From the Big Screen:

Meg 2: The Trench

(2023) Dive into uncharted waters with Jason Statham and global action icon Wu Jing as they lead a daring research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal Megs and relentless environmental plunderers, our heroes must outrun, outsmart, and outswim their merciless predators in a pulse-pounding race against time. Vitals: Director: Ben Wheatley. Stars: Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, Cliff Curtis, Sienna Guillory. CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min., Action, North American box office gross: $78.422 million, worldwide $375.022 million, Warner. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: “The Making of Meg 2: The Trench”; “Up From the Depths: Even More Beasts.” Read more here

This Week’s Best Bet:

“Beast From Haunted Cave” (1959) is one of Roger Corman’s cult classics, newly restored from a 4K scan of 35mm archival materials. Cut-throat gangsters hatch a plan to rob a bank in Deadwood, South Dakota, but when one of the henchmen sets off an explosion in a nearby gold mine to act as a diversion for the heist, he awakens a blood-sucking, spider-like creature that isn’t happy about the intrusion. When a violent snowstorm delays the gang’s escape, things rapidly progress from bad to blood-curdling worse. BONUS FEATURE: “Ski Troop Attack” (1960) — Upon wrapping “Beast From Haunted Cave,” Corman directed this World War II drama using the same location and much of the same cast and crew. For Corman, economy was key. “Beast From Haunted Cave” is presented in its original theatrical 1.85:1, 65-minute format and extended, 72-minute 4×3 TV version. “Ski Troop Attack” is presented as a newly restored HD print in 4×3 aspect ratio. Directed by Monte Hellman and starring Michael Forest, Sheila Noonan and Frank Wolff. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Film Masters. Read more here.

Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:

When high school outcasts Rickie and JT find a naked dead girl chained to a table in an abandoned building in “Deadgirl” (2008), starring Shiloh Fernandez, Noah Segan and Jenny Spain, they do not expect her to be the living undead. The boys find themselves lured into a dark and twisted journey that will test the limits of both. On Blu-ray from Unearthed Films … In “Vampires and Other Stereotypes” (1984), a pair of paranormal investigators are making their nightly rounds on the seedy streets of New York City when they encounter a group of party-hopping girls looking for a warehouse rave – who have also just accidentally opened a portal to hell. What follows is a night of practical effects monster mayhem as the group try to save themselves, and the entire planet, from a demonic invasion. The first feature from prolific 1990s Shot-On-Video writer, producer, director Kevin J. Lindenmuth, the film delivers both the creatures and characters that perfectly illustrate the kind of homemade, offbeat genre movies that the video store era brought forth. On Blu-ray from Wild Eye Releasing … “Caddy Hack” (2023), starring Jim Gordon, Jake Foy, Chrissy Cavallo, Nick Twist, Ilene Sullivan and John Evans, a struggling golf course suffers a string of caddy murders at the paws of pesticide-mutated gofers, while the greedy owner of the facility tries to cover up the carnage and an unhinged groundkeeper wages all out war on the vicious vermin. On Blu-ray Wild Eye Releasing). Read more here … Amando de Ossorio’s unique 1971 Spanish shocker “Tombs of the Blind Dead” (1971 — Spain) was an international horror hit that spawned three sequels and countless imitations. A simple camping trip amongst friends quickly turns bloody as the undead rise from their graves seeking human flesh. The zombies are Knights Templar who were executed long ago for their cannibalistic rituals, and whose eyes were pecked out by crows. Now armed and roaming the area looking for victims, they hunt by sound alone. Synapse is proud to present the first in this Spanish-produced series in both its original uncut Spanish version and the alternate US cut titled “The Blind Dead.” On Blu-ray from Synapse Films … In “Lycan Colony” (2006), starring Karl Bertelmann, Sean Burgoyne and Kadrolsha Ona Carole, a disgraced, alcoholic surgeon moves with his family to a small town in New Hampshire. Unknown to them, the entire town is populated with werewolves, some good and others very evil. They soon find themselves thrust into an ancient, mystical battle between the wolf packs that will change their family forever. On Blu-ray from Visual Vengeance … “Disaster Action Pack: 3 Movie Collection” features three Scandinavian disaster films: “The Wave” (2015 – Norway/Sweden): Geologist Kristian Eikjord (Kristoffer Joner) races to save his family from a landslide that sends tons of rock and earth crashing into the water causing a massive tsunami; every soul in the town has 10 minutes to escape. “The Quake” (2018 – Norway): After surviving “The Wave,” Kristian Eikjord (Joner) and his family find themselves at the center of another natural disaster. This time, the ground beneath Oslo, Norway can’t be trusted. Kristian makes a perilous attempt to help his wife, daughter and others escape a crumbling skyscraper. “The Burning Sea” (2021 – Norway): A massive crack has opened on the ocean floor, causing an oil rig to collapse. A team of researchers and rescuers rush in to search for the missing and assess the cause of the damage, but they discover that this is just the start of a possible apocalyptic catastrophe the world has never seen. From Magnolia Home Entertainment.

Foreign Films:

In the years following the death of Bruce Lee, the flame of Hong Kong action cinema was being kept alive via the masterful choreography of Sammo Hung in a multitude of films, typically under the direction of Huang Feng (“Hapkido,” “The Shaolin Plot”). However, in 1977, Hung would finally get his chance to fully take the directing reins, with his former director by his side as co-writer, paving the way for “The Iron Fisted Monk” (1977 — Hong Kong) Rice Miller Luk (Hung) is just a simple man trying to live a quiet life, until one day the Manchu Bannermen bully their way through town, killing his uncle in the process. When a nearby Shaolin monk, San De (Chan Sing), easily defeats them and sees the fallen Luk, he offers him a chance to learn martial arts at the Shaolin Temple. However, Luk’s impatience with his training sees him return to his town to witness an even more ruthless organization of Manchus, led by a depraved official (Fung Hak-An) who has a nasty and violent habit of taking whatever (and whoever) he wants. Will Luk’s incomplete Shaolin teachings, combined with the skill set of San De, be enough to put an end to the Manchu stronghold plaguing their people? On Blu-ray from Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment. Read more here … “Ride On” (2023– China), starring Jackie Chan, Liu Haocun, Guo Qilin and Wu Jing, is a martial arts action comedy. Forgotten by the Hong Kong film industry he once set the standard for, aging stuntman Lao Luo (Chan) barely manages upkeep for his beloved trained horse Red Hare. When footage of their flight from debt collectors becomes a viral sensation, they find themselves with career opportunities once again — and for Lao, a shot at reconciliation with his law student daughter (Haocun). In Mandarin with English subtitles. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Well Go USA … “Shaw Brothers Classics Volume Three” is an 11-disc set with 11 Hong Kong films originally released from 1976-1979, including “Killer Clans,” “Shaolin Avengers,” “Web of Death,” “Vengeful Beauty,” “Death Duel,” “Life Gamble,” “Soul of the Sword,” “Deadly Breaking Sword,” “Clan of the White Lotus,” “Shaolin Abbott” and “Shaolin Rescuers.” The collection is also loaded with brand new bonus features, including new audio commentaries with critics and historians including David West, Brian Bankston, James Mudge and more; new interviews with actors including Ku Feng, Susan Shaw, Candice Yu and Yang Hsiung; original theatrical trailers, Celestial trailers, and more. On Blu-ray from Shout! Studios. Read more here … When his father dies, Guillaume, a police officer, inherits the family bowling alley and decides to give it to his half-brother Armand in “Saturn Bowling” (2022 — France), starring Arieh Worthalter, Achille Reggiani, Y-Lan Lucas, Leïla Muse and Frédéric van den Driessche. But the gift is cursed, setting off a series of brutal murders. Both brothers find themselves drawn into a demon-filled abyss and will have to face their tainted heritage. Darkness reigns over their world where the only rules are the rules of the hunt. From Dark Star Pictures. Read more here … “Marcel Pagnol: My Father’s Glory / My Mother’s Castle” (1990 — France) have been restored and released as a double feature on Blu Ray for the first time ever in North America; these are adaptations of famous French novelist Marcel Pagnol’s important works, “My Father’s Glory,” and it’s sequel, “My Mother’s Castle.” In “My Father’s Glory,” at the end of the nineteenth century, little Marcel lives with his parents in the Provence countryside. During his holiday, Marcel meets Lili, a local boy who knows all the secrets of the hills, and the two become fast friends. Adapted from the novel by Marcel Pagnol (“Manon of the Spring”). In the sequel “My Mother’s Castle,” young Marcel Pagnol and his family move back to their home in Marseilles, France, far from their pastoral holiday cottage in the hills. Determined, Marcel makes the long voyage back to the cottage on foot and lands himself in trouble. One day Marcel’s father discovers a shortcut to the cottage, but it requires trespassing. Despite their trepidations, Marcel and his family begin using the secret trail to reach their cottage. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Film Movement.

For the Family:

“The Swan Princess: Far Longer Than Forever” (2023) is the latest in the animated franchise. Eager to discover the truth about his late father, King Derek and Queen Odette set off on an epic adventure. As newly appointed members of the Council of Crowns, Derek and Odette begin to “smoke out” the true story. But an attempt on their lives drives them undercover, where they pose as the Barrymores, world-famous traveling magicians. With the help of Rogers, Scully, and the animals, Derek and Odette piece the mystery together, only to have it all unravel. Will they ever know the truth about King Max? From Sony.

Special Interest:

“The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg” (1993): Visionary, radical, spiritual seeker, renowned poet, founding member of a major literary movement, champion of human rights, Buddhist, political activist and teacher – Allen Ginsberg’s remarkable life shaped the very soul of American counterculture. For 25 years, Academy Award-nominated director Jerry Aronson accumulated more than 60 hours of film on Ginsberg, resulting in this comprehensive portrait of one of America’s greatest poets, author of “Howl” and other groundbreaking poems. “The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg” premiered at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival and went on to enjoy success at theaters around the country. Now, the film has been digitally remastered in 16:9 HD (pillarboxed at 4:3, the film’s original aspect ratio) and will be available to stream for the first time. In all, the film reveals the last 70 years of American culture beginning with the Beat era in the post-war Forties and Fifties, continuing through the revolutionary Sixties and concluding with the uncertainty and possibility of current times. From First Run Features. Read more here.

From TV to Disc:

“The Boys: Season Three” (2022) is a two-disc set with all eight episodes. It’s been a year of calm. Homelander’s subdued. Butcher works for the government, supervised by Hughie of all people. But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. So when The Boys learn of a mysterious Anti-Supe weapon, it sends them crashing into The Seven, starting a war, and chasing the legend of the first superhero: Soldier Boy. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Sony.

All DVDs and Blu-rays are screened on a reference system consisting of an Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers, and Power 10 subwoofer.