Home Again – October’s Blu-Ray Releases

Welcome to Home Again, where each and every Tuesday I’ll be running down some of the best genre releases coming to home media.

All info is from the excellent Blu-ray.com. This isn’t every genre release, just the ones I find interesting. For the full list, follow that link.

It’s that time of year, Phantomaniacs – when all of the big companies get in on the spooky act that our favorites like Shout Factory and Arrow maintain all year long! Halloweeny Blu-rays and 4Ks should be coming out a  furious pace for the next few weeks, so be sure to check in every single Tuesday to see what’s coming!

10/22

The Lion King (2019) – Disney/Buena Vista – I’m a little bit mad at myself for missing this in theaters. Me and Phantom, Jr. were both pretty excited about it, but as I’ve said many times this year, scheduling just didn’t work out. Fortunately, the circle of media life means it’s on 4K now.

Favreau is awesome, the voice cast is impressive, and word of mouth seemed good from what I could tell. I don’t know that this is a sight-unseen buy for us, but we will absolutely be watching it ASAP.

Naturally it’s available as 4K/Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD, a Best Buy Steelbook, and a Target DigiBook. Walmart gets nothing special because it deserves nothing.

Parasite 3D (1982) – Kino Lorber – This weeks’ first spooky title is a HUMDINGER!

Directed by the one and only Charles Band and starring Luca Bercovici (director of Ghoulies and Rockula), Cherie Currie (from the rock band the Runaways), and Demi Moore (you know Demi Moore), Parasite takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where an elite upper class exploit the pathetic dregs of society. Imagine that.

The titular parasite is a genetically engineered creature designed to keep the unruly masses in line. Fortunately, the good Doctor Paul Dean recognizes the evil of such a thing and steals it by infecting himself! As he flees across the wasteland (not that wasteland), Dr. Dean encounters mercenaries, rednecks, lemon farmers, and all manner of wackiness.

Because there is a God and they are, indeed, good, this set includes both Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D discs!

The Omen Collection (1976-2006) – Shout Factory – These are without a doubt notable, creepy films, but this franchise has never really grabbed me. To be honest, I’m not sure I ever watched the third and fourth entries in the original series. I only watched the remake because I like Julia Stiles and Liev Schreiber.

I’m sure this will be a great set for fans of the series, as Shout Factory always delivers must-have editions of genre films.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) – Warner Bros. – This isn’t the underwhelming 2010 movie that had Guillermo del Toro’s name on it. It’s the underwhelming 1973 TV movie that film was based on.

Charlie’s Angels/Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2000-2003) – Sony Pictures – I don’t care what anyone says, I think these movies are great.

Yeah, they’re corny and goofy and ridiculous and what’s your point?

Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz are clearly having the best time ever in both of these movies When they bring along talent like Bill Murray, Crispin Glover,  Sam Rockwell, Tim Curry, Bernie Mac, and I could go on and on. But really, you either love these or hate them and I’m not gonna change your mind.

This might be an oversight or Sony hasn’t kept their releases current, but it appears that Full Throttle is only getting a Blu-ray update, while the 2000 movie is available as a 4K/Blu-ray and a Best Buy 4K Steelbook.

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines – Warner Bros. – I do not understand why WB is making another Wonder Woman origin story when there are so many tales to tell, but at least it appears to be part of the central DCAMU continuity (or as I call it the “Batman Family” continuity).

The main selling point – aside from the now fourteen film continuity and reliable animation – is Rosario Dawson reprising her role as Wonder Woman. She’s amazing at literally everything and should be voted queen of the world.

Worth noting are Michael Dorn as Ferdinand the Minotaur (seriously), Cree Summer as Hippolyta and Medusa, and Jeffrey Donovan as Steve Trevor. Because voiceover booths aren’t as sweaty as Miami.

This is available as 4K/Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD, a Target Steelbook, and a Best Buy exclusive with one of those little unarticulated figures. If the figure was actually Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman I’d buy it.

Trilogy of Terror II (1996) – Kino Lorber – There’s a second Trilogy of Terror?
I’m sure I knew this, but I wasn’t necessarily aware of it, if you know what I mean. If you’re over forty, you probably do.

That’s all I got. Somebody leave a comment and tell me about this thing.

Woman Chasing Butterfly of Death (1978) – Mondo Macabro – Welp:

A dour student, Young-gul, crosses paths with an elderly book salesman obsessed with Hitler and Nietzsche, a two-thousand year-old female corpse, and a mad scientist. Young-gul wants to commit suicide but the book salesman insists the human will even overcome biological death. Young-gul tests this by trying to kill him. Later the corpse comes to life in the hope that Young-gul will impregnate her.

Phobia (1980) – Kino Lorber – This one screams “Saturday afternoon on TBS” to me.

A psychiatrist’s patients start dying in ways related to their phobias. This is the only horror movie John Huston ever directed, which from what I understand is a good thing. The man might have had a talent for adventure and drama, but horror was apparently not his wheelhouse.

Veronica Mars: The Complete First Season (2019) – Warner Bros. – What is this, Doctor Who?

This is the fourth season of Veronica Mars. It’s just the first that debuted on Hulu.

Zoltan: Hound of Dracula (1977) – Kino Lorber – Sometimes it’s a little tough to tell if something is the dumbest thing ever or the greatest thing ever.

This sounds like the Hammer Horror version (though it’s not a Hammer film) of Homeward Bound – Dracula’s dog travels from Romania to America in search of his master’s last descendant.

Crimson Peak (2015) – Arrow – It seems like this movie is strangely forgotten.

Believe it or not we did see this on in the theater and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a gorgeous and haunting film with some surprisingly brutal moments. I don’t know why it isn’t spoken of more, but I’ll be watching it again before the spooky season is over.

The Dead Center (2018) – Arrow – This sounds like a solid thriller. It’s about a suicide victim who wakes up in the hospital very much not dead and the psychiatrist who is trying to help him piece together what happened and what is going on. Supernatural elements and a creepy hospital setting make this sound like a compelling watch.

NOS4A2 Season One (2019) – RLJ Entertainment – For a show about a vampire who drives a haunted car and kidnaps children in order to take them to a Christmas-themed village, this was remarkably dull. We barely made it through the first episode. I try to give things a chance, but when you’ve got that premise and Zachary Freaking Quinto and you can’t hold my attention, you’re doing something wrong.

Satanic Panic (2019) – RLJ Entertainment – A pizza delivery girl’s last delivery might be her last delivery, as she ends up at a house full of no-good Satan worshippers, witches, and demons who want to eat her soul. Or sacrifice her. Or something.

This sounds pretty good and stars Ruby Modine, Jerry O’Connell, Jordan Ladd, Jeff Daniel Phillips, and Rebecca Romijn! I’m not saying those names indicate any sort of quality, but that’s quite a combination of

Other Titles Worth Noting

Bloodline, Tone-Deaf, Strange But True, Double Decker Dong

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