If you are suffering from the post-holiday blues, we can help you out as there are a truly great batch of new releases — including recent films and classics — that are now available on DVD and Blu-ray. Here’s a rundown of what titles are now available!
Antlers (2021)
When Oregon schoolteacher Julia Meadows (Keri Russell) noticed withdrawn behavior from student Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas), she suspected abuse at the hands of his meth dealer father Frank (Scott Haze). Turning to her sheriff brother Paul (Jesse Plemons) for help, they’d find to their terror that Lucas was indeed hiding something– and that Frank had come under an influence not of this earth. Supernatural shocker co-stars Amy Madigan, Graham Greene, Rory Cochrane.
Zeros and Ones (2021)
In a Rome gripped in pandemic lockdown and reeling from a terrorist attack on the Vatican, American operative J.J. (Ethan Hawke) furtively hunts by night for clues as to the cabal responsible–as well as some assurance that his charismatic revolutionist twin brother, Justin (Hawke, again), had no involvement. Moody of-its-moment thriller from writer-director Abel Ferrara also stars Cristina Chiriac, Phil Neilson, Valerio Mastandrea, Valeria Correale.
Together (2021)
For a left-leaning charity coordinator (Sharon Horgan) and a conservative computing consultant (James McAvoy), the welfare of their 10-year-old (Samuel Logan) had been all that kept their tenuous union going. Life during a year’s COVID-19 lockdown, however, found them giving frustrated voice over governmental and social response–and more than anything else, their mutual loathing–in Stephen Daldry’s timely two-hander; script by Dennis Kelly.
Sand Dollar Cove (2021)
Sent by her developer boss to scope out a potential beachfront hotel site at a storm-smacked town, Elli Everson (Aly Michalka) was gauging the locals’ interest–and she found that and more from beach owner Brody Bradshaw (Chad Michael Murray). However, he was making any deal contingent on the preservation of the historic pier…and heartbreak may be the bottom line. Hallmark take on the Nancy Naigle novel co-stars Glynnis O’Connor, Clare Bowen.
Ida Red (2021)
For the career criminal Walker brothers–sullen Wyatt (Josh Hartnett) and psychotic Dallas (Frank Grillo)–the returns on their efforts were diminishing, even as their terminally ill mother Ida “Red” (Melissa Leo) masterminded from prison. Their bids to sting oilmen for a last score that would set them up, and rig a parole so that Ida wouldn’t die in jail, propel this flavorful crime story. William Forsythe, Beau Knapp, Deborah Ann Woll, George Carroll also star.
Stop and Go (2021)
In early 2020, New Mexico sibs Jamie (Whitney Call) and Blake (Mallory Everton, who co-directed) were aimlessly volleying over how to spend their joint vacation. Within weeks, the world had changed–and upon learning of a COVID outbreak at their nana’s nursing home across the country, they set out on a revealing road trip in order to get her out. Of-its-moment character comedy scripted by its leads also stars Julia Jolley, Stephen Meek, Anne Sward Hansen.
Double Door (1934)
When old-money Rip van Brett (Kent Taylor) proposed to working nurse Anne Darrow (Evelyn Venable), his domineering half-sister Victoria (Mary Morris) didn’t hold back about how unworthy she found the match. After the new Mrs. van Brett moved into the 5th Avenue family manse, she’d find that there were no limits to her sister-in-law’s psychological–and physical–cruelty. Long-sought pre-Code shocker co-stars Ann Revere in her screen debut; Charles Vidor directs.
The Crime of the Century (1933)
Noteworthy for its minute-long intermission that allows viewers to reflect on the events of the film, this inventive thriller follows a physician who hypnotizes a bank official and gets him to steal $100,000. Realizing what he has done, he goes to police and confesses his plans to murder the man. But when the banker is killed, who is really responsible? Stuart Erwin, Frances Dee, Jean Hersholt star.
The Djinn (2021)
Mute youngster Dylan (Ezra Dewey) was left alone in his new apartment as his recently widowed disc jockey dad (Rob Brownstein) pulled a late shift. Rummaging through the previous tenant’s abandoned stuff, he came upon an ancient book of spells…and soon found his deepest desire for a voice and normal life manipulated by a malevolent entity. Taut old-school shocker also stars Tevy Poe, Donald Pitts, and John Erickson as the Djinn.
