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July 6

Bringing Up Baby

(1938) Screwball sparks fly when Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn let loose in one of the fastest and funniest films ever made -- a high-wire act of invention that took American screen comedy to new heights of absurdity. Hoping to procure a million-dollar endowment from a wealthy society matron for his museum, a hapless paleontologist (Grant) finds himself entangled with a dizzy heiress (Hepburn) as the manic misadventures pile up -- a missing dinosaur bone, a leopard on the loose, and plenty of gender-bending mayhem among them. "Bringing Up Baby’s" sophisticated dialogue, spontaneous performances, and giddy innuendo come together in a whirlwind of comic chaos captured with lightning-in-a-bottle brio by director Howard Hawks. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary from 2005 featuring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich; new video essay on actor Cary Grant by author Scott Eyman; new interview about cinematographer Russell Metty with cinematographer John Bailey; new interview with film scholar Craig Barron on special-effects pioneer Linwood Dunn; new selected-scene commentary about costume designer Howard Greer with costume historian Shelly Foote; "Howard Hawks: A Hell of a Good Life," a 1977 documentary by Hans-Christoph Blumenberg featuring the director’s last filmed interview; audio interview from 1969 with Grant; audio excerpts from a 1972 conversation between Hawks and Bogdanovich; trailer; an essay by critic Sheila O’Malley. (The Criterion Collection).

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Dark Spell

(2021 -- Russia) Yana Enzhaeva, Konstantin Beloshapka, Ilya Ermolov, Varvara Borodina, Igor Khripunov, Sabina Akhmedova. Zhenya, a young wife and mother, is heartbroken after her husband leaves her. Desperate, she tampers with the forces of reality by employing sinister magic -- in the form of a spell called “Black Wedding” -- to bring him back into her arms. Sure enough, her husband returns to her ... but his renewed love for Zhenya has become twisted into something far more obsessive and frightening. Now Zhenya has no other choice but to find a way to reverse an irreversible spell, but she soon learns that not even death will part those who have been joined by the Black Wedding. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Scream Factory). Read more here.

Defending Jacob

(2020) Three-disc set with all eight episodes. A gripping, character-driven thriller based on the 2012 New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, the limited series unfolds around a shocking crime that rocks a small Massachusetts town and one family in particular, forcing an assistant district attorney (Chris Evans) to choose between his sworn duty to uphold justice and his unconditional love for his son. The series also stars Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, J.K. Simmons and Cherry Jones. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes, two behind-the-scenes featurettes. (Paramount).

42nd Street

(2019 -- UK) Bonnie Langford, Tom Lister, Philip Bertioli, Clare Halse. Big screen adaptation of the 1980 Broadway song and dance musical extravaganza. Peggy Sawyer is from small-town America and just a face in the chorus line of "Pretty Lady,: the new show from legendary director Julian Marsh. But when the show's leading lady, Dorothy Brock, is injured, Peggy's dreams of stardom just may come true. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Liberator Films).

The House on Sorority Row: Special Edition

(1982) Kathryn McNeil, Eileen Davidson, Janis Ward, Robin Meloy, Harley Jane Kozak, Jean Schertler. This fabulous, sexy suspense-horror film combines a tantalizing story with heart-pumping direction to deliver a smashing impact that has been called "enough to make viewers consider dorm life." Come meet the girls of Theta Pi. All through college they've lived under the tyranny of their resident house mother. But tonight will be different. Tonight the girls of Theta Pi are celebrating their graduation in the most deadly way they know. When these inventive senior sisters decide to do in their demented house mother, it's an easy task. But, someone has seen, someone who wants revenge. And no college class could have prepared the girls - or you - for the horrifying mayhem that greets them on that last fateful night in The House on Sorority Row. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Commentary with director Mark Rosen and stars Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeil; interviews with cast and crew including director Mark Rosman, stars Harley Jane Kozak, Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeil, composer Richard Band and producer Igo Kantor; storyboard on the original ending; theatrical trailers; reversible artwork with alternative cover; collectible mini-poster. (MVD Rewind).

The Last Time I Committed Suicide

(1997) Thomas Jane, Keanu Reeves, Claire Forlani, Adrien Brody, Marg Helgenberger, Amy Smart, Lucinda Jenney, Gretchen Mol. In the idyllic post-war 1950s, young men across the country were aspiring to achieve the American dream of marriage, family and stability. But others longed for something different. Meet Neal Cassady (Jane). He's got a poet's soul, a dreamer's heart and a choice to make. Caught between the allure of a drifter's life on the road and the security of a traditional home, Neal must decide which future he most desires. This is the unforgettable story of love, friendship and discovering how to stay a beat ahead of the crowd. Cassady, of course, was the ultimate Beat and hippie hero; the film is based on a letter written by Cassady to Jack Kerouac in 1950. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (MVD Visual).

Locked In

(2021) Mena Suvari, Jeff Fahey, Manny Perez, Costas Mandylor, Bruno Bichir, Jasper Polish. After a diamond heist takes a fatal turn, a pair of thieves must entrust their fortune with an accomplice at a high-tech storage facility while they lay low. Hiding the goods within the labyrinth of storage units, the thieves’ inside man pays the ultimate price when he turns against them. Now, hellbent on recovering the missing stones, they seize the facility and kidnap surviving employee Maggie (Suvari), threatening her family unless she helps them. Locked in with nowhere to run, Maggie's only chance to escape alive is to fight back and stay one step ahead of her captors in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Read more here. (Paramount).

Miranda Veil

(2020) Zach Steffey, Annabel Barrett. Aspiring serial killer Soren has finally mustered the courage to capture and kill his first victim. After drugging Miranda Veil at a highway pitstop, Soren takes her to a secluded area and succumbs to his obsession. However, both predator and prey are shocked to discover that she is unable to die, no matter how many times Soren attempts to end her life. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indiecan Pictures).

Mirror BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1975 -- France) A subtly ravishing passage through the halls of time and memory, this sublime reflection on 20th-century Russian history by Andrei Tarkovsky is as much a poem composed in images, or a hypnagogic hallucination, as it is a work of cinema. In a richly textured collage of varying film stocks and newsreel footage, the recollections of a dying poet flash before our eyes, his dreams mingling with scenes of childhood, wartime, and marriage, all imbued with the mystical power of a trance. Largely dismissed by Soviet critics on its release because of its elusive narrative structure, "Mirror" has since taken its place as one of the director’s most renowned and influential works, a stunning personal statement from an artist transmitting his innermost thoughts and feelings directly from psyche to screen. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: "Andrei Tarkovsky: A Cinema Prayer," a 2019 documentary about the director by his son Andrei A. Tarkovsky; "The Dream in the Mirror," a new documentary by Louise Milne and Seán Martin; new interview with composer Eduard Artemyev; "Islands: Georgy Rerberg," a 2007 documentary about the cinematographer; archival interviews with Tarkovsky and screenwriter Alexander Misharin; an essay by critic Carmen Gray and, for the Blu-ray, the 1968 film proposal and literary script by Tarkovsky and Misharin that they ultimately developed into "Mirror." (The Criterion Collection).

Mr. Jealousy

(1998) Eric Stoltz, Annabella Sciorra, Chris Eigeman. Stoltz, who'd played a philosophical bartender and lifelong student for director Noah Baumbach in "Kicking and Screaming," returns in Baumbach's sophomore feature as an aspiring novelist, Lester, who exhibits obsessive behavior when girlfriend Ramona (Sciorra, Cop Land) mentions a previous relationship with well-known writer Dashiell Frank, which sends Lester into a spiral of obsessive behavior and hysterically elaborate subterfuges. From acclaimed three-time Academy Award© nominated writer and director Baumbach ("The Squid and The Whale," "Marriage Story") and featuring Peter Bogdanovich, comes this refreshing comic look at life, love and jealousy. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: “Revisiting Mr. Jealousy” new feature including new interviews with cast members Brian Kerwin, Peter Bogdanovich, producer Joel Castelberg, along with vintage interviews with writer and director Noah Baumbach.(Moonstone Entertainment).

A Nightmare Wakes

(2021) Alix Wilton Regan, Giullian Gioiello, Claire Glassford, Philippe Bowgen. While composing her famous novel “Frankenstein,” Mary Shelley descends into an opium-fueled fever dream and carries on a torrid love affair at a remote lake house. As she writes, the characters of her novel come to life and begin to plague her relationship, forcing everyone -- including herself -- to question her sanity. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Cast audition tapes, Max Fedore concept art, Ginna Wall concept character sketches, Jenn Stroud costume design sketches, Deidra Catero sketch art, Alex Schaefer concept poster, "A First Look at A Nightmare Wakes," "A Nightmare Wakes Proof of Concept." (RLJE Films). Read more here.

Silat Warriors: Deed of Death

(2019-- Malaysia) Namron, Khoharullah Majid, Feiyna Tajudin. When a reckless young gambler’s wild lifestyle of illegal betting, drag racing, and brutal street fights pits him against a ruthless criminal enterprise, his luck finally runs out. The gang shows up at his father’s home to collect on the debt, forcing his family to fight in order to save their land—and his life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).

Threshold

(2020) When a phone call from out of the blue brings Leo (Joey Millin) back into contact with his sister, Virginia (Madison West), long estranged from her family due to years of drug abuse, he arrives to find her alone in a bare apartment in the midst of an apparent overdose. After the convulsions and nausea subside, Virginia insists to Leo that she has been clean for eight months due to the help of a mysterious group. She confides to her cynical brother that her edginess and paranoia actually stem from a sinister ritual conducted by the group that took her in at her lowest and eventually revealed themselves to be a cult. This curse bound her emotions and physical sensations to a man she has never met before. With his marriage on the rocks, Leo has his own demons to face. Nonetheless, he is reluctantly persuaded by Virginia to embark on a cross-country road trip to track down this shadowy stranger under the caveat that if he's nowhere to be found and it's all in her head, she'll go to rehab. However, as their date with destiny draws nearer, Leo begins to suspect his sister's tall tale might have some substance. "Threshold," the second feature from co-directors Powell Robinson and Patrick R Young, following their debut "Bastard" (2015), was improvised and shot on two iPhones over the course of a 12-day road trip with a crew of just three. The result is an inventive and compelling psychological thriller with hints of the supernatural that recalls such indie cult classics as Ben Wheatley's "Kill List" (2011) and Justin Benson And Aaron Moorhead's "Resolution" (2013). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: New audio commentary with directors Powell Robinson & Patrick R. Young, producer Lauren Bates and lead actors Joey Millin and Madison West; new audio commentary with directors Powell Robinson & Patrick R Young, and editor William Ford-Conway; "Crossing the Threshold" feature-length documentary; "Elevating iPhone Footage: Color Correction Breakdown"; "Something From Nothing: Indie Genre Director Roundtable moderated by Scott Weinberg with directors Powell Robinson & Patrick R Young ("Threshold"), Brandon Espy ("We Follow You"), James Byrkit ("Coherence"), Zach Donohue ("The Den") and Elle Callahan ("Witch Hunt"); "The Power of Indie Horror - Acting for Unconventional Film" roundtable discussion moderated by Zena Dixon with the actors Madison West and Joey Millin ("Threshold"), Kelsey Griswold ("Followed"), Gabrielle Walsh and Ryan Shoos; "The Sounds of Threshold" original soundtrack; "Threshold" original outline script; trailer and original teaser; image gallery; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Coffee and Cigarettes; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anton Bitel. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

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July 13

Alias Nick Beal

(1949) From John Farrow, the director of "Wake Island," "The Big Clock" and "Hondo," comes this shock-filled film noir starring Ray Milland, Audrey Totter , Thomas Mitchel and George Macready. Joseph Foster (Mitchell) is an honest district attorney who wants to run for governor in order to clean up the criminal underworld. Blocked by corrupt political forces, Foster would practically have to make a deal with the Devil to reach his goal. Enter Nick Beal (Milland), a diabolically handsome gent with a slick line of patter and a smooth, infallible method of getting things done. Foster agrees to a deal, and to bind the bargain, Beal sends out one of his most trusted associates, Donna Allen (Totter), to keep Foster in line. When Foster finally realizes that he’s sold his soul, there seems to be no way out ... but that’s when the forces of Good switch into high gear. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Kino Lorber Studio Classics).

A Cinderella Story: Starstruck

(2021) Bailee Madison, Michael Evans Behling, April Telek. Sixth installment in the "A Cinderella Story" movie series. Finley Tremaine, a small-town farm girl in Dreary, Idaho, longs to spread her wings and soar as an aspiring performer. When a Hollywood film crew arrives in her sleepy town, she's determined to land a role in the musical production and capture the attention of handsome lead actor Jackson Stone. Unfortunately, a botched audition forces her to change course. Disguised as cowboy “Huck,” Finley finally gets her big break, but can she keep the charade a secret from everyone, including her evil stepmother and devious step-siblings? Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: "Finley’s Best Friends: Meet the Farm Animals," "Dirt Under My Nails: The Making of A Cinderella Story: Starstruck." (Warner).

Deep Cover BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1992) Film noir hits the mean streets of 1990s Los Angeles in this stylish and subversive underworld odyssey from veteran actor-director Bill Duke. Laurence Fishburne stars as Russell Stevens/John Hull, a police officer who goes undercover as the partner of a dangerously ambitious cocaine trafficker (Jeff Goldblum) in order to infiltrate and bring down a powerful Latin American drug ring operating in LA. But the further Stevens descends into this ruthless world of money, violence, and power, the more disillusioned he becomes -- and the harder to make out the line between right and wrong, crime and justice. Steeped in shadowy, neon-soaked atmosphere and featuring Dr. Dre’s debut solo single, this unsung gem of the nineties’ Black cinema explosion delivers a riveting character study and sleek action thrills alongside a furious moral indictment of America and the devastating failures of the war on drugs. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new 4K digital restoration, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: New interview with director Bill Duke; new conversation between film scholars Racquel J. Gates and Michael B. Gillespie about "Deep Cover’s" place within both the Black film boom of the early 1990s and the noir genre; new conversation between scholar Claudrena N. Harold and professor, DJ, and podcaster Oliver Wang about the film’s title track and its importance to the history of hip-hop; panel discussion from 2018 featuring Duke and Fishburne and moderated by film critic Elvis Mitchell; trailer; an essay by Gillespie. (The Criterion Collection).

Held

(2020) Jill Awbrey, Bart Johnson. Emma and Henry's marriage is losing its spark. In an effort to reconnect, they plan a vacation to a remote high-end rental, complete with automated smart house features and integrated security. However, after suspecting a nighttime intruder, they quickly decide to flee, only to become forcibly trapped inside by the automated security system. Emitting from the house, an unknown "Voice" watches their every move through an array of hidden cameras, revealing an intimate and unsettling knowledge of their relationship. While the situation grows increasingly brutal, Emma and Henry must work together to uncover the truth and find a way out before it's too late. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD. Extras: Commentary with directors Chris Lofing and Travis Cluff, Alternate Ending. "Making of Held" "Behind the Scenes: Orchestral Film Score." Read more here. (Magnolia Home Entertainment/Magnet Label).

Larceny

(1948) John Payne, Joan Caulfield, Dan Duryea and Shelley Winters play the old confidence game in this riveting crime drama. Smooth-talking grifter Rick Maxon (Payne) tries to swindle wealthy war widow Deborah (Caulfield) into giving up her savings for a nonexistent memorial. When Rick falls in love with Deborah he has pangs of remorse, but he must contend with his gang boss, Silky (Duryea), and the tough-as-nails moll, Tory (Winters), who is enamored with Rick but is considered Silky’s girl. Director George Sherman keeps the twists and turns coming in this hard-boiled film noir. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Kino Lorber Studio Classics).

The Monster Collection Blu-ray Collector's Edition

A three-disc Blu-ray release celebrating the wild, weird and wonderful stories behind the creation of the world’s greatest movie monsters, aliens and sci-fi creatures. Includes: "Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters" (2019), which examines the life and career of Phil Tippett, the Oscar and Emmy Award-winning visual effects genius whose work in creature design, stop-motion and computerized character animation has been seen in such classics as the original "Star Wars" trilogy, the "Jurassic Park" and "Twilight" franchises and the effects powerhouses "RoboCop", "Dragonheart" and "Starship Troopers"; "The Frankenstein Complex" (2015), a lively portrait and appreciation of the greatest movie monsters in film history and the talented crafts people and visual artists who have been bringing them to startling life over the past century. Goes behind the scenes of such classics as "King Kong," "Avatar," "The Lord of the Rings" series, "An American Werewolf in London," "Alien" and many others to talk to the filmmakers behind all those dinosaurs, zombies, aliens, Hobbits, dragons, werewolves, giant bugs and oversized apes that have kept us glued to the screener for all these years. Third disc contains 12 hours of bonus features. Formats: Blu-ray. (Doppelganger Releasing).

Mortal Kombat

(2021) MMA fighter Cole Young, accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage -- or why Outworld's Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family's safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade at the direction of Jax, a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang, Kung Lao and rogue mercenary Kano, as he prepares to stand with Earth's greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. Vitals: Director: Simon McQuoid. Stars: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim. 2021, CC, MPAA rating: R, 110 min., Action Fantasy, US box office gross: $42.034 million, worldwide $81.734 million, Warner. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes. Blu-ray adds "From Game to Screen: The Making of Mortal Kombat," "Mortal Kombat: Fan Favorite Characters," "Fight Koreography, "Into the Krypt: Easter Eggs of Mortal Kombat," "Anatomy of a Scene." Read more here.

My Zoe

(2021) Julie Delpy, Sophia Ally, Richard Armitage, Gemma Arterton, Daniel Bruhl. Recently divorced scientist Isabelle struggles to co-parent her daughter Zoe with her argumentative ex. But when Zoe suffers an unexpected brain hemorrhage and is put on life support, Isabelle comes up with an audacious plan to keep some version of her daughter alive. A meditation on loss, grief, and technology's very human limits, the film is the story of enduring love in a future that strikes close to our present. Formats: DVD. (Breaking Glass Pictures).

The Night

(2021 -- US/Iran) After a night out with friends, an exhausted married couple, Babak (Shahab Hosseini) and Neda (Niousha Noor), and their baby, take shelter in the grand, but eerie Hotel Normandie. Throughout a seemingly endless night, mysterious disturbances ruin their rest as Babak and Neda soon realize they’re locked in with a malevolent force that hungers for the dark secrets they’ve kept from one another. Director Kourosh Ahari made history for being the first U.S.-produced film to receive a license for theatrical release in Iran since the revolution. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (IFC/Shout! Factory).

No Man's Land

(2020) Jake Allyn, Frank Grillo, Jorge A. Jimenez, Esmeralda Pimentel, Andie MacDowell, George Lopez. Border vigilante Bill Greer (Grillo) and his son Jackson (Allyn) are on patrol when Jackson accidentally kills a Mexican immigrant boy. Bill tries to take the blame but Texas Ranger Ramirez (Lopez) sees through the lie, spurring Jackson to flee south on horseback across the Rio Grande to become a gringo “illegal alien” in Mexico. Chased by Texas Rangers and Mexican federales, Jackson journeys across deserts and mountains to seek forgiveness from the dead boy’s vengeful father (Jimenez), as he falls in love with the land he was taught to hate. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (IFC/Shout! Factory).

Objective Burma! BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1945) An American platoon parachutes into Burma to take out a strategic Japanese outpost. Starring Errol Flynn and directed by Raoul Walsh. (Warner Archive).

Rose Plays Julie

(2019 -- Ireland) Ann Skelly, Orla Brady, Aidan Gillen. Rose (Skelly) is a promising veterinary student in Dublin. Despite having a loving relationship with her adoptive parents, she has been searching for her birth mother for many years. When Rose finally tracks Ellen (Brady) down in London, she forces her to reveal a painful secret from her past. This shocking revelation rattles Rose's already fragile sense of identity and draws her into a dangerous world of impersonation, deception and revenge. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Film Movement).

Separation

Eight-year-old Jenny (Violet McGraw) is constantly caught in the middle of the feuding between her lawyer mother Maggie (Mamie Gummer) and artist father Jeff (Rupert Friend). She leads a lonely but imaginative life, surrounded by puppets called "Grisly Kin", which are based on the works of her father. When Maggie is tragically killed in a hit-and-run, Jeff and Jenny try to piece together a new life. But when Maggie’s father (Brian Cox) sues for custody, and babysitter Samantha (Madeline Brewer) tries to be the new woman of the house, life in their Brooklyn townhome takes a dark turn. The puppets and frightening characters come to life and Jenny is the only person who can see them. When the motives of the ghoulish creatures become clear, the lives of everyone are put very much in jeopardy. Vitals: Director: William Brent Bell. Stars: Madeline Brewer, Rupert Friend, Brian Cox, Violet McGraw, Madeline Brewer. 2021, CC, MPAA rating: R, 105 min., Horror, US box office gross: $4.509 million, worldwide $4.509 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Read more here.

A Soldier's Story 2: Return From the Dead

(2021 -- Nigeria) Linda Ejiofor Somkele, Iyamah-Idhalama, Tope Tedela. Regina asks her friend, Zaya, to look after her younger brother in the Watz Republic, while she travels with her fiancée, Major Egan, to Nigeria. Still affected by the recent war, Zaya and the other villagers try to begin the process of healing when an American company unexpectedly takes over following the discovery of crude oil in the Watz Republic. While traveling through Nigeria, Regina and Major Egan escape an assassination attempt and try to return home to rescue their friends and family before war, once again, consumes them all. When conspiracies run deeper than expected, they find themselves on a complicated mission to survive. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indican Pictures).

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

(2020) When SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary goes missing, a path of clues leads SpongeBob and Patrick to the powerful King Poseidon, who has Gary held captive in the Lost City of Atlantic City. On their mission to save Gary, SpongeBob and his pals team up for a heroic and hilarious journey where they discover nothing is stronger than the power of friendship. Vitals: 2019, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 91 min., Family Animated, US box office gross: $4.810 million, worldwide $4.810 million, Paramount. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: Mini-Movie: "I’m Urchin You to Leave," campfire songs, campfire stories, Camp Coral buddies, camp arts and crafts, "But Wait ... There’s S’mores! The Wonders of the Patty Mobile." Read more here.

Working Girls BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1986) Sex work is portrayed with radical nonjudgment in Lizzie Borden’s immersive, richly detailed look at the rhythms and rituals of society’s most stigmatized profession. Inspired by the experiences of the sex workers Borden met while making her underground feminist landmark "Born in Flames," "Working Girls" reveals the textures of a day in the life of Molly (Louise Smith), a photographer working part-time in a Manhattan brothel, as she juggles a steady stream of clients, balances nurturing relationships with her co-workers with the demands of an ambitious madam, and above all fights to maintain her sense of self in a business in which the line between the personal and the professional is all too easily blurred. In viewing prostitution through the lens of labor, Borden boldly desensationalizes the subject, offering an empathetic, humanizing, often humorous depiction of women for whom this work is just another day at the office. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director Lizzie Borden, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary from 2007 featuring Borden, director of photography Judy Irola, and actor Amanda Goodwin; new conversation between Borden and filmmaker Bette Gordon; new conversation with actors Louise Smith and Amanda Goodwin, producer Andi Gladstone, and first assistant director Vicky Funari; new conversation with sex workers Antonia Crane, Daphne Nguyen, Selena the Stripper, and Jo Weldon; an essay by author So Mayer and excerpts from a 1987 interview with Borden by film critic Scott MacDonald.(The Criterion Collection).

Wrath of Man

Jason Statham teams with director Guy Ritchie for the fourth time in this explosive remake of the French actioner "Cash Truck." Statham stars as H, an armored truck company employee who finds himself up to his neck in danger when his mysterious and violent past collides with the present, thrusting him smack in the middle of a daring heist -- and maybe affording him the opportunity to settle a very personal score. Told in four major flashbacks. Vitals: Director: Guy Ritchie. Stars: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett, Eddie Marsan, Scott Eastwood. 2021, CC, MPAA rating: R, 119 min., Thriller, US box office gross: $26.362 million, worldwide $92.262 million, MGM. Formats: DVD + Digital Code, Blu-ray + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Read more here.

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July 20

An American in Paris

(2018) David Seadon-Young, Haydn Oakley, Leanne Cope, Robert Fairchild. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, inspired by the Oscar-winning film, tells the impassioned story of love in the "City of Light." Jerry Mulligan is an American GI struggling as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a romance of art, friendship, and love. Features the original London company. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Liberator Films).

Born for Hell

(1976) In 1976, Montreal filmmaker Denis Héroux -- future director of "The Uncanny" and Oscar-nominated producer of "Atlantic City" -- adapted the true story of Chicago mass murderer Richard Speck to war-torn Belfast, where a disturbed Vietnam vet drifter (Mathieu Carrière of "Malpertuis" and "Bilitis" fame) brutalizes a dorm full of student nurses. Re-edited by its video distributor and released as "Naked Massacre," Héroux's harrowing director's cut has remained unseen in America until now. Debra Berger ("The Inglorious Bastards"), Leonora Fani ("Giallo in Venice"), Christine Boisson ("Emmanuelle"), Ely Galleani ("Baba Yaga") and Carole Laure ("Sweet Movie") co-star in this uncompromising and unfathomably grim work of art, scanned in 2K from an uncut 35mm print discovered in The National Archives of Canada. U.S. Blu-ray premiere of the director's cut. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: "The Other Side Of The Mirror" interview with actor Mathieu Carriere; "Nightmare in Chicago: Remembering the Richard Speck Crime Spree" with local filmmakers John McNaughton and Gary Sherman; "A New Kind of Crime: The Richard Speck Story" with 'Once Upon A Crime' podcaster Esther Ludlow; "Bombing Here, Shooting There" video essay by filmmaker Chris O’Neill; "Naked Massacre" U.S. video release cut; "Artist Joe Coleman on Speck"; "Inside the Odditorium With Joe Coleman." (Severin Films). Read more here.

Close Range + Savage Dog (Scott Adkins Double Feature)

"Close Range" (2015): After rescuing his kidnapped niece from a powerful drug cartel, Colton MacReady (Scott Adkins) begins a relentless fight to save his family. The cartel has descended upon his secluded ranch with a thirst for revenge. In tow are a corrupt local sheriff and his crew of deputies, ensuring that help won't be coming any time soon. "Savage Dog" (2017): In Vietnam in 1959, in the worst prison in the land, a European, former-champion boxer Martin Tilman (Scott Adkins) has made a name for himself fighting tournaments, on which wealthy criminals gamble in high stakes events. When Tilman is due for release, he just wants to return home, but the corrupt forces running the jail will do everything in their power to keep him locked down. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Bleiberg Entertainment).

Code 3: LA Sheriff's Case Files

(1957) All 39 episodes. In 1957, Hal Roach Studios and producer Ben Fox brought the fast paced police drama "Code 3" to television. It starred Richard Travis as Sheriff George Barrett of the Los Angeles County Police Department with Denver Pyle as Sgt. Murchison and Fredd Wayne as Sgt. Bill Hollis. Like its sister series "Dragnet," "Code 3" featured true crime cases -- this time from the files of the search & rescue branch of the Los Angeles Police Department -- always “changing the names to protect the innocent.” At the end of most of the broadcasts, the real-life Sheriff of Los Angeles County, Eugene W. Biscailuz, made an appearance to recap that night’s adventure. Formats: DVD. (MPI Media Group).

Dream Horse

(2021 -- UK) Toni Collette, Damian Lewis, Owen Teale, Peter Davison. Tells the inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town Welsh bartender Jan Vokes (Collette). With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites. The group's investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks with grit and determination and goes on to race in the Welsh Grand National, showing the heart of a true champion. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Bleecker Street/Universal).

Fire (aka No Escapes; Ogon [original title])

(2020 -- Russia) Konstantin Khabenskiy, Andrey Smolyakov, Irina Gorbacheva, Victor Dobronravov. Alexey Sokolov, who commands a team of Aerial Forest Protection Service firefighters, is a tough, decisive man who will fight ruthlessly for every last tree in the forest. His daughter Katya is dating Roman, a rookie firefighter from Moscow, whom Alexey takes along with his battle-tested team to the scene of a forest fire deep in the Russian interior. As the inferno engulfs everything in its path, Alexey will have to learn to rely on Roman, as the firefighters all band together to save a village and its residents from total destruction. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Shout! Factory).

Flight to Mars

(1951) "Flight to Mars" blasted into theaters at the dawn of the 1950s science-fiction boom from legendary producer Walter Mirisch ("Some Like It Hot," "The Magnificent Seven," "West Side Story," "The Great Escape", "The Pink Panther"). Filmed in gorgeous Cinecolor with special effects ahead of its time, the film arrives as a special edition DVD and Blu-ray. Starring Marguerite Chapman and Cameron Mitchell, the film follows five Earthlings who land a successful space expedition on Mars, where they encounter seemingly welcoming Martians. To their surprise, the Martians fear they have depleted the key mineral used to power their life support systems and are determined to get off the red planet by any means necessary, including stealing the Earthlings’ ship and invading Earth. Restored via a 4K transfer sourced from the original 35mm Cinecolor separation negatives. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Two new documentary shorts from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures: "Walter Mirisch: From Bomba to Body Snatchers" and "Interstellar Travelogues: Cinema's First Space Race," with celebrated science-fiction artist/historian Vincent Di Fate; audio commentary by author/film historian Justin Humphreys; full-color insert booklet with essay, "Mars at the Movies," by award-winning author Don Stradley. (Cinedigm/The Film Detective). Read more here.

Gangs of London: Season 1

(2020) Three-disc set with all 10 episodes. The series tells the story of London being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of its international gangs and the sudden power vacuum that's created when the head of London's most powerful crime family is assassinated. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: "An Inside Look at The World, The Families, The Action, The Power, The Soldier,' "Anatomy of an Action Scene: Pub Fight & Elliot vs Len." (RLJE Films).

The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films

(2014) A documentary about two Israeli-born cousins, Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, who in pursuit of the American Dream, turned the Hollywood power structure upside down, producing over 300 films and becoming the most powerful independent film company in the world. Directed by Sundance Grand Jury Price nominee Hilla Medalia, this is an up close and personal documentary that examines the complex relationship between two contradictory personalities whose combined force fueled their success and eventual collapse. Featuring interviews with Jean Claude Van Damme, Michael Dudikoff, Eli Roth, Boaz Davidson along with Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus themselves, as well as archive footage of Sylvester Stallone, Charles Bronson and Chuck Norris in the definitive documentary about Cannon Films. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (MVD Rewind).

Gully

(2021) Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jacob Latimore, Charlie Plummer. Three teens living in LA, all victims of extreme childhoods, wreak a hedonistic riot across the city over the course of 48 hours, unbound by societal norms. They take us on a rip-roaring ride of drugs and murder across the city. Formats: DVD. (Paramount).

Hydra

(2019 -- Japan) Masanori Mimoto, Miu, Tasuku Nagase. After retiring as an assassin, Takashi leads a quiet life as a chef at a sushi bar, where he secretly watches over the daughter of a former associate. His peace is short-lived: soon, he is recruited for a final job that he simply can’t refuse. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Digital. (Well Go USA). Read more here.

Initiation

(2021) Jon Huertas, Lochlyn Munro, Isabella Gomez, Froy Gutierrez, Bart Johnson, Yancy Butler, Gattlin Griffith. During a university’s pledge week, the carefree partying turns deadly serious when a star athlete is found impaled in his dorm. The murder ignites a spree of sinister social-media messages,  sweeping the students and police into a race against time to uncover the truth behind the school’s dark secrets … and the horrifying meaning of a recurring symbol: a single exclamation mark. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Hidden Secrets: Surviving Initiation," "The Final Twist: Postproduction." (Lionsgate). Read more here.

I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1948) An out of work husband-and-wife dance team soon find themselves in more dire straits when the husband is wrongly accused of murder, while his wife sets out to prove his innocence. Based on the novel by Cornell Woolrich. Stars Don Castle, Elyse Knox, Regis Toomey. (Warner Archive).

Jakob’s Wife

(2021) Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Bonnie Aarons. Anne, married to a small-town minister, feels like her life and marriage have been shrinking over the past 30 years. After a chance encounter with “The Master,” she discovers a new sense of power and an appetite to live bigger and bolder than before. As Anne is increasingly torn between her enticing new existence and her life before, the body count grows and Jakob realizes he will have to fight for the wife he took for granted. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: "The Making Of Jakob’s Wife," Deleted Scenes. (RLJE Films).

La piscine BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1969 -- France) The bright sun of the French Riviera is deceptive in this languorously alluring exercise in slow-burn suspense from thriller specialist Jacques Deray and legendary screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière. Ten years after their breakup, one of European cinema’s most iconic real-life couples, Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, reunited for this film, bringing a palpable erotic chemistry to their performances as the bronzed and beautiful vacationers whose blissed-out summer holiday on the Côte d’Azur is interrupted by the arrival of an old acquaintance (Maurice Ronet) and his eighteen-year-old daughter (Jane Birkin) —- unleashing a gathering tidal wave of sexual tension, jealousy, and sudden violence. A paragon of 1960s modernist cool thanks to effortlessly chic clothes and a loungy Michel Legrand score, "La piscine" dives deep to reveal sinister undercurrents roiling beneath its seductive surfaces. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with new, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: "The Swimming Pool: First Love Never Dies,” the English-language version of the film; "Fifty Years Later," a 2019 documentary by Agnès Vincent-Deray featuring actors Alain Delon and Jane Birkin, screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière, and novelist Jean-Emmanuel Conil; new interview with scholar Nick Rees-Roberts on the film’s cinematic and aesthetic legacy; archival footage featuring Delon, Birkin, actors Romy Schneider and Maurice Ronet, and director Jacques Deray; alternate ending; trailers; an essay by film critic Jessica Kiang. (The Criterion Collection).

Nana

(1926) "Nana" is Jean Renoir’s second feature, and one of his most ambitious productions, presented here in a new 4K restoration. It is an elaborately mounted adaptation of Émile Zola’s novel that tracks the doomed romances of its title character -- an actress who would go on to be the most notorious courtesan of her era. When her father dies, a young girl is sent to live with her uncle. Mistreated, she runs away to lead a vagabond’s life in the forest. When she is found, she becomes Nana, a fashionable actress of loose morals, becoming first the mistress of a count, and then of the Emperor’s chamberlain. Nana’s love affairs are set against gorgeously mounted sets designed by Claude Autant-Lara. Formats: Blu-ray. (Kino Classics).

Rock Paper Scissors

(2021) Vahe Sevani, Bjorn Yearwood, Jenna Aitken, Joey De Marco, Jeremy Dozier. Best friends Kelvin and Cheddar, invariably avoiding the constant threat of wedgies, will do anything to stop being losers and start being the cool kids in school. Permanently placed in the friend zone by ladies, bullied on a daily basis by the jocks and dying to be noticed by anyone, they have one final chance: to win the ultra-cutthroat International Tournament of Rock Paper Scissors. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indican Pictures).

Room 9

(2021) Michael Berryman, Scout Taylor-Compton, Kane Hodder. Forty years ago, Room 9 of the Johnson/Bedford Inn, located in a remote small town, was the site of a gruesome double murder. Decades later, with the town terrorized once again by a string of bloody ritual killings, a mysterious woman named Star arrives to investigate and suffers bizarre flashbacks related to the inn’s slayings. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Lionsgate). Read more here.

Royal Deceit

(1994) Christian Bale, Gabriel Byrne, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox, Kate Beckinsale, Andy Serkis, Tom Wilkinson. A young prince (Bale), after discovering that his father has been murdered, vows to avenge the death and regain the crown. Plotting his revenge, he cleverly bides his time waiting and watching -- and hoping -- for the precise moment to execute the deadly plan. Written and directed by Gabriel Axel, director of the Academy Award Winning “Babette’s Feast.” Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Bleiberg Entertainment).

Shameless: The Eleventh and Final Season

(2020-21) Three-disc set with all 12 episodes. The final season finds the Gallaghers at a crossroads…and they aren’t leaving without a fight. As Frank confronts his own mortality, Lip struggles with the prospect of becoming the family patriarch. Newlyweds Ian and Mickey figure out their committed relationship, while Deb embraces her individuality and single motherhood. Lastly, Carl finds an unlikely new career in law enforcement, while Kevin and Veronica struggle to keep the Alibi profitable during a pandemic. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: "The Last Call": Showtime’s hour-long post-finale virtual cast reunion; deleted scenes. (Warner).

Siege

(1983) From co-directors Paul Donovan and Maura O'Connell ("DEFCON-4") comes one of the most disturbing -- and rarely-seen -- Canadian shockers of the 80s, inspired by the actual 42-day Halifax police strike: When a local group of right-wing vigilantes massacres the patrons of a gay bar, the sole survivor seeks refuge in a nearby apartment building whose residents must now defend themselves in a night of hate, terror and bloodshed. Doug Lennox, Tom Nardini, Jack Blum and Keith Knight star in this dark and intense thriller, still uncomfortably relevant 35 years after it was made -- released in the U.S. as "Self Defense" -- scanned in 2K from the original negative recently discovered in a Nova Scotia archive. The worldwide Blu-ray premiere of both the theatrical & extended versions of the 80s Canuxploitation shocker. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Trailer, audio commentary with co-director Paul Donovan and filmmaker Jason Eisener. (Severin Films). Read more here.

Skinned Deep

(2004) Worldwide premiere of the unrated version. His mind-blowing work as an FX artist has included everything from Frank Henenlotter's "Brain Damage" and "Frankenhooker" to Matthew Barney's "Cremaster Cycle." And for his 2004 debut as writer-producer-director, Gabe Bartalos created this demented gift from the B-Movie Gods about a rural clan of psychotic freaks, the killing spree that takes us places and shows us things we've never seen before and the final girl that may be their depraved undoing. Warwick Davis and Jason Dugre star -- with an appearance by fandom legend Forrest J. Ackerman -- in this brutal, bloody forgotten masterpiece, now scanned uncut in 2K from the original negative for the first time ever. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Trailer; "Deep Cuts -- A Look Back on Skinned Deep" with writer-producer-director Gabe Bartalos, actors Jay Dugre and Karoline Brandt and weapons machinist Jake Lee; audio commentary with cast & crew; archival making of featurette. (Severin Films). Read more here.

The Spanish Princess Part 2

(2020) Two-disc set with all eight episodes. Drawn from the best-selling novels “The King’s Curse” and “The Constant Princess” written by Philippa Gregory. The story of Queen Catherine and King Henry VIII continues in this conclusion to the dramatic miniseries. Beloved by their people and presiding over the most glamorous court in Europe, Catherine and Henry see their relationship tested as Catherine prepares to give birth to an heir, and England wars with France. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).

Spiral (From the Book of Saw)

Working in the shadow of his father, an esteemed police veteran (Samuel L. Jackson), brash Detective Ezekiel "Zeke" Banks (Chris Rock) and his rookie partner (Max Minghella) take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city's gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer's morbid game. Vitals: Director: Darren Lynn Bousman. Stars: Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisol Nichols, Dan Petronijevic, Richard Zeppieri, Patrick McManus, Ali Johnson, Zoie Palmer. 2019, CC, MPAA rating: R, 93 min., Horror, US box office gross: $22.746 million, worldwide $36.536 million, Lionsgate. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: Audio Commentary with director Darren Lynn Bousman, co-screenwriter Josh Stolberg, and composer Charlie Clouser; audio commentary with producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg; "The Consequences of Your Actions: Creating Spiral"; "Drawing Inspiration: Illustrated Trap Breakdowns"; "Decoding the Marketing Spiral"; theatrical teaser; trailer; theatrical trailer. Read more here.

Star Trek: Discovery - Season Three

(2020-21) Four-disc set with all 13 episodes. After following Commander Burnham into a wormhole in the second season finale, season three finds the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery landing in an unknown future far from the home they once knew. Now living in a time filled with uncertainty, the U.S.S. Discovery crew, along with the help of some new friends, must work together to restore hope to the Federation. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Limited Edition Blu-ray Steelbook. Extras: "Star Trek Discovery: The Voyage Of Season 3" behind-the-scenes featurette; "Stunted" featurette; "Being Michael Burnham" with actor Sonequa Martin-Green; "Kenneth Mitchell: To Boldly Go": Traditionally the man behind the mask in Discovery, Kenneth Mitchell is unveiled as Aurellio in the third season. Featuring cast and crew interviews, this emotional and intimate look touches on Kenneth’s life with ALS. Discussed on camera for the first time, the featurette highlights how Kenneth's wheelchair was included for his on-screen character, his own take on the various roles he played in Discovery and what those roles mean to the show; "Bridge Building" featurette on Starship Discovery’s Bridge Crew; "Writer’s Log: Michelle Paradise" about shooting the beginning of season three in Iceland; deleted scenes; gag reel.(CBS/Paramount).

Step by Step BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1946) Marine veteran Johnny Christopher and Evelyn Smith, a secretary to a U.S. Senator, find themselves caught up in a plot involving Nazi spies in California. Stars Lawrence Tierney, Anne Jeffreys, Lowell Gilmore. (Warner Archive).

Take Me Out to the Ball Game BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1949) Whether its Batter up! or Curtain Up!, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly are ready when they play early-1900s vaudevillians who spend the winter performing onstage and the summer performing on the field. Directed by Busby Berkeley and co-starring Esther Williams. (Warner Archive).

32 Malasana Street

(2020 -- Spain) Begoña Vargas, Iván Marcos, Bea Segura. In this horror- thriller, the Olmedo family decides to leave their village behind for a fresh start in the city and buy an old apartment at 32 Malasana Street for a suspiciously reasonable price. But soon after they’ve unpacked their bags, they discover something about their new home: they aren't alone ... Formats: DVD, Digital. (RLJE Films).

Thunderbolt

(1929) From Josef von Sternberg, the legendary director of "The Blue Angel," "Morocco" and "Blonde Venus," comes this Pre-Code proto-noir that mixes electrifying thrills with torrid romance. Condemned gangster Thunderbolt Jim Lang (George Bancroft) plots revenge on the young man (Richard Arlen) who stole his girlfriend (Fay Wray) and landed next to him on death row. Featuring script work by Charles Furthman ("Underworld") and Jules Furthman ("The Big Sleep") with Hollywood greats Herman J. Mankiewicz ("Citizen Kane") and Joseph L. Mankiewicz ("All About Eve"), "Thunderbolt" is an emotional drama renowned for its pioneering use of early sound technology, expressionistic visuals and bold blending of genres. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Kino Lorber Studio Classics).

The Walking Dead Season Ten

(2019-2021) All 22 episodes. Winter has turned to spring, and the collected communities are grudgingly respecting the new borders imposed upon them by the ever-brutal Alpha. But having organized themselves into a militia-style fighting force, the survivors are keenly aware that the Whisperers, and the horde of dead they mingle with, pose a threat unlike any they’ve ever faced. Paranoia, propaganda, secret agendas, infighting – all of these will test the group, individually and collectively, with the survival of civilization in a world filled with the walking dead hanging in the balance. Featuring the six additional episodes of the extended 10th season, including Negan’s long-awaited backstory, “Here’s Negan.” Formats: DVD, Blu-ray + Digital Code. Extras: "In Memoriam," audio commentaries. (Lionsgate).

Whirlpool of Fate

(1925) Jean Renoir’s debut feature is a lyrical tale of the tragic life of an orphan girl. An independent feature shot on family friend Paul Cézanne’s property, La Nicotiere, it is a dreamy episodic melodrama that follows the poor girl as she endures the loss of her father, the abuse of her alcoholic uncle, and a perilous fall down a well that erases her memory and triggers surreal dreams. Presented in a beautiful new 4K restoration," Whirlpool of Fate" gives an early glimpse of Renoir’s immense talent. Formats: Blu-ray. (Kino Lorber Classics).

Women Composers

(2021) When Leipzig pianist Kyra Steckeweh realized that her repertoire almost exclusively consisted of music composed by men, she began searching for pieces written by female composers. Her research in archives, libraries, and publishing houses quickly brought to light a variety of remarkable piano pieces that have been buried in history (19th and early 20th centuries) and rarely performed. Steckeweh sees a lot of catching up to do, which is why the focus of her piano recitals and recordings has since shifted to the music of women composers, particularly Mel Bonis, Lili Boulanger and Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel. In addition to the in depth examination of the music, Steckeweh, as a pianist and historian, seeks to look behind the notes: How did these women live? What barriers did they have to overcome and how did they manage to cope with the obstacles of their time? Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Q and A with filmmakers Kyra Steckeweh and Tim van Beveren; Kyra Steckeweh performs Ophelie. (Film Movement).

The Wraith

(1986) Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, Sherilyn Fenn, Randy Quaid. When four glowing orbs crash into each other over the Arizona desert, they leave in their wake a badass Dodge Turbo Interceptor — and its enigmatic, helmeted driver. The next day, the mysterious Jake (Sheen) appears in the town of Brooks, catching the eye of Keri (Fenn) and the ire of Packard (Cassavetes), the ruthless leader of a gang of street racers. When gang members start losing races — and lives — to the Interceptor, the recent death of Keri’s boyfriend suddenly seems connected to the arrival of Jake, the unbeatable car ... and an avenging entity called The Wraith. Formats: Blu-ray + Digital Code. Extras: Audio commentary with writer-director Mike Marvin, audio commentary with Actors Dave Sherrill and Jamie Bozian, “Tales from the Desert” interview with writer-director Mike Marvin, “Rughead Speaks!” interview with actor Clint Howard, “Ride of the Future” interviews with stunt coordinator Buddy Joe Hooker and transportation coordinator Gary Hellerstein, “The Ghost Car” interviews with visual effects producer Peter Kuran and effects animator Kevin Kutchaver, isolated score selections featuring audio interview with co-composer J. Peter Robinson, “The Wraith Filming Locations: Then and Now” featurette, alternate title sequence, still gallery, theatrical trailer, TV spots. (Vestron Video Collector’s Series/Lionsgate).

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July 27

American Gods: Season Three

(2021) All 10 episodes. In Season Three of “American Gods,” dangerous secrets intensify the inevitable war building between the Old Gods of mythology and the New Gods of technology. When Shadow Moon discovers that his boss, Mr. Wednesday, is not only one of the Old Gods but is also his father, Shadow attempts to break away and find his own path. Guided on this spiritual journey by the gods of his black ancestors, the Orishas, Shadow puts down roots in the idyllic, snowy town of Lakeside, Wisconsin — but this small town holds dark and bloody secrets that force him to accept his destiny. Rather than facing a choice between divinity or humanity, Shadow must now decide just what kind of god he wants to be. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray + Digital Code. Extras: "Meet the New Gods of Season Three," "Road to Epiphany: The Season Three Journey," "Five Questions for the Cast." (Lionsgate).

Baise-Moi (aka Rape Me)

(2000) This shocking French thriller tells the story of two young women who go on a violent spree against a society in which they feel marginalized. One of them, Manu, is brutally raped by a group of savage thugs. The other, Nadine, sells her body but refuses to give up her soul. Chance unites them and together they decide to alter their destinies. Angry at the world, they embark on a twisted, rage-filled road trip, leaving a trail of mischief and dead bodies in their wake. Written and directed by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi from Despentes’ novel, this raw, explosive film continues to stir controversy with its graphic mix of high-impact violence and explicit sex scenes. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Kino Lorber Studio Classics).

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage [UHD Limited Edition]

(1970-- Italy) In 1970, young first-time director Dario Argento made his indelible mark on Italian cinema with this film that redefined the "giallo" genre of murder-mystery thrillers and catapulted him to international stardom. Sam Dalmas (Tony Musante), an American writer living in Rome, inadvertently witnesses a brutal attack on a woman (Eva Renzi) in a modern art gallery. Powerless to help, he grows increasingly obsessed with the incident. Convinced that something he saw that night holds the key to identifying the maniac terrorizing Rome, he launches his own investigation parallel to that of the police, heedless of the danger to both himself and his girlfriend Giulia (Suzy Kendall). A staggeringly assured debut, "The Bird With the Crystal Plumage" establishes the key traits that would define Argento's filmography, including lavish visuals and a flare for wildly inventive, brutal scenes of violence. With sumptuous cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and a seductive score by legendary composer Ennio Morricone, this landmark film has never looked or sounded better in this brand new 4K Ultra HD presentation. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of "So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films"; "Black Gloves and Screaming Mimis," an interview with author and critic Kat Ellinger exploring the film’s themes and its relationship to both the giallo and Fredric Brown’s novel "The Screaming Mimi"; "The Power of Perception," a visual essay on the cinema of Dario Argento by Alexanda Heller-Nicholas, author of "Devil’s Advocates: Suspiria," reflecting on the recurring theme of perception and the role of art in Argento’s filmography; "Crystal Nightmare," an interview with writer/director Dario Argento; "An Argento Icon," an interview with actor Gildo Di Marco; "Eva’s Talking," an archival interview with actor Eva Renzi; original Italian and international theatrical trailers; 2017 Texas Frightmare trailer; image galleries; illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Howard Hughes and Jack Seabrook, and a new essay by Rachael Nisbet; fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative; six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards; limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring originally and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

Brotherhood of the Wolf BLU-RAY DEBUT

(2001 -- France) In a rural province of France, a mysterious creature is laying waste to the countryside, savagely killing scores of women and children. Unseen, possessed of enormous strength and a human intelligence, the beast has eluded capture for years. King Louis sends in a renowned scientist and his Iroquois blood brother, an unconventional team whose combined methods and capabilities may bring the beast down. But the true nature of the beast is not what anyone could have anticipated. Director's extended cut. Extras: "The Guts of the Beast"e fight scenes and digital effects; "The Making of Brotherhood of the Wolf behind-the-scenes featurette; "The Legend" look at the historical facts behind the legend of the Gévaudan Beast; deleted scenes with introduction by director Christophe Gans; theatrical trailers. (Scream Factory). Read more here.

The Dead Zone Collector’s Edition

(1983) School teacher Johnny Smith (Chistopher Walken) had a beautiful fiancée, a rewarding career and a fortunate life ... until one tragic accident changed everything. After slamming into an 18-wheeler, Johnny is plunged into a five-year coma. When he awakens, he finds his true collision was with destiny – he now has the remarkable gift (or curse) of seeing into the future. From horror master Stephen King and director David Cronenberg, this supernatural thriller turns an everyday guy into a reluctant hero ... saving children in danger, helping the police and finding a serial killer. But Johnny's next vision may be his most terrifying yet. New 4K scan of the original camera negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New "Sarah’s Story" interview with actress Brooke Adams; new "Cold Visions: Producing The Dead Zone" interviews with production manager John M. Eckert and associate producer Jeffrey Chernov; new audio commentary with director of photography Mark Irwin; new audio commentary with film historian Michael Gingold; new audio commentary with film historian/author Dr. Steve Haberman and filmmaker/film historian Constantine Nasr; new audio commentary with film music historian Daniel Schweiger with isolated score selections; "Trailers from Hell – Mick Garris on The Dead Zone"; "Memories from The Dead Zone"; "The Look of The Dead Zone': "Visions of The Dead Zone"; "The Politics of The Dead Zone"; theatrical trailer; TV Spots; behind-the-scenes still gallery. (Scream Factory).

