{"id":32510,"date":"2025-11-25T20:28:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T04:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=32510"},"modified":"2025-11-25T20:28:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T04:28:20","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-november-25th-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=32510","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for November 25th, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra\nHD, Blu-ray and DVD. This is a remarkably busy edition, with a ton of new films\narriving in a wide variety of genres, as well as older films receiving\nhigh-definition upgrades. So, if you can\u2019t make it out to the movies this week,\nbe sure to give one of these titles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

AJ GOES TO THE DOG PARK \u2013 An average guy living in Fargo,\nNorth Dakota enjoys spending his spare time in a dog park with his pets. One\nday, he learns the city is going to shut the area down. The man reacts\nintensely to the news and does everything he can to prevent its closure,\nleading to various complications in his personal and professional life. This\nvery low-budget independent title received decent reviews from festival\nscreenings. A small number noted that the concept wasn\u2019t really deep enough to\njustify a full-length feature and that it suffered from technical issues common\nto homemade pictures. However, the majority were amused, stating that it was\nsweet, silly and ambitious, winning them over and impressing them with its\nwacky, high-energy exploits. It features AJ Thompson, Greg Carlson and Danny\nDavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

ANEMONE \u2013 A man leaves home in Northern England and sets out\nto find his recluse brother. He eventually finds his sibling living in a shack\nand attempts to convince him to return home to his family. As the two talk,\nviewers learn the man is a veteran who served in Northern Ireland and endured a\ntraumatic event. The pair share dark secrets with each other as they attempt to\nreconcile the past. The press was split over this heavy drama from the UK.\nAlmost half found it a slow and dreary slog, claiming it was difficult to\nconnect to these brooding characters. But slightly more believed that those who\ncould bear with the grim story would be treated to fantastic performances that\nwould leave a lasting impression. This feature is available in a 4K Ultra HD\nand Blu-ray set or as a standalone Blu-ray. The cast includes Daniel Day-Lewis,\nSean Bean, Samuel Bottomley and Samantha Morton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

BONE LAKE \u2013 In this indie chiller, a couple rent a lakeside\nhouse for a quiet, relaxing weekend. When they arrive, they meet another couple\nwho claim to also have rented the site. After talking it out, they all decide\nto share the place. But it isn\u2019t long after unpacking that the protagonists\nfind the other couple acting strangely, playing disturbing tricks and\nmanipulating them. The leads become concerned after discovering that several\npeople have recently disappeared in the area. Reaction towards the feature was\ngenerally positive. A small number complained that they were tired of seeing\nhorror pictures set around Airbnb rentals and that there was nothing memorable\nabout this effort. Yet the majority thought that the characters were more\ndeveloped than anticipated and that the unsettling events in the story were\ntense and compelling. Maddie Hasson, Marco Pigossi, Alex Roe and Andra Nechita\nheadline the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

BRUTE 1976 \u2013 Here is another independent genre feature. It\nis set in the late 1970s and follows a group of people heading out to the\ndesert for a photo shoot. As they wander deeper into the dusty landscape, they\nfind a ghost town they think will make the perfect shooting location.. But, as\nit turns out, a family of masked psychopaths have squatted there and set out to\nmurder the new arrivals. So far, only a handful of reviewers have seen the\npicture and response was divided. Half called it a dreary knock-off of 70s\nhorror films that just made them want to watch an older genre title. They felt\nthe cast, editing and just about everything else didn\u2019t work. The same number\nappreciated the movie\u2019s nods to the earlier timeframe and thought it delivered\nsome effectively grimy and disturbing shocks. It stars Sarah French, Adriane\nMcLean, Gigi Gustin, Dazelle Yvettte and Adam Bucci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES \u2013 If you\u2019re looking for big budget\nstudio horror, the latest and supposedly last entry in this long-running series\nis also an option. This tale involves Ed and Lorraine Warren, a\nhusband-and-wife paranormal investigation team, looking into an antique mirror\nthat may not only be possessed by an evil force, but also have a personal\nconnection to them. Things become more problematic when Ed\u2019s weak heart begins\ngiving out. This effort was a box office hit and received more upbeat notices\nthan negative ones. About forty percent of critics noted that the film was\noverlong and predictable, failing to match the original. Still, the majority\nclaimed that it was an improvement over the previous installment, delivering\ngood performances and enough jolts to earn it a recommendation. You can\npurchase the film on 4K Ultra HD only, as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook,\nin a Blu-ray only release, and in a 4-Film Collection Blu-ray set. The cast\nincludes Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

