Archive for the 'Radiance Films' Category
June 4th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
A director with a dark sensibility comparable to Chabrol, Claude Miller made these two twisty Polars (French Police-Noir films) with Michel Serrault (Kill the Referee), showcasing the actor in stunning performances alongside stars including Lino Ventura (Army of Shadows) and Isabelle Adjani (Possession, The Story of Adele H). In The Inquisitor cops Gallien (Ventura) and Belmont (Guy Marchand) interrogate Martinaud (Serrault), a wealthy lawyer, for the rape and murder of two young girls. The investigation becomes further complicated when his wife (Romy Schneider, Le combat dans l’ile) gives her statement… A gripping thriller with intense performances, The Inquisitor was a critical and commercial success on release, nominated for 8 César Awards, winning Best Screenplay and acting prizes for Serrault and Marchand. Serrault returns in Deadly Circuit as a P.I. who becomes obsessed with the target of his investigation, a murderer (Adjani) who he follows across Europe as she moves from one victim to another. Switching gears to pitch black humour this wild crime film features both leads on top form alongside a stunning supporting cast including Stephane Audran (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie), Macha Méril (Deep Red), Sami Frey (Bande à part), and Jean-Claude Brialy (The Bride Wore Black) among others. Continue reading ‘The Inquisitor on 4K UHD Blu-ray August 18!’
June 4th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
On the eve of the Third Italian War of Independence, Countess Livia Serpieri (Alida Valli, The Third Man) anxiously conspires to make revolution happen. Following a chance encounter at the opera, she begins an affair with Franz Mahler (Farley Granger, Rope), a charismatic Lieutenant in the occupying Austrian army who sent her rebellious cousin Marchese Roberto Ussoni (Massimo Girotti, Ossessione) into exile. As her feelings for Franz intensify, Livia’s moral compass waivers. Based on Camillo Boito’s novella, Alida Valli and Farley Granger shine in this masterful period melodrama about lust and deception. Senso is widely regarded as among director Luchino Visconti’s best work and was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 15th Venice International Film Festival. Continue reading ‘Senso on Blu-ray August 18!’
June 4th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Jan (Franciszek Trzeciak) and Maria (Anna Nieborowska) become a couple in 1930s Kraków. Jan tries to get a job as an architect but fails. They struggle with poverty and extreme humiliation. Their attempt to survive leads to a desperate crime. Remarkably filmed with precise close-ups and fragmented sound design creating a sense of unnerving dissonance, Through and Through was enthusiastically received on release and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it was compared to Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Radiance Films is proud to present Grzegorz Królikiewicz’s film on Blu-ray for the first time in the world. Continue reading ‘Through and Through on Blu-ray August 18!’
June 4th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Three more spectacular tales of ninja action in this continuation of the hugely influential series. This time, Raizo Ichikawa (Shinobi 1-3) stars as Mist Saizo, a ninja with a grudge who won’t rest until he has assassinated the supreme leader, the Tokugawa shogun. directed by three of the Daiei Studio’s top period action specialists, these films feature epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling ninja fights. In Siege, Raizo Ichikawa is Mist Saizo, the legendary folk hero and Iga ninja. Working in the service of warlord Yukimura Sanada (Tomisaburo Wakayama), he plots to assassinate Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, but finds himself facing the might of the nation’s supreme ruler. In Return of Mist Saizo, our black-clad hero continues his mission to avenge his master, even after Ieyasu has abdicated from the throne. Told as one continuous story, these two films weave their ninja action in and out of Japanese martial history, featuring epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling fight scenes. In part 6, Mist Saizo’s son Saisuke takes over his father’s name and mission. He is recruited by a rebellious warlord to assist a plot to overthrow the government, but the Shogun hires a rival ninja clan to thwart the uprising. Meanwhile, other forces are also at play. Directed by Kazuo Mori (Shinobi 3: Resurrection, Zatoichi at Large), this film pits ninja against ninja, including a breathtaking rooftop battle scene that is one of the highlights of the entire Shinobi series. Continue reading ‘Shinobi: Vol 2 on Blu-ray August 18!’
May 26th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Some films whisper. The Themroc Blu-ray snarls. This 1973 oddity from French director Claude Faraldo trades dialogue for guttural grunts and middle fingers, ditching logic for raw provocation. It’s the kind of movie that will either hypnotize or repel — and sometimes both at once. Radiance Films has given it the kind of treatment usually reserved for revered classics. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about its cult status, this Blu-ray edition demands attention.
