Renfield: Dracula Sucks Edition (Blu-ray Review)
Renfield was a project that sounded interesting and kept getting more and more interesting with casting, production details and then a pretty dynamite little trailer. And for the most part, the film absolutely delivered. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver to enough people, being one of the more high profile unsuccessful films of 2023. Regardless, the Nicolas Cage plays Dracula flick has arrived on Blu-ray (June 6th) and you can either own the delightful little film you saw in the theater or check it out for the first time. It comes equipped with a 7.1 track and a pretty impressive host of extras for a film that bombed. If you’re interested in grabbing it now, don’t hesitate any further and order a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
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Ari Aster’s third film collaboration with A24, Beau Is Afraid arrives on Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital and DVD July 11 from A24 and Lionsgate. Writer and director Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar) creates another unsettling story, starring Academy Award® winner Joaquin Phoenix (2020, Best Actor, Joker), Primetime Emmy® winner Nathan Lane (2022, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, “Only Murders in the Building”), and Primetime Emmy® nominee Patti LuPone (1998, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, “Frasier”). Beau Is Afraid will be available on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital, and DVD.
Generating over a billion dollars around the world, the biggest film of the year arrives home with all-new bonus features in THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE ‘POWER UP EDITION,’ available to own on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on June 13th in the US and Canada, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Boasting an A CinemaScore® and 96% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, the Nintendo and Illumination-produced pop-culture spectacular of the year comes home in a next-level experience, unlocking over 30-minutes of bonus content that is sure to delight all Super Mario Bros. fans – from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
For the first time, My Best Friend Is a Vampire arrives on Blu-ray™ + Digital July 25 from Lionsgate. Featuring the critically acclaimed cast of Robert Sean Leonard (Dead Poets Society), Primetime Emmy® Award winner David Warner (Titanic) and more, this release features brand-new artwork and new special features. My Best Friend Is a Vampire will be available on Blu-ray + Digital. You can pre-order it now using the link below (or right after the jump).
One of the year’s more notable wide releases that didn’t really connect with anyone, yet had an intriguing premise and trailer was that of the Adam Driver-starring 65. This comes from the writing team behind the A Quiet Place movies. This one bombed pretty badly, but no is the time to safely take it in; the comfort of your own home. The film released on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 30th. 65 comes loaded with some featurettes, deleted material and a Dolby Atmos track. You can order yourself a copy of Adam Driver vs Dinos by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
The fast-paced DC Super Hero drama ends its nine-season run as The Flash: The Ninth and Final Season arrives on Blu-rayTM Disc and DVD on August 29, 2023. The action continues through all 13 episodes of the final season along with brand-new bonus content. The season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers. Also available on August 29, is The Flash: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD, which includes 184 episodes from the exhilarating DC series along with hours of bonus content from all nine seasons in one complete set. After defeating the Reverse Flash once and for all, the ninth season of The Flash picks up one week after their epic battle, and Barry Allen aka The Flash and Iris West-Allen are reconnecting and growing closer than ever. When a deadly group of Rogues descend on Central City, led by a powerful and unknown new threat, The Flash and his team including Meta-Empath Cecile Horton, the light-powered meta, Allegra Garcia, brilliant tech-nerd Chester P. Runk and reformed cryogenics thief Mark Blaine, must once again defy the odds to save the day. But as The Rogues are defeated, a deadly new adversary rises to challenge Barry Allen’s heroic legacy. In their greatest battle yet, Barry and Team Flash will be pushed to their limits, to save Central City one last time. 
Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican (Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe; 2000, Best Actor, Gladiator), The Pope’s Exorcist follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.
As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, two iconic classics from the Warner Bros. library – East of Eden and Rio Bravo – will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital July 18. East of Eden, directed by Academy Award winner Elia Kazan and starring James Dean, and Rio Bravo, directed by Honorary Academy Award winner Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray™Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.
