{"id":30504,"date":"2025-01-28T17:46:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T01:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=30504"},"modified":"2025-01-28T17:46:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T01:46:05","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-january-28th-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=30504","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for January 28th, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra\nHD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition doesn\u2019t contain much in the way of big studio\nfare, but it does feature notable cult items, interesting independents and a\nton of older films receiving major upgrades. So, if you can\u2019t make it out to\nthe movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIG NEW RELEASES!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS \u2013 After running away for years and\ntransitioning, a true crime podcaster heads home for the holiday season to try\nand reconnect with locals. It is revealed that part of what drew her to her\nprofession was the town\u2019s urban legend involving a murderer. When slayings\nbegin again that are related to this historical event, the lead attempts to\nsolve the case, uncovering unexpected secrets in the process. This independent\ncomedy\/horror\/mystery was well received by the press. A few commented that\nwhile skillfully made, the screenplay attempted to juggle too many tones and\nthe end product suffered as a result. However, everyone else called the movie\nclever, unique and a lot of fun to watch, while also dealing with important\ngender issues. Many thought it would likely become a cult classic. It stars\nChris Asimos, Dominique Booth, Levi Dawson, Olivia Deeble and Jeremy Moineau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CLOSE YOUR EYES \u2013 In this Spanish-language drama, an actor\nvanishes in the middle of a film shoot. No one can find him and it is\neventually assumed that he accidentally fell off a cliff. Many years later, a\ndocumentary crew approaches the production\u2019s aging director, who never\ncompleted the movie. He and the cast and crew reconnect, recounting their\nexperiences while attempting to figure out what really happened. This feature\nearned raves from critics and it won several awards during its festival run in\n2023 and 2024. One or two voices found the film overlong and didn\u2019t like that\nthe protagonist spent a lot of time complaining about the sorry state of\ntoday\u2019s movies. But the vast majority felt it was a masterpiece, containing a\ncompelling lead, and presenting some fascinating observations about the impact\nof cinema. The cast includes Manolo Solo, Jose Coronado and Ana Torrent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DAD & STEP-DAD \u2013 Hoping to get closer to their\n13-year-old boy, a dad and step-dad head out to the country for a weekend\ntogether. There\u2019s obviously tension between the two men, which is further\nexacerbated by their different personalities and parenting techniques. As their\ntime together progresses, can the three of them find some common ground? This\nis a micro-budgeted comedy with a lot of improvised dialogue and situations.\nReports state that it also features an adult playing the teenage kid (this is\napparently part of the film\u2019s oddball sense of humor). Yet, this little movie\nmanaged to impress just about every reviewer who saw it. All write-ups note\nthat the situations were very funny and the arguments and reactions were\nhilarious to witness. They said it had an original voice and was unexpectedly\nentertaining. The film features Colin Burgess, Anthony Oberbeck, Brian\nFiddyment and Clare O\u2019Kane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE GUTTER \u2013 A chronic underachiever takes on a job at a\nbowling alley and discovers he has an unusual but effective approach to the\ngame. He finds a foul-mouthed trainer and the two end up winning tournament\nafter tournament. Soon, detractors arrive seeking to undermine the hero as he\nsquares off in Las Vegas against the country\u2019s greatest champion. This\nindependent comedy earned mostly complementary notices. About one-quarter\ncalled the jokes tasteless and thought the story fell into a predictable routine.\nThree-quarters suggested that it was a hit-and-miss affair, there were so many\ngags and hilarious moments that the film easily earned a recommendation for\nthose looking for a laugh. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. The\nfilm stars Shameik Moore, D\u2019arcy Carden, with Paul Reiser and Susan Sarandon,\nand features appearances by Rell Battle, Adam Brody, Earthquake, Jay Ellis, Kim\nFields, Nelson Franklin, Jackee Harry, Langston Kerman, Adam Pally and Paul\nScheer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HIPPO \u2013 A video-game obsessed teenager and his Hungarian\nstep-sister are at the center of this independent coming-of-age dark comedy.