Growing up in the ‘80s I remember passing by numerous home video boxes on my video store’s shelves for films that never played in theaters locally. SPIKE OF BENSONHURST (101 mins., 1988, R; Fun City Editions) was one of those I fondly recall, and sure enough, Fun City Editions has remastered this picture – which has been seldom circulated beyond its original VHS release – for a UHD and Blu-Ray combo pack that ought to net the picture more fans beyond the likely small audience that was able to see it the first time around.
Sasha Mitchell (later of the ABC sitcom “Step By Step”) stars as a young New Yorker working his way up the ladder of local gangster Ernest Borgnine’s crew when he gets involved with his daughter (Maria Pitillo, later of the ill-fated Roland Emmerich “Godzilla”). After being banished from their circle, he moves in with a Puerto Rican fighter (Rick Aviles) and falls for his younger sister (Talisa Soto, soon-to-be one of two Bond girls in Timothy Dalton’s 007 swan song, “License to Kill”), ultimately getting both Pitillo and Soto pregnant in the process.
Paul Morrissey is not a filmmaker I’ve warmed to over the years (admittedly I only sampled portions of his “Andy Worhol’s Frankenstein” and “Dracula” films) and he plays these characters very, very broadly in a serio-comic form. If you find the material funny, “Spike” is likely to generate some charm, and the regional lensing results in an authentic feeling picture if nothing else. For me, the picture would’ve worked better if there was more of an “edge” to the dramatic undercurrent running through it, but Mitchell doesn’t provide enough of a presence to put that component over the top.
Fun City’s beautifully restored 4K and Blu-Ray both feature a remastered 1.85 image from the movie’s original 35mm camera negative, marked with crisp detail and grain. The HDR10 grading on the UHD is superb, fitting the natural look of the production. Extra features include a commentary by William Morris; new interviews with casting director Leonard Finger, dp Steven Fierberg, and executive producer Sam Grogg; an archival talk with Morrissey; isolated music track; and a feature-length workprint with additional footage and alternate takes, derived from a surviving VHS element.
OCN End of Summer Bash
Now available from OCN are dozens of compelling independent titles on Blu-Ray with a few 4K UHDs sprinkled in for good measure. Here’s a label-by-label look – and as always, these titles are available for ordering at Vinegar Syndrome’s site along with their latest genre releases.
Film Movement: The Cambodian action import JAILBREAK (92 mins., 2017) kicks off (no pun intended) Film Movement’s latest Blu-Ray releases. This action-packed effort showcases a flurry of martial arts moves from director Jimmy Henderson as it follows a quartet of cops chosen to escort a gangster to prison. Bloopers, deleted scenes, a music video, and 16-page booklet with notes by Pierce Conran are on-hand in Film Movement’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1/2.0)….Marie Losier’s PEACHES GOES BANANAS (73 mins., 2024) continues the filmmasker’s look at punk performance artist Peaches and her ascent up the ladder into becoming a “queer feminist icon.” An interview with Losier and 16-page booklet are on tap in the Film Movement Blu-Ray (1.33, 5.1/2.0).
Future “Birds of Prey” helmer Cathy Yan’s DEAD PIGS (122 mns., 2018, Not Rated) was the director’s debut feature: a satire set amongst a group of characters in Shanghai and Jiaxing, respectively, after thousands upon thousands of dead pigs are discovered floating down the Huangpu River. The characters’ respective journeys intersect in an offbeat Chinese import on Blu-Ray for the first time from Film Movement (2.6, 5.1/2.0) sporting a new commentary from Yan and behind-the-scenes footage.
Due out later this month, the Oscar-nominated Best Foreign Film candidate CORPUS CHRISTI (116 mins., 2019, Not Rated) returns to Blu-Ray from Film Movement. This is an interesting, provocative drama with a quasi-familiar theme: in Poland, a 20-year-old convict is released to a small town, wherein the local patrons believe he’s the new priest — a con that he finds himself quickly, and unexpectedly, adjusting to, despite his “unconventional” sermons and demeanor. This unusual Polish import was well-reviewed and returns to BD from Film Movement with a behind the scenes featurette, 1080p (2.39) transfer, 5.1/2.0 DTS MA Polish audio, and Jan Komasa’s short film “Nice To See You” as a bonus…Lucie Borleteau’s MY SOLE DESIRE (118 mins., 2022) is set in a Paris strip club where Louise Cheviollette’s Manon is new to a group of sensual, experienced performers. Auditions, deleted scenes and a short by the director comprise Film Movement’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1/2.0).
