Now in Theaters:
Presence (***) Lucy Liu stars as the matriarch of a family who move into a haunted house after the mysterious deaths of two of the daughter’s friends. Veteran director Steven Soderbergh, working from a script by David Koepp (Jurassic Park), gets a lot of mileage out of the premise by shooting much of the film from the ghost’s POV. A slow burn to be sure but worth a look.
Photo: Callina Liang in Presence
New to Disc:
Severin Films:
A trio of classic exploitation films from cult director, Russ Meyer, Vixen (1968), Super Vixens (1975) and Beyond the Valley of The Ultra Vixens (1979) make their Blu Ray debuts sporting terrific new transfers. Extras include commentaries and interviews.
Warner Archive:
Quite a few titles are being issued on Blu Ray for the first time by the label this week. These include the Ryan Reynolds starring comedy, Just friends (2005), the Looney Tunes compilation film, Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters (1988), the two animated series, What Till Your Father Gets Home (1972-73) and Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles (1966-67), the comedic fantasy starring Walter Huston, Gabriel Over the White House (1933) and the western, Last Stand at Saber River (1987), which stars Tom Selleck. Many of the titles include bonus materials such as shorts, cartoons and the film’s trailer.
Criterion:
Jimmy Stewart stars as a man obsessed with a stolen rifle in Winchester 73 (1950), now getting its first ever 4K UHD release from the label. Extras include commentary, interviews, featurettes and the film’s trailer.
Kino:
The romantic thriller, Sea of Love (1989) and the action/adventure/revenge film, Orca, The Killer Whale (1977) are both getting the 4K UHD treatment this week along with new commentaries and the film’s trailers.
Other new Blu Ray releases include the Doris Day/Clark Gable starring comedy, Teacher’s Pet (1958) and the romantic comedy, Houseboat (1958), which stars Sophia Loren and Cary Grant. These also include new commentaries.
Also being issued on Blu Ray by the label is a special edition of the action/adventure pairing Lee Marvin with Roger Moore, Shout at the Devil (1976). A new commentary is included on the release as well.
Radiance Films:
Two hard to find foreign entries make their Blu-Ray debut from the label this week. These are Weak Spot (1976), starring Ugo Tognazzi and Underworld Beauty (1958). Extras include shorts films, commentary and new interviews.
Cleopatra Entertainment:
The Fabulous Thunderbirds: Live in Houston (2006) is a rare 2006 concert filmed in Houston featuring the band and making its Blu Ray debut.
Liberation Hall:
The label has found and is releasing a long thought to be lost final film from cult director, Paul Bartel, Shelf Life (1993) on Blu Ray. The plot involves three kids locked in a fallout shelter for 30 years. Extras include commentary, Q & A, and trailer.
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