Punisher: War Zone – Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
On October 18th, the greatest Punisher experience to ever hit a screen will be getting a packaging update from Best Buy. That’s right, Punisher: War Zone, starring #MyPunisher Ray Stevenson is getting an exclusive steelbook packaging from brick and mortar heroes, Best Buy. No, you cannot pre-order here from this review, you gotta go to Best Buy’s website to get it. There are no new bonus features here, but there is a beautiful new art design and sturdiness to you Punisher that’ll look hot to trot on your movie shelf (Or in the museum-like glass display case for which this relic should appear). Get excited and get punishing again with the movie that will shoot you in the face if you’re not on board – PUNISHER: WAR ZONE!
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August was a pretty wide open month in the summer landscape, with Bullet Train being really the only high profile release at the top of the month (Itself moving to take advantage of the field). We got a lot of more low key genre hopefuls and the like that hope to take advantage of being the only thing around at the time. The horror/thriller Fall, with it high concept (yok yok yok) idea, was one of those that had some decent buzz to it. But, the main story around it seemed to be about its utilization of Deep Fake technology to try and rework dialogue and such to land a PG-13 rating. The film will be available on Blu-ray on October 18th. You can order yourself a copy of the film (and make writer Peter Paras a happy man) when you use the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review. 
On the 30th anniversary of the original Mortal Kombat video game, Warner Bros. gives us the next film in the animated line of the MK Legends series, Snow Blind. This marks the third film in the Legends series following 2020’s Scorpion’s Revenge and last year’s Battle of The Realms. Directed by Rick Morales, a former storyboard artist on the Star Wars: Clone Wars movie, Morales guides us on this 82-minute tale through the Wastelands and back. How does this latest entry fair? Let’s check it out…
A24 is our current dominant cult studio for movies that are actually attempting to stand out, try new things, let creatives be free and put it out to a wider, mainstream audience. They’ve crafted a lot of the popular social media horror films in the last many years. Their latest is a Gen Z slasher called Bodies Bodies Bodies that didn’t really hit their usual nice ding at the box office and under performed compared to their normal output. Nonetheless, its probably destined to become a cult hit of the “Even though I didn’t myself, why didn’t anybody see this in theaters” Twitter classic variety when it goes a bit with digital, streaming and maybe its 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release. Which, that release is a Best Buy exclusive, arriving October 18th. Also that day it will be available on standard Blu-ray and DVD from all retailers.
On October 11, Paramount will update their collection of Paranormal Activity films with Paranormal Activity: The Ultimate Chills Collection. The set of films found itself an additional one released last year, Next of Kin, as a Paramount+ exclusive. That one has now been added to the other six films and the 2021 documentary about the series, Unknown Dimension, and the rerelease of the out of print 3D disc for The Ghost Dimension to have the must up to date and complete set. Paramount has also done a pretty commendable job in making more effort in putting together a nice physical set, and today we are going to take a look at what all it entails. If this looks like its the complete Paranormal Activity set for you, don’t be afraid to click the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the video. 
The rollout of the Scream films on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray has been a sort weird one. Rather than jumping ahead and just doing a set to start and then maybe a modified one once the fifth one was released, they did a 25th anniversary of the first one, then the fifth one when it came out along with a double of movie 1 and movie 5. Now here for the 25th anniversary of the sequel it gets the jump. Still no word on 3 or 4, perhaps waiting on an anniversary themselves. Scream 2 arrives on October 4th in regular and steelbook packaging. No new bonus features, but the original Lionsgate Blu-ray disc is included. You can order yourself a copy of this groovy collectible steelbook by using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
For October this year, Warner Archive Collection has a pair of classic horror treats that have long been sought after by collectors. One of which is the 1935 film Mark of the Vampire. A brief look at it and one might think its some unknown Universal Classic Monsters Dracula film. Despite being directed by Tod Browning, starring Lionel Atwill and having Bela Lugosi play a vampire dressed count-like, it is not. Nonetheless, all the hallmarks are there. The film will come with a commentary track featuring Stephen Jones and Kim Newman, a cartoon and a short film both from 1935. The release date for Mark of the Vampire is October 11th. You can order a copy to have around them by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
Six years ago, Scream Factory delivered one of the most definitive Collector’s Editions they ever put out when they released the 2-Disc Blu-ray of The Return Of The Living Dead. Now, they are upgrading the only part that truly needs an update. Now they bring you the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release of their previous Collector’s Edition with every single thing intact from the last one and a new 2022 4K scan of the original camera negative. This is a rare case when there are no complaints that there are no new extras. You’ll be able to pick this beauty up when it arrives on October 18th (delayed from the original October 11th date). Do yourself a solid and order a copy from the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review. Because, when it comes to The Return Of The Living Dead you’ll always have room for more brains…or…double, triple, quadruple dipping home video releases.
Its been in the works for a little while now, but Steven Soderbergh’s 1999 film The Limey will be making the jump from DVD straight to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. On demand from many a film enthusiast and collector, the film received a 4K digital release a year or so ago and back in February word came that a disc was on the way. For it initial release, it will be coming out as a Best Buy exclusive and have a nifty collectible steelbook packaging. Extras include two commentaries and an isolated score track (Which were all featured on the original DVD release). The release date for The Limey is October 11th only at Best Buy.
If ever there was a divisive filmmaker over the last 20 years, perhaps it be that of Rob Zombie. His output has been very much of the love it or hate it mold. Regardless, he’s proven he can be one of the more interesting creators and definitely has a vision and voice. Which in the corporate algorithm, safe moviemaking landscape, that’s something I’ll always take a chance on for better or for worse. His latest effort is an update on the classic television show for which he is a big fan – The Munsters. And those who scoffed at him doing the film clearly don’t know much about the guy as he’s a huge fan of the series and if you listen to the commentary track on the Munster, Go Home! Blu-ray, you’ll see just that. I’ll admit skepticism after seeing the trailer, but I still wanted to remain optimistic on the film knowing Zombie’s passion for the material. The Munsters arrives on Blu-ray on September 27th and comes with a commentary and one-hour making of documentary. Paid Amazon Associates link is at the bottom if you’re interested in owning a copy.
Paramount Presents continues to wow and surprise every month with some eclectic picks to add to their catalog. They never are one that you can just assume or predict and the eras which they choose from, thankfully, run the gamut of their studios’ history. For September, the original The War of the Worlds will be making its way to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. Previously done by Criterion, this new release will put it on the format that restoration was meant for. All the fun extras are back and they are also tossing in the never before on Blu-ray When Worlds Collide. Its another science fiction from from the director George Pal. This will release on September 27th. You can order yourself a copy of it to have around then by using the lovely paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
Being a horror fan and disc collector, September and October become exciting times for new releases and upgrades and struggling times for my wallet. Even the big studios get involved with their catalog this time of the year. Its the trendy thing to cash in on. Warner Bros is doing that and will be updating Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys with a brand new 4K transfer and and update on the its audio codec as well. The official release date is September 20th, coming out from Warner Bros alongside the Poltergeist debut on 4K Ultra-HD. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
One of the greatest triumphs in horror, and always proving quite timeless, Poltergeist celebrated 40 years this past summer. Tobe Hooper’s film will be getting itself a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release finally, just in time for the spookiest month of the year. Sporting a new 4K transfer as well as some a remastered 5.1 track and the original theatrical mix in lossless format, it’ll also carry over the extras from the original Blu-ray release. The official release date is September 20th, coming out from Warner Bros alongside The Lost Boys debut on 4K Ultra-HD. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
Marvel’s second summer offering gave us back Thor in the follow up to Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder. The film became the God of Thunder’s biggest hit yet at the box office and one of summer’s Top 5 moneymakers overall when final tallies came in. After an exclusive window on Disney+, its now coming to the best format of all, 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. The release will feature an Atmos track, commentary by Taika Waititi, some deleted scenes and a handful of featurettes. You can pre-order the film now, using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review at the bottom of the page. Thor: Love and Thunder will be out in stores and every for your truest piece of ownership on September 27th.
The pandemic held them off, but those pesky Minions were back in Summer 2022 with another despicable adventure. Minions: The Rise Of Gru soared, as expected, as one of the season’s top earners at the box office. These things seriously cannot be stopped. The film arrived on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on September 6th. Not only boasting a Dolby Atmos track, the film comes in tow with a nice slew of extras both informative and kid friendly. You can order yourself a copy of this film for you or a little one you know (Or say its for a little one you know, but its really for yourself. You know who you are) by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of this page.
One of the summer’s bigger success stories with no tie to some IP franchise was that of Baz Luhrmann’s return with ELVIS. The film finished the big money season just outside the top 5 at #6, which looks pretty impressive as it clocked ahead of stuff like Lightyear. It may have some Oscar aspirations with the successful run when next year rolls around. But for now, you can pick it up on home video on the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. Elvis was released on September 13th and comes with an Atmos track as well as a slew of extras to dig into after the film finishes. You may order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows this review at the bottom of the page.