COYOTES \u2013 This independent genre flick combines humor and\nhorror. Set in the Hollywood hills, a family learns that a raging wildfire is\napproaching their home. If that wasn\u2019t bad enough, a pack of hungry coyotes\narrives at the door ready to tear them apart. The leads have to survive the\nwild animal attacks and figure a way past the blaze in order to survive.\nReaction was divided for this picture, although slightly more reviewers gave\nthe movie a pass. Close to half commented that the performances were fine, but\nthat the story failed to generate much in the way of laughs, tension, or\nover-the-top shocks. Still, a slightly larger number believed the movie would\nwork well for its intended audience, with charismatic leads, some grisly\neffects and a dose of dark humor. It features Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Mila\nHarris, Brittany Allen and Norbert Leo Butz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DESERT OF NAMIBIA \u2013 International cinema fans may appreciate\nthis drama from Japan. A moody young salon employee is unhappy with the beauty\nstandards placed upon young women. She manages to land a new boyfriend, but her\nerratic behavior, which includes wild and extreme swings of despair, happiness,\nanger and violence, threaten both the relationship and her employment. A small\nnumber of reviewers have seen this effort, but they rated it highly. One\nwrite-up got tired of all the sudden and unexpected behaviors and lost interest\nin the fate of the protagonist. However, everyone else wrote that the picture\ndealt with a complex character\u2019s psychological issues in interesting ways,\nsuggesting this film would help viewers understand what might be going through\nthe mind of a person suffering from this condition. Yuumi Kawa and Daichi\nKaneko headline the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

ELEANOR THE GREAT \u2013 A 94-year-old\u2019s best friend and roommate\npasses away. She is forced to pack up from her Florida home and move in with\nher daughter\u2019s family in New York. To try and meet new people, the senior\nvisits a community center and decides to gain attention by passing on her late\nfriend\u2019s experiences as a holocaust survivor as her own. This leads to a\nscandal, but in the process the woman manages to befriend a 19-year-old\nstudent. This drama is notable as the directorial debut of actress Scarlett Johansson.\nOverall, reaction to the feature was positive. About one-third of the press\nliked the cast members but called the screenplay overly sentimental and felt\nthat it didn\u2019t delve deeply enough into its themes. Regardless, most were\nengaged by the story, stating that it dealt with grief effectively and had an\nemotional impact on the viewer. It stars June Squib, Erin Kellyman, Jessica\nHecht, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Rita Zohar.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

GABBY\u2019S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE \u2013 The popular children\u2019s Netflix series gets a live-action\/animated feature film in this tale that finds the main character going on a road trip with her grandmother. When her magical dollhouse is lost, the protagonist learns that a wealthy toy collector\/cat lady has taken it to her mansion. Gabby searches the city trying to find the eccentric woman\u2019s house, while her friends attempt to navigate their way out of the spacious estate and find their human friend. Notices were very good for this kid\u2019s feature. A small number complained that the film was tediously positive and wouldn\u2019t work for anyone who wasn\u2019t already a part of the show\u2019s fanbase. Still, the majority commented that the picture would offer inspiration to little ones and a positive outlook. They also felt that the adult cast added a few laughs for parents. The cast includes Laila Lockhart Kraner, Gloria Estefan, Kristin Wiig and the voices of Jason Mantzoukas, Tara Strong, Fortune Feimster, Thomas Lennon and Kyle Mooney. Read a full review of the movie right here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

HOT SPRING SHARK ATTACK \u2013 For those who appreciate\nultra-low-budget cheeseball films involving killer sharks, you have a new title\ncoming your way. Also known simply as Hotspring Sharkattack<\/em>, his\nJapanese comedy follows visitors who start disappearing while at a hot spring\nresort. The town mayor, a marine biologist, and a grizzled cop discover that\nthere is a new breed of shark that can not only survive in freshwater, but\nsqueeze through narrow waterways. The group tries to stop the menace before\nmore tourists perish. More reviewers enjoyed this picture than disliked it.\nAbout one-third stated that the cliched story, intentionally bad jokes and\neffects wore out their welcome quickly. However, most thought the film was\npoking fun at the subgenre\u2019s tropes, resulting in an entertainingly ludicrous\nand surreal movie experience. And if you like this one, rest assured a sequel\nis already in production. The movie features Daniel Aguilar, Sh\u00f4ichir\u00f4 Akaboshi\nand Takuya Fujimura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I LOVE YOU FOREVER \u2013 This indie rom-com involves a\n25-year-old law student trying to navigate her way through the dating scene.\nAfter a series of hookups and noncommittal relationships, she meets a young\njournalist whom she feels a deep connection to. It all starts off wonderfully,\nbut when cracks begin to show in the relationship, the lead is forced to\nreevaluate the situation. In doing so, she must ask herself if she is the\nproblem, or if the modern dating scene is to blame. Generally, reaction towards\nthe feature was good. A small number of critics found the characterizations\nvapid and didn\u2019t think it displayed toxic relationships in a believable or even\ndarkly funny manner. Still, the majority were impressed by the dialogue,\nperformances and observations about the dating scene. A few also complimented\nthe story\u2019s unpredictability, which kept them on edge. Sofia Black-D’Elia, Ray\nNicholson, Jon Rudnitsky and Oliver Cooper headline the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE LONG WALK \u2013 The latest Stephen King film adaptation is based on an early book from the author written under pen name Richard Bachman. In this tale, the country has been taken over by a totalitarian government, leaving most of the country poor. A televised competition is developed to inspire the nation. In it, a young male from every state participates in a walk for incredible riches. But, whenever one of them moves at less than 3 miles per hour or can\u2019t go on, they are shot dead. The last person left walking wins. Viewers follow a group of competitors in this horrific challenge. This dark drama earned excellent reviews. A tiny contingent found the picture so depressing and hopeless that they couldn\u2019t recommend it. However, everyone else was deeply impressed by the work of the cast and the characterizations. They found the movie both shocking and powerful. It can be purchased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook or as a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonnson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, Mark Hamill and Judy Greer. Want to know more? Read all about the movie here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