Continue reading ‘Themroc (Blu-ray Review)’
May 25th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
The French underworld doesn’t get much colder than this. In Choice of Arms (1981), director Alain Corneau trades in the sweaty breakdowns of Serie Noire and the twisting tension of Police Python 357 for something more simmering — almost stately. Starring a trio of legends — Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu, and Catherine Deneuve — this is a gangster film that’s more about regret than revenge, more psychological standoff than shootout. Presented in HD as the final entry in Radiance Films’ Hardboiled: Three Pulp Thrillers by Alain Corneau Blu-ray box set, Choice of Arms arrives looking crisp, cool, and confidently restrained. It’s a slow burn that may not hit as hard as its companions, but it leaves a bruise all the same. Continue reading ‘Hardboiled: Choice of Arms (Blu-ray Review)’
May 25th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Step into a squalid Parisian suburb where desperation sweats through cheap polyester, and every neon flicker spells doom. Serie Noire (1979) isn’t just noir — it’s scorched earth cinema. Patrick Dewaere practically disintegrates on screen as Frank Poupart, a door-to-door hustler unraveling in a world with no escape hatch. Directed by Alain Corneau and adapted from Jim Thompson’s A Hell of a Woman, this film is a fever dream of exploitation, existential dread, and twisted romance. With Radiance Films bringing Serie Noire to Blu-ray as part of their Hardboiled: Three Pulp Thrillers by Alain Corneau box set, the question is: how does this murky descent look and sound in HD? Let’s dig into why this Serie Noire Blu-ray release might be one of the grimiest treasures on your shelf. Continue reading ‘Hardboiled: Serie Noire (Blu-ray Review)’
May 25th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Step into the smoky, paranoia-drenched alleys of late-1970s France — Police Python 357 grabs you by the collar and drags you deep into a tangled web of obsession and betrayal. The new Police Python 357 Blu-ray from Radiance Films isn’t just a fresh coat of paint on a cult classic; it’s a presentation that makes every shadow crawl and every whisper count. This isn’t a mere relic — it’s a pulse-pounding trip into the noir heart of French cinema. Police Python 357 is featured in the Hardboiled: Three Pulp Thrillers by Alain Corneau box set, sitting alongside two more razor-sharp crime gems.
Continue reading ‘Hardboiled: Police Python 357 (Blu-ray Review)’
May 20th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Radiance Films’ Girl with a Suitcase Blu-ray brings Valerio Zurlini’s classic 1961 romance to home video in a beautifully restored edition from Radiance Films. If you’ve been waiting to see Claudia Cardinale shine in high definition, this Blu-ray release delivers with crisp visuals and newly translated English subtitles. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Italian cinema or discovering Girl with a Suitcase for the first time, this release stands out for its thoughtful restoration and collectible packaging. With region coding friendly to A, B, and C, and an international audience in mind, this disc is a perfect import for film lovers building a world-class collection. Continue reading ‘Girl with a Suitcase (Blu-ray Review)’
May 18th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our Hokuriku Proxy War Blu-ray review dives into one of the most explosive yakuza films of the 1970s, now available in a sharp new Region A & B edition from Radiance Films. This 1977 Japanese crime classic arrives on Blu-ray with a strong HD transfer sourced from a 4K restoration, crisp English subtitles, and all the gritty style you’d expect from director Kinji Fukasaku. Whether you’re in the US, UK, or collecting worldwide, this Radiance Films disc is a no-brainer for fans of gangster epics, violent power struggles, or anyone searching for a deep cut in Japanese cinema. Continue reading ‘Hokuriku Proxy War (Blu-ray Review)’
May 18th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Rapacious Jailbreaker Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the wildest Japanese crime films from the 1970s, now getting a fresh Blu-ray release from Radiance Films. Starring Hiroki Matsukata as a relentless escape artist, this pulpy true-crime story throws you straight into the chaos of postwar Japan. The new Region A & B disc brings crisp picture and sound, making it a must for collectors of Japanese genre cinema or anyone who loves a good jailbreak flick.
