Dark Force Entertainment's 4K Restoration Of Director Matthew Bright's Freeway II: Confessions Of A Trickbaby On Blu-ray On Mar. 17

Dark Force Entertainment, with sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has a new 4K film restoration (from the original uncut film negative) of director Matthew Bright’s 1999 midnight cinema treasure, Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby, which will be ready for a Blu-ray push on Mar. 17.

If you are looking for entertainment where David Lynch meets John Waters, then look no further than this cult-status horror comedy teaming Natasha Lyonne (Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll) and Maria Celedonio (The Substitute, How to Make an American Quilt) as psychos on the run.

Crystal Van Meter (Lyonne), or better known to her fellow inmates as simply “White Girl,” is a teenage inmate who has been moved over to the local psycho ward to deal with her eating disorder of bulimia.   Here, she meets the lovely Angela Garcia, a crazed serial killer who goes by the handle, “Cyclona.”   On a bad day, Cyclona would simply rape and kill White Girl for nothing better to do, but instead the two hit it off and become friends.

Cyclona goes on and on about “Sister Gomez,” who runs some sort of religious facility in Tijuana and can pretty much cure anything.   Seems reasonable, so the two bust out in search of a cure for White Girl’s eating fetish, bodies pile up, they end up with a cache of guns and drugs and more bodies litter the landscape and eventually they make their way across the border into Mexico.

It is here that things take a dark turn (understatement … as if things weren’t violent enough up to this point), as Cyclona’s memories of just how wonderful Sister Gomez would seem to be a bit confused.   The good “Sister” is actually a psychopath played by Vincent Gallo (Stranded, Buffalo 66), who loves to eat small children … he gathers them up as strays on the streets of Tijuana.  

After a sumptuous (don’t ask) meal to welcome Cyclona home, Crystal is put to work as a glorified go-fer, while Cyclona goes MIA.   In a terrific “twist” ending (as if the film wasn’t twisted enough), Crystal finds out what happened to her friend and lover … and the two team up to set things straight with the good “Sister.”

Bonus goodies include a new video session with director Matthew Bright and producer Chris Hanley, plus there’s a Behind-the-Scenes featurette with filmmaker John Landis.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Tabs Jan. 28 For Home Entertainment Launch Of Both Parasite And Harriet

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment announced this past week that Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho's front-runner for the Best Foreign Language Oscar — oops, the new politically-correct category this year is Best International Feature Film (which is absolutely silly since a lot of your big budget productions are international endeavors) — Parasite, will be heading home as DVD and Blu-ray product selections on Jan. 28.

The ARR is 109 days and domestic ticket sales currently stand at $19.3 million … throw in over $100 million in international markets and rave reviews and it becomes clear why Parasite is the film to beat.

Parasite is presented in Korean with English subtitles.

Surprisingly, bonus features are limited to a Q&A session with director Bong Joon-Ho (The Host, Snowpiercer).

Also heading home on Jan. 28 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is director Kasi Lemmons’ Harriet, a biopic on the life and times of Harriet Tubman starring Cynthia Erivo (Bad Times at the El Royale) as the iconic abolitionist.

The ARR is 88 days and domestic box office receipts are $40.9 million.

Planned for release are DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack editions.

Bonus features begin with commentary from filmmaker Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou, The Caveman’s Valentine), deleted scenes and two featurettes — “Her Story” and “Becoming Harriet.”

For the period ending December 06, 2019 ... New DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD selections added to the DVD & Blu-ray Release Report's database

 

DVD New Additions

 

Acorn Media

12/03/19 — Released Doc Martin: Series #9 (3 disc set)

Adler & Associates (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Cease Fire and Finding Hope

Bayview Entertainment

01/14/20 — Sets Confidant: Do You Know When They Are Watching You? (Slovac), Full Contact Karate And Kickboxing, I Killed My Husband (Spanish), I Was Here: Nobody was Born to be a Drug Dealer (Estonian), Inside Out: The Doctor Will See You Now, Janosik: A True Story (Polish), Jogger: You Can't Run From Everything, Knot: One Wedding, Another Wedding, But Absolutely No Funerals,Krotoa (Afrikaans), Kyusho-Jitsu Thinking Outside The Blocks, Muay Thai & Kickboxing Combat Strategies 2011 Edition, Shotokan Karate Volume 1: Kata & Bunkai 1st Dan, Shotokan Karate Volume 2: Kata & Bunkai 2nd Dan and Shotokan Karate Volume 3: 35 Goshin Jutsu Self-Defense Techniques

Championship Productions

12/03/19 — Released Basics of the Go-Go Offense, Building Your Dropback Pass Protection System, Clarissa Chun: Par Terre Defense - Create Space, Attack the Lock, Mohamed 'Bogy' Abdelfatah: Upper Body Ties to Control Your Opponent, Passing Game for the Go-Go Offense, Player Development and a Positive Culture, Running Backs: Inside Zone Read Progression, Running Game for the Go-Go Offense, Running Routes vs. Coverages & Passing Tree, Stalk Block & Tight End Conversions and Terry Steiner: Advanced Freestyle: Attacks & Transitions

Cohen Media Group

12/03/19 — Released Joan the Maid (French) (2 disc set)

DreamScape Media, LLC

12/03/19 — Released Highlights: Too Cool

EM3, LLC (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Dear Mr. Wonderful

Echo Bridge Home Ent.

12/03/19 — Released Jack Hunter and the Quest for Akhenaten's Tomb

Get Digital World (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 30 Day Content Marketing Plan, Most Powerful Productivity Tools Exposed, SQL 2019-2020 For Dummies, SQL 2019-2020 Made Super Simple and Wonderful World of Google: Hidden Treasures Exposed (2 disc set)

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 1 Must Fall, Christmas on Holly Lane, Christmas Solo, Cuck, Fine Lines, Humanité: The Beloved Community, Santa Fake, Spare Room, Valiant and Who Let the Dogs Out

Greg Scholl Video Productions (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 1225 Winter Steam, German Steam 1972 & 1975, German Steam 1974, Mainline Steam Spectacular and Southern Doubleheaders

High Octane Pictures (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released American Hunt, Blood Bags, Red Handed and Tower of Silence

Hope of the World (MOD)

11/26/19 — Released Great Unleashing

12/03/19 — Released State of Charis and Secret of the Lambs

John Pechulis Media (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Classic Midwest Rails Volume 2

Kino Lorber

12/03/19 — Released Camile Claudel (French), Magic Sword and She

Leomark Studios, LLC (MOD)

11/26/19 — Released Ladyboys (Thai), Cats of Japan (Japanese), Mad Skills and Sum of Existence

12/03/19 — Released Apneia (Portuguese)

Lionsgate Home Entertainment

12/03/19 — Released Semper Fi

MVD Entertainment Group

02/25/20 — Sets Hudson River Massacre

Mill Creek Entertainment

02/04/20 — Sets What the Night Can Do

PCN Productions (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 2019 PIAA 1A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 2A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 3A Football Championship,  2019 PIAA 4A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 5A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 6A Football Championship and PA Books: Stealing Wyeth

Paramount Home Media

01/14/20 — Sets Gemini Man (ARR of 95 days; box office: $48,526,267)

02/18/20 — Sets Twilight Zone: Season One (5 disc set)

Rainbow Media Group (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Robeson Effect

Rogue Video (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Crime Boss

Saina Video Vision

11/26/19 — Released Luca (Malayalam)

Samuel Goldwyn Films

12/03/19 — Released Parts You Lose

Screen Media

12/03/19 — Released Portals

Shout! Factory

12/03/19 — Released IMAX: Turtle Odyssey, MLB: 2019 World Series Champions -Washington Nationals and MLB: 2019 World Series Champions -Washington Nationals (8 disc set)

Silent Hall of Fame (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Swallow and the Titmouse (silent-1920)

SkyGate Studios (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Christmas Tree Story and Masterpiece

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

01/21/20 — Sets Zombieland: Double Tap (ARR of 95 days; box office: $72,217,414)

Studio City Pictures

12/03/19 — Released Reliant (ARR of 39 days; box office: $408,747)

