The Latest New Releases Include “Venom,” “The House with a Clock in Its Walls,” and “The Predator”

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all across the net, millions of shoppers they needn’t to fret. For these new releases, they’ll show you the way for you and your loved ones to have a grand holiday!

Yes friends, the holidays are here and we want you to be ready. This week’s titles — ranging from recent superhero blockbusters to classics from Hollywood’s golden age — feature something for everyone. Take a look at the DVDs and Blu-rays you’ll want to give and get!

Venom

Investigative journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) becomes bonded to a symbiotic alien lifeform while trying to expose unscrupulous scientist Carlton Drake’s (Riz Ahmed) experiments on human test subjects. Granted superhuman abilities thanks to his joining with the creature, Brock must use his newfound powers to stop Drake, who also plays host to a powerful extraterrestrial monster. Thrilling big-screen solo outing for the popular Marvel Comics character co-stars Michelle Williams, Scott Haze, Reid Scott.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Back in the ‘50s, orphaned Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) was packed off to live in the creepy Michigan home of his oddball Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black)…and discovered to his amazement that his guardian was a warlock, and the lady next door (Cate Blanchett) was a witch. His new desire to dabble in magic, however, triggered the house’s worst secret–the doomsday clock it was built to contain. Eli Roth’s read on the John Bellairs kidlit classic co-stars Kyle MacLachlan, Renée Elise Goldsberry.

The Predator

Thrilling entry in the sci-fi/action film series finds the deadly alien hunters once again wreaking havoc on planet Earth. This time, a U.S. Army sniper (Boyd Holbrook), his autistic son (Jacob Tremblay), a scientist (Olivia Munn), and a group of troubled military veterans must stop the Predators from using human DNA to genetically enhance themselves. With Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown; co-written and directed by Shane Black (who co-starred in the original “Predator”).

A Simple Favor

Connecticut mom-blogger Stephanie Sommers (Anna Kendrick) had developed a swift if improbable friendship with her new neighbor–imposing fashionista Emily Nelson (Blake Lively)–and thought nothing of it when Emily asked if she’d pick up her son from school. However, Emily disappeared after that, the believed victim of foul play…and Stephanie’s hunt for the truth leads to stunning twists. Paul Feig’s stylish take on the Darcey Bell thriller co-stars Henry Golding, Rupert Friend, Linda Cardellini, Jean Smart.

The Miracle Worker

This powerful, Emmy-winning historical drama set in 1880s Alabama features Patty Duke taking over the role of innovative teacher Anne Sullivan, who brought the wonders of the outside world to the blind, deaf, and mute child Helen Keller (Melissa Gilbert, in the role Duke portrayed in the 1962 adaptation of William Gibson’s acclaimed play). Through Anne’s patience and steely resolve, Helen unlocks the power of language. Co-stars Diana Muldaur, Charles Siebert.

Topper Takes a Trip

Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke)–convinced by her friend Mrs. Parkhurst that her spook-seeing husband, Cosmo (Roland Young), is as nutty as a fruitcake–flees to Europe in search of a divorce, sending the otherworldly Marion (Constance Bennett) on a hilarious quest to win her back, in this riotous sequel. Alan Mowbray, Verree Teasdale, Franklin Pangborn co-star.

1985

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian (Cory Michael Smith, “Gotham”) returns to his Texas hometown for the holidays during the first wave of the AIDS crisis. Burdened with an unspeakable tragedy in New York City, Adrian looks to reconnect with his preteen brother Andrew (Aidan Langford) while navigating his relationship with religious parents Eileen (Academy Award Nominee Virginia Madsen) and Dale (Golden Globe Award Winner Michael Chiklis). When he reaches out to his estranged childhood friend Carly (Jamie Chung, “The Gifted”), their unresolved issues force Adrian to confont an uncertain future that will significantly alter the lives of those around him. Shot on black-and-white super 16mm film, “1985” takes a unique look at a pivotal moment in American history through the prism of empathy, love and family.

Assassination Nation

Like many of their generation, high school senior Lily (Odessa Young) and her just as dissolute besties (Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, Abra) didn’t give a damn about much. That would actually prove to be a big help, because after a hacker flooded social media with the dirt on everyone in their small town and caused the fabric of the community to disintegrate into violent chaos, they’ll have to shoot their way out. Sam Levinson’s pitch-black satirical actioner co-stars Bill Skarsgård, Colman Domingo, Joel McHale.

