Welcome to this week in home video!
Pick of the Week
Victory [Warner Archive]
What is it? POWs plan an escape during a soccer match.
Why see it? John Huston’s World War II film remains a terrific look at humanity, and its final thirty minutes stands as a top five sports movie. Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, and Max von Sydow headline, and the film delivers suspense, strong character beats, and one hell of a rousing finale. Some special features would have been appreciated, but happily this is a film that’s strong enough on its own merits to land this pick of the week spot. It’s a big, cheer-worthy watch.
[Extras: None]
The Best
Color Out of Space
What is it? A family is transformed by a meteorite that lands in their yard.
Why see it? H.P. Lovecraft’s short story has been adapted and re-imagined before, but director Richard Stanley gives it the most glorious visual representation yet. There are still some bumps in the narrative and with these characters, but the imagery alone makes this worth seeing. (And if you have the setup, the 4K UltraHD disc is a thing of absolute beauty.) It’s cosmic horror that haunts as an otherwise loving family falls victim to the unknown. If you’re here for a Nicolas Cage freakout you’ll be satisfied, but the bigger pull is the nightmarish beauty of it all.
[Extras: Featurette, deleted scenes]
Hot Dog… The Movie [Synapse Films]
What is it? A ski competition attracts all manner of hijinks.
Why see it? No one expects a late night cable favorite from the 80s to get the 4K restoration treatment, but we should all be happy that it happened anyway. Hot Dog is no lost classic, but the movie remains a fun, raunchy comedy that also happens to feature plenty of terrific skiing and stunts. David Naughton and Shannon Tweed co-star — like I said, it’s the 80s! — and it’s just an entertainingly harmless romp all around. Synapse’s new Blu is beautiful, and fans will want to check out the in depth documentary exploring the film’s production as some of the anecdotes are terrific.
[Extras: New 4K restoration, documentary, commentary]
Knives Out
What is it? A murder mystery!
Why see it? Rian Johnson’s latest is a delightfully fun murder mystery with sharp dialogue and a stellar cast. Seriously. Daniel Craig, Ana De Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, and Christopher Plummer? That’s just crazy great and immediately makes this a must-see movie. Happily it’s also funny, smart, and very playful. The disc is also packed meaning fans have a few extra hours of fun to explore.
[Extras: Commentary with Rian Johnson, deleted scenes, documentary, featurette]
One Missed Call – Trilogy [Arrow Video]
What is it? A curse moves through cell phone contact lists!
Why see it? Okay, that synopsis sounds stupid, but this Japanese horror trilogy is for fans of The Ring and The Grudge meaning its core rests on a curse, a wrongdoing, and the bloody fallout that follows. Takashi Miike directs the first film, and it’s a solid horror thriller with some gruesome beats that still makes time for a commentary on media and cultural obsession. The two sequels are maybe a bit more polished, but while solid they bring little new to the table. Arrow’s release is fantastic, though, for fans as it collects not just the three films but also a ton of extra content.
[Extras: Documentaries, interviews, short films, deleted scenes, featurettes, music video]
Perfect Friday [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A bank employee plans a robbery with an unusual couple.
Why see it? At its heart this is a heist film complete with an elaborate bank robbery plan and execution, but what makes it shine is the interactions between the three leads. David Warner is at his weirdest, Ursula Andress is at her nakedest, and Stanley Baker is stuck between them. The film shifts often enough to leave viewers unsure who’s actually running the game, and it’s a sexy, fun treat of a film with a smartly satisfying payoff.
[Extras: Commentary]
Synonyms
What is it? An Israeli man hopes to start anew in Paris.
Why see it? Making a home somewhere new is always hard, but language barriers and racism make it exponentially more difficult. This occasionally comedic tale of one man’s efforts explores the reality of it through a slightly subverted lens, and the result is a film that’s very much of the moment. There’s a power to the film’s final frames too, and its message about the struggle faced by immigrants hits hard.
[Extras: Interviews]
The Rest
And Hope to Die [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A man on the run crosses paths with crooks.
Why see it? French thrillers are often odd birds in comparison to more literal genre efforts from elsewhere, and this early 70s effort is no different. The setup is an engaging one as a man running from a past we don’t know winds up in the clutches of a gang of thieves planning a heist, and in addition to a dubbed Robert Ryan the film also holds attention by being as much a character piece as a thriller. It never quite goes where you expect, and while that’s not always for the best it’s certainly never dull.
[Extras: Commentary]
The Climbers
What is it? Chinese climbers attempt to summit Mount Everest.
Why see it? This adventure tale is based on the true story of a group of Chinese climbers trying to tackle the mountain from the previously untouched Northern Ridge, and the journey is one fraught with tragedy and heroism both. Fans of mountain climbing flicks will want to give it a watch, and the payoff is solid, but the CG effects are shockingly bad for a blockbuster. The human drama remains, but the visuals sometimes knock the weight down a bit.
[Extras: Featurette]
The Deadly Trap [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? An American couple struggles when their kids go missing in Paris.
Why see it? Faye Dunaway and Frank Langella headline this low-key French thriller, and they remain the real reason to watch. The film itself is a bit too unmotivated — the pacing and attention to the relationship slow down the thriller aspects beyond reason — but Dunaway and Langella both shine in atypical roles. Director Rene Clement does shoot an attractive film, though, and it takes great advantage of its locales.
[Extras: Commentary]
Frozen II
What is it? The enchanted forest wants a few words with the people of Arendelle.
Why see it? The first Frozen remains an absolutely delightful and compelling animated film with some pretty catchy songs, and this follow-up just can’t compete. There are still a few laughs, and the story — a nod to Native people and the invasion by European settlers — is an important one for kids to catch on to, but the fun doesn’t land with the same sense of wonder. Worse, I’ve already forgotten all of the songs! Still, I’m an adult. The kids in your life will probably love it.
[Extras: Outtakes, deleted scenes, deleted songs, featurettes, music videos]
Mind Games
What is it? A family finds trouble when they welcome a stranger into their Winnebago.
Why see it? There’s a pretty big ask early on in Mind Games as viewers need to accept that this family of three would bring a stranger aboard and even go so far as to allow their young son to sleep outside with him unattended. They’re having marital issues, but still, this is dumb 101. Get past that and you have a pretty generic thriller as Maxwell Caulfield’s stranger grows more and more concerning and cuck Edward Albert finally steps up.
[Extras: Documentary, featurette]
Pet Sematary [Scream Factory]
What is it? Newcomers discover the creepy old burial ground.
Why see it? Mary Lambert’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary remains one of the best of King’s horror films, but this sequel — is still terrible. The tone is way off and unforgivable, the acting is rough, and the undead speak for some dumb reason. None of it works as the attempts at horror are laughable and the resulting comedy just isn’t funny. Scream Factory’s new Blu looks fantastic, though, and Lambert’s commentary is well worth a listen.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentary with Mary Lambert, interview]
Also out this week:
The Astrologer [Severin Films], Cries of Pleasure [Severin Films], Holywood Horror House [Vinegar Syndrome], Line of Demarcation [KL Studio Classics], Manon [Arrow Academy], Max and the Junkmen [KL Studio Classics], Night of Open Sex [Severin Films], Public Affairs [Vinegar Syndrome], Quai des Orfevres [KL Studio Classics], Return of Ultraman, The Third Lover [KL Studio Classics], Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman [Criterion Collection], Ultraman Orb: the Origin Saga, Xtro 3 [Vinegar Syndrome]
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