Kimstim explores SANATORIUM UNDER THE SIGN OF THE HOURGLASS (review)

Christopher Nolan presents the Quay Brothers' return to feature filmmaking with this live action/puppetry hybrid adaptation of the fictionalized biographical stories of Bruno Schulz whose protagonist travels deep into the Carpathian Mountains where his dead father is staying at an asylum that does not obey the laws of time provoking a journey into his own unconscious.

REVIEW LINK: Kimstim (U.S.) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

SANATORIUM UNDER THE SIGN OF THE HOURGLASS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Polish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• English Subtitles
• "The Art Teacher from Drohobycz - Bruno Schulz by the Quay Brothers (Polish Cultural Institute in London)" documentary
• Quay Brothers Q&A on stop motion animation (Courtesy Garden Cinema London)
• Image Gallery
• Theatrical Introduction

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Second Run studies THE CRIMINAL LIFE OF ARCHIBALDO DE LA CRUZ (review)

A man tries to give into to his murderous impulses with frustrating results in Luis Buñuel's blackly comic study of a madman.

REVIEW LINK: Second Run (U.K.) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE CRIMINAL LIFE OF ARCHIBALDO DE LA CRUZ Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Spanish LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• "Surreal Vision" three-part video essay by writer and filmmaker Cristina Álvarez
• Video essay by critic David Wilt
• BD-ROM: Luis Buñuel’s annotated personal script of the film
• 24-page booklet featuring writing by film scholar and Buñuel expert Jordi Xifra, and also Cristina Álvarez López. 

Radiance Films avenges THE BETRAYAL (review)

A noble young samurai is asked to take responsibility for an accidental killing to preserve the honor of his clan only to be betrayed by his masters and his friends in this "critical chanbara" from the director of THE DEMON OF MOUNT OE and THE SNOW WOMAN.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (U.S.) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE BETRAYAL Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Japanese LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Select-Scene Audio Commentary by Japanese film historian Tom Mes
• The Path to Betrayal" 2025 visual essay by film critic Philip Kemp
• "The Four Elements of Tokuzo Tanaka" 2024 visual essay by Japanese film historian Tom Mes

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A WOMAN KILLS for Radiance Films (review)

A sadistic female murderess is executed, yet crimes in her style continue to terrify the French public in this unclassifiable "thriller" from political filmmaker Jean-Denis Bonan.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (U.S.) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

A WOMAN KILLS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• French LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by critics Kat Ellinger and Virginie Sélavy
• Introduction by critic Virginie Sélavy
• "On the Margin: The Cursed Films of Jean-Denis Bonan" 2015 documentary, updated in 2022
• Short films by Jean-Denis Bonan
• Theatrical Trailer

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88 Films fights IN THE LINE OF DUTY I-IV: STANDARD EDITION (review)

Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Khan star in the four "Girls with Guns" films that made them famous as Hong Kong cops who put all on the line against ruthless villains.  Cynthia Rothrock, Michael Wong, and Donnie Yen also star.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

IN THE LINE OF DUTY I-IV Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - Royal Warriors:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
• Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (theatrical and alternate mixes) 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (new dub) and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (classic dub) 
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng 
• English Title Sequence 
• Missing Airplane Scene Inserts 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• English Theatrical Trailer
• Disc Two - Yes Madam:
• Hong Kong Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
• Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (theatrical mix) Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (home video mix) 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (home video mix) 
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary with Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng 
• English Export Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono 
• Select Scene Commentary by actress Cynthia Rothrock and Frank Djeng on the Airport Scene and Final Fight Scene 
• Introduction by actress Cynthia Rothrock 
• "Battling Babes" featurette 
• Archival interview with actress Michelle Yeoh 
• "Ladies First" interview with actor Mang Hoi 
• "A Team Player" interview with actress Cynthia Rothrock 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
• Disc Three - In the Line of Duty III:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
• Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by Asian film experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth 
• English Credit Sequence 
• "The Golden 80s" interview with actor John Sham 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• English Theatrical Trailer #1 
• English Theatrical Trailer #2
• Disc Four - In the Line of Duty IV:
• Hong Kong Version: 
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
• Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by Asian film experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth 
• Audio Commentary by Hong Kong expert Stefan Hammond and lead actor Michael Wong 
• English Export Version: 
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono 
• Archival interview with actor Donnie Yen 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• English Theatrical Trailer

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Radiance Films gets a nip of VAMPIRE'S KISS (review)

Nicolas Cage goes off the deep end as usual, but this time he thinks he's a vampire in VAMPIRE'S KISS.  Jennifer Beals, Maria Conchita Alonso, Kasi Lemmons, and Elizabeth Ashley also star.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (U.K.) Region ALL 4K UltraHD/Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

VAMPIRE'S KISS 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One (4K UltraHD):
• 2160p24 HEVC 1.85:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision/HDR10)
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Robert Bierman and actor Nicolas Cage
• Audio Commentary by critics Kim Newman and Nick de Semlyen 
• Disc Two (Blu-ray):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Robert Bierman and actor Nicolas Cage
• Audio Commentary by critics Kim Newman and Nick de Semlyen
• "Robert Bierman on Vampire's Kiss" 2026 director interview
• "Joseph Minion on Vampire's Kiss" 2026 screenwriter interview
• "Colin Towns on Vampire's Kiss" 2026 composer interview
• "The Dumb Waiter" 1979 short film by Robert Bierman
• Optional Introduction to "The Dumb Waiter" by Robert Bierman
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Gallery 
• Limited edition of 6,000 copies, presented in rigid box and full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings, including a pull-out poster and six lobby-card style postcards, and 40-page perfect bound book featuring new writing from Julia Armfield, Zach Schonfield, and Justin LaLiberty. 

Radiance Films becomes lost in THE HOURGLASS SANATORIUM (review)

In this Polish fantasy from Wojciech Has (THE SARAGOSSA MANUSCRIPT), a young man travels to visit his "dead" father in a remote sanatorium where time does not behave as it does in the real world.  Entering a surreal dream world, he is assailed by childhood memories entangled with fantastic adventures that may entrap him forever in the world of sleep.  Based on the story collection by Bruno Schulz.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (U.K.) Region ALL 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE HOURGLASS SANATORIUM 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One (4K UltraHD):
• 2160p24 HEVC 1.85:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision)
• Polish DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Michael Brooke 
• Disc Two (Blu-ray):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Polish DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Michael Brooke
• "Accordion" 1947 short film by Wojciech Has
• 1987 Polish Television interview with production designer Jerzy Skarzynski by filmmaker Jerzy Wójcik
• Limited edition of 5,000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings, including a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow, and booklet featuring new writing by critic Ela Bittencourt and archival writing from Annette Insdorf. 

Arrow Video sorts out THE OUTFIT (review)

Before Jason Statham, Robert Duvall was the real Parker taking on the syndicate with Joe Don Baker and Karen Black in this seventies neo-noir thriller based on the novel by Richard Stark a.k.a. Donald Westlake.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (U.S./U.K.) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE OUTFIT Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen presentations of the theatrical version (103 minutes) and a rare version with an alternate ending (101 minutes)
• English LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by critic and author Jedidiah Ayres and film critic Mike White of The Projection Booth Podcast
• "The Man With the Getaway Face" appreciation of author Donald E. Westlake (aka Richard Stark) by Westlake expert Levi Stahl
• "Paths Not Taken" appreciation of the film by critic Walter Chaw
• "Tapping into the Outsider" appreciation of "The Outfit" and the Parker novels by Alissa Marmol-Cernat and Shay Dennis, creators of "Tough Business: A Parker Site"
• "Walter Hill on John Flynn" interview with filmmaker Walter Hill
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Galleries
• Comes with a slipcover and reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella, as well as a collectors' booklet with new writing by critics Chris D, Glenn Kenny, and Priscilla Page.

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Radiance Films reflects on THE DOUBLE (review)

Jean Sorel, Ewa Aulin, and Lucia Bose form a dysfunctional love triangle in this Moroccan-set erotic thriller from director Romolo Guerrieri.  Silvano Tranquilli, Marilu Tolo, and Giacomo Rossi-Stuart also star.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (U.S./U.K.) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE DOUBLE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH and English (for Italian) Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas
• "Romolo Guerrieri and Eva Aulin on The Double" re-edit of a 2013 interview with director Romolo Guerrieri and a 2017 interview with actress Ewa Aulin
• "Stephen Thrower on The Double" appreciation by author Stephen Thrower
• Image Gallery
• Easter Egg
• Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings, reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original posters, and booklet featuring new writing by author and critic Nathaniel Thompson.

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Arrow Video is on the case with MARLOWE (review)

Raymond Chandler's famous detective enters the swinging sixties investigating a missing young man and a blackmailed television actress.  James Garner and Gayle Hunnicutt star.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (U.S./U.K.) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

MARLOWE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "$100 a Day (Plus Expenses)" appreciation by film historian Howard S. Berger
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Galleries
• Comes with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by John Pearson.
• The limited edition includes a slipcover featuring the new key art and 24-page liner notes booklet: "Philip Marlowe: Man Out of Time" by Priscilla Page, "Stirling and Bruce" by Jeff Chang. Also has information on the cast and crew, notes on the presentation, disc production credits and special thanks.

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88 Films and Jackie Chan join the MAGNIFICENT BODYGUARDS (review)

Jackie Chan, James Tin, and Bruce Leung are the MAGNIFICENT BODYGUARDS escorting a beautiful lady, her sick brother, and lethal twin swords women across deadly mountain terrain teeming with bandits and witches in the first Hong Kong 3D production.  Directed by Lo Wei.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (U.S./U.K.) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

MAGNIFICENT BODYGUARDS Blu-ray specs:

• Three-disc set featuring 1080p24 MVC Real3D and 2D and anaglyph 3D MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen transfers
• Cantonese, Mandarin, and English LPCM 2.0 Mono Tracks
• Alternate English LPCM 2.0 Mono Track with alternate music cues
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by NY Asian Film Festival's Frank Djeng and filmmaker F.J. DeSanto
• "Punching Into the 3rd Dimension - James Mudge on Magnificent Bodyguards"
• "Magnificent Bodyguards - A New Dimension in Action?" visual essay by film historian Steve Lawson
• Mandarin Theatrical Trailer
• English Theatrical Trailer 
• Comes with a reversible cover, lenticular slipcover, one pair of anaglyph 3D glasses, and booklet by Thorsten Boose and "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien.

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Deaf Crocodile checks into DEAD MOUNTAINEER'S HOTEL (review)

A police detective called deep into the mountains to a ski resort for a crime that has not happened has his rational mind tested by mysterious happenings in this Estonian adaptation of a novel by the Strugatskiy Brothers (STALKER, HARD TO BE A GOD).

REVIEW LINK: Deaf Crocodile (U.S.) Region ALL 4K UltraHD/Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

DEAD MOUNTAINEER'S HOTEL 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray specs:

• 2160p24 HEVC Dolby Vision and 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Estonian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Michael Brooke
• "Snow Job: A Routine Investigation in Dead Mountaineer's Hotel" visual essay by Ryan Verrill & Dr. Will Dodson of Someone’s Favorite Prod.
• "Bonus Track" excerpt from the 2016 Riho Vastrik documentary on composer Sven Grünberg and his score for the film
• "Closeup: The Dead Mountaineer's Hotel" 2010 Estonian Public TV documentary
• "Soviet Estonia Newsreel # 6 - The Dead Mountaineer's Hotel" 1979 Soviet Estonian Newsreel

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Also available in a Deluxe Limited Edition directly from DEAF CROCODILE! 

Radiance Films exposes THE PORNOGRAPHERS (review)

Under the guise of selling medical supplies, Sabu is a pornographic filmmaker and dealer who believes he is performing a public service but he is surrounded by greed inside and outside of his dysfunctional surrogate family in Shohei Imamura's first independent directorial effort.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (U.K.) Region ALL 4K UltraHD/Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE PORNOGRAPHERS 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One (4K UltraHD):
• 2160p24 HEVC 2.35:1 Widescreen (Dolby Vision/HDR10)
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Disc Two (Blu-ray):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• "Masaomi Kondô on The Pornographers" 
• "Steve Corbeil on Akiyuki Nosaka"
• "Tony Rayns on The Pornographers"
• Theatrical Trailer
• Limited edition of 5000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings, including a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow, and a booklet featuring new writing by Jasper Sharp. 

Troma bakes up SUGAR COOKIES (review)

When producer Max Pavell kills porn star Alta Lee in a sexualized game of Russian roulette, Alta's bisexual lover Camelia provides an alibit.  When she meets aspiring actress Julie - an exact double of Alta - she sets about remaking the starlet in order to draw Max into a sexy and deadly game.  Mary Waranov, Lynn Lowry, and George Shannon star.  Directed by Theodore Gershuny (SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT).

REVIEW LINK: Troma Films (U.S.) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

SUGAR COOKIES Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 Widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman President of Troma and Executive Producer
• "Making SUGAR COOKIES" interview with actress Lynn Lowry
• "Remembering SUGAR COOKIES" interview with producer Lloyd Kaufman Interview with actress Lynn Lowry Interview with actress Mary Waranov 
• Troma Video Release Trailer
• Theatrical Trailer
• "Looking for Oliver Stone, Associate Producer of SUGAR COOKIES"
• "Troma's JFK Asassination Theory"
• "Entombed: Seeing Red" music video
• "Toxic Advice"
• INNARDS! Music Video
• Radiation March
• "Spice Up Your Sleepover with Troma Now!" promo
• "TA in 4K!" Toxic Avenger 4K Promo
• Coming Distractions

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MVD Visual gets terrorized by TROLL (review)

A family move into a San Francisco apartment building where a magical troll is planning to open the gate to his dimension by transforming the unfortunate tenants into fairie creatures in this Empire Pictures production from Charles Band directed by special effects designer John Carl Buechler.  Starring Michael Moriarty, Noah Hathaway, Julie Louis-Dreyfuss, Gary Sandy, Sonny Bono, Phil Fondacaro, and June Lockheart.

REVIEW LINK: MVD Visual (U.S.) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

TROLL Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Troll Empire: The Making of TROLL" documentary
• Theatrical Trailer
• Photo Gallery
• Bonus Trailers
• Comes with a reversible cover and slipcover.

Available exclusively from MVD Visual.