Amnesiac (DVD)
A man (Wes Bentley) wakes up in bed suffering from memory loss after being in an accident, only to begin to suspect that his wife (Kate Bosworth) may not be his real wife and that a web of lies and deceit deepen inside the house where he soon finds himself a prisoner.
This story is initially very reminiscent of the film adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery. When the man awakens in a room he doesn’t recognize, he only has the word of his so-called wife that they were indeed connected before his accident and that this is his home. However fragments of the incident return in his dreams, eventually causing him to question everything his wife has told him thus far. Most unexpected though is the truth of the situation, which is only fully revealed at the end of the narrative. The progression of the story is somewhat messy and since the oddity of the truth isn’t disclosed until the conclusion, it seems rather predictable and mediocre until that point.
There are no special features. (XLrator Media)
I Spit on Your Grave 3 (DVD)
Jennifer Hills (Sarah Butler) is still tormented by the brutal sexual assault she endured years earlier. She’s changed identities and cities, reluctantly joining a support group where she begins to piece together a new life. But when her new friend’s murderer goes free and the tales of serial rapists haunt her, Jennifer will hunt down the men responsible and do what the system won’t — make them pay for their crimes in the most horrific ways imaginable.
While the sequel was completely unrelated to the first film/remake, this one marks the return of the original victim/protagonist — but this time she’s the hunter, not the prey. As graphic as the rape was that initiated this series, Jennifer’s kills are equally gruesome including one that is a special effects feat displayed close-up. In comparison to the horror of parts one and two, this movie is a relatively solid picture that explores the long-lasting repercussions of assault on victims and their families. Of course Jennifer’s vigilantism is only what most people wish for in their darkest revenge fantasies, but that’s always been the essence of traditional rape-revenge narratives.
There are no special features. (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Last Shift (DVD)
Officer Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy) has been assigned to wait for a Hazmat team to pick up bio-hazardous waste from the station’s armoury. But unbeknownst to her, cult leader John Michael Paymon (Joshua Mikel) has haunted the department ever since he and two of his followers committed suicide a year ago to date.
Haunted houses are old hat, but police precincts are becoming the hotspot for the supernatural. Let us Prey was about the presence of a somewhat more tangible evil, but these poltergeists are interested in tormenting their target not making her atone for any past deed. The trouble is fairly restrained at first, limited to noises and the unexplained movement of objects; but as the night goes on, it becomes more violent. As the incidents escalate in severity, Jessica refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and constantly takes the bait which gradually makes it more difficult to side with her. Nonetheless, it delivers on the creepy occurrences and still manages a rather disturbing conclusion.
There are no special features. (Anchor Bay Canada)
The Making of the Mob (Blu-ray)
The eight-part series narrated by Ray Liotta begins in 1905 and spans more than 50 years to trace the rise of Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and other notorious New York gangsters. From the beginnings as a neighbourhood gang of teenagers to murderous entrepreneurs and bootleggers who organized the criminal underworld, these men turned the Mafia into an American institution.
There have been numerous movies featuring the main players in the American mafia, many of which are based on truth. But this series isn’t just a glamorization of illegal crime families; it’s a chronicle of their rise from the streets to million-dollar operations. In spite of the attention these characters have received, their stories and relationships to each other have never been explored in such detail. Some of the more publicized incidents portrayed are undoubtedly familiar, but there are many events that will appear wholly new to viewers. Most of the proceedings are recreated by actors as Liotta describes what happened. These are intercut with interviews of admirers, family members and former mob associates, including former NYC mayor Rudolph Giulliani, Meyer Lansky II, Chazz Palminteri, Drea de Matteo, Joe Mantegna, Vincent Pastore, Frankie Valli, Frank Vincent and others.
Special features include: additional scenes; “The Real Arnold Rothstein”; “The Secret Life of a Mob Wife”; “The Mob & Mussolini”; “Style”; “Mob Innovations”; and “The Mob Shrink.” (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Mateo (DVD)
Matthew Stoneman dreamed of pop stardom. Instead he went to jail, learned Spanish and emerged as “Mateo,” America’s first white mariachi singer. Mateo is on the brink of completing an album of original songs in Havana. But his estrangement from friends and family, his criminal past and his love for Cuban women could derail him on his quest for fame.
This sounds like a relatively benign documentary about a man who has finally found his unique place in the world. Stoneman is shown networking with other mariachis in Spanish, recording his multi-year album with complimentary musicians and performing at a variety of events. However the flipside is he mismanages his money, is a womanizer and a bit of an overall creep. This juxtaposition makes for a mixed viewing experience as Stoneman’s journey is somewhat intriguing, but he doesn’t feel deserving of the attention. Nevertheless, none of this detracts from his apparently natural talent and “angelic” voice. The film seems disorganized, but it still provides a seemingly comprehensive look at this unexpectedly controversial figure.
There are no special features. (XLrator Media)
San Andreas (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital copy)
After the infamous San Andreas Fault gives, triggering a nine-plus magnitude earthquake in California, a search and rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) make their way together from Los Angeles to San Francisco to save their only daughter. But their treacherous journey north is only the beginning. And when they think the worst may be over, it’s just getting started.
In yet another disaster movie, loving and conveniently capable parents traverse evolving dangers to rescue their kid who happens to be on the other side of the calamity. In the current state of technology, the special effects rule in these pictures; even overshadowing the performances at times. The movie follows the formula, but stands out as one of the most spectacular in the genre. A couple of impressive examples include land that moves like a wave and water that rises to the height of skyscrapers — feats explained in the bonus features. Johnson is an ideal hero, appearing proficient in any situation, and Gugino holds her own at his side throughout.
Special features include: commentary by director Brad Peyton; deleted scenes; “San Andreas: The Real Fault Line”; “Dwayne Johnson to the Rescue”; “Scoring the Quake”; stunt reel; and gag reel. (Warner Home Video)
Skin Traffik (Blu-ray)
Traumatised by the death of an innocent, killer for hire Bradley (Gary Daniels) drops out of society, seeking meaning, roaming the dangerous streets of a tough inner city ghetto. When he encounters a savage pimp and a desperate woman under his control Bradley finds the means to give battle to the inner demons that have eluded him. He embarks on a quest to save a young girl from the clutches of the brutal gangsters that trade human beings as currency. Drawn deeper into a sickening world in which age is no bar to exploitation and pursued by police, gangland villains and mysterious agency known only as The Executive. Bradley discovers an ever deepening web of corruption and vice, and a dangerous game in which nothing is what it seems and on one can be trusted.
It used to be a younger man’s game, but now there’s no shortage of older guys coming out of retirement to kick down doors and get a little vigilante justice. Bradley decides to compensate for his past mistakes by rescuing a young woman being exploited by a complex prostitution ring. He proves to be a skilled fighter even though he’s in his 50’s, defeating most of his opponents with adept and sharpened abilities… apparently murder is just like riding a bicycle. Mickey Rourke makes an appearance as a bad guy, while Eric Roberts portrays the chief villain; and Michael Madsen and Daryl Hannah reprise their Kill Bill partnership, once again exhibiting a playfully sinister chemistry.
There are no special features. (Anchor Bay Canada)
Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood (Blu-ray)
Wisecracking private eye Rafe Guttman (Dennis Miller) investigates some strange happenings at a titillating bordello on the edge of town. It seems owner Madam Lilith (Angie Everhart) and her luscious cohorts want more than money — they want blood. Soon Rafe finds himself up to his neck in a den of hungry vampiresses and battling the Reverend Jimmy Current (Chris Sarandon), a slick televangelist with an unstoppable talisman.
Overall this picture is fun, but it didn’t live up to the standards set by its predecessor — a fact sadly owed in no small part to a lot of turmoil that occurred off camera and is candidly explored in the making-of featurette. The basic concept is more than intriguing: a brothel run by vampires located in the underground depths of a mortuary. But it often appears to be trying too hard and is obviously pieced together from something that was even messier before it entered the editing room. Miller is funny, Everhart is sassy and Sarandon is tolerable, but they are all generally over-the-top and push the narrative into comic extremes.
Special features include: commentary by co-writer and producer A.L. Katz; making-of featurette; still gallery; video promo; and trailer. (Scream Factory)
Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (Blu-ray)
A mysterious drifter known as Brayker (William Sadler) possesses the last of seven ancient keys that hold the power to stop the forces of darkness and protect all humanity from ultimate evil. But the human race is safe only so long as Brayker can evade the demonic Collector (Billy Zane) who has gathered the other six keys. In his obsessive quest for the key, the Collector rallies an army of ghastly cadavers against Brayker and the inhabitants of a run-down hotel. Armed with automatic weapons, sacred blood and sadistic humor, Brayker and the strong-willed Jeryline (Jada Pinkett-Smith) must lead the other guests in a gruesome battle against the Collector and his evil horde of ghouls.
The Cryptkeeper’s tales, in comic books and the TV series, were generally about people getting their comeuppance. However the franchise’s first feature took a different approach to the story, focusing on heroes at the end and beginning of their journeys. This is unquestionably the best of the two features released, combining horror and comedy to great effect. The entire cast was excellent, but Zane is definitely the standout performer. He is the perfect villain, mixing humour and malice with sarcasm and the odd gag. It’s likely this film wouldn’t be as popular had he not been selected for the role (and it’s said to have gotten him the bad guy part in Titanic). The special features, particularly the nearly hour-long making-of video, reveals a lot of interesting tidbits about the production, from casting to creature effects to shooting locations.
Special features include: commentary by director Ernest Dickerson; commentary by special effects creator Todd Masters, visual effects supervisor John Van Vliet, special effects coordinator Thomas Bellissimo and demon performer Walter Phelan; making-of featurette; panel discussion from The American Cinematheque featuring director Ernest Dickerson, actor Dick Miller and special effects maestro Rick Baker; still gallery; and trailer. (Scream Factory)
Testament of Youth (Blu-ray)
The film is based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which became the classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view. A searing journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it’s a film about young love, the futility of war and how to make sense of the darkest times.
There have been countless depictions of war on screen, but it’s only recently that these events are being shown from a female perspective. Vera (Alicia Vikander) was a bright young woman who shared her male counterparts’ desire to contribute to the effort. Although nurses were not on the battlefield, she looked death in the face every day as wounded and dying soldiers crossed her path. Her viewpoint is as depressing as any soldier’s, except that she outlived most of them to see the carnage through to the end. It’s clear Vera’s experiences and losses have a significant impact, and her intelligence allows her to share those unique observations with the rest of the world. Vikander demonstrates the thoughtfulness and resoluteness required of her character, while the young men (Kit Harington, Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan and Jonathan Bailey) provide excellent support.
Special features include: commentary by director James Kent and actor Kit Harington; deleted scenes; and behind-the-scenes featurette. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
