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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases

Tuesday, May 12 -- Monday, May 18

All DVD Releases

  • Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

    photo for Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess? This is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham's most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya's paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down. Vitals: Director: Cathy Yan. Stars: Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Derek Wilson, Ewan McGregor, Matthew Willig, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Chris Messina, Rosie Perez. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: R, 99 min., Action Adventure, Box office gross: $84.158 million, Warner. Extras: "Birds Eye View Mode," "Birds Of Prey: Birds of a Feather," "Romanesque," "Love, Skate Relationship," "Grime and Crime," "Sanity Is Sooo Last Season," "Wild Nerds," gag reel. 3 stars


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  • The Call of the Wild

    photo for The Call of the Wild Adapted from the novel by Jack London, this live-action/animation hybrid vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Canadian Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team — and later its leader — Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master. Vitals: Director:. Stars: Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, Cara Gee, Michael Horse, Jean Louisa Kelly, Colin Woodell, Adam Fergus. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 100 min., Adventure, Box office gross: $62.342 million, Fox. Extras: "Origins," "The On-Set Experience," "State of the Art," "The World of the Wild." 2 stars

  • Fantasy Island

    photo for Fantasy Island The enigmatic Mr. Roarke (Michael Peña) makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives. Vitals: Director: Jeff Wadlow. Stars: Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Portia Doubleday, Ryan Hansen, Michael Rooker. 2020, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 109 min., Adventure Fantasy, Box office gross: $26.441 million, Sony. Extras: Deleted scenes, unrated director and cast commentary. 2 stars

  • The Photograph

    photo for The Photograph Romantic drama follows the story of a young woman Mae (Issa Rae), whose mother, a famed photographer, passes away and leaves her with tons of unanswered questions. In her journey to find out more about her own origins, Mae stumbles upon not only a letter and photos her mother left behind, but also an unexpected and powerful romance with an up and coming journalist (LaKeith Stanfield). Vitals: Director: Stella Meghie. Stars: Issa Rae, LaKeith Stanfield, Lil Rel Howery, Rob Morgan, Coutney B Vance. 2019, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 106 min., Drama, Box office gross: $20.578 million, Universal. Extras: "Shooting The Photograph" behind-the-scenes featurette; "Culture in Film" in which the filmmakers and cast discuss the importance of representation in the industry, the significance of being both in front of and behind the camera, and why this story matters; "The Film Through Photographs." 2 stars



    This Week's Digital Releases

    May 12

    The Invisible Man : Psychological thriller modernizes Universal’s shapeshifting, classic monster against a backdrop of an empowered woman facing her tormentor. (DVD, Blu-ray release: March 26)

    Samurai Marathon: Inspired by a race still held yearly, the film follows an aging lord who challenges his samurai to a grueling marathon -- joined covertly by his daughter -- to see if they're tough enough to face the newly arrived Americans. (DVD, Blu-ray release: July 21)

    The Traitor: The real life of Tommaso Buscetta, the so-called "boss of the two worlds," the first mafia informant in Sicily in the 1980s. (DVD, Blu-ray release: Day & date)

    May 15

    Proximity: A young NASA JPL scientist is abducted by extraterrestrials but when no one believes his story he becomes obsessed with finding proof. (Digital, VOD only)

    Scoob!: Animated feature reveals how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they joined with young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc. Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. The film was originally scheduled for a wide theatrical release on May 15. (Digital, VOD only)

    Up From The Streets: New Orleans: The City of Music: Documentary explores the unparalleled, historical musical heritage of New Orleans. (Streaming via a virtual cinema participating theater)

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    All DVD Releases

    An Ideal Place to Kill (1971 -- Italy) Ornella Muti, Ray Lovelock, Irene Papas, Michel Dardinet. Two free-spirited teenagers, Dick and Ingrid (Lovelock andMuti), set out to spend the summer together in Italy. To pay their way they sell Scandinavian porn mags and pictures of Ingrid posing nude. But then they get busted by the cops and are given 24 hours to get out of the country. Instead of leaving they take to the road, where they come up against a thieving biker gang and they're mistaken for a pair of bank robbers. Heading south in a hurry, they run out of gas in the middle of nowhere and take refuge in the house of Barbara Slater (Papas), a seemingly bored, middle-aged housewife who appears to be up for some sexual shenanigans. The naive pair party with Barbara but soon discover she's hiding a terrible and deadly secret. Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray, restored from the original negative, complete and uncut. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Exclusive interview with director Umberto Lenzi, audio commentary by Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson, deleted scenes, original trailer. (Mondo Macabro).

    photo for Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020) Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Derek Wilson, Ewan McGregor, Matthew Willig, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Chris Messina, Rosie Perez. After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Birds Eye View Mode," "Birds Of Prey: Birds of a Feather," "Romanesque," "Love, Skate Relationship," "Grime and Crime," "Sanity Is Sooo Last Season," "Wild Nerds," gag reel. (Warner).

    The Call of the Wild (2020) Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, Cara Gee, Michael Horse, Jean Louisa Kelly, Colin Woodell, Adam Fergus. Adapted from the novel by Jack London, this live-action/animation hybrid vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Canadian Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Origins," "The On-Set Experience," "State of the Art," "The World of the Wild." (Fox).

    Delta Zoo (2019 -- Lithuania) In the 1990s, every boy around the world -- even amidst cultural embargoes -- was glued to VHS karate action films and dreamt of being a super hero. On March 11, 1990, a year before the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare itself independent. Reacting to Soviet aggression, the newly re-established photo for Delta ZooLithuanian Army Command decided to create the first-ever national crack commando unit and gave a selective group of young men the chance to be the "Mambos" of their country as members of a top-secret Special Forces Unit aimed at countering Soviet aggression. Most members were given an animal nickname -- Spider, Horse, Whale, Crab -- hence the unit was known as the Zoo. And from parachute jumps and hand-to-hand combat training to securing the GB building in Vilnius, at the beginning of the end of the USSR, this playful documentary from filmmaker Andrius Lekavicius uses first-person interviews, cleverly stylized animation, archival footage and original music to tell the hidden story of the first-ever Lithuanian Special Forces: a courageous, impassioned, and youthful endeavor against the powers that once were. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (IndiePix Films).

    Fairytale (2017 -- Italy) LGBTQ comedy-drama follows Mrs. Fairytale, a perfect housewife in 1950s America who becomes aware of her own unhappiness and embarks on a process of personal liberation. Amongst stuffed poodles, whiskey-infused teas, sinful mambo lessons, and threats of alien invasion, Mr(s). Fairytale begins to explore a world where anyone can finally be who they want to be, but behind which hides another upsetting reality. Based on the stage play by Italian actor Filippo TImi, who also stars. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Breaking Glass Pictures).

    photo for Fantasy Island Fantasy Island (2020) Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Portia Doubleday, Ryan Hansen, Michael Rooker. Includes unrated and theatrical versions of the movie. A horror adaptation of the popular '70s TV show about a magical island resort. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes, unrated director and cast commentary. (Sony).



    Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema II This collection feature three classic noir films from the 1950s. "Thunder on the Hill" (1951) -From Douglas Sirk, the renowned director of "All I Desire," "Magnificent Obsession," "There's Always Tomorrow," "Written on the Wind," comes this classic film noir starring screen legend Claudette Colbert. A nun (Colbert) races against time to prove the innocence of a convicted murderess (Ann Blyth) who is being escorted to prison for a date with the gallows. Thunder on the Hill is a moody mystery that serves up many twists and photo for Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema IIfeatures an intriguing tour-de-force performance by Colbert and fast-paced direction by Sirk. "The Price Of Fear" (1956) - Elegant, exotic beauty Merle Oberon plays against type in this unpredictable film noir. A woman guilty of a hit-and-run accident frames another person for the crime, but soon is implicated in a far worse situation with a gangster who uses blackmail to lure her into a murder plot. "The Female Animal" (1958) - Hollywood star Vanessa Windsor (Hedy Lamarr) is saved from a terrible on-set accident by handsome studio extra Chris Farley (George Nader). In appreciation of his skills and good looks, she sets him up as the "caretaker" of her beach house. When Vanessa's sultry daughter (Jane Powell) meets Chris, the claws come out as both ladies try to stake out his affections in this campy and lusty battle for love. Formats: Blu-ray. (Kino Lorber Studio Classics).

