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OnVideo's Guide to DVDs

DVD Resources
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Catalogs of DVDs released 1999 -- 2006

DVD Releases
March 2021
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December 2020
January 2021
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May 2021
March 2

All My Life

photo for All My Life Jennifer Carter (Jessica Rothe) and Solomon Chau (Harry Shum Jr.) are a sweet, fun-loving, newly engaged couple whose whole life seems ahead of them. But when Sol is diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in December, their plans for a summer wedding become impossible. In a race against time, Jenn and Sol's friends and family launch an online fundraiser to help the couple create their dream wedding in just two weeks. In the process, they unleash an outpouring of generosity and attention from people around the world who want to celebrate the power of love with them. Through it all, Jenn and Sol's commitment to each other only deepens, becoming a heartwarming reminder that the strength of true love knows no limits. Vitals: Director: Marc Meyers. Stars: Jessica Rothe, Harry Shum Jr., Marielle Scott, Ever Carradine, Keala Settle, Jay Pharoah. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 93 min., Drama, US box office gross: $.913 million, worldwide $1.965 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray with digital code, VOD, Digital.

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Cheer! Rally! Kill! 5-Film Collection

Twisted tales of campus queens, awkward teens, ambitious daughters, and overbearing mothers in five cheer-driven thrillers. "The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders" (2019) with Savannah May and Denise Richards: An incoming transfer student reluctantly tries out for the cheerleading team at the insistence of her overly-ambitious mother; "Identity Theft of a Cheerleader" (2019) with Gail O’Grady and Maiara Walsh: A 30-year-old woman takes on a teenage identity and goes back to high school; "The Wrong Cheerleader" (2019) with Vivica A. Fox, Cristine Prosperi and David Meza: An intelligent and sociable high school senior tries out and earns a uniform on the cheerleader squad but becomes the prey of an obsessive boy; "The Cheerleader Escort" (2019) with Alexandra Beaton: A woman goes off to college and joins the cheer team only to find that it's a front for an escort ring; and "Undercover Cheerleader" (2019) with Kayla Wallace: A transfer student goes undercover as a cheerleader to expose the cruel photo for Crazy Samurai: 400 vs. 1culture, only to find that her expose is linked to a series of attacks by a mysterious assailant. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).

Crazy Samurai: 400 vs. 1

(2020 -- Japan) Tak Sakaguchi, Kento Yamazaki, Yôsuke Saitô. When a master samurai arrives to duel the disgraced Yoshioka dojo, he walks into an ambush. In the world's first 77-minute, one-take action film sequence, Miyamoto Musashi (Tak Sakaguchi) fights for his life against 400 warriors, earning a place in history as the Crazy Samurai Musashi. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Digital. (Well Go USA).

Fatale

(2020) After a wild one-night stand, successful sports agent Derrick (Michael Ealy) watches his perfect life unwind when he discovers the mysterious woman he risked everything for is a police detective (Hilary Swank) who has entangled him in her latest investigation. When his photo for Fatalecharming bed partner turns out to be a corrupt officer, he finds himself in a living nightmare, as she lures him into an intricate web of lies and deceit, and he has to pull out all the stops to try and save his family, his career, and even his life. Vitals: Director: Deon Taylor. Stars: Hilary Swank, Michael Ealy, Mike Colter, Danny Pino, Tyrin Turner, Damaris Lewis. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: R, 106 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $4.284 million, Lionsgate. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo with digital code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Audio commentary with director-producer Deon Taylor and producer Roxanne Avent Taylor, "Making Fatale," "The Right Direction," "Cinematography: Finding the Killer Look," alternate ending. Read more here.

400 Bullets

(2021) Jean-Paul Ly, Andrew Lee Potts, James Warren. An edge-of-your-seat military action story about what it means to fight for honor instead of profit. The film packs plenty of gun battles, epic hand-to-hand fight sequences and witty dialogue. One cold winter night in Afghanistan is about to get a whole lot worse for Rana Rae, a Gurkha soldier left to guard a British military outpost, when Captain Noah Brandt arrives looking for refuge from a group of rogue special ops and a cell of heavily armed Taliban. The two soldiers must fight for their lives as they attempt to call for backup before the rogue squad, led by the backstabbing Sergeant Bartlett, can hunt them down to retrieve a case of missile guidance chips that Noah intercepted. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Tom Paton, behind-the-scenes featurette. Read more here. (Shout! Studios).

Half Brothers

photo for Half Brothers When an uptight aviation executive finds out he has an American half-brother he never knew about, the unlikely duo finds themselves forced to go on a road trip together -- and they soon discover they are on the same path their father took from the United States to the Mexican border. Will they continue their brotherly love after the trip is done or will they go their separate ways? Vitals: Director: Luke Greenfield. Stars: Luis Gerardo Mendez, Connor Del Rio, Juan Pablo Espinosa, Vincent Spano, Alma Sisneros, Jose Zuniga. 2020 -- Mexico, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 96 min., Comedy Drama, US box office gross: $2.241 million, worldwide $2.241 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray with digital code, VOD, Digital.

Monster Hunter

(2020) Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When an unexpected sandstorm transports Captain Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her unit (TI Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta) to a new world, the soldiers are shocked to discover that this hostile and unknown environment is home to photo for Monster Hunterenormous and terrifying monsters immune to their firepower. In their desperate battle for survival, the unit encounters the mysterious Hunter (Tony Jaa), whose unique skills allow him to stay one step ahead of the powerful creatures. As Artemis and Hunter slowly build trust, she discovers that he is part of a team led by the Admiral (Ron Perlman). Facing a danger so great it could threaten to destroy their world, the brave warriors combine their unique abilities to band together for the ultimate showdown. Based on the global video game series. Vitals: Director: Paul W.S. Anderson. Stars: Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta, Josh Helman, Jin Au-Yeung, Ron Perlman. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 99 min., Sci-Fi Action, Box office gross: $9.374 million, Sony. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray with digital code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Read more here.

1942: Unknown Battle

(2019 -- Russia) Sergey Zharkov, Ivan Batarev, Oleg Gayanov. WWII 1942: Rzhev, USSR. After one of the many brutal battles between the Red Army and the Nazis near the village of Ovsyannikovo, only half of the Red Army’s company survives ... for the moment. Freezing cold, with little to no reinforcements and the Nazis encroaching ever closer, the company receives the impossible order from Soviet headquarters to keep the village at all costs. While pinned in this crucial strategical position, the members of the company cope with their fear while also finding the strength to believe in their unlikely chance of survival. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Capelight Pictures).

