ROLAND EMMERICH'S EARLY 90'S ACTION/SCI-FI CLASSIC MAKES ITS WAY TO 4K ULTRA HD DISC!
I like UNIVERSAL SOLDIER well enough (the pairing of JCVD and Dolph Lundgren was a brilliant strategy) but (Van) damn it... the resulting franchise is all over the place! There are currently three direct sequels (THE RETURN, REGENERATION, and DAY OF RECKONING), and two numbered sequels that were made for TV (BROTHERS IN ARMS and UNFINISHED BUSINESS), plus a remake is apparently in the works.
All of that madness aside, while I haven't seen it recently, I recall enjoying the original UNIVERSAL SOLDIER, and look forward to seeing it in a much higher resolution than the DVD copy I own. If you're a fan of this film and don't own it yet, or are the type that always needs the best possible version of the favorite movies in your collection (guilty as charged!), then this is be a must-own for you!
Synopsis: Soldiers Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme - BLOODSPORT, KICKBOXER, STREET FIGHTER: THE MOVIE) and Sgt. Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren - ROCKY IV, THE PUNISHER, RED SCORPION) killed each other in Vietnam. But their demise proves to be just the beginning for the U.S. government, which brings both men back to life decades later for a secret anti-terrorism program.
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 102 minutes | Region Free
Video - 2160p Widescreen (2.39:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Extras:
NEW! DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM!
NEW! DTS-HD MASTER 5.1 AUDIO TRACK!
Audio commentary by Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Dolph Lundgren!
Audio commentary by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin!
A Tale of Two Titans Featurette
Guns, Genes, and Fighting Machines Featurette
Alternate Ending
Behind the Scenes Featurette
Trailer
Lionsgate's 4K Ultra HD release of UNIVERSAL SOLDIER ports over the extras from the previous Blu-ray release, but boasts superior picture and sound! Is it worth the upgrade? Well that's entirely up to you! This disc is currently available wherever movies are sold and should cost between $16 - $18! Get your copy now from AMAZON or BULL MOOSE!
RALPH L. THOMAS' THRILLER COMES TO BLU-RAY FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A NEW 2K TRANSFER AND EXTRAS, COURTESY OF ARROW VIDEO!
Until recently, I had never even heard of APPRENTICE TO MURDER, which is apparently based upon a true story. Penned by Allan Scott (DON'T LOOK NOW) and starring Donald Sutherland (who is never bad, even if the movie is), Chad Lowe, and Mia Sara, this Norwegian-American-Canadian co-production definitely sounds like it is worth a look! If any of that caught your interest, then continue onward to learn more about this film and its new Blu-ray release!
Synopsis: In early twentieth-century Pennsylvania Dutch Country, young Billy Kelly (Chad Lowe - HIGHWAY TO HELL) falls in with a charismatic "powwower" or folk magic healer, Dr. John Reese (Donald Sutherland - DON'T LOOK NOW, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS), shunned by the rest of the community for his non-conformist beliefs. Together, they investigate the mysterious sickness that is blighting the area, which Reese believes to be the work of a sinister local hermit. But as the plague spreads and the wide-eyed Billy falls ever deeper under Reese's spell, are they doing God's work or the Devil's bidding?
Also starring Mia Sara (LEGEND) and featuring a powerhouse performance by Donald Sutherland – reunited here with DON'T LOOK NOW screenwriter Allan Scott – APPRENTICE TO MURDER is a chilling and unforgettable tale of the macabre that blurs the lines between conventional notions of "good" and "evil".
Disc Specs:
Rated PG-13 | Color | 97 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English LPCM 2.0
Extras:
NEW! 2K restoration of the film from the original 35mm interpositive!
Original lossless mono soundtrack
NEW! Audio commentary by author and critic Bryan Reesman!
NEW! Video interview on religious horror cinema with Kat Ellinger, author and editor-in-chief of Diabolique Magazine!
NEW! Video interview with cinematographer Kelvin Pike!
NEW! Video interview with makeup supervisor Robin Grantham!
Theatrical trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Haunt Love!
Arrow's Special Edition of APPRENTICE TO MURDER is now available wherever Blu-ray discs are sold, and should cost between $23 - $28! You can order yourself a copy of this obscure thriller now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or ARROW VIDEO!
THE FILM ADAPTATION OF THE POPULAR BOOK SERIES FINALLY ARRIVES ON DVD, BLU-RAY, AND 4K ULTRA HD DISC!
When I was much younger, I repeatedly read the trio of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books cover to cover. The funny thing is that I don't recall much about the stories themselves, other than most weren't all that scary. What I do recall vividly was the amazing, and often disturbing artwork created by Stephen Gammell which has been brought to life on the silver screen thanks to the efforts of Guillermo del Toro and director André Øvredal. I missed out on seeing SCARY MOVIES TO TELL IN THE DARK during its theatrical run, but thankfully it arrives on all home video formats on November 5th! I feel like releasing this film after Halloween is a bit of a missed opportunity, but better late than never right?
Synopsis: It’s 1968 in America. Change is blowing in the wind…but seemingly far removed from the unrest in the cities is the small town of Mill Valley, where for generations the shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large. It is in their mansion on the edge of town that Sarah, a young girl with horrible secrets, turned her tortured life into a series of scary stories, written in a book that has transcended time. Stories that have a way of becoming all too real for a group of teenagers who discover Sarah's terrifying tome!
4K Ultra HD Specs:
Rated PG-13 | Color | 108 minutes | Region Free
Video - 2160p Widescreen (2.39:1)
Audio - English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 & Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Blu-ray Specs:
Rated PG-13 | Color | 108 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.39:1)
Audio - English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 & Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Extras:
Dark Tales - Guillermo del Toro talks about the Scary Stories books and this adaptation.
Retro Horror featurette
The Bellows Construct - Production design featurette.
Creatures from the Shadows - Practical f/x featurette.
Mood Reels - Director André Øvredal's weekly recaps of the production that features behind the scenes footage.
Behind the Scenes: Set Visits
SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK will be available on Tuesday, November 5th on all formats! The 4K Ultra HD disc will cost between $24 - $28 and can be obtained from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, and DIABOLIK DVD! The Blu-ray should cost between $20 - $25 and is also available from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, and DIABOLIK DVD!
ROBERT SHAYE TRIES HIS HAND AT DIRECTING AFTER A 12-YEAR ABSENCE WITH THIS AMBITIOUS NEW THRILLER!
Though it seems to be getting a lot of negative reviews, I am super curious about AMBITION, if only because of who directed it. This is the third feature film that Robert (brother of Lin) Shaye has directed in his entire career (the last one being 2007's THE LAST MIMZY). Why is this a big deal? Because Shaye started up New Line Cinema, and produced some incredible films over his lengthy career like ALONE IN THE DARK, the entirety of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET franchise, Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY, XTRO, THE HIDDEN, the first two CRITTERS films, and more! Needless to say, I want to see if his savvy as a producer translates over to his ability as a director!
Synopsis: From Robert Shaye, the producer of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, comes a deviously engrossing thriller that will keep you guessing – and squirming – to the final frame!
Jude is an intense, driven musician preparing for the biggest performance of her life ... but in her competitive world, her ambition could end up literally killing her. As her competitors begin to die in bizarre ways, she recognizes a frightening pattern. Is she next? The more her suspicions are confirmed, the further she is hurled into a climactic showdown that challenges her chances for survival and sanity.
Inspired by thrillers such as CARRIE and BLACK SWAN, AMBITION pulls you into a realm where desire and revenge converge into a questionable reality.
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 87 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1?)
Extras:
None.
Scream Factory's Blu-ray release of AMBITION is due out on Tuesday, November 5th and will cost between $15 - $18. You can order a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY.
SCREAM FACTORY'S TWO LATEST RELEASES FEATURE A HUNGRY AMORPHOUS MASS OF PROTOPLASM AND A WICKED CULT OF DEVIL WORSHIPERS!
Chuck Russell's THE BLOB is one of my all-time favorite Horror movies, and one of the greatest remakes of all time! It properly updates the lighthearted 1958 original, and offers up some of the most wonderfully slimy deaths ever filmed! (That sink scene is still crazy awesome!) THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is a film I've been meaning to see for some time. It's a Hammer Horror classic directed by Terence Fisher (DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED), and starring Christopher Lee (SCARS OF DRACULA, SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA, TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA) so needless to say, it's a guaranteed must-own! Let's take a closer leak at both of these discs Vault Dwellers!
THE BLOB (1988 - COLLECTOR'S EDITION)
Synopsis: THE BLOB is back in this horrific tale about a vile, malignant life-form that crashes to Earth in a cozy, rural American town called Arborville. Untroubled by conscience or intellect, the Blob does only one thing – and it does it well. It eats anything and everything that moves: men, women, and children. And tonight it wants to swallow the town of Arborville. The original version of THE BLOB thrilled and terrified audiences back in the 1950s. Now the oozing, gooey killer is back with a whole new high-tech look. What was once only suggested now comes to life with state-of-the-art special effects in the tradition of such thrilling remakes as THE THING and THE FLY.
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 95 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 & 2.0
Extras:
NEW! Audio Commentary With Director Chuck Russell,
Special Effects Artist Tony Gardner, And Cinematographer Mark Irwin,
Moderated By Filmmaker Joe Lynch!
NEW! Audio Commentary With Actress Shawnee Smith!
NEW!It Fell From The Sky! – An Interview With Director Chuck Russell!
NEW!We Have Work To Do – An Interview With Actor Jeffrey DeMunn!
NEW!Minding The Diner – An Interview With Actress Candy Clark!
NEW!They Call Me Mellow Purple – An Interview With Actor Donovan Leitch Jr.!
NEW!Try To Scream! – An Interview With Actor Bill Moseley!
NEW!Shot Him! – An Interview With Cinematographer Mark Irwin!
NEW!The Incredible Melting Man – An Interview With Special Effects Artist Tony Gardner!
NEW!Monster Math – An Interview With Special Effects Supervisor Christopher Gilman!
NEW!Haddonfield To Arborville – An Interview With Production Designer Craig Stearns!
NEW!The Secret Of The Ooze – An Interview With Mechanical Designer Mark Setrakian!
NEW! I Want That Organism Alive! – An Interview With Blob Mechanic Peter Abrahamson!
NEW! Gardner’s Grue Crew – Behind-The-Scenes Footage Of Tony Gardner And His Team!
Audio Commentary With Director Chuck Russell, Moderated By Film Producer Ryan Turek!
Isolated Score
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spot
Still Gallery
Scream Factory's Collector's Edition of THE BLOB is now available wherever Blu-rays are sold and costs between $25 - $29! You can order yourself a copy of this extras-filled disc now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY.
THE DEVIL RIDES OUT (1968)
Synopsis: All the demons of hell summoned to earth to claim "The Devil's Bride!"
The debonair Duc de Richleau has been entrusted with the care of his deceased friend's son, Simon Aron. The Duc discovers that the young man has been seduced into joining a satanic cult headed by the diabolic Mocata, who is intent on making Simon one of the Devil's disciples. Having rescued Simon from a bloodied ritual, de Richleau is pursued by Mocata, who will stop at nothing to destroy the Duc and his friends, even summoning the Angel of Death itself.
Starring Christopher Lee in one of his personal favorite roles and based on the celebrated novel by Dennis Wheatley, THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is one of Hammer's most accomplished and thrilling mystery horrors.
Disc Specs:
Rated G | Color | 95 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.66:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
NEW! 2K RESTORATION FROM THE 20TH CENTURY FOX INTERPOSITIVE! (Note: Also included is the StudioCanal restored master!)
NEW! Audio Commentary with author/film historian Steve
Haberman, filmmaker/film historian Constantine Nasr and
author/screenwriter Richard Christian Matheson!
NEW! Satanic Shocks – author/film historian Kim Newman discusses THE DEVIL RIDES OUT!
NEW! Folk Horror Goes Haywire – author/film historian Jonathan Rigby discusses THE DEVIL RIDES OUT!
Audio Commentary with actors Christopher Lee and Sarah Lawson!
Black Magic: The Making of THE DEVIL RIDES OUT
Dennis Wheatley at Hammer.
World of Hammer episode – HAMMER.
Theatrical Trailers
Still Gallery
Scream Factory's release of THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is (comparatively) the best release of this particular title you can get on planet Earth! This Hammer classic is now available and should cost approximately $23! Order a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY.
A TRIO OF YOUNG DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS FIND OUT WHY NO ONE GOES DOWN THE "WITCH PATH" IN THIS SWEDISH FOUND FOOTAGE FLICK!
As I stated not too long ago when I was posting about SCOOTER, I'm not a found footage enthusiast, though I've experienced enough good examples of the sub-genre over the years to not fully write it off. It takes planning and precision and the right hook to keep your audience interested! DOCUMENTING THE WITCH PATH pulls this off by injecting some dark history into the mix, and has its three leads seeking out a secluded lake where innocent people, accused of witchcraft back in the 1600s were drowned for their imaginary crimes!
While a future DVD release of this film is likely, DOCUMENTING THE WITCH PATH is currently only available to watch online via AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, GOOGLE PLAY, TUBI TV, and YOUTUBE!
Synopsis: Inspired by actual events, this film follows three young documentary filmmakers, (Nathaniel P. Erlandsson, Robin Franzen and writer/director Carl Sundstrom). Together, they discover a path in the woods, which leads to a lake known as Witch Lake. Accused of witchcraft during the 17th century, many innocent men, women and children were drowned in this now infamous lake. With the entrance to the path covered and the lake closed to the public, the filmmakers venture into the woods in search of a horrifying truth.
