Mill Creek Entertainment Announces That Director Brett Varvel's Dystopian Thriller, Disciples In The Moonlight, Will Be Making Its DVD Debut On Oct. 8

No Hollywood studio would touch it.  Too much “real world” terror!   Truth that is too close to home!!   

So actor/director Brett Varvel and actor/screenwriter Josh Strychalski did the only sensible thing a Christian filmmaker could do … Varvel formed House of Grace Studios to bring Strychalski’s dystopian thriller, Disciples in the Moonlight, from page to screen.

Working with fellow Christian actors and film technicians, the final product — produced for less than the “meal budget” of a mainstream Hollywood production — is both a call to action (a film with a message) and an edge-of-your-seat thriller.   

WOW!   A faith-based film that plays like a major studio production — well-produced, great story (because it rings so true) and excellent acting (many in the cast, including Varvel and Strychalski, are working actors with extensive screen credits).  That’s a winning combination.

Working with local Christian groups — and through word of mouth — Disciples in the Moonlight opened as a Fathom Event (one week only) on July 19 and generated an impressive $708,379 in ticket sales.

Word arrived this past week that Mill Creek Entertainment will be moving the film to a much wider audience on Oct. 8 with the DVD debut of Varvel’s not-so-futuristic thriller, Disciples in the Moonlight.

For the record, that Oct. 8 release date yields an ARR of 81 days.

So what is this film about?   And why is it so terrifying?   So “real world?”

The Bible has been banned in the United States by the government.   Instead, a government-approved version — backed by the full-force of the state (weapons and all) — is now the only “Bible” that can be read.

Most go along out of fear, but a network of underground churches continue to defy the state — at their own peril.   It falls to seven believers from Indiana to smuggle the banned book to churches throughout neighboring Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio … this is their story. 

The Word of God is banned … the “word” of the state has taken its place and those that defy the state — not a cartoon version, but forces with guns — will be hunted down.   That’s what these seven disciples face — if caught, imprisonment or death will be their fate.

A faith-based film dealing with a dystopian future and a government that bans the Word of God … as they say, “we’re not in Kansas anymore!”   Varvel and Strychalski have taken it to the limit with Disciples in the Moonlight … one of the best films of the year (faith-based or mainstream).   

If you didn’t have a chance to catch a Fathom Event screening this past July, Mill Creek Entertainment has you covered on Oct. 8 with the DVD debut of director Brett Varvel’s Disciples in the Moonlight.

Bonus features included with the DVD release are three production featurettes — “The Heart of Disciples in the Moonlight,” “Why is the Bible Important?” and “The Character of Disciples in the Moonlight.”

MVD Entertainment Group Loves Dec. 10 As The Street Date For Both DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of Director Jeff Werner’s Cheerleaders’ Wild Weekend

MVD Entertainment Group looks to have some fun on Dec. 10 with the release news this week that director Jeff Werner’s 1979 sexploitation comedy flick, Cheerleaders’ Wild Weekend — teaming Alice in Wonderland’s Kristine DeBell with Flesh Gordon’s Jason Williams — will be available as both DVD and Blu-ray editions.

What do all three of these films have in common?   Tick tock.  Tick tock.  The answer is producer Bill Osco.   He scored with his two softcore hits — combining right-up-to-the edge sex action with standard film storytelling (borrowing from the Flash Gordon and Ming the Merciless classic serials and Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

With these two hits, it seemed like a natural to team Jason Williams with Kristine DeBell and that’s exactly what Osco did.   The finished film had a limited theatrical release in September of 1978 as The Great American Girl Robbery (mainly because the film distribution company was running short on cash) and that might have been the end of it.

But when you have “Flesh Gordon” and “Alice” (who had re-shot hardcore scenes and was seeing a second round of action) as your stars, you just don’t throw in the towel.   Especially when you have a string of “cheerleader” movies in the ‘70s that clicked — The Swinging Cheerleaders, Revenge of the Cheerleaders, The Pom Pom Girls, Satan’s Cheerleaders, Cheerleader’s Beach Party, etc.

So The Great American Girl Robbery was re-titled and re-released as Cheerleaders’ Wild Weekend … a far superior title to be sure!

As to bonus goodies, there are two commentary options — the first with Kristine DeBell and second teaming director Jeff Werner with actor Marilyn Joi (aka: Tracy King … as “LaSalle”) and editor Gregory McClatchy.

There are also four extended video sessions with DeBell, Joi, Willams and Leon Isaac Kennedy.

Arrow Video Looks To Nov. 12 As The Street Date For A 4K Ultra HD Edition Of Director James Signorelli’s Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has tabbed Nov. 12 as the street date for the 4K Ultra HD debut of director James Signorelli’s Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, starring Cassandra Peterson as the legendary late night horror hostess in first film adventure.

Elvira is in a bind and things for her look bleak … she’s quit her horror hostess job at KSFB when the new station owner, Earl Hooter (Lee McLaughlin), starts hitting on her and her big chance to star in a Las Vegas show is about to fall through unless she can come up with $50,000 to finance the production.   Poor, poor Elvira!

But wait, her great aunt Morgana has just died and Elvira is the will.   This could be a game-changer, so off she goes to Fallwell, Massachusetts to hear the reading of the will and claim her inheritance.   Simple, right?   

If it were simple, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark would be a very short movie.   Instead, our heroine discovers that she had inherited a rundown mansion, a poodle by the name of Algonquin and little more, save an old “recipe” book that Morgana’s brother, Vincent (played by William Morgan Sheppard) — who was cut out of the will — is willing to buy for sentimental reasons.   Elvira!  Wake-up, don’t believe him … it’s a book of spells and it is the only thing between him and turning you into lord knows what!

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is great fun as a film vehicle that gives Cassandra Peterson a free reign to let her Elvira persona have fun with her natural sex appeal and in the process deliver truck loads of double entendre mischief.   Over time Elvira has become a legend … and this film fits right in with that.   Enjoy!

Bonus nuggets include an intro to the film by Signorelli, plus three vintage commentary options — one with Signorelli and Fangoria’s Tony Timpone, a second with Patterson Lunquist (webmaster of elviramistressofthedark.com) and a third teaming Cassandra Peterson with actor Edie McClurg (as Chastity Pariah) and writer John Paragon.

Also included with this 4K Ultra HD release of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is the 2018 feature-length documentary Too Macabre: The Making of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and the featurette titled “Recipe for Terror: The Creation of the Pot Monster.”

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Circles Dec. 3 On Its Physical Media Release Calendar For The 4K Ultra HD Debut Of Writer/Director Edgar Wright's Shaun Of The Dead

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has a newly-minted 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack edition of writer/director Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead — a twentieth anniversary edition at that — ready for delivery on Dec. 3.

Bonus delights begin with four — yes, count’em four — commentary options!   The first features writer/director Edgar Wright and actor/co-writer Simon Pegg, the second option is with cast members Simon Pegg (as Shaun), Nick Frost (Ed), Kate Ashfield (Liz), Lucy Davis (Dianne) and Dylan Moran (David), the next option features cast members Bill Nighy (as Philip) and Penelope Wilton (“Barbara”) and finally, the fourth commentary is by “Zombies.”

Additional bonuses include an extensive collection of outtakes and deleted scenes, the newly prepared featurette titled “Shaun of the Dead: 20 Bloody Years!,” a collection on on-set video diaries, casting tapes, make-up tests and more!!

In other release news, stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray edition, plus a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack purchasing option of the animation directing team of Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage’s Despicable Me 4 has been dropped into the Sept. 24 release slot.

The ARR works out to 81 days and the domestic box office take was a most-excellent $358 million.   The premium VOD window was launched on Aug. 6, which gave the all-too-eager “Helper” community seven full weeks to distribute their own DVD and Blu-ray editions of the film.

Bonus goodies included deleted, extended and alternate scenes, two animated short films — Benny’s Birthday and Game Over and Over — the “how to draw” tutelage and five featurettes — “The Making of Despicable Me 4,” “Despicable Dialogue,” “Meet the Cast,” “Mega Minion Mayhem” and “Rogues Gallery.”
    

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment Tabs Nov. 5 For The Distribution Of DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of Director Zoë Kravtiz’s Blink Twice

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will be guiding the Amazon MGM Studios production of actor turned filmmaker Zoë Kravtiz’s Blink Twice to the physical media marketplace on Nov. 5.

Planned for release are stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray purchasing options.

The ARR clocks in at 74 days … the domestic box office take currently stands at $22.9 million.   The premium VOD window opened on Sept. 17, which has given the “Helper” community a seven-week window to peddle their own DVD and Blu-ray editions of the film.

This devilishly clever thriller (sorry, no spoilers … but hint, think: Epstein and “Paradise Island”) arrives on DVD and Blu-ray without any bonus features … movie-only, sorry.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment Locks Into Oct.22 For The Full Spread Physical Media Launch Of Writer/Director Eli Roth's Borderlands

Lionsgate Home Entertainment will be delivering a full spread physical media package on Oct. 22 for writer/director Eli Roth’s mixed genre (sci-fi, comedy … you name it, it is here) film adaptation of the Gearbox video game franchise, Borderlands, starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart and Adriana Greenblatt, with Edgar Ramirez as Atlas … and Jamie Lee Curtis.

The ARR is a relatively quick 74 days and the domestic box office take was light at just     $15.5 million.

There will be Combo Pack editions for both the 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray) and Blu-ray (with DVD) formats, plus a stand-alone DVD buying option.

Bonuses include seven production featurettes — “Borderlands – From Game to Screen,” “Meet the Team,” “All Aboard the Death Choochoo,” “Bringing Borderlands to the Screen,” “Badonkadonk Time,” “Fashion and Action on Pandora” and “High Tech Hellscapes.”

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Moves Director Carlos Saldanha's Harold And The Purple Crayon From Theatrical Venues To The Physical Media Marketplace In Just 67 Days

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, when not guiding the product of a rival studio — Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment — to market, actually has a physical media release slate that belongs to them. 

To that point, both DVD and Blu-ray editions (both stand-alone) of director Carlos Saldanha’s film adaptation of Crockett Johnson’s 1955 children’s classic, Harold and the Purple Crayon, will be available on Oct. 8.

The ARR is a quick-to-market 67 days and the domestic box office take currently stands at $17.6 million.

Bonus features included on the DVD and Blu-ray editions of Harold and the Purple Crayon (which had a thirty-year odyssey from rights acquisition to the screen) are deleted and extended scenes, the Boots Ottestad and Jordy Searcy “Colors” sing-along and two featurettes — “How to Draw Harold, Porcupine and Moose” and “How Do You Spell Imagination?”