Mill Creek Entertainment To Release Four First-Time-On-Blu-ray Release On Apr. 7 • Trapped, Eddie Macon's Run, All The Pretty Horses And Heroes

Not one.   Not even two.   But four, count’em, four new— priced-to-collect — first-time-on-Blu-ray releases are on their way from Mill Creek Entertainment on Apr. 7.

That’s right four never-on-Blu-ray films … so let’s get to it.

Let’s start with director Luis Mandoki’s 2002 film adaptation of the Greg Iles’ best selling 2000 novel, “24 Hours,” which was released theatrically as Trapped (Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow’s 24 TV series starring Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer was a hit at the time, hence the title change to avoid confusion).   

The film stars Kevin Bacon as a Joe Hickey, a professional kidnapper, who specializes in quick grab-for-cash schemes that last no more than 24 hours.  It’s a family affair as his little gang includes his wife, Cheryl (Courtney Love — The People vs. Larry Flynt, Sid and Nancy) and Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince — Natural Born Killers, Identity), his cousin.

Their latest target is the Jennings family, Will (Stuart Townsend — Queen of the Damned) and Karen (Charlize Theron), he a research scientist and his wife a former nurse, who now cares for their asthmatic daughter, Abby (Dakota Fanning).

It seems simple enough, grab Abby, extort some cash and then let her go, but we quickly learn that there’s more going on with Joe and Cheryl and this particular target.   Trapped devolves into an intense cat-and-mouse game that puts the life of the young Abby in jeopardy … it will not end well for some of those involved in this grab-for-cash kidnapping.

Also making a Blu-ray debut on Apr. 7 is writer/director Jeff Kanew’s 1983 film adaptation of the 1980 novel from James McLendon, Eddie Macon’s Run (which wasn’t even published when it was acquired by the film’s producers) … McLendon finished the book, but died before the film’s debut.

Based on actually events — pattern after McLendon’s own family — we are introduced to Eddie Macon (John Schneider, who would gain stardom with The Dukes of Hazzard television series, in his first starring role) as he escapes from Huntsville in Texas.   Through a series of flashbacks we also learn how he came to be in prison.

Meanwhile, Marzack (Kirk Douglas), a former police office, who now works for the prison system, goes in pursuit of Eddie, it’s personal.   That’s the least of Eddie’s problems as he is captured by the Potts while making his run for the Mexican border.   They, Daryl (Tom Noonan) and Rudy (Jay O. Sanders), think that Eddie is a cattle rustler and after hauling him back to their place … they hang him!

Only a last minute change of heart allows Eddie to live … he will eventually escape the Potts, save a wild young woman from being raped (played by Lee Purcell) and continue his run for the border with Marzack in pursuit.   Does he catch Eddie … or will there be more twists and turns?  Apr. 7, Blu-ray, to find out how this dash for freedom ends!

Rounding out the quartet of new Blu-ray releases from Mill Creek Entertainment on Apr. 7 are director Jeremy Paul Kagan’s 1977 film release of Heroes, starring Henry Winkler, Sally Field and Harrison Ford (in his first film role after the fame gained from Star Wars earlier in the year) and actor-turned-director Billy Bob Thornton’s film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 1992 novel, All the Pretty Horses, starring Matt Damon and Penélope Cruz.