Archive for the 'Blu-ray Reviews' Category
July 15th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
The handyman of horror is back with a new box of tricks and fear in TOOLBOX MURDERS 2, a highly anticipated follow-up to the 2004 Tobe Hooper-directed slasher classic. Directed by legendary special effects artist, producer and filmmaker Dean C. Jones (Dark Awakening, X-Men: First Class), TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 stars Chauntal Lewis (Séance), Oscar® nominee Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Brian Krause (Stephen King’sSleepwalkers), Clifton Powell (Ray), Chris Doyle (Toolbox Murders) and Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager). Picking up directly after the shocking events of the previous movie, TOOLBOX MURDERS 2 ratchets up the terror as it follows one of Hollywood’s most twisted killers. Resurfacing in the darkest corners of the L.A. underworld with a serious axe to grind, the killer hammers out a plan to put the screws to a new victim! Continue reading ‘Toolbox Murders 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
July 14th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
Danny Collins is the kind of film that is easy to watch for adult audiences in need of some simple fun with actors they enjoy. Al Pacino gets a chance to ease back on the throttle a bit and just be an entertaining presence in a film about an aging rock star looking for redemption. The film was in limited release for a couple months back in the spring, but now it is available on Blu-ray for more people to discover. It is a good thing too, as this is a really likable film.
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July 14th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
A raucous, blood-soaked post-apocalyptic epic filled with inspired vehicular mayhem and unrestrained gore, Wyrmood: Road of the Dead is one of the most wildly entertaining genre films in years. Making its Blu-ray and DVD debut on August 4th, 2015 from Scream Factory, in partnership with IFC Midnight, this critically-acclaimed rambunctious adventure Wyrmood: Road of the Dead comes loaded with bonus features, including an audio commentary with the Roache-Turner Brothers, the featurette The Wyrmdiaries: Behind the Scenes of WYRMWOOD, Crowdfunding Videos: Wyrmwood Production Pitch, deleted scenes, a seven minute teaser scene, a gallery of storyboards by the director and the theatrical trailer. Fans can pre-order their copies now at ShoutFactory.com. With a healthy dose of Mad Max-inspired vehicular mayhem and an enormous serving of pure, raw talent, Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead is a high-octane, visceral thrill ride that is a must for any horror fan. Continue reading ‘Wyrmwood: Road Of The Dead (Blu-ray)’
July 14th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Rosanna Arquette (After Hours) and Vincent Spano (Rumblefish) star in writer/director John Sayles’ romantic-drama, Baby It’s You. Set in 1966 New Jersey, middle-class high school senior Jill (Arquette) finds herself inexplicably drawn to a suave, blue collar bad boy (and aspiring singer) known as “The Sheik” (Spano). Exuding mystery and danger, “The Sheik” woos Jill until she succumbs to his charms, which baffles her friends and horrifies her parents and teachers. Baby It’s You recounts the ups and downs of the lead characters from young love to hook-ups & break-ups to college life and the toll of unfulfilled dreams. With his extraordinary ear for dialog, John Sayles (Lone Star, Eight Men Out, Return of the Secaucus 7) fashions a period piece with contemporary relevance. Featured in supporting roles are Tracy Pollan (TV’s Family Ties), Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) and Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit). Continue reading ‘Baby, It’s You (Blu-ray Review)’
July 13th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
The gritty urban drama Street Smart is directed by Jerry Schatzberg (Scarecrow, The Panic In Needle Park), from a screenplay by David Freeman, starring Christopher Reeve (Superman, John Carpenter’s Village of the Damned) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, Deep Impact, The LEGO Movie). And it co-stars Kathy Baker (Clean and Sober, The Glass House), Mimi Rogers (The Rapture, Someone To Watch Over Me), Andre Gregory (My Dinner With Andre, The Last Temptation of Christ), Rick Aviles (Carlito’s Way, Ghost) and Jay Patterson (A Million Ways To Die In The West, City of Angels). I had never heard of this film, and it was a neat opportunity to see Christopher Reeve in a film that was new to me at least. It also features him in a very meaty and interesting role on top of that. Continue reading ‘Street Smart (Blu-ray Review)’
July 13th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Criminal Law stars Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight trilogy, Air Force One, True Romance) and Kevin Bacon (TV’s The Following, Footloose, Friday The 13th, X-Men: First Class). The film co-stars Tess Harper (Tender Mercies), Karen Young (9 1/2 Weeks) and Joe Don Baker (Walking Tall) in a film directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye) from a screenplay written by Mark Kasdan. As a huge fan of GoldenEye, Casino Royale and Zorro, making me a Campbell supporter when it comes to practical based films (We all know how he did when he ventured into space with Ryan Reynolds to give us the less than favorable Green Lantern), I was eager to dig into this early thriller of his that I had never seen before. Continue reading ‘Criminal Law (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
A vicious killer stalks the streets of Hong Kong, methodically executing top martial arts competitors. Xia (Donnie Yen), a convicted killer and kung fu expert, offers to help police find the killer and put him behind bars in return for his own freedom. The killer eludes them again and again, taunting the cops – and Xia, his new target – to discover his next moves. Xia refuses to play his lethal game…until the killer threatens the woman he loves most. Continue reading ‘Kung Fu Killer (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
In this science fiction thriller, child psychiatrist Catherine Deane (Golden Globe-nominee Jennifer Lopez “Selena,” “Maid in Manhattan”) has developed a technique that allows her to travel through the minds of her patients. When Stargher (Emmy Award-nominee Vincent DOnofrio TV’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Full Metal Jacket”), a serial killer who methodically drowns his victims and performs bizarre rituals with their bodies, falls into a coma, FBI agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn “Wedding Crashers,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”) asks Deane to enter the killers psyche in hopes of finding the location of a missing girl whom Stargher has kidnapped and, if she isn’t found soon, will drown in her torture cell. However, once Deanne enters the bizarre world of Starghers mind, she finds getting out being a very difficult matter. Continue reading ‘The Cell (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Roller Boogie is the film that asks: can a classical flautist and a roller skating dude find true love and happiness in the California sun while boogying on skates to 70’s disco tunes? Roller Boogie stars Linda Blair (The Exorcist) as Terry Barkley, a genius flautist (and Juilliard hopeful) and Jim Bray (real life roller skating phenomenon) as Bobby James, a maniac on skates with all the right moves and his sights set on becoming an Olympic Roller Skater. Roller Boogie, with its amazing choreography and on-the-skate-floor acrobatics, is directed by Mark L. Lester (Class of 1984), from a screenplay by Barry Schneider, features a soundtrack stuffed with disco tunes including Hell On Wheels performed by Cher, The Roller Boogie written by Mavis & Bob Esty, Boogie Wonderland written by Jon Lind and Allee Willis and the Bob Esty & Michael Brooks song Summer Love. Continue reading ‘Roller Boogie (Blu-ray Review)’
July 10th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
The good. The bad. The Satanic. Scream Factory proudly presents the Empire Pictures classic Ghost Town on July 28, 2015 in its Blu-ray debut. A dusty ghost town, seemingly abandoned, holds the lives of its original inhabitants in an animated netherworld for 100 years. Starring Franc Luz (The Nest, When Harry Met Sally), Jimmie F. Skaggs (Oblivion, Puppetmaster), Catherine Hickland (Witchery) and Bruce Glover (Diamonds Are Forever, Chinatown, Walking Tall), Ghost Town is an unnerving, white-knuckle walk into the wild, undead west. Continue reading ‘Ghost Town (Blu-ray Review)’
July 6th, 2015 by Brian White
They bill Arnold Schwarzenegger as being back, better than ever in the post-apocalyptic story, Maggie, arriving on Blu-ray July 7th from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. What do you think of that statement? Do you believe there is any validity to that? I don’t know about you, but that’s why I was most curious to tackle this one. Sure it will be interesting to see Arnold outside his action/comedy comfort zone, but I was also curious as to whether or not this tale was any good or does it exist simply trying to capitalize off the recent popularity and craze of zombies, much like vampires were years ago. However, the real Debbie Downer in all of this was I had to wait so long to find all this out. Sure I could have easily taken the VOD approach several months ago, but I didn’t want to. I wanted my first time to be special. I wanted it to be on the Blu-ray format. And that ladies and gentlemen is why we’re all here today. I present to you Maggie on Blu-ray. Continue reading ‘Maggie (Blu-ray Review)’
July 6th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
From the director of Taken comes The Gunman, a pulse pounding action thriller starring two-time Academy Award winner Sean Penn. It’s been eight years since Jim Terrier (Penn) worked as a black ops assassin and now someone from his old organization wants him dead. Pursued across Africa and Europe by elite hit men, Terrier is dragged back into his dangerous past as he engages in a relentless cat-and-mouse game to take out the man who betrayed him. Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance and Oscar winner Javier Bardem costar in a hair-trigger thrill ride the critics are calling, “Intense!” Continue reading ‘The Gunman (Blu-ray Review)’
July 3rd, 2015 by Brian White
This past March I had the pleasure of visiting Los Angeles after not being in that beloved city for over two years. Absence truly made my heart grow fonder, but it did not do anything for the ridiculous traffic out there. Anyway, one of my most fondest memories from that recent trip was taking Why So Blu Staff writer Gerard Iribe on a date (he put me up so it was the least I could do) to see It Follows. I was blown away by it. As soon as the credits rolled I turned to Gerard and said was that old school John Carpenter Halloween style or what. He whole-heartedly agreed! We then ate a vegetarian dinner afterwards, but I choose to digress here about all of that. So here’s the real deal. It Follows, the critically acclaimed breakout movie of the year, arrives on on Blu-ray July 14th from Anchor Bay Home Entertainment and I got y’all covered down below. Continue reading ‘It Follows (Blu-ray Review)’
June 30th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
The second season of The Strain is premiering soon on FX and what better way to celebrate than by checking in on the first season of the series. There is of course a chance that you may have already seen the first season and even own the Blu-ray, which was reviewed by Why So Blu’s Brian White. Well, now we have the Premium Collector’s Edition, which houses the Blu-ray in a collectible bust of the series’ main villain, The Master. The Blu-ray package also contains all new supplements to make this Collector’s Edition more worthwhile. Continue on to see pics of the set and details on what else is in store for those interested.
Continue reading ‘The Strain: The Complete First Season – Premium Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
June 29th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
Brooklyn mobster and prolific hit man Jimmy Conlon (Liam Neeseon), once known as The Gravedigger, has seen better days. Longtime best friend of mob boss Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris), Jimmy, now 55, is haunted by the sins of his past – as well as a dogged police detective (Vincent D’Onofrio) who’s been one step behind Jimmy for 30 years. Continue reading ‘Run All Night (Blu-ray Review)’
June 29th, 2015 by Sean Wright
Will Ferrell’s James King is a millionaire head fund manager who is accused of fraud and embezzlement, who seeks the aid of Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) to prep him for life in prison in Get Hard. The two form an unlikely bond in the 30 days leading up to his incarceration. The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 16th, 2015 before its wide release in the U.S. on March 27th. Continue reading ‘Get Hard (Blu-ray Review)’
June 25th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
On July 21, 2015, SCREAM FACTORY™ is proud to present I, MADMAN Blu-ray™on home entertainment shelves for the first time. Arriving for the first time on Blu-ray, this long-awaited release contains insightful bonus content, including interviews with director Tibor Takacs, actor & artistic supervisor Randall William Cook, screenwriter David Chaskin, actor Clayton Rohner and actress Stephanie Hodge, behind-the-scene footage, audio commentary and much more! A must-have for movie collectors and horror enthusiasts. Directed cult filmmaker Tibor Takacs (The Gate), I, MADMAN stars Jenny Wright (Near Dark, The Lawnmower Man), Clayton Rohner (April Fool’s Day, The Human Centipede III) and three-time Academy Award® winner Randall William Cook (Dr. Caligari) as the mysterious and frightening Malcolm Brand. Continue reading ‘I, Madman (Blu-ray Review)’
June 23rd, 2015 by Brandon Peters
RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE), under the Image Entertainment brand, announces the DVD release of the thriller THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (Me, Earl and The Dying Girl, “American Horror Story”), screenplay by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Carrie, “Glee”) and based on the 1976 cult-classic film of the same title directed by Charles B. Pierce. THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN will be available on DVD abd Blu-ray. The film stars Addison Timlin (“Californication,” That Awkward Moment), newcomer Travis Tope, Gary Cole (“Veep,” Office Space), Joshua Leonard (“Bates Hotel,” The Blair Witch Project), Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish,” The Departed), Denis O’Hare (“American Horror Story,” Dallas Buyers Club), Edward Herrmann (“The Good Wife,” “Gilmore Girls”) and Veronica Cartwright (The Birds, Alien). It is produced by Jason Blum (the Paranormal Activity franchise, Sinister) and Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story,” “Glee”). Continue reading ‘The Town That Dreaded Sundown – Best Buy Exclusive (Blu-ray Review)’
