Physical Media is back and you probably want to give a few movies and TV shows as holiday gifts. This has been a great year for boutique labels finding obscure titles that need a revival. They’ve been giving us the movies and plenty of bonus features to make you truly appreciate the films. If you’re curious what DVDs, Blu-rays and 4K UHDs to get your pals that have come recently, here’s a list of the various films I’ve enjoyed reviewing in 2024. Your friends will thank you for caring about them:
Inside the Mind of Coffin Joe: Limited Edition (Arrow Video) You will truly get Inside The Mind of Coffin Joe by the end of the boxset. José Mojica Marins deserves to have his name included with John Waters, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Kenneth Anger and other great directors who picked up a camera and created their own “studio.” He struck gold with the character of Coffin Joe that allowed him to keep producing movies over the decades. He never seemed to want to go Hollywood in his films. There’s no way his early films could have ever been shown in the drive-ins of America back in 1960s. He gave us a nightmarish character that can still scar a few people even in the 21st Century.
Conan The Barbarian: Limited Edition (Arrow Video) has three different cuts on the movie on 4K UHD disc. First is the Theatrical Cut that runs 126:27. This is the version shown in theater toward the end of the school year in 1982. The International Cut runs 128:59. The Extended Version clocks in at 130:22. They’ve restored a few scenes. This is the version of Conan you’ll want to watch first. The treasure chest of bonus features will let you understand every aspect of the film.
Jennifer 8: Special Edition (Scream Factory) with the Extended Cut is refreshing revisit. While not completely what Bruce Robinson wanted to create, this version feels so much better than what ran in the theaters over 30 years ago.
The Swiss Conspiracy (Film Masters) reminds you there are dangerous things in the land of Chocolate and Cheese. The blackmail plot will have you guessing until the final bullet. David Janssen is perfect tracking everything down. If you’re a fan of his TV shows, you’ll enjoy seeing him abroad, in danger and busting up The Swiss Conspiracy.
Impulse (Grindhouse Releasing) is an addictive film. This is my favorite William Grefé movie because he landed such a talented cast. Shatner doesn’t play a lofty character, but gives the guy a freakish nobility. His conning ways make you question if Kirk and Hooker weren’t also serial killers. Ruth Roman started in classic Hollywood productions such as Gilda and The Big Clock. As times changed, Ruth made strange ’70s with The Baby and William Girdler’s Day of the Animals. She’s perfect as the frustrated socialite eager to show off what she inherited from her last husband.
Girls On Film (Breaking Glass Pictures) isn’t all just showering, lingerie shopping and cam shows. There’s a lot of focus on the growing relationship between the boarder and the landlady. Writer-director Robin Bain creates a bit of mystery by having Blake constantly wearing a sleeve over her right forearm. Even when she’s in the bathtub or sharing the shower with Jenna, she’s covered up. What’s she’s hiding?
The Ring Collection (Scream Factory) is a trilogy that works as an adaptation. Special Effects Legend Rick Baker’s version of Samara is creepier than the Japanese version. You’ll not want to see her climbing out of your TV screen. The first film reflects Ringu‘s plot, but the two sequels go their own way. If you’ve seen the Ringu films, you’re not going to feel like you’re watching remakes of either sequel. Samara is allowed to crawl where she wants. You might get scared after seeing the tape now that it’s been upgraded to 4K UHD resolution. The Ring Collection will shock you back to the time when unlabeled VHS could be frightening.
All Ladies Do It (Cult Epics) is a beautiful film. The camerawork, lighting and sets elevate Claudia Koll’s presence and performance. This is the perfect place to start if you’re curious about the work of Tinto Brass. You’re not having to deal with any atrocities from Ancient Rome or Germany to harsh the eroticism. It’s a couple in Italy who need to bring back their carnal joy. There is plenty of carnality on the screen. Brass takes us to ecstasy fueled parties and a road covered in wall-to-wall street walkers. You even get to see Tinto Brass in a small role as a guy bringing his “niece” to the lingerie store. All Ladies Do It is a perfect taste of Italian wildness with Claudia Koll shedding her inhibitions. The 4K UHD of All Ladies Do It and The Films of Tinto Brass: From The Avant-Garde to Erotica book are the proper way to enjoy the Tinto Brass revival.
Joysticks: Collector’s Edition (MVD Rewind Collection) gives a sense of what kids expected when they hung out at the arcades in the ’80s. The rush that their next quarter was going to last for hours on Donkey Kong. The desire to hook up with someone out of your league because they saw your three initials on the top score. Joysticks make you ready to hit the mall and hum the symphony of videogame machines songs of your youth.
She Is Conann (Altered Innocence) is a remarkable cinematic feat of transformation. There’s as much gore and bloodshed as found in barbarian film yet we get the arthouse edge to the swords. Bertrand Mandico carries on the traditions found in the works of Peter Greenaway and Derek Jarman while giving us the flavor of John Milius. The final act takes an already outrageous film and finds the next level of grotesque imagery. She Is Conann is worthy to be a part of the Conan Canon.
Frivolous Lola (Cult Epics) Tinto Brass and cinematographer Massimo Di Venanzo (who also shot Brass’s All Ladies Do It) make this a great slice of European erotic cinema. Anna Ammirati shines on the screen. The camera makes her goddess of desires. You don’t judge the priests for sniffing that bicycle seat. The power of Lola compels them. Brass gets a lot of detail in the frame including the time she plays the plucking daisy petals to determine if she’ll marry her fiancé. Except it’s not daisy petals and it’s in 4K UHD.
American Gigolo: Limited Edition (Arrow Video) hasn’t lost a step over the decades. The movie isn’t stuck in the ’80s even though it is so ’80s. Paul Schrader constructed a film that lures your eyes in with the luxury joys of Julian’s life and keeps you glued with the murder mystery at its core. It’s amazing rewatching the film and seeing how much of the look and attitude of the ’80s spiraled out of the movie. Miami Vice borrowed so much from the film including the “blue season” look. Richard Gere has never been better than playing Julian.
Matinee: Collector’s Edition (Shout! Studios) is director Joe Dante (The Howling and Gremlins). This is his love song to his youth with kids fearing nuclear disaster and loving Famous Monsters magazine. The film comes off as Joe Dante’s Wonder Years. Dante gets to pay tribute to the genius of Castle and others who knew you should make a trip to the movies more special than turning on a television set. And Dante makes sure that this isn’t just a normal screening as things go overboard during the screening of Mant. The 4K UHD makes it even more special to watch.
Wallace & Gromit – The Complete Cracking Collection: Collector’s Edition (Shout! Studios) feels good to have this era of Wallace & Gromit gathered together in a charming boxset. With the higher resolution, you see all the ways Nick Park molded his characters to create such great fun between the inventor and his dog. Wallace & Gromit – The Complete Cracking Collection (Collector’s Edition) takes you deeper into their Plasticine world.
The Case of the Bloody Iris (Celluloid Dreams) is the classic tale of real estate going wrong and nobody wants to break the lease. Who wants to go through the burden of apartment hunting, putting down another deposit and hiring movers? What’s a homicidal manic compared to that nightmare? The film is a bit twisty, but worth the journey to see Edwige Fenech in jeopardy.
Who’s That Girl (Shout! Factory) remains a fun ’80s romp. Griffin once more nails the Yuppie who finds himself in the wrong places in Manhattan. This is one of my favorite Madonna roles because she doesn’t take herself too seriously on the screen. She gets to play a bit of a goofball who has her seductive moments. Rewatching it all these years later makes me miss having the giant stand-up in my bedroom.
The Boy And The Heron (GKIDS and Shout! Studios) is a beautiful and mystical experience. Miyazaki takes his creativity up another notch with the story of Mahito. There are familiar elements from his previous work, but he elevates them as they intertwine on the screen. The animation feels like he’s also figured out new ways to dazzle on the screen. He’s in his 80s and still pushing animation elements. The scene of Mahito in the burning Tokyo is astonishing. The best part of seeing it all on 4K UHD is once more savoring the details Myazaki and his animation team created.
Tchao Pantin (Radiance Films) proved to be so critically well received that both Coluche and Richard Anconina won acting awards from César Awards (the Oscars for France). Four decades later, their work together on the screen remains award worthy. The movie also won Best Cinematography for Bruno Nuytten’s work. The director of photography effectively captures the nether hours of the Parisian community. This isn’t shiny tourist trap areas. There’s plenty of grit on the screen that glows just right.
The Linguini Incident: Director’s Cut (MVD Marquee Collection) is an adorable movie about quirky people you’d imagine inhabit downtown New York City during this era. This is David Bowie’s only major comedy role which is a shame since he’s so good here. Eszter Balint shines in color since her other major indie role had her only in black and white. Rosanna Arquette is believable as both a frustrated waitress and escape artist. This is a perfect indie film to rediscover after over 30 years. The Linguini Incident improves on its quirky charming downtown vibe with Richard Shepard’s fresh cut.
Rat Man: Special Editon (Cauldron Films) has Dr. Olman (Havana‘s Pepito Guerra) has been collecting rare rat species around a Carribean Island. This includes a rather large critter (Nelson de la Rosa) with teeth and claws that seems part human. Before he can do his next scientific step, the rat man escapes his rather ratty cage and heads into the resort community. While a model is being photographed on the beach, a peeper is in the foliage sneaking a view. He’s attacked by the Rat Man and torn up.
Demons and Demons 2: Special Editions (Synapse Films) bring the nightmares to 4K UHD. Demons is great because it just keeps up the wildness. The audience does its best to fight back against the transformed other viewers. They realize they’ve been locked into the building with no hope of an easy exit. Every part of the movie theater turns into a battleground in the struggle. They even wreck the precious projector booth. Demons 2 is as exciting the first Demons with the new location. It’s almost unit by unit fighting between the hapless humans and the ravenous demons. The idea that an episode of Svengoolie can turn viewers evil is perfect. The effect of the demon escaping the tv screen looks even better on the 4K UHD disc.
The People’s Joker (Altered Innocence) is reminiscent of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. Vera lifts moments from various Batman movies and animated shows, but traces over to make them part of the Gotham City of this movie. Mostly important is the performance by Vera Drew. Drew is both outrageous and someone who you care about. You don’t want to see Joker the Harliquinn getting busted by Batman at the end. In the genre of people playing themselves in their biopic, Vera is at the top. The People’s Joker shows that there can be a bit of depth in a superhero (or supervillain movie) if you can break free from marketing.
The Last Unicorn (Shout! Studios) gets upgraded to 4K UHD. The Last Unicorn is a great film on all levels. The actors providing the voices are top notch folks. It’s a kid’s movie that has Christopher Lee. The songs and music were written by Jimmy Webb. The songwriter is best known for hits such as “Up, Up and Away”, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “MacArthur Park” and “Wichita Lineman.” Singing the songs is the band America, best known for “Sister Golden Hair,” “I Need You” and “Horse With No Name.” It’s a smooth soundtrack. The movie was produced by Rankin/Bass, the guys known for their holiday specials. It looks nothing like their animated Frosty the Snowman. There’s a beauty to the animation that makes the unicorn glow instead of looking over cartoony. Why? Because the animation was done by Japan’s Topcraft studio. The major animators on this film eventually worked for Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli.
Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds (Shout! Studios) is an animated film about two sisters that get lost in the pages. Agnes has just completed the latest chapter in her successful Sirocco fantasy novel series. She’s exhausted and ready for a long nap. But she can’t get to bed since her friend has dropped by. Agnes has completely forgotten that she promised to watch her daughters Juliette (Élia St-Pierre) and Carmen (Tallula Dinsmoore). The two girls seem old enough that Agnes has them hang out in her living room while she tries to capture a few winks. Then they’ll have fun. The girls quickly get bored. One pulls out a Sirocco. The wind captures the pages and has them flip furiously so that a character begins to become animated and pops out of the book.
A Man On His Knees (Radiance Films) is an exceptional mobster film for so many reasons. The first is avoiding the cliche of Nino being a criminal who is drawn back into a life of crime by a “Godfather” for one last heist. The mobsters don’t want him back. They just want him dead. The hits of the other people on the list shows how efficient the hitmen are in completing the contracts. The clock is ticking for Nino as he scrambles around Palermo. Getting to see this mysterious and dangerous city is another reason to watch.
Cheeky! (Cult Epics) is prime Tinto Brass as he captures his stripped-down cast. Carla’s erotic adventures in London are heavy on the debauchery. Tinto Brass has a cameo as a photo shop owner who does a reverse five finger discount on Carla when she wants a lower rate on her film. He gets to state his belief that “the ass is the mirror of the soul” in one scene involving a row of derrières. If you were a fan of Cinemax After Dark (Skinamax), you’ll fully appreciate Cheeky.
Hellraiser: Quartet Of Torment (Arrow Video) first four Hellraiser films are the best in the series that’s so far reached 11 installments (although only 8 with Doug Bradley as Pinhead). These are also the only four the Clive Barker was involved in making. The movies build upon each other as we first see how obsessed the Cotton family becomes with forbidden pleasures. Pinhead transforms from a scary monster to the original victim of the puzzle box in the sequel. The final film shows us how the puzzle box was created and used by the original owner. The four films together feel self-contained.
Paradise (Fun City Editions) marked the big screen debut of Phoebe Cates (Fast Times At Ridgemont High). Paradise had fallen into the “do you remember this movie” status. The lack of a home video release in 40 years can do that to a movie. This Blu-ray brings out all the elements that make it a fun viewing time. The film has exciting action and adventure scenes with the teenagers keep running from the sinister Jackyl. The waterfall showering scene goes up there with Phoebe rising from the pool in Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
Heavenly Bodies: Special Edition (Fun City Editions) works better for me than Flashdance because this is real. I can believe that Samantha would start her own aerobics gym in a rather grubby part of Toronto. Even though Heavenly Bodies has this sense of reality, it doesn’t weigh down the fun by getting too heavy. There are emotional scenes in Samantha’s life, but she works out her stress at the gym. While the ending could seem a touch farfetched, it fits with the tone of the film. If you want a fun ’80s night involving leg warmers, Heavenly Bodies will give you a better feeling than Flashdance.
Dark Crystal and Labyrinth 4K UHD + Blu-ray Collector’s Sets (Shout! Studios) Jim Henson moved beyond Sesame Street in the ’80s with two big movies. The Dark Crystal gave us all new puppet creations in a tale of a distant world. The Labryinth put David Bowie at the center of a maze after he abducts a child from Jennifer Connelly. Both films feature creations that didn’t grace the stage of The Muppet Show. Now both films are out on 4K UHD so you can see all the detail that went into their creation.
Hollywood 90028: Collector’s Edition (Grindhouse Releasing) is fascinating film for many reasons. It pulls off being both an exploitation film and an experimental art film. We get to see Marc’s slightly double life as a loop cameraman by day and a strangler at night. There’s a gritty nature to Los Angeles. Viewers expecting skin and violence get their expectations fulfilled. The actors look like people who would have gotten tangled up in the adult industry in 1970. Jeannette Dilger could have posed for Swank. Dick Glass looks so creepy when he’s directing with his sweaty face. Christopher Augustine is convincing as the killer. He looks like he’s just following his impulse when he wraps his hands around a date’s neck. The Blu-ray is a is a fitting tribute and celebration of writer-director Christina Hornisher as a filmmaker.
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School: 45th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Studios) is a brilliant and rebellious film. After 45 years, Riff can be viewed as patron saint of rebellious high school girls with good taste. Even the dumb high school jokes don’t fall flat. The Ramones are perfect in 4K UHD.
Aguirre: The Wrath of God: Collector’s Edition (Shout! Studios) is a true adventure film as the actors deal with the potent force of the jungle. They aren’t faking it on a studio backlot. You feel the power of the water and the dangers lurking in the rain forest. Maybe there were real natives firing poison arrows at them. Aguirre, The Wrath of God is a drama that plays like a documentary. Everyone seems in real jeopardy of not returning to civilization. Most importantly is feeling that Klaus Kinski is as mad as his character. Looks even better and madder in 4K UHD.
