MVD Entertainment Group's Latest "Rewind Collection" Inductee Is 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! • Blu-ray And DVD Editions Due On Oct. 22

Interesting to say the least.  That’s what is coming from MVD Entertainment Group on Oct. 22.

Movies were shinning very bright in the 1980s, the VCR was gathering steam, with household penetration moving out of the single digits and avid film buffs could build and trade for libraries of their favor films — no more 16mm to be a collector.   The video rental store was becoming a fixture of the landscape.

You could make a case for any of the early 1980s on a year-by-year basis.   I tend to tilt towards 1984 with The Terminator, The Philadelphia Experiment, The Last Starfighter, Gremlins, Razorback and Night of the Comet (and many more), but the producers of MVD Entertainment Group’s latest “Rewind Collection” inductee selected 1982 for their four-part mini-series titled 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!

MVD Entertainment Group is making this unique view of film available as both DVD and Blu-ray product offerings.  Their list of films to focus on is just as important as the aforementioned list.   

Analysis here includes E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Blade Runner, The Thing, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Poltergeist, Creepshow, Night Shift, The Dark Crystal, 48 Hours, First Blood, Tron, Conan the Barbarian, Cat People, Fast Times at Ridgemont High and The Road Warrior.   Impressive indeed!!

Film critics of the period, acting talent, directors, producers and more all give insights into why the year 1982 was a great year to be a geek!

If you are a film fan, this is a must!!

Bonus features include two commentary options.   The first with director/producer Roger Lay, Jr. and writer/producer Mark A. Altman, while the second features Altman with producers Scott Mantz and Thomas P. Vitale.

There are deleted and extended scenes, the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con Panel and the featurette titled “the Fans Speak: Fans Favorite Films.”

Bayview Entertainment Tabs July 30 For The Blu-ray Debut Of Writer, Producer and director Jozsef Gallai’s A Stranger in the Woods

Bayview Entertainment kills it on July 30 (metaphorically speaking) with the Blu-ray debut of writer, producer and director Jozsef Gallai’s A Stranger in the Woods.

A genre film to be sure, but one that breaks the mold with a solidary encounter (no haunted house, but the house is strange) and no victim pool, but you come to fear for the safety, if not the sanity, of the protagonist.

Edith (Laura Ellen Wilson — as Linda in director Matt Shaw’s Chain, plus such films as Aftermath, Project Skyquake, Surprise and the award-winning short film titled In Bluebell Wood) is a college senior, a film major, and as a senior year assignment she is tasked with interviewing Victor Browning (Bill Oberest, Jr. — A Haunting in Salem, Stressed to Kill, The Retrieval, Circus of the Dead, Coyote and more … many more).   He is a man who has lived for some time, alone, in a small cabin the woods … off the grid.   There is a lake nearby and his little house seems so perfect.

This is a claustrophobic character study.   A turning of the screws; a ratcheting of tensions … and you, as the audience, are literally screaming at the screen … Run, Edith, Run!!!

Oberest is absolutely perfect.  Eccentric, strange, simple, even kind, but in a way off-putting and dangerous … and all the while there is someone (figuratively speaking) scratching their fingers on the chalkboard as the story plays out.   It’s that kind of movie (without giving too much away).   Oberest nails it!!

If you are a genre fan — and/or a fan of Bill Oberest, Jr. — then Bayview Entertainment July 30 Blu-ray debut of A Stranger in the Woods is going to be everything you could ask for.  Discover it!! 

Arrow Video Picks Sept. 17 As The Street Date For 4K Ulta HD and Blu-ray Limited Editions Of Writer/director David Twohy’s The Chronicles Of Riddick

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has revealed that Sept. 17 will be the street date for both three-disc limited edition 4K Ultra HD and three-disc limited edition Blu-ray selections of writer/director David Twohy’s 2004 sequel to Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick.

Riddick (Vin Diesel) is back, having escaped the demon planet (a hellish place) five years ago.  If you thought that it was bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet!   

The Necromongers are on the move and only a Furyan can — by prophecy — stop them.   Is Riddick a Furyan?   Come on, you know the answer to that!!

Arrow Video is delivering three different viewing options.   There are two ways to watch the theatrical cut of The Chronicles of Riddick (different aspect ratios) and the third option is the director’s cut of the film.

Since you have three discs in each collection (Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD) you can bet that Arrow Video has loaded these sets up with a ton of extras.

We start with two separate commentary options.   The first is with Twohy and Vin Diesel, while the second features Twohy and actors Karl Urban (as Vaako) and Alexa Davelos (as Kyra — aka: “Jack”).

On the “new” side (for this stunning 4K presentation), Arrow Video has the feature-length making-of documentary titled Ambition on Another Scale: Chronicling a Blockbuster Sequel, plus three new featurettes — “Realizing Riddick,” “Back to Black” and “Chronicles of a Cult Film Celebrity.”

On the archived front, there are deleted scenes, a guided tour of the set with Vin Diesel and four vintage featurettes — “Creation of New Mecca,” “Riddick Rises,” “Keep What You Kill” and “Visual Effects Revealed” — a short film titled Toombs’ Chase Log, eight video sessions, including with Twohy, Vin Diesel and Alexa Davelos and the television special titled The Lowdow.   And more!!!

 

 

Paramount Home Entertainment Readies Knuckles Mini-Series For Release On Sept. 10 • Scorsese's Bringing Out The Dead On 4K Ultra HD On Sept. 17

Paramount Home Entertainment has the creative team of Toby Ascher and John Whittington’s Knuckles, the mini-series spin-off of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the forthcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Christmas of this year) theatrical releases, ready for fans to enjoy on Sept. 10.

All six episodes of the adventures of Knuckles (an Echidna warrior — voiced by Idris Elba) and deputy sheriff Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) are included here as single-disc 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray purchasing options as well as a double-disc DVD selection.

Bonus delights include a gag reel and four featurettes — “Meet the Cast,” “Working with Knuckles,” “This or That?” and “Cast Impressions.”

In other release news from Paramount Home Entertainment this past week, director Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead, starring Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Ving Rhames and Tom Sizemore, will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on September 17.

Planned for distribution on that date are both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray editions (the debut for both formats … yes, it took 25 years to finally get a Blu-ray release).

Bonus features include the newly-prepared video session with Martin Scorsese titled “Martin Scorsese on Bringing Out the Dead,” three new featurettes — “A Rumination on Salvation,” “Cemetery Streets” and “City of Ghosts” — and new “On Set” sessions with Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Ving Rhames, Tom Sizemore and Marc Anthony.

There are also legacy cast and crew interviews included with the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD editions of Bringing Out the Dead.

Writer/Director Ishana Night Shyamalan's The Watchers Gets A Full Spread Physical Media Launch By Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment On Aug. 27

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will be serving up a full spread of physical media editions for writer/director Ishana Night Shyamalan’s The Watchers on Aug. 27.

The ARR works out to 81 days and the domestic box office take was $17.7 million (against a reported film production budget of $30 million). 

All three release SKUs — 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD — will be stand-alone purchasing options, no Combo Packs. 

A premium VOD window opened on June 28, just 21 days into the film’s theatrical run.   What impact — if any — that this quick VOD window had is open to speculation.   

However, the “Helper” community was out with Blu-ray editions on the same day … and will have a 60-day window to sell these unauthorized copies to unsuspecting consumers before the real physical media versions are available. 

Bonus features, which are exclusive to the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD editions, include a deleted scenes and four featurettes — “Welcome to the Show: The Making of The Watchers,” “Creating The Watchers,” “Constructing the Coop” and “Ainriochtán and the Irish Fairy Folklore.”

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Preps Full Spread Of Physical Media Editions Of Director David Leitch's The Fall Guy For Delivery On July 23

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has tabbed July 23 as the physical media street date for producer/director David Leitch’s action/comedy, The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Hannah Waddingham along for the ride as the double-dealing devious villains.

The ARR is 81 days and the domestic box office haul currently stands at $91.6 million — against a film production budget reported to be north of $125 million.

How much the theatrical run was hurt by the insertion of a VOD window just 18 days into the film’s release is anyone’s guess.  Not only did this give the “Helper” community nine full weeks to move illicit Blu-ray (and DVD) editions of Leitch’s film, but it gave consumers the option to watch the film (with others) at home for less than the cost of the theatrical experience (the equivalent of selling First Edition books and paperback copies at the same time … that’s a no-no).

There will be two viewing options — the theatrical release cut and an extended cut (an additional 20 minutes worth of action).

Bonus features kick off with commentary from Leitch and co-producer Kelly McCormick, a gag reel, “alternate takes” and a mind-blowing dozen production featurettes — “Stunts on Stunts: Breaking Down the Action,” “City Truck Jump/Sidewinder,” “Garbage Bin,” “Boat Chase,” “Car Jump,” “High Fall,” “Making a Meta Masterpiece,” “How to Break a World Record,” “Nightclub Mayhem,” “The Art of Doubling,” “Making Metalstorm” and “Falling for The Fall Guy with Bob Reese.” 

 

 

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Deals Blu-ray and DVD Editions Of Tarot On July 9

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will be dealing both DVD and Blu-ray editions of the writing and directing team of Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg’s horror tale, Tarot, on July 9.

The ARR is a quick turn at just 67 day.   The domestic box office haul was $18.7 million.  

The film had a VOD window 25 days into its theatrical release, which may have taken the edge off.   The May 28 VOD launch gave the “Helper” community six weeks to ship Tarot DVD and Blu-ray knockoffs to unsuspecting consumers

Bonus goodies include outtakes and a pair of featurettes — “A Twist of Fate: Making the Film” and “Circle of Friends.”