Arrow Video gives voice to a MUTE WITNESS in 4K (review)

Working on a low-budget horror film in Moscow, mute make-up effects artist Billie Hughes gets locked into the studio overnight and discovers a snuff film being shot.  As she tries to prove that she knows the difference between reality and illusion, the killers are attempting to silence her for good.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (US/UK) Region ALL 4K UltraHD (DVDCompare)

MUTE WITNESS 4K UltraHD specs:

• 2160p24 HEVC 2.33:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by writer/director Anthony Waller 
• Audio Commentary by production designer Matthias Kammermeier and composer Wilbert Hirsch, moderated by critic Lee Gambin 
• "The Silent Death: Snuff Films and MUTE WITNESS" visual essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas 
• "The Wizard Behind the Curtain: Films Within Films and MUTE WITNESS" visual essay by author and critic Chris Alexander 
• "Snuff Movie: Presentation Video" circa 1992 presentation produced to generate interest from investors and distributors, featuring interviews with Anthony Waller and members of the creative team 
• Original Boston Location Scouting Footage 
• "Alec Guinness footage" filmed a decade prior to the rest of MUTE WITNESS 
• Teaser Trailer 
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Image Gallery 
• Comes with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais. 
• The first pressing includes a double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais, and a 20-page liner notes booklet "Seen But Not Heard: A Brief Exploration of Mute Women in Film" by Michelle Kisner. Also has information on the cast, crew, the transfer and acknowledgements.
  

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Also available on Blu-ray!

88 Films fights FEARLESS HYENA II (review)

When Jackie Chan walked out on his contract with Lo Wei, the producer/director had to complete an unfinished Chan film FEARLESS HYENA II in the dodgiest ways with recycled footage, unused footage, and even body doubles and fighting doubles in a car crash of an action film.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

FEARLESS HYENA II Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese, English, and alternate English dubs in DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by film historians Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto 
• "Fake Shemps: How FEARLESS HYENA II was Completed Without Jackie Chan" interview with film historian Steven Lawson 
• Export Opening Credits 
• Japanese End Credits 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• Japanese Theatrical Trailer 
• Stills Gallery 
• The first pressing includes a slipcase with new artwork by Kung Fu Bob O'Brien and booklet notes by David West.
   

88 Films learns with Jackie Chan how TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE (review)

Jackie Chan plays a young man whose family is wiped out be a powerful gang.  His quest for revenge sidetracks him into a series of other intrigues involving stolen gold, killer gangs, and an insidious plot.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region ALL 4K UltraHD/Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray Combo specs:

• Disc One (4K UltraHD):
• 2160p24 HEVC 2.35:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision) 
• Mandarin (Hong Kong theatrical) LPCM 2.0 Mono, Mandarin (Japanese theatrical) LPCM 2.0 Mono, Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Stereo, and English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles for Mandarin, Japanese Theatrical Mandarin, and Cantonese audio tracks 
• Audio Commentary by Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
• Disc Two (Blu-ray):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen 
• Mandarin (Hong Kong theatrical) LPCM 2.0 Mono, Mandarin (Japanese theatrical) LPCM 2.0 Mono, Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Stereo, and English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles for Mandarin, Japanese Theatrical Mandarin, and Cantonese audio tracks 
• Audio Commentary by Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto 
• "From the Lo Wei Vaults" Alternate Korean Footage from THE KILLER METEORS and SNAKE AND CRANE ARTS OF SHAOLIN 
• "Intriguingly Jackie" interview with Hong Kong cinema expert Rick Baker 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• Japanese Theatrical Trailer 
• Japanese Teaser 
• Japanese TV Spot 
• Japanese Credit Sequence 
• Lobby Card Gallery 
• Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
• Comes with a reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by Robert "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien & original the poster. 
• The first pressing includes a double-walled slipcover with artwork by Robert "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, an A3 foldout poster, and a 32-page booklet with new writing on the film by David West.
  

88 Films carves out PUMPKINHEAD II: BLOOD WINGS (review)

From Jeff Burr, the director of LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III, comes the nineties sequel to Stan Winston's PUMPKINHEAD.  When teenagers mess with the occult and resurrect the dead, a vengeful witch puts a curse on them.  Soon, Pumpkinhead is out and about terrorizing the residents of Ferren Woods but he has his own score to settle before getting to the increasingly terrified teens.  Andrew Robinson (HELLRAISER), Ami Dolenz (WITCHBOARD 2), J. Trevor Edmond (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3), Soleil Moon Frye (PUNKY BREWSTER), Gloria Hendry (BLACK CAESAR), Kane Hodder (FRIDAY THE 13TH), Joe Unger (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), R.A. Mihailoff (LEATHERFACE), and Linnea Quigley (NIGHT OF THE DEMONS) star.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

PUMPKINHEAD II: BLOOD WINGS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film journalists Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain 
• Audio Commentary by director Jeff Burr 
• "Monster Mash" interview with creature actor Mark McCracken 
• "The Creature Wore Tennis Shoes - Creating PUMPKINHEAD II" featurette 
• Behind the Scenes Footage 
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Still Gallery 
• The first pressing includes a gloss O-ring slipcover.
   

Second Sight investigates GONJIAM: HAUNTED ASYLUM (review)

After it appears on CNN's list of the seven "freakiest places" on Earth, a group of ambitious YouTubers decide to carry out a livestream paranormal investigation into the haunted hospital and discover that it is more than an urban legend in South Korea's first "found footage" horror movie.

REVIEW LINK: Second Sight (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

GONJIAM: HAUNTED ASYLUM Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Mary Beth McAndrews and Terry Mesnard 
• "Fear the Unknown: Zoë Rose Smith on GONJIAM: HAUNTED ASYLUM" 
• Archive Featuerettes: 
• "The Beginning of the Rumours" 
• "The New Faces" 
• "The Sanctum of Horror" 
• "The Truth of the Ghostlore" 
• "The Live Recording" 
• "The Press Conference" 
• Trailers 
• Comes in a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Luke Headland with a 70-page book featuring new essays by Sarah Appleton James Marsh, Meagan Navarro and Amber T, as well as six collectors' art cards.
   

Radiance Films wields a sword in SHINOBI (review)

In the SHINOBI films, Raizô Ichikawa plays a ninja-in-training who goes on a mission of vengeance against warlords who have massacred his family and his clan.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (US/UK) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

SHINOBI Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One:
• Band of Assassins:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.43:1 Widescreen 
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles
• Vengeance:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.43:1 Widescreen 
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles
• Interview with Shozo Ichiyama, artistic director of the Tokyo International Film
• Disc Two:
• Resurrection:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.43:1 Widescreen 
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles 
• "A Brief History of Ninja Films" visual essay by film scholar Mance Thompson 
• Interview with film critic Toshiaki Sato on star Raizo Ichikawa 
• Trailers: 
• "Band of Assassins" .
• "Revenge" 
• "Resurrection" 
• Limited edition of 3,000 copies, presented in a rigid box with two full-height Scanavo cases and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings. Includes six postcards of promotional material from the films, reversible sleeves featuring artwork based on original promotional materials, and a booklet featuring new writing by Jonathan Clements on the "Shinobi no mono" series and Diane Wei Lewis on writer Tomoyoshi Murayama.

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Film Masters avenges THE CRIPPLED MASTERS (review)

When two members of a gang are punished by having their limbs mutilated by their ruthless boss, an aged martial arts master helps them train to use their disabilities to their advantage and avenge themselves in THE CRIPPLED MASTERS.

REVIEW LINK: Film Masters (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE CRIPPLED MASTERS Blu-ray specs:

• Restored Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.38:1 Widescreen 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono 
• Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English SDH Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by The Important Cinema Club
• Raw Scan Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.38:1 Widescreen 
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono 
• "Kings of Kung Fu: Releasing the Legends" documentary 
• Kung Fu Film Trailer Compilation from Something Weird 
• Before/After Restoration 
• Theatrical Trailer 
• 2024 Re-cut Trailer 
• Comes with a 14-page liner notes booklet by Lawrence Carter-Long.
  

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