    The Great Escape (1963) One of the most exciting adventure tales ever told, this action epic recounts the planning, execution, and aftermath of a daring true-life escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, in which 250 men attempted to tunnel their way to freedom. In the role that cemented his superstar status, Steve McQueen plays the motorcycle-racing daredevil who sets out to foil the Nazis, alongside an all-star cast that also includes Charles Bronson, James Coburn, James Garner, and Donald Pleasence. The expert direction of John Sturges, photo for The Great Escape eminently hummable Elmer Bernstein score, and rip-roaring stunts come together in what may just be the most spectacularly entertaining prison-break movie of all time, a rousing ode to the determination, camaraderie, and courage of everyday heroes. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, with 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray; alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray. Extras: Two audio commentaries, one from 1991, featuring director John Sturges and composer Elmer Bernstein, the other, from 2004, featuring actors James Coburn, James Garner, and Donald Pleasence; new interview with critic Michael Sragow; "The Great Escape: Heroes Underground," a four-part 2001 documentary about the real-life escape from the Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, including interviews with POWs held there; "The Real Virgil Hilts: A Man Called Jones," a 2001 program on the United States Army Air Forces pilot David Jones, the inspiration for Steve McQueen's character in the film; "Return to The Great Escape," a 1993 program featuring interviews with Coburn, Garner, actors David McCallum and Jud Taylor, stuntman Bud Ekins, and McQueen's son, Chad McQueen; trailer; an essay by critic Sheila O'Malley. (The Criterion Collection).

    Idle Hands Collector’s Edition (1999) Devon Sawa, Seth Green, Elden Henson, Vivica A. Fox, Jessica Alba. The Devil will find work for idle hands to do ... so what happens when he chooses the laziest teen slacker in the world to do his dirty work? Anton Tobias (Sawa) is a channel-surfing, junk-food munching, couch potato burn-out who can’t control the murderous impulses of his recently possessed hand. With the help of his zombified buddies (Green) and Pnub (Henson), Anton’s got to stop the rampaging devil appendage before it takes total control of his life and ruins any chance he has with class hottie Molly (Alba). Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New audio commentary with actors Devon Sawa, Seth Green, Elden Henson, and Vivica A. Fox; new "Bloody Punk Fun" an interview with director Rodman Flender; new "Stoner Headspace" interview with actor Elden Henson; new "This Face, These Hands" interview with actor Sean Whalen; new "Sleight of Hand" interview with actor Christopher Hart; new "Written in Blood" interview with writer Terri Hughes Burton; audio commentary by director Rodman Flender and actors Seth Green and Elden Henson; deleted scenes; vintage making-of featurette; storyboard comparisons; theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory).

    Lucifer: The Complete Fourth Season (2019) Two-disc set with all 10 episodes. Season Four sizzles with fiendishly clever comebacks. The charismatic, handsome Lucifer Morningstar returns resurrected after Season Three's wicked cliffhanger. His unofficial partner in crime-solving and affairs of the heart, LAPD detective Chloe Decker, returns from an extended vacation - after she saw Lucifer's devil face for the first time and realized he was, in fact, exactly the man he always claimed to be. And, finally, new to the series but not to the Lord of Hell, comes old flame and original sinner, Eve, whose charms are as tempting to Lucifer now as the serpent's big, red apple was to her back in the day. Does she want revenge for her expulsion from Eden all those years ago? Or something else entirely? Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes. (Warner).

    A Nun's Curse (2020) Felissa Rose, Damian Maffei, Gunner Willis. On a weekend trip, a group of friends are forced to seek shelter inside an abandoned prison where a nun named Sister Monday had once been assigned. During her time at the prison, Sister Monday was suspected of killing prisoners who were serving out their sentences but, before she could be questioned, she disappeared. Or did she? Formats: DVD, Digital. (Uncork’d Entertainment).

    photo for The Photograph The Photograph (2019) Issa Rae, LaKeith Stanfield, Lil Rel Howery, Rob Morgan, Coutney B Vance. A series of intertwining love stories set in the past and in the present. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Shooting The Photograph" behind-the-scenes featurette; "Culture in Film" in which the filmmakers and cast discuss the importance of representation in the industry, the significance of being both in front of and behind the camera, and why this story matters; "The Film Through Photographs." (Universal).

