Artsploitation Films Will Release DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of German Filmmaker Nikias Chryssos’ Surreal Der Bunker On Aug. 23

David Lynch’s Eraserhead and David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch are close cousins to German filmmaker Nikias Chryssos’ debut feature-film effort, Der Bunker, which will be making its way to both DVD and Blu-ray on Aug. 23 courtesy of Artsploitation Films.

If you want strange, then join “Student” (played by Pit Bukowski — Der Samurai, As We Were Dreaming), who is working on an important research paper and needs a secluded place to stay to complete the task.   So it is almost too good to be true when he answers an ad for a quiet, “lake view” apartment.   

Instead, he finds a home in the woods and the apartment is without windows in the basement.   It is quiet and it is secluded so he takes it anyway.

That should have been the first tip off that living with Mother (Oona von Maydell), Father (David Scheller) and their eight-year old son — who actually has a name — Klaus (Daniel Fripan), would have its “challenges.”   Klaus, is not only odd, but he looks to be in his mid-twenties.

Pretty soon Student not only has the task of completing his research paper, but he somehow lets himself be talked into tutoring “little” Klaus … who is not much of a student, but his parents have high hopes.   

 

Oh, and did we mention that Mother has what appears to be an infected, swollen leg, which    

could — and we are being serious here (you gotta think: Lynch; you gotta think: Cronenberg) — be home to an extraterrestrial who goes by the name of Heinrich.

What other mysteries lurk in this “cabin in the woods!!!”

Der Bunker is presented in German with English subtitles.

Vinegar Syndrome Restores Rudy Ray Moore's Disco Godfather For Release As A Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack On Aug. 30

First it was Dolemite from Vinegar Syndrome in April, and then it was Human Tornado at the end of May.   Next came the news about Petey Wheatstraw being restored and ready to rip as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on July 26.    Wow, three-for-three for screen legend Rudy Ray Moore!

So what could be better than the aforementioned Rudy Ray Moore trifecta?   How about a Rudy Ray Moore four-film parlay!!!

That’s what Vinegar Syndrome has in store for fans on Aug. 30 with a new 2K restoration of writer/director J. Robert Wagoner’s 1979 Blaxploitation film, Disco Godfather.   This last great Blaxploitation entry from the cycle that began in the early ‘70s is being restored from the thought-to-be-lost 35mm original film negative.

Bonus nuggets include a commentary track featuring Rudy Ray Moore’s biographer, Mark Jason Murray, Rudy Ray Moore, writer/director J. Robert Wagoner and co-writer Cliff Roquemore, part IV of “I, Dolemite” documentary an extensive still and promotional gallery.

Also getting a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack release on Aug. 30 is writer/director Mardi Rustam's 1985 sci-fi film erotica, Evils of the Night, which includes a cast that includes porn stars Amber Lynn and Jerry Butler, plus such screen legends as John Carradine, Julie Newmar, Aldo Ray, Neville Brand and Gilligan’s Island very own Ginger, Tina Louise.

OK, let’s all agree that Evils of the Night is not Alien, or Aliens, or even, dare we say, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, but any film that has John Carradine, Julie Newmar and Tina Louise as alien invaders and Aldo Ray and Neville Brand as their loyal servants — their day job is that of auto mechanics — who are charged with abducting beautiful teenage girls so that they can be drained of their blood is a damn good film!   

Bonus goodies include a video session with filmmaker Mardi Rustam that is titled “Alien Blood Transfusion,” 25-minutes worth of outtakes, and two alternate viewing options — a television edit (some the steamy sex scenes just had to go) and a work-in-progress theatrical presentation.

With these two releases — Rudy Ray Moore’ Disco Godfather and the sci-fi classics, Evils of the Night — Vinegar Syndrome could call it a wrap and take victory lap.   But wait!   There’s more!

Aug. 30 also sees a new 2K restoration (from original 35mm vault elements) of director Kirdy Stevens’ 1980 adult film classic, Taboo.   This film is from the golden era of adult cinema (when they were shot on 35mm — see Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights for an understanding of this period).

Kay Parker stars as a frustrated housewife whose husband bails on her … and the swinger sexcapades that her friends offer her for fulfillment are not to her liking.   But there is something — a forbidden something — closer to home that does spark her interest.

Bonus features include two newly-prepared commentary options — one with Kay Parker and one featuring writer/producer Helene Terrie.   There are also two vintage commentary options, one featuring Kay Parker and the other teaming director Kirdy Stevens and Helene Terrie, and a vintage video session featuring the film’s star, Kay Parker.

Rounding the Aug. 30 selections from Vinegar Syndrome are two new DVD releases.  These are: Director Anthony Spinelli’s 1972 adult film, Sex in the Comics (a new 2K restoration from film vault elements) — which features the 1975 film release of Sextoons and The Funky World of Adult Cartoons as bonus features — and the next installment in Vinegar Syndrome’s popular “Peekarama” double-feature library, Peekarama: Body Girls and Let’s Get Physical (both are new 2K restorations from the original 35mm film prints).

108 Media Group Tabs July 26 For The DVD Debut Of Director Neil Huber's Let's Rap

Canadian filmmaker Neil Huber will see his hilarious comedy, Let’s Rap, make its domestic DVD rollout on July 26 courtesy of 108 Media … sales and distribution expertise will be provided by MVD Entertainment Group.

Writers Samantha and Jesse Herman are real-life sister and brother, who are natural comedians in their steam-of- consciousness banter, who came up with a short film back in 2013 that was based on their lives … it was titled, Let’s Rap.  