A 15-year-old girl is sent from her Slovakian home village to work as a maid for a Prague family’s difficult daughter in CHAMBERMAID (114 mins., 2022). This well-reviewed Slovak/Czech production debuts on Blu-Ray later in September from Film Movement (2.39, 5.1/2.0) with a featurette and 16-page booklet sporting writing by critic Nadine Whitney…Finally, THE WAILING (107 mins., 2024) is the Spanish horror import about a young woman in Madrid who realizes she has an entity following her around. Pedro Martin-Calero’s picture receives a 1080p (2:1) transfer with 5.1/2.0 subtitled audio, behind-the-scenes featurettes and a booklet sporting notes from Shelagh Rowan-Legg.
1-2 Special: The German drama MIROIRS NO. 3 (86 mins., 2025) profiles a young woman’s surrogate adoption by a local family after a car crash. Moody character drama from director Christian Petzold, new on Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0) from 1-2 with a video interview with Petzold and booklet notes on the supplemental side…Due out late September is Radu Jude’s film KONTINENTAL ‘25 (109 mins., 2025), the study of a woman trying to understand her place in the world after overseeing the eviction of an elderly Transylvanian man. A talk with Richard Linklater, NY Film Festival intro, trailer and notes from Nicholas Pedrero-Setzer are on tap in 1-2 Special’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0).
Bizarro: Seldom shown in the U.S., “Belle Epoque” director Fernando Trueba’s THE MAD MONKEY (108 mins., 1989), also known as “Twisted Obsession,” finally scores a release in the U.S. Jeff Goldblum plays an American screenwriter who gets wrapped up with all sorts of opposing forces after he teams up with young director Dexter Fletcher on a new project. Miranda Richardson and Liza Walker co-star in this widescreen-lensed thriller (2.35, 2.0) which debuts on Blu-Ray sporting new interviews with Trueba and film festival director Angel Sala, an archival behind-the-scenes featurette, notes from Kat Ellinger and a 2K restoration from original film elements.
Brainstorm Media: BT Meza’s sf/horror hybrid AFFECTION (90 mins., 2025) follows the nightmarish ordeal of a woman who wakes up with no memory and a man claiming to be her husband. The truth of her identity plays out daily in an indie genre exercise new to Blu from Brainstorm (2.35, 5.1/2.0) with deleted scenes, commentary, featurettes and more on the supplemental side.
Canadian International Pictures: Veteran animator Gerald Potterton had already worked on the likes of “Yellow Submarine” when he made TIKI TIKI (71 mins., 1971), a satirical piece about the production of a would-be Hollywood epic as seen through the lens of both the “Easy Rider” counter-culture era and a Soviet film whose footage was reworked by Potterton for this “hellzapoppin’” experience. Animation fans will want to check out the new 4K restoration of “Tiki Tiki” in CIP’s Blu-Ray (2.35, mono) with extras including a new commentary by Paul Corupe and Jason Pichonsky; new interviews with producer Murray Shostak, animator Paul Driessen and historian Chris Segiun; five other shorts directed by Potterton; a 2014 brief interview with the director; three National Film Board (of Canada) shorts which feature Potterton’s animation plus the trailer and extensive booklet notes.
Collective: Gretchen Mol plays a woman who lives across the street from 13-year-old Cameron Bright in William Olsson’s clumsy, albeit well acted, JFK-themed period drama AN AMERICAN AFFAIR (93 mins., 2009, R). Noah Wyle and James Rebhorn co-star with Collective’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 2.0) available this month…Coming soon from Collective is Lilian T. Mehrel’s HONEYJOON (75 mins., 2025), the story of a young woman and her Persian-exiled mother who take a trip to the Azores and find solace in each other through a series of serio-comic encounters. Commentary, featurettes, and a booklet featuring writing by Mehrel comprise Collective’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0).
Cultpix: Chan Ying’s THE FANTASY OF THE DEER WARRIOR (87 mins., 1961) tells of a Taiwanese forest where a pack of wolves takes the life of Uncle Deer. Ultimately, the locals hope his son, the Deer Warrior, can help their community despite being involved in a triangle with Elk and Miss Deer for the latter’s affections. Actors in animal costumes make this vintage Taiwanese production notable for curious viewers, with Cultpix’s Blu-Ray sporting a 1.37 transfer, mono sound, commentary, a video essay by Adrian Smith, extensive booklet notes and more…in the Swedish comedy MY TROUBLES WITH COMICS (90 mins., 2025), a stand-up comic’s controversies force him back into the world of a comic artist, only to have craziness follow him there as well. This 2025 film proved too controversial for its Swedish film industry and was also apparently yanked by HBO from broadcast; you can now find out why with Cultpix’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1/2.0 PCM) which includes deleted scenes, bloopers and a music video.
Coming in September is EXPOSED (92 mins., 1971), a sex-filled Swedish drama that helped catapult then 21-year old Christina Lindberg into international fame as her 17-year-old heroine Lena gets into all sorts of trouble after her parents go on vacation. Numerous edits of this film from the Swedish original to cut versions from the US, France and Germany are all included here plus a commentary by Patrick von Sychowski and Rickard Gramfords, archival and new interviews, visual essays, and plenty more (1.66, mono).
Dark Sky Films: Appalachian podcaster Emily Nestor’s true crime podcast is at the center of director Chris Kasick’s CITIZEN SLEUTH (81 mins., 2025), chronicling her audience reach into the millions and subsequent falloff. Commentary with Kasick and editor Jeff Gilbert is included in Dark Sky’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1/2.)….Coming later in September is the Japanese thriller TENEMENT (88 mins., 2024), a horror outing about a Japanese-Cambodian artist who wishes she never traveled to the country her mother departed after she becomes wrapped up in a deadly ritual. Interviews with the cast and crew are included in Dark Sky’s Blu-Ray (2:1, 5.1/2.0).
Dark Star Pictures: A factory worker finds that his apparent newfound success on cyrptocurrency is fleeting in $POSITIONS (97 mins., 2025), writer-director Brandon Daley’s character drama filled with extras including commentary, interviews, a blooper reel and short films in Dark Star’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1)…A woman, trying to uncover what happened to her slain sister, meets a man trying to piece together who committed a series of motorcycle-based crimes in Gabriel Carrer’s DEATH CYCLE (80 mins., 2025), a new thriller on Blu-Ray this month from Dark Star (2.39, 5.1). Extra features include Carrer’s commentary, behind-the-scenes and additional featurettes…Citizens of a “near perfect’ society wear paper bags on their heads to avoid difficulties in IN LIES WE TRUST (103 mins., 2024), director Ishan Shukla’s picture debuting on Blu-Ray from Darkstar (2.39, 5.1). Special features include a Making Of, intro from the director, interview with producer Bich-Quan Tran, the original short and an Asia Argento music video.
Dekanalog: Oren Shai’s THE FRONTIER (88 mins., 2015) stars Jocelin Donahue as a young woman who wanders into a dusty roadside motel – and into a money laundering scheme – with a disparate cast of characters in tow. Shai provides a commentary with co-writer Webb Wilcoxen while new interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, a Shai 2019 short film, and more supplements are stacked in Dekanalog’s new Special Edition (1.85, 5.1/2.0)…WE ARE NOT CATS (80 mins., 2016) is Xander Robin’s bizarre film about a couple that find out they each like to eat hair. Dekanalog’s Blu-Ray (2:1, 5.1) includes Robin’s 2018 commentary, a new interview with Robin and star Michael Patrick Nicholson, deleted scenes, and several shorts by the director.
Delirium: Later reworked into New World Pictures’ “Screamers” was the waterlogged Italian genre exercise ISLAND OF THE FISHMEN (99 mins., 1979) starring Barbara Bach, Joseph Cotten and Richard Johnson. While Roger Corman saw the potential here for more excessive shocks, the Sergio Martino-helmed original is more laid back widescreen fantasy of the H.G. Wells persuasion, restored here in its original version (1.85, 5.1/2.0) with a commentary from critic Rob Kelly and new interview with Martino and art director Antonello Geleng on-hand…More madness for fans of Jess Franco and producer Erwin C. Dietrich, BARBED WIRE DOLLS (81 mins., 1976) is a wild “women behind bars” romp with Lina Romay playing a woman who kills her father in self-defense. She ends up in a penitentiary overseen by psycho warden Monica Swinn and promptly becomes the subject of even more abuse in this sleazy Franco fest on Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0) with commentary by Dennis Daniel; an interview with Peter Strickland; interviews with Franco, Romay and Dietrich, and a featurette on Franco’s prison pictures.
ETR Media: The efforts of various small home video labels to keep catalog films alive on Blu-Ray is the subject of RY Levey’s documentary BOUTIQUE: TO PRESERVE AND COLLECT, which is chock full of interviews from label owners and numerous talking heads who also perform commentary tracks. ETR’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1/2.0) also includes interview outtakes, bonus shorts, and commentary…Due out in September is ACTION FIGURE ADVENTURE (440 mins., 2021), a fun docu-series following Jay Bartlett as he tries to gather every rare action figure to auction off, all in the support of ill kids. Kevin Smith and assorted toy gurus pop up in the series, on Blu-Ray (1.85, 2.0) from ETR featuring bonus “Jay and Rob Toy Show” episodes and more.
Factory 25: THE SHOW ABOUT THE SHOW (491 mins., 2015-16) is a most offbeat, 24-part series about a filmmaker who decides every episode of his local cable TV program will be about the making of the previous one. Insightful and weird material from Caveh Zahedi, with Factory 25’s Blu-Ray (1.78) offering all 24 episodes on two discs with a 32-page booklet sporting cast and crew essays…Coming from Factory 25 is filmmaker Andrew Bujalski’s SOFTSHELL (86 mins., 2026), the story of Thai-American siblings, living in New York City, who leave the city and return, only to face a series of revelations. Commentary by the director, several shorts, commentary, and a 24-page booklet comprise Factory 25’s Blu-Ray (1.78).
Icarus: A nurse from the outskirts of Sao Paulo is hired to become a caretaker for a rich woman and her forthcoming child, only to find out bad stuff happens at a full moon, in GOOD MANNERS (135 mins., 2017), Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra’s well-reviewed import which debuts on Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1) from Icarus featuring shorts by the director, a 12 page booklet, and commentary from Shelagh Rowan-Legg and Carolyn Mauricette.
IFC: A school security guard expecting his first child is tormented by visions of aliens and deserts in Peter Cilella’s DESCENDENT (97 mins., 2025), an unsettling thriller IFC debuts this month on Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1 DTS MA). The disc includes commentary with Ciella, cast member Sarah Bolger and DP Alexander Chinnici, plus a crew commentary, deleted scenes, and a booklet with writing by critic Katie Rife…Coming soon is SWORD OF TRUST (89 mins., 2019), director/co-writer Lynn Shelton’s film about an Alabama pawnshop owner who comes into the possession of a Civil War-era sword its supporters (and they’re out there) feel supports the notion that the South won the war. Commentary with producer Ted Speaker and cast members, along with a featurette, are included in IFC’s Blu-Ray (2:1, 5.1).
Kani Releasing: The disparate members of a Chinese tenement building decide to rise up against their landlady after a water dispute in THE HOUSE OF 72 TENANTS (102 mins., 1973), a Shaw Brothers box-office sensation that outgrossed “Enter the Dragon” and became a hugely influential film for the studio due to its then groundbreaking re-introduction of Cantonese in the Mandarin-saturated theatrical market. Kani’s Blu-Ray (2.35) features an archival interview with director Chor Yuen plus a new appreciation by Alex Cheung and a select-scenes commentary by critic Philip Ho Ar Nam.
Coming later this month is a 4K UHD of Lino Brocka’s MACHO DANCER (133 mins., 1988), the story of a gigolo (Allan Paule) who heads to Manila where he becomes entrenched in their gay clubs, as well as assorted criminal activity. Interviews with screenwriter Ricky Lee, actors William Lorenzo and Joel Lamangan plus an archival featurette and booklet notes by JB Capino all enhance Kani’s restored UHD transfer (1.37, 2.0 DTS MA) .
Kimstim: Quebec-based filmmaker Philippe Lesage’s WHO BY FIRE (155 mins., 2024) looks at a group of characters, including a movie director (Arieh Worthwalter) and his former collaborator (Paul Ahmarani), along with the latter’s children, in a coming-of-age drama. Irene Jacob co-stars with a Lesage interview and 16-page booklet included in Kimstim’s Blu-Ray (2.35, 2.0)…Coming soon from Kimstim is Bruno Dumont’s version of JOAN OF ARC (137 mins., 2019), specifically her final three years leading the King of France’s army against England. Christrophe’s synth soundtrack marks this ambitious French production, preserved here in a new Kimstim Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1) with supplements including a director Q&A, Stephanie LaCava booklet notes and more.