Joey & Ella

(2021) Ashton Leigh, Britt Allen, Skip Schwink. This crazy family comedy begins as two bumbling jewel thieves lose the mysterious Mazinski Diamond. The jewel is pocketed by a baby circus kangaroo that escapes to a nearby barn and is found by Ella, a lonely teen who names the critter Joey. But the magical gem causes Joey to grow quickly and gain the power of speech. Soon the thieves, the cops, and Joey’s owners are all hunting for the mischievous roo and the alien crystal. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Lionsgate).

Midnight in the Switchgrass

(2021) Megan Fox, Bruce Willis, Emile Hirsch, Lukas Haas, Colson Baker, Caitlin Carmichael, Sistine Stallone. While in Florida on another case, FBI agents Helter (Willis) and Lombardo (Fox) cross paths with state cop Crawford (Hirsch), who’s investigating a string of female murders that appear to be related. Lombardo and Crawford team up for an undercover sting, but it goes horribly wrong, plunging Lombardo into grave danger and pitting Crawford against a serial killer in a twisted game of cat and mouse. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Lionsgate). Read more here.

Nashville

(1975) Director Robert Altman’s seminal film remains an essential classic of 70s cinema with its complexly textured portrayal and critique of America’s obsession with celebrity and power. Newly remastered from a 4K scan of original elements, the film is presented on Blu-ray with a new featurette entitled “24 Tracks: Robert Altman’s Nashville.” The disc also includes a previously released commentary by Altman. Fittingly, "Nashville" is Volume 24 of the Paramount Presents line as the film follows 24 distinct characters with intersecting storylines over five days in the titular city. The phenomenal ensemble cast includes Ned Beatty, Ronee Blakley, Keith Carradine, Karen Black, Geraldine Chaplin, Henry Gibson, Michael Murphy, Lily Tomlin, Shelley Duvall, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum and Barbara Harris. Formats: Blu-ray. The limited-edition Paramount Presents Blu-rays come in collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of each film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments. Each disc also includes access to a digital copy of the film. (Paramount Presents).

A Place in the Sun BLU-RAY DEBUT

(1951) Director George Stevens’ masterwork won six* Academy Awards and is widely considered one of the finest works of America cinema. Remastered from a 4K film transfer in celebration of its 70th anniversary, the film is presented on Blu-ray with a brand-new Filmmaker Focus featuring film historian Leonard Maltin talking about Stevens and the innovative film techniques he used for this unforgettable story of ambition, passion, and betrayal. The disc also includes previously released bonus content, including commentary by George Stevens, Jr. and Ivan Moffat, retrospective cast and crew interviews, and a segment on George Stevens featuring filmmakers who knew him. Montgomery Clift stars as George Eastman, a young man determined to win a place in respectable society and the heart of a beautiful socialite (Elizabeth Taylor). Shelley Winters is the factory girl whose dark secret threatens Eastman’s professional and romantic prospects. The limited-edition Paramount Presents Blu-rays come in collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of each film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments. Each disc also includes access to a digital copy of the film. (Paramount Presents).

A Quiet Place: Part II

(2021) Following the deadly events at home in "A Quiet Place," the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path in this thriller written and directed by John Krasinski. Vitals: Director: John Krasinski. Stars: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, John Krasinski, Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou. 2021, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 97 min., Horror, US box office gross: $150.849 million, worldwide $279.149 million, Paramount. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital. Blu-ray extras: "Director’s Diary: Filming With John Krasinski," "Pulling Back the Curtain," "Regan’s Journey," "Surviving the Marina," "Detectable Disturbance: Visual Effects and Sound Design." Read more here.

V.C. Andrews’ Landry Family 4-Movie Series

(2021) Adapted from the prolific author’s books, this movie series follows the story of Ruby Landry as she digs deeper into the roots of her mysterious family tree. Raised by her grandmother in the Louisiana bayou, Ruby gets caught up in a web of dark secrets and betrayal over the course of four Lifetime Original movies — "Ruby", "Pearl in the Mist," "All That Glitters" and "Hidden Jewel" — starring Raechelle Banno, Karina Banno, Naomi Judd, Gil Bellows, Lauralee Bell, and Ty Wood. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).

Vengeance Trails: Four Classic Westerns [Limited Edition]

In the mid-1960s, the runaway success of Sergio Leone's "Dollars" trilogy gave rise to an explosion of similar productions as filmmakers by the dozen sought to capitalize on this new, uniquely Italian take on the Western, characterized by their deeply cynical outlook, morally compromised antiheroes and unflinching depictions of savage violence. This specially curated selection gathers together four outstanding examples of the genre from the height of its popularity, all centered around a theme of revenge. In Lucio Fulci's "Massacre Time" (1966), Franco Nero and George Hilton star as estranged brothers forced to band together against the powerful businessman and his sadistic son who've seized control of their hometown. In Maurizio Lucidi's "My Name is Pecos" (1966), Robert Woods stars as the eponymous Mexican gunslinger, returning to Houston to settle a long-standing score against the racist gang boss who wiped out his entire family. In Massimo Dallamano's "Bandidos" (1967), Enrico Maria Salerno plays a former top marksman who, years after being maimed by a former protégé, teams up with a fresh apprentice to get his revenge against the man who betrayed him. Finally, in Antonio Margheriti's "And God Said to Cain" (1970), the inimitable Klaus Kinski stars as a man who has spent the last decade in a prison work camp for a crime he didn't commit and who, upon his release, immediately sets out to wreak vengeance on the men who framed him. Featuring a wealth of key Euro cult talent both behind and in front of the camera, these four classic westerns are presented in sparkling high definition restorations, three of them produced specially for this release, alongside a plethora of brand new bonus materials. Formats: Four-disc Blu-ray set. Extras: Galleries for all four films; illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by author and critic Howard Hughes; fold-out double-sided poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx; limited edition packaging with reversible sleeves featuring original artwork and a slipcover featuring newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx; commentaries; featurettes; interviews; trailers. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

Welcome Matt

(2021) Tahj Mowry, Deon Cole, Jazsmin Lewis. Matt, a well known writer and director, suffers a traumatic experience that leads to him being deathly afraid to go outside ... so he decides to write, direct, and star in a feature film, all from his apartment. Formats: DVD. (Gravitas Ventures).

Wet Season

(2019 -- Singapore/Taiwan) Yann Yann Yeo, Jia Ler Koh, Christopher Ming-Shun Lee, Shi Bin Yang. Singapore's official submission to the 93rd Academy Awards. Ling is a Chinese language teacher at a high school in Singapore. Her life is fraying as she struggles with a subject her students are disinterested in, a distant husband at home, the care of her elderly father-in-law, and her fight to conceive a child, all in a country that's not her own. But when she orders extra lessons for her student Wei Lun, the two become close and Ling finds a new way to reaffirm her identity as a woman. Formats: DVD. (Strand Releasing).

Women

(2021) Anna Marie Dobbins, Anna Maiche, Denise Gossett. A small town detective while investigating the disappearance of a local woman comes across an unassuming sociology professor who lives a double life. Formats: DVD. (Gravitas Ventures).

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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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July 15, 2021
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