NEW TO STREAMING:
Music by John Williams (*** ½) Director Laurent Bouzereau crafted this lovely documentary portrait of the famed composer that utilizes both archival material and new interviews to tell the story of his legendary career.
NEW TO DISC:
Radiance Films:
Daiei Gothic: Japanese Ghost Stories (1959-68)-is a new collection of three well known and centuries old Japanese ghost stories. Extras on the new Blu-Ray set include an interview and a visual essay.
Dogra Magra (1988) A man with no memory learns he killed his bride on their wedding day in this thriller coming to Blu-Ray with a new visual essay and interview.
Arrow Video:
Trick ‘r Treat (2007) The much loved horror anthology starring Anna Paquin, Brian Cox and Dylan Baker comes to the 4K format this week with new and archived interviews and commentaries.
J Horror Rising (1999) is a new Blu-Ray collection of Japanese horror films that includes Shikoku, Isola, Ingunami, St. John’s Wort, Carved, Persona and Noroi. Extras include a video essay, interviews, new and archival commentaries and a limited edition booklet.
Severin:
Three cult films come to Blu-Ray from the label this week.
Don’t Change Hands (1975) is a French thriller about a blackmailed politician who gets more than she bargained for when she goes after the blackmailers.
The Mad Bomber (1973), directed by Bert I Gordon, stars Chuck Connors as a mad bomber while The Red Light Bandit (2000) spins the tale of an anarchist who becomes a hero while robbing the rich and evading the law. Extras include commentaries and interviews.
Paramount:
Addams Family Values (1993) gets its first ever 4K UHD upgrade this week in a new edition that includes a new commentary and featurette. One of the rare cases when a film’s sequel bests the original.
Zodiac (2007) David Fincher’s take on the string of killings at the hands of the Zodiac Killer in the late 60s/early70s also gets a first ever 4K upgrade with the director’s cut appearing in standard Blu-Ray on a separate disc. Bonus materials from previous editions have been retained.
Shout/Scream Factory:
The label is offering up new 4K UHD upgrades of Shocker (1989) and Drag Me to Hell (2009) this week, which retain the bonus features included in the previous special editions.
Kino Lorber:
The Classic Ghosts (1973) A long forgotten series of 90 minute made for TV terror tales that aired late at night on ABC, and were thought to be lost, have been restored by the UCLA film/TV archive and culled together in this new two-disc edition. The Haunting of Rosalind / The Screaming Skull / The Deadly Visitor / The House and the Brain / And the Bones Came Together are the stories that comprise the set which also includes new commentaries and featurettes.
Topkapi (1964) stars Peter Ustinov in the tale of a group of art thieves attempting to steal a valuable dagger. Bonus material includes a new commentary.
Also being issued by the label this week is Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XXII (1951-57).
Warner Archive:
The label has a large amount of films from their library being issued for the first time ever on Blu-Ray. These include For Your Consideration (2006), The Beast With Five Fingers (1946), The Return of Doctor X (1939) and The Walking Dead (1936). Some of these releases retain previously issued bonus materials.
Vinegar Syndrome:
Shanks (1974) is a terrific horror comedy about a mute puppeteer (Marcel Marceau) and his efforts to use an invention to control dead bodies while utilizing his puppeteering skills. The legendary William Castle directs this cult film getting its first ever 4K release.
Also being issued by the label is the horror entry and directing debut of actor, Charles Martin Smith, Trick or Treat (1986).
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