Music Box: YOUNG MOTHERS (105 mins., 2025; Music Box) earned acclaimed filmmaking brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne the Best Screenplay prize at Cannes a year ago. As with the duo’s previous work, this is a sensitive and believable drama about a group of young women in a Belgium shelter who look ahead to the trials and tribulations of motherhood, through each character’s respective lens and personal background. Uplifting but not overly sentimental, “Young Mothers” is well-acted and realized, and premieres on Blu-Ray from Music Box (1.85, 5.0 French with English subtitles) with a bonus Q&A with the siblings, an image gallery and trailer.
Muscle: Filmmaker Louise Weard brings viewers more of her postmodern “epic” with the third chapter of CASTRATION MOVIE ANTHOLOGY II, which includes “Chapter iii. Polygon!!! Heartmoder,” wherein Lex Walton’s Circle tries to get himself out of a “trans separatist cult.” Three commentaries, a music video, essays and more make for a recommended release for Weard fans (1.85, 2.0).
Several Futures: Jocelyne Saab’s THE RAZOR’S EDGE (102 mins., 1985) is set in the midst of the Lebanese Civil War, and the relationship between a painter and a Beirut-raised teen. Two short films by Saab are included plus a booklet with an essay from Cici Peng and a new 4K restored transfer (1.85, 2.0)…Due out in late September from Several Futures is ALOISE (115 mins., 1975), director Liliane De Kermadec’s biopic of artist Aloise Corbaz, as played by both Isabelle Huppert (as a young Corbaz) and Delphine Seyrig, as the elder version. A short film featuring Seyrig, a talk with Seyrig and artist Mary Barnes, and booklet notes comprise Several Futures’ Blu-Ray (1.66, mono).
Shudder: A pair of estranged brothers come together to help their apparently-possessed youngest sibling in THE DEMON DISORDER (89 mins., 2025), director Steve Boyle’s thriller featuring John Noble. Commentary from Boyle, a behind-the-scenes segment, creature FX segment, trailer and booklet are housed inside Shudder’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA)…New on 4K UHD, ABRAHAM’S BOYS: A DRACULA STORY (89 mins., 2025, R) is based on a Joe Hill story about a pair of Van Helsing siblings and their relationship with their father – and a vamp named Dracula. Commentary with director Natasha Kermani and other crew, a video intro from Hill, and a booklet are included in Shudder’s UHD and Blu-Ray (1.37, 5.1 DTS MA).
Coming in 4K UHD later in September is NIGHT OF THE HUNTED (95 mins., 2022), Franck Khalfoun’s thriller involving a woman (Camille Rowe) who becomes an unsuspecting pawn of a sniper late at night while stopped at a gas station. Shudder’s UHD includes commentary with writer Tori Potenza, interviews with Rowe and Khalfoun, image gallery and Philip Escott booklet notes…Nick Frost plays a cab driver who takes couple Synnove Karlsen and Luke Norris out into the middle of nowhere in Bruce Goodison’s BLACK CAB (90 mins., 2024), new on Blu from Shudder sporting a fresh director commentary track (2.35, 5.1).
Umbrella: The great Jack Thompson plays a hard-livin’, hard-drinkin’ cop named SCOBIE MALONE (98 mins., 1975) in this mid ‘70s Aussie import – a crime-thriller/mystery where Scobie has to investigate the death of a woman at the Sydney Opera House. Australian locales, Thompson’s performance and the laid back tone help, but there’s a reason this tedious thriller flopped in its native land – the picture doesn’t have much energy or urgency. Umbrella’s Blu-Ray (1.85, mono) offers commentary by screenwriters Stephen Vagg and Justin King, who adapted a Jon Cleary novel, plus additional interviews and content from the terrific Aussie doc NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD (100 mins., 2009), itself coming out from OCN and Magnolia in a two-disc set. Mark Hartley’s paean to the wild and woolly days of Aussie cinema from the ‘70s through the ‘80s is chronicled in a heartfelt tribute, loaded with interviews, commentaries, bonus conversations with Richard Franklin, Quentin Tarantino and many more.
Also coming from Umbrella is GOODBYE PARADISE (122 mins., 1983), an Aussie thriller about how a private detective’s search for an old friend’s daughter turns up a vaster conspiracy involving all of Queensland. Ray Barret stars in Carl Schultz’s film, new on disc (1.85, mono) sporting commentary from ace cinematographer John Seale and other crew; an interview with actor Grant Dodwell; a talk with Schultz; and a stills gallery.
