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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
Axe/Kidnapped Coed
(1977/1976) In the mid-1970s, writer-producer-director-actor Frederick R. Friedel went to North Carolina to film a pair of enigmatic yet startling low-budget thrillers -- "Axe" and "Kidnapped Coed" -- only to see them both presumed lost to shady dealings, sudden tragedies, moral outrage and drive-in oblivion. In "Axe," depraved killers on the run hold a young woman and her invalid grandfather hostage in an isolated farmhouse. In "Kidnapped Coed," the teenage daughter of a wealthy family forms a perverse relationship with her abductor. Once thought doomed to drive-in obscurity, fans and grindhouse historians have begun to compare Freidel's films to those of David Lynch and Terrence Malick, and now the complete story behind this strange journey can finally be told. Severin Films is presenting both features restored from their original negatives, plus "Bloody Brothers," Friedel's recut of the two features as one twisted crime epic, loaded with bonus features that reveal the startling saga behind the casts, crews, disastrous fate and surprising rediscovery of these nearly forgotten grindhouse/arthouse classics -- the ultimate look at one of the most fascinating sagas in indie exploitation history. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentaries with Friedel, Production Manager Philip Smoot, Makeup Artist Worth Keeter; "At Last ... Total Terror! The Amazing True Story of the Making of Axe & Kidnapped Coed"; Stephen Thrower on "Axe" & "Kidnapped Coed"; trailers, TV spots and radio spots. Blu-ray adds "Blood Brothers" feature; commentary with "Nightmare USA" author Stephen Thrower; "Moose Magic," the George Newman Shaw & John Willhelm story; bonus CD: "Axe" & "Kidnapped Coed" original motion picture soundtracks plus bonus tracks by George Newman Shaw & John Willhelm. (Severin Films/CAV Distributing).
Blood Rage
(1983) What do you get if you combine Thanksgiving, American TV star Louise Lasser "(Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman"), killer 80s synths and some of the most gruesome special effects in all of slasher history courtesy of Ed French. Why, it's "Blood Rage" of course! Todd and Terry seem like sweet kids -- that is, until one of them takes an axe to face of a fellow patron at the local drive-in. Todd is blamed for the bloody crime and institutionalized, whilst twin brother Terry goes free. Ten years later, as the family gather around the table for a Thanksgiving meal, the news comes in that Todd has escaped -- and he's heading their way. But has the killer twin in fact been in their midst all along? One thing's for sure,
Burroughs: The Movie
(1983) Made up of intimate, revelatory footage of the singular author and poet filmed over the course of five years, Howard Brookner's 1983 documentary about William S. Burroughs was for decades mainly the stuff of legend; that changed when Aaron Brookner, the late director's nephew, discovered a print of it in 2011 and spearheaded a restoration. Now viewers can enjoy the invigorating candidness of "Burroughs: The Movie," a one-of-a-kind nonfiction portrait that was brought to life with the help of a remarkable crew of friends, including Jim Jarmusch and Tom DiCillo, and that features on-screen appearances by fellow artists of Burroughs's including Allen Ginsberg, Herbert Huncke, Patti Smith and Terry Southern. New, high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: New interviews with Jim Jarmusch, Aaron Brookner, and Tom DiCillo, as well as William S. Burroughs's friends and fellow writers James Grauerholz and Stew Meyer; rare outtakes; footage from the 2014 New York Film Festival premiere of the film's restoration; 30-minute experimental edit of the film from 1981 by inventor and photographer Robert E. Fulton Jr.; an essay by critic Luc Sante and a collage poster; more. (The Criterion Collection).
The Car BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1977) James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley, Elizabeth Thompson, Ronny Cox, R.G. Armstrong. The peaceful tranquility of a small Western town is disturbed when a murderous car wreaks havoc by viciously mowing down innocent victims. The new sheriff, Wade Parent (Brolin), may be the only one who can stop this menace in its tracks. But what Wade Parent doesn't realize is that the driver of this indestructible vehicle is far more dangerous than any man ... because it is driven by pure evil. Extras: New "Mystery of the Car" interview with producer-director Elliot Silverstein, new "The Navajo Connection" interview with actress Geraldine Keams, new "Just Like Riding a Bike" interview with actress Melody Thomas Scott, theatrical trailer, TV spot, radio spots, still gallery. (Scream Factory).
Count Dracula
(1970) Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, Soledad Miranda, Maria Rohm, Klaus Kinski, Fred Williams. In 1970, cult director Jess Franco and screen legend Christopher Lee collaborated on what they promised would be the most faithful adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel ever filmed. From its remarkable performances -- including Lee as the Count, Herbert Lom as Van Helsing, Soledad Miranda as Lucy, Maria Rohm as Mina, and authentic madman Klaus Kinski as Renfield -- to its lush locations and atmosphere of sinister sensuality, it remains perhaps the most spellbinding version of Dracula in movie history. Now fully restored and re-mastered in high-definition for the first time ever. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Audio commentary with David Del Valle and actress Maria Rohm; "Beloved Count,' an interview with director Jess Franco; "A Conversation With Jack Taylor"; "Handsome Harker," an interview with actor Fred Williams; Christopher Lee reads Bram Stoker's "Dracula"; "Stake Holders," an appreciation of Jess Franco's "Count Dracula" by french director Christophe Gans; German trailer; Bonus disc: "Cuadecuc Vampir" -- Pere Portabella's expressionistic behind-the-scenes feature. (Severin Films).
Duck Dynasty: Seasons 1-8
(2012-14) Eighteen-disc set, $119.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, additional footage. (Lionsgate).
HISTORY Bible Collection
Get a thorough understanding of how the Bible was shaped with this HISTORY Bible collection. With over 38 hours of programming -- including "Bible Stories from the Old Testament," "Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years," "Banned from the Bible," "Mysteries of the Bible," "Bible Secrets Revealed," "Mary of Nazareth," "Jesus: His Life," "The Execution of Jesus" and "God vs. Satan: The Final Battle" -— this 16-disc DVD set examines one of the world's most important texts; one that serves as the foundation for both Judaism and Christianity. Featuring commentary from biblical and religious scholars including Reza Aslan and Richard R. Cargill, and narration by acclaimed actors and HISTORY documentary mainstays Edward Herrmann, Avery Brooks and Richard Kiley. Formats: DVD, $119.98. (Lionsgate).
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
(2015) Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario. Based on the second book in the Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner. Also available as a Blu-ray Ultimate Fan Edition that includes an exclusive, 24-page printed comic-book with two new prequel stories from BOOM! Comics -- one on the character of Teresa and the other a Crank backstory.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, gag reel, galleries of concept art and storyboards, theatrical trailers. Blu-ray adds "Janson's Report," a perfect bridge from the film that's full of debriefing videos with Janson, Thomas, Newt, Minho, Frypan and Aris after they arrive at the compound; "Secrets of the Scorch," visual effects breakdowns and reels. (Fox).
Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation
(2015) Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Rebecca Ferguson. Ethan and his team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating The Syndicate -- an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: Commentary by Tom Cruise and director-screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie; seven featurettes go behind the scenes and explore the stunts and story: "Lighting the Fuse," "Cruise Control," "Heroes," "Cruising Altitude," "Mission: Immersible," "Sand Theft Auto" and "The Missions Continue." (Paramount).
Mission: Impossible 5-Movie Blu-ray Collection
"Mission: Impossible," "Mission: Impossible 2," "Mission: Impossible 3," "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" And "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation," $64.99. (Paramount).
Slow Learners
(2015) Adam Pally, Sarah Burns. Two close friends and co-workers who are embarrassingly unlucky at love, hatch a plan to transform themselves over the course of a sex-and-alcohol-fueled summer into the cool, confident people they aspire to be. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Stalingrad BLU-RAY DEBUT
(2003) High-definition presentation of the original three-part 2003 mini-series. The Eastern Front experienced the viciousness of World War II on a scale of unimaginable horror and brutality. The bloodiest and most savage fighting took place in Stalingrad between August 1942 and February 1943. Stalin's city on the Volga had military significance for Hitler, as it carried the name of his enemy and therefore had to be destroyed. The ensuing battle sealed the fates of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, marked the turning point of World War II, and was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. This three-part documentary by award-winning documentary filmmakers Sebastian Dehnhardt, Christian Deick and Jorg Mullner presents both the German and Russian perspective, contains rare footage shot by soldiers during the siege, and reveals new historical facts with moving eyewitness accounts and confessions from some of Stalingrad's last survivors. The Russian archives opened their doors to the filmmakers, granting exclusive access to a wealth of previously unreleased material. Originally broadcast in both Germany and Russia in slightly truncated editions, this Blu-ray contains all three "Stalingrad" documentaries including "The Attack" (54 min.), "The Kessel" (56 min.) and "The Doom" (55 min.) in their original uncut, English dubbed versions. Extras: Deleted interview segments, video interview with Dr. Guido Knopp (professor and historian), "Stalingrad Today -- Views of the City of Volgograd." (Synapse Films/CAV Distributing).
Ted 2
(2015) Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth, Morgan Freeman, Giovanni Ribisi, Patrick Warburton, John Slattery, NFL star Tom Brady, Liam Neeson, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno. Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law. Contains unrated extended edition that features never-before-seen footage of sophomoric, scatological humor that was too rude for the cinema. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Thunder Buddies 4 Lyfe," "Roadtripping," "Creating Comic-Con," commentary with Seth MacFarlane and Jessica Barth and writers Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild. Blu-ray adds "A Giant Opening Dance Number," deleted scenes, gag reel, "Cameo Buddies." (Universal).
Teen Wolf Season 5 Part 1
(2015) Three-disc set with 10 episodes. Formats: DVD. Extras: Gag reel, "Special Effects Breakdown: Jeep Flip," "Special Effects Breakdown: Building a Character," "Special Effects Breakdown: Building a Scene." (MGM/Fox).
Time Out of Mind
(2014) Richard Gere, Ben Vereen, Jena Malone. A homeless man (Gere) seeks refuge at Bellevue Hospital, a Manhattan intake center for homeless men, where his friendship with a fellow client helps him try to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Tokyo Fiancce
(2014 -- France) Pauline Etienne, Taichi Inoue. A young Japanophile Belgian woman in Tokyo falls into a whirlwind romance with a Francophile Japanese student. The young, pixie-like Amelie (Etienne) is in love with all things Japanese, which prompts her to buy a one-way ticket to Tokyo in order to completely immerse herself in Japanese culture. She offers to work as a French tutor, and soon finds herself enjoying a passionate relationship with her only student, the charming Rinri (Inoue). As the two explore the joys (and awkwardness) of their first real romance and the colorful city around them, many cultural barriers fall ... but some still remain. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
Top Spin
(2014) Inside a cramped gym, the clacking sounds of hollow plastic balls whirling at 80 mph are punctuated by exclamations of victory and bitter cries of defeat. Welcome to the hidden world of competitive ping pong. Three fiercely committed teenagers battle their way through the world of elite table tennis. With devoted parents by their side, they have traded normal teenage life for a chance to represent their country on the world's biggest athletic stage: the Olympics. This documentary takes an inside look at one of America's favorite pastimes, turns it on its head, and reveals a coming-of-age story where success and failure come down to mere millimeters. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
What Have You Done to Solange?
(1975) Fabio Testi, Cristina Galbo, Camille Keaton. From director Massimo Dallamano, cinematographer on both "A Fistful of Dollars" and "For a Few Dollars More," comes this giallo classic, the debut feature of actress Camille Keaton ("I Spit on Your Grave"). A sexually sadistic killer is preying on the girls of St. Mary's school. Student Elizabeth
Wolf Totem
(2015 -- China/France) Shaofeng Fen, Shawn Dou. In director Jean-Jacques Annaud's film adaptation of Jiang Rong's best-selling novel, a young Beijing student is sent to live among the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia. Caught between the advance of civilization from the south and the nomads' traditional enemies -- the marauding wolves -- to the north, humans and animals, residents and invaders alike, struggle to find their true place in the world. Shot entirely on location in Inner Mongolia. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, 3D Blu-ray, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Four making-of featurettes. (Sony).
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December 13, 2015 (ISSN 1094-3676). |
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