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Releases for the Week of Oct. 22

From the Big Screen:

“Before Midnight,” “The Conjuring,” “The Way, Way Back,” “Only God Forgives” and “The Internship.” For more releases this week, see the Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases.

Collectibles:

Heading up the must-have releases this week is “The Uninvited,” a very spooky and chilling horror film from 1944. A pair of siblings (Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey) from London purchase a surprisingly affordable, lonely cliff-top house in Cornwall, only to discover that it actually carries a ghostly price; soon they’re caught up in a bizarre romantic triangle from beyond the grave. Rich in atmosphere, “The Uninvited”, directed by Lewis Allen, was ground breaking for the seriousness with which it treated the haunted-house genre, and it remains an elegant and eerie experience, featuring a classic score by Victor Young. A tragic family past, a mysteriously locked room, cold chills, bumps in the night — ­this gothic Hollywood classic has it all. On DVD and Blu-ray, in a new 2K digital film restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. From The Criterion Collection). Speaking of horror, Scream Factory/Shout! Factory has released the Blu-ray version of “The Vincent Price Collection,” a four-disc set with the first-ever Blu-ray presentation of Price outings “Fall of the House of Usher” (1960), “The Haunted Palace” (1963), “The Masque of Red Death” (1964), “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961), “Witchfinder General” (1968) and “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971). Includes a 24-page collector’s book. Extras include a vintage and rare introduction and final words from Price; commentaries with Roger Corman, others; an audio interview with Price by historian David Del Valle; “A Change of Poe” interview with director Corman; theatrical trailers; still galleries, more. The Criterion Collection has given the Blu-ray treatment to the “John Cassavetes: Five Films Set,” with hi-def restorations of “Shadows,” “Faces,” “A Woman Under the Influence,” “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie” and “Opening Night.”

From TV to DVD:

“Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear” (2013) is an anthology of five Chiller Network macabre short films on the human senses: “Smell,” “See,” “Touch,” “Taste” and “Listen.” On DVD and Blu-ray Disc from Scream Factory/Shout! Factory … “Kindred: The Embraced — The Complete Series” (1996) is a three-disc set with all eight episodes of the cult genre vampire series starring C. Thomas Howell, Mark Frankel, Jeff Kober and Kelly Rutherford. The collectible edition packaged in a special keepsake box including an exclusive edition of “The Book of Nod” (he sacred vampire text that inspired the series’ creation) and a letter to fans from series creator John Leekley. While investigating an alleged mobster, San Francisco police detective Frank Kohanek (Howell) discovers that his suspect is actually Julian Luna (Frankel), the undead “Prince of the City” and leader of five vampire clans collectively called “The Kindred.” Julian and Frank form an uneasy relationship, working together to prevent a vampire war, while Julian finds himself falling in love with Caitlin (Rutherford), a human reporter. $39.98 from CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount … “Nikita: The Complete Third Season” (2012-13) is a five-disc DVD ($59.98) and four-disc Blu-ray ($69.97) with all 22 episodes, from Warner … “Primeval New World: The Complete Series” (2012-13) is a three-disc set with all 13 episodes of the North American spin-off of the hit U.K. television series. When an invasion of prehistoric creatures threatens North America, visionary inventor Evan Cross assembles a team of highly-trained scientists and animal experts to battle the deadly predators and investigate the anomalies that brought them through time. On $29.98; Blu-ray Disc, $39.98. From Entertainment One.

Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:

“Dead in Tombstone” (2013) is a wild, blood-soaked supernatural Western starring Danny Trejo, Anthony Michael Hall and Mickey Rourke. After a ruthless gang overruns a small mining town, they murder their own leader, Guerrero Hernandez (Trejo), in a cold-blooded power grab. Sentenced to eternity in hell, Guerrero finds himself confronted by Satan himself (Rourke), who offers a daring proposition: deliver the six souls of his former gang and he will escape damnation. With rated and unrated versions, on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo, from Universal … In “I Give It a Year” (2013), starring Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Alex Macqueen, Stephen Merchant, Jane Asher, Terence Harvey, Minnie Driver and Jason Flemyng, newlywed couple Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall) are deliriously happy despite their differences, though friends and family aren’t convinced that they can last. With their first anniversary approaching and attractive alternatives in the mix, can they last — especially when Josh’s ex-girlfriend and Nat’s handsome American client enter the scene. On DVD and Blu-ray from Magnolia Home Entertainment … When St. Parick’s Day in Irish Channel, Louisiana, is restored after a 65-year ban, a vengeful demon returns to terrorize the citizens in “Red Clover (aka Leprechaun’s Revenge)” (2013), starring Billy Zane, Courtney Halverson and William Devane. From After Dark Films/Lionsgate.

    On the Indie Front:

    “Just Like a Woman” (2012), starring Sienna Miller and Golshifteh Farahani, is a kind of 21st century “Thelma & Louise” about two women — Mona, an Egyptian (Farahani) living with her husband and abusive mother-in-law and Marilyn, (Miller) a hard-working warehouse clerk with dreams of becoming a professional belly dancer — who team up for a road trip from Chicago to Santa Fe, paying their way by stopping in dumpy clubs and restaurants to dance. Marilyn dreams of winning an audition to join a famous belly dancing company, while Mona has a secret: She’s a fugitive from justice, accused of her mother-in-law’s death. Though ripe with possibilities, the film is bogged down with a predictable story line, slow pacing and uninvolving characters. On DVD and Blu-ray Disc from Cohen Media Group … In “Homecoming” (2012), starring Jerry Ford, Nina Ashe, Sheldon Shaw and Tiffany-Denise, a group of five college friends reunite for homecoming weekend nearly 20 years after graduation, happily reminiscing about their university memories, rekindling their close friendships, until cracks in the surface start to show as they remember one of their old roommates, whose recent death brings up long-hidden secrets. From One Village Entertainment … “Oka!” (2011) is the story of Louis Sarno, an American ethno-musicologist who lived among the Bayaka Pygmies in Central Africa for 25 years to record their music. Stars Kris Marshall, Isaach De Bankole, Will Yun Lee and the Bayaka of Yandombe. On DVD and Blu-ray from Well Go USA … In “Storm Rider” (2013), starring Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, C Thomas Howell and Dani Chuchran, spoiled 18-year old Dani Fieldings’ world is turned upside down when her father gets arrested for securities fraud, and she has to leave her upscale life in the city to stay with her gruff Uncle Sam out in the country. As Dani and her uncle struggle to bond, she’s given an orphaned horse to foster and train, calling her Stormy and giving her all the attention she’s missing from her unsettled life. From Arc Entertainment … Born to teenaged parents in a small town, a smart teenage girl comes of age with her self-centered, immature working mother and a strict, frequently absent father in “As Cool As I Am” (2013), starring Sarah Bolger, Claire Danes, James Marsden, Thomas Mann, Jeremy Sisto, Jon Tenney, Anika Noni Rose and Peter Fonda. On DVD and Blu-ray from IFC Films.

    Foreign:

    “The Wall” (2012 — Austria/Germany), starring Martina Gedeck, is based on Marlen Haushofer’s highly-regarded 1962 novel, the story of an unnamed character — ­The Woman — ­who is vacationing in the spectacular Austrian mountains when an invisible wall inexplicably encompasses the countryside. The Woman is cut off from all human contact and is separated from the rest of the world; accompanied by her loyal dog Lynx, she becomes immersed in a world untouched by civilization and ruled only by the laws of nature, which prove to be both benign and dangerous. As she grapples with her bizarre circumstances, The Woman begins an inward journey of spiritual growth and, ultimately, transcendence. From Music Box Films … “Paradise: Faith” (2013 — Austria/Germany/France) is director Ulrich Seidl’s second film in the “Paradise” Trilogy about three women in one family who take separate vacations: one as a sex tourist (“Paradise: Love”), another as a Catholic missionary (“Paradise: Faith”) and the third at a diet camp for teenagers (“Paradise: Hope”). For Anna Maria, a single woman in her fifties, paradise lies with Jesus. She devotes her summer vacation to doing missionary work, so that Austria may be brought back to the path of virtue. On her daily pilgrimage through Vienna, she goes from door to door, carrying a foot-high statue of the Virgin Mary. When her husband, an Egyptian Muslim confined to a wheelchair, comes home after years of absence, her life is turned upside down. From Strand Releasing.

    For the Family:

    “Digimon: The Official Seasons 1-4 Collection” (1999-2002) consists of the first four seasons of “Digimon,” together for the first time on DVD in a 32-disc set with 205 episodes of the series, with “Digimon Adventure” and “Digimon Adventure 02,” the classic seasons that started it all, and “Digimon Tamers” and “Digimon Frontier,” the continuation of the series with all new characters and worlds. The series revolves around the life forms known as “Digital Monsters,” living in a “Digital World,” a parallel universe that originated from Earth’s various communication networks. The release is timed for the new season, “Digimon Season 6,” airing on Nickelodeon. $229.95 from Cinedigm … “Barbie & Her Sisters in a Pony Tale” (2013) is the latest feature-length adventure of Barbie; here Barbie and her sisters set off on a Swiss adventure to the majestic Alps, where they spend the summer at a riding academy. Although the vacation gets off to a rocky start, Barbie discovers a mysterious wild horse in the woods, making their visit truly magical. On DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo from Universal.

      Special Interest:

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