From crass comedy to classic drama, the latest batch of Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD releases present a snapshot of the range of titles available from Movies Unlimited. Take a look at all of these new offerings, and set aside some hours — you’ll be wanting to get some serious couch time in!
Jackass Forever (2022)
These guys aren’t spring chickens anymore, and you’d think at their ages they’d know better. But you’ll be glad they don’t as veteran Jackasses such as Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Wee Man, and Chris Pontius are joined by a new crop of crazies for another round of insane and ill-conceived stunts. There’s an encounter with a vulture, a re-creation of the myth of Icarus, a delicate body part turned into a beehive, the appropriately named Vomitron, and more.
Cyrano (2021)
In 17th-century France, erudite swordsman Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) was as able to take an opponent apart with wit as with rapier. Too self-conscious to express his love to the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett), he made the handsome if vacant soldier Christian (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) the vessel of his sentiments toward her. Erica Schmidt adapted her stage musical of the Rostand romance for the screen; Joe Wright directs. Ben Mendelsohn, Bashir Salahuddin co-star.
In the Heat of the Night (1967)(4K Ultra HD)
Philadelphia homicide cop Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) was waiting for the train out of Sparta, Mississippi, when the local constabulary rousted him on a murder charge. After learning of Tibbs’ bona fides–and reputation–racist police chief Bill Gillespie (Best Actor Oscar-winner Rod Steiger) grudgingly asked his ex-suspect’s help in flushing out the real perpetrator. Five total Oscars, including Best Picture, went to Norman Jewison’s compelling adaptation of John Ball’s novel; Warren Oates, Lee Grant co-star.
Jigsaw (1962)
Based on Hillary Waugh’s novel “Sleep Long, My Love” (and the real murder that was its influence), this noir-flavored British crime drama follows two police detectives (Jack Warner and Ronald Lewis) as they take on a particularly perplexing case involving the brutal killing of an unidentified woman in the coastal town of Brighton. Yolande Donlan, Michael Goodliffe, John Le Mesurier also star; Val Guest directs.
The Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973)
The passengers and crew of a London-to-L.A. 747 flight are confronted with a deadly occult danger thanks to the remains of an ancient English abbey–built over a Druidic site of human sacrifices–being carried in the plane’s cargo hold. Eerie made-for-TV mix of “Airport” and “The Exorcist” stars Chuck Connors, Buddy Ebsen, Tammy Grimes, William Shatner, and Roy Thinnes.
The King’s Daughter (2022)
In 17th century France, King Louis XIV (Pierce Brosnan) sought everlasting life, and he thought he had the means when his minions captured a living mermaid (Fan Bingbing). However, the Sun King’s illegitimate offspring–lady-in-waiting Marie-Josephe D’Alember (Kaya Scodelario)–felt compassion for the imperiled cryptid, and became willing to risk all to help her escape. Long-shelved take on Vonda N. McIntyre’s “The Moon and the Sun” co-stars William Hurt, Benjamin Walker, Rachel Griffiths.
The Humans (2021)
For her first Thanksgiving in the shabby NYC Chinatown apartment of her fiancé Richard (Steven Yuen), Brigid Blake (Beanie Feldstein) set a table for her working-class Scranton dad and mom (Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell), dementia-stricken grandma (June Squibb), and chronically ill Philly lawyer sister (Amy Schumer). The resentments and revelations will be served hot in this trenchant ensemble piece written and directed by Stephen Karam, who adapted his Tony-winning play for the screen.
Advice to Love By (2021)
On TV stumping for her new book on scientifically based matchmaking, Kendall Turner (Erinn Westbrook) was dismissive of traditionalists like advice columnist “Dr. Lovestruck”–which rankled his alter ego, journalist Nathan Hart (Brooks Darnell). Asked by his editor to interview Kendall–without tipping his identity–can he keep the secret as a collaboration brews, and turns more than professional? Samantha Cole, Matt Clarke, Aliyah O’Brien also star.