LOOKING THROUGH WATER \u2013 This tale involves an older man\nsharing an important story with his grandkids. Many years earlier, the speaker\nwas a busy business executive. But following a major embarrassment at an award\nceremony, the man is contacted by his estranged father. He is asked to join his\ndad in a fishing competition taking place in the country of Belize. They\ncompete together and try to repair their strained relationship. Response was\nupbeat towards this family drama. A limited contingent critiqued the movie for\nbeing a predictable father-son drama that didn\u2019t offer anything new, and at\ntimes even contradicted the message it was attempting to relay. However, the\nvast majority stated that the film was fluffy but enjoyable, thanks to an\nexcellent cast and its kind-heartedness. A few even compared it to the\nOscar-winner On Golden Pond<\/em>. The cast includes Michael Douglas, David\nMorse, Walker Scobell, Tamara Tunie, Asher Goodman, Barry Livingston and\nMichael Shahl-David.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

LURKER \u2013 A shop employee meets a rising music star in this\nindependent feature. The artist invites the worker to see him perform in\nconcert. Before long, the worker finds his way into the performer\u2019s entourage.\nHe makes himself useful by shooting videos of the musician. But after an\naltercation, the lead is pushed away. Things become obsessive as the character\ntries to force his way back into the inner circle. This picture sounds like the\nrecent title Friendship<\/em>, but is presented as a serious drama. Reaction\ntowards the movie was strong. A few reviewers thought it was repetitive and\ndidn\u2019t think it had much new to say about characters who crave attention and\ncelebrity culture. Still, the consensus was that the movie was effectively\ndisturbing and took the necessary time to develop the problems inherent in a\nrelationship between a famous individual and a fan. It features Th\u00e9odore\nPellerin, Archie Madekwe and Sunny Suljic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

MONK IN PIECES \u2013 Composer performer, director and more\nMeredith Monk is the subject of this documentary. Beginning in the 1960s, she\nchallenged norms in theater and created multi-disciplinary works combining\nnumerous different elements including music, theater and dance. The film tells\nher life story and catches up with her today in her early 80s while undertaking\nher latest production. The picture wasn\u2019t seen by a large number of press\nmembers, but was well-received by those who did catch it. One reviewer commented\nthat jumping between the subject\u2019s past and current work left a lot of gaps.\nSo, they didn\u2019t really learn as much about the artist as they would have liked\nto. But all others commented that this was a welcome and enjoyable tribute\nto a legendary experimental artist that helps viewers understand not only how\nimportant Monk was in the art world, but still is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE KNIFE \u2013 This action picture from\nSouth Korea follows an aging assassin in her 60s and ready to retire from her\nprofession. The woman prides herself on quietly taking down the worst of\nhumanity with expert precision. She\u2019s asked by her employers to train a new\nrecruit before her final hit and, after some convincing, eventually agrees. The\nprocess of helping the youngster out actually sharpens her skills. But as it\nturns out, everything is not as it seems, leading to a showdown between unexpected\nparties. Responses were very positive towards this effort. One or two didn\u2019t\ncare for the story and thought that its focus on the minutiae of killing\ntechniques wasn\u2019t interesting. Yet the majority were impressed by the action\nsequences and thought this was a nifty spin on the hitman film with an engaging\nlead performance. Lee Hye-young, Shin Si-ah, Kim Sung-cheol and Yeon Woo-jin\nheadline the film. This Blu-ray will only be available through Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