\nSet in the late 1990s, the teens are raised and homeschooled by a woman who\nbelieves that World War III is imminent. The pair ultimately struggle to fit in\nwith others. As things get stranger and stranger within the household, they\nbegin to act out in increasingly disturbing ways. This effort made a big\nimpression on those who saw it. A small number stated that the characters were\ngrating and that the movie ultimately didn\u2019t have much of a point at all,\nleaving them cold. But the consensus was this grim film was entirely unique\nwith some interesting filmic ideas that worked more convincingly than\nanticipated. They said it would both amuse and disturb in equal measure.\nKimball Farley, Lilla Kizlinger, Eliza Roberts, Jesse Pimentel and Eric Robers\nheadline the picture.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS \u2013 Set in the 19th<\/sup> century, a\ndrunken applejack salesman decides to change professions and become a fur\ntrapper. This occurs after a nasty beaver destroys his business. Hoping to\nstart a successful new line of work and impress the woman of his dreams, he\nheads into the forest and goes face-to-face with an army of clever,\nbuck-toothed animals (played by humans in beaver costumes). This independent\ncomedy was shot in black and white. It got a wide release this year and is\nalready becoming a major cult hit. In fact, it made a few \u201cBest of the Year\u201d\nlists and earned a great deal of praise. One or two critics thought that the\nmovie was too long and also didn\u2019t care for any of the characters, human or\notherwise. But more than 100 reviewers called the film hilarious. They thought it\nwas absolute madness that reminded them of a live-action cartoon. It made them\ngrin from ear-to-ear until the credits rolled. The movie features Ryland\nBrickson Cole Tews, Olivia Graves and Wes Tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE LINE \u2013 A young man entering college with a scholarship\ndesperately wants to break free from his lower-class roots. Once arriving, he\ndecides to check out the school\u2019\u2019s fraternities and joins one that offers an\nimprovement in social status and alumni connections that could make life\neasier. Alas, he soon learns that its members must blindly follow tradition and\norders, leading to conflict when he resists the will of his leaders. This drama\nearned solid reviews from the press. One-fifth of write-ups took issue with the\ndelivery of the script\u2019s themes, believing it didn\u2019t really have much to say\nand there wasn\u2019t much depth to the analysis. Still, most noted the exceptional\nwork of the lead actor and thought it was a strong thriller that pulled the\ncurtain back on some of the nasty and upsetting aspects of fraternities. The\ncast includes Alex Wolff, Bo Mitchell, Halle Bailey and Austin Abrams, with\nJohn Malkovich and Scoot McNairy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE SACRIFICE GAME \u2013 Here\u2019s another holiday-themed\nindependent horror picture. This period effort takes place in 1971 at a school\nfor girls. Two students learn that they must stay behind for Christmas, along\nwith a teacher and her boyfriend. The group try to pass the time together, but\nthe institute is soon raided by a cult that wants to raise a demon. The captors\ntry to escape before they are sacrificed by the psychopathic killers. Genre\ncritics rated this effort highly. There were a few lone voices that found the\nfilm full of genre tropes, dialogue stilted and the drama clumsily executed.\nStill, everyone else found it tense and well-crafted. They also liked the dark\nsense of humor and references to 70s horror, stating that it could become a\nChristmas horror movie staple. It features Chloe Levine, Madison Baines, Mena\nMassoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy and Georgia Acken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SNIPER: THE LAST STAND \u2013 For those who don\u2019t remember, Sniper<\/em>\nwas a 1993 action film with Tom Berenger and Billy Zane about a pair of\nAmerican assassins. This direct-to-disc effort marks the tenth sequel to the\noriginal feature. Of course, the original cast have since been replaced with\nnew characters. In this follow-up, the lead from the previous seven\ninstallments is tasked with training a new team of recruits. They head to South\nAmerica to take out a hit on an arms dealer who is planning on unleashing a\nsuperweapon on the world. The title is a DVD-only release and hasn\u2019t been seen\nby many as of this writing. One or two online write-ups have stated that the\nmovie is competently put together and will entertain those who enjoy the\nseries. Chad Michael Collins, Ryan Robbins, Sharon Taylor, Manuel\nRodriguez-Saenz, Noxolo Dlamini and Arnold Vosloo headline the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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STARVE ACRE \u2013 Folk horror film enthusiasts may be interested\nin this British independent chiller. A couple living a rural life out in the\ncountry become very concerned when their son starts complaining about hearing\nstrange noises. Not long after, he begins acting out in an upsetting manner.\nThe father, who is an archeologist, researches the area and discovers folklore\nabout a sinister tree on the land. A sinister force soon puts the entire family\nin danger. Critics in the UK and abroad wrote highly of the film. A handful of\ncritics complained that the movie lacked tension and didn\u2019t feel particularly\nscary. Regardless, the vast majority described it as a chilling slow-burn with\ngreat performances, plenty of mood and atmosphere, and a powerful finale. It stars\nMatt Smith, Morfydd Clark, Arthur Shaw, Erin Roberts and Robert Emms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019re looking for something older to watch, you have so many options that it\u2019s going to take a while to get through them all. Eureka Entertainment is releasing a \u201cLimited Edition\u201d Blu-ray of the award-winning Hong Kong film Running on Karma<\/em> (2003). It\u2019s a drama\/action film starring Andy Lau as an ex-monk turned bodybuilder who can see the fates of people he encounters. He decides to help an inspector hunt down a killer, but in the process worries about the visions he has of her. It\u2019s actually much better than you might expect. The disc includes a 2K picture restoration, a new subtitle translation, two film historian commentary tracks, a discussion on the movie with an Asian cinema expert, archival making-of featurettes and a trailer, as well as a booklet with an essay on the film and slipcase featuring new art for the movie. Read a full review of the disc here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radiance Films is delivering a couple of notable titles as well. Underworld Beauty<\/em> (1958) is a Japanese title about gangsters searching for diamonds hidden during a heist gone wrong. Things get complicated when the sister of the thief gets in the middle of the conflict. This disc contains a 4K image restoration, an interview with a critic on the feature, a bonus 40-minute film by the same director with a film historian commentary and trailers. It also comes with a booklet that includes an essay on the feature and an archival review, as well as fancy packaging. This is a \u201cLimited Edition\u201d of 3000 copies. You can read a detailed Blu-ray review of this title by clicking this link.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Weak Spot<\/em> (1975) is an excellent political thriller and French\/German\/Italian co-production about a travel agent who is arrested and questioned by members of a fascist government for reasons he can\u2019t comprehend. This disc contains a 4K restoration of the film from the original negative, a critic commentary track, an archival TV interview with a cast member, a discussion about the Ennio Morricone score, a sleeve with designs based on posters for the movie, and a booklet with writing on the feature. This is also a \u201cLimited Edition\u201d Blu-ray of 3000. Read a full review of the disc right here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AGFA is presenting the Blood-A-Rama Triple Frightmare II<\/em>\nBlu-ray, containing uncut editions of the schlocky drive-in pictures She\u2019s\nSix and a He<\/em> (1963), Follow That Skirt<\/em> (1965) and The Undertaker\nand His Pals<\/em> (1966), restored from the best available elements. A film\nexpert commentary track is included, as well as promo materials, a drive-in\nviewing mode, and outtakes from one of the titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The documentary Orders<\/em> (1974) is celebrating its 50th<\/sup>\nAnniversary with a Blu-ray release from Canadian International Pictures. It\ngoes over a dark period in the country\u2019s history. In 1970, two prominent\npolitical figures were kidnapped and the government invoked a War Measures Act,\nallowing for raids on the homes of many citizens. The original negative of the\nmovie has been used and restored for this disc, and bonuses include a historian\ncommentary, interviews with crew, more discussions on the title with film\ncritics, more cast and crew conversations, and a feature detailing a screening\nof the movie at Cannes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinematographe is an excellent new company bringing notable\ntitles to disc. This week, you can pick up the James Mason\/Robert Preston\/Beau\nBridges thriller Child\u2019s Play<\/em> (1972). This effort from Sidney Lumet (12\nAngry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network<\/em>) involves strange goings on\nat an exclusive boys\u2019 school. The Blu-ray contains a 2K picture restoration, a\nfilm expert commentary track, a video essay on the movie, an interview with the\nproduction designer, a documentary short on the director, Lumet being\ninterviewed on Charlie Rose, an hour-long documentary on the first half of the\nfilmmaker\u2019s career, and text essays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Jonathan Demme thriller Last Embrace<\/em> (1979) is\nappearing in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. Roy Scheider plays a\ngovernment agent who uncovers a plot and faces off against villains at Niagara\nFalls. Besides the improved picture quality, this one comes with a film\nhistorian commentary, an interview with the producer, a video essay on the\nmovie and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you enjoy westerns, you can now own Winchester \u201973<\/em>\n(1950) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set or as a standalone Blu-ray. James\nStewart stars in this film about a cowboy who becomes obsessed with recovering\nhis stolen rifle. Universal Pictures delivered a 4K restoration for this\nrelease that also comes with an archival Stewart commentary, a new interview\nabout the movie with a film programmer, a 1951 radio adaptation of the movie,\nand a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris Claremont\u2019s X-Men<\/em> (2018) is a documentary\narriving as a \u201cStandard Edition\u201d Blu-ray from ETR Media. It\u2019s about the writer\nwho transformed the X-Men<\/em> comic book into the famous property that it is\ntoday. The disc contains a director commentary, additional interview material\nand a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Adventures of Tarzan<\/em> (1935) is arriving on\nBlu-ray courtesy of the Film Masters Archive Collection. It\u2019s a serial\nfeaturing Herman Brix as the title character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Film Movement is presenting Candy Mountain<\/em> (1987) on\nBlu-ray. This independent film stars Kevin J. O\u2019Connor and involves a musical\ntrying to locate legendary guitar maker Elmore Silk, whom he hopes to strike\nwith to make himself famous. It also features Tom Waits, Joe Strummer and many\nmore. The disc contains a 2K picture restoration, a talk about the movie with\nauthority Alex Cox, as well as other extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictured to the left, Cash Calls Hell<\/em> (1966) is also being released by the distributor. This Japanese crime picture follows a cash-strapped ex-con who decides to kill a man for money. It has also been given a 2K restoration and arrives on Blu-ray with a video essay and video talk about the movie, as well as a booklet with a lengthy essay on the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icarus Films is putting out a Blu-ray of No Home Movie<\/em>\n(2015). According to press releases, this follows a filmmaker documenting the\nlife of her mother, a Polish immigrant and survivor of Auschwitz. Bonuses\ninclude another documentary chronicling the moviemaker and her many titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hong Kong Shaw Brothers erotic whodunit Maybe It\u2019s\nLove<\/em> (1984) is arriving on Blu-ray from Kani. This disc features an\ninterview with the director, a short film, and a booklet with writing on the\nmovie.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kino is delivering the Cary Grant\/Sophia Loren rom-com Houseboat<\/em>\n(1958) on Blu-ray. It follows a widower and dad who lives on a boat and\nultimately falls for his governess. Paramount Pictures delivers a new master of\nthe movie from a 6K scan of the 35mm VistaVision negative. A film historian\ncommentary is included, as well as two trailers for the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Orca<\/em> (1977) is an over-the-top Jaws<\/em> knock-off featuring a killer whale. It has become something of a cult film over the last decade or so. It\u2019s about an Orca that has a personal vendetta against the fisherman who hunted and killed a family member. Richard Harris stars with Charlotte Rampling. This movie is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set and can also be picked up as a Blu-ray only release. You\u2019ll get a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, two film historian commentaries (one of them brand new), and a trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sea of Love <\/em>(1989) with Al Pacino is now available in\na 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It follows a New York cop who falls for a\nsuspect in a serial killer case. Ellen Barkin plays the potential murderer, and\nthe cast also features John Goodman and Michael Rooker. This is a 4K Dolby\nVision restoration from the original camera negative. You\u2019ll also get a film\nexpert commentary, an archived director commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes\nand trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shout at the Devil<\/em> (1976) is a World War I action\npicture that teams Lee Marvin with Roger Moore. This Blu-ray release includes a\nmovie authority commentary and trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can also pick up Teacher\u2019s Pet<\/em> (1958) on Blu-ray.\nThis is a rom-com with Cary Grant and Doris Day about a newspaperman turned\ndisgruntled teacher who falls in love with a professor. Paramount Pictures is\ndelivering a new master of the movie from a 6K scan of the 35mm VistaVision\noriginal camera negative. Extras include a film historian commentary and\ntrailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vin Diesel movie enthusiasts may want to purchase a 4K Ultra\nHD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook of The Last Witch Hunter<\/em>\n(2015), in which he battles the most horrifying sorceresses in history. This\none arrives courtesy of Lionsgate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Severin Films specializes in cult films and always delivers\nincredible transfers packed with extras. This week is no exception, with three\nRuss Meyer pictures appearing as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray sets (they can also be\npicked up in Blu-ray only editions). The three titles include Vixen <\/em>(1968),\nSupervixens<\/em> (1974), and Beneath the Valley of the Vixens<\/em> (1979).\nThat\u2019s a lot of vixens! Apparently, these erotic pictures were all scanned and\nrestored from the 35mm original camera negatives. They all come with archived\nRuss Meyer commentaries, interviews and much, much more. If you like the\nfilmmaker, then all of these discs will be enormously entertaining and will\nfeature incredible bonus features.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For horror enthusiasts like myself, the big release from\nSeverin is the \u201cStandard Edition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of Dario\nArgento\u2019s Opera<\/em> (1987). This English-language Italian \u201cgiallo\u201d features\nan opera singer and the cast of a major production being stalked by a maniacal\nkiller. The movie features some memorably disturbing murder set-pieces and,\nlike other Argento efforts, is visually spectacular. It includes an impressive\n4K restoration of the director\u2019s cut and US version, along with multiple\ncommentary tracks (two with film historians and one with lead actress Cristina\nMarsillach), as well as interviews, promo materials and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eccentric independent comedy Kuso<\/em> (2017) is being\nreissued on Blu-ray by Shudder. This tale follows several Los Angeles residents\ntrying to rebuild their lives after an earthquake. It stars Hannibal Buress,\nGeorge Clinton, David Firth and many more. The disc features a film critic\ncommentary, an interview with the writer\/director, two shorts from the\nfilmmaker, behind-the-scenes footage, extended scenes and a still gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you enjoyed the horror film Rumpelstiltskin<\/em> (1995)\nback in the day, then you may want to visit the Terror Vision website. A 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray \u201cStandard\u201d Terror Vision exclusive of the film is\navailable there. This picture places the mythic character in modern day Los\nAngeles, where he tries to trick and take the baby of the recently widowed wife\nof a police officer. Besides the director-approved picture upgrade, bonuses\ninclude a filmmaker commentary, a making-of with cast and crew, a retrospective\npiece, new behind-the-scenes on-set footage, publicity materials and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Death Laughs Among Us: The Complete Works of John Schnall<\/em>\nis a new Blu-ray from VHSHitfest containing award-winning and edgy shorts from\nan animator with 40-years of experience and has worked for MTV, Comedy Central\nand other famous companies. It comes with all of his work with commentary, a\nfeature-length documentary about him, 80 minutes of additional movies, radio\nshows, easter eggs and music videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vinegar Syndrome is having a very busy week. This incredible\ndistributor releases incredible editions of cult movies, with pristine picture\nquality and tons of extras. Often, they\u2019ll put out a title but only make it\navailable through their official site for a while, before making it available\nat other outlets (Amazon, etc.). Now, a few of those efforts are appearing\neverywhere. They include Black Eyed Susan<\/em> (2024), the hilarious Trey\nParker\/Matt Stone musical comedy Cannibal! The Musical<\/em> (1993), The\nCoffee Table<\/em> (2022).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release of the\nso-bad-it-well-might-be-entertaining (at least, if you ask me) summer\nblockbuster wannabe Congo <\/em>(1995) is also appearing at all retailers. The\ninternational film Hukkle<\/em> (2002) is also getting a wider release on\nBlu-ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019re a cult movie fan, then you\u2019ve heard about the 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray of the unusual horror film The Keep<\/em> (1983) from\nMichael Mann (Manhunter, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, Collateral<\/em>).\nThat one has been nearly impossible to find on any video format for decades. It\nwas released and sold out on the site last month, but you can now purchase a\n\u201cStandard Edition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another big Vinegar Syndrome exclusive was the cheesy Sharon Stone thriller Sliver<\/em> (1993). Pictured to the right, it came after Basic Instinct<\/em> broke box office records and features the lead moving into a condo and being watched by a potential murderer. The film also stars William Baldwin and Tom Berenger. You\u2019ll get the uncut version of the film on 4K Ultra HD, cast and crew interviews, the electronic press kit, alternate scenes, and publicity materials. The only thing it apparently doesn\u2019t have is the original ending (which has been posted on YouTube).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what\u2019s new and exclusive at the Vinegar Syndrome\nwebsite. Plenty. Bang the Drum Slowly<\/em> (1973) is being released in\nconjunction with Cinematographe in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It\u2019s a sports\ndrama about a ballplayer who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and his\nrelationship with a teammate. It stars Robert De Niro and Michael Moriarty and\nwas nominated for an Oscar. Besides the new picture upgrade, you\u2019ll get a\ndirector commentary, a film historian commentary, an interview with the\ndirector, a video essay on the movie, and text essays on the title. This\nedition comes in a Mediabook slipcase<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crack House<\/em> (1989) is a violent thriller featuring\nJim Brown as a drug kingpin who targets two teenage lovers. Richard Roundtree\nalso appears in the film. Scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm\ninterpositive, this title will be available on Blu-ray in a bottom loading, VHS\nstyle slipcase that includes a double-sided poster. Conversations with the\ncinematographer, as well as the lead actor are featured extras. There is also a\nlook back at the locations used in the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy old Paul Naschy films? Then you can own a triple-pack\nof three Spanish genres pictures starring the performer. Curse of the Devil<\/em>\n(1973), The Vampires Night Orgy<\/em> (1973) and Demon Witch Child<\/em>\n(1975) have all been restored in 4K and look better than ever. The three-disc\nset contains so many bonuses that they can\u2019t all be listed here, but expect\nplenty of interviews and featurettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deranged<\/em> (1974) is a famous, low-budget cult movie\nbased on the life of serial killer Ed Gein. Truth be told, this chilling effort\nis considered to be one of, if not the most authentic depictions of the figure\never committed to film. Co-director and writer Alan Ormsby would go on to write\nDead of Night, My Bodyguard, Cat People, Porky\u2019s II: The Next Day, Popcorn<\/em>\nand The Substitute<\/em>) Vinegar Syndrome is making a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\nedition available exclusively through their site. The original camera negative\nhas been given a 4K restoration, and the set comes with an Ormsby commentary, a\ntrack with make-up effect man Tom Savini, a film historian commentary, an\narchival documentary on the movie, as well as interviews with Savini, cast\nmembers and movie experts. Publicity materials are included too,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iced<\/em> (1989) is a slasher about a group of friends who\nreturn to a ski lodge and party. It happens to be the same spot where their\nfriend died six years earlier, and the group are soon targeted by a killer.\nThis Blu-ray release has been restored from the best surviving tape master.\nYou\u2019ll get a director intro to the movie along with a commentary track, a film\nhistorian commentary, an interview with the filmmaker, second assistant\ndirector and a cast member, as well as an image gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s an interesting Blu-ray that I definitely want to\ncheck out, Keanu & Co.. This <\/em>is a disc that contains several early\nperformances from actor Keanu Reeves as he was starting out in Canada. One\nStep Away<\/em> (1985), Out of a Job<\/em> (1986) and Running Scared<\/em>\n(1986) were part of a \u201cFamily Crisis\u201d National Film Board series. Think of them\nas Canadian After School Specials<\/em>. They were 30-minute short films made\nto deal with social issues facing families during this time period. Reeves is\nthe lead in the first one and plays a memorable supporting character in the\nother two. The release is in conjunction with Canadian International Pictures\nand extras include. All the titles are scanned in 2K from the NFB\ninterpositives. There are a ton of interviews with cast and crew, as well as\ntwo bonus 50-minute \u201cFamily Crisis\u201d films (not featuring Reeves) and other\nshorts made by the directors.  