Given that it’s the last week of the year, there aren’t too many new releases out this week. But what may lack in quantity doesn’t impact the quality of these new DVDs and Blu-rays — all of which are waiting to become a welcome part of your home video library. Take a look at these titles that are available now as we bid adieu to 2021!
The French Dispatch (2021)
With the passing of its founding editor (Bill Murray), the French office of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun prepared to close shop in accordance with his wishes. Three memorably eccentric scoops from the tabloid’s history are presented in this expectedly colorful ensemble paean to print journalism from Wes Anderson. Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Mathieu Amalric also star.
The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1958)
Peru, 1714: After the fatal collapse of an ancient rope bridge, a Franciscan monk–who was moments away from crossing it–commenced his own investigation into the lives of the five individuals who perished. His efforts to comprehend God’s purpose, however, would only draw the wrath of his superiors. Acclaimed “DuPont Show of the Month” adaptation of the Thornton Wilder tale stars Hume Cronyn, Judith Anderson, Viveca Lindfors, Eva Le Gallienne, Theodore Bikel; Robert Mulligan directs.
Castle Falls (2021)
While working on a demolition crew prepping a once-stately condo to come down, ex-MMA Mike (Scott Adkins) stumbled upon a multimillion dollar cash stash left by a ganglord tenant…and chose to come back later and quietly retrieve it. The quiet part isn’t going to happen, between a prison guard (Dolph Lundgren, who directed) tipped to the money’s location–a gang of hoods also in the hunt–and the charges that are due to blow. Kevin Wayne, Scott Hunter, Kim DeLonghi, Billy Culbertson also star.
Mayday (2021)
Ana finds herself transported to a dreamlike and dangerous land where she joins an army of girls engaged in a never-ending war along a rugged coast where the women lure men to their deaths at sea via radio transmissions, like 20th century sirens. Though she finds strength in this exhilarating world, he comes to realize that she’s not the killer they want her to be. Grace Van Patten, Mia Goth, Juliette Lewis star.
Jack Frost (1997)
Oh, the weather isn’t the only thing that’s frightful in this holiday horror tale, as convicted serial killer Jack Frost (Scott MacDonald) is transformed into a murderous snowman after an accidental chemical exposure. Now, Jack has just one thing on his mind–and it’s not shopping for a new corncob pipe. Nope, it’s vengeance against Sheriff Sam Tiler (Christopher Allport), the lawman who locked him up. With Stephen Mendel, Shannon Elizabeth.
Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman (2000)
You just can’t keep a good…er, bad snowman down! Jack Frost (voiced by Scott MacDonald) returns from the great (melted) beyond in this sequel that finds the snowy psycho pursuing Sheriff Sam Tiler (Christopher Allport) to the Caribbean, once again seeking revenge. Jack terrorizes the sunny hotspot, but this time he has help in the creepy form of miniature maniacal snowmen offspring. Eileen Seeley, Chip Heller, Marsha Clark also star.
The Gardener (2021)
The British gentry who hired taciturn immigrant Peter Juhasz (Robert Bronzi) to handle the landscaping at their manor home knew little about him beyond that he kept the grounds lush. When the household gets stormed by a determined criminal (Gary Daniels) and his hooligans, Juhasz showed he had another set of tools–and the invaders will find there’s a deadly accurate trigger finger complementing that green thumb. Sarah T. Cohen, Nicola Wright, Kate Sandison also star.
Venom (aka The Legend of Spider Forest) (1971)
Having come to the Bavarian woods for studies, painter Paul Greville (Simon Brent) couldn’t help but notice the exotic beauty Anna (Neda Arneric), as well as the hostilities other locals had toward her. He may well regret becoming involved, as the object of his fascination can poison those she embraces with a powerful toxin–and those lethal powers seem tied to an enclave of Nazi researchers. Odd shocker also stars Sheila Allen, Derek Newark, Gerard Heinz.
Knocking (2021)
Undergoing a nervous collapse after witnessing the drowning death of her lover, Molly (Cecilia Milocco) moved into a new apartment building upon her discharge. Convinced that she’s hearing a persistent knock through her bedroom ceiling, she finds all of her neighbors–and the authorities–dismissive of her complaints. Is her torture someone’s sadistic ploy, or is her psyche fissuring for good? Effective opus co-stars Albin Grenholm, Ville Virtanen.
Christmas on the Carousel (2021)
There’s one last Christmas break before they have to officially enter adulthood, and longtime friends Greyson, Sloane, Henry, and Callie have returned home from college to spend it together. As they all struggle with questions about what their futures may hold, Greyson realizes he must decide what he should do about the crush he’s had on Sloane since they were kids. Holiday heartwarmer stars Erik Bloomquist, Madeleine Dauer, Taylor Turner, Rachel Oremland.
Keep An Eye Out (2018)
Having made the wee-hours discovery of a corpse outside his apartment building, Louis Fugain (Grégoire Ludig) sought to do the right thing and go to the cops. He might be having second thoughts as he spends an increasingly absurd night’s worth of being put through the wringer by the implacably suspicious Captain Buron (Benoît Poelvoorde). Signature surrealist farce from filmmaker Quentin Dupieux also stars Marc Fraize, Anaïs Demoustier.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases!