Superhost (Blu-ray Review)
February 6th, 2022 by Gerard Iribe
In SUPERHOST, Teddy and Claire are travel vloggers who run a channel called “SUPERHOST” where they travel and share their experiences in and around vacation homes, and until recently, had become successful doing it. With a dwindling subscriber count, they find the perfect opportunity to create content that people want to see when they meet Rebecca, the host of their most recent trip. Slowly they start to realize that something isn’t right with Rebecca, and as they investigate it further, they unlock a horrifying truth. She doesn’t just want a great review, she wants something far worse. Superhost is now available on Blu-ray! Continue reading ‘Superhost (Blu-ray Review)’
The MCU has spent 2021 back in full swing, releasing four films…well…considering end credits scenes, do we count Venom: Let There Be Carnage as five? One of the more anticipated and mysterious films of the bunch was Eternals. The film promised a more complete filmmaker vision from that of Academy Award winner Chloe Zhao to go along with a bunch of character that, lets be honest, nobody really knew who they are. The film didn’t grab your typical Marvel fare by garnering mixed reviews and underwhelming box office. Nonetheless, being different will certainly do that to some films and it appears Marvel is no exception. Its already been on Disney+, but you’ll be able to add it to your home video collection when it arrives on February 15th (Sorry Valentine’s Day gifts). You can order the film by using the paid Amazon Associates link below.
Disney’s latest animated effort, Encanto, has been available in homes since December 24th on Disney+, but physcial ownership is just now around the corner. On February 8th, they’ll be releasing their latest animated musical on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with a nice host of extras and Atmos surround. While box office numbers weren’t up to snuff with what they may have liked, the legacy of the film surely will carry with its popularity readily apparent if you check social media or talk to any parent. It’ll come with a digital copy to give you more options that Disney plus in the streaming land. You can order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review. Remember to tell them Bruno sent you. Or wait. On second thought, we don’t talk about Bruno. Tell them Brandon sent you.
One of 2021’s most interesting additions to film came from the past, in the form of Peter Jackson’s ambitious undertaking of putting together all of The Beatles’ footage from the sessions of what would later become the film and album Let It Be. Originally to be a theatrical film released, it wound up being a Thanksgiving weekend streaming release on Disney+ in a 3 part docu-series (I still say its a film). Now its offering the opportunity of ownership for those that collect and want the true comfort of ownership for this piece of history. Releasing on February 8th in a collectible packaging with some cards on standard Blu-ray, that’s your opportunity. Its 3 discs with no bonus features, but the film itself is honestly like a 6 hour bonus feature itself. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
Back in 2016, Universal pleased us Hammer Horror fans with the 8-Film Collection set. Beggars could not be choosers in that time. So an incorrect aspect ratio, “good enough” picture quality and no extras had to just be accepted. In 2022, Scream Factory will have completed a full-on revamp of that entire set with Collector’s Editions of every single film. Significant improvements in every aspect have made these such wonderful releases and easy to double dip on and buy as individual titles. This year starts of the three remaining with the Oliver Reed starring Paranoiac. It includes a new transfer and some new interviews and commentary track. The release date is February 8th and you can pre-order it now using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review. Still to come are Nightmare in March and Night Creatures in April.
Stage Fright marks an exciting time in the catalog of Alfred Hitchcock on Blu-ray. The debut of it on Blu-ray means that realistically, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is the only film remaining to be released on Blu-ray. At the very least, its the last of his American output and the last that Warner has in their vault to transfer over to Blu-ray. A few years ago, it seemed like they were rolling out the remainder of his films they carried distribution rights to, but they stopped shy of Stage Fright and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Well, half that is taken care of now as Stage Fright will make its Blu-ray debut on January 25th. Included with the films new 4K transfer is a featurette looking at the making of the film and the original theatrical trailer. Surely, an exciting release for any Hitchock fan. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
Celebrating 30 years in 2022 is the directorial debut of Ernest R. Dickerson, Juice. The film also gave us the break outs of Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps while boasting a killer soundtrack and gut punching coming of age story that found itself among a pack of films covering similar territory in the early 90s. Paramount is celebrating this milestone with the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray debut of the film. Released on January 11, this new release carries over everything from the 25th anniversary and displays the film’s 4K transfer proper. No Blu-ray disc comes with it but a redeemable digital code is included. You can order yourself a copy of Juice – 30th Anniversary Edition by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Pandemic and simultaneous with streaming platform (Peacock) release be damned, Michael Myers still proved to be a killer shark at the box office this past fall. Despite a vocal minority seemingly perplexed by the film, it still waged on and almost made $100 million domestically at the box office, proving to be the second highest grossing film in the 12 entries and counting, 44 year old slasher series. It has arrived on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, released on January 11th, with an extended cut of the film that features an alternate ending. Unlike its predecessor, there are a lot more featurettes and the like on this disc. Also setting it apart, it has a Dolby Atmos track to fill out your room and ceiling. You can order yourself a copy of this divisive Michael Myers terrorizes Haddonfield Halloween movie by using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
Cleaning house with Why So Blu’s 2021 Top Ten lists, Dune might just be the one film we all strongly agreed on here at the site. And we are not alone in our love for one of the most impressive spectacles of the theater-going experience in the last year. Spoiling my review ahead, it absolutely winds up translating here to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray which is another bit of Denis Villeneuve’s impressive talents, whether it be his preference to how people view the film or not (Which, I argue most of these “MUST BE SEEN IN THE THEATER TYPES” strictly are meaning for your first time and if that’s the best available offering). You can now own the film on the current best way to view it, 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, having released on January 11th. It comes with a quaking Atmos tracks and some solid extras to fill out the experience. If you so please and haven’t done so yet, you can order Dune using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
For a few years now, Scream Factory has become the premiere spot for cranking out the Hammer Horror catalog onto Blu-ay. Long releasing at miniscule efforts, since they’ve stepped in, both the quantity and quality of what is coming from the history of one of horror’s most legendary studios has been a relief and a joy to collect. Its even inspired other smaller distributors and studios to up their game, seeing as (duh) its a brand and catalog collector’s are wanting. Though much prior to this, and during their first year of existence, The Vampire Lovers (correct me if I’m wrong) was the first Hammer title put out by the distributor. They are now revisiting it with not only brand new featurettes and a commentary, but a 4K scan of the original negative to boot. Having done Lust for a Vampire in a Collector’s Edition recently, this now has 2/3 of the Karnstein trilogy under the Scream Factory banner. This title released on December 21st and you can order it using the paid Amazon Associates link below. 
While the tentpoles and franchises are our given multimedia events of every filmgoing year, Wes Anderson is certainly one for the indies or cinephile market. For myself, he’s a clear my schedule and get to his latest film immediately kind of director. And in 2021, it felt like I was loaded with directors fitting that bill. The French Dispatch was a film delayed from last year, though proved well worth the wait. It came out in the very fabled and totally loaded month of October and seemed to not do his typically gangbusters per theater numbers. Perhaps his is of the audience not quite comfortable returning to the big screens yet. Nonetheless, its now on home video to check out as the Blu-ray was released on December 28th. Unfortunately there is jack squat in terms of bonus features, though the movie IS strong enough to warrant purchase on its own. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link below.
The Wolf of Wall Street for me needs no introduction.
This year has been a very interesting one for the film world. Some movies were sent straight into the home. Some had hybrid releases. Some came and went without so much as a peep. Copshop is one of the latter variety. The film came and went with little to no fanfare from its distributor Universal and even makes its debut on Blu-ray quietly tomorrow (12/7/21) with not much going for it publicity wise. I wonder if the filmmakers knew something we didn’t or if they were hoping audiences would find a diamond in the rough. Read on for my thoughts below and be sure to click the paid link at the bottom to get yourself a copy of Copshop.
