Arrow Video Restores Director Richard Friedman's Phantom Of The Mall: Eric's Revenge For A Double-Disc Blu-ray Launch On Nov. 23

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has a new 2K film restoration of director Richard Friedman’s 1989 horror tale, Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge, lined up for a double-disc Blu-ray rollout on Nov. 23.

Eric Matthews (Derek Rydall — Popcorn, Night Visitor), a high school senior, is in love.   Her name is Melody, played by Kari Whitman (Forced to Kill, Chained Heat 2, etc.) in her film debut.   Prior to this she did have a couple of walk-ons in other films, including as a Playboy Bunny in Beverly Hills Cop II, which was typecasting since she was actually a “Playboy Playmate of the Month.”  

In any case, their love is doomed when Eric cavalierly ignores a warning letter from a local developer who want his parent’s home and property as part of a mall development.  Eric is murdered, burned to death when they torch the place … Eric saves Melody and before she too can be murdered police arrive … Melody goes on with her life, but she might be marked for death!

It’s now one year later and the new mall is having its gala opening, a swank private party for the investors, which is hosted by the developer, Harv Posner (Jonathan Goldsmith, aka: Jonathan Lippe — Hang ‘Em High, Go Tell the Spartans) and the town’s mayor, Karen Wilton (Morgan Fairchild).   Attending the party is none other than Melody, who now works at the mall with her buddies, Buzz (Pauly Shore) and Suzie (Kimber Sissons) … and there is someone else in the new mall that night, Eric.   He was badly burned, but survived.

In a riff on The Phantom of the Opera, the masked Eric sets about to get his revenge on those responsible and has been hiding out in the mall during its construction.   What makes it doubly-sad is that Melody has moved on, she has a new love, Peter Baldwin (Rob Estes — he would go on to star in both Silk Stockings and Melrose Place)!  

Will Eric have his revenge?  Will Melody and Peter become victims?   Will the mall even survive Eric’s wrath?   Nov. 23 to find out,

As to bonus features, there are three viewing options.   The original theatrical cut, a scaled-down television version and the “Integral Fan Cut” of the film.

The theatrical cut of the film (on one of the two Blu-ray discs) includes commentary from director Richard Friedman, the new documentary titled Shop Til’ You Drop!: The Making of Phantom of the Mall and there is a second commentary option featuring disc producer Ewan Cant and film historian/author Amanda Reyes.

Other bonus goodies include alternate and deleted scenes and the featurette titled “The Vandals Go to the Mall.”

 

 

 

 

Ronin Flix Restores The Digs Of War For Blu-ray Release On Nov. 23 • International And Domestic Cuts Of The Film Included

Ronin Flix, with sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has its sights on Nov. 23 as the street date for a new 2K film restoration of producer Norman Jewison’s 1980 film adaptation of the Frederick Forsyth novel, The Dogs of War.

Jewison, who had twice been nominated for Best Director (In the Heat of the Night and Fiddler on the Roof) and the same for Best Picture (as a producer for The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming and Fiddler on the Roof) elected to produce, but not direct Forsyth’s novel, instead turning to British documentary filmmaker John Irvin to handle the task — he had just wrapped the mini-series adaptation of the John le Carré novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.  This would be Irvin’s first theatrical directing assignment (later such films as Raw Deal, Hamburger Hill, Robin Hood, etc.).

With Norman Jewison producing it seemed certain that Steve McQueen would get the coveted lead role of Jamie Shannon.   The pair had collaborated on The Cincinnati Kid and The Thomas Crown Affair, but by 1979 McQueen’s health had become an issue and he was no longer an option.  

Both Eastwood and Nolte’s names appeared in the trades as possible leads, but the role ultimately went to Christopher Walken, who had just won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in The Deer Hunter.

Set in Africa, both Jewison and Irvin felt that it was simply too dangerous to shoot the film on location there.   They found the perfect substitute in Belize, which had a large English-speaking Creole population and the jungle and beaches necessary to double for West Africa (story is drawn from Forsyth’s experiences with the Nigerian and Biafra conflict of the late ‘60s).

At the heart of the story are the mercenaries, specifically Jamie Shannon and his “associates,” who are used by Western corporate powers to gain access to raw materials by “installing” friendly governments.   No longer is there the need for armies and nation-building … just send in the mercs and kill anyone that stands in the way.

As to bonus features, both the domestic theatrical cut of the film, as well as the international presentation are included here.   There are extensive video sessions with actors Paul Freeman (as Derek) and Maggie Scott (as Gabrielle), writer George Malko, first assistant director Anthony Waye, production designer Peter Mullins (Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, The Return of the Pink Panther) and costume designer Emma Porteous (Clash of the Titans, Aliens, Judge Dredd).

 

 

 

Paramount Home Entertainment Prepares "Paramount Presents" Blu-ray Edition Of Milos Forman's Ragtime: 40th Anniversary Edition For Release On Nov. 16

Paramount Home Entertainment has set the street date for its next “Paramount Presents” Blu-ray release … and it is a stunner.

Arriving on Nov. 16 is director Milos Forman’s 1981 film adaptation of the E.L. Doctorow novel, Ragtime: 40^th Anniversary Edition.

This is a new 4K film restoration of, not only the theatrical cut, but of the newly discovered “Director’s Cut” (from an unearthed workprint), which features approximately 20 additional minutes (ordered cut by producer Dino De Laurentiis).   This meant the complete deletion of the Emma Goldman character played by Mariclare Costello (Let's Scare Jessica to Death, Ordinary People) from the film.

Forman, speaking about the film, actually opined that the shorter version seemed longer because of the continuity issues.

Ragtime: 40^th Anniversary Edition will be a two-disc set, with one disc showcasing the original theatrical cut (which includes Digital Copy), while the second disc features the “Director’s Cut.”

Bonus features include deleted and extended scenes, the newly-prepared featurette titled “Ragtime Revisited” and vintage commentary with director Milos Forman and executive producer Michael Hausman.

 

The Suicide Squad Heads Home From Warner Bros. Home Entertainment On Oct. 26

The many adventures of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and company continue on Oct. 26 with the three-SKU launch from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment of writer/director James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.

The ARR shakes out to 81 days and the current box office tally is $54.7 million.

Planned for release are Combo Pack editions for the 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray) and Blu-ray (with DVD) formats, plus a stand-alone DVD edition.

Bonus features, which are exclusive to the Combo Pack SKUs, include commentary from filmmaker James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy), a gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, four “scene breakdown” examples and four featurettes — “Gotta Love the Squad,” “The Way of the Gunn,” “Starro: It’s a Freakin Kaiju!” and “Bringing King Shark to Life.”

 

 

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Tabs Nov. 16 As The Street Date For Jungle Cruise • Gives Up Destructive Day/Date Disney+ Strategy

Up until Friday, Sept. 10, it was all in for Disney+ and it didn’t matter if exhibitors suffered or the home entertainment package media marketplace was just an afterthought.  

Piracy was the result with the day/date release pattern that the studio had locked into … a Disney+ debut and hours later a pristine master had been delivered and online “retailers” were busy taking orders.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment did little, if anything to stomp it down.   Sigh.

Sanity, however, was restored on Friday with the studio’s announcement that future theatrical releases would have a 45-day window before Disney+ would kick into action.   That’s a start.   Perhaps someone at the studio took note that the so-called “Hollywood” studios — Paramount, Warner Bros., MGM, etc. — had spent the past 100 years building a theatrical distribution model that gave them dominance over domestic distribution.   Throwing that away was foolish.

Perhaps, it was China’s awakening to “we don’t need you any longer, we’ve stolen the tricks of the trade from you.”   Stream-away and soon there will be no need for a “Hollywood” studio system.    Nothing like being both woke and stupid at the same time … eventually reality sinks in.

For director Jaume Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise that ship had sailed, metaphorically speaking.   Day/date on Disney+ and the result was piracy galore.  

With that said, word also arrived from Disney this past week that Nov. 16 will be the street date for a three-SKU product offering of Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.   It has been pirated on both DVD and Blu-ray since it opened at the end of July, but, hey, it’s like a pesky mosquito … not worth the effort of taking it down.

For the record, the ARR comes in at 109 days and domestic box office receipts currently stand at $105.7 million.   With Disney+ viewers and this level of pandemic box office, it is hard to argue that any time or effort should be wasted on the little bites that the pirates take these days.   A cost of doing business, right?   Well, maybe, just maybe, the Friday announcement of date-shifting for Disney+ rollouts signaled that the little bites were beginning to have an impact ... you loved to be a fly on wall.

As to SKU configuration, there will be Combo Pack editions available for the 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray) and Blu-ray (with DVD) formats, plus a stand-alone DVD edition.

Bonus features include outtakes, deleted scenes and five featurettes.

 

 

New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Activity For The Period Ending September 03, 2021

 

 

New DVD Additions

 

Acorn Media

08/31/21 — Released Murdoch Mysteries: Season 14 (3 disc set)

 

BBC Home Entertainment (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Back: Series 2 (2 disc set) and Romeo & Juliet

 

Bridgestone Multimedia (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Esther and the King and Giants of Rome

 

Burning Bulb Publishing (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Man Who Went to Heaven, Notebooks, Perfect Day, Uncommon and Zombie Club

 

Championship Productions

08/31/21 — Released NABC On the Court Open Practice with Jeff Depelteau: Passing, Defense, and Team Drills, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Jeff Depelteau: Transition Offense and Skill Development, Preston Spradlin: My Favorite Drills for Basketball Practice, Scott Davenport: My Favorite Drills for Basketball Practice, Sherri Coale: More of My Favorite Drills and Steve Forbes: Program Management Insights + Defense Drills

 

Chrome Dreams

08/31/21 — Released Smiths: Sad About Wrong Boy

 

Cohen Media Group

08/31/21 — Released Classics of French Cinema (2 film set: The Gang, Three Men to Kill) (French)

 

EWTN

08/31/21 — Released @ Home with Jim & Joy: Jim and Joy Pinto Answer Viewer Calls, Questions, And E-Mails Live From the Pinto House, @ Home with Jim & Joy: Michael Heinlein /the lessons of inspiration learned through the legacy of holiness of six Black Catholics on their way to sainthood, Called to Communion, EWTN Live: Mother Assumpta, OP and Mother Amata Veritas, OP, Sunday Best, Women of Grace: Mary Dillenback -'Women of Grace: The Everday Genius of Woman and World Over with Raymond Navarro: Fr. Richard John Neuhaus / Dion DiMucci

 

Film Detective

10/05/21 — Sets Amazing Mr. X

 

Gemini Entertainment (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Gift of Acadia and Life of Senator Margaret Chase Smith

 

Grasshopper Film

08/31/21 — Released Malni: Towards the Ocean Towards the Shore

 

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Pulk and Steel Song

 

Hope of the World (MOD)

08/24/21 — Released Overwhelming

08/31/21 — Released Powers of the Spirit

 

I-Cine

08/31/21 — Released Ngoi Sao Ve Lang (10 disc set), Nhat Ky Trinh Sat (10 disc set) and Toi Ac (12 disc set)

 

Just for the Hell of It (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Double Feature (2 film set: Dayton's Devils, The Day of the Wolves) (2 disc set), Goldrunner and Hit and Run

 

Kino Lorber

08/31/21 — Released Berlin Alexanderplatz (German), Love Rites (French) and Lydia Lunch: The War Is Never Over (ARR of 60 days; box office: $12,368)

 

Lionsgate Home Ent.

08/31/21 — Released Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Sixth Season (4 disc set)

 

MVD Entertainment Group

12/14/21 — Sets Jack Frost and Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman

 

Movie Buffs Forever (MOD)

08/24/21 — Released Pony Soldier

08/31/21 — Released Mickey's House of Villains

 

Movie-O-Zone (MOD)

08/24/21 — Released Dark Angel

 

PCN Productions (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released 2021 African American Experience: “August Wilson” with Laurence Glasco, 2021 It’s History!: PA Lumber Museum, 2021 Keystone Cuisine: Noir Dark Spirits and 2021 PCN Profiles: Natalie Carbone Mangini

 

Random Media (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Beautiful Lure - A Modern Tale of Painted Skin (Japanese) and Man Vs. Bigfoot

 

Samuel Goldwyn Films

08/31/21 — Released Edge of the World

 

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Absolute Intense Wrestling: Chandler Biggens Memorila Tournament - Cleverland, OH, Absolute Intense Wrestling: Nightmare on North Elm Street - Jefferson, OH, Beyond Wrestling: Project Dolphin - Worchester, MA, Beyond Wrestling: Project Reality - Worchester, MA, F1rst Wrestling: Exodus - St. Paul, MN, F1rst Wrestling: Pride Pre-Party - St. Paul, MN, Insane Championship Wrestling: Insane 8, 2021 - Milwaukee, WI,Intergender Bonanza: The Stan Stylez Intergender Bonanza 9: Stan's Creamiest Birthday - Williamstown, NJ, WWR+: Let's Talk About Wrestling - Worcester, MA and WWR+: To Wrestle, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth - Worcester, MA

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

08/31/21 — Released 12 Mighty Orphans and Good Doctor: Season Four (5 disc set)

 

Strand Releasing

08/31/21 — Released Sun Children (Farsi)

 

The Video Beat (MOD)

08/17/21 — Released Escala Musical (Spanish), It Came from Hollywood and Some Other Guys: The Story of the Big Three

 

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

08/31/21 — Released Boss Baby: Back in Business: Seasons 1 & 2 (4 disc set) (with Digital Copy) and Spirit Untamed (ARR of 88 days; box office: $17,620,410)

 

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

10/12/21 — Sets Free Guy (ARR of 60 days; box office: $80,031,260)

 

WOWnow Entertainment

08/31/21 — Released Halloween Family: Monster Showdown

 

Zeus DVD (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released .357 Magnum, .com for Murder, $6 Man, 10 Years Later, 13 Months of Sunshine (Amharic), 18 Again!, 18 Shades of Dust, 20 Mule Team, 23 1/2 Hour Leave, 42nd Street, 60s Pop Reunion, 77 Sunset Strip (6 disc set), Abar, Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, Above Suspicion, Act of Violence, Action of the Tiger, Adventures in Paradise (2 disc set), After Office Hours, Alfred the Great, All or Nothing, All That Jazz, Altered States, Amazon Women on the Moon, Ambush, American Gigolo, Another Thin Man, Avenue Montaigne (French), Belle of the Yukon, Bill of Divorcement, Broadway Musketeers, Bullet is Waiting, Darling Lili, Desperate Characters, Doc, Don't Look Now, Fistful of Dollars, Francis, Global Affair, Goin' South, Guns at Batasi, Happiest Millionaire, Harvey Girls, Heartbreak Kid, His Wife's Mother, Hook, Kissing Bandit, Last Coupon, Little Romance, Lost Missle, Man Called Peter, Man in Possession, Marriage of a Young Stockbroker, Navajo Kid, Notorious Lone Wolf, Pad (And How To Use It) , Parallax View, Pirates of Spring Cove (aka: The Truth About Spring), Reflection of Fear, Searchers, Shot in the Dark, Small Town in Texas, Song to Remember, This Man's Navy, Thunder in the Night, Too Late for Tears, Touch of Class, Under the Red Robe, Very Thought of You, Wagons West, Wandering Shadow (silent-1920), Washington Story, Westward Passage, Wives Under Suspicion, Wonder Man, Wyoming Roundup and Young Man with a Horn

 

 

 

 New Blu-ray Additions

 

Acorn Media

08/31/21 — Released Murdoch Mysteries: Season 14 (3 disc set)

 

Altered Innocence

08/31/21 — Released Sound and Fury (French)

 

Burning Bulb Publishing (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Man Who Went to Heaven, Notebooks, Perfect Day, Uncommon and Zombie Club

 

Cohen Media Group

08/31/21 — Released Classics of French Cinema (2 film set: The Gang, Three Men to Kill) (French)

 

Collector’s Heaven (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Alien Worlds: Season One, American Horror Stories: Season One, American Vandal: The Complete Series, Cannon: The Complete Series (8 disc set), Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!: The Complete Series (3 disc set), Cruel Summer: Season One, Death in Paradise: Seasons 1 - 10 (8 disc set), Debris: The Complete Series, Defeated: Season One, Ellery Queen: The Complete Series (2 disc set), Family Affair: The Complete Series (4 disc set), Father Knows Best: The Complete Series (6 disc set), Freaks nad Geeks: The Complete Series, Glow: The Complete Series (2 disc set), Grace and Frankie: The Complete Series (3 disc set), Kissing Booth Trilogy (3 film set: The Kissing Booth, The Kissing Booth 2, The Kissing Booth 3), Libraians: Season One (3 disc set), Mannix: The Complete Series (8 disc set), Medium: The Complete Series (6 disc set), My Name is Earl: The Complete Series (2 disc set), Mysterious Benedict Society: Season One, Persuaders!: The Complete Series (2 disc set), Porridge: The Complete Series, Rain: The Complete Series, Remington Steele: The Complete Series (6 disc set), Scrubs: The Complete Series (4 disc set), Square Pegs: The Complete Series,  Starsky and Hutch: The Complete Series (6 disc set), Streets of San Francisco:The Complete Series (6 disc set), Superman & Lois: Season One, Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, Yin-Yang Msster Dream of Eternity (Mandarin) and Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (2 disc set)

 

Dark Force Entertainment

11/23/21 — Sets Young Cycle Girls (aka: Cycle Vixens)

 

FUNimation

08/31/21 — Released Kakushigoto: The Complete Season (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy)

 

Gemini Entertainment (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Life of Senator Margaret Chase Smith

 

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Pulk and Steel Song

 

Kino Lorber

08/31/21 — Released Berlin Alexanderplatz (German), Comedy of Terrors, Last Man on Earth, Love Rites (French), Master of the World and Raven

 

Lionsgate Home E

08/31/21 — Released Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Sixth Season (4 disc set)

 

MVD Entertainment Group

12/14/21 — Sets Jack Frost and Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman

 

Movies R USA (MOD)

08/24/21 — Released Pee-Wee's Big Holiday, Prayers for Bobby and Respect

08/31/21 — Released Appleseed Alpha, Army of One, Charmed: Season One (2 disc set), Cinderella, Cinderella Story II: The Shoe Fits, Don't Breathe 2, Freddie's Nightmare: The Complete Series (6 disc set), Healing Garden, Juwamma Mann, Love Victor: The Complete First Season, Love Victor: The Complete Second Season,  Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliet,  Motherland: Fort Salem - Season Two, No Man of God, Pretty Outrageous, Protégé, Saving Paradise, Square Pegs: The Complete Series, Stealing Harvard, Superman & Lois: Season One, Swan Song, Ted Lasso: The Complete First Season, That Darn Cat, Vacation Friends, Winning London and Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

 

PCN Productions (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released 2021 African American Experience: “August Wilson” with Laurence Glasco, 2021 It’s History!: PA Lumber Museum, 2021 Keystone Cuisine: Noir Dark Spirits and 2021 PCN Profiles: Natalie Carbone Mangini

 

Paramount Home Ent.

11/1621 — Sets It's a Wonderful Life: 75th Anniversary Edition (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy) and Vanilla Sky: 20th Anniversary Edition (with Digital Copy)

 

Scorpion Releasing

08/31/21 — Released Devil's 8

 

Sentai Filmworks

08/31/21 — Released Vinland Saga (3 disc set)

 

Shoreline Entertainment (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Father's Chair (Portuguese), Good After Bad, Grey Eyes (Spanish), Hidden Moon, How You Look to Me, Irrefutable Proof, Leave, Mary Loss of Soul, Minis, Original Sin, Pale Blue Moon and Road to Hell

 

Shout! Factory 

08/31/21 — Released Boxtrolls (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) and Coraline (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack)

 

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

08/31/21 — Released Beyond Wrestling: Project Dolphin - Worchester, MA, Beyond Wrestling: Project Reality - Worchester, MA, F1rst Wrestling: Exodus - St. Paul, MN, F1rst Wrestling: Pride Pre-Party - St. Paul, MN, Insane Championship Wrestling: Insane 8, 2021 - Milwaukee, WI, WWR+: Let's Talk About Wrestling - Worcester, MA and WWR+: To Wrestle, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth - Worcester, MA

 

Vinegar Syndrome

08/31/21 — Released Killer's Delight, Lamp (aka Outing) and Through the Fire (aka The Gates of Hell II: Dead Awakening)

 

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

10/12/21 — Sets Free Guy (with Digital Copy)

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

08/31/21 — Released Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (with Digital Copy)

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

09/14/21 — Sets Santa Fe Trail

09/21/21 — Sets Naked Spur, Straight Time and Window

09/28/21 — Sets Night at the Opera

 

 

 

New 4k Ultra HD Additions

 

Gunpowder & Sky

08/31/21 — Released Awaken (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack)

 

Lionsgate Home Ent.

10/12/21 — Sets Green Knight (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

 

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

10/12/21 — Sets Free Guy (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

08/31/21 — Released Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)