Home Market Releases for October 23rd, 2018
October 24, 2018
It is a slow week on the home market, as Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! is the only first run release. There are several horror films that are selling well enough to be worth talking about, but that is all. As far as the best of the best are concerned, the two I’m most interested in and I put in requests for screeners for both are BlacKkKlansman and Incredibles 2, but they are only coming out on VOD this week. I don’t like handing out Pick of the Week titles to VOD releases, so the real race is between The Americans: The Complete Final Season and Made In Abyss: Season One. Both are worth picking up, but I think there will be a full series Megaset for The Americans, so I’m giving the title to Made In Abyss.
The Americans: The Complete Final Season - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Community: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Creepshow: Collector's Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
This Blu-ray doesn’t come out till the 30th, but I had no other films to review this week, so I was able to get to the review early.
Dragnet: Collector’s Edition - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
The Evil Dead - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
I Think We’re Alone Now - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Made In Abyss - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, or 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Maximum Overdrive - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Night of the Demons: Limited Edition Steelbook - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Night of the Living Dead - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Scorpion King: Book of Souls - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
Sorry to Bother You - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Twilight - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
The Unnamable - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Christmas Releases - Buy from Amazon:
Christmas Connection - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Blu-ray Releases - Buy from Amazon:
4K Ultra HD Releases - Buy from Amazon:
TV on DVD Megasets - Buy from Amazon:
Video on Demand - Buy from Amazon:
Video on Demand
The sixth and final season of this award-winning show comes out on DVD this week. It ended on a really high note and fans of the show will absolutely want to complete their collections. The show hasn’t has good extras for the past few seasons and that hurts its overall value, but it is a slow week and this is still a Pick of the Week contender.
Celebrating Mickey - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray Combo Pack
Part of the 90th anniversary celebration of Mickey Mouse, this is the first time there’s been a collection of Mickey Mouse shorts released to Blu-ray. ... I really hope they re-release the Treasures chronological collection as well.
The Blu-ray is supposed to come out last week, but the release date was changed to the 23rd at the last minute.
A horror anthology movie written by Stephen King some based on previous short stories, others written specifically for this movie. The reviews are good, but not great. That said, it is widely considered a cult classic and the Collector's Edition is just loaded with extras. These extras include a couple of audio commentary tracks, several interviews, a look at the restoration, etc. If you are a fan of the genre, it is worth picking up, but it is not quite a Pick of the Week contender.
This film earned mixed reviews, but its inflation adjusted box office is significantly more than $100 million. Were the original critics correct? Or did audiences get it right? Read our review to find out.
The second of six horror films getting a release to take advantage of Halloween. The reviews were barely above the overall positive level and most fans of the genre will want to stick with the original.
Video on Demand
Peter Dinklage stars as a social loner who becomes the lone survivor of the apocalypse. He actually does quite well, since he was always a loner. However, his life changes when another survivor shows up. The reviews are good, but not great. Additionally, the lack of extras hurt it is overall value. Call it a solid rental, leaning towards a purchase, if you like the cast.
This Anime series takes place in a world where a giant abyss filled with dangers and priceless relics has lured many adventurers over the years. None know what is at the bottom of the abyss, because none who have gone too deep have ever returned. Riko is the 12-year old daughter of one of those missing adventurers, whose dream is to follow in her mother’s footsteps. While exploring the Abyss, she discovers a robot, which she names Reg. He’s so technologically advanced that he must have come from deep in the Abyss and the pair go deeper to discover his origins. This is one of the best-reviewed Anime titles of the past few years. The extras are much better than most Anime titles with making of featurettes, interviews, a featurette on the music and more. There’s also a Collector’s Edition that includes a ton of physical extras, but it also costs $90 more than the regular edition. It is clearly a Pick of the Week contender, but the Collector’s Edition is only for hardcore fans.
Video on Demand
This film earned excellent reviews, but failed to live up to its predecessor at the box office. On the other hand, it did push the franchise worldwide total past $1 billion. There are lots of extras, including a sing-along edition. Also coming out this week is a Franchise Collection. If you are a fan of the franchise, it is a must have.
Stephen King has written dozens of novels / short stories that were adapted into movies. However, this is the first time he has directed an adaptation. It didn’t go well and Stephen King called it a learning experience. Hopefully one of the things he learned was not to direct a movie while high on cocaine. While the film earned awful reviews when it first came out, it has since developed a cult following and the special edition Blu-ray is selling really well. If you are a fan of the movie, there are plenty of extras on the Blu-ray and it is easily worth picking up. If you’ve never seen it before, but are a fan of campy horror comedy, then give it a rental.
A group of teens have a Halloween party at an abandoned funeral home that was once the home to a serial killer. When they hold a séance, they unleash a group of demons. It’s a simple setup and the film delivers what you would expect for a 1980s horror film. There are lots of extras on the Blu-ray, including two audio commentary tracks, making of featurette, interviews, and more. If you are a fan of the genre, then it is worth picking up.
This is the 1990 version and not the 1968 classic. It isn’t as good as the original, but it is still pretty good.
Video on Demand
The latest installment in the Scorpion King franchise hits the home market. You can also buy the 5-film box set. There have been five films in this franchise and only one them has five or more reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Video on Demand
This film earned great reviews, but it is such a bizarre movie I really need to see it to give an informed opinion. I did put in a request for a screener, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Hopefully it will get here soon.
This first film in the Twilight franchise hits 4K this week. Also coming out this week are the other four Twilight films, but they are only getting extended edition Blu-rays and not 4K releases.
A horror film based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. I put in a request for a screener, but it is late. There are very few Lovecraft movies that have earned good reviews and this film as no reviews. I’m cautiously optimistic that this will be better than average and at least worth a rental.
Christmas Connection - No Reviews - Video on Demand
A Frozen Christmas Carol - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Ultimate Edition - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray Combo Pack
A Nashville Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Once Upon a Holiday - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Once Upon a Holiday - Reviews - Video on Demand
A Very Merry Christmas / Four Christmases and a Wedding - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Wrapped Up in Christmas / Snowed-Inn Christmas - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The TV special version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Ultimate Edition is the only Christmas release this week that I’m even remotely interested in.
3 Dead Trick Or Treaters - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
91 Days: The Complete Series - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Age of Consent / Cactus Flower - Reviews / Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Blood And Black Lace - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Cross Of Iron - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Deadbeat at Dawn - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Distant Voices, Still Lives - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
High Heels and Low Lifes - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Lust-Struck Trilogy - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Patient Zero - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Prehysteria - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Sisters: The Criterion Collection - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Trauma - No Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
I am Vengeance - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
You Never Know Women - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
It’s the 30th anniversary of Distant Voices, Still Lives and it is arguably the best secondary Blu-ray release.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Twilight - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
There are only two 4K releases this week and neither of them are worth picking up. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! doesn’t need to be seen in 4K to be enjoyed and I would wait for a Twilight franchise box set.
Community - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Seinfeld: Limited Festivus Celebration Edition w/ Party Pack - Reviews - Buy from Amazon: DVD
Festivus for the rest of us. I like the idea, but I’m not sure it’s worth the $120 for the box set.
Around the Bay - Reviews - Video on Demand
BlacKkKlansman - Reviews - Video on Demand
Circumstances - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Conny Plank: The Potential of Noise - Reviews - Video on Demand
Incredibles 2 - Reviews - Video on Demand (Movie Only) or Video on Demand (With Bonuses)
Lambo - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Yes, Chef! - No Reviews - Video on Demand
I put in requests for screeners for both BlacKkKlansman and Incredibles 2 and they both look amazing.
Filed under: DVD and Blu-ray Releases, Home Market Releases, Incredibles 2, Distant Voices, Still Lives, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, BlacKkKlansman, Sorry to Bother You, Patient Zero, I Think We’re Alone Now, I am Vengeance, Yes, Chef!, Once Upon a Holiday, The Unnamable, Prehysteria!, Christmas Connection, Scorpion King: Book of Souls, Trauma, Conny Plank: The Potential of Noise, Around the Bay, Circumstances, Lambo, Twilight, Scorpion King, Mamma Mia, Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning, Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft