Welcome back to another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s another busy week with big studio films, as well as some quirky efforts from independent outfits. So, if you can’t get to the movies this week or shouldn’t be out in public, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
AMITYVILLE IN SPACE – Back in the late 1970s, The Amityville Horror book and film became a phenomenon, detailing a highly questionable “true account” of a family in a spooky home being terrorized by an evil spirit. In the years since, there have been over a dozen sequels and follow-ups to the story. The latest narrative feature has perhaps the most outrageous concept yet. A priest arrives at the estate and performs an exorcism on the entire house. It disappears. Hundreds of years later, the abode reappears in space and is discovered by a spaceship and its crew. The astronauts investigate the floating home and do battle with sinister forces inside. This is a DVD-only release that is debuting on disc. There have only been a few reviews stating that the film has terrible production values and will only be of interest to those looking for a crummy movie. It features Titus Himmelberger, Cassandra Hayes and Jeff Kirkendall.
THE BOB’S BURGERS MOVIE – This feature film spin-off of the popular animated television series finds the Belcher family dealing with a serious problem after an enormous sinkhole appears in front of their restaurant. Even worse, a long-deceased body is discovered within the pit. While mom and dad do all they can to save their business from bankruptcy, the kids try to solve the mystery of who died and determine if they were murdered. Critics generally had a good time with this film. A small number didn’t find the movie funny and complained that its unique sense of humor didn’t translate well as a feature-length endeavor. However, the consensus was that the move was sweet, silly and delivered exactly what fans of the show would want to see, along with upgraded visuals and higher stakes for all the characters. The voice cast includes H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, Kevin Kline, Zach Galifianakis and David Wain. Click this link to read a full review of the feature.
DRIVE MY CAR – In this Japanese drama, a stage actor/director struggling with the recent death of his wife gets an offer to helm a stage stay. After accepting, he arrives on set and finds a troubled production with fighting between cast members. He also learns that some of the performers knew his wife and, in the process, discovers secrets about her. While the protagonist deals with the turmoil, he finds himself spending time conversing and talking to the driver hired to take him back and forth from work to his hotel. The movie recently won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and was nominated for several other Oscars. As expected, almost every member of the press who saw the movie loved it. Only a few stated that it was overlong, icy and didn’t involve them emotionally. Everyone else wrote that the feature built up momentum as it progressed and was a beautiful and powerful drama with some moving observations. Hidetoshi Nishijima and Toko Miura headline the film.
DUAL – This dark science-fiction/comedy is set in the future and involves a young woman who is given a terminal diagnosis from her doctors. She decides to clone herself in the hopes that a copy will ease the loss for friends and family. After taking part in the procedure, the lead suddenly recovers. When she tries to have her clone decommissioned, things become very complicated. The alternate version of herself takes the matter to court and the two versions of the same person fight in a legal showdown over who deserves to survive. Notices were very strong for this feature. A minor contingent commented that the movie had a great concept but didn’t fully utilize it or examine the deeper themes. Still, the majority suggested the story was unique and that the end results were memorable, well-acted and included plenty of interesting moments. It stars Karen Gillan, Aaron Paul, Beulah Koale and Theo James.
FORTUNE FAVORS LADY NIKUKO – A shy, introspective teenage daughter and her brash and bold mother butt heads in this animated Japanese feature. It seems that the youngster can’t help but be embarrassed by her mother’s exaggerated public displays, adding to her struggles to make friends at school. When a shocking revelation about her mom’s past is revealed, it creates more tension in the family. Response towards this title was upbeat. One or two critiqued the movie for ultimately becoming a melodrama and also thought that some of the humor was mean-spirited. Regardless, most found it charming and vividly animated, also mentioning that it perfectly captured a teenage mind and accurately dealt with all of a youngster’s positive and negative traits. The movie is presented in its original language with English subtitles.