Now skip ahead two years, add Neil Huber as the director and flesh out the script (again, provided by Sam and Jesse) and bingo, Let’s Rap the feature-length comedy.   

Rachel Wilson (who reprises her role from the short) and Brendan Gall star as sister and brother — Melanie and Bo Schnurr — who stumble into a hit televison show by simply being their very own dysfunctional selves.   

She’s out of a job (she wasn’t much good at what she did anyway) and he’s never really had one, but when their friend Ethan (Randal Edwards), a TV producer — who is under some pressure to find the next big thing — puts them on air its comedy gold!

20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment Selects Oct. 4 For 4K Ultra HD, DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of Director Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Apocalypse

20^th Century-Fox Home Entertainment made its first post-Labor Day product moves this past week.   From Labor Day to Christmas is where the big summer films get street dates … as well as important TV series and catalog promotions.

Arriving on Oct. 4 as a three-SKU product array will be director Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Apocalypse.   Ticket sales were a robust $154.5 million and the ARR works out to 130 days.

Planned for release are DVD, Blu-ray (a double-disc set featuring 2D and 3D viewing options) and 4K Ultra HD editions of the film.

Bonus features, which are exclusive to the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD SKUs, include commentary by filmmaker Bryan Singer and writer Simon Kinberg (Oscar nominated as a producer of The Martian), a feature-length documentary titled X-Men: Apocalypse Unearthed, a wrap party video session and a gag reel.

In other release news this week, 20^th Century-Fox Home Entertainment has tabbed Sept. 13 for the next DVD edition of the internecine corporate struggles of Lucious Lyon’s Empire Entertainment with the release of Empire: The Complete Second Season.

Murder, betrayal, music and corporate intrigue, with a heavy dose of sex, mark this second season starring Terrence Howard as Lucious and Golden Globe-winner Taraji P. Henson as “Cookie.”

Bonus goodies include a half-dozen Studio Sessions, the four-part featurette titled “The Look of Empire” and four un-cut music performances.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment Targets Sept. 27 For DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of Stephen King's Cell

Stephen King’s 2006 novel, Cell, took a long and winding road to film with King himself ultimately providing the screenplay (along with Adam Alleca — who provided the script for the remake of The Last House on the Left in 2009 and then dropped of sight).   

With Stephen King in the mix, and the casting of John Cusack as Clay Riddell and Samuel L. Jackson as Tom McCourt, you would have thought that Cell — a mocking sci-fi tale about cell phone users being turned into zombie-like killers (like that could happen) — would be golden for a summer theatrical release.   

The trailer for the film, when first posted, looked sensational … instead, it went straight to VOD on June 10.  That has to be read as nothing short of a disappointment — it must have been the best two minutes of the film.

In any case, word arrived this past week from Lionsgate Home Entertainment that Blu-ray and DVD editions of Cell will be available on Sept. 27.   Will anyone really care after its been in the digital domain for over three months?   

As to bonus goodies, Lionsgate reports that director Tod Williams (Paranormal Activity 2) will provide commentary and there will be a featurette titled “To Cell and Back.”

The Criterion Collection Announces Its October Of 2016 DVD And Blu-ray Release Calendar

The Criterion Collection announced its October release slate this past week, and, as always, there is something to be found among the DVD and Blu-ray selections that will appeal to a broad array of film buffs and film fans.

In chronological order we kick off the proceedings with the 2006 Best Foreign Language Oscar nominee, writer/director Guillermo del Toro’s Pan's Labyrinth.  Both DVD (a double-disc set) and Blu-ray product offerings will be available of this new 2K restoration (supervised by Guillermo del Toro).

Bonus features include a vintage commentary track from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (circa 2007), newly-prepared video sessions featuring Guillermo del Toro (interviewed by novelist Cornelia Funke) and actor Doug Jones (the Pale Man), four vintage featurettes, animated comics and audition footage of actor Ivana Baquero (Ofelia).

The following week, Oct. 18, director Richard Linklater’s 2014 Best Picture nominee, Boyhood, will be released as both Blu-ray and double-disc DVD product offerings — a new 2K supervised by Linklater.

Bonus features include a new commentary option from Linklater, who is joined by members of the cast and crew, a newly-minted video sessions featuring Linklater, Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane (title character), with moderation by producer John Pierson, and Ellar Coltrane with Ethan Hawke.

Also streeting on Oct. 18 is a new 4K restoration of auteur filmmaker Robert Altman’s 1993 release of Short Cuts — Blu-ray and a double-disc DVD SKUs will be available.

Bonus features include a vintage video session (circa 2004) with filmmaker Robert Altman and actor Tim Robbins, the 1992 documentary titled “To Write and Keep Kind,” deleted scenes and more.

Rounding out the month on Oct. 25 are director Luis García Berlanga’s 1963 film release of The Executioner (Blu-ray and double-disc DVD editions) and filmmaker Ermanno Olmi’s 1978 film, The Tree of Wooden Clogs (Blu-ray and double-disc DVD editions will also be available).

Director Jeffrey Bell's Sons Of Ben On DVD From Gravitas Ventures On July 22

Director Jeffrey Bell’s documentary, Sons of Ben, will be heading to DVD on July 22 courtesy of Gravitas Ventures.

No, no, no to a Major League Soccer franchise for the City of Philadelphia, but fans of the sport had other ideas — they called themselves “Sons of Ben” and their motto is “Ad Finem Fidelis” — and through their efforts the MLS relented and the Philadelphia Union was born in the winter of 2008.  This is their story.

The film has played in festivals worldwide and will now be available domestically on DVD for fans to enjoy!