You can also watch a VHS version of One\nStep Away. The set also contains a reproduction booklet of the series\u2019 viewers\nguide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Last Circus<\/em> (2010) is another notable Blu-ray and\nmovie from Spanish filmmaker Alex de la Iglesia (Mutant Action, The Day of\nthe Beast, Perdita Durango<\/em>). It\u2019s a dark action\/comedy set during the\nSpanish Civil War and the rise of Francisco Franco. A sad circus clown falls in\nlove with a trapeze artist who is married to an abusive husband, who also\nhappens to be a happy clown. Things get very disturbing and violent as conflict\nbetween the two escalates. While little seen in North America, in my opinion\nthis is among de la Iglesia\u2019s best films. It is arriving with a new transfer\nfrom the HDCAM master, a film historian commentary, a video essay, a making-of,\nbehind-the-scenes footage, visual effects footage and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mongolian drama\/comedy The Sales Girl<\/em> (2021) is\nalso available on Blu-ray as a Vinegar Syndrome exclusive. It\u2019s about a young\nwoman who takes a job at a sex shop. The disc includes a making-of and a\ntrailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The independent comedy Smiley Face<\/em> (2007) is also\ngetting a Blu-ray through the website. The story involves a slacker actress\ngetting into trouble with various associates over the course of one day. The\ncast includes Anna Farris, John Krasinski, Adam Brody, Ben Falcone, Brian\nPosehn, Jim Rash and Jane Lynch. It comes with a film historian commentary and\na booklet with an essay on the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Terrornauts<\/em> (1967) is an eccentric\nscience-fiction thriller from England\u2019s Amicus Studios which is said to be\nquite a hallucinogenic ride. The title has been restored in 4K from its\noriginal 35mm camera negative. It comes with a film historian commentary, a\nmovie expert interview, as well as archival discussions with the editor and\nproduction manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vinegar Syndrome is also presenting a Blu-ray double-feature\nof the supernatural Hong Kong features The Seventh Curse<\/em> (1986) and Witch\nfrom Nepal<\/em> (1986). Both feature Chow Yun-fat. You\u2019ll get two versions of\nthe first title listed, multiple film historian commentary tracks, a video\nessay on the movies, trailers for the features and reversible sleeve artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Warner Archive is making some catalog titles\navailable on Blu-ray. You can pick up the political fantasy Gabriel Over the\nWhite House<\/em> (1933). And comedy enthusiasts may enjoy the rom-com Just\nFriends<\/em> (2005) with Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart and Anna Faris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is a list of some animated efforts that kids (or\nparents who remember the shows) may enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daffy Duck\u2019s Quackbusters<\/em> (1988 direct-to-disc\nfeature) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles<\/em>: The Complete\nSeries (1966-1967 animated series) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ON THE TUBE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this week\u2019s TV-related efforts can be found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheyenne<\/em>: The Complete Series (Warner Archive\nCollection) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles<\/em>: The Complete\nSeries (1966-1967 animated TV series) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers<\/em>\n(Hallmark) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

House M.D.<\/em>: The Complete Series (Universal) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last Stand at Saber River<\/em> (1997 Tom Selleck western\nTV-movie) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATURE: Attenborough’s Life Journey<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vienna Blood<\/em>: Season 4 (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait Till Your Father Gets Home<\/em>: The Complete Series\n(1972-1974 syndicated animated TV series for adults) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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