of Blu-ray B-movie pairings. Their Drive-in Double Feature #9 contains Hollywood High (1976) and Teenage Mother (1967), said to be two dubious features about unwanted teen pregnancies. And Media Blasters are presenting the slasher Blood Sisters (1987) with a 4K restoration alongside a Special Edition of the Japanese monster movie, Devilman (2004).
Looking for something more in the arthouse mold? Criterion are delivering the Mexican feature Amores Perros (2000) on Blu-ray. This is the feature debut of Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro Inarritu, who made 21 Grams, Babel, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and The Revenant. It follows three unusual individuals whose lives intersect after a tragic event. The feature appears on disc with a new 4K restoration, an interview with Inarritu, a documentary on the making of the film, rehearsal footage, a discussion with the composer, a video essay on the title with a movie scholar, music videos and more.
Gravitas are presenting the Blu-ray debut of the documentary, Sidemen: Long Road to Glory (2016). Made a few years back and released exclusively on DVD, it details the lives of three musicians who played for famed blues figures Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. You can also pick up the Marx Brothers comedy, A Night in Casablanca (1946) on Blu-ray from ClassicFlix.
While most movies coming down the pipeline are Blu-ray releases, there are also a couple of DVDs arriving on shelves this week. Samuel Goldwyn Films is putting out Drowning Mona (2000) on DVD, which has been out of print since its original debut on disc. It’s a comedy about an officer investigating the tragic passing of a cruel and obnoxious local woman… whom the entire town wanted dead. The movie flopped during its original release and it’s far from high art, but if memory serves it was an entertainingly brash dark comedy. It features a great cast that includes Denny DeVito, Bette Midler, Neve Campbell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Casey Affleck, William Fichtner, Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy and Brian Doyle Murray.
Liberation Hall have a DVD of the hard-to-find, Jane and the Lost City (1987), a tongue-in-cheek adventure flick based on a famous British comic strip about a pin-up model saving the free world during World War II. The cast includes Sam J. Jones (Flash Gordon) and Maud Adams (Octopussy). The new DVD includes a director commentary track.
And finally, Warner Archive has several new Blu-rays on the way. The first is for the Judy Garland musical, The Harvey Girls (1946). Additionally, they are releasing the Kirk Douglas picture, Young Man with a Horn (1950) in high definition.
You Know, For Kids!
There’s plenty of entertainment for young children arriving this week.
Curious George: Go West, Go Wild
LEGO Jurassic World: Double Trouble
Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales: The Complete Collection
Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2 (1942 – 1957) Warner Archive
On the Tube!
Avenue 5: Season 1 – Warner Archiveb
The Expanse: Season 4
Kenny Rogers Double Feature: Coward of the County / Wild Horses
Marseille: The Complete Series
Masterpiece: Roadkill (PBS)
Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales: The Complete Collection
Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2 (1942 – 1957) Warner Archive