PRIMITIVE WAR \u2013 A Green Beret platoon serving during the\nVietnam War enters a remote valley in the jungle, only to be attacked by\nmysterious forces. A special unit is called in to investigate what happened and\nimmediately get more than they bargained for. As it turns out, there are\ndinosaurs in this location who are very hungry and willing to eat anyone\nentering their territory. This horror\/science-fiction\/action picture from\nAustralia earned a slightly more positive reaction than negative from critics.\nA large portion of reviewers did call it a low-budget Jurassic Park<\/em>\nknock-off with corny dialogue and an overly serious tone. But more thought the\nfilmmakers excelled with their limited resources and made a gory, action-packed\nB-movie with plenty of thrills that entertains just as much as its big budget\ncompetition. The film is available separately on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. It\nstars Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nicke Wechsler and Jeremy Piven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE ROSES \u2013 Back in 1989, the hit film The War of the\nRoses<\/em> detailed a comically over-the-top and violent divorce between an\nupper-class couple. This reimagining of the story follows an English architect\nand an aspiring chef who decide to marry and move to America. After ten years,\nhis career has progressed while she focuses on raising their two kids. When the\nsituation reverses, their relationship begins to show cracks. This leads to\nunexpectedly severe acts and responses between the pair. This redo didn\u2019t make\nas big of an impression as the original, but it still earned more praise than\npans from the press. About one-third of write-ups commented that this version\nlacked the original\u2019s bite and found the tone off, stating it was difficult to\nendure all the ill-tempered yelling between the leads. Regardless, more thought\nthat the cast were so convincing and sharp that their work earned plenty of\nlaughs and made the feature a dark delight. The cast includes Benedict\nCumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Sunita Mani, Ncuti\nGatwa, Jamie Demetriou and Kate McKinnon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

SOMNIUM \u2013 A young woman desperately looking for work agrees\nto try out a most unusual job at a sleep clinic. She is asked to be a\n\u201csleep-sitter\u201d and spend evening hours looking after patients staying at the\nfacility. Soon, the protagonist begins seeing terrifying and dangerous things\nin the building and begins to believe that the purpose of the clinic is to\nmanifest dreams (as well as nightmares) into reality. This indie chiller was\nwell-received by the press. A handful complained that the movie focused too\nmuch on melodrama instead of horror and didn\u2019t deliver enough of either to\nleave a lasting impression. Still, most found the concept creepy and\nappreciated the moody and atmospherics on display. They were also impressed\nwith the lead performance and thought the film made a lasting impression. It\nfeatures Chlo\u00eb Levine, Will Peltz and Peter Vack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