JFK REVISIITED: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – In 1991, writer/director Oliver Stone made JFK, a biopic starring Kevin Costner that detailed the investigation surrounding the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. This documentary from Stone follows his journey as he goes over newly released evidence and reevaluates how the new information ties into the theories from the movie. He is joined by Oscar-winning narrators Whoopi Goldberg and Donald Sutherland (who appeared in the 1991 movie) as he attempts to add more weight to his ideas. Response towards this picture was mixed. Nearly half of reviews called it something of a jumble that failed to present a clear picture of what occurred, saying that it eventually felt a bit loopy and conspiracy-minded. Slightly more called the movie intriguing and felt that the information helped bolster some of the ideas Stone presented in his original film.
MINAMATA – Inspired by a true story, this drama tells the story of photojournalist Eugene Smith. Set in 1971, the film begins near the end of his life with the figure living as a recluse. When he accepts one last assignment from Life Magazine, it takes him to the titular Japanese city to shoot images of citizens suffering from mercury poisoning. Inspired by locals and his translator, his stunning images end up exposing negligence by the government. The picture earned more positive notices than negative ones. About a quarter of reviewers thought this tale was heavy-handed and found the storytelling generic. Still, most were taken by the story, stating that it delivered its message effectively thanks to the strong performance of its lead performer. For the time being, this is a DVD exclusive release. The cast includes Johnny Depp, Akiko Iwase, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jun Kunimura, Minami and Bill Nighy.
RENO 911!: THE HUNT FOR QANON – Reno 911! Is a comedy television series about a group of incompetent cops. It began back in 2003 and has even spawned an occasional movie over the past two decades. Their latest is a TV-movie that finds the officers hunting down a figure who is believed to be behind all of the QAnon conspiracies. The trail leads the group to a cruise ship, where they face off against bad guys at a QAnon convention at sea. This picture hasn’t been reviewed by many and there are only a handful of write-ups currently available for it. One found it to be unfunny and disappointing, but more wrote that it delivered a lot of crazy gags of the hit-and-miss variety. They wrote that enough of the comedy troupe’s material worked to earn the flick a recommendation. It stars Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, Niecy Nash, Kerri Kennedy, Cedric Yarbrough, Carlos Alazraqui, Ian Roberts, RuPaul, Pink and Rob Huebel.
THE RIGHTEOUS – Shot entirely in black and white, this moody thriller involves a grieving man who is struggling with his faith. One night, an injured young man appears on his property and explains that he is lost. The lead and his wife take the unexpected visitor in, but they soon begin to question the story and what this person’s real motivations are. The wounded figure eventually reveals his true purpose and the couple must deal with the horrific consequences. Reaction was very positive towards this picture. A tiny number grumbled that the movie was too downbeat and didn’t offer an effective resolution. The vast majority were taken by the cinematography and the performances, complimenting the film as a deeply felt slow-burn that compellingly delivered a tale of good vs. evil. The cast includes Henry Czerny, Mark O’Brien and Mimi Kuzyk.
THE SACRED SPIRIT – Released as Espíritu Sagrado in its home country of Spain, this quirky story begins with the death of a UFO hobbyist group leader. When its members gather together to mourn their loss and try to figure out what to do next, one of them discovers a secret that may change human destiny. This individual must decide whether to carry on and complete the project alone, or discuss the findings with others. This foreign-language comedy/drama earned plenty of awards at European film festivals and is now debuting on disc in North America (apparently, it will also be available for streaming on Netflix later in the month). Reaction from critics was positive, calling the film a totally unique dark comedy that is hard to pin down. Many have suggested that it is so entertainingly odd it might end up becoming a cult flick. Llum Arques, Nacho Fernández and Rocío Ibáñez headline the title.
THERE ARE NO SAINTS – In this independent action picture, a former hit man finds himself in the firing line after his son is kidnapped by a ruthless cartel boss who wants revenge for a past misdeed. The determined lead vows to rescue his son, hunting down and eliminating all those who get in his way. The story sounds generic, but this film was written by award-winner Paul Schrader (who penned Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, and more recently wrote and directed First Reformed and The Card Counter). The press was not as kind towards this effort as they were for the titles mentioned above. A few called it an effective exploitation picture, but the majority stated that it was clunky, cliched and ineffective. This is a DVD only release. The cast includes José María Yazpik, Tommy Flanagan, Neal McDonough, Ron Perlman, Shannyn Sossamon and Tim Roth.
