Black Water (Blu-ray & Digital copy)
After a failed mission, deep-cover operative Wheeler (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is imprisoned in a CIA black site on a submarine. The CIA agents will go to any lengths to get information from Wheeler — but nothing can prepare them for the storm of violence that erupts when he joins forces with a fellow prisoner (Dolph Lundgren) who is as deadly as he is mysterious.
It’s always fun when Lundgren plays not only a tough guy, but a bit of an intellectual – especially considering the actor has two Masters degrees. Unfortunately he’s just a side character that assists Wheeler in his escape, which double as an attempt to stop some rogue operatives. There’s a lot of shooting for an underwater, pressurized vessel and the plan that includes sinking the submarine didn’t seem like the best one, but JCVD will have it all worked out by the end. The drive that makes Wheeler so valuable is probably more mysterious than the man himself, who is actually pretty upfront from the beginning. Nonetheless, the last two scenes are probably the most enjoyable from the whole film.
There are no special features. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Deadpool 2 (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital copy)
Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy (Julian Dennison) with supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg, Cable (Josh Brolin).
All the things everyone loved about the first film is back for the second with equal fervour: a genre-defying soundtrack, endless pop culture references, lots of inside jokes and complete ignorance of the existence of a fourth wall. Where the first picture required a fair amount of exposition to explain who Deadpool is, this film is able to dive right in with gunfights, severed limbs and explosions. In addition, its sequel is a family movie, which doesn’t mean they’ve cut down on the foul language or violence; instead, Wade has to define what the “f-word” is going to mean to him. Director David Leitch is no stranger to high intensity action and here he is able to marry his sense of stylish combat with a keen understanding of franchise’s wit. One of the most satisfying parts of this movie is the team’s understanding of what worked the first time and their confidence in continuing in the same vein this time around.
Special features include: theatrical version and Super Duper $@%!#& Cut; commentary by Ryan Reynolds, David Leitch, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick; deleted and extended scenes; “Until Your Face Hurts: Alt Takes”; “Deadpool’s Lips are Sealed: Secrets and Easter Eggs”; “The Most Important X-Force Member”; “Deadpool Family Values: Cast of Characters”; “David Leitch Not Lynch: Directing DP2”; “Roll with the Punches: Action and Stunts”; “The Deadpool Prison Experiment”; “Chess with Omega Red”; “Swole and Sexy”; “3-Minute Monologue”; “Deadpool’s Fun Sack 2”; and stills. (Fox Home Entertainment)
First Reformed (Blu-ray & Digital copy)
Reverend Ernst Toller (Ethan Hawke) is a solitary, middle-aged parish pastor at a struggling church. When a pregnant parishioner (Amanda Seyfried) asks the reverend to counsel her husband, Toller is plunged into his own tormented past — and equally despairing future — until he finds redemption.
Paul Schrader has written screenplays revolving around religion for others in the past, but never directed one himself until now. Toller is experiencing a personal and, consequently, religious crisis as his health deteriorates, and the concern of those around him is more irritating than comforting. But duty calls and in the midst of his own struggles, he must even now instill tranquility in his parishioners. However, instead of rubbing off on this troubled member of his flock, he adopts his insecurities, paranoia and depression to an extent that may even push him to violence. It’s difficult to ascertain if Seyfried’s character has a negative or positive effect on Toller, but their relationship evolves over the course of the movie for better or worse. The premise is interesting, but the delivery is unsurprisingly slow and frequently vague.
Special features include: commentary by director Paul Schrader; and “Discernment: Contemplating First Reformed.” (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Grindhouse double feature: Don’t Look in the Basement / Don’t Open the Door (Blu-ray & DVD)
Don’t Look in the Basement: This film takes place in an experimental hospital for the criminally insane, where the creative-thinking director allows several inmates to act out their psychotic delusions, including necrophilia, paranoia and popsicles. Things really start to get nuts when a new staffer arrives immediately following the bloody ax murder of the doctor, which leads to a total takeover of the institution by its craziest and most violent inhabitants.
Don’t Open the Door: A dutiful granddaughter goes home to take care of her dying grandmother. Once there, she finds herself trapped inside the house with a homicidal maniac and all hell breaks loose.
This double feature shares a director (S.F. Brownrigg) and filmmaking style, though the plots are entirely different. The movie that takes place in the hospital is abrasive and difficult to watch with its caustic portrayal of its patients and the ineptitude of the staff. It’s also distressingly violent in parts since the victims and, in some cases, the purveyors of the brutality are so unwell. This is a film that didn’t age well. Conversely, the latter picture still includes aggressive characters, but their villainy isn’t in question. The granddaughter begins with a strong constitution that repels the anonymous harassment; however, she somewhat suddenly begins to crack under the pressure and the movie quickly changes course to portray her mental deterioration. This picture is certainly an improvement, but the change in narrative course is jarring.
Special features include: commentary on Don’t Look in the Basement by film historian and journalist David Del Valle & genre director David Decoteau (Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge); and original theatrical trailers. (MVD Visual)
Return of the Living Dead Part II [Collector’s Edition] (Blu-ray)
The horror begins again as mysterious barrels bounce off an Army transport as it passes through a new housing development and land near an abandoned cemetery. Mischievous neighbourhood boys discover the barrels and open them, unaware of the evil contained within. A deadly green vapor escapes and turns the living into flesh-eating zombies and causes the dead to rise from their graves. As these hideous, living dead hunt down the fresh human brains they need, man is pitted against man, and the living against the dead.
The opening scenes in which the strap around the barrel is mysteriously loosened and the driver shares a joint with his passenger are just the start of the nonsensical narrative to follow. This movie chose a campier path than its predecessor, inserting numerous one-liners and goofy encounters to create more intentional humour rather than simply allowing a moment to be funny. Moreover, characters that perished in the first film mysteriously reappear in the sequel to once again battle the undead. The picture is passable, but the most interesting part about this release is the candid interviews in the bonus features in which the cast and crew very frankly discuss the tensions on set and their distaste for the approach to this film.
Special features include: commentary by writer/director Ken Wiederhorn and co-star Thor Van Lingen; commentary by actress Suzanne Snyder; commentary by Gary Smart (co-author of The Complete History of the Return of the Living Dead) and filmmaker Christopher Griffiths; behind-the-scenes footage; “Back to the Dead: The Effects of Return of the Living Dead Part II”; “They Won’t Stay Dead: A Look at Return of the Living Dead II “; “The Laughing Dead,” an interview with writer/director Ken Wiederhorn; “Undead Melodies,” an interview with composer J. Peter Robinson; interview with actor Troy Fromin; archival interviews with Ken Wiederhorn, James Karen, Thom Matthews and Kenny Myers “Live from the Set”; still gallery; TV spots; theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory)
The Song of Solomon (DVD)
When Mary witnesses the brutal suicide of her father, his death unleashes the savage forces of demonic possession in her. The End of Days is upon the world: famine, drought, looting and chaos are ripping the world apart and the Catholic Church is trying to save an innocent soul from the ravages of satanic possession. Wave after wave of holy men are sent to confront the possessed, but what is the Holy Church actually doing?
This is a strange film because even though it presents itself as an exorcism film, there is something more happening in the narrative. Each priest is recruited against their wishes to face this demon possessing the teen and vanquish it back to Hell. However, each man’s faith has been shaken and they’ve succumbed to some transgression or guilt that makes them flawed and not up to the task. Yet, the bishop insists this is a battle they must fight… but at what cost? The exorcism scenes become a little repetitive and possibly too gory as the possessed’s body is ravaged by the demon, eliminating any debate that this could be a mental health issue. The conclusion makes sense in the context of the film, though it is still difficult to accept as a feasible ending (or movie).
Special features include: commentary by Stephen Biro & Jessica Cameron; commentary by Stephen Biro, Marcus Koch & Jerami Cruise; behind-the-scenes featurette; interview with actress Jessica Cameron; interview with writer/director Stephen Biro; interview with special effects artist Marcus Koch; interview with director of photography Chris Hilleke; interview with actor Gene Palubicki; interview with actor David McMahon; outtakes; and photo gallery. (MVD Visual)
Strait-Jacket (Blu-ray)
Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) is a woman who goes berserk when she finds her husband in bed with another woman. With her three-year-old daughter accidentally witnessing the grisly act, Lucy axes the couple to death. She spends 20 years in a mental institution for the double murder. After she is released, she moves in with her brother (Leif Erickson), his wife and her own daughter (Diane Baker), now 23. Her nightmare is over … or is it? When a spate of axe murders start occurring suddenly in the neighborhood, police think Lucy has reverted to her old ways.
This film was made shortly after the release of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, whose success once again thrust Crawford to the forefront of leading actresses. However, as revealed in the bonus features, her celebrity and legend status did come with some strings, including firing privileges. Crawford embraces the haggard appearance of her character, as well as her despair in the face of a world that moved on without her. The murders are skillfully depicted using looming axes and shadow people to great effect. Director William Castle was a brilliant horror director and this is certainly one of his best films, thanks to the combination of a gripping — though not entirely unpredictable — script and stellar acting.
Special features include: commentary by film historians Steve Haberman, David J. Schow, and Constantine Nasr; making-of featurette; “Joan Had Me Fired,” an interview with Anne Helm; “On the Road with Joan Crawford,” an interview with publicist Richard Kahn; Joan Crawford costume and makeup tests; ax-swinging screen test; still gallery; and theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory)
Sunset Society (DVD)
Ace (Lemmy Kilmister) is the head vampire and he likes to keep the fun going while keeping a low profile. However, due to a few rebels in his midst, humans are starting to catch on to their vampire ways. In an attempt to keep a lid on his organization, Ace enlists the help of Frankie (Ron Jeremy), Sophia (Phoebe Dollar) and Mr. Cross (Robert Donavan) to stop the leak of information. In the meantime, an innocent woman is turned into a vampire without permission and someone is selling a recording of real vampire activity. In addition, Dagger, a disgruntled vampire, wants to try to live as a human again no matter the cost. Everyone is now in danger as passions get out of control, bodies are invaded and loyalties are put to the limit.
This is a low-budget, low-quality feature that tries to combine the free-spirited, party-all-the-time attitude of ‘80s rock bands with Hollywood vampires. The film is under lit, and the costumes look like they raided their closets for Goth and rock star leftovers from decades ago. But if getting your friends together to make a mediocre movie that tells your story was the goal, mission accomplished. There are too many plots for what could’ve been a pretty straightforward, if still unoriginal, bloodsucker tale. Nobody delivers an especially good performance, including those with acting experience, which doesn’t help matters. Finally, because it’s trying to tell so many stories, it feels long in spite of only being 90 minutes.
Special features include: slideshow; and theatrical trailer. (MVD Visual)
The Terror: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
The crew of a Royal Naval expedition is sent to find the Arctic’s treacherous Northwest Passage, but instead discovers a monstrous predator – a cunning and vicious Gothic horror that stalks the ships in a desperate game of survival, the consequences of which could endanger the region and its native people forever.
This series blends fact and fiction as the British expedition really did take place in 1845, but the cause of its crew’s demise was likely unrelated to a large, supernatural predator. Accordingly, there are many other threats they encounter on their journey with the most lethal being one they brought upon themselves. The show boasts an excellent cast, including Jared Harris, Ciarán Hinds and Tobias Menzies, who depict their characters’ hardships and flaws with genuineness. The “Eskimos” likely suffer the most as a result of this voyage as the large icebreakers disturb the environment and the pure ignorance of the crew result in unnecessary deaths. Executive producer Ridley Scott presents a riveting series that does a great job intertwining the real with the imaginary.
Special features include: “A Look at the Characters”; “A Look at the Series”; and “Ridley Scott on The Terror.” (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
The Tingler (Blu-ray)
An obsessed doctor (Vincent Price) discovers that fear manifests itself as a parasitic creature, which grows on the spinal cords of terrified people. If they scream, the “Tingler” can be destroyed. If they don’t, it will sever the spinal column and kill them. He successfully isolates and removes the Tingler from a deaf mute (Judith Evelyn) who has been scared to death. Once captured, the Tingler escapes and runs amok in a crowded movie theater. Terror is loose, but can it be stopped?
The narrative itself is somewhat inconsistent, but it’s not without reason. This is director William Castle‘s magnum opus for which he invented a gimmick called “Percepto.” Subsequently, participating theatres rigged random seats so unsuspecting moviegoers would receive a noticeable electric shock during climactic moments in the film. With the Tingler skittering around the ankles of the on-screen audience, one can only imagine what it would have been like to feel a prickle in your back during this scene. The black-and-white film also features another innovation with the inclusion of a brief colour sequence as red blood pours from a bathtub faucet. While the concept is absurd, it’s also made believable via Price’s performances and the respectable practical effects that mobilize the creature.
Special features include: commentary by author/historian Steve Haberman; “I Survived The Tingler,” an interview with Pamela Lincoln; “Unleashing “Percepto”,” an interview with Publicist Barry Lorie; “Scream For Your Lives! William Castle and The Tingler”; William Castle’s drive-in “Scream!” audio; original “Scream” scene; original 1959 theatre lobby recording; still gallery; and theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory)
The Walking Dead: The Complete Eighth Season (Blu-ray)
Together with the Hilltop and the Kingdom, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the Alexandrians bring “All Out War” to Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his forces. The Saviors are larger, better equipped, and ruthless, but Rick and the unified communities are fighting for the promise of a brighter future. The battle lines are drawn as they launch into a kinetic, action-packed offensive.
This season repeatedly pits the Saviors against everyone else, yet Negan and his people’s ruthless tactics repeatedly give them the advantage. There are dissenters in his ranks, but their ability to contribute to the survival of his enemies is often minimal. Not seeing eye-to-eye on their strategies against the Saviors, Rick and Daryl finally part ways as each pursues their own line of attack. After a very damaging fight, Ezekiel struggles with his leadership role, which couldn’t be less opportune since his people especially need him now. While characters are never safe in this show, one of the series’ originals is taken this season with mixed reactions from audiences since they weren’t the most liked personality. The season finale has Rick make yet another questionable decision that could affect his relationships and become one of his greatest regrets.
Special features include: commentary on select episodes; “Carl Grimes: Leaving a Legacy”; “In Memoriam”; and “The Price of War.” (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Walking Tall (Blu-ray)
When it comes to laying down the law with a vengeance, one man (Dwayne Johnson) can make a difference.
The original picture released in 1973 was based on a real-life sheriff who singlehandedly cleaned up a corrupt town while carrying an iconic “big stick.” Johnson’s character is a former soldier who returns to his former factory town only to learn everyone is now beholden to the local casino owner —and one of his old rivals. This was one of Johnson’s earliest feature film roles (2004) as he transitioned from WWE superstar to competent actor and action hero; it’s also one of the first signs he may actually be pretty good at this acting thing. It’s a classic one-man hero narrative a la Road House, though he is helped by a very tolerable Johnny Knoxville.
Special features include: commentary by star Dwayne Johnson; commentary by director Kevin Bray, editor Robert Ivison, and director of photography Glen MacPherson; alternate ending; deleted scenes; “Fight the Good Fight” stunts featurette; bloopers; photo gallery; and theatrical trailer. (MVD Visual)
