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Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for August 19, 2022

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Welcome to another look at some of the highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. This edition includes major releases as well as some interesting independent fare. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or shouldn’t be out in big crowds, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

BABY ASSASSINS: This action/comedy from Japan follows two high school seniors who moonlight as hired killers. When the organization they work for tells them to move in and share an apartment over their final year of class, things go badly and their relationship begins to sour. In addition to normal coming-of-age problems, the relationship turns violent and they begin targeting one another.

This foreign-language effort earned solid notices from critics who saw it. They all said that while the concept could have been further developed and even funnier, it was entertaining to see two young female assassins get into a petty battle with each other. The action scenes were also complimented as being well shot and amusing. The cast includes Yukina Fukushima, Saori Izawa, Masanori Mimoto, Atom Mizuishi and Mone Akitani.

THE BLACK PHONE: A shy 13-year-old finds his life in imminent danger after being kidnapped off of the street by a sadistic killer. He is immediately locked in a soundproof basement, where a disconnected phone begins ringing. The youngster answers and discovers that the murderer’s previous victims are calling to give him advice on how to escape.

The latest from writer/producer/director Scott Derrickson (“Doctor Strange,” “Sinister”) was generally well received by the press. A small number complained that there wasn’t much about the final product that was memorable and that it wasted its big star in an underwritten role. However, the majority thought that the entire cast gave stronger than expected performances. They stated that this was an atmospheric and slickly made effort that reminded them of chillers from the 80s.

It stars Mason Thames, Ethan Hawke, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies and E. Roger Mitchell.

JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION: The biggest release of the week is this dinosaur-themed blockbuster. It’s the third and final film in the “Jurassic World trilogy (but it also includes connections to the original series from the 1990s).

This follow-up begins four years after the previous installment with the previous movie’s survivors living off the grid. After villains arrive and kidnap one of them, the others seek out the responsible party. They cross paths with characters from the original series, who are investigating a strange new breed of genetically engineered locusts. The trail leads to a dinosaur sanctuary run by a private genetics company.

Sadly, this feature received the weakest reviews of any title in the series. A handful did enjoy seeing all of the characters together and enjoyed the action scenes. Regardless, the majority claimed the story had major logic lapses and also found it overlong, noting that its best scenes were repeats of moments from earlier chapters. It stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, BD Wong, Omar Sy, Isabella Sermon and Campbell Scott.

THE SUMMONED: Two celebrity couples are summoned to an exclusive self-help retreat to receive therapy. They agree to the three-day session and head out to the remote countryside, only to quickly realize that the on-site therapist has villainous motives. The group are forced to examine the cost of their success and begin experiencing disturbing visions and paranoid delusions.

More critics enjoyed this horror picture than disliked it. Those who did take issue with the film wrote that the story was slowly paced and simply took too long to get to the interesting material. Still, others appreciated that the screenplay attempted to throw a few curveballs at viewers and called it a fun and humorous little horror picture. For the time being, this is a DVD only release. The cast includes J. Quinton Johnson, Emma Fitzpatrick, Angela Gulner, Salvador Chacon and Frederick Stuart.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!

If you would prefer to catch up on some older titles, there is plenty coming your way as well.

 

Kino is delivering “Coming Apart” (1969) with Rip Torn and Sally Kirkland. It’s about a disturbed and obsessive psychiatrist who begins recording sessions with female patients and ends up capturing his own mental breakdown. There’s a 2K restoration of the film on this Blu-ray, along with a director interview, a Rip Torn memorial from 2019, a 50th anniversary discussion of the movie and numerous shorts made by the filmmaker in 2020.

 

Lionsgate is giving “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” (2021) the 4K Ultra HD and digital treatment. Fans of the movie should note that this set does not contain a Blu-ray and can only be played on 4K Ultra HD equipment.

 

Paramount is releasing some of their back catalog on Blu-ray. They have “The Back-Up Plan” (2010) starring Jennifer Lopez and the “Saturday Night Live” TV-series spin-off comedy “Coneheads” (1993) with Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin as pointy-headed aliens trying to adapt to life on Earth.

 

The studio is giving “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) a special presentation in a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook set. This release does not include a Blu-ray of the film.

 

Shout! Factory is giving the original “Child’s Play” trilogy special treatment. They are presenting “Child’s Play” (1988), “Child’s Play 2” (1990) and “Child’s Play 3” (1991) in an elaborate 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. For those who don’t remember the series, the films feature a possessed toy doll named Chucky who goes on a violent and darkly comic killing spree.

And if you’d just prefer one or two of the franchise titles, they can also be purchased individually. Be sure to go through all the listings to find out which package is right for you. All of the movies were given new 4K scans from the original negative with incredible picture upgrades. Each film has all of the previously recorded commentaries and extras from earlier editions, as well as new interviews with cast and crew members. Truth be told, there is simply too much bonus material to list here!

 

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!

Here are some titles that may appeal to youngsters.

“Bluey” Seasons 1 & 2 (Universal/BBC) DVD

“Play Date Triple Feature!” (“Nature Cat”/”Molly of Denali”/”Wild Kratts”) (PBS Kids) DVD

“Rainbow Rangers: Rangers Assemble!” (Nick Jr.) DVD

ON THE TUBE!

And all of the TV-themed releases are listed below.

“America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston” (PBS) DVD

“Bluey” Seasons 1 & 2 (Universal/BBC) DVD

“Feeling Butterflies” (Hallmark) DVD

“Firebite” Season 1 (RLJ Entertainment) Blu-ray

“Hidden Assets” Series 1 (Acorn) DVD

“NCIS” Season 19 (Paramount) DVD

“South Park” Season 24 (Paramount) Blu-ray

VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun