Blue Underground tangles with THE BRONX WARRIORS (review)

Enzo G. Castellari's trilogy of Italian Grindhouse exploitation drawing from both ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and the MAD MAX series hits Blu-ray/DVD combo from Blue Underground.  In 1990: THE BRONX WARRIORS, an heiress escapes Manhattan into the "No Man's Land" of the Bronx and hooks up with The Riders.  A ruthless and sadistic cop enters the territory and turns the gangs against one another in an effort to retrieve her.  In ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX, the residents of the Bronx are being rounded up and executed in order to make room for the "New York of the Future" for the rich.  In THE NEW BARBARIANS, The Templars exterminate any survivors of the 2019 nuclear apocalypse until a lone soldier rises up against them.  The series features stars like Vic Morrow, Christopher Connelly, Fred Williamson, and Henry Silva with music by Walter Rizzati (HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY), Francesco de Masi (ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX), and Goblin's Claudio Simonetti (THE NEW BARBARIANS).

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

1990: THE BRONX WARRIORS Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH, Franch, and Spanish subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Enzo G. Castellari
• "Enzo G. Castellari and producer Fabrizio de Angelis in Conversation" Part 1
• Interview with actor Massimo Vanni
• Visit to Weapons Designer Paolo Ricci's Warehouse
• Italian and International Trailers
• Still Gallery

ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• DVD: 
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Enzo G. Castellari
• "Enzo G. Castellari and Fabrizio de Angelis in Conversation" Part 3
• Interview with super fan Lance Manley
• Italian and International Trailers
• Poster and Still Gallery

THE NEW BARBARIAN Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Enzo G. Castellari 
• "Enzo G. Castellari and Fabrizio de Angelis in Conversation" Part 2
• Interview with Fred Williamson
• Italian and International Trailers
• Poster and Still Gallery

Arrow Video USA purrs for STRAY CAT ROCK (review)

In the hastily-made, completely unpredictable, and thoroughly off-the-wall quintet of delinquent girl films from Nikkatsu just before its bankruptcy and reinvention as the go-to company for Roman Porno, future FEMALE CONVICT SCORPION/LADY SNOWBLOOD Meiko Kaji and a host of up and coming regulars fight shady organizations, racist male biker gangs, and other horny girl gangs.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video USA (US) Region A/B Blu-ray/Region 1/2 DVD (DVD Drive-in)

STRAY CAT ROCK Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Disc One (Blu-ray):
• "Delinquent Girl Boss", "Wild Jumbo" and "Sex Hunter"
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• Japanese LPCM 1.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Trailers for "Wild Jumbo" and "Sex Hunter"
• Disc Two (Blu-ray):
• "Machine Animal" and "Beat '71"
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• Japanese LPCM 1.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Interviews with director Yasuharu Hasebe, and actors Tatsuya Fuji and Yoshio Harada
• Trailers for "Machine Animal" and "Beat '71"
• Disc Three (DVD):
• "Delinquent Girl Boss" and "Wild Jumbo"
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Trailer for "Wild Jumbo"
• Disc Four (DVD):
• "Sex Hunter" and "Machine Animal"
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Trailers for "Sex Hunter" and "Machine Animal"
• Disc Five (DVD):
• "Beat '71"
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Japanese Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Interview with director Yasuharu Hasebe, and actors Tatsuya Fuji and Yoshio Harada
• Trailer for "Beat '71"
• Liner Notes Booklet by Japanese film expert Jasper Sharp

LionsGate travels BEYOND THE REACH (review)

When an arrogant corporate shark on the hunt for another trophy in the Mojave Desert accidentally kills a hermit, his guide becomes the prey in a 130 degree plus endurance test across the desert.  Michael Douglas and Jeremy Irvine star in this adaptation of the Robb White novel "Deathwatch".

REVIEW LINK: LionsGate (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

BEYOND THE REACH Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by director Jean-Baptiste Leonetti, actor/producer Michael Douglas and producer Robert Mitas 
• "The Making of BEYOND THE REACH"
• "Six Wheeling: Inside and Outside the Ultimate Ride"
• Digital HD Download of the Unrated Version (R-rated version on Blu-ray)

Paramount Pictures soaks up THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER (review)

Nickelodeon's Spongebob Square Pants makes waves in our world in this animated/live action hybrid in which the Cotton Candy-brained fry cook and his pals battle pirate Burger Beard to recover the secret formula for Krabby Patties.  Antonio Banderas stars.

REVIEW LINK: Paramount Pictures (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• "On the Surface" featurettes:
• "SpongeBob SquarePants: Out of His World "
• "When I Grow Up, I Want to Make Funny Sounds"
• "Becoming Burger Beard"
• "Making the Burger Mobile Chase Sequence"
• "It's Hip to Be SquarePants"
• "A Day in the Life of a Sponge" (2:33)
• "Underwater Awesomeness" featurettes
• "Plankton Rules the World!"
• "Bikini Bottom Confidential: Rock Stars of the Sea"
• "International Sponge of Mystery" multi-language montages:
• Meeting Bubbles
• The Speech
• "Bikini Bottom Boogie"
• "Thank Gosh It's Monday" short
• "SpongeBob Sing-Alongs":
• "Thank Gosh It's Monday"
• "Teamwork"
• "Theme Song/Rap Battle"
• "Squeeze Me" music video by N.E.R.D (2:35)
• Deleted/Extended/Alternate/Test Scenes
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, and Spanish subtitles
• Previews
• Digital HD Download Code

Vinegar Syndrome digs up CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD and stays at HOUSE OF THE LIVING DEAD (review)

Vinegar Syndrome's limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo brings together two memorable seventies grindhouse flicks.  In CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Chris travels to a Mediterranean Island after the death of his father and - along with failed writer Peter and his schoolteacher sister Mary - discovers the tomb of Hannah, the bride of Louis VII who was buried alive when she was turned into a vampire.  When Hannah is unleashed, she menaces the island and puts the bite on the locals.  Andrew Prine, Mark Damon, Paty Shepard, and Teresa Gimpera star.  In HOUSE OF THE LIVING DEAD, a madman who has found a way to separate souls from their bodies and trap them menaces a South African vineyard and its inhabitants.  Mark Burns stars.

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

CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD/HOUSE OF THE LIVING DEAD Blu-ray/DVD combo:

• 2K scan of CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD from the 35mm internegative
• 2K scan of HOUSE OF THE LIVING DEAD from a 35mm archival print
• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen (Crypt of the Living Dead)
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen (House of the Living Dead)
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen (Crypt of the Living Dead)
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen (House of the Living Dead)
• English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Alternate Title Card and Theatrical Trailer for CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD

Limited Edition available exclusively from Vinegar Syndrome!

Vinegar Syndrome has ANTICIPATION in the FLESH POND (review)

Carlos Tobalina is back in this duo of eighties adult films from Vinegar Syndrome.  In ANTICIPATION, the family that lays together stays together as two brothers find themselves inexplicably attracted to each others' wives.  In FLESH POND, a pair of escaped convicts hold up in a swingers club and demand entertainment, finding themselves to be the captive audience.

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

ANTICIPATION/FLESH POND DVD specs:

• 2K restorations from the original 35mm camera negatives
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Trailers for both films

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

Scream Factory presents THE OUTING/THE GODSEND (Review)

In this double feature, a group of teenagers run afoul of a malicious genie while trapped in a museum in THE OUTING (AKA The Lamp).  THE GODSEND is a beautiful blond baby left in the home of a happy family by a troubled single mother.  As little Bonny grows up, there's no room for the other kids in the family who start meeting with grisly accidents.

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

THE OUTING/THE GODSEND Blu-ray specs:

• The Outing (AKA The Lamp):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• The Godsend:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer

Cinema Libre celebrates DAYS OF GRACE (review)

The lives of several Mexican citizens converge in three kidnappings over a period of eight years and three successive soccer World Cups in the award-winning DAYS OF GRACE.  A cop investigating the kidnapping of a TV star becomes disillusioned by widespread departmental corruption, an abduction victim tries to win the trust and sympathy of his reluctant young guard, and a housewife takes it upon herself to ensure her husband's release when the police and his business cannot come through.

REVIEW: Cinema Libre (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

DAYS OF GRACE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC multiple aspect ratio (1.85:1, 2.4:1, and 3:1) widescreen
• Spanish Dolby Digital 5.0 and 2.0 stereo
• Burnt-in English subtitles
• Optional English captions
• Featurettes:
• "The Visual Aesthetic"
• "Creating the Scores"
• "Pre-Production Process"
• "Making Music"
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Previews

Arrow Films peers through FOG AND CRIMES: SEASON 2 (review)

Inspector Soneri returns in this second season of cases inspired by the novels of Valerio Varesi.  CANNIBAL HOLCAUST's Luca Barbareschi stars as the detective digging up the dark secrets of crimes present and past along the River Po in six mysteries involving the suspicious suicide of an elderly couple, a murdered prostitute, a hit-and-run that proves to be intentional when another identical one occurs, a murdered would-be teenage actress, the death of a lawyer who built a career on making enemies, and a traumatized child who may be the only witness to the murder of a Russian maid.  ITALY'S NEXT TOP MODEL hostess Natasha Stefanenko co-stars.

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

FOG AND CRIMES: SEASON 2 DVD specs:

• Six feature-length episodes on three dual-layer discs
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.78:1 letterbox
• Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles

More Arrow Films reviews at Review Archive: Arrow Films.

Strand Releasing bakes CUPCAKES (review)

From the director of YOSSI AND JAGGER and THE BUBBLE comes this sweet Israeli comedy about six friends who are vaulted into stardom when their uplifting song is picked for the international Universong contest.

REVIEW LINK: Strand Releasing (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

CUPCAKES DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Hebrew Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Strand Releasing Trailers

More Strand Releasing reviews at Review Archive: Strand Releasing.

Vinegar Syndrome travel with THE FLYING ACQUAINTANCES (review)

Jamie Gillis and Darby Lloyd rains star in this once lost softcore seventies oddity about a group of stewardesses who trade sex for fun opportunities.

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

THE FLYING ACQUAINTANCES DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Theatrical Trailer
• Outtakes
• Promo Still Gallery

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

Vinegar Syndrome stalked on the NIGHT OF THE STRANGLER (review)

THE MONKEES' Micky Dolenz stars in this thriller about a family vendetta against a background of racial violence in New Orleans with death by cobra, knives, guns, and zero stranglings.  From director Joy N. Houck, Jr. (NIGHT OF BLOODY HORROR and CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE).

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

NIGHT OF THE STRANGLER DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 1.0

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

Strand Releasing is BIG IN JAPAN (review)

Struggling Seattle band Tennis Pro are approached by Alex Vincent of the band Green River (which later became Pearl Jam without him) about trying to strike it big in Japan.  Selling their valuables and making promises to their loved ones, Phil, David, and Sean are launched on an odyssey of sketchy venues, love hotels, strange food and drink, and other wonders in this road trip comedy/docudrama.

REVIEW LINK: Strand Releasing (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

BIG IN JAPAN DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Tennis Pro
• Audio Commentary by director John Jeffcoat and cinematographer Ryan McMackin
• Behind the Scenes
• Interview with Tennis Pro and John Jeffcoat
• Five Music Videos
• Theatrical Trailer
• Strand Releasing Trailers

Revolver Entertainment spooks an APPARITION (review)

After the death of his fiancee in a car wreck, guilt-ridden Doug retreats to their remote countryside fixer upper rumored to be haunted by the ghost of the country's first female serial killer.

REVIEW LINK: Revolver Entertainment (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

APPARITION DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo

Revolver Entertainment presents AS NIGHT COMES (review)

New York transplant Sean Holloway falls in with high school gang of Ricky Gladstone in a battle against the privileged jocks and princesses that turns into an all out social revolution on a "Mischief Night" no one will ever forget.

REVIEW LINK: Revolver Entertainment (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

AS NIGHT COMES DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Richard Zelnicker and actor/producer Jesse Kove
• Actor's Roundtable
• Behind the Scenes
• Deleted Scenes
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Traile

Arrow Video revs up at the PIT STOP (review)

Jack Hill and Roger Corman team together for the first time on this ultimate stock car racing noir about an underdog who becomes utterly ruthless in his drive to win.  Richard Davalos, Beverly Washburn, Brian Donleavy, Sid Haig, and Ellen Burstyn star.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video USA (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD combo (DVD Drive-in)

PIT STOP Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English LPCM 1.0 mono
• DVD: 
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Jack Hill
• Interview with director Jack Hill
• Interview with actor Sid Haig
• Interview with producer Roger Corman
• Restoration Demo
• Theatrical Trailer
• Essay Booklet

Arrow Video USA contributes to SOCIETY (review)

Producer Brian Yuzna (RE-ANIMATOR) makes his directorial debut with this surreal story of the differences between the haves and have-nots.  Beverly Hills Academy basketball star Billy Whitney seems to have it all, but he does not understand why he does not fit in and why he feels like a completely different species from his family and rich friends.  BAYWATCH's Billy Warlock stars.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video USA (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

SOCIETY Blu-ray/DVD combo:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 stereo
• DVD: 
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Brian Yuzna, moderated by David Gregory
• Interview with director Brian Yuzna
• Interview with actors Billy Warlock, Tim Bartell, Ben Meyerson, and actress Devin DeVasquez
• Interview with effects artists Screaming Mad George, Dave Grasso, and Nick Benson
• 2014 Q and A with Brian Yuzna
• Screaming Mad George Music Video
• Brian Yuzna intro at the London Scala Cinema World Premiere
• Theatrical Trailer
• Liner Notes Booklet
• Sequel Comic (Limited Edition Only - Standard Edition minus comic available in September)

Arrow Films bequeathes THE LEGACY: SEASON ONE (review)

From the producers of THE KILLING and BORGEN come this irresistable Danish drama of family secrets and intrigue.  When artist Veronica Gronnegaard dies, her eldest son Frederik expects to inherit the house, her daughter Gro expects to turn the house into a museum, and her youngest Emil is left without a way to pay back the gangster he borrowed money from to realize his Thai resort.  They are all in for a shock when they discover that Veronica has left a deathbed will bequeathing the house to her illegitimate daughter Signe.  The ensuing legal battle unearths painful secrets, blackmail, and threatens to destroy the entire family.

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

THE LEGACY: Season One DVD specs:

• Ten episodes on four discs (9+ hours)
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• Danish Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English subtitles
• Start-up Trailers on Disc One

More Arrow Films reviews at Review Archive: Arrow Films.

Scream Factory haunts the GHOSTHOUSE with a bit of WITCHERY (review)

Scream Factory brings you this double bill of late eighties Italian horror sold in their native country as sequels to THE EVIL DEAD.  In GHOSTHOUSE from Umberto Lenzi (CANNIBAL FEROX), young people in a house where brutal murders occurred twenty years before are haunted by the ghost of a little girl and her creepy clown doll.  Lara Wendel (TENEBRAE) and Donald O'Brien (DR. BUTCHER M.D.) star.  In WITCHERY - also known as WITCHCRAFT: EVIL ENCOUNTERS - a group of people stranded at a deserted island hotel fall victim to supernatural mayhem.  David Hasselhoff and Linda Blair star along with Catherine Hickland and Leslie Cumming.

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

GHOSTHOUSE/WITCHERY Blu-ray specs:

• Ghosthouse (1988):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Witchery (1988):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer

More Scream Factory reviews at Review Archive: Scream Factory.

Well Go USA and Tsui Hark present THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN (review)

Tsui Hark returns with this epic tale in which a small unit of the People's Liberation Army takes on the thousand strong army of bandit Lord Hawk who has been raising the villages of Northeastern China after the Japanese surrender of World War II.  The only way to overcome these odds is to infiltrate Lord Hawk's fortress on Tiger Mountain posing as a bandit to destroy it from within.

REVIEW LINK: Well Go USA (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Cast and Director Interviews
• Theatrical Trailer
• Previews

LionsGate stands up for THE DUFF (review)

Hipster Bianca's world is turned upside down when she discovers the high school social label DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) and that she is one of them.  Hoping to overcome that label, she enlists the help of an obnoxious but charming jock, sending his "mean girl" ex goes on the warpath via social media in this teen comedy starring Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, and COMMUNITY's Ken Jeong.

REVIEW LINK: LionsGate (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

THE DUFF Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles
• "The DUFF on the Red Carpet"
• "Bringing the Book to Life"
• "The DUFF and Teen Comedies"
• "I am The DUFF"
• "The DUFF Files" character profiles
• Digital Download Code

LionsGate dances with AMERICAN BAD BOY (review)

When pastor's son Samuel racks up eighty thousand dollars in studio and equipment fees working on his hip-hop album, he is forced to strip on the dance floor to pay back club owner/loan shark Da Bruce (comedian Katt Williams) while trying to hide his nighttime activities from his father's parishioners and his trusting fiancee.

REVIEW LINK: LionsGate (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

AMERICAN BAD BOY DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widecreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional Spanish subtitles
• English Closed Captioning
• "Testimony" music video by Fella Soul
• Trailer
• Still Gallery
• Previews

LionsGate runs the ASYLUM (review)

Stephen Rea stars in this train wreck of a horror film as a hostage negotiator who joins a riot squad infiltrating an asylum only to discover that demonic possession is causing the inmates and staff to kill each other and anyone who enters the ASYLUM.

REVIEW LINK: LionsGate (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

ASYLUM DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1/1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles
• English Closed Captioning
• Previews
• Digital Download Code

Scream Factory zips up for SLEEPAWAY CAMP II and III (review)

More than the bed bugs will be biting when ill-fated campers head to SLEEPAWAY CAMP in this pair of sequels to the 1986 cult classic.  Pamela Springsteen (Bruce's sister) plays the camp counselor from hell who roots out the camp's bad apples with axes, chainsaws, knives, fire, acid, and a Mack Truck! 

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

SLEEPAWAY CAMP II: UNHAPPY CAMPERS Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Michael A. Simpson and writer Fritz Gordon
• "A Tale of Two Sequels" Part 1
• Behind the Scenes with commentary by director Michael A. Simpson
• "Abandoned Locations" location visit
• Still Gallery
• "What Happened to Molly?" short film
• Home Video Trailer
• Reversible Cover

SLEEPAWAY CAMP III: TEENAGE WASTELAND Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Michael A. Simpson and writer Fritz Gordon
• "A Tale of Two Sequels" Part 2
• Behind the Scenes with commentary by director Michael A. Simpson
• Deleted Gore Scenes
• Full VHS Workprint Cut (84 minutes)
• Still Gallery
• "Tony Lives" short film
• Home Video Trailer
• Reversible Cover

More Scream Factory reviews at Review Archive: Scream Factory.

Warner Archive takes a bite out of WOLFEN (review)

In this tense horror film from the director WOODSTOCK and the author of THE HUNGER, a detective and a criminal psychologist investigate the savage murders of an old money real estate mogul and his wife and tie them to similar killings in the derelic South Bronx and discover that the killer may not be human.  Albert Finney, Diane Venora, Gregory Hines, Tom Noonan, and Dick O'Neil star.

REVIEW LINK: Warner Archive (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

WOLFEN Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer

Retromedia revs up HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS (review)

Michelle Bauer, Linnea Quigley, Jay Richardson, and Gunnar Hansen star in Fred Olen Ray's cult classic HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS.  When slice-happy sluts start making Chicken McNuggets out of unsuspecting johns, a hardboiled detective wonders if his latest comely missing persons case has gotten mixed up with an ancient Egyptian cult that worships Horus and chainsaws.

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

HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Audio Commentary by director Fred Olen Ray, moderated by David DeCoteau
• "Remembering HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS 27 Years Later" featurette
• Original DVD Retrospective Featurette
• Nite Owl Theater Introduction
• Hollywood Premiere Clip
• Theatrical Trailer 

Paramount Pictures conducts PROJECT ALMANAC (review)

In this stimulating science fiction film from producer Michael Bay, an MIT hopeful, his sister, his pals, and his high school crush discover plans for a time machine and build it.  Testing it out to relive and redo parts of their social lives, they soon realize that the changes they are making have widespread and unpredictable repercussions.

REVIEW LINK: Paramount Pictures (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD/Digital HD (DVDCompare)

PROJECT ALMANAC Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 5.1; French Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1; Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitles
• Alternate Opening
• Deleted Scenes
• Two Alternate Endings
• DVD: 
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1; English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 5.1; French Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitles
• Previews
• Digital HD download code

Film Movement leafs through THE PILLOW BOOK (review)

Peter Greenaway's exploration of the erotic intersections of flesh and text THE PILLOW BOOK hits Blu-ray from Film Movement.  Ewan McGregor and Vivian Wu star.  With cinematography by Sasha Vierney (LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD).

REVIEW LINK: Film Movement (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDBeaver)

THE PILLOW BOOK Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 original aspect ratio
• Japanese/Chinese/English LPCM 2.0 stereo
• Burnt-in English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Peter Greenaway (38 mins)
• Theatrical Trailer
• Film Movement Trailers
• Liner Notes Booklet by Nicolas Rapold

More Film Movement reviews at Update the Tags: Film Movement.

Scream Factory gets a case of STIGMATA (review)

Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne, Nia Long, and Jonathan Pryce star in this turn-of-the-Millennium thriller STIGMATA in which the investigation into an atheist symptoms of stigmata and possession lead to a secret that could unseat the authority of the Catholic Church.

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

STIGMATA Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Rupert Wainwright
• Deleted Scenes with Alternate Ending
• "Divine Rites" Behind the Scenes featurette
• "Incredible But True" documentary
• Theatrical Trailer
• Natalie Imbruglia Music Video

More Scream Factory reviews at Review Archive: Scream Factory.

Grindhouse Releasing chomps on CANNIBAL FEROX (review)

Umberto Lenzi's gory cinematic endurance test CANNIBAL FEROX hits Blu-ray courtesy of Grindhouse Releasing.  When two drug dealers rip off the mob, they flee New York to Colombia in search of emeralds and run afoul of cannibals.  Also on the menu are an NYU graduate student, her brother, and their hot-to-trot friend.  "Too disgusting to watch... Too bizarre to resist!"

REVIEW LINK: Grindhouse Releasing (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

CANNIBAL FEROX Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo and 1.0 mono
• Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Umberto Lenzi and actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice
• "Eaten Alive: The Rise and Fall of the Cannibal Film"
• Theatrical Trailers
• Easter Eggs
• 1997 Hollywood Premiere
• Disc Two:
• Interviews:
• director Umberto Lenzi
• actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice (50 minutes)
• actor Danilo Mattei
• actress Zora Kerowa
• effects artist Gino de Rossi
• Still Galleries
• Grindhouse Releasing Trailers
• Easter Eggs
• Disc Three:
• 40-track remastered CD soundtrack