#Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-Winner is Our 4K UHD Pick of the Week

The Hurt Locker [4K UHD, steelbook]

What is it? The head of a bomb detonation squad balances life and war.

Why see it? Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break, Strange Days) is a terrific director who doesn’t work nearly enough — especially as her last film, 2017’s Detroit, is something of a rare letdown — but one of her greats is new to 4K UHD and worth celebrating all over again. The film stars Jeremy Renner as the bomb disposal expert who returns home unable to function in such mundane environments. There’s drama and strong character beats in the story, but the film’s most lasting strength involves the sequences that see him at work dealing with explosives. They’re incredibly tense and suspenseful set-pieces that even on rewatch leave fists clenched and your ass on the edge of the seat. Renner does terrific work portraying a soldier whose PTSD only relaxes in the very element that caused it. Bigelow’s commentary with co-writer Mark Boal is a necessary listen for fans as well. This new 4K UHD release of The Hurt Locker takes full advantage of the film’s sharp photography with added clarity and attention on every little piece of debris, all of which is deadly at a high enough velocity.

[Extras: Commentary featurette]

The Best

Hard Hit

What is it? A banker finds a bomb neath his car seat while driving his kids to school.

Why see it? Ignore the generic action-centric title as the action here takes a back seat to suspense, emotion, and lots of chatter. We still get some as the banker races through traffic with cops on his tail, but it’s the presence of the bomb and his kids that ratchets up the tension as our hero attempts to handle the situation. There are some twists here and there, and while they’re not all that surprising they still up the engagement. The emotional stress absolutely lands, though, thanks in part to one of the things South Korea does best — find fantastic child actors.

[Extras: Featurette]

Killing Spree [Terror Vision]

What is it? A man thinks he’s been cucked and becomes a murderer.

Why see it? Tim Ritter’s late 80s horror/comedy is a goofy, gory romp on the tiniest of budgets. Asbestos Felt (?) stars as the insecure Tom who begins to think his wife is having a variety of affairs behind his back. He begins inviting the men back to the house one by one and dispatching them in gruesome ways, but both the truth and a supernatural twist are awaiting him. Think of it as a Creepshow fan film, albeit one that stretches a single tale to feature length, made for a couple hundred bucks and a whole lot of enthusiasm. The gore is as playful as it is inexpensive, and while performances come with a heightened delivery they and the dialogue manage more than a few laughs along the way. Fans used to enjoying the film in less stellar presentations will be stoked to see what Terror Vision has accomplished here including a brand-new documentary detailing the film’s production, release, and subsequent arrival at cult classic status.

[Extras: New upscale transfer, commentaries, interviews, documentaries]

The Midnight Swim [Yellow Veil]

What is it? A mystery for three sisters to decipher regarding their mother.

Why see it? First things first, the film uses found footage and uses it poorly, and that alone holds the movie back from greatness. The rest, though, is aces as director Sarah Adina Smith crafts an atmospheric descent into myth and madness. There’s a mystery at its heart helping shape an unsettling thriller, and the glue holding it all together is a trio of fantastic performances that leave you convinced these women are sisters who’ve shared a lifetime of memories. That feeling aids in the growing emotional power of it all making for a dreamy, engrossing watch.

[Extras: Commentary, featurette, short films]

The Unknown Man of Shandigor [Deaf Crocodile]

What is it? An invention meant to neuter nuclear weapons becomes a target of spies.

Why see it? Jean-Louis Roy’s oddball 60s spy film was thought lost before being rediscovered and restored by the folks at Deaf Crocodile, and the wait was arguably worth it. It feels almost like the black & white dream you have after watching some early James Bond films, eating too much cheese, and then going to bed early. Various spy elements, some serious some that feel like riffs on Bond, combine with beautiful photography, some intriguing characters, and Serge Gainsbourg. It walks a wavering line between the traditional and the silly, but it works.

[Extras: New 4K restoration, commentary, interview, featurette]

The Rest

The 355

What is it? A group of female agents come together to stop an international threat.

Why see it? Well, the short answer here is don’t. But in the spirit of hitting the pros first, this otherwise bland action/adventure does have a killer cast including Diane Kruger, Penelope Cruz, Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, and Bingbing Fan. They’re all worth watching a film for, in theory, but neither the script nor the direction is worthy of their talents. The story is underbaked, the twists are written in big, bold letters an hour in advance, and the action never manages to thrill.

[Extras: Deleted scenes, featurettes]

American Underdog

What is it? The Kurt Warner story.