The Film Collectors Society (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 12 Gifts of Christmas, Bishop's Wife, Bob Hope Christmas Special - 1977, Bob Hope Christmas Special with Ann Margret - 1969, Bramble House Christmas, Broadcasting Christmas, Brush With Fate, Brush With Love, Candles on Bay Street, Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait, Charming Christmas, Christmas At Holly Lodge, Christmas At Pemberley Manor, Christmas Cookies, Christmas Cure,Christmas Detour, Christmas Eve, Christmas Festival of Ice, Christmas Getaway, Christmas Gift, Christmas Homecoming, Christmas In Angel Falls, Christmas In Conway, Christmas In Evergreen, Christmas In Love, Christmas In The Air, Christmas In Vienna: Carreras - Domingo - Diana Ross, Christmas Incorporated, Christmas Joy, Christmas Made To Order, Christmas Melody, Christmas Note, Christmas Parade, Christmas Shepherd, Christmas To Remember, Christmas Train, Christmas Under Wraps, Christmas Visitor, Christmas with Tucker, Cockleshell Heroes, Danny Kaye Christmas Show: 12/18/1963 - Andy Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Dean Martin - Christmas In California, Dino, Dolly Parton: Christmas At Home, Frank Fontaine & Jackie Gleason: Crazy Guggenheim! (10 disc set), Hollywood Palace Christmas Show With Bing Crosby, Jack Jones: Christmas In Washington, John Denver Mountain Christmas, Journey Back To Christmas, Julie Andrews Christmas Special, Lawrence Welk Christmas Show - 1980, Lawrence Welk Christmas Show 1965, Me And My Shadows, Miracles Of Christmas Special, Miss Christmas, Mistletoe Inn, Mistletoe Promise, My Christmas Dream, My Christmas Love, Mystery Cruise, Nine Lives Of Christmas, On The Twelfth Day Of Christmas, Once Upon A Holiday, One Christmas Eve, One Starry Christmas, One Winter Weekend, Operation Christmas, Paris: Wine And Romance, Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells, Perfect Christmas Present, Perry Como Christmas Show, Perry Como: Winter Show 1972, Perry Como's Christmas Around The World, Perry Como's Olde Englishe Christmas, Road To Christmas, Santa Switch, Silent Night Lonely Night, Silver Bells , Sing Along With Mitch Christmas, Sister of the Bride, Sleigh Bells Ring, Snow Bride, Story of Us, Sun Valley Christmas, Sunshine Christmas, Sweeter Side of Life, Sweetest Christmas, Tony Bennett: A Family Christmas and USO Christmas Show 1958: With President Dwight Eisenhower

The High School Sports Network (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 2019 AHSAA 1A Football Championship Mars Hills Bible vs Lanett, 2019 AHSAA 2A Football Championship Fyffe vs Reeltown, 2019 AHSAA 3A Football Championship Mobile Christian Academy vs Piedmont, 2019 AHSAA 4A Football Championship Jacksonville vs UMS-Wright,

2019 AHSAA 5A Football Championship Central vs Pleasant Grove, 2019 AHSAA 7A Football Championship Thompson vs Central-Phenix, 2019 ASAA 2A Volleyball Championship Game 1 Klawock vs. Glennallen, 2019 ASAA 2A Volleyball Championship Game 2 King Cove vs. Unalaska, 2019 ASAA 2A Volleyball Championship Game 3 Dillingham vs. Craig, 2019 ASAA 2A Volleyball Championship Game 4 Susitna Valley vs. Chevak, 2019 ASAA Mix 6 Volleyball Championship Game 1 Alakanuk vs. Tanalian, 2019 ASAA Mix 6 Volleyball Championship Game 2 Shishmaref vs. Gustavus, 2019 ASAA Mix 6 Volleyball Championship Game 3 Fort Yukon vs. Buckland, 2019 ASAA Mix 6 Volleyball Championship Game 4 Thorne Bay vs. Martin L. Olson, 2019 CHSAA 1A Football Championship Limon at Strasburg, 2019 CHSAA 2A Football Championship Sterling vs Delta, 2019 CHSAA 4A Football Semifinals Broomfield vs. Dakota Ridge, 2019 CHSAA 8-Man Football Championship Sedgwick County at Fowler, 2019 CHSAA Spirit Championship Day 1 Prelims, 2019 CIF-CCS: Div. I Football Championship Valley Christian vs. Serra, 2019 CIF-CCS: Div. III Football Championship Terra Nova vs. The King's Academy, 2019 CIF-CCS: Div. IV Football Championship Branham vs. Milpitas, 2019 CIF-LACS: Div. I Football Championship El Camino Real vs. Reseda, 2019 CIF-LACS: Div. II Football Championship Canoga Park vs. Franklin, 2019 CIF-LACS: Div. III Football Championship Gardena vs. Marquez, 2019 CIF-NCS: Div. 2 Football Championship Campolindo vs. Clayton Valley Charter, 2019 CIF-NCS: Div. 4 Football Championship Marin Catholic vs. Cardinal Newman, 2019 CIF-NCS: Div. 5 Football Championship Del Norte vs. Encinal, 2019 CIF-NCS: Div. 6 Football Championship St. Bernard's vs. JF Kennedy, 2019 CIF-NS: Div. 2 Football Championship Pleasant Valley vs. Chico, 2019 CIF-NS: Div. 3 Football Championship Paradise vs. Sutter, 2019 CIF-Oakland Section: Football Championship Skyline vs. McClymonds, 2019 CIF-SDS: Div. I Football Championship Oceanside vs. Lincoln, 2019 CIF-SDS: Div. III Football Championship La Jolla vs. Scripps Ranch, 2019 CIF-SJS: Div. I Football Championship Monterey Trail vs. Oak Ridge, 2019 CIF-SJS: Div. III Football Championship Manteca vs. Placer, 2019 CIF-SJS: Div. IV Football Championship Sierra vs. Oakdale, 2019 CIF-SJS: Div. V Football Championship Ripon vs. Center, 2019 DIAA Div 1 Football Championship Middletown vs Hodgson, 2019 DIAA Div 2 Football Championship Howard vs Woodbridge, 2019 GHSA 1A Public Football Semifinal Clinch County vs. Irwin County, 2019 IHSA 5A Football Championship St. Rita vs Rochester, 2019 IHSA 6A Football Championship Prairie Ridge vs East. St. Louis, 2019 IHSA 7A Football Championship Mt. Carmel vs Nazareth Academy, 2019 IHSA 8A Football Championship Warren vs Lincoln Way East, 2019 KSHSAA 1A Football Championship Smith Center vs Centralia, 2019 KSHSAA 2A Football Championship Norton Community vs Nemaha Central, 2019 KSHSAA 2A Football Championship Norton Community vs Nemaha Central, 2019 KSHSAA 4A Football Championship Andover Central vs Bishop Miege, 2019 KSHSAA 5A Football Championship Northwest vs Mill Valley, 2019 KSHSAA 5A Football Championship Northwest vs Mill Valley, 2019 KSHSAA 6A Football Championship Derby vs. Olathe North, 2019 KSHSAA 8-Man DI Football Championship St. Francis vs Canton-Galva, 2019 KSHSAA 8-Man DII Football Championship Osborne vs Axtell, 2019 MHSAA 1A Football Championship Nanih Waiya vs Lumberton, 2019 MHSAA 3A Football Championship Jefferson Davis vs Noxubee, 2019 MHSAA Div 1 Football Championship Brighton vs Davison, 2019 MHSAA Div 3 Football Championship Muskegon vs River Rouge, 2019 MHSAA Div 5 Football Championship Lansing Catholic vs Almont, 2019 MHSAA Div 7 Football Championship Pewamo-Westphalia vs Lumen Christi, 2019 MIAA Div 8 Football Championship W. Bridgewater vs. St Bernard’s, 2019 MPSSAA 3A Football Championship Damascus vs Linganore, 2019 NIAA 4A Football State Semifinal Centennial vs. Desert Pines, 2019 NIAA 4A Football State Semifinal Liberty vs. Bishop Manogue, 2019 NMAA 3A Football Championship Hope Christian vs Socorro, 2019 NMAA 4A Football Championship Portales vs Bloomfield, 2019 NMAA 5A Football Championship Los Lunas vs Roswell, 2019 NMAA 6A Football Championship Rio Rancho vs Cleveland, 2019 NYSPHSAA AA Football Championship McQuaid Jesuit vs New Rochelle, 2019 NYSPHSAA B Football Championship Chenango Forks vs Schuylerville, 2019 OSAA 2A Football State Championship Kennedy vs. Heppner, 2019 OSAA 3A Football State Championship Santiam Christian vs. Hidden Valley, 2019 OSAA 4A Football State Championship La Grande vs. Banks, 2019 OSAA 5A Football State Championship Thurston vs. Crater, 2019 OSSAA 4A Football Championship Weatherford vs Poteau, 2019 PIAA 1A Football Championship Bishop Guilfoyle vs Farrell, 2019 PIAA 2A Football Championship Southern Columbia vs Avonworth, 2019 PIAA 4A Football Championship Dallas vs Thomas Jefferson, 2019 SCHSL 2A Football Championship Saluda vs Barnwell, 2019 TSSAA Div I 1A Football Championship Lake County vs Greenback, 2019 TSSAA Div I 3A Football Championship Pearl Cohn vs Alcoa, 2019 TSSAA Div II A Football Championship USJ vs Davidson Academy, 2019 TSSAA Div II AA Football Championship ECS vs CPA, 2019 TSSAA Div II AAA Football Championship MBA vs McCallie, 2019 WIAA 1A Football Semifinals Connell vs. Royal, 2019 WIAA 1B Football Semifinals Almira Coulee vs. Naselle, 2019 WIAA 1B Football Semifinals Almira Coulee vs. Naselle, 2019 WIAA 1B Football Semifinals Entiat vs. Odessa, 2019 WIAA 2A Football Semifinals Hockinson vs. Tumwater, 2019 WIAA 2A Football Semifinals Lynden vs. Steilacoom, 2019 WIAA 2B Football Semifinals Adna vs. Onalaska, 2019 WIAA 2B Football Semifinals Kalama vs. Napavine, 2019 WIAA 2B Football Semifinals Kalama vs. Napavine, 2019 WIAA 3A Football Semifinals Eastside Catholic vs. Lincoln, 2019 WIAA 3A Football Semifinals Kennewick vs. O'Dea, 2019 WIAA 4A Football Semifinals Camas vs. Mount Si and 2019 WIAA 4A Football Semifinals Woodinville vs. Bothell

The Video Beat (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Bandstand 1967, Volume 4, Bandstand 1967, Volume 5, Bandstand 1968, Volume 2, Bandstand 1969, Volume 1 and Bandstand 1970, Volume 1

Tiroir A Films Productions (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Energy Crossroads and Mother: Caring for 7 Billion

Uncork’d Entertainment (MOD)

11/26/19 — Released Animal Among Us and Dwelling

12/03/19 — Released 1st Born and Eminence Hill

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

01/21/20 — Sets Addams Family (ARR of 102 days; box office: $96,385,131)

Vision Films (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Sharks: Monster of the Media

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

01/14/20 — Sets Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (ARR of 88 days; box office: $111,549,934)

Wolfe

01/21/20 — Sets Almost Ordinary Summer (Italian)

WowNow Entertainment (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released Kung Pow Chicken 2

Blu-ray New Additions

Acorn Media

12/03/19 — Released Doc Martin: Series #9 (3 disc set)

Arrow Video

02/25/20 — Sets Deadly Manor

BBC Home Entertainment

12/03/19 — Released Doctor Who: Colin Baker - Complete Season Two (6 disc set)

Cohen Media Group

12/03/19 — Released Joan the Maid (French) (2 disc set)

Echo Bridge Home Ent.

12/03/19 — Released Jack Hunter and the Quest for Akhenaten's Tomb

FUNimation

12/03/19 — Released Chain Chronicle: The Light of Haecceitas (4 disc set) (with Digital Copy), Is This a Zombie: Seasons 1 and 2 (4 disc set), Kiss Him, Not Me: The Complete Series (2 disc set), Koro Sensei Quest!, Meiji Tokyo Renka: The Complete Series (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy) and TsukigaKirei (2 disc set)

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 1 Must Fall, Christmas on Holly Lane, Christmas Solo, Cuck, Fine Lines, Humanité: The Beloved Community, Santa Fake, Spare Room, Valiant and Who Let the Dogs Out

Greg Scholl Video Productions (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 1225 Winter Steam, Mainline Steam Spectacular and Southern Doubleheaders

Kino Lorber

12/03/19 — Released Camile Claudel (French), Glorifying the American Girl, Konga, Magic Sword and She

MVD Entertainment Group

02/25/20 — Sets Hudson River Massacre

Nozomi Entertainment

02/04/20 — Sets A.D. Police: To Protect and Serve (2 disc set)

Nuclear Blast

12/03/19 — Released Nightwish: Decades - Live in Rio (Blu-ray/2 CD Combo Pack)

PCN Productions (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released 2019 PIAA 1A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 2A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 3A Football Championship,  2019 PIAA 4A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 5A Football Championship, 2019 PIAA 6A Football Championship and PA Books: Stealing Wyeth

Paramount Home Media

01/14/20 — Sets Gemini Man (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

02/18/20 — Sets Twilight Zone: Season One (5 disc set)

Samuel Goldwyn Films

12/03/19 — Released Parts You Lose

Screen Media

12/03/19 — Released Portals

Sentai FilmWorks

12/03/19 — Released Seven Senses of the Reunion: The Complete Series (2 disc set)

Shout! Factory

12/03/19 — Released Big Trouble in Little China: Collector's Edition (2 disc set), Candy, Funan (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (French), MLB: 2019 World Series Champions -Washington Nationals (8 disc set) and MLB: 2019 World Series Champions -Washington Nationals (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack))

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

12/03/19 — Released AAW: Defining Moment, 2019 - Chicago, IL

Team Marketing

12/03/19 — Released Blink of an Eye

VIZ Media

12/03/19 — Released Bleach: Set Five (4 disc set)

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

01/07/20 — Sets Krypton: The Complete Second Season (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy)

Well Go U.S.A.

12/03/19 — Released Savage (Mandarin)

4K Ultra-HD New Additions

 

Paramount Home Media

01/14/20 — Sets Gemini Man (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

01/21/20 — Sets Zombieland: Double Tap (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

01/14/20 — Sets Jungle Book (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Paramount Home Media Targets Jan. 14 As The Street Date For Diector Ang Lee's Gemini Man

Paramount Home Media announced this past week that director Ang Lee’s sci-fi thriller, Gemini Man, will be available on Jan. 14 as a three-SKU array of home entertainment packaged media products.

The ARR is an industry average of 95 days and domestic box office receipts came in at $48.5 million.

Planned for release are 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray) and Blu-ray (with DVD) Combo Packs, plus there will be a stand-alone DVD edition.

A film that was a couple of decades in the works, Gemini Man was originally spawned by Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After, Goosebumps, etc.) and David Benioff (who went on to be the producer of Game of Thrones) sometime around 1997/1998 and then went from here to there and back again … with all sorts of big name actors attached to the project.

The problem that filmmakers were faced with was the technical aspects of making two versions of the same actor.   One at his current age, in this case former Marine Sniper Henry Brogan (played by Will Smith) and one that would be a clone that is one generation younger.   They have to interact with each other and split screens, makeup and f/x only get you so far … you have to get into that tech-world where sci-fi meets creepy to really make it work.

If you’ve been following the world of film tech these days, the directing team of Anton Ernst and Tati Golykh announced only last month that their forthcoming film, Finding Jack, will feature James Dean … yes, you read that right, James Dean!   He died in 1955, but they have enough of his digital “footprint” to re-create a living, breathing version of this long-dead, but nevertheless iconic actor.

Of course, the Star Wars movies are using the digital likeness of Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa to complete the third trilogy in the series … so James Dean is not that big of a shock! 

In Gemini Man, Brogan is an assassin who works for the “government” and uses his military experience as a sniper to take down “bad guys.”   But, now someone is stalking him … and the would-be killer looks just like himself, only 20 years younger!   When Brogan comes face to face with his “stalker,” he comes face to face with himself, only a young version … that’s where sci-fi meets creepy.

The film didn’t do what was hoped for theatrically, but home entertainment gives Gemini Man a chance to find a much larger audience, and not just genre-fans, but those that are interested in seeing the dawn of what could be a very interesting advancement in “acting” assignments.    

Can you just imagine Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains reunited for a Casablanca sequel, or a whole new round of Star Trek adventures with the original 1960s crew!   Spock lives … younger versions meeting older versions!!

As to bonus features, which are limited to the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack SKUs, we have an alternate opening, deleted scenes and a half-dozen production featurettes — “The Genesis of Gemini Man,” “Facing Your Younger Self,” “The Future is Now,” “Setting the Action,” “Next Level Detail” and “The Vision of Ang Lee.”

In other release news from Paramount Home Media this past week, the Jordan Peele (and associates) revamped Twilight Zone: Season One series  — from CBS All Access — will be heading home on Feb. 18 as both DVD and Blu-ray collections.