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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
May 26
Funny Pains: Follows a stand-up comedian as she navigates one of the entertainment’s toughest, most competitive professions - all during the height of the #MeToo movement, feminism, and the infiltration of stand-up comedy by the politically correct. (VOD only)
I Will Make You Mine: Three women wrestle with life's difficulties while confronting their past relationships with the same man. (Digital, VOD only)
The Man Standing Next: In the 1970's, Korea is under the absolute control of President Park Chung-hee, who controls the KCIA, the country's spy and intelligence service. In the midst of Park's reign of fear, a former KCIA director, Park Yong-gak, exiles to the U.S where an investigation of "Koreagate" is underway. As the tension escalates, the stifling political maneuvering leads up to Park's assassination in 1979. (DVD, Blu-ray release: Day & date)
June 1
The Infiltrators: A rag-tag group of undocumented youth - Dreamers - deliberately get detained by Border Patrol in order to infiltrate a shadowy, for-profit detention center. (Digital, VOD only)
Outstream FilmFest Goes Virtual June 1-7
Agatha Raisin, Series 3
(2019) Three-disc set with four episodes. Emmy and SAG-nominated actress Ashley Jensen is back in the P.I business as she resumes the comic antics, crafty know-how, and chic fashions of the charismatic sleuth in the quintessentially British village mystery based on the bestselling novels by M.C. Beaton. In Series 3, Agatha is now an official private investigator and operates her first detective agency, where pressures are high to keep new business flowing. When Agatha’s new agency fails to attract clients, her firm investigates the haunting of Ivy Hall, a mystery that has baffled locals, historians and ambitious treasure hunters for centuries, as the perfect opportunity to drum up business; Agatha investigates a young woman about to get married and a would-be-assassin found dead; Agatha takes a relaxing trip to a traditional winter festival with her team to temporarily relieve her troubles behind, but her plans are quickly derailed when a gruesome discovery leaves all of Carsely fearing for their safety. Formats: DVD. Extras: Bonus disc with Q&A, cast games, locations tour, behind-the-scenes featurette. (Acorn Media).
Albert Einstein: Still a Revolutionary
(2020) Albert Einstein, the most famous scientist of all time, was a world renowned celebrity, greeted like a rock star when he appeared in public. An anti-war firebrand, Einstein also spoke out on issues ranging from women's rights and racism to immigration and nuclear arms control. But today, his image has been neutered into that of a charmingly absent-minded genius. He was, in fact, a powerful force for social change and a model for political activism. Using a wealth of rarely-seen archival footage, correspondence, and new and illuminating interviews, Julia Newman's documentary makes the case that Einstein's example of social and political activism is as important today as are his brilliant, ground-breaking theories.
Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
Blood Tide
(1982 -- UK/Greece) Terror strikes in paradise as Academy Award-winning actors James Earl Jones, José Ferrer and Lila Kedrova star in this thrilling tale of sea monsters and sacrificial
The Deuce: The Complete Third Season
(2019) All eight episodes brings us into the world of 1985, just as VHS overtakes film as the primary medium for porn production and distribution. The lure of the California sunshine, the city's aggressive takeover of commercial sex properties in Times Square and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic mark the end of an era. With the party of the 1970s winding down, 42nd Street has deteriorated into a hive of uncontrolled violent crime and seedy video stores, making urban renewal seem more unlikely than ever before. Following the interconnected lives of Times Square's barkeeps, prostitutes, pimps, police, mobsters, porn actors and producers, the third season brings the series' arc to a dramatic conclusion. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Stage Setting Piece," eight "Inside the Episode" featurettes. (Warner).
The Deuce: The Complete Series
(2017-10) Eight-disc DVD boxed set includes all episodes from Seasons 1 through 3, including previously released special features. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Duet For Cannibals
(1969) Essayist, novelist, critic, cinephile, and all-around intellectual dynamo Susan Sontag made her directorial debut with this definition-defying, dryly funny psychological serio-comedy, the result of a Swedish studio's invitation to her to make a film in Stockholm. The result, revolving around the quadrangular relationship between an arrogant ex-revolutionist German intellectual exile, his elegant wife, their Swedish student secretary, and the earnest secretary's bride-to-be, is a roundelay of partner-swapping that gradually drifts towards uncharted territory, gamesmanship that broaches the surreal and violent. Defying literal-minded interpretation, "Duet for Cannibals" is both an illustrative companion to Sontag's criticism and the introduction of a startlingly original filmmaker. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary by artist and writer Wayne Koestenbaum; booklet essay by film critic Adam Nayman, interview with Agnès Varda and Susan Sontag (1969), trailers. (Metrograph Pictures/Kino Lorber).
Escape From L.A. Collector’s Edition
(1996) Kurt Russell rejoins filmmakers John Carpenter and Debra Hill to do to Los Angeles what they did to the Big Apple in "Escape From New York." Snake Plissken (Russell) takes on Los Angeles after a 9.6 earthquake decimates the city. His job: wade through L.A.'s ruined landmarks to retrieve a doomsday device. Snake surfs Wilshire Blvd., shoots hoops at the Coliseum, dive bombs the Happy Kingdom theme park, and mixes it up with a wild assortment of friends and foes including Stacy Keach, Steve Buscemi, Bruce Campbell, Peter Fonda, George Corraface, Cliff Robertson and Pam Grier. New 4K film scan from the original negative. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: New "A Little Bit Off Beat" interview with actor Stacy Keach; new "Beverly Hills Workshed" audio interview with Bruce Campbell; new "Part of the Family" interview with Peter Jason; new "Miss A Shot, Get A Shot" interview with George Corraface; new "One Eye is Better Than None" interview with special effects artist Jim Mc Pherson; new "The Renderman" interview with visual effects artist David Jones; theatrical trailer; TV spots; still gallery. (Scream Factory).
Horrors of Spider Island
(1960 -- Germany) Harald Maresch, Helga Franck, Alexander D'Arcy. Produced in 1960 as "Body in the Web," it became a notorious Adults Only feature throughout Europe (though banned in the UK). Three years later and sheared of its nudity, it was repackaged for American audiences as a brain-melting monster movie filled with stripper-cat-fights, skimpy lingerie, and radioactive arachnids. The completely uncensored version, scanned from the Düsseldorf dupe negative, as well as the alternate U.S. release, scanned from a pristine low con print, are now together for the first time. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: "The History of Spider-Island" with Prof. Dr. Marcus Stiglegger, audio interview with actor Alexander D'Arcy by horror historian David Del Valle, alternate clothed scenes, trailer. (Severin Films). Due to logistical delays caused by the current shelter-in-place-orders, this release has been moved to June 16.
The Man Standing Next
(2020 -- South Korea) Lee Sung-min, Kwak Do-won, Lee Byung-hun. In the 1970's, Korea is under the absolute control of President Park Chung-hee, who controls the KCIA, the country's spy and intelligence service. In the midst of Park's reign of fear, a former KCIA director, Park Yong-gak, exiles to the U.S where an investigation of "Koreagate" is underway. As the tension escalates, the stifling political maneuvering leads up to Park's assassination in 1979. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (MPI Media Group).
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band
(2019) Inspired by Robbie Robertson’s 2017 bestselling memoir “Testimony,” this documentary deeply dissects The Band’s magic and dysfunction, presenting a backstage view of the group's inner workings and offering audiences an unseen look at their impact on the music industry. The documentary chronicles Robertson’s introduction to music and the group’s revolutionary collaboration with Bob Dylan, to their final tour as one of the most influential groups of their era. Brings together never-before-seen archival footage and audio, while offering a refreshing backstage look at the band through interviews with Robertson, Martin Scorsese, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Ronnie Hawkins and more. (Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Premature
(2019) Zora Howard, Joshua Boone. On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, seventeen-year-old poet Ayanna meets Isaiah, a charming music producer who has just moved to the city. It's not long before these two artistic souls are drawn together in a passionate summer romance. But as the highs of young love give way to jealousy, suspicion, and all-too-real consequences, Ayanna must confront the complexities of the adult world whether she is ready or not. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Satan’s Slave
(1982 -- Indonesia) Ruth Pelupessi, W.D. Mochtar, Fachrul Rozy. Indonesian exploitation studio Rapi Films and writer/director Sisworo Gautama Putra unleashed this chiller that rocked the Muslim nation, transformed the country’s genre film industry, and remains one of the most influential shockers in Asian horror history. While mourning the death of his mother, a troubled teen discovers a nightmare world of restless spirits, supernatural vengeance and occult terror. Scanned from the original negative. A 2017 remake became an international festival favorite and one of Indonesia’s biggest hits ever. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: "Satan's Box Office" interview with producer Gope T. Samtani; "Indonesian Atmosphere" interview with screenwriter Imam Tantowi; "Satan's Slave Obsession" audio interview with remake director Joko Anwar. (Severin Films). Due to logistical delays caused by the current shelter-in-place-orders, this release has been moved to June 16.
Silicon Valley: The Complete Sixth Season
(2019) All seven episodes. In the sixth and final season of the hit series, Pied Piper is finally seeing the fruits of their labor – they have a huge new office and employees to fill it. But they soon find that being a bigger company means dealing with bigger problems. Can they achieve their vision without sacrificing their morals? Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Silicon Valley: The Complete Series
(2014-19) Nine-disc DVD boxed set includes all the episodes from Seasons 1 through 6. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
(1971 --Italy) George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Conchita Airoldi, Ivan Rassimov, Alberto de Mendoza. In English and Italian with English subtitles. Fenech stars as an unfaithful diplomat’s wife who finds herself hunted by a razor-wielding sex maniac while simultaneously haunted by her own depraved desires. Also known as "Blade of the Ripper" and "Next!" Newly scanned in 4k from the inter-negative.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: "Of Vice and Virtue" interview with director Sergio Martino; "Cold As Ice" interview with screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi; "Vienna Vice" interview with actor George Hilton and Italian genre historian Antonio Bruschini; archive interview with actress Edwige Fenech; introduction by George Hilton;
audio commentary with Kat Ellinger, author Of "All The Colors Of Sergio Martino"; trailer. (Severn Films). Due to logistical delays caused by the current shelter-in-place-orders, this release has been moved to June 2.
Wildlife
(2018) The directorial debut of actor Paul Dano reveals a filmmaking talent of remarkable intelligence and restraint. Adapted by Dano and Zoe Kazan from the novel by Richard Ford, this meticulously crafted portrait of the American nuclear family in crisis charts the rift that
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Follows a modern tale of obsession inspired by Universal’s classic monster character. Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) slowly begins to rebuild her life after the suicide death of her abusive ex-boyfriend (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) -- though she suspects his death was a hoax. Before long, she begins to question whether or not he is truly gone, and she must prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
Vitals: Director: Leigh Whannel. Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer, Michael Dorman, Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
2020, CC, MPAA rating: R, 124 min., Horror, Box office gross: $64.914 million, Paramount.
Extras: Deleted scenes; "Moss Manifested" in which Elisabeth Moss describes the physical and emotional challenges she faced while portraying Cecilia, a woman whose truth is constantly questioned by those around her; "Director’s Journey With Leigh Whannell" in which Leigh Whannell acts as tour guide through principal photography, from day 1 to day 40; "The Players" behind-the-scenes; "Timeless Terror" behind the scenes look at how writer/director Leigh Whannell re-imagined this iconic character through the lens of modern technology and socially relatable themes.
virgins, from the people that brought you the notoriously gruesome "Island of Death." When treasure hunter Frye (Jones) accidentally awakens an ancient sea monster that has been lying dormant on a Greek island, the inhabitants are forced to resume the practice of sacrificing virgins in order to placate the demonic creature. Meanwhile a couple, Neil and Sherry, arrive on the island in search of Neil's missing sister, Madeline. Written and produced by Nico Mastorakis, this is a suspense-filled creature feature surging with blood, nudity and beachside aerobics. New restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New audio commentary with director/co-writer Richard Jefferies; newly-filmed interview with producer/co-writer Nico Mastorakis; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mike Gingold. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
Husbands
(1970) The trailblazing independent auteur John Cassavetes pushes his raw, uncompromising emotional realism to its limit in this unflinching portrait of masculinity in crisis. Cassavetes joins Ben Gazzara and Peter Falk -- both of whom would become key collaborators of the director's -- playing a trio of middle-aged Long Island family men who, following the sudden death of their best friend, channel their grief into an epic, multiday bender that takes them from Manhattan to London in a desperate, debauched quest to feel alive. By turns painfully funny and woundingly perceptive, this self-described "comedy about life, death, and freedom" stands as perhaps the most fearless, harrowingly honest deconstruction of American manhood ever committed to film.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, with new 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray.
Extras: Audio commentary from 2009 featuring critic Marshall Fine; new interviews with producer Al Ruban and actor Jenny Runacre; new video essay featuring audio recordings of John Cassavetes in his own words exploring the actor-director's spirited approach to acting; "The Story of Husbands -- A Tribute to John Cassavetes" (2009), a half-hour program featuring Ruban, actor Ben Gazzara, and cinematographer Victor J. Kemper; episode of The Dick Cavett Show from 1970 featuring Cassavetes, Gazzara, and actor Peter Falk; trailer; an essay by filmmaker Andrew Bujalski. (The Criterion Collection).
Scorsese Shorts
This compilation of five early short films by Martin Scorsese offers a fascinating window onto his artistic development. Spanning the years from Scorsese's time at NYU in the mid-1960s to the late 70s, when he was emerging as one of the era's most electrifying talents, "Scorsese Shorts" centers on the intimate home movie "Italianamerican" (1974) -- a loving snapshot of the director's parents -- and "American Boy" (1978), a freewheeling portrait of a larger-than-life raconteur. Also included are "The Big Shave" (1967), a daringly visceral response to America's involvement in Vietnam, and the bracing student films "What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?" (1963) and "It's Not Just You, Murray!" (1964). Touching on many of Scorsese's key themes-Italian American identity, family, his beloved New York City-these are hilarious, candid, and illuminating works from the preeminent American filmmaker of our time.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, with new, director-approved 4K digital restorations of all five films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray.
Extras: New conversation between director Martin Scorsese and film critic Farran Smith Nehme; new discussion among filmmakers Ari Aster and Josh and Benny Safdie; more; an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri and various materials from Scorsese's archive. (The Criterion Collection).
Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto
(1987-2018) One of the most distinctive and celebrated names in modern Japanese cinema, there's no other filmmaker quite like Shinya Tsukamoto. Since his early days as a teenager making Super 8 shorts, he has remained steadfastly independent, garnering widespread acclaim while honing his own unique and instantly recognizable aesthetic on the margins of the industry. Frequently exploring themes of urban alienation, physical transformation and psychosexual obsession, his films cross genre boundaries, defying straightforward classification. This exclusive collection gathers together eight feature-length films and two shorts from Tsukamoto's diverse filmography, including his most recent offering -- his samurai drama "Killing," making its home video premiere. Includes: "Tetsuo: The Iron Man," "Tetsuo II: Body Hammer," "Tokyo Fist," "Bullet Ballet," "A Snake of June," "Vital," "Kotoko," "The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo" (short), "Haze" (short). Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Commentaries, featurettes, collectible booklet, more. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
White Fire
(1985 -- France) Robert Ginty and Belinda Mayne play Bo and Inga, brother and sister jewel thieves who target the legendary "White Fire" diamond -- a priceless rock so hot it actually burns those who try to lay their hands on it. When tragedy strikes, Bo undertakes an outrageous plan involving plastic surgery and explosives to infiltrate the mine where the diamond awaits. Bo's plan hits an unexpected snag with the arrival of smooth-talking badass Noah Barclay, played by Fred Williamson. Noah's hunting for a missing prostitute -- and he thinks Bo and Inga hold the key to her disappearance. Erotic filmmaker Jean-Marie Pallardy ("Erotic Diary of a Lumberjack") brings his kinky touch to high octane action in this infamous exploitation epic, complete with chainsaw mayhem, awkward brotherly love, and a very 80s theme song by the band Limelight. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Feature length audio commentary by critic Kat Ellinger; "Surviving the Fire" new interview with writer-director Jean-Marie Pallardy; "Enter the Hammer" new interview with actor Fred Williamson; "Diamond Cutter" new interview with editor Bruno Zincone. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
forms within a 1960s Montana household when the father and breadwinner (Jake Gyllenhaal) abruptly departs to fight the forest fires raging nearby, leaving his restless wife (Carey Mulligan, in a performance of fearless emotional honesty) and teenage son (Ed Oxenbould) to pick up the pieces. A deeply human look at a woman's wayward journey toward self-fulfillment in the pre-women's-liberation era and a sensitively observed, child's-eye coming-of-age tale, Wildlife poignantly illuminates the complex ways in which families function, fall apart, and find their way. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc with, new director-approved 2K digital master, with 5.1 surround DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: New interviews with director Paul Dano, screenwriter Zoe Kazan, actors Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal, cinematographer Diego García, production designer Akin McKenzie, and costume designer Amanda Ford; new conversation on the film's post-production with Dano, editor Matthew Hannam, and composer David Lang; Film at Lincoln Center conversation from 2018 between Dano and novelist Richard Ford about the film's source material; an essay by critic Mark Harris. (The Criterion Collection).
The Woman
(2011) Almost a decade after Lucky McKee burst upon the indie horror scene and became a "Master of Horror" in the making thanks to his directorial debut, "May," he teamed up with legendary cult author Jack Ketchum for his most shocking and brutal film to date: "The Woman," an instant cause célèbre on its Sundance premiere. The Woman (Pollyanna McIntosh) is the last surviving member of a deadly clan of feral cannibals that has roamed the American wilderness for decades. When successful country lawyer Chris Cleek (Sean Bridgers) stumbles upon her while hunting in the woods, he decides to capture and "civilize" her with the help of his seemingly perfect all-American family, including his wife Belle (Angela Bettis) and daughter Peggy (Lauren Ashley). The Cleeks will soon learn, however, that hell hath no fury like The Woman scorned ... In a definitive new edition with a 4K remaster. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New commentaries; "Dad on the Wall" new 75-minute fly-on-the-wall behind-the-scenes documentary filmed by the director's father Mike McKee; "Being Peggy Cleek," a newly filmed interview with star Lauren Ashley Carter; "Malam Domesticam" archive making-of featurette; "Meet the Makers" short featurette on the making of the film; Deleted Scenes "Mi Burro," a short film by editor Zach Passero; “Distracted” music video by Sean Spillane; Frightfest Total Film Panel Discussion, a 2011 onstage chat about the future of American indie horror at the popular horror film festival, featuring Lucky McKee, Andrew van den Houten, Larry Fessenden, Adam Green, Joe Lynch and Ti West; theatrical trailers; image galleries; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michael Blyth, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Kevin Kovelant. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).
