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DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for Oct. 7, 2016

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Wow! It’s another busy week with all kinds of interesting releases both big and small — the highlights are all listed below. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

Big New Releases!

All Through the House - A deranged Santa goes on a killing spree in this low-budget horror feature modeled after slasher flicks from the ’80s. Fifteen years later, St. Nick returns to a sorority in the town he once terrorized and causes more violence and mayhem. This one hasn’t gotten any reviews at all, so you’re on your own if you decide to check it out.

Being Charlie - In this drama from director Rob Reiner (Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, The Bucket List), an 18-year old with substance-abuse problems resists when his family sends him to an adult treatment facility. However, a romantic relationship with a patient there may see him turn a corner. Reviews were not strong.

The Demolisher - An unstable man with a disabled wife begins to crack under pressure in this small and gritty independent action/suspense flick. He soon heads out on the streets and becomes a paranoid and raged-filled vigilante. This little flick actually played quite well at several horror film festivals.

Into the Forest - A power outage leaves two sisters alone at a remote house in the woods. As time passes and conditions worsen, they worry about how widespread the situation is... as well as how to survive without electricity. The majority of the press appreciated this indie effort, complimenting the performances. The movie stars Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie, and Wendy Crewson.

Joshy - This independent comedy follows a sad guy whose engagement has fallen apart. He and his buddies go on their planned bachelor party anyway. This leads to a series of drunken, drug-induced misadventures as the lead attempts to deal with the end of his relationship. Notices were good for this feature as well; some had problems with the final act, but most found the impressive cast engaging and felt the “mumblecore” approach to a lost weekend worked well enough to recommend.

Microbe & Gasoline - Note: This title is being released on DVD; a Blu-ray will be announced at a later date. The new picture from French director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Mood Indigo) is a coming-of-age tale about two misfit teens who build their own mode of transportation to help them escape their humdrum lives. Critics enjoyed the foreign-language feature, calling it a sweet, charming, and melancholy effort that marks an interesting change of pace for the director. Ange Dargent, Théophile Baquet, and Audrey Tautou appear.

The Mind’s Eye - A mad scientist kidnaps two teens with psychokinetic abilities in this low-budget horror offering. They attempt to plot an escape from the lab before he can extract their powers for himself. A few members of the press stated that the practical make-up effects were a nice touch, but the majority felt the movie was a silly pastiche of stylistic references to ’80s horror flicks, with little story and no substance or subtext backing it up.

The Purge: Election Year - This second sequel in the action/horror film series was a summer box-office hit. The stories are set in a dystopia where for one night every year, murder is legal. This time, a security guard must protect a presidential candidate targeted by the public because of her pledge to outlaw the night of legalized killings. It split reviewers and stars Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Mykelti Williamson.

Satanic - College students get more than they bargained for in this independent horror film. While on their way to Coachella, they decide to tour sites of strange and satanic events. Of course, they find an actual cult and try to help a young woman from being sacrificed. Critics were not exactly enraptured by the flick.

Sharknado: The 4th Awakens - While technically SyFy TV-movies, these flicks have enough fans to warrant a mention in this section. Some five years after the last attack, the characters believe that the worst is over. But while vacationing in Las Vegas, they find storm clouds forming and sharks ready to invade the gambling strip. Reviews were pretty terrible for this one, suggesting that the novelty factor has long since worn off and that the gags are retreads of already familiar material.

Swiss Army Man - This dark comedy was certainly an odd one. A man stranded on a desert island finds a dead body that washes ashore. He begins befriending the corpse, talking to it in order to help him deal with his own loneliness. It received a variety of responses from the press, although most appeared to like what they saw.

Wild Oats - Here’s another title that’s initially arriving on DVD, to be followed by a Blu-ray release at a later date. The plot is about a retired widow who receives a life-insurance check incorrectly made out for the sum of $5 million. She sets out with her friends on a wild adventure in Vegas and becomes a fugitive in the process. Reviews were muted, calling it a sweet but forgettable bit a fluff. At least it has a great cast that includes Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Lange, Demi Moore, Judd Hirsch, Billy Connolly, Adam Arkin, and Santiago Segura.

X-Men: Apocalypse - The latest superhero opus features the title characters facing off against a devastating villain who can absorb and take on any mutant’s abilities. All of the central figures, both good and bad must join together to thwart the villain. Overall, reviews were mixed for the latest installment. Half stated that there were just enough bits that worked (namely the Quicksilver sequence) to earn it a pass. The other side complained that it was overstuffed and didn’t feature a worthwhile story; it was just a group of superheroes battling each another. Now viewers can decide for themselves. It stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, and Rose Byrne.

Blasts From the Past!

Warner Bros. has an interesting Blu-ray set arriving. It’s called the Prince Movie Collection and it contains the musician’s three pictures — that includes the iconic Purple Rain (1984), as well as the not-so-iconic Under the Cherry Moon (1986) with Kristin Scott Thomas and the Purple Rain sequel, Graffiti Bridge (1990). All of the films have been given new, high definition transfers, so they’re going to look and sound fantastic.

The very same studio is also releasing the miniseries It (1990). This is an adaptation of the Stephen King book that features a group of kids tormented by a very creepy and murderous clown (played by Tim Curry). As adults, the survivors return to their hometown to face the monster once again.

Just in time for the election, Criterion has a Blu-ray of the Robert Altman epic, Nashville (1975). This drama stars Keith Carradine and Karen Black and details the interconnected stories of musicians, journalists, and elected officials at an elaborate political convention. The disc includes a new restoration, feature commentary with the late director Altman, archival interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and other bonuses.

You Know, For Kids!

Here are some titles that might be of interest to children.

Dinotrux: Reptool Rescue

Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas

We Bare Bears - Viral Video (Cartoon Network)

By Glenn Kay

For the Sun