Arrow Video and Jackie Chan fight for the HEART OF DRAGON (review)

Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung get serious in the comic drama HEART OF DRAGON in which Chan is a cop who must take care of his mentally disabled brother (Hung), especially when the boy in a man's body winds up with stolen diamonds and smugglers after him.

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

HEART OF DRAGON Blu-ray specs: 

• Hong Kong Cut:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese, Mandarin, and English (Classic Dub) DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono Tracks 
• Optional English and English SDH Subtitles
  
• Extended Japanese Cut:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono Tracks with Hong Kong soundtrack and no music for parking lot fight or with Japanese soundtrack and songs 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 (hybrid classic English dub with Cantonese audio for the extra Japanese scenes)
• Optional English and English SDH Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by film historians Frank Djeng & FJ DeSanto
• Behind the Scenes:
• "The Making of THE FIRST MISSION" 1985 documentary 
• "THE FIRST MISSION: Pre-Release Event" 1985 promotional featurette
• Archival Interviews:
• actor Jackie Chan 
• actor/director Sammo Hung 
• actor Rocky Lai 
• cinematographer Arthur Wong
• Alternate English Credits
• Image Gallery
• Trailer Gallery:
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• English Export Trailer 
• Japanese Theatrical Trailer 
• Japanese Theatrical Teasers 
• Fortune Star Re-Release Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing by Dylan Cheung and David West.

Severin Films deploys ATTACK FORCE Z (review)

An elite group of Australian, New Zealand, and British soldiers are sent on a secret mission to extract the contents of a crashed plane on an island in the Pacific occupied by the Japanese in this World War II actioner starring then-unknowns Mel Gibson and Sam Neill.

REVIEW LINK: Severin Films (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

ATTACK FORCE Z Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English/Mandarin/Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH and English (for non-English dialogue) Subtitles
• "The Z Men Debriefed" documentary
• Image Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
  

Acorn Media investigates MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES: SERIES 2 (review)

Sally Lindsay is back as the British antiques expert solving mysteries in a French village in series 2 of THE MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES.

REVIEW LINK: Acorn Media (UK) Region 2 PAL (DVDCompare)

THE MADAME BLANC MYSTERIES: SERIES 2 DVD specs:

• Christmas Special and six episodes on two dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English/French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Picture Gallery
  

Vinegar Syndrome battles BIO-ZOMBIE (review)

Slackers meet zombies when a bioweapon infects the customers and staff of a Hong Kong shopping mall in this early film from the director of IP MAN.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

BIO-ZOMBIE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese and Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English and English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Frank Djeng
• Interview with director Wilson Yip
• "Video Games, Contaminated Lucozade and Human Sushi" video essay by film historian Chris O'Neill
• Alternate Ending
• Reversible Cover
• 20-page booklet by Rod Lott and Ariel Esteban Cayer
• The first 6,000 units ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome includes a special limited edition spot gloss slipcover designed by Robert Sammelin.
  

Eureka Classics acts IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV (review)

Cynthia Khan returns and is joined by Donnie Yen pursuing drug dealers and a wrongfully-accused Chinese dock worker from Seattle to Hong Kong IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV.

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

IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV Blu-ray specs: 

• Hong Kong Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese and English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary on the Hong Kong cut by Asian film expert Frank Djeng, NY Asian Film Festival 
• Audio Commentary on the Hong Kong cut by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema 
• Audio Commentary on the Hong Kong cut by Hong Kong expert Stefan Hammond and lead actor Michael Wong
• Export Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Interview with actor Donnie Yen
• "Donnie Yen: Style of Action"
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
• U.K. Video Trailer
• IN THE LINE OF DUTY Franchise Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• The first pressing includes a limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling and a 23-page collector's booklet featuring the essay "Beating the Odds: Picking Sides with IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV" by James Oliver.

Eureka Classics seeks vengeance IN THE LINE OF DUTY III (review)

Cynthia Khan replaces Michelle Yeoh as Hong Kong's Royal Madam in the "girls with guns" cop thriller IN THE LINE OF DUTY III pairing up with KAMEN RIDER's Hiroshi Fujioka to track down murderous jewel thieves.

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

IN THE LINE OF DUTY III Blu-ray specs: 

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese and English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng, NY Asian Film Festival 
• Audio Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• English Export Trailer 
• Reversible cover 
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling and a collector's booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver.
  

Unearthed Classics witnesses THE GRAND TOUR (review)

ARACHNOPHOBIA's Jeff Daniels and JURASSIC PARK's Ariana Richards are a father and daughter who become mixed up in a time traveling adventure from the director of PITCH BLACK and THE ARRIVAL.

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

THE GRAND TOUR Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Lost to Time: The Cannes Promo" interview with video editor Ed McNichol
• "Timescape" Title Sequence
• Production Stills Gallery
• Poster Mock-up and Artwork Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Bonus Trailers
• Reversible Cover
• Slipcover
  

Synapse Films gets the creepers from PHENOMENA (review)

"Jennifer has a million close friends and she's going to need every one of them" in Dario Argento's PHENOMENA, a batshit crazy mishmash of the giallo, telepathic insect horror, the American slasher, and a dark fairy tale.  Jennifer Connelly, Donald Pleasance, Patrick Bauchau, and Daria Nicolodi star.

REVIEW LINK: Synapse Films (US) Region ALL 4K UltraHD (DVDCompare)

PHENOMENA 4K UHD specs:

• Disc One:
• Italian Version (116 minutes):
• 2160p24 HEVC 1.66:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision)
  
• English/Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 
• Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English (for Italian), English (for Italian insert on hybrid track), and English SDH Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by film historian Troy Howarth 
• "Of Flies and Maggots" documentary (120 minutes) 
• "Claudio Simonetti: Jennifer" music video 
• Promotional Materials: 
• Italian Theatrical Trailer 
• English Export Trailer 
• Japanese Pressbook
• Disc Two:
• International Version (110 minutes):
• 2160p24 HEVC 1.66:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision) 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo (alternate sound effects and music cues) 
• Optional English SDH Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by Argento scholar/author Derek Botelho and film historian/journalist/commentator David Del Valle 
• U.S. "Creepers" Version (83 minutes):
• 2160p24 HEVC 1.66:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision) 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono 
• Optional English SDH Subtitles 
• "The Three Sarcophagi" visual essay by Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of PHENOMENA 
• Promotional Materials: 
• U.S. Theatrical Trailer 
• U.S. Radio Spots
• Reversible Cover
• Slipcover
  

Arrow Video enters THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED (review)

Difficult girls enrolled in THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED may never leave in this grisly Spanish gothic from the director of WHO CAN KILL A CHILD?

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (Cineventures Blog)

THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED Blu-ray specs:

• Export Version (105 minutes):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• English and Spanish LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH and English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Anna Bogutskaya
• U.S. Version (94 minutes):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "This Boy's Innocence: John Moulder-Brown on THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED" documentary 
• 2012 Film Festival Q and A with actress Mary Maude 
• "All About My 'Mama'" interview with Juan Tébar, author of the original story 
• "The Legacy of Terror" interview with the director's son Alejandro Ibáñez 
• "Screaming the House Down" interview with Spanish horror expert Dr Antonio Lázaro-Reboll 
• Opening Credits and Alternate Footage from the Spanish Theatrical Version 
• Trailer Gallery: 
• U.S. Theatrical Trailer 
• U.S. TV Spot #1 
• U.S. TV Spot #2 
• U.S. Radio Spot #1 
• U.S. Radio Spot #2 
• Image Gallery 
• Reversible cover. 
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: a double-sided foldout poster and a booklet with an essay by film historian Shelagh Rowan-Legg.
  

Vinegar Syndrome is cursed by THE DEVONSVILLE TERROR (review)

Three hundred years ago, the town of Devonsville held an inquisition and executed three women branded as witches.  One of them swore revenge.  Centuries later, the town is about to get its reckoning in the grisly eighties horror film from Ulli Lommel, director of THE BOOGEYMAN.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE DEVONSVILLE TERROR Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "God is a Woman" interview with co-writer/actress Suzanna Love 
• "It’s Melting Men!" interview with special effects artist Matthew W. Mungle 
• "The Incredible Melting Man!" interview with actor Paul Willson 
• "Not Very Nice People" interview with makeup artist Erica Ueland 
• "Mind of a Chess Player" interview with camera operator Jürg V. Walther 
• Archival interview with co-writer/director Ulli Lommel 
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Behind-the-Scenes Still Gallery 
• Comes with a reversible cover. 
• The first 6,000 units ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome include a special limited edition spot gloss slipcover designed by Haunt Love.

Blue Underground ravishes MARQUIS DE SADE'S JUSTINE (review)

When orphans Justine and Juliette are turned out of the convent, cynical Juliette embraces a life of prostitution, crime, and murder while naive Justine's every attempt to do the right thing and live a virtuous life makes her the irresistible prey of robbers, murderers, and sex fiends in Jess Franco's adaptation of the Marquis de Sade novel JUSTINE.

REVIEW LINK: Blue Underground (US) Region ALL 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo (DVDCompare)

JUSTINE 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray combo specs:

• Disc One (4K Ultra HD):
• 2160p24 HEVC 1.66:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision/HDR10-compatible) 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 
• Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth 
• French Theatrical Trailer
• Disc Two (Blu-ray):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 Widescreen 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono 
• Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth 
• "The Perils and Pleasures of JUSTINE" documentary with director Jess Franco and writer/producer Harry Alan Towers 
• "Stephen Thrower on JUSTINE" interview with the author of 
• "Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco" 
• "On Set with Jess" interview with actress Rosalba Neri 
• Poster and Still Gallery 
• French Theatrical Trailer 
• DEADLY SANCTUARY: the shorter U.S. Version in High Definition (96 mins)
• Collector's Slipcover
  

Vinegar Syndrome chills with FROSTBITER (review)

When hunters desecrate sacred ground, they unleash the Wendigo and a young woman must close its portal from the underworld before the beast gathers its full strength through the flesh of innocent victims and takes over the world in this Michigan-lensed low budget horror film inspired by THE EVIL DEAD.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

FROSTBITER Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
  
• Audio Commentary by co-writer/director Tom Chaney, moderated by Michael Felsher 
• "Wendigo Make a Movie" interview with co-writer/director Tom Chaney 
• "The Many Hats of a Wendigo" interview with producer David Thiry 
• "What Were We Thinking?" interview with actor Alan Madlane 
• "Frankenstein's Wendigo" interview with stop motion animator Dave Hettmer 
• "A Friend in Need" interview with actor John Bussard 
• "Sound of the Wendigo" interview with sound editor/actor Paul Harris 
• Archival interview with actor Ron Asheton 
• Original "Wendigo" Video Promo 
• "Frostbiter" Video Trailer 
• Behind-the-Scenes Footage Footage from the 1995 Michigan Premiere 
• Archival Troma Introduction & Promo Video 
• Behind-the-Scenes 
• Still Gallery 
• Reversible Cover 
• The first 5,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome includes a special limited edition spot gloss slipcover designed by Chris Barnes.