No Way Out [4K UHD, KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A Navy commander takes a government job only to discover it’s the most dangerous of his career.
Why see it? This late 80s thriller remains a masterclass in suspense with a tale of murder, corruption, and obsession. Kevin Costner headlines as a the Navy hero who lands a job alongside the Secretary of Defense, played by a game Gene Hackman, but things soon take a dark turn. The film lets its characters breathe through the first act as Costner’s character falls for a beautiful, free-spirited woman (Sean Young) — who also happens to be Hackman’s mistress. It’s the kind of setup we don’t get these days with adult characters/actors allowed to be sexy and horny before the plot even kicks in. Add in an unforgettable supporting turn from Will Patton, a stellar foot chase, and some terrific story turns, and you have one of the greats. Director Roger Donaldson has some bangers on his filmography, but this is his best. It never gets old, even knowing its secrets, and that’s the mark of a great and timeless film.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentaries, interview]
The Best
Alienoid: Return to the Future
What is it? Time is no obstacle when it comes to saving the world.
Why see it? Choi Dong-hoon’s first Alienoid is a fantastic and fun action/sci-fi romp big on action and high on slick visual effects, and the sequel follows suit. Our heroes, a mix of androids and humans, engage in all manner of action beats from fights to vehicular stunts and more. The film looks great, both the cinematography and the CG, and there’s a lot of fun to be had with the interactions, set-pieces, and more. As with the first film, the performances and writing also lend the film some heart as our time with these characters leaves us smiling and actually giving a damn.
[Extras: Featurette]
Femme
What is it? A drag queen finds a special kind of revenge.
Why see it? Nathan Stewart-Jarrett plays a drag queen who suffers a brutally homophobic attack only to see his assailant later in a gay sauna. George MacKay is the attacker with a hidden identity of his own. Their reunion goes down some dark paths. This is far from a typical revenge flick as the two lead characters — both beautifully portrayed by the actors — find themselves in a relationship that seems to defy the “revenge” label while also wholly embracing it in unexpected ways. A dark film, filled with anger, humanity, and surprise.
[Extras: Q&A, featurette, booklet]
The First Omen
What is it? An unexpectedly great prequel.
Why see it? Prequels are a dangerous game for numerous reasons, and number one among them is that we know where things are going to end up. This one, though, takes some deceptive story turns to deliver a thrilling, twisted, and ultimately surprising predecessor to the popular Omen franchise. It also leaves you wanting more, and that’s no small thing for a prequel. The story seems familiar enough, but choices are made that keep viewers engaged and on edge up through a terrific ending. Religious horror is too often not my bag, but here the topic is made more palpable and frightening in some exciting ways, and the result is a solid horror flick that would actually make for a fun double feature with Immaculate.
[Extras: Interviews, featurette]
In & Out [4K UHD, KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A man is outed, hilarity and humanity ensues.
Why see it? Kevin Kline is always a terrific presence on screen, and back in the 90s people knew that well enough to give him leading roles. This hit comedy sees him as a small town teacher who’s outed by a past student during an Oscar award ceremony, and that comes as a surprise to him. The film follows his journey from denial to acceptance, and it does so with a surprisingly sensitive hand, most likely due to the presence of director Frank Oz. It’s funny, sweet, and emotionally honest — a tough line to walk — and it remains a great watch. The supporting cast is equally aces with Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Tom Selleck, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Newhart, and more.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentary, interviews]
Run Lola Run [4K UHD]
What is it? An OG time loop film!
Why see it? A late-90s thrill ride oozing atmosphere and energy, Tom Tykwer’s feature sees Franka Potente racing to save her boyfriend’s life, but when she fails she’s immediately zipped back to the same opportunity. Style and momentum are the name of the game here, from Tykwer’s electrifying camerawork to a propulsive score, and the film quickly becomes a fast-moving train of building suspense. The 4K remaster from Sony is fantastic, and it’s great to see it get a standalone release after being available only in a big, multi-film set celebrating the studio’s thirty years.
[Extras: Commentaries, featurettes, music video]
Sherlock Holmes [Severin]
What is it? All six surviving episodes of the BBC series.
Why see it? The great Peter Cushing starred as Sherlock Holmes on the big screen the decade before, but in the late 60s he stepped back into the role for the small screen. The show is mostly lost to time — a real travesty and reminder that media needs protecting — but six episodes remain, and they’ve now been remastered. This release was previously only available in Severin’s Cushing box set, and it’s well worth the pickup for fans of Sherlock and/or Cushing. The Hound of the Baskervilles is a two-parter, while the other four episodes are individual mysteries. It’s a great release as the episodes are well-produced and deliver both atmosphere and thrills.
[Extras: Commentaries, interview]]
The Rest
Amanda and the Alien [AGFA]
What is it? An alien hops between human host bodies.
Why see it? This oddball comedy from 90s feels like a mash up of various inspirations, from a coming of age tale to an occasionally sexy romance to a low-key riff on films like The Hidden and E.T. That’s a lot, and the film doesn’t always succeed with its collage, but there are more than enough fun and interesting beats here to make for an entertaining ninety-minute watch. Nicole Eggert jumps into the sexy silliness with both feet, and we get some goofily erotic moments as a result from shower antics to paprika appreciation. The laughs come and go, but themes about people being more than their physical makeup and finding value in everyone add minor weight to the silliness.
[Extras: New restoration, commentary, video/audio essays]
The Bitter Ash
What is it? Young couple deal with sex, lies, and parties.
Why see it? Canadian auteur Larry Kent makes his feature debut here with a film that evokes John Cassavetes with a dose of Great North dourness. Young people trying to fit into cookie cutter relationships discover there’s more to enjoy outside the frame, and the result is a mildly compelling character drama on a budget. It’s clear it’s both cheap and a first feature, but there’s an appeal to its indie roots and matter of fact capture of a time and a place.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentaries, introduction, interviews, short film, booklet]
Bwana Devil 3D [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? The very first 3-D feature film!
Why see it? This safari film is basically telling the same story as The Ghost and the Darkness, but it does so in a much safer and sanitized way (as should be expected from a 1952 film). As a film it’s really only worthwhile as a period curiosity for being the first feature released in 3-D. Kino’s new restoration delivers a vibrant and colorful adventure, but don’t go in expecting much from the movie itself.
[Extras: Remastered, featurette, prologue, 2D and 3D versions]
Can’t Stop the Music [4K UHD, KL Studio Classics]
What is it? The official end of the 70s.
Why see it? The 70s were a time of disco, dancing, and questionable movies about those two topics, and one of the last such films to hit the big screen — and arguably the one that put the nail in the coffin — is this pseudo origin tale about The Village People. Steve Guttenberg headlines alongside Valerie Perrine and a pre-transition Caitlyn Jenner, and it’s a mix of comedy (that mostly fumbles) and music numbers that, to some degree at least, define the decade. Of course, this came out in 1980, so they were all a little bit late.
[Extras: Commentaries, interview]
Mami Wata
What is it? A parable about life’s ebbs and flows.
Why see it? This West African feature offers up something of a magical tale exploring a people’s relationship between old ways and the constant march forward. Elements of the patriarchy and xenophobia rear their head, but the through line remains the promise and threat of change. It’s all engaging enough, but the real star here is the black and white cinematography which is at turns striking and memorable.
[Extras: Commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes]
Night Caller
What is it? A killer targets a psychic who didn’t see it coming.
Why see it? Chad Ferrin makes low budget genre efforts with titles like Pig Killer and Parasites, catchy but one note, and this continues that trend. Here it’s a serial killer with mommy issues chasing down a psychic and her motley crew, and you’re getting exactly the meh, low budget slasher you’re probably expecting. If you like your slashers grimy and generic, though, this is for you.
[Extras: Featurette, deleted scenes, commentary]
The People’s Joker
What is it? A transgressive riff on some pretty popular IP.
Why see it? Vera Drew is a trans woman with something to say, and her choice of medium and form involves a reimagining of Batman’s greatest nemesis along with all of those in the general vicinity. The ideas and jokes come fast and furious while the core theme of identity plays through with a mix of anger, silliness, and humor. This is a great example of a film’s importance weighing heavily on its ultimate value, and it’s a must-watch for the target audience of people discovering and fighting for their true selves. It’s also a bit scattershot, underbaked, and under-funded, so the results among you may vary.
[Extras: Comic, commentaries, interview, featurette]
She’s Allergic to Cats
What is it? A romantic comedy, of sorts.
Why see it? Some films are quirky naturally, while others work hard for the label. This falls under that latter camp as the already clunky character piece turned romantic comedy is constantly under a barrage of gags and bits. Most of them don’t work and don’t earn the laughs, and that’s ultimately the film’s failing. Sure, some squeak through and earn a chuckle, but most of the film’s attempts at humor stumble over themselves. It’s quirky.
[Extras: Interviews, commentary, music video, short films, deleted scenes]
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace [Severin]
What is it? Christopher Lee is the world’s greatest detective.
Why see it? Terence Fisher directs Christopher Lee as Sherlock Holmes, and while all of that sounds good on paper the end result is a movie that’s merely okay. Lee keeps things watchable, obviously, but the film itself is just a tad bit boring. And by a tad bit I mean quite noticeably. Lee does great work, and by his own admission is playing the detective as written — ie a surly, impatient mother fucker — but the mystery around him just doesn’t come together in a very entertaining way. Still, it’s great to see Severin offering it up on disc with a new scan for fans.
[Extras: New 2K scan, commentary, interviews]
Sting
What is it? A big spider comes calling in an apartment complex.
Why see it? This year saw two killer spider movies, and while Infested is the far superior of the two, Sting has enough reasons to recommend a watch. The spider effects are well-crafted using both practical and CG alongside real ones early on, and it finds some creepy beats along the way. The film’s iffiness comes from an insistence on being a horror/comedy as the laughs just aren’t there and the tone is damaged because of it. Still, spider horror fans will want to give it a watch.
[Extras: Featurette]
Twisted [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A detective begins to suspect the serial killer she’s hunting is… herself.
Why see it? Ashley Judd had a successful run in thrillers through the 90s and into the early 2000s, but this effort from director Philip Kaufman marked the end of that run. It’s not great, and the killer is pretty obvious to anyone who’s seen a Hollywood thriller before, but it’s a fun enough time thanks in part to a supporting cast that includes David Strathairn, Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia, Leland Orser, Titus Welliver, and more. Just pop it on and enjoy the forgettable but entertaining enough ride.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes]
Also out this week:
Election [4K UHD, Paramount Presents], Go Down Death, The Lady from Shanghai [4K UHD], Living a Zombie Dream, Lost Prophet, The Man from UNCLE [4K UHD], Nintendo Quest, Patrice LeConte Collection, Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way, Unit One: The Complete Collection, Way Bad Stone
