Debuting on 4K UHD from Cinematographe this month is Jonathan Demme’s MARRIED TO THE MOB (104 mins., 1988, R), a movie that sums up the typical director-motivated Orion release from its era. Coming off the superior “Something Wild,” Demme here dabbles in a seemingly more “madcap” film of eccentric characters and situations as frustrated mob wife Michelle Pfeiffer finds out she can’t leave the grasp of “the family” – not even after her philandering husband (Alec Baldwin) is offed by boss Dean Stockwell.
Taking a job in the Big City, Pfeiffer’s heroine is then pursued by Stockwell, his wife (Mercedes Ruehl) – who thinks he’s cheating with her – and Matthew Modine’s offbeat FBI agent who has a thing for Pfeiffer even while she’s the subject of her team’s investigation.
There’s a lot of zaniness on-hand in Demme’s movie: silly laughs, offbeat dialogue, and a general fast-paced tone that make this picture a veritable ’80s updating of a classic screwball comedy. The cinematography of Tak Fujimoto lends the picture a glossy, upbeat visual appearance, and David Byrne’s surprisingly effective score adds an additional flavor.
Pfeiffer’s performance is right on-target though there are some moments when the overall “world” that Demme establishes here, and the respectively off-the-wall characters who populate it, nearly engulf her central performance: there’s not a lot of “grounding” to the comedy, and the peripheral characters nearly have as much screen time as the leads. That, however, may be a good thing if you find yourself responding to the material – for me “Married to the Mob” is certainly well worth seeing, even though I found “Something Wild” to be a lot more on-point dramatically (hopefully that Demme fave will find its way to 4K one day).
Cinematographe’s 4K UHD of “Married to the Mob” is a marvelous package with terrific supplements all around. Brand new interviews include Mathew Modine, producer Edward Saxon, writers Barry Strugatz and Mark Burns, storyboard artist (and future director) John Dahl, actor Paul Lazar, and historian Chris O’Neill. There’s also a fresh commentary with Modine and Cinematographe’s own Justin LaLiberty, along with another new commentary with podcaster Sean Fennessey, a 2022 episode of the “Wrong Reel” podcast that features Modine’s producing partner Adam Rackoff, while still galleries, the trailer, and a booklet with ample essays round out a robust set of special features.
Visually, the 4K restoration, an all-new Dolby Vision HDR (1.85) transfer, hails from the original 35mm OCN and bests Fun City’s 2022 2K remaster (which was derived from an interpositive) while the clear 2.0 stereo sound is pitch-perfect. It’s all housed in a 5000 copy Cinematographe limited edition hardback case.
Now available and newly remastered by Cinematographe is another Orion release, AT CLOSE RANGE (115 mins., 1986, R). Sean Penn stars as the young son of a Pennsylvania psycho (Christopher Walken), who ends up joining his father in criminal activity along with his brother (Penn’s real-life sibling, Chris). When the going gets tough, however, Walken’s nutcase dad shows that he’ll spare no one – not even his kin – in order to save his own skin.
James Foley directed “At Close Range,” a strongly performed, atmospheric family crime saga based on a true story from the late ‘70s. Penn gives one of his better performances and Walken is downright creepy and believable in a role that ranks with some of his best work, while the wonderful Mary Stuart Masterson is notable in one of her earliest lead roles. “At Close Range,” scripted by Nicholas Kazan, is hard to classify as “entertainment,” as the picture’s icy characters and disturbing elements make for a film that’s occasionally uncomfortable to watch, yet those attributes also add to its authenticity.
Previously available on Blu-Ray from Twilight Time and MVD, Cinematographe’s 4K UHD boasts a brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm OCN (2.39) with Dolby Vision HDR that greatly enhances the film’s impressive widescreen visuals. The disc also includes a new commentary with historians Bill Ackerman and Jim Laczkowski, all-new interviews with Christopher Walken, Sean Penn, and casting directors Risa Bramon Garcia and Billy Hopkins. There’s also a 2018 interview with James Foley, a 2020 interview with composer Patrick Leonard on both his score and Madonna’s hit single “Live to Tell,” and an archival talk with reporter/author Bruce Mowday on the real events that inspired the film. A short location video, the trailer, and TT’s 2015 commentary with Foley and Nick Redman are also included alongside a handful of text essays in Cinematographe’s hardbound, 5000 copy limited edition.
A rarely-screened Abel Ferrara adaptation of a William Gibson short story, NEW ROSE HOTEL (93 mins., 1998, R), has also premiered recently from Cinematographe in one of the label’s hardbound Limited Editions.
This Blu-Ray premiere offers a new 2K restoration (1.85, 5.1) of the 35mm interpositive, supervised by the director, as this Y2K-era thriller features Christopher Walken and Willem Dafoe starring as spies who function as de facto headhunters for shady corporations, delivering top-tier employees and secrets to whatever international corporation proves to be the highest bidder. This time out, their efforts to move a Japanese scientist (Yoshitaka Amano) back to his native Japan by way of seducing him with a call girl (Asia Argento) causes distrust between the respective parties, leading to an interesting take on Gibson’s “Cyberpunk” themes.
Barely distributed by producer Edward R. Pressman himself, “New Rose Hotel” debuts here with a new commentary by Adrian Martin; interviews with Willem Dafoe, Asia Argento, and composer Schooly D, along with a new introduction by the director. There’s also a visual essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and essays from Filipe Furtado, Justin LaLiberty and Nick Newman in the 3000-copy Blu-Ray limited edition.
Finally, making its 4K UHD and Blu-Ray debut from Cinemtographe is the tough character study THE GAMBLER (111 mins., 1974, R), a post-”Godfather” star vehicle for James Caan that feels tailor made for its decade.
Shot on location, Caan plays a NYC university professor in debt to his bookie (Paul Sorvino). Despite having a wealthy family and a gorgeous girlfriend (Lauren Hutton), Caan’s Axel Freed can scarcely stop his own self-destruction, from throwing it all away on sports bets to a trip to Vegas itself where Axel falls even further down the hole – leading him to recruit one of his own students, who happens to be on the school basketball team, to point shave.
“The Gambler” is grimy, nasty and consistently compelling, even if its heavy-handed concluding scene comes off as one step too far, even for this material. James Toback’s reportedly semi-autobiographical script is heavy on realism and the picture isn’t afraid to let its hero grovel to the point of asking his mother to pay back his debt. To Caan’s credit, we still follow Axel as Toback and director Karel Reisz tighten the screws to a degree where the picture generates a good amount of suspense – between that, Roger Spottiswoode’s editing and Victor J. Kemper’s capture of real locations, “The Gambler” has much to recommend it, plus early appearances by James Woods and Burt Young among others.
Never released on Blu-Ray previously in the U.S., “The Gambler” has been restored in 4K here (1.85) in a UHD/Blu-Ray limited edition with Dolby Vision HDR. The source is seldom pristine and displays its share of nicks and scratches, but it’s been left unadulterated, delivering a satisfyingly natural cinematic appearance apropos to the picture’s mood and setting. New extras include a commentary by Glenn Kenny, an interview with film programmer Eric Hynes, and a video essay by Samm Deighan comparing this to the (quickly forgotten) 2014 remake with Mark Wahlberg. There’s also a 1996 Caan interview with Charlie Rose and a two-hour 1991 interview with Karel Reisz, plus text essays by Aisha Harris, Jordan Hoffman, Adam Nayman and Scott Tobias. Carried over from Imprint’s 2021 Blu-Ray are a commentary by Matthew Asprey Gear, a segment on Jerry Fielding’s Mahler-influenced score with Jon Burlingame, and a Chris O’Neill video essay.
OCN New & Upcoming Release Rundown
Now available at Vinegar Syndrome’s site and select retail outlets is Bizarro Releasing’s 4K UHD of A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL (89 mins., 1972), Spanish horror specialist Eugenio Martin’s moody chiller about a pair of sisters who run a boarding house where loads of secrets reside. Foreign tourists threaten to bring some of them to the surface, along with the arrival of Judy Geeson’s heroine, searching for her missing sister, and about to experience the true terror residing in the otherwise quaint village surrounding them all.
Newly restored in 4K from its 35mm OCN (1.85, mono, Spanish with English subs or English dubbed), “A Candle For The Devil” mixes horror with Gaillo-type thrills, giving it a classier feel than some of Martin’s other works, including the better-known “Horror Express.” The presentation is superb with extras including an appreciation by Sitges Film Festival director Angel Sala; a new interview with actress (and Martin’s partner) Lone Fleming; a retrospective conversation with Vic Winner; an interview with Judy Geeson; trailers; and alternate English credits.
Film Movement: Available on 4K UHD for the first time is Michael Anderson’s well-regarded – if a bit stiff – feature THE DAM BUSTERS (125 mins., 1955), starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave in an acclaimed portrait of the Royal Air Force’s 1943 strike on Germany, utilizing actual footage of bombing trials and memorable aerial sequences. This Film Movement three-disc set includes ample documentaries, the 1.33 version on UHD with HDR10, an alternate 1.77 version on the Blu-Ray, commentary from Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell and more.
Also making its 4K UHD premiere is THE GREAT SILENCE (105 mins., 1968), Italian director Sergio Corbucci’s wintry, noir-ish tale of a mute gunslinger (Jean-Louis Trintignant) trying to save refugees from a band of bounty hunters, led by Klaus Kinski, in an unforgiving frontier. Scored by Ennio Morricone, “The Great Silence” was an obvious influence on Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” and looks spectacular in HDR10 (1.85) here from Film Movement, even if the movie itself is as much of a downer as one could possibly expect from its era. Extras include a pair of commentaries, Alex Cox reflecting on the movie, two alternate endings, trailers and a slew of language options, including subtitled Italian or its English dub.
COURTESANS AND CRIMINALS: THE UNDERWORLD OF HIDEO GOSHA is a double-disc Blu-Ray set sporting 4K restorations of two pictures by the Japanese filmmaker. ONIMASA (146 mins.) adapts a semi-autobiographical novel by Tomiko Miyao about a Yakuza boss at the turn of the 20th century, as recounted by his adopted daughter. TOKYO BORDELLO (133 mins.), meanwhile, looks at sex workers in Yoshiawara’s red-light district. Commentaries by Jasper Sharp, video essays from Patrick Macias and a 16-page booklet with writing by Haley Scanlon are included in the Film Movement release (1.85, mono/2.0 stereo, Japanese with English subtitles).
A Japanese woman in her early 30s decides to leave her parents’ home and fend for herself – including sparring in the ring! – in Masae Miyamoto’s 100 YEN LOVE (113 mins., 2024), a well-regarded Japanese character drama debuting on Blu-Ray this month from Film Movement (1.85, 5.1/2.0 DTS MA Japanese with English subtitles) sporting a Making Of documentary…THE EARLY FILMS OF LEE ISAAC CHUNG pays tribute to the director of “Minari” (and “Twisters”!) with Blu-Ray transfers of MUNYURANGABO (98 mins., 2007), LUCKY LIFE (97 mins., 2009) and ABIGAIL HARM (80 mins., 2012), all in 1080p (1.85/1.78/2.35 respectively) with 2.0 or 5.1 surround and “Munyurangabo” in Kinyaranda with English subtitles…Also coming later in February from Film Movement are Yeo Siew Hua’s STRANGER EYES (127 mins., 2024), a contemporary thriller about a couple trying to find their daughter by any technological means necessary, and Lou Ye’s AN UNFINISHED FILM (107 mins., 2024), a movie about a director trying to finish a movie during the COVID pandemic. A Q&A with the director is included plus a booklet with notes by Simon Abrams in Film Movement’s upcoming Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0 Chinese with English subtitles).
KILL THE JOCKEY Blu-Ray (97 mins., 2024; Music Box): A jockey (Nahuel Perez Biscayart) is forced to go on the lam — and perform a temporary gender switch — after the horse he’s entrusted to ride dies on the track, with the mob following on his trail while his fellow jockey (Usula Corbero) is pregnant with his child. Luis Ortega’s latest mixes eclectic characters with comic situations in a crime thriller context that netted strong reviews on the arthouse circuit; Music Box’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA) includes 5.1 Spanish audio, English subtitles, an interview with Biscayart and an image gallery.
Canadian International Pictures: A “Canuxploitation” fave, GHOSTKEEPER (87 mins., 1981) debuts in a new restoration from CIP. This tale of snowmobilers who make it to a hotel in the midst of a driving snow storm, only to be met with a crazed mother, her knife-wielding son and a creature with a taste for blood, was a fave on home video back in the ‘80s. This souped-up Special Edition Blu-Ray includes a 4K scan (1.85) from the only known complete 35mm print and tons of extras: new commentaries and interviews with cast/crew, Q&A sessions, an alternate opening and more.
Dark Star Pictures: Brandon Salisbury’s compelling documentary GEORGE A. ROMERO’S RESIDENT EVIL (112 mins., 2024) profiles the never-made late ‘90s film adaptation of the Capcom video game that was to have been made by Romero, the auteur of the zombie film. This doc dives head-first into what went wrong and what could’ve been, with commentary and extensive bonus interviews included in Darkstar’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA)…Christmas comedy and horror mix in GNOME SICK (88 mins., 2025), Mike L. Taylor’s ridiculous outing with gore and bad jokes aplenty. Dark Star’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA) includes commentary with Taylor and assorted cast members.
Due out late February is a “Demented” Double Feature of Chad Ferrin’s SOMEONE’S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR and H.P. LOVECRAFT’S THE DEEP ONES (2009/2025). This indie horror pairing includes commentary, a featurette and two Q&A’s on the latter, and deleted/extended scenes, a behind-the-scenes segment, and an alternate intro on “Someone’s Knocking…” (both 1.85, 5.1 DTS MA)…Also coming soon from Dark Star is an “Erotic Double Feature” pairing Duke’s LOVE KILLS (2025) with Jude Bauman’s BETWEEN US (2022). The former boasts a number of special features including cast interviews and auditions, two commentaries and a photo sideshow (both 2.35, 5.1 DTS MA).
Dekanalog: Director Constance Tsang’s BLUE SUN PALACE (116 mins., 2024) earned much acclaim including the “French Touch” prize at Cannes in 2024, and comes to Blu-Ray from Dekanalog this week. “Blue Sun Palace” follows the everyday life of three Chinese immigrants living in Queens and their employment in a massage parlor; eventually, tragedy strikes in this well-acted character piece, shot on film by Tsang and cinematographer Norm Li. Special features in the Blu-Ray include interviews with Tsang and stars Lee Kang-sheng and Qu Ke-xi, the trailer, booklet notes by Marya E. Gates, and Tsang’s earlier short “Beau” (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA).
ETR Media: Jason Lee narrates THE HOUSE FROM… (98 mins., 2024), a look at the people who end up buying homes featured in hit movies and TV series. Over an hour of extra footage includes a talk with Matthew Lawrence, a music video, the trailer, and additional content (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA)…Coming soon from ETR is SHE CAME FROM THE WOODS (107 mins., 2022), a genre homage from director Erik Bloomquist about summer camp counselors who unknowingly let out a supernatural evil upon themselves. Cara Buono and William Sadler are the familiar faces who appear in this genre exercise from ETR (2.39, 5.1 DTS MA).
Shudder: A young boy attempts to cope with loss by engaging in a friendship with an entity living in the nearby woods in Jeremiah Kipp’s 2021 thriller SLAPFACE (85 mins.). Debuting on Blu-Ray this month from Shudder, the Blu-Ray includes two commentaries, a cast/crew Q&A, an interview with Kipp, his original “Slapface” short and a booklet with writing by Phillip Escott and BJ Colangelo (2.35, 5.1 DTS MA)…Also newly available this month from Shudder is Stewart Thorndike’s 2023 thriller BAD THINGS (86 mins.), a picture that recounts what goes wrong after a young woman inherits a creepy old hotel and the increasingly unhinged behavior manifest by her and her friends once she starts spending time there. Commentary, new and archival interviews, a video essay by Alexandra West and booklet notes from Alexandra Heller-Nicholas comprise the Shudder Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA)…Coming later in February from Shudder, THE DEAD THING (94 mins., 2024) is a thriller from Elric Kane about a young woman (Blu Hunt) having difficulty finding Mr. Right when a seemingly good-looking man with a terrible secret latches onto her. This 2024 thriller (1.78, 5.1) comes to Blu-Ray featuring commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, and notes from critic Travis Woods.
Brainstorm Media: Mikey Alfred’s NORTH HOLLYWOOD (93 mins., 2021) is out this week, following Ryder McLaughlin as a young man who wants to become a pro skateboarder but is pushed by his father (Vince Vaughn) into going to college instead. Miranda Cosgrove stars in this indie new to Blu-Ray (2.67, 5.1 DTS MA) from Brainstorm with extras including a commentary and theatrical/director’s cut versions of the film…Coming late February, BIRTHRITE (100 mins., 2025) finds a couple picking the wrong house to raise their upcoming child in a Ross Partridge-helmed thriller with deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes segment, the trailer and notes by Rebecca Sayce (2.35, 5.1/2.0 DTS MA).
Dark Sky Films: coming in February, A DESERT (102 mins., 2025) sends a photographer into a nightmarish road trip down America’s darkest alleys along with his wife and a private eye for good measure. Three different commentaries including a talk with director Joshua Erkman are included in Dark Sky’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA) plus a featurette and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas’ booklet notes.
Delirium Home Video has snapped up a ‘70s effort from exploitation auteur Jess Franco: DORIANA GRAY (79 mins., 1976), the story of a blood-drinking aristocrat with a twin sister whose activities result in salacious activities being carried out by all. One of Franco’s films shot for Swedish producer Erwin C. Dietrich, who specialized in this kind of exploitation fare, “Doriana Gray” has been remastered (‘the soft cut’) with commentary by Troy Howarth, interviews with Franco, Dietrich and star Lina Romay, trailers, a 1080p (1.78) transfer and 5.1/2.0 DTS MA sound (German with English subtitles).
Kimstim has remastered a fascinating trilogy of films that explore growing up in present day China. THE LEFT BEHIND DAUGHTERS TRILOGY includes the work of Juang Ji and Ryuki Otsuka, whose three pictures here – EGG AND STONE (2012), THE FOOLISH BIRD (2017), and STONEWALLING (2022) – each star Yao Honggui in a rare exploration of contemporary adolescence in the country. Kimstim’s Blu-Ray includes all three features on two discs (1.85/2.35, 5.1 DTS MA) with trailers and liner notes from Ryan Swen.
Cartuna: Comedians Anthony Oberbeck and Matt Barats, together with filmmaker Graham Mason, produced a trio of “comedy art films” where a pair of drifters, who are never named and never speak, provide a running commentary with musings, one-liners and anecdotes shot around the world. All three films, which form THE REVERIES TRILOGY (46/60/79 mins., 2018-25), have been assembled in one Cartuna Blu-Ray package with commentaries on all three entries, the original short and more (1.78, 2.0)…Coming late February is Julian Glander’s offbeat animated effort BOYS GO TO JUPITER (87 mins., 2024), a coming-of-age story about a high school dropout with musical numbers and alien creatures to spare. Glander’s earlier shorts, music videos and a commentary are on tap in Cartuna’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 2.0).
Factory 25: A fascinating study of oddball locals who decide to stick around, even after a Florida town has shut down in the face of an impending hurricane, NO SLEEP TILL (93 mins., 2024) is director Alexandra Simpson’s well-reviewed 2024 film, premiering on Blu-Ray from Factory 25 (1.78, 5.1). The disc sports a 28-page booklet with a Simpson interview and an essay by Carlos Valladares along with a behind-the-scenes short…Due out later in February from Factor 25, DOOMSDAYS (91 mins., 2013) profiles two vagabonds stealing from Catskill vacation homes when a teen and an older girl join up with them. Leo Fitzpatrick and Justin Rice are memorable here in this Eddie Mullins favorite, on Blu-Ray (1.78) sporting the original short, a 2024 short, and a 32-page booklet with liner notes.
Utopia: Music documentary fans will want to check out HUNG UP ON A DREAM: THE ZOMBIES DOCUMENTARY (98 mins., 2025), Robert Schwatzman’s look at the band, their formation before the “British Invasion,” and production of classic album “Odessey and Oracle.” Their eventual fallout is, of course, also profiled in this look behind-the-scenes at the group, with a pair of Q&A’s (both just under an hour each) and the trailer included on the supplemental side (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA)…Coming soon from Utopia, IN OUR BLOOD (88 mins., 2024) hails from director Pedro Kos, and charts what happens after a documentary filmmaker and cinematographer collaborate on a new feature about the former’s mother…it doesn’t go as planned, needless to say, in this well-reviewed indie thriller. Utopia’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1) sports video and photo galleries, a Q&A, alternate opening and commentary.
Elara/The Film Desk: Photographer Richard Sandler shot hours of footage in Times Square from the mid 90s through the Millennium’s start, producing some six different films that have been now collected in the Blu-Ray anthology THE GODS OF TIMES SQUARE (115 mins., 1999-2007). This unique capture of time and place also features conversations with the director (4:3, 2.0 DTS MA).
CultPix presents the Blu-Ray debut of THE DOLL (95 mins., 1973), a horror tale starring Per Oscarsson about a night watchman who falls in love with a mannequin, ultimately becoming convinced that it’s real. Things go downhill from there in Arne Mattson’s film, here restored from the original negative in Cultpix’s Blu-Ray (1.37 B&W, Swedish with English subs). The disc includes a video essay by Rickard Gramford, an intro by Mats Helge Olsson, trailers, commentary by Gramfords and Joni Hybvonen and more…CHRISTINA LINDBERG: THE ORIGINAL EYEPATCH WEARING BUTT KICKING MOVIE BABE (72 mins.) includes an expanded Director’s Cut of the documentary by Jane Magnusson and Ika Johannesson, including a trip to the shoot of the unfinished moviue “Cry For Revenge.” Bonus interviews and trailers comprise Cultpix’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 2.0).
Seventy-Seven Movie & Musicworks brings North American Blu-Ray lovers the BFI restoration of BRONCO BULLFROG (87 mins., 1969), Barney Platts-Mills’ film about a 17-year-old who breaks into train cars with his friend and hangs out with the gorgeous Irene among other misadventures in a picture about working class London teens circa 1969. Shot in the East End of London with heavy atmosphere and crisp B&W cinematography, “Bronco Bullfrog”’s Blu-Ray includes ample special features, a booklet with notes by Christina Newland, and a 1080p (1.33) transfer with mono sound.
IFC: New Blu-Ray releases this February coming from IFC include Asia Argento in Catherine Breillat’s THE LAST MISTRESS (109 mins., 2007) in a new Special Edition featuring commentary by Elena Lazic and interviews with both Argento and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA); and Antonio Campos’ AFTERSCHOOL (102 mins., 2008), an indie about a prep school student (future “Flash” Ezra Miller) obsessed with online “dark web” content. A new commentary with Campus joins other extras (deleted scenes, interviews) in IFC’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA).
Wild Eye Entertainment: In ASYLUM OF DARKNESS (117 mins., 2013), an escaped mental patient is mistaken for a motivational speaker and promptly becomes tormented by nightmarish visions and terror. Richard Hatch and Tim Thomerson make appearances in this chiller from director Jay Woelfel, restored from 35mm elements in Wild Eye’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA), which is also packed with extras: multiple commentaries, interviews with cast and crew, bonus short films and more…Horror fans should love SMOKE AND MIRRORS: THE STORY OF TOM SAVINI (91 mins., 2015), a loving look at the horror great from his Pittsburgh upbringing to work with George Romero and various films discussed, of course, throughout. Tom Atkins, Tony Todd and fellow make-up artist Greg Nicotero appear among others with Wild Eye’s Blu-Ray (1.85) including commentary, excerpts from Savini’s home video archive (showcasing rare behind-the-scenes footage) and lots more.
Glass Eye Pix brings horror fans James Felix McKenney’s SATAN HATES YOU (94 mins., 2010), starring Don Wood as a psycho and Christine Spencer as a morally challenged party girl whose fates are intertwined in a movie featuring appearances by Larry Fessenden (who also produced) plus “Phantasm” vets Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister. Additional shorts, a Making Of, and commentary are included in Glass Eye’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA)…Coming from Glass Eye is TRIGGER MAN (80 mins., 2006), Ti West’s “Deliverance” variant produced by Larry Fessenden. Two commentaries with West (one from 2007, another newly recorded with Fessenden), a behind-the-scenes segment, the trailer, Q&A and short “Prey” comprise Glass Eye Pix’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA).
From Kani releasing comes BYE BYE LOVE (85 mins., 1974), the only feature from Japanese director Isao Fujisawa, who follows a wandering drifter and a female shoplifter after they’re accused of murder and hit the road in 1970s Japan. Kani’s Blu-Ray includes a 2K restoration (1,85, 2.0 Japanese mono with English subtitles) featuring an interview with the director, an intro from Akihiro Suzuki, and a booklet featuring writing by Suzuki and Ren Scateni.
Several Futures premieres 7 WALKS WITH MARK BROWN (104 mins., 2024) later in February: a look at French filmmakers Pierre Creton and Vincent Barre as they follow paleobotanist Mark Brown around Normandy, retrieving and commenting on native plants and their treatment. A 40-minute interview with the directors, three other shorts by the director, and a booklet with notes by Leo Goldsmith are included in the French language, English subtitled Blu-Ray (1.85, 2.0).
Yellow Veil Pictures’ latest is a Blu-Ray of A GRAND MOCKERY (105 mins., 2025), Adam C. Briggs and Sam Dixon’s Aussie-set psychological thriller about a Brisbane cinema employee who loses his marbles. Commentary, a deleted scene, video podcast commentary, 2023 short and Q&A comprise Yellow Veil’s Blu-Ray (1.37).
Finally, THE ENCAMPMENTS (90 mins., 2025) is producer Macklemore’s documentary look at 2025 protests on campuses including Mahmoud Khalil’s rally against the Gaza attacks. Six bonus scenes, commentary and the trailer are included in Watermelon’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0 DTS MA).
NEXT TIME: Warner Archive latest releases! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!