Jean Reno returns to TV in Arrow Films' JO: SEASON ONE (review)

Jean Reno (CRIMSON RIVERS) returns to French television in this British/French crime series as Jo St. Clair, a detective with a drug addiction given two years to live unless he can straighten himself out.  As he tries to build a relationship with his estranged daughter and her drug pusher boyfriend, Jo and his team investigate a series of twisty murder cases around Paris.  Also starring Tom Austen (TV's THE BORGIAS), Jill Hennessy (TV's CROSSING JORDAN), and Sean Pertwee (EVENT HORIZON).



REVIEW LINK: Arrow Films (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

JO: SEASON ONE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Eight episodes on two dual-layer DVDs

More Arrow Films reviews at Update the Tags: Arrow Films.

Scorpion Releasing is WOMBLING FREE! (review)

The much-loved Wombles of Elizabeth Beresford's series of books and the BBC children's TV series make their leap to the big screen in WOMBLING FREE.  The Wombles of Wimbledon Court must convince the suburb's residents about the importance of recycling and conservation.  David Tomlinson (MARY POPPINS), Frances de la Tour (RISING DAMP), and Bernard Spear (CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG) star.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

WOMBLING FREE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Trailer

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

Scorpion Releasing gives in to an IRRESISTIBLE IMPULSE (review)

Hotshot real estate agent Richard Lovejoy owes his ex-wife five thousand dollars and a cutthroat loan shark twenty-five thousand dollars.  Swiping a hot lead from under a co-worker, Lovejoy tumbles headlong into a web of blackmail, forgery, and murder in this fleshy erotic thriller from Jag Mundhra (NIGHT EYES) starring Doug Jeffery, Jay Richardson, Kathy Shower, Wendy MacDonald, and Lee Anne Berman.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

IRRESISTIBLE IMPULSE DVD specs:

• Unrated Version (111 minutes)
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 original aspect ratio
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Trailer

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Arrow Video is DRESSED TO KILL (promo)

You can find DVDBeaver's coverage of Arrow's new Blu-ray of Brian De Palma's DRESSED TO KILL HERE, but take a look at this video preview of the disc's extensive extras:

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the feature
• Optional original uncompressed Mono 2.0 Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround Sound
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Symphony of Fear: Producer George Litto discusses his working relationship with Brian De Palma
• Dressed in White: Star Angie Dickinson on her role in the film
• Dressed in Purple: Star Nancy Allen discusses her role in the film
• Lessons in Filmmaking: Actor Keith Gordon discusses Dressed to Kill
• The Making of a Thriller – A documentary on the making of Dressed to Kill featuring writer-director Brian De Palma, George Litto, stars Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen, Dennis Franz and more!
• Unrated, R-Rated, and TV-Rated Comparison Featurette
• Slashing Dressed to Kill – Brian De Palma and stars Nancy Allen and Keith Gordon discuss the changes that had to be made to avoid an X-rating
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Gallery of behind-the-scenes images
• Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic and author Maitland McDonagh, and a new interview with poster designer Stephen Sayadian by Daniel Bird, illustrated with original archive stills and promotional material.

Scorpion Releasing guilty of IMPROPER CONDUCT (review)

When her sister (Tahnee Welch, COCOON) dies after losing a sexual harassment law suit against her boss (John Laughlin, CRIMES OF PASSION), Kayla (Lee Anne Beaman) goes undercover and becomes his new assistant in order to destroy him.  Steven Bauer (THIEF OF HEARTS), Nia Peeples (TV's THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Kathy Shower (DOUBLE EXPOSURE), and Stuart Whitman (SHATTER) also star.


REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)


IMPROPER CONDUCT DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 original aspect ratio
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Trailer

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

More Nordic Noir from Arrow Films: UNIT ONE: SERIES TWO (review)

The Danish National Police's elite Unit One is back to solve more baffling cases in the second series. 

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Films (UK) Region 2 PAL (DVDBeaver)

UNIT ONE: SERIES TWO DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.73:1 widescreen
• Danish Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Seven episodes on two dual-layer discs.

More Arrow Films reviews at Update the Tags: Arrow Films.

Vinegar Syndrome battles THE VIXENS OF KUNG-FU in ORIENTAL BLUE (review)

Vinegar Syndrome's latest Drive-In Collection entry is a pair of decidedly non-PC "oriental" X-rated films from the golden age of adult films.  A wounded prostitute is taken in by THE VIXENS OF KUNG-FU and is trained for the ultimate sexual confrontation against a foe who knows the "Golden Dragon Raising Head" technique.  In ORIENTAL BLUE, white slaver Madame Blue sends her best procurers to fill an order from the World Bordello Association.  Bree Anthony, C.J. Laing, Jamie Gillis, Bobby Astyr, and Juliet Graham are among the familiar faces in both features.


REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE VIXENS OF KUNG-FU/ORIENTAL BLUE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Synapse Films cleans up STREET TRASH (review)

Prolific Steadicam operator/director of photography Jim Muro gives a new definition to the meaning of "rotgut" in his eighties cult classic feature debut STREET TRASH.  A sixty-year-old case of "Tenafly Viper" is melting the insides (and outsides) of New York's homeless population, but hobo Fred has more pressing things to worry about like a psychotic Nam vet and the mafia on his tail.

REVIEW LINK: Synapse Films (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

STREET TRASH Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by writer/producer Roy Frumkes
• Audio Commentary by director Jim Muro
• "Meltdown Memoirs" two hour retrospective documentary
• Original 16mm STREET TRASH short film
• Interview with actress Jane Arakawa
• Theatrical Trailer
• Deleted Scenes and Outtakes

More Impulse Pictures reviews at Update the Tags: Synapse Films.

Arrow Video hops aboard a RUNAWAY TRAIN (promo)

You can find DVDBeaver's review of Arrow Video's new Blu-ray/DVD combo release of the Cannon action/arthouse hit RUNAWAY TRAIN HERE!, but check out this promo video for a preview of the film and the release's special features:

• High Definition transfer of the film prepared by MGM for the Cannes Film Festival premiere
• High Definition Blu-ray and Standard Definition DVD presentation of the film
• Uncompressed LPCM 2.0 stereo (Blu-ray) and Dolby Digital 2.0 surround (DVD)
• Optional English SDH Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Running on Empty – An Interview with director Andrei Konchalovsky
• From Thespian to Fugitive – Star Jon Voight shares his memories of his Academy Award-nominated role
• Sweet and Savage: Eric Roberts recalls his Academy Award-nominated performance
• The Calm Before the Chaos – Co-star Kyle T. Heffner remembers Runaway Train
• Trailer with commentary by Rod Lurie
• Original Trailer
• Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michael Brooke, a new interview with Runaway Train’s Production Designer Stephen Marsh conducted by Calum Waddell and the original Life Magazine article that inspired the film, illustrated with rare behind-the-scenes production images.

More Nordic Noir from Arrow Films with UNIT ONE: SERIES ONE (review)

Ingrid Dahl runs into no amount of resistance and resentment when she is appointed as the first female head of homicide for the Danish National Police's elite Unit One.  In the first series' nine episodes, the unit is called all over Denmark to solve cases that have the local police baffled while dealing with the strain the job has on their personal relationships (including no small share of tragedy, domestic strife, and betrayal).  HANNIBAL's Mads Mikkelsen is part of the show's fine ensemble cast.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Films (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)


UNIT ONE: SERIES ONE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.73:1 widescreen
• Danish Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Nine episodes on three dual-layer discs.

More Arrow Films reviews at Update the Tags: Arrow Films.

Vinegar Syndrome books a PUNK VACATION (review)

It's rednecks versus punk bikers in the 1987 small town action flick PUNK VACATION.  When punks kill her father and terrorize her baby sister, Lisa takes the law into her own hands and gets captured.  When her cop boyfriend and his partner kill some of the punks in the rescue attempt, the punks declare war on the town; fortunately, the sheriff and the local gun club are already on the offensive.  In the even rarer bonus feature NOMAD RIDERS, a cop goes after the mob when they kill his wife and kid.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

PUNK VACATION Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Still Gallery
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Interview with producer/actor Stephen Fusci
• Interview with stuntman Steven Rowland
• Bonus Feature Film: NOMAD RIDERS (1982)

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Warner Archives ascends THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (review)

In this seventies retelling of Robert Siodmak's classic thriller THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (based on the Ethel Lina White novel "Some Must Watch") Jacqueline Bisset plays Helen, a beautiful young woman struck dumb by a traumatic event.  Staying on her grandmother's country estate on a dark and stormy night without power, Helen must evade a killer who has a thing for handicapped women.  Christopher Plummer, John Philip Law, Gayle Hunnicutt, and Sam Wanamaker also star.  From Peter Collinson, director of FRIGHT, STRAIGHT ON TILL MORNING, and TEN LITTLE INDIANS.


REVIEW LINK: Warner Archive (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD-R (DVD Drive-in)


THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE DVD-R specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

Shout! Factory serves up a KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE (review)

REVIEW LINK: Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono
•  Audio commentary with director John Landis, writers Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, and producer Robert K. Weiss
• "A Conversation With David and Jerry Zucker" interview (62 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailer

More Shout! Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Shout Factory.

Scorpion Releasing explores THE DARK SIDE OF GENIUS (review)

Soap starlet Finola Hughes (GENERAL HOSPITAL) plays a cynical young art critic who becomes obsessed with a painter (Brent Fraser, WILD ORCHID II) recently released from an institution after murdering the subject of his last painting.  Could she be next?  Also starring Seymour Cassell (MINNIE & MOSKOWITZ), Patrick Bauchau (PHENOMENA) and Moon Zappa (NATIONAL LAMPOON'S EUROPEAN VACATION).

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

DARK SIDE OF GENIUS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Interview with actor Brent David Fraser
• Interview with actress Finola Hughes
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers
• Optional Katarina's Nightmare Theater playback mode

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

Arrow Films battles THE RETURNED (review)

The 2004 film that inspired the new Studio Canal series LES REVENANTS, THE RETURNED (aka THEY CAME BACK) details the effect on a French town when their dead loved ones inexplicably return to life.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Films (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE RETURNED DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• French Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles

More Arrow Films reviews at Update the Tags: Arrow Films.

Scream Factory looks into THE FOG (review)

The residents of Antonio Bay are in for hell of a night on the hundredth anniversary of the founding of their little town when the fog rolls in...  John Carpenter's chilling 1979 classic gets a cinematographer-supervised HD overhaul on Blu-ray courtesy of Shout! Factory and their Scream Factory line of collector's editions with all of the extras from the previous DVD edition as well as a brand new commentary (with actors Adrienne Barbeau and Tom Atkins as well as production designer Tommy Lee Wallace) and new interviews with the cast and crew.  Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, and Hal Holbrook also star.

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

THE FOG Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by director John Carpenter and producer Debra Hill
• Audio Commentary by actress Adrienne Barbeau, actor Tom Atkins, and production designer/editor Tommy Lee Wallace
• "My Time With Terror" interview with Jamie Lee Curtis
• "Dean of Darkness" interview with Dean Cundey 
• "Fear on Film: Inside The Fog"
• "Tales From The Mist: Inside THE FOG"
• Storyboard to Film
• "Horror's Hallowed Ground" a Look at the Film's Locations
• Outtakes
• Special Effects Tests
• Theatrical Trailers
• TV Spots
• Photo Gallery
• Storyboards

More Scream Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Scream Factory.

Arrow Video drives THE CAR out onto Blu-ray (promo)

You can find a review of Arrow Video's Blu-ray of Elliot Silverstein's 70's horror classic THE CAR at DVDBeaver, but take a look at this promotional piece from Arrow:

• High Definition presentation (1080p), on Blu-ray for the first time in the world!
• Uncompressed LPCM 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary with director Elliot Silverstein, moderated by Calum Waddell
• “Making a Mechanical Monster” – Special effects artist William Alridge remembers The Car
• “Hitchhike to Hell” – Actor John Rubinstein recalls becoming a victim of The Car
• Trailer commentary by director and The Car fan John Landis
• Original Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Wilson
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Cullen Gallagher as well as a brand new interview with co-writer Michael Butler, conducted by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and artwork
• Easter Egg

Scorpion Releasing's TOMBOY lets her hair down (Review)

Fresh off of PRIVATE SCHOOL, Betsy Russell is the titular TOMBOY, a skilled mechanic out to show everyone - including her race car driving crush (SUPERBOY's Gerard Christopher) - that "It's not just a man's world anymore" in this enjoyable eighties R-rated Crown International flick also starring Eric Douglas (THE GOLDEN CHILD) and Kristi Somers (HELL COMES TO FROGTOWN) and featuring a topless cameo by Michelle Bauer (HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS).

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

TOMBOY DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Interview with actress Betsy Russell
• Trailer
• TV Spot
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers
• Optional "Katarina's Kat's Meow" Playback Mode

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

Arrow Films goes Scandi-Crime with EXIT (review)

A pre-HANNIBAL Mads Mikkelsen and pre-TRUE BLOOD Alexander Skarsgard star in this Swedish thriller film about the cut-throat world of finance.  A business executive finds himself the prime suspect in the murder of his mentor and blackmailed by the real killer.  On the run and trying to prove his innocence, he finds himself at the mercy of his business rivals and having to get his hands dirty when his family is threatened.


REVIEW LINK: Arrow Films (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

EXIT DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Swedish/Danish/English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Making-of

More Arrow Films reviews at Update the Tags: Arrow Films.

88 Films takes sides on ZOMBIES VS. STRIPPERS (review)

Times are rough at the Tuff Titty strip club and boss Spider is thinking of selling, but the few stiffs in the seats are nothing compared to the teeming hordes of flesh eaters laying siege on the club to STRIP YOUR FLESH!

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

ZOMBIES VS STRIPPERS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• The Making of "Zombies vs Strippers"
• Still Gallery
• Trailer
• Full Moon Trailer Park

More 88 Films and Full Moon reviews at Update the Tags: 88 Films.