XENO \u2013 A lonely teenager living with her mom in the desert\nsees something resembling a meteor crash near her home. She investigates, only\nto find a large alien creature. Despite the thing having an intimidating\nappearance, the youth attempts befriending the lifeform. They form a close\nbond, and when government agents arrive to hunt the alien down and kill it, the\nlead decides to help the creature escape. This indie science-fiction adventure\nfilm received decent write-ups. A small number described the film as derivative\nand thought that the ending fell flat. Yet everyone else was pleasantly\nsurprised by the feature. They thought it did a good job of developing the\nrelationship between the lead and the alien, while noting that the excellent\nlead performance allowed the movie to effectively tackle dark subjects and\nheartwarming elements. Lulu Wilson, Omari Hardwick, Trae Romano and Paul\nSchneider headline the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, it\u2019s a busy edition for older titles as well.\n88 Films is releasing a Blu-ray of the Hong Kong film The Cat<\/em> (1991).\nIt\u2019s about a young girl and a writer who encounter an alien that has taken the\nform of a black feline. They go on a strange and bizarre adventure to save the\nEarth from a creature possessing humans. This is the \u201cStandard Edition\u201d Blu-ray\nof the film that comes with a 2K picture restoration taken from the original\nnegative, a film critic commentary, a program on the title, and an image\ngallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distributor is also presenting the Italian erotic\nfeature Eleven Days, Eleven Nights 2<\/em> (1991) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\ncombo pack and a standalone Blu-ray. After an elderly man passes away, he\nleaves his estate in the hands of his young lover. She ends up sleeping with\nmost of the family to determine how to split the estate. You\u2019ll get a 4K\nrestoration of the film from the original camera negative presented in Dolby\nVision, a film expert commentary, interviews with the dubbing director, the\ncomposer and an interview with a music historian, and a booklet with essays on\nthe film<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Red Surf<\/em> (1989) is arriving on Blu-ray from Blue Fox.\nThis effort is about a pair of surfers who try drug running to make ends meet.\nWhen they attempt one final score, things go wrong and they must escape with\ntheir lives. The film is noteworthy for its cast, which includes a young George\nClooney as one of the leads, Doug Savant, Dedee Pfeiffer and Gene Simmons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The French horror\/comedy Some Like It Rare<\/em> (2021) is\nbeing put out by Brainstorm Media. It\u2019s about a couple who run a butcher shop\nand start selling human cutlets to customers, who compliment them on the\nproduct. The disc comes with a behind-the-scenes featurette and a booklet with\nan essay on the movie.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Hyena in the Safe<\/em> (1968) is an Italian heist movie\nand giallo thriller rolled into one. The story follows diamond thieves who pull\noff a big score. But before the members can collect, they start being murdered\nby a mysterious figure. Celluloid Dreams is releasing this Blu-ray. In addition\nto the feature, the disc features a film expert commentary, a video essay,\npromo materials and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinematographe is putting out a \u201cStandard Edition\u201d Blu-ray\nof The Woman Chaser<\/em> (1999), an indie period comedy with Partick\nWarburton as a shady used car salesman who writes a film screenplay and\nstruggles to get it produced. The disc features a 2K restoration of the film, a\nfull-length alternate cut that is presented in color (instead of black and\nwhite), a writer\/director commentary, a film expert commentary, a new interview\nwith Warburton, a discussion with the producer, a trailer and essays on the\nfeature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Criterion is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of\nStanley Kubrick\u2019s final film, Eyes Wide Shut<\/em> (1999) 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman play a couple going through marital\nproblems. The husband goes out one night and witnesses what goes on in New\nYork\u2019s sexual underworld. This set boasts a 4K restoration supervised by the\ndirector of photography and presented in Dolby Vision, new discussions with the\ncinematographer, second unit director and a Kubrick archivist, an archival interview\nwith director Stanley Kubrick\u2019s wife, and a documentary featuring talks with\nthe film\u2019s producer, as well as Kubrick\u2019s daughter and Kubrick\u2019s personal\nassistant. Additionally, there\u2019s a featurette on the filmmaker\u2019s unfinished\nprojects, a remembrance piece on the director featuring cast members and Steven\nSpielberg, press conferences for the feature, a speech from Kubrick at the 1998\nDirector\u2019s Guild, teasers and trailers, and writing on the picture. A Blu-ray\nonly version of the title is also available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Japanese coming-of-age film The Island Closest to\nHeaven<\/em> (1984) is coming from Cult Epics. The Blu-ray features a 2K transfer\nand restoration, a film critic commentary, visual essay on the feature, a\nmaking-of, trailers, reversible sleeve with original Japanese poster art, and a\nreproduction of a 24-page booklet on the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Demon\u2019s Rook<\/em> (2013) is an ultra-low budget indie\nhorror picture that is being made available from Dekanalog. It is described as\na homage to 80s creature features and Lucio Fulci flicks featuring some\nrampaging demons. The Blu-ray features a new image restoration, a filmmaker and\nproducer commentary, an archival director commentary, deleted scenes, a gag\nreel, a short film from the director, a music video, trailer, behind-the-scenes\ngallery, concept art, premiere footage from the Fantasia Film Festival and a\nbooklet essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Those who enjoy the work of Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi\nthe Killer<\/em>) can pick up a Blu-ray of The Happiness of the Katakuris<\/em>\n(2001) courtesy of Discotek Media. This is a lighter, more surreal effort from\nthe filmmaker that features a family running a hotel in which their guests\nfrequently die. The movie is also a musical. The distributor promises a whole\nchorus of special features on the disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Film Movement is presenting the Dutch dark comedy The\nColumnist<\/em> (2019) on Blu-ray. It follows a frustrated newspaper columnist\nwho starts turning against readers making abusive comments about her writing\nand begins to murder them.  