Scream Factory howls for TEEN WOLF TOO (Review)

Opportunist Stiles and Coach Finstock hope for lightning to strike twice when Scott Howard's cousin Todd enrolls at Hamilton College with an athletic scholarship as the newest recruit for a flagging boxing team.  Todd just wants to study science and live a normal life, but the family curse has not skipped his generation as he had hoped, and he is soon the "Big Wolf on Campus".  Jason Bateman stars.

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

TEEN WOLF TOO Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• "Working with the Wolf" interview with director Christopher Leitch
• "A Man of Great Stiles" interview with actor Stuart Fratkin
• "Otherworldly" interview with actress Kim Darby
• "Nerdy Girl Saves the Day" interview with actress Estee Chandler
• "A Wolf in Eighties Clothing" interview with costume designer Heidi Kaczenski
• Stills Gallery
• Reversible Cover and Collector's Slipcover

Shameless Screen Entertainment discovers THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH (review)

Sergio Martino's landmark giallo that crowned George Hilton and Edwige Fenech as the king and queen of the genre comes to Blu-ray.  Returning to Vienna with her diplomat husband, Julie Wardh finds that she has more to worry about than the attentions of a sadomasochistic ex-lover when she may be the next victim of a razor-wielding sex fiend.

REVIEW LINK: Shameless Screen Entertainment (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• "Dark Fears Behind the Door" featurette with director Sergio Martino, producer Luciano Martino, writer Ernesto Gastaldi, and stars Edwige Fenech and George Hilton
• "Thrills, Chills, and Cleavage" interview with director Sergio Martino
• "The Genesis of Mrs. Wardh" visual essay on Edwige Fenech
• Fact Track by Justin Harrries 
• Reversible Cover
• Shameless Numbered Edition

Lightyear Entertainment solves the riddle of THE HIPPOPOTAMUS (review)

Based on the comic novel of actor Stephen Fry, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS finds burnt-out poet and recently fired dramatic critic Ted Wallace implored by his ex-lover's daughter to travel to her family estate of Swafford to investigate miracles.  Working his way back into the family by way of his godson David, Ted discovers that the people at Swafford do indeed seem to believe that there is something magical going on but he cannot believe it unless he sees it for himself, and even then...  Roger Allam, Matthew Modine, and Fiona Shaw star.

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

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• "From Book to Screen"
• Behind the Scenes
• "British Comedy Special"
• Q&A with Stephen Fry
• Interview with actor Roger Allam
• Interview with actress Fiona Shaw
• Interview with actor Matthew Modine
• Theatrical Trailer

Kino Lorber pursues BEGGARS OF LIFE (review)

Before she was Lulu, Louise Brooks was an orphan on the run with hobos in BEGGARS OF LIFE based on the novel by Jim Tully.  When she accidentally shoots her adoptive father fending off his assault, Nancy takes to the rails with handsome tramp Jim but the two are soon under threat from vagabond Oklahoma Red and the pursuing police.

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

BEGGARS OF LIFE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 pillarbox
• Mont Alto Orchestra Score DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• English Intertitles
• Audio Commentary by actor William Wellman Jr.
• Audio Commentary by Louis Brooks Society founder Thomas Gladyz
• Ten-page essay booklet by Nick Pinkerton

Wolfe Video debuts OPENING NIGHT (Review)

Topher Grace, Anne Heche, Taye Diggs, Rob Riggle, and J.C. Chasez star in this musical comedy about a stage manager contending with backstage disasters on the opening night of "One Hit Wonderland" starring J.C. Chasez (the "other guy from NSYNC").

REVIEW LINK: Wolfe Video (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

OPENING NIGHT DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Previews

Strand Releasing's I, OLGA HEPNAROVA (review)

This black-and-white film attempts to visually convey the world of Olga Hepnarova, a twenty-two year old Czech woman who one day got into her truck and plowed into a bus stop, killing eight people and injuring more than twenty in the 1960s.

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

I, OLGA HEPNAROVA DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• Czech Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English Subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Previews

Shout! Factory gets burned by SCORCHY (review)

Singer Connie Stevens plays a hard-as-nails cop working undercover as a one-woman charter pilot trying to bust the heroin trade.  When her chief suspect hires her to transport a statute carrying drugs, she thinks she's got him made but falls into a web of double crosses and murder.  Cesare Danova and Greg Evigan also star.

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

SCORCHY Blu-ray specs:

• Uncut Theatrical Version with Home Video Score
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer