This Week’s Highlights:

“Caligula: The Ultimate Cut”

is a completely new edit of the infamous 1980 original produced by Penthouse’s Bob Guccione: It’s a scene-by-scene reconfiguration of Tinto Brass’ controversial somewhat raunchy epic chronicling the Roman Empire’s most debauched emperor, starring Malcolm McDowell, Peter O’Toole and Helen Mirren. Tormented by the murder of his family, the young, wary Caligula (Malcolm McDowell) eliminates his devious adoptive grandfather Tiberius (Peter O’Toole) and seizes control of the declining Roman Empire as it descends into a spiral of depravity, destruction and madness. On DVD, Blu-ray (two-disc set with new cut and 1980 theatrical version), four-disc 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo (2 UHD +1 BD + 1 CD limited numbered edition) (Oct. 22), VOD (Oct. 18). Extras: Read more here. From Unobstructed View.

A combustible performance from Bob Hoskins is the fuse that lights the underworld saga “The Long Goodbye” (1980), a landmark of British crime cinema. Hoskins plays Harold Shand, an ambitious London mobster who, just as he attempts to close a major real-estate deal with the American Mafia, finds his crime empire rocked by a string of attacks, sending him on a ruthless quest to find out who’s responsible. Abetted by an ice-cool performance from Helen Mirren as Shand’s in-command moll, “The Long Good Friday” is not only a gripping gangster thriller but also a vivid portrait of late-1970s Britain — a powder keg of cultural and political tensions on the verge of explosion. On 4K UHD + Blu-ray, Blu-ray, with new 4K digital restoration, approved by director of photography Phil Méheux, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features. Read more here. From The Criterion Collection.

Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:

Following the sleeper success of their breakthrough sci-fi/horror smash “Pitch Black,” writer-director David Twohy and star Vin Diesel reunited for 2004’s action-packed “The Chronicles of Riddick,” an expansive and ambitious sequel that took their eponymous antihero to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Riddick (Diesel) is an intergalactic fugitive whose dark past catches up with him when he is lured out of hiding by Imam (Keith David), another survivor of the planet of horrors they barely escaped from five years earlier. Now out of the shadows, Riddick is identified by an ethereal emissary (Academy Award winner Dame Judi Dench) as the descendant of an ancient race of warriors who may be the universe’s last hope against the Necromongers, an evil army of fanatics intent on bending the world to their will. As enemies close in on all sides, including the ruthless Lord Marshal (Colm Feore) and his scheming lieutenant Vaako (Karl Urban), Riddick finds himself a reluctant saviour of the cosmos, with only his razor-sharp wits and cunning killer instinct standing in the way of total annihilation. At long last, Twohy and Diesel’s hard-hitting outer-space epic has been restored in glorious 4K, with hours of incisive bonus features exploring every detail of this densely-constructed and masterfully-executed mythology. Brand new 4K restorations by Arrow Films of the Theatrical and Director’s Cuts of the film, approved by David Twohy. Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio on both cuts, plus remixed Dolby Atmos for the Theatrical Cut. Limited edition three-disc 4K UHD; three-disc Blu-ray. Read more here. From Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment … In 2003, director Marcus Nispel made a lasting impression on horror fans with his box-office-topping remake “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Six years later, he turned his camera to another slasher icon, none other than the hulking masked killer Jason Voorhees, in his gore-soaked remake of “Friday The 13th (2009).” A group of oblivious teenagers choose Camp Crystal Lake as the destination for a weekend getaway. Among them, the young Clay Miller (Jared Padalecki) is not looking for fun and frolics, but for his sister Whitney who disappeared around the lake six weeks earlier. The trip turns into a waking nightmare as the bloodthirsty Jason emerges from the shadows, wielding a deadly machete and out for blood. Cut off from civilization, these youths discover too late that Crystal Lake bears the scars of a violent past as they uncover the terrifying events that spurred the masked killer’s quest for violent vengeance. Nispel’s taut direction and the stunning cinematography by Daniel Pearl – whose credits include the original “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” as well as the remake – bring a fresh and terrifying new perspective to the infamous hockey-masked maniac, sure to bring chills and thrills to even hardened horror veterans. Two cuts of the film, the Theatrical Cut (97 mins) and the extended Killer Cut (105 mins). On 4K UHD Limited Edition. Read more here. From Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment … “Nobody’s Home” (2023) is a dark and twisted psychological thriller. When Theodora’s boyfriend Luca is set to be released from the institution where they are both admitted, she escapes with him and tries to re-traumatize him so he remains under her control. They end up at his childhood home where a knock on the door sends them spiraling into a confusing night of games and manipulation rooted in lies, insecurity, and fear. From Freestyle Digital Media. Read more here. … A talented and versatile journeyman, director Sergio Martino (“The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail,” “Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key”) lent his talents to multiple genres across his long and varied career, but is undoubtedly best known for his giallo thrillers from the early 70s. Among the most highly acclaimed of these, 1973’s “Torso “ (1973 — Italy) revels in the genre’s time-honored traditions while simultaneously laying the groundwork for the modern slasher movie. A sex maniac is prowling the streets of Perugia, targeting the picturesque university town’s female students. Alarmed at the plummeting life expectancy of the student body, Jane (Suzy Kendall) and her three friends elope to a secluded country villa – only to discover that, far from having left the terror behind, they’ve brought it with them. Also known as “Carnal Violence,” “Torso” was released in Italy towards the end of the giallo boom before enjoying a second life on the American grindhouse circuit. Co-starring Tina Aumont and Luc Merenda, the film finds its director at the top of his game, delivering copious levels of violence, sleaze, and one of the tensest cat-and-mouse games ever committed to celluloid. Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative. 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the 94-minute Italian and 90-minute English-language export versions of the film. In a limited edition from Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment. Read more here.

From TV to Disc:

“The Crown: The Complete Sixth and Final Season”

(2023) is a four-disc set with all 10 episodes. The sixth season is set from 1997 to 2005, during the premiership of Tony Blair. In the final season of the groundbreaking series, a relationship blossoms between Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed before a fateful car journey has devastating consequences. Prince William tries to integrate back into life at Eton in the wake of his mother’s death as the monarchy must ride the wave of public opinion. As she reaches her Golden Jubilee, the Queen reflects on the future of the monarchy with the marriage of Charles and Camilla and the beginnings of a new royal fairy tale in William and Kate. 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.