VENDETTA – And here’s yet another DVD-only low-budget action picture that has been made exclusively for the direct-to-disc-market. This tale involves a man who decides to take the law into his own hands after his daughter is killed by hoods and none of those involved are prosecuted for the crime. As you might have already guessed, very few have seen this picture and those who witnessed it were not thrilled by the results. They collectively said that the plot holes and story inconsistencies were impossible to ignore and that the film didn’t even provide viewers with cheesy B-movie thrills. They simply described it as a bland and forgettable effort, noting that it wasted its sizable cast. It stars Clive Standen, Theo Rossi, Thomas Jane, Bruce Willis, Mike Tyson (yes, that Mike Tyson!) and Jackie Moore.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s an incredibly busy week for those looking for high-definition upgrades of older titles. Arrow Video is releasing the unusual slasher film Hell High (1989) aka Raging Fury on Blu-ray. This picture plays and twists the traditional genre tropes and presents a very unique take on the format. The story follows some nasty high school students who decide to torment one of their teachers. What they don’t realize is that the instructor is dealing with a personal trauma from her own past. She ultimately snaps, turning on the kids and terrorizing them instead.
Besides a sharp new 2K restoration of the picture, the Blu-ray includes a ton of bonus features, including three audio commentaries. One features the director, another has the filmmaker and the cinematographer, while the third contains genre critic Job Bob Briggs giving out information about the production (he also provides an introduction to the title that was used for an earlier release). You’ll get newly recorded interviews with many surviving members of the cast and crew, as well as the score composers. The disc also has a tour of the locations used in the movie, a deleted scene, alternate opening titles, trailers, TV spots, a reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork for the picture, and much more. In fact, you can read a review of the Blu-ray right here!
Additionally, the distributor is rereleasing the phenomenal action/science-fiction/satire Robocop (1987) as a Standard Edition 4K Ultra HD release. It does not include the Blu-ray (you can still order that spectacular version online) and is just for those who want to own the unrated cut of the movie in 4K Ultra HD.
Blue Underground also put out fantastic editions of independent genre titles with incredible picture and sound quality. This week sees the release of God Told Me To (1976) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It is a well-regarded thriller from Larry Cohen (the It’s Alive series, Q: The Winged Serpent, The Stuff) about a New York detective who investigates a series of murders committed by random New Yorkers who claim that “God” commanded them to kill. You’ll get a director commentary, as well as a second track with a pair of film historians discussing the work. Additionally, it comes with interviews with cast members, the special effects artist, a Q&A with Cohen, and plenty of publicity materials like trailers and TV spots. You can check out a full review of the disc right here.
88 Films are presenting the Shaw Brothers martial arts action picture Martial Club (1981) on Blu-ray. It comes with cast interviews, a cinema expert commentary, trailers and more.
The French feature Nathalie… (2003) with Fanny Ardant, Gerard Depardieu and Emmanuelle Beart is appearing on Blu-ray through the Cohen Media Group. The story involves a wealthy wife who hires a prostitute to test her husband’s faithfulness. The three end up developing an unusual and complicated relationship. This picture inspired the similarly-themed drama Chloe (2009) with Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried.
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) is coming from Criterion in either a -4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package or as a standalone Blu-ray. This drama stars Denzel Washington as a WWII war veteran who accepts under-the-table jobs locating missing persons. His latest case involving the disappearance of a socialite eventually gets him mixed up in a political scandal. Jennifer Beals and Don Cheadle have notable supporting roles in the picture. The disc includes a 4K restoration of the film as well as a director commentary, a conversation between the filmmaker and Cheadle. There is also an interview with the screenwriter, archival conversations with cast and crew, screen tests and more bonuses.
Kino are presenting the Blu-ray box set Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema VIII which contains Street of Chance (1942), Enter Arsène Lupin (1944) and Temptation (1946). The set includes film historian commentaries and other extras. You can also pick up a Blu-ray disc called the Maria Montez and Jon Hall Collection, which contains White Savage (1943), Gypsy Wildcat (1944) and Sudan (1945), all of which star the title performers.