Continue reading ‘The Rapacious Jailbreaker (Blu-ray Review)’
May 13th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness Blu-ray review covers one of the strangest and most unexpected thrillers to come out of 1970s Japan. This 1977 genre-bender blends sports, scandal, and psychological breakdowns into something that feels both pulpy and unsettling. Radiance Films brings it to Blu-ray for the first time in English-friendly territory with a Region A & B disc, a new HD transfer, and excellent packaging. For collectors of Japanese cult cinema and fans of deep-cut imports, this release finally gives the film a proper spotlight.
Continue reading ‘A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness (Blu-ray Review)’
May 13th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Underworld Beauty Blu-ray review kicks off with Seijun Suzuki’s stylish 1958 noir, now available in a new transfer from Radiance Films that brings this cult classic to Region A & B audiences. Region A & B compatible, this disc makes it easier than ever to experience one of Suzuki’s earliest directorial efforts. Shot in crisp black and white CinemaScope, Underworld Beauty blends crime, pulp, and a dash of sex appeal into a lean, 87-minute thrill ride. It’s not as wild as his later films, but the style is already there — and it pops beautifully on this new Blu-ray edition.
Continue reading ‘Underworld Beauty (Blu-ray Review)’
May 11th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our Weak Spot Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the more obscure political thrillers to resurface on disc, this time from the darker corners of 1970s European cinema. Directed by Peter Fleischmann and starring Michel Piccoli, the 1975 film La Faille is slow-burning, unsettling, and soaked in paranoia. It’s the kind of movie that quietly gets under your skin — not with flashy action or big twists, but with mood, menace, and unease. Radiance Films brings it back into circulation with a new transfer and an edition that finally gives this hidden gem some room to breathe. For fans of political thrillers or slow-burn dramas, this Weak Spot Blu-ray Review highlights why the film is worth rediscovering in high definition. Continue reading ‘Weak Spot (Blu-ray Review)’
May 8th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Shōhei Imamura’s The Eel arrives on Blu-ray in a stellar special edition from Radiance Films, giving fans the definitive home video release of this Palme d’Or-winning gem. If you’ve never seen The Eel (1997), this is the perfect way to experience Imamura’s meditative and offbeat drama in its full context — complete with both the original theatrical cut and the extended director’s cut. The Eel Blu-ray is a must for collectors of Japanese cinema, especially those who appreciate the intersection of human strangeness, personal redemption, and the quietly surreal. Continue reading ‘The Eel (Blu-ray Review)’
May 8th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Cat Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the coolest crime thrillers to come out of 1980s Germany. Directed by Dominik Graf, this slick little heist film blends moody atmosphere, tight suspense, and sharp performances in a way that still feels fresh. Radiance Films gives The Cat a proper Blu-ray debut with a new HD restoration, English subtitles, and a nice batch of extras that dig into its legacy. If you’re into slow-burn tension, stylish criminals, and old-school analog grit, this one’s definitely worth checking out. Continue reading ‘The Cat (Blu-ray Review)’
May 4th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Deeply scarred by what he witnessed on battlefields across Asia, a young war photographer (Yusaku Matsuda, Yokohama BJ Blues) returns to the bustling streets of Tokyo, plotting a series of brutal murders and robberies that are mere warmups for an unprecedented bank heist. Searching for an accomplice, he finds the short-fused and equally disenfranchised Tetsuo (Takeshi Kaga, Death Note). Directed by Toru Murakawa (The Game Trilogy) from a venomous script by Shoichi Maruyama (Yokohama BJ Blues), this unsettling dark thriller was Yusaku Matsuda’s farewell to his 1970s action hero persona. The Beast to Die is released on Blu-ray July 21, 2025! Continue reading ‘The Beast to Die is released on Blu-ray July 21!’
May 4th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Polish animation, influenced by jazz, poster design and collage, took off in the late 1950s when artists found creative freedom in the wake of Stalin’s death. Pioneering filmmakers like Walerian Borowczyk and Jan Lenica would change the form and usher in a golden age of filmmaking that would enable this art form to be appreciated around the world including winning prestigious international awards at festivals such as Cannes, Annecy, Oberhausen and an Oscar for Rybczyński’s Tango. This collection of 27 films spans the breakthrough works of the late 1950s to the close of the classic era in the 1980s, capturing some of the form’s essential films. Essential Polish Animation is released on Blu-ray in the UK July 21, 2025! Continue reading ‘Essential Polish Animation is released on Blu-ray July 21!’