Dracula: Prince of Darkness (Collector’s Edition)

Thought Dracula (Christopher Lee) was down for the count? Think again! In this poetic, sensual sequel to Hammer’s 1958 vampire classic “Horror of Dracula,” the bloodthirsty vampire might have no lines of dialogue after his fiendish resurrection, but he still makes his evil presence known, preying upon a group of travelers foolish enough to set foot inside Castle Dracula and accept the “hospitality” of his wicked manservant (Philip Latham). Suzan Farmer, Andrew Keir, and Barbara Shelley co-star.

Murder By Death

An eccentric millionaire invites the world’s greatest sleuths–send-ups of Charlie Chan, Nick and Nora Charles, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, and Sam Spade–to his remote mansion for “dinner and a murder” in this hilarious whodunit spoof written by Neil Simon. Can the detectives survive long enough to solve the crime and claim a $1 million dollar prize? The all-star cast includes James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, and Truman Capote.

Starman (Collector’s Edition)

Director John Carpenter’s acclaimed sci-fi romance stars Jeff Bridges as an alien who crash lands on Earth after his spaceship is shot down. He assumes the form of the recently deceased Scott Hayden, and forces Scott’s widow, Jenny (Karen Allen), to help him get from Wisconsin to Arizona where he will rendezvous with his people. Along the way, they begin to fall in love while eluding the Army and government officials trying to capture the extraterrestrial. With Richard Jaeckel, Charles Martin Smith.

Air Strike

Gripping World War II actioner from China follows three stories set against the backdrop of the Japanese bombings of the city of Chongqing. As a U.S. Army officer (Bruce Willis) trains Chinese pilots in the art of aerial combat, an ex-flyer (Liu Ye) must drive a truck transporting important cargo to a military base, and the citizens of Chongqing cope with the horrors of war with the help of a teahouse mahjong tournament. With Song Seung-heon, Fan Bingbing, Rumer Willis, and Adrien Brody. AKA: “The Bombing.”

Marwencol

Attacked outside an upstate New York bar in 2000, Mark Hogancamp woke up from a coma weeks later with brain damage and memory loss. His own idea for therapy came in the form of Marwencol, a replica WWII Belgian village he built in his backyard and populated with G.I. Joe and Barbie figures…some of whom represent his family, friends, and attackers. This compelling documentary follows Hogancamp’s 1/6-scale road to recovery, and what happens when the photos he takes of his town are discovered by the art community.

Panique (Criterion Collection)

Eccentric, standoffish Parisian Monsieur Hire (Michel Simon) didn’t say much when an elderly woman on his block turned up murdered. However, the rest of the community was very ready to cast a suspicious eye on the innocent man…and his attraction to a beautiful new neighbor (Viviane Romance) may spell ultimate disaster. Julian Duvivier’s moody crime drama, the first filming of George Simenon’s novel “Les Fiançailles de M. Hire,” co-stars Paul Bernard, Max Dalban.

The Sea Hawk

Director Michael Curtiz’ classic high seas actioner stars Errol Flynn as Geoffrey Thorpe, roguish sea captain and member of a group of English privateers known as the Sea Hawks. On a secret mission for Queen Elizabeth I (Flora Robson), Captain Thorpe plans to stop the Spanish Armada from attacking England while falling for the beautiful niece (Brenda Marshall) of a sinister Spanish ambassador (Claude Rains). With Alan Hale, Donald Crisp.

Sawdust and Tinsel

An early Ingmar Bergman effort, this atmospheric, psychosexual drama finds the ringmaster (Ake Grönberg) of a run-down circus returning to his wife (Annika Tretow) after a long absence when his bedraggled caravan returns to his hometown. The reunion doesn’t sit well with the showman’s horseback rider/mistress (Harriet Andersson), whose vengeful pursuit of an affair with a young actor (Hasse Ekman) sets a sure course to spiritual tragedy. AKA: “The Naked Night.”

So there you have it! Plenty of fantastic viewing options for you or anyone on your shopping list. Which of these are you interested in checking out?