One the year’s big surprises was the big time appreciation for Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. While people debate on the how good or worthy House of The Dragon and The Rings Of Power are on television, the original geek fantasy property took to the big screen for a well rounded, singular tale that aimed at a full enjoyment in one sitting. And now, you can own one of the year’s most like films on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. It comes with plenty of featurettes and an Atmos track. It was released on May 30th and you can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of this page. Scroll…or…roll your mouse to find it.
The beloved and best-selling classic that has impacted generations, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. arrives on Digital June 6, On Demand June 27, and on Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital Combo and DVD July 11 from Lionsgate. Abby Ryder Fortson (Ant-Man and the Wasp, Forever My Girl) is joined by a remarkable all-star cast, including Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Mean Girls), Benny Safdie (Licorice Pizza, Good Time), and Kathy Bates (TV’s “American Horror Story,” Misery). Written for the screen and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen), Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. will be available on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Combo, and DVD.
A personal favorite comic book superhero film of mine from the last 15 years is that of David F. Sandberg’s Shazam! It hit a lot of sweet spots for me and was an all around delightful affair. With that movie doing some lighter business, I was grateful we got a sequel. It took some time to get here, but Shazam! Fury of the Gods released this past March to some disappointing numbers. But, as I said, I was happy to have just one more adventure with these heroes. Debuting on Max and 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on May 23rd, the disc is loaded with bonus features, including a half hour of deleted material and a commentary from Sandberg. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
One of the better ongoing franchise IPs for the last 8 years has been the resurgence of Rocky via Creed, which launched in 2016 with Ryan Coogler’s instant classic that garnered Sylvester Stallone his second acting Oscar nomination for the character of Rocky Balboa and continued the rise of Michael B. Jordan as a name above marquee star. The third film in the series, Creed III, saw the directorial debut of Michael B. Jordan. It was a big hit this past March, which was loaded with quality new releases in various franchises. The 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release, complete with two featurettes and deleted scenes, arrived on May 23rd. You can order yourself a copy of it by clicking on the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
On June 20, Avatar fans have double cause for celebration as Avatar: The Way of Water makes its long-awaited debut on 4K 
In CREEPSHOW, masters of the macabre – writer Stephen King and director George A. Romero – conjure up five shocking yarns, each a virtuoso exercise in the ghouls-and-gags style of classic ’50s horror comics. On June 20, 2023, SCREAM FACTORY™ will release CREEPSHOW Collector’s Edition in a 4K UHD™+ Blu-ray™ combo pack. Available for the first time being released in 4K UHD™ format, this highly anticipated release features a new 4K scan (2023) from the original camera negative in Dolby Vision and comes loaded with special bonus content. The collector’s edition includes limited-edition collectible slipcover packaging with original theatrical poster art and contains a reversible art wrap featuring alternative art. Loyal fans and collectors ordering from ShoutFactory.com will receive an exclusive 18×24 roll poster featuring the original theatrical artwork, available while supplies last. 
Jam-packed with epic kung-fu tales from the legendary Hong Kong studio, Shout! Factory is proud to announce Shaw Brothers Classics, Vol. 1. Featuring eleven films from the influential filmmakers never before available on Blu-ray in North America, this deluxe box set will be available June 13, 2023. Fans can pre-order copies by visiting ShoutFactory.com
Scream Factory continues its upgrades of previous Collector’s Edition titles with Wes Craven’s The People Under The Stairs. Here’s hoping maybe some more Craven is coming somewhere down the pipeline. This updated disc will feature a 4K scan of the original camera negative. Extra from the previous edition are ported over as well as the interviews featured on the 2013 Arrow Video Blu-ray of the film. You can pre-order the release, which comes out at the very end of the month on May 30th, by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the end of the review.
An essential piece of the multimedia lore of Superman has been the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons of the 1940s. They’ve been on Blu-ray before, via a more rough and not high quality. The Superman film box set included them, but they were rough SD ports from the DVD set of those film. Warner Bros, in coordination with the 4K Superman set coming out this month, is putting a restored/remastered standalone release of them out on May 16th. Popping on a new featurette, will this be a definitive version of these or will people still wish better could happen. Well, read the review and discover for yourself. And if you feel the need to dive in, go ahead and pre-order a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