It arrives with an introduction by a film\nprogrammer and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distributor is also releasing a Blu-ray of Roh <\/em>(2019),\na Malaysian chiller about a family who take in a suspicious young woman whom\nthey find covered in clay. It comes with a making-of and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icarus Films is putting out a Blu-ray of Lady\nChatterley\u2019s Lover<\/em> (1955), a French adaptation of the famous D.H. Lawrence\nnovel. The distributor states that this is the first adaptation of the source\nmaterial and that, while it isn\u2019t shocking today, was considered scandalous\nduring its original release. In fact, it was banned in the US, before the\nSupreme Court overturned the ruling. Specs include a 2K image restoration, and\na booklet with an essay on the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berberian Sound Studio<\/em> (2012) is being rereleased on\nBlu-ray from IFC Films. This version should be identical to the 2012 Blu-ray\nrelease, with all the old extras like a director commentary, interviews, a\nmaking of, deleted scenes, a documentary on the film, promo materials and more.\nAlso included is a new film historian commentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The studio is also making the Larry Fessenden horror movie Depraved<\/em>\n(2019) available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. This effort is about a field\nsurgeon in Brooklyn living with PTSD who tries to make a man out of body parts.\nBesides the 4K picture upgrade, the release contains a new commentary with\nFessenden, a film historian commentary, a feature-length documentary on the\nproduction, archival cast and crew interviews and featurettes, as well as a\ntrailer and a booklet with writing on the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a big week for Kino, especially if you have 4K Ultra HD\ncapabilities and enjoy classic Abbott and Costello comedies featuring Universal\nmonsters. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein<\/em> (1948) is arriving as a\n4K Ultra HD only release. The comedians play railroad baggage clerks on a train\nwith Frankenstein and the Monster, as well as Dracula and the Wolf Man. This\nrelease boasts a 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative\npresented in Dolby Vision, as well as three movie expert commentary tracks and\na trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 4K Ultra HD edition of Abbott and Costello Meet\nthe Invisible Man<\/em> (1951), the leads graduate from private detective school\nand try to prove the innocence of an accused murderer (the title suggests who\nthe responsible party really is). Besides the 4K restoration from the original\nnegative in Dolby Vision, this disc features two film historian commentary\ntracks and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact same features and specs can be found on the 4K\nUltra HD Abbott and Costello Meet<\/em> Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde<\/em> (1953).\nThe leads end up in London and meet the mad doctor, who is played by none other\nthan Boris Karloff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also arriving with all the same features is Abbott and\nCostello Meet the Mummy<\/em> (1955) in 4K Ultra HD. This picture finds the pair\nstranded in Cairo, Egypt and meet an archeologist with an ancient mummy. After\nagreeing to chaperone the bandaged figure on its journey to America, they find\nthemselves dealing with supernatural shenanigans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For this film enthusiasts, one of the biggest releases of\nthe week is the Alec Guiness: Masterpiece Collection<\/em>, which contains 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray discs of the Ealing Films classics Kind Hearts and\nCoronets<\/em> (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob<\/em> (1951), The Man in the\nWhite Suit<\/em> (1951) and The Ladykillers<\/em> (1955). These incredible\ncomedies are considered some of the greatest ever made, and feature supporting\nperformances from the likes of Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom and many others.\nThey\u2019re all winders, with the third film in the set being a personal favorite.\nYou\u2019ll get 4K restorations of all the titles presented in Dolby Vision, as well\nas film historian commentaries and a Blu-ray disc filled with bonus features\nand intros to the movies from filmmakers like John Landis, Martin Scorsese and\nStephen Frears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Those looking for something on a different note can now pick\nup a \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray of the sword and sorcery effort The\nBarbarians<\/em> (1987), starring, appropriately enough, wrestlers the Barbarian\nBrothers as the heroes trying to rescue a kidnapped queen. The film has been\ngiven a new 2K master and features a film critic commentary and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gloriously ridiculous Death Wish<\/em> 3 was recently\nreleased as a 4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray combo pack by Kino. But, if you\u2019d prefer to\nown the entire series exclusively on Blu-ray, you can also do so with The\nDeath Wish Collection<\/em> that contains the original Death Wish<\/em> (1974),\nand the sequels Death Wish II<\/em> (1982), Death Wish 3<\/em> (1985), Death\nWish 4: The Crackdown<\/em> (1987) and Death Wish V: The Face of Death<\/em>\n(1994). Expect extras to be identical to previous editions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