Nitro Rush

(2016 -- French Canada) Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge, Michel Charette, Raymond Bouchard, Antoine Desrochers, Myriam Tallard. In prison, Max learns that a criminal organization has just recruited his 17-year-old son Theo to use him for the production and distribution of a new drug. Desperate to get him out of the situation, Max escapes, and his car chase and athletic skills prove to be a great asset. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Breaking Glass Pictures).

Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-4

(2015-20) All 41 episodes from the first four seasons of the Adult Swim series. After having been missing for nearly 20 years, Rick Sanchez suddenly arrives at daughter Beth's doorstep to move in with her and her family. Although Beth welcomes Rick into her home, her husband, Jerry, isn't as happy about the family reunion. Jerry is concerned about Rick, a sociopathic scientist, using the garage as his personal laboratory. In the lab, Rick works on a number of sci-fi gadgets, some of which could be considered dangerous. But that's not all Rick does that concerns Jerry. He also goes on adventures across the universe that often involve his children, Morty and Summer. Formats: Eight-DVD, four-Blu-ray sets, Digital. Extras: Commentaries for every episode, animatics for every episode, behind the scenes, deleted scenes, "Inside the Episode," more. (Warner).

Scare Me

(2020) Josh Ruben, Aya Cash, Rebecca Drysdale, Chris Redd. Two strangers, Fred and Fanny, are stuck in their Catskills cabin during a power outage. Looking to pass the time, they decide to tell each other scary stories. But the more Fred and Fanny commit to their tales, the more the stories come to life. As the horrors of reality manifest, Fred confronts his ultimate fear that Fanny may be the better storyteller, forcing him to craft the most horrific tale imaginable and put an end to the competition for good. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Director and cinematographer commentary, interviews with the cast, behind-the-scenes photo gallery, "Make Cool Sh!t Podcast Episode 1: SCARE ME," outtakes. (RLJE Films).

Victor and Valentino: Folk Art Foes

(2019) Single disc with 18 episodes. An animated supernatural adventure comedy about two half-brothers -- very opposite from each other -- who spend a summer with their grandma in Monte Macabre, a small, mysterious town where the myths and legends of Mesoamerican folklore come to life. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Cartoon Network/Warner).

Zappa

(2020) With unfettered access to the Zappa family trust and all archival footage, this documentary explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career of Frank Zappa, which never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Director and writer Alex Winter’s ("Bill & Ted Face the Music") assembly features appearances by Frank’s widow, Gail Zappa, and several of Frank’s musical collaborators, including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and more. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).



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March 9

Adverse

(2021) Thomas Nicholas, Mickey Rourke, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sean Astin, Penelope Ann Miller. Struggling to make ends meet, rideshare driver Ethan (Nicholas) learns his sister Mia is deep in debt to a sleazy drug dealer. When Mia goes missing, Ethan discovers that crime boss Kaden (Rourke) is behind the act, and to get close to him Ethan takes a job as Kaden’s driver. One by one Ethan hunts down members of Kaden’s crew to wreak bloody vengeance as he prepares to confront Kaden himself. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Lionsgate).

American Skin

(2021) Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi, Beau Knapp. A Marine veteran working as a school janitor tries to mend his relationship with his son after a divorce. When his son is killed by a police officer found innocent without standing trial, he takes matters into his own hands. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).

Blood Brothers: Civil War

(2021) Shane Patrick Kearns, Christian Coulson, Diane Guerrero, Jacqueline Bisset, Gordon Clapp. Tells the story of two brothers, John (Kearns) and Peter (Coulson), whose relationship strains when one of them receives news of a strange inheritance. Deepening the divide between the two, they both grow attracted to a mysterious young woman named Lucia (Guerrero) who arrives on their island. Based on Guy de Maupassant’s 19th-century seaside novel “Pierre et Jean,” which is widely credited for changing the course of narrative fiction through its complex and intense psychological characterizations of a family brought to the breaking point by startling revelations. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indican Pictures).
photo for Blood Ceremony

Blood Ceremony

(1973 -- Spain) Lucia Bosè, Espartaco Santoni, Ewa Aulin, Ana Farra. In 19th century Europe, the people are in the grip of ancient superstitions and the fear of vampires runs riot through the land. Strange rituals are enacted to seek out the resting places of the undead and macabre trials are held over disinterred corpses. The Countess barely notices what is going on. She is more concerned that her beauty is fading and that her husband seems only interested in his birds of prey and observing the behavior of the superstitious locals. Her faithful companion tells the Countess that there are ways to reignite her husband’s passion – and also ways to preserve her looks. She reminds the Countess of her ancestor, the notorious Erzebeth Báthory, who bathed in the blood of virgins to maintain her youth. The Countess is unsure, but then one day the blood of a servant girl drips onto her hand and she is convinced that her skin has become whiter as a result. Soon she is searching for more blood and to her surprise, her husband becomes the one to provide it for her. New 4k transfer from the original negative. Fully uncut International version and alternate Spanish version. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Two archive interviews with director Jorge Grau; trailers; audio commentary from Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson; audio commentary from Robert Monell and Rod Barnett. (Mondo Macabro).

Crock of Gold

(2020) Deep dives into the life of the tortured Irish vocalist, Shane MacGowan, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the Pogues, who famously combined traditional Irish music with the visceral energy of punk rock. Featuring unseen archival footage from the band and MacGowan’s family, as well as animation from legendary illustrator Ralph Steadman, director Julien Temple’s ("The Filth and the Fury") rollicking love letter spotlights the iconic frontman up to his 60th birthday celebration, where singers, movie stars, and rock ‘n’ roll outlaws gather to celebrate the man and his legacy. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).

Ip Man: Kung Fu Master

(2020 -- China) Yu-Hang To, Michael Wong, Wanliruo Xin. Latest outing in the Ip Man franchise travels back in time to Ip’s early days before the Communist Revolution in 1949. Taking on the role of Ip for the third time, Dennis To portrays the legendary martial artist in his early years as a police captain who is framed for the murder of a ruthless, yet honorable mobster. Driven to quit the force, Ip soon has to contend with the vengeful daughter of the mob boss and the arrival of the Japanese army in Guangzhou. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
photo for Mafia Inc.

Mafia Inc.

(2019 -- Canada) Sergio Castellitto, Marc-André Grondin, Gilbert Sicotte. 1994. Frank Paterno, a Montreal mafia boss, hopes to legitimize his criminal operations by investing $180 million in an ambitious bridge project that would connect Sicily with southern Italy. First, however, he has to recover the necessary funds from his Greek creditor. Frank entrusts this mission to his protégé Vincent, the son of tailor Henri Gamache, who has been dressing the Paternos for three generations. But after Vincent executes a ruthless plan to smuggle millions in drugs out of Venezuela, his reprehensible tactics ignite a war between the two families. Based on the non-fiction bestseller “Mafia Inc: The Long, Bloody Reign of Canada’s Sicilian Clan” by André Cédilot and André Noël. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Film Movement).

On-Gaku: Our Sound

(2019 -- Japan) Animated almost entirely by director Kenji Iwaisawa, and featuring a lead performance by Japanese alt-rock legend Shintaro Sakamato, "On- Gaku: Our Sound" presents a highly original take on the beloved slacker comedy: a lo-fi buddy film with a blaring musical finale. When you’re a bored teenager looking for thrills, sometimes the only thing you can turn to is rock ‘n’ roll. Having no skill, money, or even a full set of drums, a feared trio of high school delinquents nevertheless decide they are destined for musical glory in a quest to impress their only friend, avoid a rival gang, and -- most importantly -- jam out. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital. Extras: "The Making of On-Gaku: Our Sound," "Our Movie: Behind the Scenes," live musical performance, "On-Gaku" (demo), rock festival pencil test, four short films by Kenji Iwaisawa, Storyboards Gallery, Trailers. (GKIDS/Shout! Factory).
photo for Panic Beats

Panic Beats

(1982 -- Spain) Paul Naschy, Julia Saly, Lola Gaos, Silvia Miro, Frances Ondiviela. Spanish horror legend Paul Naschy wrote, directed and stars in this dark and macabre tale of lust, betrayal, and ghostly vengeance. Naschy plays a descendent of the Alaric de Marnac character first seen in his 1973 film "Horror Rises from the Tomb." Desperate to salvage his crumbling financial empire, Paul Marnac (Naschy) decides to kill his heiress wife, Geneviève (Julia Saly). He enlists the help of a sexy and ambitious younger woman, Julie (former Miss Spain, Frances Ondiviela). Unfortunately, one murder is not enough to satisfy Julie’s blood lust, and greed. As the corpses pile up, she heads for a confrontation with an ancient and unstoppable evil. Remastered for the first time in HD, this fully restored Blu-ray is the complete uncut version of the film and contains all the notorious gore and violence. Brand new 4k transfer from a film negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Two interviews with Paul Naschy; audio commentary from The Naschycast (Troy Guinn & Rod Barnett). (Mondo Macabro).
photo for Queens of Evil

Queens of Evil

(1970 -- Italy) Haydee Politoff, Silvia Monti, Evelyn Stewart, Ray Lovelock. In this dark, gothic fairy tale for adults, Ray Lovelock plays David, a lone hippie motorcyclist, cruising the highways, in search of a better world. One night on a lonely mountain road he stops to help out the owner of a Rolls Royce with a flat tire. The middle-aged driver of the car gives David a lecture about responsibility and, unknown to David, punctures the front tire of his motorbike before driving off. Furious, David gives chase. There is an accident and the car crashes, killing the driver. Fearing trouble from the police, David heads off down a side road into a dark forest and spends the night in a deserted barn. He is awakened the next morning by three beautiful young women who live in a luxurious villa nearby. These three women appear to be toying with David, playing an elaborate and sinister game, involving perplexing rituals and night-time vigils. The climax of their game takes place at a party in a nearby castle where David appears to be the guest of honor ... but for what purpose? New 4k transfer from a film negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary from Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan, trailer, alternative sequences. (Mondo Macabro).

Rent-A-Pal

(2020) Brian Landis Folkins, Wil Wheaton, Kathleen Brady. Set in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David (Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother. While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wheaton), the tape offers him much-needed company, compassion, and friendship. But, Andy’s friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (IFC Midnight/Scream Factory).

Russian Raid (aka Russkiy Reyd)

(2020 -- Russia) Long after the murder of his father -- a secret agent killed in a missile factory raid -- former special forces operative Nikita (played by renowned stuntman Ivan Kotik) returns to Russia as a mercenary. He leads an elite team on a top-dollar heist targeting the same facility, but no one else knows his true objective is revenge in this MMA thriller. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Digital. (Well Go USA).
photo for Touki Bouki

Touki bouki

(1973 -- Senegal) With a stunning mix of the surreal and the naturalistic, Djibril Diop Mambéty paints a fractured portrait of the disenchantment of postindependence Senegal in the early 1970s. In this picaresque fantasy-drama, the disaffected young lovers Anta and Mory, fed up with Dakar, long to escape to the glamour and comforts they imagine France has to offer, but their plan is confounded by obstacles both practical and mystical. Alternately manic and meditative, "Touki Bouki" has an avant-garde sensibility characterized by vivid imagery, bleak humor, unconventional editing, and jagged soundscapes, and it demonstrates Mambéty’s commitment to telling African stories in new ways. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with 2K digital transfer, restored by the Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and the family of director Djibril Diop Mambéty, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Introduction from 2013 by The Film Foundation’s founder and chair, Martin Scorsese; interview from 2013 with filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako; interview program from 2012 featuring musician Wasis Diop and filmmaker Mati Diop, Mambéty’s brother and niece, respectively; "Contras’ City," a 1968 short film by Mambéty, in a new 4K restoration by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and the Cineteca di Bologna; an essay by film programmer and critic Ashley Clark. (The Criterion Collection).

Vanguard

photo for Vanguard (2020 -- China) Martial arts legend Jackie Chan leaps into action as Tang, CEO of the covert security company Vanguard in this action-thriller reuniting him with director Stanley Tong ("Rumble in the Bronx"). After wealthy businessman rats out his corrupt partner in an arms deal gone fatally wrong, he and his family become targets of the world’s deadliest mercenary organization — and the fighting power of Tang’s team is their only hope to survive. Set in locations across the globe — including London, Zambia, India, an Arabian desert, and Dubai. Vitals: Director: Stanley Tong. Stars: Jackie Chan, Yang Yang, Lun Ai, Miya Muqi. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 107 min., Action, US box office gross: $.793 million, worldwide boxoffice: $50.8, Lionsgate. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray with digital code, VOD, Digital. Extras: "The Making of Vanguard." Read more here.




