The Fearless Vampire Killers (Blu-ray Review)
Warner Archive Collection is a brand to follow when it comes to physical media releases. Rivaling that of reveals from Arrow Video, Criterion Collection and Vinegar Syndrome, we know when in the month that their upcoming titles will be announced but what they will be is an intriguing mystery. And given how large the catalog of Warner Bros (And New Line) is, it could be any number of things. Being that its October, horror is the overwhelming theme with the Blu-ray titles. One of those titles this month is the Roman Polanski comedy, The Fearless Vampire Killers or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are In My Neck. Which…its just typically called The Fearless Vampire Killers which is a weird little horror comedy he did right after Cul-de-Sac and just before Rosemary’s Baby. You’ll be able to sink your teeth into this fresh new Blu-ray by ordering from the link at the bottom of the review as it is now available having been released on October 29th.
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I have something shameful to admit. I’ve been living with this secret for the longest time and I need to get this off my chest once and for all. Why So Blu writer Brandon Peters is going to be so disappointed in me, but here goes nothing. Up until the point when Daniel Craig took the reins of the James Bond role I had little interest in the legendary franchise. Blasphemy! I know. I always respected them and all the pop culture references and nostalgia that popped up in Austin Powers and whatnot, but I never truly got into them whole-heartedly. It’s ironic too as I once was known as a Ford Mustang guy and low and behold that car made its initial debut in a 007 film. However, then the unthinkable happened. Sony’s Blu-ray format emerged on the scene and I blind bought Casino Royale (it came with a toy Astro Martin). That’s all it took. I became an instant fan of not only this Bond series, but I’m also a proud papa of the former 22-film collection on Blu-ray too. And now I’m so honored to go back full circle and pay homage to the film where it all started for me. Casino flipping’ Royale is now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and I’m like a pig rolling around in mud! 
One of the most anticipated films in any format or technology advancement will forever 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. And finally, it has come to the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. Celebrating its 80th year, it certainly was time to introduce it in the best of ways possible. The poster child for the most fabled year in cinema history, the film luckily is a part of the Warner Bros library, who takes care of their catalog titles. Though, I’d imagine anyone with rights to this masterpiece would take good care, but you never know. In fact, this one was restored and transferred with an 8K 16-bit scan for this release from the original Technicolor negative. The 4K disc of the set also carries along the 1990 CBS special about making the film, which is a nifty bonus. You’ll be able to own the film in its best presentation yet, when it hits store shelves, both physically and virtually (Well, warehouses, am I right?) on October 29th (Witches=Halloween). You can pre-order from the Amazon link below which, of course helps me out.
Warner Archive Collection is a brand to follow when it comes to physical media releases. Rivaling that of reveals from Arrow Video, Criterion Collection and Vinegar Syndrome, we know when in the month that their upcoming titles will be announced but what they will be is an intriguing mystery. And given how large the catalog of Warner Bros (And New Line) is, it could be any number of things. Being that its October, horror is the overwhelming theme with the Blu-ray titles. From Beyond The Grave comes to us from Amicus Productions. Like Hammer Horror (And to some degree American International Pictures), the United States rights to the films spread across all sorts of holders and studios. Amicus’ bread and butter over the others back in the day was their ability and consistency in putting out horror anthology movies. From Beyond the Grave is one of those, and has been featured in the Twisted Terror Collection (Alongside John Carpenter’s Someone’s Watching Me, Wes Craven’s Deadly Friend and Dr. Giggles). Its available to order now from the Amazon link below.
If it wasn’t for Studio Canal restoring and releasing catalog titles on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray overseas in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, I don’t know if Lionsgate would have much interest in doing it at all. They are getting some solid free ports over here with the likes of Rambo, the upcoming Universal Soldier and this one in the review here, Red Heat. One of the film’s on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s climb to massive superstardom, its notable paired him with director Walter Hill and tried to buddy cop him with James Belushi. The release comes with all the special features that were on the Studio Canal release overseas and the Lionsgate standard Blu-ray that was originally out here in the United States. For those interested in the film (Or us Schwarzenegger collectors), the film will be available for purchase on October 29th. But, you can pre-order now, and using the the Amazon link below will lock it up for you and have it there by release day (And also helps me out, as I earn from being an Associate as I’m now supposed to tell you every time I post that link. FUN!).
Stuber, by definition, should not have been the failure it ended up being theatrically. The film has all the elements of a classic summer blockbuster — fights, gunfire, humor and an engaging overall story that isn’t hard to follow or boring. The pace is pitch perfect for multiple viewings at the theater too! But then, it just didn’t happen. As I sit baffled trying to ponder what might have been, take a moment to read on about the film below, which graced 4K fans with a great disc earlier this month.
Well, we are now almost solid year into Scream Factory giving us a regular dose of classic Hammer Horror films on Blu-ray for the first time (Some the second) in the United States. And I have to say, its been quite a valiant effort. Next up this month of October, more of the more well revered films in the lexicon, The Devil Rides Out (Or as the title card says when you select the standard Play Movie option, “The Devil’s Bride”). This one has the hallmarks of Terrence Fisher and Christopher Lee attached to it as well as Dennis Wheatley. Previous released on a UK Studio Canal Blu-ray (That transfer is offered as a bonus feature here), it carries over those bonus features as well as adding some unique to this release. Its not a Collector’s Edition, but honestly its just as impressive and better than some of those. You can have this one in your Collection by ordering it from the Shout! Factory website or by using the Amazon link at the bottom of this page.
Many US collectors missed the boat on Chuck Russell’s 1988 remake of The Blob. Twilight Time’s limited sales model wound up being a pretty solid success for them and that means it was largely unavailable. Umbrella released a nice (And better than Twilight Time’s) version in Australia that those who don’t fear importing have probably owned for years. Now, more excitement for this classic as Scream Factory takes a swing at it. But before anyone could wonder what another version would entail, the eye-opening laundry list of new interviews and extras were unveiled and this release immediately got our attention (Well, done Reverend Entertainment!). This exciting release is coming in JUST in time for Halloween on October 29th. Make sure you pre-order yourself a copy from Scream Factory’s website or the Amazon link below to ensure you’re able to have it in your clutches to watch on Halloween night this year.
Back in September of 2011 we did an experiment here on the site.
Sam Liu and Justin Copeland bring Wonder Woman to the animated side of the DC Universe in her very own Bloodlines. The film is deftly animated, paced quickly and the voice acting is stellar. But is that enough to make it a DC Cartoon classic? Read on below about Wonder Woman: Bloodlines which is available on 10/22!
Scream Factory has landed themselves one of the most fabled, popular and well revered horror movies of the 1980s in Richard Donner’s The Omen. Not only the original film, but the sequels, television sequel (Never before released on Blu-ray) and that remake starring Liev Schreiber from the director of A Good Day To Die Hard (Just when I had forgotten its existence). There has been a pretty nicely budget set of the theatrically release films on Blu-ray for a while now, but Scream Factory has given it an extensive upgrade in all facets, including packaging, new interviews, lossless mono tracks and a 4K scan of the original film. Series fans and horror collectors should be please with what they are offering, which can be had on October 15th.
The Haunting of Hill House was another one of those Netflix shows where I heard from word of mouth that you should be binging this. And binge that we did! However, unlike say a Stranger Things for example, The Haunting of Hill House is a slow burn. So instead of taking all the episodes in within one 24-hour period like we did with Stranger Things it took about a week to get through this one. That’s not to say it’s not as good as Stranger Things, but instead Hill House takes a lot more dedication and attention because of its intertwining timelines. Therefore, it took a little bit longer to get through. Much like the positive buzz I heard prior to watching all I can do is smirk when I think how well done the horror drama The Haunting of Hill House was. Very rarely do we also get Netflix releases on the Blu-ray format so it’s with great honor that I tackle this October 15th Paramount title for y’all. Here goes nothing. 
Crawl has all the makings of a B-grade disaster thriller – ominous weather, a main character who doesn’t listen to authority, impending death. It’s all there in a neat little package. This is a package perfectly wrapped for the audience that doesn’t need deep insight, backstory or terribly emotional acting. This may all sound like a dig and sharp criticism but in truth, these are complimentary truths, highlighted because those were some of the very good things about the film. Check out the in-depth review below for more on this monster/disaster mashup!
Ari Aster wound up making one of my 10 favorite films of the year last summer. This summer he’s back and he’s on course to repeat and claim an annual spot on my list. Midsommar is a step even further and one that surely weirded some people out. It’s not for everyone, but it definitely was for me. The film wound up with good reviews, nice buzz and wound up being a success at the box office. So, imagine the disappointment when the film was announced and wasn’t receiving a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release from Lionsgate. The company that gave Snitch and The Lincoln Lawyer and is giving box office disappointment Anna a 4K release. Midsommar features such as gorgeous photography (Best of the year maybe) that would have looked incredible on the format. Oh and that director’s cut we’ve heard about; iTunes exclusive. Talk about some bullshit. Yes, I’m bitter. But I’ll be happy to own this great film any way I can. You can order your copy to have when it arrives on October 8th.
Woody, Buzz, Jesse and the rest of Bonnie’s toys are back and ready to reacquaint with old friend Bo Peep and find help from newbie daredevil Duke Kaboom! Toy Story made its fourth outing in cinemas a big deal, cracking the billion-dollar mark worldwide. Surprisingly, just usurping Aladdin but still falling well behind The Lion King in the fight to be Disney’s 2nd place movie behind Avengers: Endgame. The film will be arriving on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on October 8, with all-new bonus features and some digital exclusives. Disney had previously issued new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray editions of the original three films earlier in the summer, so this fourth one will sit neatly next to those in your collection. Once the pre-order link goes active you can order from it below.
Following last year’s well-received and highly lauded debut of the first Stanley Kubrick film on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with 2001: A Space Odyssey, Warner Bros is returning to the well (Or hotel) for more. Coming this year will be probably the next likely choice in his adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining. Largely looked upon as one of the crowning achievements of not only Kubrick’s career but the entire horror genre, it is getting a brand new 4K transfer and I’m sure is going to look stunning on the format (Keep on reading to find out). Unfortunately, no new extras have been commissioned for this release. BUT, as I’ve become accustomed to, the important thing is just getting the film itself upgraded. And in all honesty, the DVD and Blu-ray formats have already put out much of what we would want already in these films for bonus features (Though, I don’t think a couple more on The Shining would hurt, wink wink). You can return to the Overlook on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on October 1st.
The incredible success Steven Spielberg had in the late 70s and 80s was in a word: unprecedented. Only his pal George Lucas could claim similar blockbuster status in the same era. Beyond Spielberg’s great achievements in directing, he also had a knack for spotting budding talent to take on more ideas that would feel “Spielbergian.” After the release of the biggest domestic film of all time, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Spielberg produced many 80s hits like Poltergeist, Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Smack dab in the middle of the Reagan era is Joe Dante’s 1984 horror-comedy hybrid Gremlins. Fans of the tiny creatures that ought never to be fed at night can scream, “Bright light!” as they should order this new 4K package set for release on October 1. As someone old enough to have seen this on the big screen, I can attest this is the best Gizmo’s adventure has ever looked. But first, the film itself….