The Superdeep (2020)
In 1984, virologist Anna Fedorova (Milena Radulovic) was recruited for a government team dispatched to the experimental borehole in Kola after various researchers vanished. The Soviets feared that lethal biologics were being secretly developed there…and the investigators would discover to their terror just how much those fears were justified. Subterranean shocker also stars Sergey Ivanyuk, Vadim Demchog, Kirill Kovbas.
Her Pen Pal (2021)
Event planner Victoria (Mallory Jansen) was enjoying setting up the Paris destination wedding of BFF Tracy (Jayne Wisener)–until she learned that her ex Cameron (Lachlan Nieboer) would be attending with his work wife Jen (Amanda Blake). Tracy quietly goes about an intriguing fix: locating and inviting Jacques (Joshua Sasse), Victoria’s high school pen pal. Find out if the old sparks strike face to face in this Hallmark charmer. Gregory Haney co-stars.
The Naked Ape (1973)
Using Desmond Morris’ 1967 pop phenomenon anthropological study as a springboard, this string of live-action and animated comic vignettes looks at homo sapiens as a species–and how its evolution to the present was defined through both aggression and sex. Victoria Principal and Johnny Crawford star as the young lovers of the central segments; long-sought oddity also stars John Hillerman, Dennis Olivieri, Martin Miller, Diana Darrin.
All My Sons (1948)
Powerful performances by Edward G. Robinson and Burt Lancaster drive this screen adaptation of the Arthur Miller stage drama. Robinson is Joe Keller, a successful arms manufacturer who may have been responsible for sending defective parts to the military during World War II, and surviving son Chris (Lancaster), whose brother was killed in combat, sets out to find the truth. Louisa Horton, Mady Christians, Howard Duff also star.
Golden Earrings (1947)
Unruly Gypsy woman Lydia (Marlene Dietrich) finds romance with British officer Ralph Denistoun (Ray Milland), whom she helps through the Black Forest on a mission to stop a Nazi plan to use poison gas during World War II. Exciting (and, now, often campy) wartime story offers the divine Marlene decked out in sultry Gypsy garb and dark make-up; with Murvyn Vye, Dennis Hoey.
Rich and Strange (1931)
Middle-class Londoners Fred (Henry Kendall) and Emily Hill (Joan Barry) inherit a large sum of money and decide to travel the world. But they soon discover that their newfound wealth doesn’t bring them the happiness they were expecting and, in fact, could wind up endangering their marriage. Alfred Hitchcock’s drama, based on the novel by Dale Collins, also stars Percy Marmont, Betty Amann, Elsie Randolph. AKA: “East of Shanghai.”
Shake Hands with the Devil (1959)
In 1920s Dublin, mild-seeming medical college professor Sean Lenihan (James Cagney) lived a second life as an Irish Republican Army leader giving no quarter in the bloody struggle against the British Black and Tan forces. After America-reared student Kerry O’Shea (Don Murray) becomes radicalized by tragedy, he may yet regret promising Lenihan his fealty. Powerful political drama co-stars Dana Wynter, Glynis Johns, Michael Redgrave, Sybil Thorndike.
China (1943)
Set in China during pre-Pearl Harbor World War II, this rousing action tale stars Alan Ladd as David Jones, a mercenary trader who deals with both Chinese natives and the Japanese invaders with an equal lack of conscience, until he comes to the aid of a teacher (Loretta Young) and a group of refugee schoolgirls. With William Bendix, Philip Ahn; directed by John Farrow.
Arc (2006)
Fallen ex-cop Paris Pritchert (Peter Facinelli), fed up with prowling the streets as a drug dealer and addict, hopes to change his life for the better by trying to find a missing child. Because Pritchert relies on narcotics to maintain his senses, he’ll have to stay high in order to function during the dangerous investigation. Is he doomed to self-destruction or destined for redemption? Ann Cusack, Logan Grove co-star.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases!