Lionsgate will INHERIT THE VIPER (Review)

A family with a strangehold on the Oxycontin trade in an Appalachian mill town starts to fracture when the brother wants to go straight and settle down with his pregnant girlfriend, and the sister tries to bring their younger brother into the business and is willing to silence anyone who tries to stop them.  Josh Hartnett, Margarita Levieva, Owen Teague, Chander Riggs, and Bruce Dern star.

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

INHERIT THE VIPER Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 Widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles
• Start-up Trailers
• Digital Copy Code
• Slipcover

Film Movement Classics gets a PASSPORT TO PIMLICO (review)

When the detonation of an unexploded bomb in the London suburb of Pimlico uncovers a treasure and a deed proclaiming the area as the property of the Duke of Burgundy, the residents find themselves cut off by the British government in an international incident that requires them as Burgundians to outsmart and outmaneuver their former countrymen.

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

PASSPORT TO PIMLICO Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Fullscreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Interview with BFI Curator Mark Duguid
• Locations Featurette with Film Historian Richard Dacre
• Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
• Restoration Comparison
• About Film Movement
• Booklet by film scholar Ronald Bergen

Masters of Cinema causes shivers with KWAIDAN (review)

From Japan comes the 1964 anthology of Lafcadio Hearn ghost stories KWAIDAN from THE HUMAN CONDITION director Masaki Kobayashi featuring vengeful ghosts, icy vampire women, and samurai ghosts.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

KWAIDAN Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Japanese LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• "Shadowings" video essay by film historian David Cairns
• Kim Newman on KWAIDAN
• B+W Theatrical Trailer
• 2 Colour Theatrical Trailers
• Limited edition 3000-copy O-card slipcase and 100-page Perfect Bound Illustrated Collector’s book featuring reprints of Lafcadio Hearn’s original ghost stories; a survey of the life and career of Masaki Kobayashi by Linda Hoaglund; and a wide ranging interview with the filmmaker

Vinegar Syndrome scrubs up with HARD SOAP, HARD SOAP for DISCO LADY (review)

In this pairing of Bob Chinn obscurities, HARD SOAP, HARD SOAP is not just a soap opera parody, but a parody of the soap opera satire MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN as an unfulfilled housewife decides to diagnose the sexual dysfunctions of her neighbors. In DISCO LADY, intrigue, sex, and tragedy come together at a nightclub on New Year's Eve.

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

HARD SOAP, HARD SOAP/DISCO LADY Blu-ray/DVD Combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen (Hard Soap, Hard Soap)
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen (Disco Lady)
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (both films)
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 Widescreen (Hard Soap, Hard Soap)
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen (Disco Lady)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (both films)
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Theatrical Trailers for both films
• Interview with director Bob Chinn
• Reversible Cover

88 Films bonds with BROTHERS TILL WE DIE (review)

Tomas Milian plays a dual role of a hunchback hood and his dim brother in Umberto Lenzi’s semi-comedic take on the Italian crime film genre.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

BROTHERS TILL WE DIE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth
• "Heart of Rome" interview with composer Antonello Venditti
• "Master of Funk" interview with composer Franco Micalizzi
• Introduction by EUROCRIME director Mike Malloy
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Reversible Cover
• Limited Edition Slipcover
• Limited Edition Booklet by Francesco Massaccesi

Synapse Films hits the slopes for HOT DOG... THE MOVIE! (review)

Hit the slopes with freestyle skiing pranksters, horny ski-bunnies, corrupt judges, and a nast Austrian opponent in one of the original ski sex comedies HOT DOG... THE MOVIE!

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

HOT DOG... THE MOVIE! Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commetnary by writer and co-producer Mike Marvin
• "HOT DOG: THE DOCUMENTARY" retrospective making-of with writer/producer Mike Marvin, director Peter Markle, and cast members David Naughton, John Patrick Reger, Tracy Smith, and Frank Koppola
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spot
• Radio Spots
• Music Video
• Liner notes by TEEN MOVIE HELL author Mike McPadden

Scorpion Releasing versus OPPOSING FORCE (Review)

American soldiers on a training course discover "where civilization eends and survival begins" under a sadistic officer and his lawless men in OPPOSING FORCE.  Tom Skerritt, Lisa Eichhorn, Anthony Zerbe, and Richard Roundtree star.

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

OPPOSING FORCE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Eric Karson
• Extended Alternate Ending
• Theatrical Trailer
• Bonus Trailers

Masters of Cinema goes on a LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (review)

A family comes apart at the seams in Eugene O'Neill's uncomfortably autobiographical tale starring Katharine Hepburn, Ralph Richardson, Jason Robards, and Dean Stockwell. Directed by Sydney Lumet.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray/Region 2 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT Blu-ray/DVD Combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Scott Harrison
• "Sydney Lumet's Stage Adaptations" audio essay by film historian Lee Gambin
• Theatrical Trailer
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Philip Kemp

Film Movement Classics toasts WHISKY GALORE! aboard THE MAGGIE (Review)

Film Movement presents two films by Alexander Mackendrick from opposite ends of his tenure at Ealing Studios.  In WHISKY GALORE!, a shortage of spirits devastates an Outer Hebrides island until a ship carrying fifty-thousand cases of whisky bound for America crashes on the rocks sparking a battle of wits between the locals and the Home Guard.  In THE MAGGIE, a wily cargo boat captain and an American businessman battle over an expensive shipment.

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

TWO FILMS BY ALEXANDER MACKENDRICK Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - Whiskey Galore!:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Fullscreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
• Audio Commentary by British cinema expert John Ellis
• "Distilling Whiskey Galore!" 1991 TV Special
• "The Real Whiskey Galore!" recounting of the original events from islander Angus Campbell
• Bonus Trailers
• About Film Movement
• Disc Two - The Maggie:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Fullscreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• About Film Movement
• Essay booklet by Ronald Bergen

Second Run is invited to VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS (review)

The Czech New Wave's lyrical vampire fantasy VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS charts the growing sexual awareness of a young virgin which makes her prey to vampires and witches.

REVIEW LINK: Second Run (UK) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Czech LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Peter Hames and Daniel Bird
• The Projection Booth Commentary with film historians Mike White, Kat Ellinger, and Samm Deighan
• Three early shorts by director Jaromil Jireš:
• "Uncle" (1959)
• "Footprints" (1960)
• "The Hall of Lost Footsteps" (1960)
• Introduction by film historian Michael Brooke
• Interview from 2006 with actor Jaroslava Schallerová
• Theatrical Trailer
• 24-page booklet by film historians Peter Hames and Joseph A. Gervasi

Mondo Macabro unleashes THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD (Review)

The last great Paul Naschy werewolf movie takes his cursed character to the Far East in search of cure but finding deadly samurai, ninja, and ghostly sorceresses.

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

THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 and 1.37:1 framing options
• Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by The Naschycast's Rodney Barnett and Troy Guinn
• "Smile of the Wolf" documentary on Paul Naschy
• Introduction by actor Paul Naschy
• Author Gavin Baddely on Paul Naschy
• Theatrical Trailer
• More from Mondo Macabro

Mondo Macabro takes on DANGEROUS CARGO (review)

Before DALLAS and BODY DOUBLE, Miss USA Deborah Shelton paid her dues in a couple sexy Greek exploitation films during the late seventies.  In DANGEROUS CARGO, she is the wife of a ship's captain whose crew mutiny, putting her in danger of violation and death.  From the director of THE DEVIL'S MEN/LAND OF THE MINOTAUR.

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

DANGEROUS CARGO Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Fullscreen
• Greek Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• More from Mondo Macabro

88 Films invites you to COME DRINK WITH ME (review)

King Hu's trendsetting wuxia film COME DRINK WITH ME tells the story of swordswoman Golden Swallow who enters a den of thieves to rescue her brother and finds help from a drunken beggar.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

COME DRINK WITH ME Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Mandarin and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Samm Deighan
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• LIMITED EDITION booklet notes by Asian film expert James Oliver
• LIMITED EDITION slipcover

Available directly from 88 Films.

For 88 Films, HEROES SHED NO TEARS (review)

Chinese mercenaries in The Golden Triangle are tasked with destroying the drug running operation of a local general but run afoul of his men and a vengeful Vietnamese colonel in John Woo's first stab at gritty action filmmaking HEROES SHED NO TEARS.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

HEROES SHED NO TEARS Blu-ray specs:

• Hong Kong Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 mono, and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Optional English Subtitles
• Export Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Audio Commentary by Asian Cinema expert Brandon Bentley
• "A Tale of Two Cuts" Brandon Bentley examines the difference between the film we know today and John Woo's original workprint
• Interview with actor Eddy Ko
• English Theatrical Trailer
• Cantonese Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• LIMITED EDITION Slipcover and booklet notes by Asian film expert James Oliver

Masters of Cinema rebirths THE SON OF THE SHEIK (review)

Rudolph Valentino's unfortunate early swan song saw him returning in his greatest role, now as THE SON OF THE SHEIK with a brand new love and new dangers.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray/Region 2 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

THE SON OF THE SHEIK Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 pillarboxed fullscreen
• Carl Davis Score in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• DVD:
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• Carl Davis Score in Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• "Loitering Within Tent" video essay by film historian David Cairns
• Introduction by actor Orson Welles to "The Silent Years"
• Booklet by film historian Pamela Hutchinson

Sony Pictures resurrects THE GRUDGE (review)

When someone dies in the grip of extreme rage, a curse is born and it festers like a grudge, infecting everyone who comes into contact with the place of death.  That curse has come to America with THE GRUDGE, an untold chapter of the original curse from the 2004 film.

REVIEW LINK: Sony Home Entertainment (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE GRUDGE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, English and French Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles
• Featurettes:
• "Designing Death"
• "Cast of the Cursed"
• "Easter Egg Haunt"
• Deleted Scenes
• Previews
• Slipcover

Scream Factory shocks the UNIVERSAL HORROR COLLECTION VOLUME 3 (review)

In this quartet of Universal horrors, a ruthless duke murders his way to the throne in TOWER OF LONDON, a mad scientist turns uses electricity to dominate the will of a man for his bidding in MAN-MADE MONSTER, the beneficiaries of a wealthy old woman's will are stalked by THE BLACK CAT, and a treasure hunt on HORROR ISLAND leads to death.  Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi star.

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

UNIVERSAL HORROR COLLECTION VOLUME 3 Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - Tower of London:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Steve Haberman
• Image Gallery
• Disc Two - Man-Made Monster:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitels
• Audio Commentary by film historians Tom Weaver and Constantine Nasr
• Image gallery
• Disc Three - The Black Cat:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Gary D. Rhodes
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Gallery
• Disc Four - Horror Island:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Ted Newsom
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Gallery
• Insert booklet with artwork and credits
• Collector's Slipcase

Scream Factory digs up PET SEMATARY TWO (review)

A new family is about to discover that sometimes dead is better in PET SEMATARY TWO starring Edward Furlong and Anthony Edwards.

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

PET SEMATARY TWO Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Mary Lambert
• "Young and Brooding" interview with actor Edward Furlong
• "Playing Over the Top" interview with actor Clancy Brown
• "My First Film" interview with actor Jason McGuire
• "A Thousand Dollar Bet" interview with FX artist Steve Johnson
• "Orchestrated Grunge" interview with composer Mark Governor
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• Slipcover

Kino Lorber visits the HOUSE BY THE RIVER (Review)

A sudden murder spurs the creative mind of a twisted writer in Fritz Lang's noir HOUSE BY THE RIVER.

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

HOUSE BY THE RIVER Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Interview with French critic Pierre Rissent
• Bonus Trailers

Masters of Cinema detonates A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE (review)

Rod Steiger and James Coburn face the Mexican army with just A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE in Sergio Leone's fifth and final epic western in which a Mexican bandit and an Irish revolutionary become embroiled in the Mexican Revolution.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - MGM Restoration:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by filmmaker Alex Cox
• Audio Commentary by film historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• “Kim Newman on A Fistful of Dynamite” interview
• “Austin Fisher on A Fistful of Dynamite” interview
• “The Myth of Revolution” interview with film historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• “Restoration Italian Style” interview with MGM head archivist John Kirk
• Radio Spots
• Theatrical Trailer
• Disc Two - Cineteca di Bolognia Restoration:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo and English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles for the Italian track and English HoH Subtitles for the English track
• “Sergio Donati Remembers” screenwriter interview
• “Sorting Out the Versions” analysis of the American theatrical cut and restored version
• “Once Upon a Time in Italy” Autry National Center Museum of the American West Sergio Leone Exhibit
• Location Comparisons
• Still Galleries:
• “Filming Giù la testa”
• “Giù la testa Colour Stills”
• “Giù la testa in Pictures”
• “Promoting Giù la testa”
• Booklet featuring essays by Howard Hughes and Simon Ward.

Masters of Cinema contemplates RAINING IN THE MOUNTAIN (review)

A Buddhist temple is the setting for intrigue as an Abbot is about to name his successor and other parties attempt to get their hands on a priceless scroll in King Hu's final feature film.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray/Region 2 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

RAINING IN THE MOUNTAIN Blu-ray/DVD Combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Mandarin LPCM 2.0 Mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film scholar Tony Rayns
• "Beyond Description" video essay by David Cairns
• Limited edition collector's booklet by Stephen Teo and David West
• O-Card Slipcase included with the first 2,000 copies