The Exorcism of God (2021)
To those of the small Mexican village that he’s ministered to for 18 years, Father Peter Williams (Will Beinbrink) is regarded as a living saint. Before he came to them, however, the stateside exorcism that he botched resulted in his own possession–and the commission of a grievous sin. Now, the selfsame demon is wreaking havoc in his parish…and the rematch may well cost his soul. Effective chiller also stars Joseph Marcell, María Gabriela de Faría, Irán Castillo.
Miracle in Milan (Criterion Collection)(1951)
In post-WWII Italy, an orphanage-reared man (Francesco Golisano) is gifted with a magic dove by the ghost of the kindly woman (Emma Gramatica) who took him in as an abandoned infant. The divine gift may be the only hope for his shantytown neighbors from being exploited for the oil found under their humble plot. Vittorio De Sica’s compassionate, neo-realist fantasy-dramedy also stars Paolo Stoppa, Guglielmo Barnabò.
V/H/S/ 94 (2021)
A SWAT team on a warehouse drug raid find the remnants of a ritualistic mass suicide–and their wary search of the premises turns up a series of stunningly bizarre videos. Could their imagery have precipitated the carnage…and is there more to come? Fearsome fourth entry in the found-footage anthology franchise features segments helmed by Jennifer Reeder, Simon Barrett, Timo Tjahjanto, and others; Anna Hopkins, Christian Potenza, Kyal Legend, Shahabi Sakri, Christian Lloyd star.
Dating & New York (2021)
Meeting on an app, young Manhattanites Milo (Jaboukie Young-White) and Wendy (Francesca Reale) found the chemistry immediate and genuine–but while he wanted take it to another level, she countered with a written friends-with-benefits agreement. The rocky path forward is entertainingly explored in this engaging swipe right-era “When Harry Met Sally” from writer-director-co-star Jonah Feingold; with Catherine Cohen, Brian Mullen, Jerry Ferrara, and Alex Moffat.
King Knight (2021)
horn (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Willow (Angela Sarafyan) appear to have it all as the revered high priest and priestess of a coven of new age witches. But a secret from Thorn’s past throws their lives into turmoil and sends them on a trippy, hilarious journey.
Bleed with Me (2020)
Reticent, self-harming Rowan (Lee Marshall) was happy to have received a getaway cabin invite from confident work friend Emily (Lauren Beatty), even with the added presence of Emily’s guy Brendan (Aris Tyros). Matters got strange, though, as Rowan would awaken each morning with fresh nicks in her arm…and her paranoiac certainty that someone is drinking her blood as she sleeps drives writer-director Amelia Moses’ stunning chiller.
You’re Telling Me (1934)
Training home after yet another sales pitch ended in disaster, would-be inventor Sam Bisbee (W.C. Fields) commiserated with a sympathetic fellow passenger (Adrienne Ames). He had no inkling that his new friend was a visiting royal–or that she’d show up in his home town to make sure he got some unaccustomed respect. Remake of Fields’ 1926 silent “So’s Your Old Man!,” marked by his signature golf routine, also stars Buster Crabbe, Joan Marsh, Louise Carter, Kathleen Howard.
Man on the Flying Trapeze (1939)
An attempt to take the afternoon off for the first time in 25 years causes nothing but trouble for henpecked family man Ambrose Wolfinger (W.C. Fields), in this outrageous comedy. After lying about his mother-in-law’s death in order to leave work early to watch a wrestling match, Ambrose soon finds himself dealing with one hilarious calamity after another. Mary Brian, Kathleen Howard, Grady Sutton, Vera Lewis also star.
You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man (1939)
W.C. Fields’ popular radio rivalry with the ventriloquist-dummy tandem of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy successfully spilled onto the screen, as impecunious carny owner Larsen E. Whipsnade (Fields) seeks to make sure that his daughter (Constance Moore) gets married off to a wealthy stiff (James Bush) instead of his rebellious employee (Bergen). Fields’ first Universal vehicle also stars Eddie Anderson, Thurston Hall, Mary Forbes, Edward Brophy.
For a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases, click here.