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voyeur [4K UHD, Criterion]
What is it? A sick masterpiece.
Why watch it? Michael Powell is half of the powerhouse cinematic duo Powell/Pressburger, and it’s where he made classics like The Red Shoes, black daffodil, A matter of life and death, The life and death of Colonel Blimp, and more. He went solo in the late ’50s, but nearly ruined his entire career with the release of voyeur. The film, which will be released just a few months before Alfred Hitchcock’s Psychopath, follows a sick young man prone to killing young women. He is a photographer interested in fear, and that becomes the focus here as viewers become voyeurs to his murderous madness. Add that exploitation plot to Powell’s keen eye for imagery and color, and you have an unforgettable story of madness. Criterion’s new 4K UHD sees those colors and details pop, bringing the horror even further into focus, and the extras provide all kinds of information about the film, its initial reception, and its evolution into a recognized masterpiece.
[Extras: New 4K restoration, commentaries, Martin Scorsese introduction, interview, documentaries]
The best
Killer clowns from outer space [4K UHD, steelbook]
Killer clowns from outer space [4K UHD, steelbook]What is it? A horror comedy with cotton candy running through its veins.
Why watch it? While some films tease a fun premise only to fall short, the Chiodo brothers achieve the rare pleasure of going all out with their setup and committing to the part to the end. The result is a wonderfully silly slice of sci-fi horror in which aliens arrive and begin decimating the population of a small town. They are clowns! Killer clowns! And the practical effects of the makeup are out of this world. Even better, their delivery methods are variations on circus and clown paraphernalia, meaning the various kills are deadly and fun. The comedy is broad and silly, the dialogue is equally ridiculous, and the fun is six times what you’d find in a real big tent. And now it’s in 4K? Wild things, people, wild things.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentary, making of, featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers, short films]
The lair of the white worm [steelbook]
The lair of the white worm [steelbook]What is it? A silly horror-comedy masterpiece!
Why watch it? Bram Stoker may be best known for Dracula, but this adaptation of a different Stoker novel is equally unforgettable. Pagan cults, giant snakes, sexy priestesses and the unlikely pairing of Hugh Grant and Peter Capaldi as the only ones capable of saving the day. Director Ken Russell embraces the campy excitement and fills the screen with colorful images, funny encounters, and some wildly entertaining pagan antics. This one doesn’t get the respect it deserves as a sexy masterclass in tone and visuals, a creature feature with real personality to spare, so kudos to Vestron for releasing it (for the second time, this time via steelbook) for the fans.
[Extras: Commentaries, featurette, interviews]
once upon a time in the west [4K UHD]
once upon a time in the west [4K UHD]What is it? A western masterpiece.
Why watch it? Sergio Leone made more than his share of classic Westerns, but this 1969 epic arguably stands above them all. Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson and Jason Robards lead the story of three men, all with varying degrees of immorality and violence, who cross paths with each other and with a woman played by Claudia Cardinale. The film is a powerhouse filled with monstrous performances (Fonda in the atypical villain role is sublime), stunning sights and locations, and unforgettable music by Ennio Morricone. It’s fascinating to watch and rewatch, especially given the beauty of Paramount’s new restoration, and even at 165 minutes it never drags or feels overlong. This is a raw world, where emotions and greed lead to pure violence, and it all entertains, excites and rewards the senses.
[Extras: New 4K restoration, commentaries, featurettes]
Orphan [Scream Factory]
Orphan [Scream Factory]What is it? A family welcomes a new daughter, but maybe they made a mistake?
Why watch it? This 2009 horror-suspense thriller is best known for its crazy reveal in the third act, but there’s fun to be had even before we get to that point. Little Esther is adopted by an American family who soon discovers that her kind action will be severely punished. Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard are fantastic here, but Isabelle Fuhrman steals the show. Part slasher, part twisted thriller, part pure ridiculousness, this is a good time that gets even better with a new scan. I prefer the prequel that followed, but you can’t go wrong here.
[Extras: New 2K scan, featurette, deleted scenes]
The rest
Imaginary
What is it? A child’s teddy bear is actually an idiot.
Why watch it? Director Jeff Wadlow has made eight feature films and no one can take that away from him. The fact that all eight of them are mediocrities at best is irrelevant, since he keeps getting gigs at Blumhouse anyway. To be fair, all of their theatrical releases have generated revenue, and some of them have made *a lot* of money on small budgets. His latest imagines an imaginary friend who is actually up to no good, and the result is a mix of shocks and psychological terrors. However, in true Wadlow fashion, none of this really works to create anything resembling a good horror film.
[Extras: Commentary, featurettes]
Submarine Command [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? Post-traumatic stress disorder, in a submarine!
Why watch it? The term may not have been identified yet, but PTSD is the focus here as a submarine commander whose quick thinking leaves two sailors dead. The incident haunts him and inevitably affects his work and his relationships. Director John Farrow manages some solid wartime commitments, and you really can’t go wrong with William Holden, but the film as a whole lacks punch. Still, you have to give him credit for exploring ideas that the era typically avoided.
[Extras: 4K scan, commentary]
Thunder in the East [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? An arms dealer finds love and trouble in India.
Why watch it? You arrive at this wartime drama/romance for Alan Ladd and Deborah Kerr and the result is quite satisfying. However, if you’re looking for something more, the film will probably leave you a little cold. The story doesn’t really find its spark until the third act, but fortunately it’s not really difficult to get there and is instead pretty mundane. The ending, however, manages to have some fun and post-war drama.
[Extras: 4K scan, commentary]
Also available this week:
12 strong [4K UHD]The American Society of Magical Negroes, American Sniper [4K UHD]Dune: Part Two, Friendly Persuasion [Warner Archive]magic mike [4K UHD]Noryang, The Nun’s Story [Warner Archive]A Life, Vitagraph Comedies
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