New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Activity For The Period Ending July 14, 2023

 

New DVD Additions

ABMI TV (MOD)

07/04/23 — Released 2023 - Concerts on the Grass: Kid's Night

 

Acid Bath (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released James Balsamo Knows How to Rock 2 and Litch - 5 Year Anniversary

 

Alchemy Werks, LLC (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Alien Abduction: The Strangest UFO Case Files, Alien Agenda Planet Earth the Cosmic Conspiracy, Alien Chronicles Invaders Among Us, Alien Enigmas: UFOs on the Moon, Ancient Giants of North America and Contact with Aliens: Abductions Conspiracy and Deception

 

Amcomri Entertainment, Inc.

07/11/23 — Released Gates

 

BCSN (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Back Bay League Baseball: Anglers vs. Island Hoppers and 2023 - Tennis: Ray Simon Memorial Toledo Open Tournament Singles Final

 

BCTV (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - City of Reading City Council Committee and 2023 - City of Reading City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting

 

BEK-TV (MOD)

07/04/23 — Released 2023 - American Association Baseball: Kansas City Monarchs vs Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks - July 7, 2023

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - American Association Baseball: Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks vs Lincoln Saltdogs - July 11, 2023, 2023 - American Association Baseball: Kansas City Monarchs vs Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks - July 8, 2023 and 2023 - American Association Baseball: Kansas City Monarchs vs Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks - July 9, 2023

 

BFD

07/11/23 — Released Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022: Live From Esplanade Of Edinburgh Castle

 

Buck Cody - Nostalgia Collectibles (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Counterfeiters, Gangs of the Waterfront, Mohawk and Reported Missing

 

Buffalo 8 (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Balloon Animal, Between Sins, Dreams on Fire (Japanese), Final 19, Four Amigos and Mile 19

 

CBS Home Entertainment (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Walker: Season Three (4 disc set)

 

CCX Media (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Brooklyn Center: City Council Meeting,  2023 - Brooklyn Park: City Council Meeting, 2023 - City of Crystal: City Council Meeting,  2023 - New Hope City Council Meeting,  2023 - Osseo: City Council Meeting and 2023 - Osseo: City Council Work Session

 

CFV, LLC (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Abdel & Ismail Meet Frankenstein (Arabic), Beastmaster II: Through the Portal of Time, Carmilla, Clown at Midnight, Danger! Women In Action (Spanish), Demon (Italian), Face of the Screaming Werewolf, Gypsy and the Gentleman, Lips of Lurid Blue (Italian), Name for Evil, Newlywed Hell (Japanese), Red Spell Spells Red (Cantonese), S.O.S. Bikini Conspiracy (Spanish), Satan Tempts with Love (German), She Cried Murder, Sinking of Japan (Japanese), Siren of Bagdad, Space Master X-7, Spectre of Edgar Allan Poe, Wife to be Sacrificed (Japanese) and Woman from the Torrid Land (English dubbed)

 

Capital Community Media (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Men's Soccer: CFC Atletico vs. Oly Town Artesians and 2023 - World Beat: Talilo Marfil

 

Championship Productions

07/04/23 — Released Jerome Tang's Blueprint for Building Better Players & Teams - Perfecting the 'Old Boring Habits’ and Porter Moser's Favorite Player Development Drills

07/11/23 — Released Greg Gard: Secrets of Elite Execution for Motion Offense & Set Plays, Sean Sweeney: Special Situations Strategies & Secrets - Execution Under Pressure! and Unlocking the Full Potential of the Pick-and-Roll in a Ball Screen Offense

 

Changing Your World (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Grace Life Conference 2023: Homecoming (9 disc set), Sunday Service, Wednesday Morning Service and Wednesday Night Service

 

Cheezy Flicks

07/11/23 — Released She Wolves of the Wasteland (aka: Phoenix the Warrior) and Twister's Revenge

 

Christian Worship Hour (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Christian Worship Hour: The Greatest Verse in the Bible - John 3:16-21

 

Cinema Guild

07/11/23 — Released Novelist's Film (Korean)

 

Cleopatra Entertainment

09/08/23 — Sets Reverend Horton Heat: Live in Houston (DVD/CD Combo Pack)

 

Cohen Media Group

07/11/23 — Released Persian Lessons (German/French) (ARR of 32 days; box office estimate: $20,000)

 

Decal Releasing, LLC (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Starling Girl (ARR of 60 days; box office: $158,349)

 