    Rev (2020) Francisco Filice, Vivica A. Fox, Sean Rey, Hannah Gordon. When Mikey’s not racing cars, he’s stealing them all over the city. But after he gets caught boosting a rare ride from a cop’s house, the police force him to go undercover or go to jail. Mikey agrees to join a grand theft ring led by violent, impulsive Charlie, who’d beat Mikey to death if he knew he was an informant. Even worse, Mikey finds himself attracted to Charlie’s girlfriend, Ava, and their passionate encounter sets up a bloody, powerful collision between rage and desperation. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Lionsgate).

    Shameless: The Complete Tenth Season (2019-20) Three-disc set with all 12 episodes. The Gallaghers return for another scandalous Showtime season. In Season 10, Frank's exploits lead him to an old friend, Debbie rules over the Gallagher household with an iron fist, Lip navigates his relationship (and parenthood) with Tami, Carl faces life after military school, Liam is tutored by V about black history and culture, and Kev has an identity crisis. Plus, “Gallavich” returns as Ian and Mickey rekindle their romance in prison as both cellmates and lovers. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes. (Warner).

    Time Zone Inn (2018 -- Italy) Lucrezia Guidone, Marco Cassini. Because they are considering decamping to photo for Time Zone Inndifferent European cities, Mina (Guidone) and Enzo (Cassini) book rooms at an experimental B&B where each room represents a different city and time zone. As a preparatory course for long distance relationships, couples who visit are asked to adhere to its strict rules: no entering your partner's room, no cell phones, and no contact with your significant other -- except for two hours a day in the common room. Unfortunately, Mina and Enzo aren't on the same page about what they hope to learn from the Time Zone Inn in this highly-original romantic drama, the feature film debut from director Andrea Di Iorio. Formats: DVD, Digital. (IndiePix Films).

    The Traitor (2019 -- Italy) Pierfrancesco Favino, Maria Fernanda Candido, Fabrizio Ferracane, Fausto Russo Alesi, Luigi Lo Cascio. In the early 1980’s, an all-out war rages between Sicilian mafia bosses over the heroin trade. Tommaso Buscetta, a made man, flees to hide out in Brazil. Back home, scores are being settled and Buscetta watches from afar as his sons and brother are killed in Palermo, knowing he may be next. Arrested and extradited to Italy by the Brazilian police, Buscetta makes a decision that will change everything for the Mafia: he decides to meet with Judge Giovanni Falcone and betray the eternal vow he made to the Cosa Nostra, and talk. From legendary Italian director Marco Bellocchio. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Sony).

    Vivarium (2019) Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots, Jonathan Aris. Tom and Gemma (Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots) are looking for the perfect home. When a strange real-estate agent takes them to Yonder, a mysterious suburban neighborhood of identical houses, Tom and Gemma can’t wait to leave. But when they try to exit the labyrinth-like housing development, each road takes them back to where they started. Soon, they realize their search for a dream home has plunged them into a terrifying nightmare. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: Audio commentary with director Lorcan Finnegan and executive producer Brunella Cocchiglia; “Creating the Suburban Nightmare of Vivarium” featurette. (Lionsgate).

    What the Waters Left Behind (2017 -- Argentina) Agustin Pardella, Damian Dreizik, Victoria Maurette, Gustavo Garzon, Evan Leed. The town of Epecuen was flooded on November 10th 1985 and was deep underwater for over 30 years. When the waters receded, the town was still intact and stayed deserted, at least so they thought. A group of young people takes a trip to the ruins in order to film a documentary about Epecuen. Ignoring warnings, and after a brief tour, they get stranded in the abandoned village. Contrary to what they thought, they begin to realize that they are really not alone. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Making-of featurette. Unearthed Films).


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