French Noir Collection II<\/em> Blu-ray set is another\nmulti-movie collection containing Rhine Virgin<\/em> (1953), The Beast is\nLoose<\/em> (1959), Trapped by Fear<\/em> (1960) and The Passion of Slow Fire<\/em>\n(1961). This is a two-disc release with the film receiving either 4K or 2K\nrestorations, film authority audio commentaries and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks<\/em> (1976) is\narriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack from the Kino Cult line. This\nis the second film in the Ilsa series, which the distributor promises is just\nas tasteless and politically incorrect as its predecessor. Besides the image\nupgrade, it comes with an archival director and cast commentary, a film\nhistorian audio track, interviews and a reel of alternate (less explicit)\nfootage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can now purchase Hack-O-Lantern<\/em> (1988) as a\n\u201cStandard Edition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo from Massacre Video. In this\nindie horror film, a teenager whose parents were killed by a cult years ago is\nstalked by a masked and hooded figure. There is a 4K restoration from the\noriginal camera negative presented in HDR, a producer commentary, cast and crew\ninterviews. Behind-the-scenes stills, an isolated score track and trailers\nincluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paramount Pictures is rereleasing The Ten Commandments<\/em>\n(1956) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, which originally came out five\nyears ago and vanished from store shelves. Apparently, this edition is the same\nstunning 6K restoration and scan of the original VistaVision negative and comes\nwith the same bonuses as in the earlier edition. The only thing different here\nis the packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dark Asylum<\/em> (2001) is appearing on Blu-ray from\nRising Sun Media. This potentially cheesy chiller, about a psychiatrist\nbattling wits with a serial killer, features an impressive cast that includes\nJudd Nelson, Paulina Poriskova, Larry Drake and Jurgen Prochnow. The disc comes\nwith trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Severin Films is presenting the effective and disturbing\ndrama The Boys Next Door<\/em> (1985) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. This\ntale stars Charlie Sheen and Maxwell Caulfield as two disaffected LA teens who\ngo on a murderous rampage across the city. The movie was very well received\nduring its release. It was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong (The\nX-Files, Final Destination<\/em>) and directed by Penelope Spheris (The\nDecline of the Western Civilization<\/em> docs, as well as Wayne\u2019s World<\/em>).\nThe 4K restoration was taken from the original camera negative, and extras\ninclude a commentary with Spheeris and Caulfield, numerous cast and crew\ninterviews, an alternate opening title sequence and extended scenes (silent)\nand a trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up a Blu-ray of Dead Sleep<\/em> (1990)\nfrom the distributor. It\u2019s an Ozploitation feature starring Linda Blair as a\nnurse who discovers that the doctor she works with is responsible for the death\nof over 20 patients, and is more than willing to off anyone who testifies\nagainst him. The original studio negative has been given a 4K restoration by\nStudio Canal for this release. It features an interview with a historian\ndetailing the real cast this film is loosely based on. A visual essay is also included,\nas is a trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skinheads<\/em> (1993) aka Teste Rasate<\/em> is also\narriving on Blu-ray from Severin. It\u2019s about a gang of Neo-Nazis terrorizing a\ncommunity. This Italian shocker from director Claudio Fragasso (Monster Dog,\nTroll 2) has been difficult to find this title in this part of the world. There\nis a feature-length documentary included on the disc featuring interviews with\ncast and crew, as well as a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