DreamScape Media, LLC

07/11/23 — Released Big Boss: A 21st Century Criminal, Burnout: The Truth About Work, Treehouse Stories: Season One: Volume 1, Treehouse Stories: Season One: Volume 2, Treehouse Stories: Season One: Volume 3, Treehouse Stories: Season Three: Volume 1, Treehouse Stories: Season Three: Volume 2, Treehouse Stories: Season Three: Volume 3, Treehouse Stories: Season Two: Volume 1, Treehouse Stories: Season Two: Volume 2 and Treehouse Stories: Season Two: Volume 3

 

DVDRParty (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Dimension 5, Erotic Touch of Hot Skin, Hansel & Gretel (English-dubbed), Hansel & Gretel (English-language version), Joe Sarno Double Feature (2 film set: Misty, Slippery When Wet), Kamen Rider Amazon: Complete Series (4 disc set), Karate Master: The Complete Series (6 disc set), Masters of Russian Animation, Volume 1, Masters of Russian Animation, Volume 2, Masters of Russian Animation, Volume 3, Masters of Russian Animation, Volume 4, Maze 3D, Never Never Princess (English dubbed), Riders of the Skull (Spanish), Sexo Weirdo, Space Probe Taurus (aka: Space Monster; aka: First Woman Into Space) (2 disc set), Starchaser: The Legend of Orin 3D, War of the Satellites, Wild Women of Wongo and Witch Riders (Spanish)

 

EWTN

07/11/23 — Released EWTN Live: Dr. Gilbert Lavoie: The Shroud - Science and the Gospel of John, Journey Home: Jeffrey Shott - Former Atheist, Women of Grace: Devin Schadt - Spiritual Fatherhood: The Way and the Means and World Over with Raymond Navarro

 

Elvis DVD Collector & Movie Store (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Africa Screams, Agent for H.A.R.M., Amazing Mr. X, Bad Man's River, Baja Oklahoma, Barbarians, Blood on the Sun, Cobra, Come Spy with Me, D.O.A., Danger Route, Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Death on the Run, Dishonored Lady, Fast Lady, Flying Deuces, Have Rocket, Will Travel, Kansas City Confidential, Operation Kid Brother, Requiem for a Secret Agent, Scarlet Street, Spy Today Die Tomorrow, Spy Who Loved Flowers (Italian), Spy with Ten Faces (German), This Happy Breed, Unholy Four (aka: The Stranger Came Home), Utopia and Who Killed Teddy Bear

 

Film Movement

07/11/23 — Released Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Cantonese)

 

Full Moon Entertainment

07/11/23 — Released Netherworld

 

Giant Interactive (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released All Man

 

Gravure Glamour Girl

07/11/23 — Released J-girl Yummy: Julia Kyoka, J-girl Yummy: Mitsuki Kamiya, J-girl Yummy: Nana Ayano and J-girl Yummy: Sakura Kirishima

 

HCAM (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Concerts on the Common Series: The Roy Scott Big Band and 2023 - Hopkinton Select Board

 

Hallmark Entertainment (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Hallmark Hall of Fame 3 Movie Collection (3 film set: Christmas with Holly, Silver Bells, One Christmas Eve) and Hitched for the Holidays

 

IFC Films

07/11/23 — Released Corsage (German)

 

IMD Films, Ltd.

07/11/23 — Released Super Vixens 5

 

Image Entertainment

07/11/23 — Released Spoonful of Sugar

 

Indiepix

07/11/23 — Released In the Arms of Morpheus (Dutch)

 

Jarrett Enterprises - Loving the Classics (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 20th Century-Fox Hour: The Still Trumpet, Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (130 episodes) (7 disc set), Agent for Panic (Czech), Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre: Double Jeopardy, China Smith (25 episodes) (6 disc set), Drive Hard, Drive Fast, Empire (22 episodes) (4 disc set), First Annual All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, Follow the Sun (19 episodes) (4 disc set), For the People (8 episodes) (4 disc set), Four Star Jubilee: High Tor, I Married Joan (55 episodes) (7 disc set), Island of the Lost, Island of the Lost (silent-1921), Kraft Suspense Theatre: Kamchatka Incident, Lone Ranger: The Complete Series (22 disc set), Long Rope, Michael Shayne (24 episodes) (3 disc set), One Step Beyond: The Complete Series (15 disc set), Red Tomahawk, Rogues: The Complete Series (16 disc set), Rosemary Clooney Show (30 episodes) (7 disc set), Roy Rogers Show (105 episodes) (6 disc set), Run for Your Life (82 episodes) (13 disc set), Shannon (25 episodes) (8 disc set), Shotgun Slade (61 episodes) (14 disc set), Soldiers of Fortune: The Complete Series (5 disc set), T.H.E. Cat: The Complete Series (7 disc set), Thriller: The Complete Series (17 disc set), Tightrope: The Complete Series (10 disc set), Tombstone Territory: The Complete Series (10 disc set) , Topper (73 episodes) (17 disc set), Whistler (37 episodes) (14 disc set) and Zane Grey Theatre (137 episodes) (26 disc set)

 

Just for the Hell of It (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Date with Death, Demir Pence Korsan Adam (Turkish), Hoax (aka: Swiss Bank Account), Lonesome Cowboys and Wild Wheels

 

Las Vegas Video (MOD)

06/27/23 — Released Backyard Wedding, Daughter of the Bride and Make Me a Match

07/04/23 — Released Cozy Christmas Inn and Wedding Contract

07/11/23 — Released Christmas on the Menu, Falling for You, Matchmaker Santa and Royal Christmas Crush

 

Lost Movie Finder (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Ace Up My Sleeve (aka: Crime and Passion), Alice or the Last Escapade (French), All About Anna, Awakening of Gabriella, Backstreet Justice, Blow Hot, Blow Cold (Swedish/Italian), Burglar, Cactus, City Beneath the Sea, Curiosa (French), Desire the Interior Life (Italian), Domino, Dracula's Great Love, Dying to be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story , Erendira (Spanish/Portuguese), Erotic Boundaries, Erotic Misadventures of the Invisible Man, Escort, Estate Violenta (Italian), Eu Te Amo (Portuguese), Friend of the Family, Frozen with Fear, Going Places (French), Good Girls Don't, I Married a Shadow (French), Il Piacere (Italian), Image, Inner Sanctum, Intrigo D'Amore (Italian), Jessica, Jours Tranquilles a Clichy (French), L’ Appat (French), La Liceala Il Diavolo E L’Acquasanta (Italian), Last Rites, Le Lieu Du Crime (French), Life's a Bitch (Spanish), Lili Marleen (German), Little Hut, Love on the Riviera (Italian), Malina (French), Night Nurse (Italian), Out of Control, Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick, Oz: A Rock N Roll Road Movie, Pane, Amore E Fantasia (Italian), Poison Ivy: The New Seduction, Questi Fantasmi (Italian), Remember My Name, Russ Meyer Collection (2 film set: Cherry, Harry & Raquel, Common Law Cabin), Salo: The 120 Days of Sodom (Italian), School of Flesh (French), Skin of Roses (Japanese), Skyscrapper, Strike a Pose, Swamp Water, Till Marriage Do Us Part (Italian), Tomboy, Trip, Turn Me On, Dammit! (Norwegian), Une Femme Fidele (French), Venus in Furs, Very Mean Men, Violenza Al Sole (German), Washing Machine (English dubbed) and Working Class Goes to Heaven (Italian)

 

Media Outlet (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Alien Secrets: Area 51, Dinosaur Documentaries (2 disc set) and Ploesti Raid: WWII's Operation Tidal Wave

07/18/23 — Sets Haiti: Killing the Dream 1991 Haitian Coup

 

Mill Creek Entertainment

09/19/23 — Sets God's Country Music

 

Movie Time Video

06/13/23 — Released 83 (Hindi)

07/11/23 — Released Sooryavanshi (Hindi) and Thai Massage (Hindi)

 

Orion Neighborhood Television (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Lake Orion Live: Alicia Michilli

 

PBS Direct

07/11/23 — Released Before We Die: Season 2 (2 disc set), Casa Susanna, Endeavour: The Complete Ninth Season (2 disc set), NOVA: Facing the Climate Challenge and Ridley: Season One (2 disc set)

 

PEG TV (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Castleton Select Board, 2023 - Clarendon Select Board, 2023 - Fairhaven Select Board, 2023 - Pawlet Select Board and 2023 - Proctor Select Board

 

Paramount Home Entertainment

09/26/23 — Sets Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season Three (3 disc set)

 

Pentrex

07/11/23 — Released Beneath Los Angeles: The Building of the Red Line Subway

 

RCN Telecom Services, LLC - ATVN (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Blue Mountain League Baseball: Northampton vs. Berlinsville, 2023 - Grandview Speedway: Grandview #4 Features and 2023 - Grandview Speedway: Grandview #4 Heats

 

Retro Movie Club (MOD)

