Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The Rocky Horror Picture Show With A New 4K Ultra HD Release On Oct. 7

It’s astounding!   Time is fleeting … Madness takes its toll!!   But listen closely (not for very much longer) on Oct. 7, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will be doing the time warp with the release of a 4K Ultra HD edition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

 
Hard to believe, but this will be the 50th Anniversary celebration of this timeless midnight movie classic.   

 

Disney’s restoration team worked for ten months to fully restore — frame by frame — the film so we can all do the Time Warp again!

 
So what bonus delights are included here?   With just a jump to the left we have commentary from Riff Raff – A Handy Man (Richard O'Brien) and Magenta – A Domestic (Patricia Quinn)!

 
And then a step to the right you will find deleted and alternate scenes, a deleted song (“Once in a While”) and the “Rocky-oke: Sing It!” sing-along feature.   Put your hands on your hips and you’ll discover a trio of featurettes — “Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show,” “Beacon Theater, New York City” and “Song Selection (with and without vocals).

 

And then bring your knees in tight to find the “Time Warp” music video and “The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadow Cast.”   

 

And there is more, lots more, but remember it’s the pelvic thrust that really drives you insane, so let’s do the Time Warp again on Oct. 7 with The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Ultra HD reveal!

 

 

 

 

 

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment's A Nightmare On Elm Street: 7-Film Collection On 4K Ultra HD Arrives On Sept. 30

Genre fans mark it on your calendar now!   On Sept. 30, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will deliver the entire seven-film horror cycle of A Nightmare on Elm Street on 4K Ultra HD.

 
Last October (the 24th to be exact), the studio released writer/director Wes Craven’s 1984 future-series debut, A Nightmare on Elm Street, which included vintage commentaries (two) featuring filmmaker Wes Craven and various cast members, alternate endings and featurettes.   

 
And then silence.  There was nothing on the 1985 follow-up or any of the other films in the series … until now.

 
All seven films in the original series are in this 4K Ultra HD collection, starting with the original, A Nightmare on Elm Street, which “snuck” into theatres on Friday, Nov. 2, 1984 with surprise preview sessions in various spots around the country (to build word of mouth).   The film’s “official” opening wasn’t until Nov. 9, but by then the word was already out … WOW, is this one scary nightmare!   

 

Wes Craven followed up on Sunday, Nov. 4, with a discussion of the film on the “Larry King Show” … tease, tease, tease, so by opening day the audience was lined-up and ready.   As they say, the rest is history.

 
The original film had a production budget of just under two million dollars and pulled in over $57 million worldwide, which meant that a sequel was in the works almost immediately.   

 

Director Jack Sholder’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenue followed on Nov. 1, 1985.  The 4K Ultra HD edition includes four featurettes — “Freddy on 8th Street,” “Heroes and Villains,” “The Male Witch” and “Psychosexual Circus.”

 

The next film in the cycle, director Chuck Russell’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, hit theatres on Feb. 27, 1987.   The 4K Ultra HD version features the seven-part “Behind the Story” collection of featurettes, plus the Dokken “Dream Warriors” music video.

 
In the summer of 1988 (Aug. 19), Renny Harlin joint the nightmare club as the director of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.  The 4K features four production featurettes — “The Finnish Line,” “Kruger, Freddy Kruger,” “Hopeless Chest” and “Let’s Make Up.”

 
On Aug. 11, 1989, it was director Stephen Hopkins’ A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child that delivered the next round of cinematic nightmares.   The bonus goodie with this film on 4K is the five-part “Behind the Story” featurette series.

 

Rachel Talalay, who had co-produced the fourth installment with New Line’s Robert Shaye, joined the director’s club on Sept. 13, 1991 with Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.   Bonuses here are four featurettes — “86 ‘D,” “Hellraiser,” “Rachel’s Dream” and “3D Demise.”

 
And lastly, horror icon Wes Craven closed out the cycle with the Oct. 14, 1994 film titled Wes Craven’s New Nightmare.   

 
This final installment in Warner Bros. 4K Ultra HD collection has a vintage commentary with Wes Craven, two newly-minted featurettes — “Boiler Room Confessional” and “Freddy’s Footnotes” — plus the 13-part “Welcome to Prime Time” and the ten-part “Conclusion” featurette series.

Arrow Video Looks To Oct 7 As The Release Date For A Double-Disc 4K Ultra HD Edition Of Todd McFarlane's Spawn

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, as a new double-disc 4K Ultra HD presentation of legendary comic book artist Todd McFarlane’s 1997 theatrical incarnation of Spawn.   

 

The street day is Oct. 7. 

 

Not only do fans get a new 4K restoration of the original theatrical release, but they also get a 4K restoration of the “director’s cut” of the film — both sourced from the original camera negatives.

 
After a successful comic and toy run, Columbia Pictures showed interested in 1992 in producing a film based on the series.   However, that fell through and it once until 1997 that a deal could be put together with New Line Cinema.   

 
New Line and McFarlane agreed that the special effects for the film needed to be top of the line, so they recruited Industrial Light & Magic artist Mark A. Z. Dippé to direct the film.

 

On Thursday night, July 31, 1997 there were “advanced screenings” of the film all over New Line Cinema’s hometown of Los Angeles.   The next day, John Anderson’s film review in the Los Angeles Times had the headline: “‘Spawn’ is Hellish — and That’s a Compliment.”   Spawn was now on the screen!!

 
Bonus features, which Arrow Video has concentrated on the “director’s cut” of the film begin with a newly-minted commentary from comic book expert Dave Baxter, plus an archived commentary option featuring producer/creator Todd McFarlane, who is joined by director Mark A. Z. Dippé, producer Clint Goldman and second unit director Steve “Spaz” Williams.

 

There is also a newly prepared video session with “Spawn”/Michael Jai White titled “Hell’s Perfect Son.”   Other new featurettes produced by Arrow Video for this 4K Ultra HD launch are: “Spawn Support,” “The Devil’s in the Details,” “The Devil’s Music” and “Order Out of Chaos.”

 
On the vintage side, there are two archived featurettes included here — “Todd McFarland: Chapter and Verse” and “The Making of Spawn.”

 
Extensive art and concept galleries are also included.

MVD Entertainment Group Bestows "Marquee Collection" Status On Writer/Director John Hancock's Weeds • Blu-ray And DVD Editions On Oct. 14

MVD Entertainment Group’s popular “Marquee Collection” gets a new inductee on Oct. 14 with the Blu-ray and DVD rollout of writer/director John Hancock’s 1987 film drama, Weeds.

Based loosely on the life of ex-convict Rick Cluchey, Nick Nolte stars as Lee Umtetter, an armed robbery (and more) convict with a life sentence, who becomes despondent over the prospect of never seeing the outside again and tries, not once, but twice, to take his own life — a death fall from the upper level (broken arm) and a failed attempt at hanging himself.

He starts reading books and by chance he attends a convict-produced play (Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”) and becomes inspired to write one his own.   Lillian, a local drama critic, hears of the Umtetter’s efforts, comes to the play and falls in love with both the play and the author.   Thought her efforts he is able to gain a parole.

His plan, once on the outside, is to assemble members of the cast — former cons like himself — and take the production on the road.   It’s a mixed bag, but he does manage to get a San Francisco date … and then with a beat-up motorhome the “gang” hits the road, with stops in the Midwest before getting an Off-Broadway venue!  

Nolte, to prepare for the role, drew upon his own life experiences and visits to San Quentin. 

Bonus nuggets included with MVD’s “Marquee Collection” edition of Weeds on Oct. 14 are a new video session with filmmaker John Hancock and his 1971 Oscar-nominated short film titled Sticky My Fingers … Fleet My Feet.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Will Launch A Full-Spread Physical Media Selection Of Director Gareth Edwards' Jurassic World: Rebirth On Sept. 9

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has selected Sept. 9 as the launch date for a full-spread physical media selection of director Gareth Edwards’ Jurassic World: Rebirth.

The ARR is a swift-to-market 67 days.  The domestic box office haul for this seventh entry in the Jurassic Park film series currently stands at an impressive $317.6 million.

Planned for distribution are stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions, plus two 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray purchasing options — SteelBook or standard packaging.

A Premium VOD window opens on Aug. 5, 32-days into the film’s theatrical run, which gives the “Helper” community (bootleggers, pirates, thieves, etc.) five full weeks to distribute their own Blu-ray copies to unsuspecting genre fans.

Bonus features start with two commentary options.  The first features director Gareth Edwards, who is joined by production designer James Clyne and first assistant director Jack Ravenscroft, while the second commentary is also anchored by Edwards, who is teamed-up with editor Jabez Olssen and visual effects supervisor David Vickery.

Additional bonus goodies include an alternate opening, a gag reel, deleted scenes and the six-part making-of presentation titled “Jurassic World: Rebirth – Hatching a New Era” — included are: “The World Evolves,” “Off the Deep End,” “Trekking Through Thailand,” “Rex in the Rapids” “Don’t Look Down” and “Mini-Mart Mayhem.”

There are also four addition stand-alone featurettes — “Meet Dolores,” “Munched: Becoming Dino Food,” “A Day at Skywalker Sound” and “Hunting for Easter Eggs.”

MVD Entertainment Group Will Release Both Blu-ray And DVD Collections Of Director/Producer John Borowski's Eight-Part Mini-Series Titled The John Wayne Gacy Murders: Life and Death in Chicago On Sept. 16

MVD Entertainment Group has tabbed Sept. 16 as the street date for both DVD and Blu-ray editions of documentary filmmaker John Borowski’s eight-part mini-series titled The John Wayne Gacy Murders: Life and Death in Chicago.

Borowski methodically breaks down the history of John Wayne Gacy’s life, serial killings, his capture, trial and oft-delayed execution.   These check points are broken down into segments variously titled “Childhood,” “Hunting,” “Celebrity,” “Aftermath,” etc.

Gacy was charged and convicted of the murders of 33 teenage boys and young men (ages 14 to 21) that took place between 1972 and 1978.   The remains of 26 of his victims were found in the crawl space underneath his Norwood Park home (a suburb of Chicago).   Gacy, once in police custody, drew a detailed map of the crawlspace to assist in the recovery of the bodies — what a nice guy!

The first murder took place in January of 1972, with additional murders taking place at his residence, even though he was married and had two step daughters living there … once the divorce was final in 1976, Gacy would often binge-kill (two or three victims in as many days).

He ran PDM Contractors, a “painting,” “decorating” and “maintenance” business (often the source of his victims), blended into the community (a Moose Club member) and was a member of the “Jolly Joker” clown club.

Eventually he got sloppy (or over-confident) and that led to his arrest.  A circus-like trail began in February of 1980, he was found killing and sentenced to death, but through legal maneuvering was able to put off his date with the executioner until 1994.

Bonus features included with the DVD (a four-disc set) and Blu-ray (three discs) editions of The John Wayne Gacy Murders: Life and Death in Chicago from MVD Entertainment Group on Sept. 16 include episode commentary tracks.

Director Gerald Johnstone's M3GAN 2.0 Will Get A Full-Spread Physical Media Launch From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment On Sept. 23

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has selected Sept. 23 as the physical media street for director Gerald Johnstone’s M3GAN 2.0.

Planned for distribution are a 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (with Blu-ray), plus stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray purchasing options.

The ARR comes in at 88 days and the domestic box office take currently stands at $24.1 million.

A premium VOD window opened on July 15, which is just 18 days into the film’s theatrical run … which gives the “Helper” community (our term for pirates, bootleggers, etc.) ten full weeks to distribute Blu-ray editions of their own making to unsuspecting consumers.

As to bonus goodies, an unrated viewing and four featurettes — “Total Upgrade: Making M3GAN 2.0,” “Droid DNA – Unveil M3GAN 2.0,” “The Art of Slaying” and “Scene Breakdown: Embrace AI Convention.”