House of Darkness<\/em> (2022) is a dark comedy and horror\nfilm arriving on Blu-ray from Shoreline Entertainment. Neil LaBute (In the\nCompany of Men, Nurse Betty<\/em>) directs this vampire tale starring Justin Long\nand Kate Bosworth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Those who grew up in the 80s likely remember The\nBeastmaster<\/em> (1982) as a VHS staple. Now, Shout Factory is delivering a\n\u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack of the sword and\nsorcery feature. Marc Singer plays a warrior who can communicate with animals,\nwho help him seek revenge on the high priest (played by Rip Torn) responsible\nfor the death of his father. Besides the upgraded theatrical cut presented in\n4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, you\u2019ll receive a new and an archival commentary\ntrack with the director\/co-writer Don Coscarelli (Phantasm<\/em>) and the\nproducer\/co-writer, a six-part series looking back the making and legacy of the\nmovie that features interviews with cast members and crew. Additionally, there\nis a version of the film (on Blu-ray) with updated visual effects that were\nsupervised by the director, a saga of the Beastmaster featurette, Super 8mm\nhome movies taken on the set with commentary from Coscarelli, outtakes, a still\ngallery, a trailer and more.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shudder is presenting a \u201cStandard Edition\u201d Blu-ray of All\nthe Moons<\/em> (2020)., a Spanish fantasy\/horror picture. It arrives on disc\nwith a film scholar commentary and a booklet with essays on the feature. And\nMoloch (2022), a genre feature from the Netherlands, is being released on\nBlu-ray with a writer\/director commentary, a deleted scene, FX video and still\ngalleries, a trailer and a booklet with writing on the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irresistible<\/em> (2006) is receiving a North American\nBlu-ray release from Umbrella Entertainment. This Australian thriller about a\nwoman who becomes convinced her husband\u2019s female co-worker is trying to win him\naway from her. It features Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill and Emily Blunt. The disc\ncomes with a commentary with the writer\/director and the producer, featurette\non the shoot and interviews with cast and crew, as well as a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Universal Studios is giving the wonderful musical\/comedy The\nBlues Brothers<\/em> (1980) a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook presentation.\nThis hilarious flick starring Dan Ackroyd, John Belusi, Cab Calloway, James\nBrown, Aretha Franklin, Carrie Fisher, John Candy, Henry Gibson, John Lee\nHooker, Ray Charles, Twiggy, Steven Spielberg and many more is a wild ride with\namazing gags, stunts and musical numbers. The 4K quality is excellent and those\npicking it up should expect the disc contents to be the same as in previous\nversions, only in Steelbook packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same is true for the well-regarded adaptation of Jane\nAusten\u2019s Pride and Prejudice<\/em> (2005) starring Keira Knightley. You can\npick up either a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a \u201cLimited Edition\u201d 4K Ultra\nHD and Blu-ray Digibook of the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Thanksgiving is this week, that means Vinegar Syndrome\nis putting out new titles on their site as exclusives, and offering Black\nFriday discounts on older releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the new titles arriving is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\ncombo of At Close Range<\/em> (1986) which is co-release with Cinematographe\nthat will be a site exclusive. The drama stars Sean Penn, Christopher Walken\nand Chris Penn. The story follows two brothers navigating life with a criminal\nfather. You\u2019ll get a 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera\nnegative presented in Dolby Vision, along with a new film historian commentary.\nAdditionally, there is a 2015 commentary with the film\u2019s director, James Foley\n(Glengary Glen Ross, The Corruptor<\/em>), new interviews on the movie with\nWalken, Sean Penn and crew members. You\u2019ll also get archival cast and crew\ndiscussions on the film, an archival interview with a reporter familiar with\nthe real story this picture is based on, a video of locations, a trailer, and\ntext essays on the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you prefer something adult-oriented, Behind the Green\nDoor<\/em> (1972) is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray with CD set.\nAdditionally, there is a Blu-ray box set from Vinegar Syndrome called The\nFilms of Hisayasu Sat\u00f4: Volume Two<\/em>, including several titles from the\nJapanese filmmaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another major title from the distributor is the notorious\ngross-out comedy The Garbage Pail Kids Movie<\/em> (1987), which is debuting\nas a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. Based on the actual trading card series\nparodying Cabbage Patch Kids<\/em> dolls, this picture featured nasty\ndoll-like figures with disgusting habits who are assisted by a young boy. It\u2019s\na pretty terrible film, but has developed a significant cult following over the\nyears. Once again, the original camera negative has been restored, scanned in\n4K and is being presented in Dolby Vision. There\u2019s an audio commentary with the\nstars of the picture, new interviews with cast and crew, a featurette on the\nmake-up effects, archival interviews with cast crew, and a trailer. You\u2019ll also\nget a 40-page book with essays on the movie and a reversible sleeve. Head over\nto the Vinegar Syndrome site to pick it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Man Who Could Cheat Death<\/em> (1959) is a stronger\neffort that is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release. Anton Diffring\nplays a scientist who learns how to live forever. The catch is he must kidnap\nand secrete glands from young, healthy people to do so. The film has been given\na 4K restoration from the original camera negative and is presented in Dolby\nVision. You\u2019ll get both the uncut version and a continental edition in the\nhighest format, along with a new film historian commentary. And, film experts\ndiscuss the filmmaker and cast. There is also a talk with the movie\u2019s\nuncredited third assistant director, an alternate censored ending and a 40-page\nbook included.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same picture specs are present on the 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray edition of Ruby<\/em> (1977), a chiller in which a mobster returns\nfrom the grave by possessing his teenage daughter. This one arrives with a film\nhistorian commentary, a second movie expert track and an archival commentary\nincluding the director and co-star Piper Laurie. New interviews with co-stars\nand film critic Kim Newman are featured, as well as an alternate TV version of\nthe film, promo materials and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blu-ray box set Shaw Scares Volume 1<\/em> contains\nsome creepy Hong Kong horror films like Haunted Tales (1980), Hell Has No\nBoundary<\/em> (1982) and Sex Beyond the Grave<\/em> (1984). You can expect\nplenty of bonuses here as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remake Sisters<\/em> (2006) is arriving in a 4K Ultra\nHD, Blu-ray and CD package. The film didn\u2019t make as big of an impression as\nBrian De Palma\u2019s famous original, but does feature Chloe Sveigny and Stephen\nRea in this story of separated Siamese twins involved in a murder. This release\ncontains a new 4K master of the original camera negative, two audio\ncommentaries with the director, deleted and extended scenes, an archival making\nof, and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sleepless<\/em> (2001) is one of the better efforts of this\nera in the career of Italian giallo maestro Dario Argento (Deep Red, Suspiria<\/em>).\nIt\u2019s a mystery about a psychopath gruesomely murdering victims in a frightening\nmanner similar to a crime that occurred 17 years earlier. The picture co-star\nMax Von Sydow and was shot by Oscar-winner Ronnie Taylor (Barry Lyndon,\nGandhi, Sea of Love, Opera<\/em>), which means it has some standout visuals,\nincluding the opening sequence involving a pursuit on a train. This 4K Ultra HD\nand Blu-ray upgrade of the feature includes a 4K restoration from the original\ncamera negative presented in Dolby Vision, as well as a film historian\ncommentary, as well as a couple of hours of interview with cast and crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timecrimes <\/em>(2007) is a fun Spanish science-fiction\nchiller that is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release. It follows a\nman who sees a strange and disturbing figure in his backyard, decides to\ninvestigate the incident, and ends up traveling through time. If memory serves,\nit\u2019s quite tense and thrilling. For this release, the film has been given a new\n4K remaster and is presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with a ton of extras\nlike cast and crew interviews, a video essay, archival featurettes and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of Troma\nEntertainment\u2019s Tromeo & Juliet<\/em> (1996) also includes a 4K\nrestoration of the film from the camera negative presented in Dolby Vision,\nmultiple commentary tracks with director Lloyd Kaufman and co-writer James Gunn\n(yes, that James Gunn), and hours of other bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Alas, there isn\u2019t much for kids this week. But there will be\nplenty to come in upcoming editions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

It appears that the studios are focused on features this\ntime out, but that will all change in the near future.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n