Looking for more? The distributor is putting out a Blu-ray of the Academy Award-winning Ernest Borgnine drama Marty (1955). It won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay. You’ll get a 4K master of the title, plus an entertainment journalist commentary, the film presented in two aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 1.33:1) and a trailer.
Native Son (1951) is arriving on Blu-ray from the same distributor. It comes with a trailer and a 32-page booklet and essay on the movie.
The Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford comedies Salt and Pepper (1968) and One More Thing (1970) are being given the Blu-ray Double Feature treatment. The second feature has been given a 2K master and the disc also includes trailers.
There is also a Sidney Poitier Double Feature Blu-ray arriving that has They Call Me Mr. Tibbs (1970) and The Organization (1971). Both of these titles are sequels to the 1967 Best Picture winner In the Heat of the Night from director Norman Jewison.
If you have a 4K set up, Lionsgate is presenting the Gerard Butler action picture Gamer (2009) and the western The Kid (2019) as 4K Ultra HD and digital exclusives. No Blu-rays are included in these packages.
MVD is releasing a “Special Edition” Rewind Collection Blu-ray of the thriller Desperate Hours (1990) featuring Mickey Rourke, Anthony Hopkins and Mimi Rogers. It’s a remake of the 1955 classic that involves an escaped convict on the run who takes a family hostage in their home. The movie was directed by Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate). It comes with a behind-the-scenes featurette, a trailer, a photo gallery and a collectable mini-poster.
Paramount is celebrating the comedy Good Burger (1997) with a 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Steelbook. Pictured below and to the right, Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson and Sinbad star in this tale of a dim-witted teenager and his new coworker who try to save the restaurant they work for from a competitor across the street who is planning to put them out of business.
Instead of genre and horror pictures, Shout! Factory is presenting the historical biopic Lion of the Desert (1980) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It stars Anthony Quinn and Oliver Reed and details the life and history of Bedouin leader Omar Mukhtar, who fought Italian Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini on the battlefield. Disc extras include a producer/director commentary, a making-of, publicity materials and more.
Additionally, you can purchase The Message (1977) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package. This title stars Anthony Quinn as the prophet Mohammad. The release includes two versions of the movie, a commentary with the producer/director, a making-of, promo clips and trailers.
Sony is presenting Men in Black (1997) with an upgraded picture. It’s a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. You can also purchase the entire Men in Black Trilogy made between 1997 and 2012 in 4K Ultra HD with digital copies of the film. Unfortunately, no regular Blu-rays are included in the trilogy set. The studio also has a Blu-ray of the Unrated Version of Prom Night (2008), which was a remake of the 1980 Jamie Lee Curtis title.
Zombie Island Massacre (1984) is a horror/comedy from Troma that you can now purchase on Blu-ray with an array of bonus features.
And VCI has The Aztec Mummy Collection Blu-ray set, which contains three different Mexican titles featuring the title monster. You’ll get The Curse of the Aztec Mummy (1957), The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy (1958) and Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy (1964), all presented with the best possible picture quality. They’re entertaining, cheesy B-movies for drive-in fans and the set includes a video essay about the series with a Mexican film authority.
Finally, Warner Archive is making Adventures of Don Juan (1948) with Errol Flynn available as a made-to-order Blu-ray that can be purchased through Amazon.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here is what is available for little kids.
Peppa Pig: Peppa’s Club – 12 Peppasodes! (Nick Jr.) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And here are all of the TV-themed releases coming your way.
Ancient Aliens: Season 15 (History Channel) DVD
Balthazar: Series 4 (Acorn) DVD
DC Legends of Tomorrow: The 7th and Final Season (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
The Neighborhood: Season 4 (CBS) DVD
Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon (TV-movie) (Paramount) Blu-ray
Seaquest DSV: The Complete Series (Mill Creek) Blu-ray
Yellowjackets: Season 1 (Showtime) Blu-ray