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March 16

Angelique's Isle

(2018 -- Canada) Julia Jones, Charlie Carrick. The harrowing true story of perseverance and survival, unfolding amidst the great copper rush of 1845. When newlyweds Angelique (Jones), a young Ojibway, and voyageur Charlie (Carrick) are left stranded, the two are forced to withstand a brutal winter and fight for survival in the wilderness. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indican Pictures).
photo for Céline and Julie Go Boating

Céline and Julie Go Boating

(1974) Whiling away a summer in Paris, director Jacques Rivette, working in close collaboration with his stars and co-conspirators Juliet Berto and Dominique Labourier, set out to rewrite the rules of cinema in the spirit of pure play—moviemaking as an anything-goes romp through the labyrinths of imagination. The result is one of the most exuberantly inventive and utterly enchanting films of the French New Wave, in which Julie (Labourier), a daydreaming librarian, meets Céline (Berto), an enigmatic magician, and together they become the heroines of a time-warping adventure involving a haunted house, psychotropic candy, and a murder-mystery melodrama. Incorporating allusions to everything from Lewis Carroll to Louis Feuillade, "Céline and Julie Go Boating" is both one of the all-time-great hangout comedies and a totally unique, enveloping cinematic dream space that delights in the endless pleasures and possibilities of stories. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary from 2017 featuring critic Adrian Martin; "Jacques Rivette: Le veilleur," a 1994 two-part feature documentary by Claire Denis, featuring an extensive interview with Rivette by film critic Serge Daney; new interviews with actor Bulle Ogier and producer and actor Barbet Schroeder; new conversation between critic Pacôme Thiellement and Hélène Frappat, author of "Jacques Rivette, secret compris"; archival interviews with Rivette, Ogier, and actors Juliet Berto, Dominique Labourier, and Marie-France Pisier; an essay by critic Beatrice Loayza and a 1974 piece by Berto. (The Criterion Collection).

Don’t Tell a Soul

(2020) Rainn Wilson, Fionn Whitehead, Jack Dylan Grazer, Mena Suvari. While stealing money to help their sick mother (Suvari), teen brothers Matt and Joey (Whitehead and Grazer) are surprised by Hamby (Wilson), a security officer who gives chase and is then trapped in a well. Over the next few days, Joey and Hamby forge an uneasy relationship. Hamby tells Joey he’ll keep quiet if Joey sets him free. But Hamby holds another secret, one that will threaten Joey and his family, in this twist-filled, cat-and-mouse thriller. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray + digital code, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Flesh & Blood: Creating Don’t Tell A Soul." Read more here. (Lionsgate).
photo for The Invisible Man Appears / The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly

The Invisible Man Appears / The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly

(1949/1957) Finally released outside Japan for the very first time, these unique riffs on H.G. Wells' classic character (though undoubtedly also indebted to Universal's iconic film series) are two of the earliest examples of tokusatsu (special effects) cinema from the legendary Daiei Studios. In "The Invisible Man Appears," written and directed by Nobuo Adachi in 1949, a scientist successfully creates an invisibility serum, only to be kidnapped by a gang of thugs who wish to use the formula to rob a priceless jewel. In addition to being the earliest surviving Japanese science fiction film ever made, the film's entertaining special effects were an early credit for the legendary Eiji Tsuburaya, five years before he first brought Godzilla to life. Eight years later, Mitsuo Murayama's exciting "The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly" tells the story of a series of mysterious murders where the only clue is strange buzzing noise at the scene of the crime ... could this be linked to secret wartime experiments in shrinking humans to the size of insects? And can a scientist who's just invented an invisibility ray be the one to stop it? Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: "Transparent Terrors," a newly filmed interview with critic and genre scholar Kim Newman on the history of the "Invisible Man" in cinema; theatrical trailer for "The Invisible Man Appears"; image galleries for both films; reversible sleeve featuring new and original artwork by Graham Humphreys; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing by Keith Allison, Hayley Scanlon and Tom Vincent. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

Jumbo

(2020 -- France) Noémie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot, Sam Louwyck. Jeanne, a shy young woman, lives at home with her uninhibited bartender mother and works the graveyard shift as a cleaner at an amusement park. Her mother wants her to meet a man, but Jeanne prefers tinkering in her bedroom with wires, light bulbs, and spare parts, creating miniature versions of theme park rides. During her late-night shifts she begins spending intimate time with the alluring new Tilt-A-Whirl ride that she decides to call Jumbo. Finding herself seduced by “his” red lights, smooth chrome, and oily hydraulics, Jeanne concludes that the thrilling new relationship she wants to pursue is with Jumbo. Formats: DVD, VOD. Read more here. (Darkstar Pictures).

PG: Psycho Goreman

(2020 -- Canada) Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre, Adam Brooks, Alexis Hancey, Matthew Ninaber. Siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Commentary with director Steven Kostanski, "One-on-One: An Interview with the Director of PG: Psycho Goreman," cast interviews, interview with Adam Brooks, "Kortex: A Konversation," "The Music of PG: Psycho Goreman," fight choreography, fight pre-viz, "Filming the Paladin Fight," "PG vs Pandora," "Miniature Magic," "Inside the Creature Shop," concept art gallery, "PG: Psycho Goreman Trading Cards Gallery," Behind-the-scenes photo gallery. (RLJE Films).

Promising Young Woman

photo for Promising Young Woman (2020) Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a promising young woman ... until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future. But nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be: she’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she’s living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs of the past in this black-comedy revenge thriller. Vitals: Director: Emerald Fennell. Stars: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox and Connie Britton. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: R, 113 min., Thriller, US box office gross: $5.135 million, worldwide $8.370 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray with digital code, VOD, Digital. Extras: "A Promising Vision": Writer-director Emerald Fennell discusses her inspirations for writing this genre-bending film; "Two-Sided Transformation" look at why Carey Mulligan was the perfect choice to play “Cassie” and how filmmakers used wardrobe, hair, and makeup to express the balance between light and dark; "Balancing Act" in which cast members discuss their unexpected reactions to the careful balance of levity and tragedy in director Emerald Fennell’s take on female revenge; feature commentary with writer-director Emerald Fennell. Read more here. 3 stars

Songbird

(2020) KJ Apa, Sofia Carson, Craig Robinson, Bradley Whitford, Peter Stormare, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Walter Hauser, Demi Moore. In 2022 a pandemic ravages the world and its cities. Infected Americans are ripped from their homes and forced into quarantine camps known as Q-Zones, from which there is no escape. The film centers on a handful of people as they navigate the obstacles hindering society: disease, martial law, quarantine, and vigilantes. In particular, immune to the COVID-23 virus, a courier races against time to save the woman he loves from a quarantine camp. The first film to shoot in Los Angeles entirely during the pandemic. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray with digital code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes with commentary by director/co-writer Adam Mason, "The Story of Songbird," "Kingdom" promo video, "The Making of Kingdom," feature commentary by director/co-writer Adam Mason and co-writer Simon Boyes. Read more here. (Universal).

Wonder Showzen: The Complete Collection

(2000-05) Four-disc set with all 16 episodes. An all-cynical, all-evil absurdist variety show that parodies the classic educational PBS shows of the 1970s, made up of old cartoons and educational films, children, and puppets from one's worst nightmares. Starring Chatman as Chauncey, Lee as Wordsworth and Alyson Levy (“At Home With Amy Sedaris”) as Sthugar. Formats: DVD. (MTV/Paramount ).



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March 23


Ämber's Descent

(2021 -- Canada)  Kayla Stanton, Michael Mitton, Don Knodel, Nathaniel Vossen, Dione Russell, Colm Hill. Amber Waltz (Stanton), a gifted pianist with a disturbing past, retreats to an isolated country house with hopes of completing her latest symphony. There she meets Jim (Mitton), a handyman she hires who takes an unusual interest in helping her look after the house. As her work progresses, Amber starts to hear strange noises -- humming and whispers beckoning her -- leading her to believe the house is haunted. A ghostly figure appears at her piano and Amber decides to dig deeper into the history of the house and its previous occupants. When notes appear to write themselves on the pages of her music sheets, Amber finds herself surrounded by the dark mysteries of the house. She uncovers a deadly secret and begins her descent-- the unraveling of her own sanity. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Breaking Glass Pictures).
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The Bloodhound

(2020) First-time feature director Patrick Picard brings a fresh take to one of the best-known stories from the master of mystery and the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," in his new slow-burner horror-thriller "The Bloodhound," a hauntingly atmospheric tale. Francis (Liam Aiken), a dispossessed young man, is summoned to the secluded home of his wealthy childhood friend, JP Luret (Joe Adler), who is suffering from a mysterious affliction. Upon his arrival, Francis realizes that JP and his ethereal twin sister Vivian (Annalise Basso) are the sole surviving members of the privileged Luret family, whose legacy has been one of depression and self-destruction, and the only occupants of their family estate. As the old friends attempt to reconnect, a number of inexplicable incidents begin to occur within the house, and Francis finds himself drawn into a world of malaise and despair, where an act of betrayal might provide his only way out. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Brand new audio commentary by director Patrick Picard and editor David Scorca; four experimental short films by director Patrick Picard: "bad dream," "the muffled hammerfall in action," "the mosaic code" and "wiggleworm"; "On the Trail of The Bloodhound: Behind the Scenes of a Modern Chiller," exclusive 45-minute making-of featurette; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anton Bitel. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
photo for Cosmoball

Cosmoball

(2020 -- Russia) After an intergalactic battle destroys the Earth’s moon and causes worldwide devastation, the human race is desolate and clings to survival. The film follows four athletes with the rare ability to teleport, which makes them the only humans capable of playing “cosmoball,” a dangerous sport requiring unimaginable speed, reflexes, and courage. While the rest of the world religiously scans the sky to catch the high-flying tournaments, no one suspects that with each match, they are actually witnessing four young humans fighting furiously to ensure the survival of humankind. Read more here. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).

The Dam Busters

(1955) Michael Redgrave, Richard Todd. Capturing the spirit of British inventiveness and dogged determination, this film tells the thrilling true story of Operation Chastise, the Royal Air Force’s successful 1943 strike on the German industrial heartland. Faced with a seemingly impossible objective, engineer and scientist Dr. Barnes Wallis (Redgrave) develops “bouncing bombs” for Wing Commander Guy Gibson (Todd) and the pilots of 617 Squadron to use during their daring raid on the Ruhr Valley dams. Shot in black and white to allow the integration of original footage of the bombing trials, the film boasts spectacular aerial combat sequences, which would become a major inspiration for "Star Wars’" climactic final assault on the Death Star. Digitally restored. Formats: Blu-ray Extras: "The Making of The Dam Busters" documentary, "Sir Barnes Wallis documentary" (1972), "617 Squadron Remembers" documentary, footage of the bomb tests, "The Dam Busters" Royal premiere footage, restoration of a classic featurette, "The Dam Busters" 75th anniversary trailer. (Film Movement Classics).

Dunkirk

(1958) One of the most authentic cinematic representations of World War II, "Dunkirk", directed by Leslie Norman, recounts the dramatic events of Operation Dynamo, the Royal Navy’s evacuation of over 350,000 Allied troops from Nazi-occupied France in 1940. Told from dual perspectives, the epic film follows stranded British Army Corporal “Tubby” Binns (John Mills) and civilian volunteers Charles Foreman (Bernard Lee) and John Holden (Richard Attenborough), whose destinies intersect on the beaches of Dunkirk. Digitally restored. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: "Dunkirk Operation Dynamo" newsreel, "Young Veteran Ealing Studios" documentary (1940), interview with actor Sean Barrett, John Mills home movie footage. (Film Movement Classics).
photo for Event Horizon Collector's Edition

Event Horizon Collector's Edition

(1997) Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. Jones, Jack Noseworthy. Its name: Event Horizon. The high-tech, pioneering research spacecraft mysteriously vanished without a trace on its maiden voyage seven years ago. But a weak, persistent signal from the long-missing craft prompts a rescue team, headed by the intrepid Captain Miller (Fishburne), to wing its way through the galaxy on a bold rescue mission. Accompanying Miller is his elite crew and the lost ship's designer (Neill). What they uncover is unimaginable interstellar horror. In a new 4k scan of the original camera negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New "Reflecting on Hell" interview with director Paul W.S. Anderson, new "Ghost Galleon" interview with writer Philip Eisner, new "Organized Chaos" interview with actress Kathleen Quinlan, new "Compassion in Space" interview with actor Jack Noseworthy, new "The Doomed Captain" interview with actor Peter Marinker, new "Space Cathedral" interview with production designer Joseph Bennett, new "Something New" interview with set decorator Crispian Sallis, new "Taking Care of It" interview with production manager Dusty Symonds, new "Reinforcements" interview with second unit director Robin Vidgeon, new "Almost Real" interview with location manager Derek Harrington, new "Screams From the Cosmos" interview with sound designer Campbell Askew, audio commentary with director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt, "The Making of Event Horizon" five-part documentary, "The Point of No Return" four-part look at the filming of "Event Horizon" with narration by Paul W.S. Anderson, "Secrets: deleted and extended scenes, "The Unseen Event Horizon" un-filmed rescue scene and conceptual art with director’s commentary, theatrical trailer, video trailer. (Scream Factory).

Ice Cold in Alex

(1958) John Mills. The year is 1942. Along the barren North African coast where war has turned towns into smoking ruins, Captain Anson (Mills), a commanding officer in the Royal Army Service Corps, is tired and thirsty. Separated from his unit while evacuating Tobruk, Anson must navigate a dilapidated ambulance with desperate passengers across perilous, enemy-patrolled terrain. Hundreds of miles away in Alexandria, safety and an ice cold beer await. Nominated for four BAFTA Awards and winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1958 Berlin International Film Festival. Digitally restored. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Extended clip from "A Very British War Movie" documentary, John Mills home video footage, interviews with Melanie Williams, Sylvia Syms, Steve Chibnall on J. Lee Thompson. Digitally restored. (Film Movement Classics).

The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw

(2021) Morningstar Angeline, Ajuawak Kapashesit, Andrew Martin. Mitzi Bearclaw (Angeline), a 25-year-old indigenous woman living in downtown Toronto, dreams of designing beautiful hats that can change the world. But, when she receives a letter from her father informing her that her bitter mother is ill, Mitzi decides to put her plans on hold and move back to her isolated reserve in southwestern Canada to look after her family. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Indican Pictures).

Madame

(2019 -- Switzerland) Stéphane Riethauser, Caroline Della Beffa, Luc Riethauser, Heike Riethauser, Olivier Riethauser. A double portrait of a young boy slowly coming out of the closet and of the lady that was, even more than his own mother, the woman of his life - his grandmother. Based on private archival footage, the film takes us onto an intimate journey where Caroline, a flamboyant 90-year-old grandmother, and her filmmaker grandson Stéphane explore the development and transmission of gender identity in a patriarchal environment. Promised to domestic life in the 1920s, Caroline manages to free herself from the clutches of forced marriage and becomes a successful businesswoman, defying the social rules of her time. In parallel, Stéphane struggles to play the role everyone expects in his Swiss bourgeois family until the day he comes out of the closet and sets off on a crusade against homophobia and sexism. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Three featurettes: "Rohini & Caroline," "When You're Truly Old," "The Hairdressing Contest at Kursaal." (Altered Innocence).

News of the World

photo for News of the World (2020) Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks), a veteran of three wars, now moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news of presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe. In the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel), a 10-year-old taken in by the Kiowa people six years earlier and raised as one of their own. Johanna, hostile to a world she’s never experienced, is being returned to her biological aunt and uncle against her will. Kidd agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two will face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place that either can call home. Vitals: Director: Paul Greengrass. Stars: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Ray McKinnon, Mare Winningham. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 118 min., Action, Box office gross: $8.841 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo with digital code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes; "Partners: Tom Hanks & Helena Zengel"; "Western Action"; "Paul Greengrass Makes News of the World"; The Kiowa"; feature commentary with co-writer/director Paul Greengrass. Read more here.

Queer Japan

(2019 -- Japan) Vivienne Sato, Gengoroh Tagame, Atsushi Matsuda, Nogi Sumiko, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Akira the Hustler, Tomato Hatakeno. Trailblazing artists, activists, and everyday people from across the spectrum of gender and sexuality defy social norms and dare to shine in this kaleidoscopic view of LGBTQ+ culture in contemporary Japan. From glossy pride parades to playfully perverse underground parties, this documentary pictures people living brazenly unconventional lives in the sunlight, the shadows, and everywhere in between. Interviewees include drag queen Vivienne Sato, erotic manga artist Gengoroh Tagame, butoh dancer Atsushi Matsuda, multimedia artist Nogi Sumiko, HIV+ advocate Hiroshi Hasegawa, activist Akira the Hustler, and transgender author Tomato Hatakeno. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Bonus scenes, short film: "The House of Gay Art," U.S. theatrical trailer, reversible art. (Altered Innocence).

Sheep Without a Shepherd

(2019 -- China) Joan Chen, Yang Xiao, Zhuo Tan, Philip Keung, Audrey Hui. Noirish thriller follows a family man and self-described movie-geek who is thrown into a battle of wits with the law after his daughter accidentally kills a fellow student who was blackmailing her. The dead boy’s mother (Joan Chen) is the morally "flexible" police chief determined to find her son's killer. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Artsploitation Films).
photo for Sherlock Holmes and the Great Escape

Sherlock Holmes and the Great Escape

(2021) In this fun twist on a Sherlock Holmes tale, the main characters are animals, with Holmes as a dog, and Watson as a cat. In the late 19th century, Mack, a heroic outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor, was loved and respected by the people. When the world’s greatest dog-tective, Sherlock Holmes, assisted in catching Mack, the people were angry with him for arresting their hero. But four years later, Mack has escaped from prison. While Sherlock is on the case to recapture Mack, he discovers the heartbreaking reason behind the outlaw’s escape, and decides to let him fulfill his final wish before Mack’s voluntary surrender to the police. However, everyone’s plans change when Mack’s daughter is kidnapped. Sherlock must employ all his wits if he is to rescue Mack’s daughter and save the day. Formats: DVD, Digital.(Shout! Kids).

Soul

(2020) Animated family adventure with the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Daveed Diggs, John Ratzenberger, Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir-Khalib Thompson. After landing the gig of a lifetime, a New York jazz pianist suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange land between Earth and the afterlife. "Soul" introduces Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. In the film, just when Joe thinks his dream might be in reach, a single unexpected step sends him to a fantastical place where he's is forced to think again about what it truly means to have soul. That's where he meets and ultimately teams up with 22, a soul who doesn't think life on Earth is all it's cracked up to be. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. (Pixar/Disney).

The Undoing: An HBO Limited Series

(2020) Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Edgar Ramirez, Noah Jupe, Lily Rabe, Noma Dumezweni, Sofie Gråbøl, Donald Sutherland. Two-disc set of the six-part limited series that follows Grace (Kidman) and Jonathan Fraser (Grant), who are living the only lives they ever wanted for themselves. Overnight, a chasm opens in their lives: a violent death and a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster and horrified by the ways in which she has failed to heed her own advice, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child and her family. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray plus digital copy, Digital. Extras: Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant introduce "The Undoing," "Creating The Undoing" featurette, "The Undoing Revelations" featurette. (Warner).

The Winter Lake

(2020) Emma Mackey, Anson Boon, Charlie Murphy, Michael McElhatton, Mark McKenna. When Holly’s dark secret is accidentally uncovered by her new emotionally unstable neighbor Tom, they are pulled into a violent confrontation with her father, who will do anything to keep the secret hidden. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Epic Pictures).
photo for World of Wong Kar Wai

World of Wong Kar Wai

With his lush and sensual visuals, pitch-perfect soundtracks, and soulful romanticism, Wong Kar Wai has established himself as one of the defining auteurs of contemporary cinema. Joined by such key collaborators as cinematographer Christopher Doyle; editor and production and costume designer William Chang Suk Ping; and actors Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, Wong (or WKW, as he is often known) has written and directed films that have enraptured audiences and critics worldwide and inspired countless other filmmakers with their poetic moods and music, narrative and stylistic daring, and potent themes of alienation and memory. Whether they’re tragically romantic, soaked in blood, or quirkily comedic, the seven films collected here are an invitation into the unique and wistful world of a deeply influential artist. Seven Blu-ray Special Edition Collector's Set features new 4K digital restorations of "As Tears Go By" (1998) and "Days of Being Wild" (1990) with uncompressed monaural soundtracks, and 4K digital restorations of "Chungking Express" (1994), "Fallen Angels" (1995), "Happy Together" (1997), "In the Mood for Love" (2000) and "2046" (2004), approved by director Wong Kar Wai, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks. Extras: New program in which Wong answers questions submitted, at the invitation of the director, by authors André Aciman and Jonathan Lethem, filmmakers Sofia Coppola, Rian Johnson, Lisa Joy, and Chloé Zhao, cinematographers Philippe Le Sourd and Bradford Young, and filmmakers and founders/creative directors of Rodarte Kate and Laura Mulleavy; alternate version of "Days of Being Wild" featuring different edits of the film’s prologue and final scenes, on home video for the first time; "Hua yang de nian hua," a 2000 short film by Wong; extended version of "The Hand," a 2004 short film by Wong, available in the U.S. for the first time; interview and “cinema lesson” with Wong from the 2001 Cannes Film Festival; three making-of documentaries, featuring interviews with Wong, actors Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Chang Chen, Faye Wong, and Ziyi Zhang, and others; episode of the television series "Moving Pictures" from 1996 featuring Wong and cinematographer Christopher Doyle; interviews from 2002 and 2005 with Doyle; excerpts from a 1994 British Film Institute audio interview with Cheung on her work in "Days of Being Wild"; program from 2012 on "In the Mood for Love’s" soundtrack; press conference for "In the Mood for Love" from the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival; deleted scenes, alternate endings, behind-the-scenes footage, a promo reel, music videos, and trailers; deluxe packaging, including a perfect-bound, French-fold book featuring lavish photography, an essay by critic John Powers, a director’s note, and six collectible art prints. Read more on each film here. (The Criterion Collection).



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March 30

photo for The Day of the Beast

The Day of the Beast

(1995 -- Spain) In between his cult hit debut "Acción Mutante" and proudly depraved "Perdita Durango", writer-director Álex de la Iglesia delivered the international smash that remains one of the best horror comedies of our time: When a rogue priest (Álex Angulo) discovers the exact date The Antichrist will be born, he enlists a Death Metal record store clerk (Santiago Segura) and a cheesy TV psychic (Armando De Razza) for an urban spree of gore, sacrilege and twisted humor to prevent the Apocalypse by summoning Satan himself. Winner of six Goya Awards including Best Director, now restored in 4k from the original negative. Formats: Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo. Extras: "Heirs of the Beast" feature length documentary by Diego López and David Pizarro on the making and cultural impact of "Day of the Beast"; "Antichrist Superstar" interview with director Alex De La Iglesia; "The Man Who Saved the World" interview with actor Armando De Razza; "Beauty and the Beast" interview with actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta; "Shooting the Beast" interview with director of photography Flavio Martínez Labiano; "Mirindas Asesinas" 1990 short film by Alex De La Iglesia; tailers. Read more here. (Severin Films).
photo for Defending Your Life

Defending Your Life

(1991) Is there love after death? Acerbic everyman Albert Brooks finds a perfect balance between satirical bite and romantic-comedy charm as the writer, director, and star of this wonderfully warm and imaginative existential fantasy. After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller (Brooks) finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia (Meryl Streep) offers him a chance to finally feel alive. Buoyed by a brilliant supporting cast that includes Rip Torn, Lee Grant, and Buck Henry, "Defending Your Life" is a rare feat of personal, philosophical filmmaking that happens to also be divinely entertaining. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Albert Brooks, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: New conversation between Brooks and filmmaker Robert Weide; new interview on the afterlife with theologian and critic Donna Bowman; new program featuring excerpts from 1991 interviews with Brooks and actors Lee Grant and Rip Torn; trailer; an essay by filmmaker Ari Aster. (The Criterion Collection).

55 Steps

(2018) Helena Bonham Carter, Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Tambor, Johan Heldenbergh, Michael Culkin. Based on the inspiring true story of an outrageous and smart Eleanor Riese (Carter), a patient in a psychiatric hospital where she's been mistreated, and her attorney, a patients' rights lawyer, Colette Hughes (Swank). When patients' rights lawyer Hughes goes to meet her new client, Riese, a patient in the psychiatric unit of a San Francisco hospital, she has no idea that besides taking on an uphill legal battle to improve treatment for mental patients in hospitals, she is meeting a woman who will make it her mission to transform Colette's workaholic life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Sony).

The Greatest Show On Earth BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1952) Cecil B. DeMille's Academy Award-winning film captures the thrills, chills and exhilaration of the circus. Featuring three intertwining plotlines filled with romance and rivalry, the film includes spectacular action sequences, including a show-stopping train wreck, and boasts a sensational cast, including Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame, and James Stewart. Newly restored from a 4K scan of the original negative, in collectible packaging with a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments. Extras: New Filmmaker Focus with film historian Leonard Maltin, exploring the making of the film and its reception; Digital copy of the film. (Paramount).
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Journeys Through French Cinema

(2017 -- France) "My Journey Through French Cinema" (2016), Bertrand Tavernier's César-nominated three-and-a-half-hour tour through French film history, was too short to introduce audiences to all that he wanted to share. In this new eight-part series, the acclaimed director of such films as "Coup de Torchon" and "'Round Midnight" guides us through a roster of filmmakers both influential and forgotten, explores how his country's cinema was shaped by the German occupation and changed again through the New Wave, spotlights little-known female filmmakers, and more. Subjects include: René Clément, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Julien Duvivier, Henri Decoin, Claude Autant-Lara, as well as composers who made movie music an art in and of itself, far from the Hollywood spotlight. Formats: Blu-ray. (Cohen Media).
photo for Nosferatu in Venice

Nosferatu in Venice

(1988 -- Italy) What was intended to be an unofficial sequel to Werner Herzog's "Nosferatu" (1979) instead became one of the most notoriously fascinating productions in EuroCult history: Klaus Kinski gives his penultimate performance as the legendary vampire resurrected in modern-day Venice with an insatiable hunger for warm blood and rough sex. Donald Pleasence and Academy Award-winner Christopher Plummer co-star in this sumptuously insane shocker that features music by Oscar winner Vangelis ("Chariots of Fire"), employed five different directors -- including Mario Caiano, Luigi Cozzi, writer/producer Augusto Caminito and reportedly Kinski himself, now scanned in 2k from the original negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: "Creation Is Violent" new feature-length documentary on Kinski’s final years; "Creation is Violent Outtakes": – "Nothing Bad Can Happen" – "Gypsies Should Be Played By Real Gypsies!"; trailer. Read more here. (Severin Films).