Utopia: A Florida drug addict reels in an actual MERMAID (105 mins., 2024), then does whatever it takes to protect her, in Tyler Cornack’s anti-”Splash” debuting on Blu from Utopia featuring a 1080p (2.39, 5.1/2.0 DTS MA) transfer, commentary with the director and behind-the-scenes photo galleries…Due out in September is IDIOTKA (82 mins., 2025), Nastasya Popov’s comedy about a down-on-her-luck fashion designer who enters a reality show in order to save her grandmother’s apartment, and promptly gets involved in the series’ slick “storytelling.” A number of behind-the-scenes extras permeate Utopia’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0).
Watermelon Pictures: The protest involvement of a Palestinian teenager has the ability to reshape his ancestors’ tumultuous past in ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU (146 mins., 2025), an independent drama that’s sweeping in its scope and compelling in its characterizations. Cherien Dabis’ film was produced by Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem; Watermelon’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1) includes a talk with Davis and Ruffalo plus a documentary helmed by Bilal Alkhatib.
Wild Eye Releasing: The “micro budget” horror entry SODOMANIAC (82 mins., 2015) receives a Blu-Ray from Wild Eye this month. Anthony Catanese’s film includes a 2025 commentary plus two archival commentary tracks; the original opening and ending; short movies; music videos; the trailer; a fold-out poster and 16 pages of booklet notes…Before there was “Sharknado” there was SNOW SHARK (79 mins., 2011), a resourceful little slice of homegrown horror-comedy from director Sam Qualiana that here includes a new 2026 commentary with the director and cast; a 2012 archival commentary; behind the scenes doc; interviews; outtakes; the original short and additional shorts by Qualiana; a 1080p (1.85) transfer and foldout poster.
Coming in late September is the 2004 horror outing THE HAZING (87 mins.), which features a group of college co-eds picking the wrong night for fraternity initiation when a nutcase professor (Brad Dourif, naturally) begins picking them off. Rolf Kanefsky’s film features over 10 hours of new and archival extras, including a bonus version of the film, interviews, multiple commentaries and more in Wild Eye’s Blu-Ray (1.85)…Also due out shortly from Wild Eye is DEADLY DEALINGS (71 mins., 2022), director Adam Freeman’s look at a woman, trying to reconnect with her late brother, who comes into contact with a demon instead. Commentary and interviews with cast and crew are included in Wild Eye’s forthcoming Blu-Ray (1.85).
Willa: Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB (189 mins., 2025) tells of a five-year-old girl’s efforts to get help while trapped in a Gaza car under fire, and the efforts of emergency personnel in trying to get an ambulance to her. Extensive interviews with Hania and multiple Q&A sessions make for an enlightening supplemental package in a powerful documentary (2.39, 5.1)…Coming soon is THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR (101 mins., 2024), a contemporary story of a shepherd trying to impart his wisdom on the next generation while brown bears have been reintroduced into his community. Max Keegan’s film has been beautifully shot in scope and preserved here in a Willa Blu-Ray (2.39) sporting a Q&A with Keegan and Su Kim, plus another session with the director and Steve Dollar.
Yellow Veil Pictures: Addison Heimann’s new movie TOUCH ME (100 mins., 2026) is an intentional homage of Japanese horror about a woman and her gay friend who are brought to a desert mansion by one of their exes – who has tentacles! Very odd and gross (with numerous practical effects), “Touch Me” premieres on Blu-Ray (1080p, DTS MA) in a shifting aspect ratio with loads of extras: two commentaries, a slew of interviews, and the trailer…Off-the-wall horror comedy BUFFET INFINITY (93 mins., 2026) debuts on Blu-Ray (1.66) from Yellow Veil at the end of September. This tale of dueling Canadian restaurants is fun for a while before it turns rather grim at the end; before then, Simon Glassman’s film is amusing enough, with the Blu-Ray offering commentary and a handful of featurettes/interviews.
Also New on 4K UHD
DISCLOSURE DAY 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (145 mins., 2026, PG-13; Universal): Steven Spielberg made his mark — and changed cinema forever — by producing a handful of early blockbusters that were marked by warm, human characters who were always believable and relatable. Whether it was Martin Brody in “Jaws” or Roy Neary in “Close Encounters,” Spielberg’s characters came off like people you knew or wanted to know — everymen who, in the best sense of the word, rose up to meet the challenge of taking on great white sharks or meeting friendly aliens from beyond the stars.
Somewhere along the line Spielberg lost that connection with his characters, alternating his career over the last quarter-century roughly between making self-important and often overpraised “serious movies” like “Lincoln” and “The Post” with “popcorn fare” that hasn’t, frankly, been much fun. Sure, “Minority Report” was okay, but did it turn into the “Next Raiders of the Lost Ark” as some people theorized its first-teaming of Spielberg and Tom Cruise was going to?
“Disclosure Day” is Spielberg’s 35th feature and has arrived with a great deal of promise, yet it’s sadly a case of Spielberg going through the motions in nearly every way. John Williams’ hard-working score tries to grasp onto whatever it can to provide human interest, yet it’s a hodge-podge of familiar fragments eventually done in by the fact that virtually nobody in this picture looks, acts, or sounds like a normal human being.
Emily Blunt plays a Kansas City weather forecaster who suddenly begins speaking in clicks and possessing all kinds of ESP powers which she uses to find a guy (Josh O’Connor) who himself is fleeing a shady government agency of some kind and its nefarious leader, played by Colin Firth. You know he’s bad because Williams’ score starts channeling Kylo Ren the second he appears on-screen to stop O’Connor from spreading his tapes disclosing alien existence and Roswell to the public at large — in one of the movie’s few inspired bits, he even has footage of Jackie Gleason with Richard Nixon!
O’Connor spends most of this movie running around breathlessly with his own girlfriend, an ex-nun played by Eve Hewson who looks pretty but is pretty blank in this role (I wouldn’t ever say she only got this job because she’s Bono’s daughter but, being honest, it had to have helped). But, then again, blank is an apt word to describe O’Connor himself here as the British actor delivers a flat performance. His “man on the run” never engages as other Spielberg protagonists have in the past, yet it’s Blunt’s performance that fails to anchor this movie.
In her defense, it’s not entirely the actresses’ fault, as the role requires Blunt to go from phony “weather girl” shtick to an insanely high IQ and level of empathy that, maybe back in the ’70s or ’80s, would’ve worked with an actress like Sally Field who could’ve filled both comedic and dramatic elements. Blunt simply doesn’t possess that kind of range, coming off as unconvincing when called upon and unable to make you feel any kind of true emotional release as it becomes clear that “Disclosure Day” isn’t going to disclose much of anything as you make your way through its 145 minute run time. Most of this movie is filled with a lot of talk and not the kind of action you paid your hard-earned summer dollars to see.
Other roles are likewise scattershot: Firth offers little but hammy villainy and Colman Domingo is blah as the the know-it-all scientist who seems to be grinning in nearly every scene. Literally the only person who resembles an actual human being here is Wyatt Russell, playing Blunt’s musician boyfriend — his reaction shots are often funny and Kurt and Goldie’s son delivers some of the only relatable moments in the entire film. (Sadly, the movie really never finds a purpose for him and he’s entirely discarded by the time the picture finishes on its “nope, it wasn’t worth the build-up” ending)
“Disclosure Day” was, likely, doomed right off the bat having to work from a script by David Koepp, who has written some of Spielberg’s worst films, and being saddled yet again by the kind of ugly cinematography by Janusz Kaminski that has marred too may of Spielberg’s works in the wake of “Schindler’s List.”
Together, they make for a visually unappealing film that’s further compounded by a script that makes little sense. This especially pertains to the dumb sequence late in the movie where Domingo’s scientist reconstructs Blunt’s childhood home for reasons that eluded me…the character says it’s to “open a portal” but I have no idea what the point of it was, other than having Blunt’s heroine turn the entire house invisible so the heroes could escape from Firth and company in a mad dash to the finish line.
This sequence was obviously meant for Spielberg to have “fun” as government agents flail around and fall over against invisible walls and doors, but ultimately it’s a sad throwback to Elliott and his friends frolicking on their bikes and eluding the bad guys at the end of “E.T.” — back when Spielberg was at the top of his game and the popcorn wasn’t stale.
Universal’s 4K UHD (2.39) includes both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, plus a Blu-Ray and Digital HD code. Extras include a near hour-long documentary look at the production plus a nice segment with Williams and Spielberg once again discussing their historic cinematic collaboration together.
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