07/04/23 — Released Big Combo, Front Page, General (silent-1926), Gunsmoke Ranch, Hitch-Hiker, Lady Vanishes, Man Betrayed, Mud and Sand (silent short film-1922) and Purple Death from Outer Space

 

Retro Moving Images (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Frisco Lil, Last Stagecoach West and Pacific Blackout

 

Risorgimento

07/11/23 — Released Margaret Fuller: Transatlantic Revolutionary

 

SCV-TV (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Santa Clarita City Council

 

SRS Cinema

07/11/23 — Released Already Dead (French), Amityville Death Toilet and Savage Vengeance

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

07/11/23 — Released Knights of the Zodiac (ARR of 60 days; box office: $1,080,406)

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent. (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Carmen (ARR of 81 days; box office: $103,078)

 

The Space Nova Store (MOD)

06/27/23 — Released Altair: A Record of Battles (3 disc set), Denki-gai, Do It Yourself!!, Harley Quinn:  Season 1-3 (5 disc set), Heaven's Lost Property: Season 1-2 (6 disc set), Hinomaru Sumo (3 disc set), I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss, Kakegurui Twin,  Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit (3 disc set), Mysterious Girlfriend X (2 disc set), Osamake: Romcom Where the Childhood Friend Won't Lose, Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin (3 disc set), SD Superior Defense Gundam Force (5 disc set), Spy Classroom, Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless (2 disc set) and Way of Househusband: Season 2

 

Town Square Television (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Baseball St. Paul Windys @ Stockmen's Irish and 2023 - Lacrosse: Minneapolis Wheatkings @ Inver Grove Isotopes

 

Synergetic Distribution (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Uvalde: Monsters and Heroes

 

Vermont Movie Store (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Third Star and True Things

 

Vertical Entertainment

07/11/23 — Released To Catch a Killer (ARR of 81 days; box office estimate: $20,000)

 

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Ent.

08/29/23 — Sets Flash (ARR of 74 days; box office: $105,210,665)

 

Wild Eye Releasing

07/25/23 — Sets Demonoids from Hell

08/15/23 — Sets Evil Building

 

Zeus Video (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Brainstorm, Catalina Caper (A.K.A. Never Steal Anything Wet), Courage of Lassie, Falcon's Adventure, Falcon's Alibi, Fantasy Island (2 disc set), Framed, French Postcards, Frogmen, Funeral in Berlin, Gentleman's Agreement, Ghost Breakers, Ghost in the Shell, Ghost Ship, Girl from Tenth Avenue, Glass Sphinx, Goat, Grayeagle, Great Bank Hoax, Great Bank Robbery, Great Man's Lady, Great Train Robbery (silent short-1903), Guest House Paradiso, Gwen, Le Livre de Sable (French) and Under Capricorn

 

New Blu-ray Additions

 

Acid Bath (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released James Balsamo Knows How to Rock 2 and Litch - 5 Year Anniversary

 

Asuka the Disc Dog (Fred the Blu-ray Dog) (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Bird Box: Barcelona, Blacklist - The Final Season, Fleishman is in Trouble, Get Ed: The Complete Series, Just Jordan: The Complete Series, Last Thing He Told Me, Platonic - Season 1, Skull Island - Season 1, Sonic Prime - Season 2 and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan - The Final Season

 

BBC Home Entertainment (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Doctor Who: Jon Pertwee: Complete Season Three (8 disc set)

 

BFD

07/11/23 — Released Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022: Live from Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle

 

CFV, LLC (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

 

Capital Community Media (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released 2023 - Men's Soccer: CFC Atletico vs. Oly Town Artesians and 2023 - World Beat: Talilo Marfil

 

Cinema Guild

07/11/23 — Released Novelist's Film (Korean)

 

Cleopatra Entertainment

07/11/23 — Released Shin Ultraman (Japanese) and What the Waters Left Behind: Scars

 

Cohen Media Group

07/11/23 — Released Persian Lessons (German/French)

 

Criterion Collection

10/03/23 — Sets Don't Look Now

10/17/23 — Sets Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers (3 film set: Freaks, The Unknown (silent-1927), The Mystic (silent-1925)) (2 disc set)

10/24/23 — Sets Others

10/31/23 — Sets Nanny

 

Flicker Alley

07/11/23 — Released Foolish Wives (silent-1922)

 

Fun City Editions

07/11/23 — Released Party Girl

 

FUNimation

07/11/23 — Released One Piece Film Red (2 disc set)

 

Giant Interactive (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released All Man

 

Grasshopper Film

07/11/23 — Released Pacifiction (French)

 

Gravure Glamour Girl

07/11/23 — Released J-girl Yummy: Julia Kyoka, J-girl Yummy: Mitsuki Kamiya, J-girl Yummy: Nana Ayano and J-girl Yummy: Sakura Kirishima

 

IFC Films

07/11/23 — Released Corsage (German)

 

Kino Lorber

07/11/23 — Released Double Feature (2 film set: Tintin and the Mystery of Golden Fleece, Tintin and the Blue Oranges) (French), Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XV (3 film set: Man Afraid, The Girl in the Kremlin, The Tattered Dress) (3 disc set) and Human Desire

 

Movies R USA (MOD

07/11/23 — Released Air, Beavis And Butthead: Season 2, China Moon, Detroiters: Season 1, Detroiters: Season 2, Flash Season 9 (2 disc set), Flash: Seasons 1 & 2 (4 disc set), Flash: Seasons 3 & 4 (4 disc set), Flash: Seasons 5 & 6 (4 disc set), Flash: Seasons 7 & 8 (4 disc set), Gargoyles, I Carly: Season 2, Luther: The Fallen Sun, Maid to Order, Mavka: The Forest Song , Nightmare Radio: The Night Stalker, Nimona, Resurrected, Run Rabbit Run, Secret Kingdom, Sergio, Sheros, Sunburn, Traces of Death: The Complete Collection (5 film set: Traces of Death, Traces of Death II, Traces of Death III, Traces of Death IV, Traces of Death V) (2 disc set), Voyagers: The Complete Series (2 disc set), When The Screaming Starts, Wonderful World of Disney: Annie and Zootopia+: Season 1

 

Paramount Home Entertainment

09/26/23 — Sets Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season Three (3 disc set)

 

Scream Team Releasing

07/11/23 — Released Beneath the Old Dark House and Rave (Swedish)

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

07/11/23 — Released Knights of the Zodiac

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent. (MOD)

07/11/23 — Released Carmen

 

Snyapse Films

07/11/23 — Released McBain

 

Terror Vision

07/11/23 — Released CUBE, End of the Line, Srigala (Indonesian) and Welcome to Hell

 

VIZ Media

07/11/23 — Released Ranma 1/ 2: OVA and Movie Collection (3 disc set)

 

Vertical Entertainment

07/11/23 — Released To Catch a Killer

 

Well Go U.S.A.

07/11/23 — Released Day Zero (Tagalog)

 

 

 

 

New 4K Ultra HD Additions

 

Arrow Video

09/26/23 — Sets Carlito's Way (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

 

Criterion Collection

10/03/23 — Sets Don’t Look Now (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

10/10/23 — Sets Videodrome (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

10/24/23 — Sets Others (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

 

Paramount Home Entertainment

08/15/23 — Sets Roman Holiday (with Digital Copy)

 

Shout! Factory

07/11/23 — Released Burning (4K Ultra HD/ Blu-ray Combo Pack)

 

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Ent.

08/29/23 — Sets Flash (with Digital Copy)

 

The Criterion Collection Announces Its October Release Slate • Tod Browning's Sideshow Shockers (Oct. 17) Leads The Parade

The Criterion Collection announced its October release slate this past week and the clear must-own selection that easily rises to the top of the list is titled Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers, which arrives as both double-disc Blu-ray and double-disc DVD sets on Oct. 17.

After Dracula in 1931, Browning delivered one of the most controversial films of the 1930s (and in some places, well into the 1960s).   This would be the February of 1932 theatrical release of Freaks, which was either banned (countries) or panned (critics), for its shock value.   It is the anchor film in Criterion’s Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers.

The actors playing the sideshow denizens were real and that drove some people nuts.  It’s OK to do makeup and prosthetics (Hollywood’s tricks of the trades), but if you use real Carnies trying to earn a buck during the Depression, that’s somehow evil.

Included with this show-stopper classic — which plays as both a horror film and as social-commentary — are two of Browning’s silent films that have similar themes … the sideshow, the traveling carnival, the circus and the stories about the people who make their living in this unique form of “show business.”

The first of these is the 1927 film release of The Unknown, starring Lon Chaney as Alonzo, a criminal on the run with a unique physical characteristic, he has two thumbs on one hand.   To avoid the long “arm” of the law, he hides out in a traveling road carnival, where he falls in love with Estrellita (played by none other than Joan Crawford).

As it turns out, she can’t stand the touch of any man’s hand, so Alonzo does the unthinkable and has both of his arms amputated … he earns his headline status by throwing knives with his feet.   When Estrellita betrays him for Malabar (Norman Kerry), it is a third act of vengeance that leads to a fight to the death!!

The third film in the collection is from 1925 and is more of a con-artist with a heart romantic drama.   Conway Tearle plays Michael Nash, a conman, who imports real Gypsies to run a hustle on an heiress, Doris Merrick (Gladys Hulette), but has a change of heart and follows the lovely Zara (Aileen Pringle) back home to Hungary … happy ending.

Bonus features include commentary from film scholar David J. Skal on both Freaks and The Unknown, a newly-minted video session with author Megan Abbott, a vintage documentary on Freaks and more … much more, a film buff’s delight.

Elsewhere on the October release calendar from Criterion are: Director Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny (Oct. 31 – DVD and Blu-ray editions), a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack edition of writer/director Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others, starring Nicole Kidman (Oct. 24 – also Blu-ray), on Oct. 10 director David Cronenberg’s 1983 Videodrome will be available as a 4K Ultra HD/ Blu-ray Combo Pack presentation and Nicolas Roeg’s 1973 creep-out, Don’t Look Now, starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie will be available as both a Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack (Oct. 03).

 

Writer/Director Joe Leone's Breakup Mountain Makes Its Blu-ray Debut Courtesy Of Bayview Entertainment On Aug. 25

Bayview Entertainment will be releasing — on Blu-ray — writer/director Joe Leone’s Breakup Mountain on Aug. 25.

Twists, turns and murder.   It didn’t start out that way … or did it.

Here’s the set up.   Yasmina (played by Jade Haley in her film debut) is smart, attractive, outspoken — complete with a whip-like tongue that can be cruel, demanding and venomous — and she is also perhaps a bit reckless.  She has been in a love-hate relation for the past five years with Ben (played by Joe Leone) … the why of it is not entirely clear.

Ben is something of a whinner, wound a little too tight, who loves the thought of Yasmina, but finds himself in constant verbal battles.   In short, the relationship is a bit toxic.

As with such an oil and water coupling, the day eventually arrives where a parting of the ways is all but certain.   Ben suggests that they find “neutral ground” to talk out the ending to their relationship and offers a remote cabin (in the woods … filmed in and around Bloomville, New York) and Yasmina agrees.

Once settled in, the twists and turns start happening … there’s a knock, knocking at the cabin door.   Hi, my name is Jeremy (played by Vincent Kevin Daniels) and my car broke down … really?

He seems nice, but then starts hitting on Yasmina (is this is a set-up?) and that (sure enough) provokes Ben … a fight breaks out.   Yasmina puts an end to it, but who was the target of her bottle-swinging rage?   Ben?  Jeremy?  

One of them ends up dead!!   And what the hell does Ben’s former girlfriend, Keira (Asel Otunchieva), have to do with this?   She shows up too!!

Murder.  Mystery.   Twists and Turns.   Breakup Mountain from Bayview Entertainment arrives on Blu-ray this coming Aug. 25 … mark that down to learn the truth about the end game at the cabin in the woods!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple Piracy Attacks Plague Home Entertainment Packed Media Realm • Streaming Provides The Film And Series Masters • "Helpers" Deliver What Consumers Want

You could say that things are looking up, but when you do the pre-pandemic reality check it brings you back to earth.  

On the plus side, we did get a jump up to 541 potential new theatrical releases hitting your local multiplex before the end of the year.  While that’s the best showing so far this year, the number 541 is still well short of the pre-pandemic average of 753 new theatrical releases (2015-2019).

 

The hottest trend in theatrical releasing these days is for a film to get a “limited” release, quickly followed by a VOD or streaming rollout.   Film after film is arriving in the marketplace following this pattern … and no box office results are posted.

It is not a new thing, it’s just that there are so many this year.

The only thing that comes to mind to justify this odd behavior is that the production/distribution agreement must require a theatrical release in the domestic market … it’s a contractual thing.   Maybe.

Perhaps, it is about creating critical awareness?   Who knows!

As a result of these “phantom” theatrical releases, the overall number of films arriving in movie theatres does get a boost and that is a good thing.  But other than online (social media), there is little effort put behind each film’s respective debut.  You spend all that time and effort producing a film and then toss it away.

And, unless you happened to be in the “selected” market — and were in the right place at the right time — the actual theatrical release remains a mystery to most in the country.

Here is just a sampling of the films that have followed this pattern since the first of the year.

The Next Thing That Happens Is The Destructive Thing  

Streaming.   VOD.   Pick Your Poison! 

 

Soon the lack of physical media, you know that stuff called DVD, Blu-ray … maybe even 4K Ultra HD, and consumer demand kicks in and the “helpers” and “void-fillers” step in.

So, let’s recap.  You make a movie.  Little effort goes into its theatrical launch and then it is streamed, where a pristine copy is snatched up and delivered to consumers as either DVD or Blu-ray product offerings by “helpers” and “void-fillers.”  How is that a productive financial model?

The vast majority of consumers, looking for a particular film (or series) might start by checking out Amazon, Deepdiscount or Movies Unlimited and when they don’t find what they are looking for at those venues, the next stop is Google or DuckDuckGo for their desire.   Maybe they check out Etsy or eBay … or they have already found a favorite site and there it is.   Slick packaging and exactly what they want.  It must be legit.

This past week was a “helper” paradise with many of the aforementioned films (see list above) being released on DVD and/or Blu-ray.  

Let’s start with director Annette Hawyood-Carter’s romcom, Daughter of the Bride, starring Marcia Gay Harden, Aidan Quinn and Halston Sage.  Name stars, opening theatrically in five markets on Feb. 03, but no box office is reported by MarVista Entertainment.

It is streamed the same day and since February there have been no DVD or Blu-ray product offerings from MarVista Entertainment, which is now owned by Walt Studio Studios as part of the 20th Century-Fox buyout.   That was until this past week when a “helper” offered it up a DVD.

If Disney won’t do it — not a chance when you consider the fact that Prey, Barbarian and the various Star Wars series (Mandalorian, etc.) haven’t see the light of day in the home entertainment packaged media arena — then someone else will.

Continuing with DVD, director Harry Wootliff’s True Things, starring Ruth Wilson (who also produced) and Tom Burke was released last September theatrically (the 9th to be exact), but no box office was reported by Samuel Goldwyn Films, who had acquired the domestic theatrical distribution rights.

The film had played the international film festival circuit before being released here, with Ruth Wilson winning Best Actress laurels at the Stockholm Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival nominating True Things Best Picture … quality cast, high profile, but no legitimate DVD or Blu-ray release.   “Helper” fills the void.

Just getting started.  Writer/director John Hay’s biopic, To Olivia, based on the lives of author Roald Dahl (played by Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville) and screen legend Patricia Neal (played by Keeley Hawes — Bodyguard, Mrs. Wilson, Line of Duty, etc.) was released theatrically by Vertical Entertainment on Apr. 15.  

Surprise, no box office results have been reported.

Despite the cast and subject matter, Vertical Entertainment has yet to announce To Olivia for the DVD marketplace … since they haven’t seen fit to do so, a “helper” did just that this past week.

How about Blu-ray?   Any activity there this past week?  That question answers itself, yes.  

Here we start with the mini-series adaptation of Laura Dave’s best-selling novel (months and months on the list), The Last Thing He Told Me.   This seven-episode mini-series starring Jennifer Garner was streamed on Apple TV (getting smart, they didn’t release it all once — two episodes to start and then one a week … “helpers” had to bide their time).

Since this is an Apple TV production, there is virtually no chance that The Last Thing He Told Me will be made available to consumers as either DVD or Blu-ray product offerings.   Remember director Sian Heder’s 2021 Best Picture-winner CODA, starring Emilia Jones and Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur (Best Supporting Actor)?   It is now officially an industry joke that it is not available — legitimately — on either DVD or Blu-ray (that void has been filled by others).

Guess what, this past week The Last Thing He Told Me was released on Blu-ray by a “helper” source (they love Blu-ray for its ability to take a series of seven episodes and cram it onto one disc … love the bandwidth).

Speaking of series, Idris Elba starred in the popular BBC series titled Luther, earning four Emmy nominations during the series five-season run.  Director Jamie Payne (The Alienist, Outland, Luther, etc.) re-teams with series creator Neil Cross for the feature film, Luther: The Fallen Sun.

Built-in audience, starring Idris Elba, it is released theatrically by Netflix on a limited basis on Feb. 24 of this year (no box office reported) and then streams.  Knowing that it is Netflix, there is little chance that consumers can obtain a legitimate DVD or Blu-ray copy of the film to go with their “complete series” collection that BBC Entertainment released as a six-disc set on DVD back the summer of 2019.

That oversight was rectified this past week with the Blu-ray “helper” release of Luther: The Fallen Sun … consumers can now complete their collection.   If they wait for Netflix, they will grow old and die waiting.

Producer/writer/director Jordan Gertner delivers Sheores, an R-rated action thriller starring Sasha Luss, Wallis Day, Isabelle Fuhrman and Skai Jackson, who end up in a life-and-death struggle in Thailand with a drug cartel.   Sounds like the perfect summer film — hot chicks kicking ass (paraphrasing Gertner’s own words).

Paramount acquired the film in March, took it out on a “limited” basis on June 23 and did not report any box office results.  Sheores is then streamed … the “helper” Blu-ray was released this past week.   Paramount could still do a home entertainment package media release up the road, but the moment the studio fed Sheores to the streaming beast they set the piracy kraken loose.

And we finish up the week with the best one yet, director Alejandro Monteverde’s surprise box office smash, Sound of Freedom, starring Jim Caviezel. 

The film, based on the war-on-sex-trafficking work of Tim Ballard, was completed in 2018 and ended up at 20th Century-Fox, but the moment Disney acquired Fox the film was shelved (Disney has a nasty habit of this — wait until the first week of August when quarterly results are posted to see the red ink of Iger’s lasted round of “monetizing” artistic works).

Producer Eduardo Verástegui, director Alejandro Monteverde, Jim Caviezel and others re-acquired the film and found Angel Studios to release it.  Angel Studios used a unique way of crowdfunding to launch the film theatrical … it is a monster runaway hit driven by word of mouth.

Their first misstep might be in the works.  An enterprising “helper” began taking pre-orders for a Blu-ray release on July 25.   Is Angel Studios about to stream The Sound of Freedom before releasing DVD and Blu-ray editions?   Stay tuned.

It was a very busy week for “helpers” taking full advantage of the broken streaming system that has plunged the entertainment business into absolute chaos with red ink flowing and two major strikes, which have essentially shut down film and series production.

There will be more of the same next week … you can bet on it!

 

 

 

 

 

Cleopatra Entertainment Has A DVD/CD Combo Pack Of The Reverend Horton Heat: Live in Houston Lined Up For Release On Sept. 08

Cleopatra Entertainment, with sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has tabbed Sept. 8 as the street date for the DVD/CD Combo Pack release titled The Reverend Horton Heat - Live in Houston.

Currently on tour (through the balance of July), fans of James C. Heath and The Reverend Horton Heat band — with 30-years of recording and touring there are now legions of “Psycobilly” fans out there — can enjoy this vintage live concert filmed at The Warehouse in Houston in 2009.

This 13-song set not only features “Psyshobilly Freakout” (from the group’s first album, “Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em”), “Baddest of the Bad” (from their note worthy 1994 album, “Liquor in the Front”) and “Big Red Rocket of Love,” but a nice selection from their new album (at the time), “Laughin' & Cryin' with the Reverend Horton Heat.”

These "new songs" include: “Drinkin' and Smokin' Cigarettes,” “Don't Take the Baby to the Liquor Store” and “Death Metal Guys.”

For a howling good time, Sept. 8 from Cleopatra Entertainment the DVD (and companion CD of the concert) … The Reverend Horton Heat - Live in Houston.   

 

 

 

 

Paramount Home Entertainment Announces Two • Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season Three (Sept. 26) And Roman Holiday: 70th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Edition (Aug. 15)

With the fourth season now streaming (two episodes per week as opposed to dumping an entire season all at once), Paramount Home Entertainment announced this past week that Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season Three will be heading home on Sept. 26 as DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD (MOD) three-disc sets.

The only extras appear to be deleted scenes.

In other release news this past week from Paramount Home Entertainment, Aug. 15 will be release date for a newly-minted 4K Ultra HD edition of director William Wyler’s 1953 romcom, Roman Holiday, teaming Gregory Peck with Audrey Hepburn.

This 70^th Anniversary Edition is configured as a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack.

The film was nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture (losing out to From Here to Eternity), Best Director and Best Actress, with Audrey Hepburn taking home the gold.  

Of note, Ian McLellan Hunter won the Oscar for his screenplay and went to his grave with the achievement, but he actually had fronted for blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo.   In 1992, the year after Hunter passed, the Academy did the right thing and set the record straight.

Also of note, the film was shot entirely on location in Rome and made a point of featuring over a dozen landmarks, this just seven years after the end of World War II.

Bonus features include the “Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on Roman Holiday” presentation, extensive photo galleries (four in all) and five featurettes — “Behind the Gates: Costumes,” “Rome with a Princess,” “Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years,” “Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist” and “Paramount in the '50s: Remembering Audrey.”