Our Friend

(2021) Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson, Casey Affleck. The inspiring and extraordinary true story of the Teague family – journalist Matt (Affleck), his vibrant wife Nicole (Johnson) and their two young daughters – and how their lives are upended by Nicole’s heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer. As Matt’s responsibilities as a caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple’s best friend Dane Faucheux (Segel) offers to come and help out. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life-altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Behind the scenes with cast and crew." (Universal). Read more here.
photo for Perdita Durango

Perdita Durango

(1997 -- Mexico/Spain) For his English-language debut, writer-director Álex de la Iglesia ("Day of the Beast") chose novelist Barry Gifford's prequel to "Wild At Heart" featuring sociopath priestess Perdita Durango. But when the U.S. distributor saw the finished film, they slashed 10+ minutes of gleefully profane sex and violence and dumped it under the title "Dance With the Devil." Severin is proud to present the complete Director's Cut starring Oscar nominee Rosie Perez and Academy Award winner Javier Bardem in an amoral love story filled with human sacrifices, kidnapping, murder, fetus trafficking and the dogged DEA agent (James Gandolfini) on the trail of it all. Don Stroud, Demián Bichir, Alex Cox and Screamin' Jay Hawkins co-star in this joyride to the dark side, now restored in 4k. Formats: Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo. Extras: "On the Border" interview with director Álex de la Iglesia; "Writing Perdita Durango" interview with writer Barry Gifford; "Dancing With the Devil - An Appraisal" by film scholar Dr. Rebekah McKendry; "Narcosatanicos: Perdita Durango and the Matamoros Cult" interview with Abraham Castillo Flores and "Cauldron of Blood" author Jim Schutze; "Canciones de Amor Maldito: The Music of Perdita Durango" interview with composer Simon Boswell; "Shooting Perdita Durango" interview with director of photography Flavio Labiano; trailers. Read more here. (Severin Films).
photo for A Scream in the Streets

A Scream in the Streets

(1973) From infamous producer Harry Novak -- whose Box Office International Pictures brought the world such classics as "Axe," "Mantis in Lace" and "Wham Bam Thank You, Spaceman" -- comes the still-startling sickie about a pair of L.A.P.D. detectives hunting a transvestite psychopath through a polyester jungle of massage parlor perverts, suburban sex fiends, violence-crazed cops and one of the worst examples of cross-dressing ever filmed. Joshua Bryant, Sandy Carey, Linda York and Sharon Kelly (aka 80s adult film superstar Colleen Brennan) star in this garish display of rampant depravity directed by Carl Monson ("Please Don't Eat My Mother!"), now scanned uncut in 2K from the original negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: "The Peeper" two sexy shorts produced from "A Scream in the Streets" outtakes; trailer. Read more here. (Severin Films).
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Secrets & Lies

(1996) Writer-director Mike Leigh reached new levels of expressive power and intricacy in his ongoing contemplation of unembellished humanity with this resonant exploration of the deceptions, small and large, that shape our relationships to those we love. When Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a black optometrist who was adopted as a child, begins the search for her birth mother, she doesn’t expect that it will lead her to Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn), a desperately lonely white factory worker whose tentative embrace of her long-lost daughter sends shock waves through the rest of her already fragile family. Born from a painstaking process of rehearsal and improvisation with a powerhouse ensemble cast, "Secrets & Lies" is a Palme d’Or–winning tour de force of sustained tension and catharsis that lays bare the emotional fault lines running beneath the surface of everyday lives. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new 2K digital restoration, supervised by director Mike Leigh and director of photography Dick Pope, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: New conversation with Leigh and composer Gary Yershon; new interview with actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste; audio interview with Leigh from 1996 conducted by film critic Michel Ciment; trailer. (The Criterion Collection).

The Toll

(2020) Jordan Hayes, Max Topplin, James McGowan, Rosemary Dunsmore. When Cami orders a taxi service to take her to her father’s country home, she’s hoping for a quiet and uneventful ride. But a wrong turn by Spencer, her chatty driver, results in the car stalling on a dark and remote road. After several threatening and inexplicable occurrences, Cami and Spencer photo for The Widowrealize they are being watched by an unseen presence — one that sees them as trespassers, and is ready to exact a deadly toll. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray with digital code. Extras: “Paying the Toll Man” featurette. (Lionsgate).

The Widow

(2020 -- Russia) Viktotiya Potemina, Anastasiya Gribova, Margarita Bychkova. In a densely forested area north of St. Petersburg, people have been going missing for three decades. Very few corpses were ever found, and the few that were recovered were naked. On October 14, 2017, a team of volunteers went out into the woods in search of a missing teenager. Soon, all communication with them was lost. Locals believe they were taken by the same dark spirit that took the others ... they call it the Limping Widow. Based on true accounts from the region. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Scream Factory).

Wonder Woman 1984

(2020) Diana Prince (aka Wonder Woman) lives quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980s -- an era of excess driven by the pursuit of having it all. Though she's come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile by curating ancient artifacts, and only performing photo for Wonder Woman 1984heroic acts incognito. But soon, Diana will have to muster all of her strength, wisdom and courage as she finds herself squaring off against Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility. Vitals: Director: Patty Jenkins. Stars: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen. 2019, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 151 min., Action Adventure, US box office gross: $40.3 million, worldwide $154.6 million, Warner. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: “The Making of Wonder Woman 1984: Expanding the Wonder,” “Gal & Kristen: Friends Forever,” “Small But Mighty,” “Gal & Krissy Having Fun” and “Meet the Amazons,” “Scene Study: The Open Road,” “Scene Study: The Mall,” gag reel, the Black Gold Infomercial seen in the film, and a “Wonder Woman 1984 Retro Remix.” Read more here.



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All listings are based on information from the home video studios. Some release dates may change and titles may come out after a specified date (with no announcement from the studio). Additionally, some titles may be released with little or no advance announcement. And since all DVDs are priced at sell-through and are available for substantial discounts at both online and brick-and-mortar stores, we only list suggested retail prices for some special editions, box sets and collections.



All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.


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