Why see it? Even a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and Hall of Famer has to start somewhere, and for Kurt Warner it involved a lot of hard work, menial jobs, and the belief that he had greatness within him. Sure, the film wants you to know faith played a role too, but that’s nonsense for hicks. The true inspiration here is seeing someone struggle to improve themselves and never give up along the way. That’s a message that anyone can take to heart, whether or not they ever give a damn about football.

[Extras: Commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes]

C.H.O.M.P.S. [Code Red]

What is it? A robot dog leads to hijinks!

Why see it? If you didn’t know better you’d think this 1979 family comedy was a television movie from The Wonderful World of Disney weekly series, but it’s not. The vibe is the same, though, as some sweet protagonists go head to head with goofy criminal elements. The story here involves a young inventor whose robot guard dog becomes the envy of some clumsy crooks. Wesley Eure takes the lead, and he’s joined by Valerie Bertinelli, Conrad Bain, and Red Buttons. It’s silly fun for fans of late 70s family fare.

[Extras: New 2K master, commentary, interview]

Dead Heat [4K UHD, Vinegar Syndrome]

What is it? A buddy cop comedy with a supernatural twist.

Why see it? Everything about this late 80s comedy sounds great on paper — two cops investigating a string of robberies discover some undead henchmen, and soon one of the detectives dies and returns from the dead too — but the attempt at making a horror/comedy leans so heavily into unfunny comedy that it hurts the genre elements that do work. Joe Piscopo just isn’t funny here, and he’s trying so aggressively to find laughs that the opposite reaction occurs. It’s a shame as the action, bloodletting, makeup fx, and Treat Williams are all good fun. Vinegar Syndrome’s new 4K UHD does look good, and the collection of extras old and new offers plenty of entertaining insights into the production including the studio’s insistence on keeping the violence and gore to an acceptable limit. The interview with Steve Johnson is also a must-watch.

[Extras: Commentary, interviews, deleted scenes]

Deadly Games [Arrow Video]

What is it? A woman suspects one of two men of being serial killers.

Why see it? Swingers are wild, man, wild, and they’re also the community at the heart of this little slasher. A young woman falls into a relationship with a cop, but after meeting his best friend she begins to suspect the guy might be a serial killer. More women die, a black-gloved killer plays a board game, and the truth might be too frightening to think about. Steve Railsback plays the friend, and he’s a highlight in this otherwise somewhat slow burn slasher. Arrow’s new Blu-ray gives it something of a new life, though, with a restoration that makes many of the shadows visible for the first time. The commentary track by The Hysteria Continues also finds some interesting anecdotes on the film’s production.

[Extras: New 2K restoration, commentary, interviews]

The Douglas Sirk Collection: The Girl from the Marsh Croft / The Final Chord

What is it? A pair of mid 30s romantic dramas from Douglas Sirk.

Why see it? Douglas Sirk is best known for American melodramas like Imitation of Life (1959) and All That Heaven Allows (1955), but there’s charm in his earlier efforts too. The two films collected here were made before he left Germany and focus on young women whose feelings of love leave them hurting. They’re dramas that are grounded while still feeling tweaked in some melodramatic ways, and while neither can touch the depth, nuances, and performances of his later films, they offer an interesting look at the themes and tones that would become his trademark.

[Extras: Commentaries]

Girlfriend from Hell [Culture Shock]

What is it? A devilish entity possesses a young woman with silly results.

Why see it? This late 80s slice of comedic horror/sci-fi has been lost to time for decades, but Culture Shock’s new Blu-ray resurrects it for a new crowd. It’s a goofy little film that sees a geeky young woman turned into a sexpot once the devil’s inside her, and soon she’s sucking the energy right out of the guys. It’s never a raunchy ride despite the implications, but there’s some minor fun to be had as an interdimensional bounty hunter comes looking for her. Fans of the film are well-served here with some in-depth interviews and a commentary with the director. It’s definitely a film that would have benefited from a bigger budget,

[Extras: New 4K scan, commentary, interviews]

House of Gucci

What is it? A waste of time outside of Jared Leto.

Why see it? Ridley Scott’s second film of 2021 is another mixed bag with a stellar cast. Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jeremy Irons, Al Pacino, and Leto star in a biopic of the Gucci family in the years leading up to an infamous murder. It’s a lot of pomp and circumstance dressed up as dull melodrama, but the one bright spot is a performance that entertains — and this is no confirmation that it’s necessarily a good performance — as Leto just goes to town with an accent, makeup, and mannerisms that scream “I am an Italian!”

[Extras: Featurettes]

The King’s Man

What is it? A prequel to the Kingsmen films.

Why see it? If you count yourself a fan of both previous Kingsmen films then yes, you will also enjoy this prequel. It won’t, however, win any new fans despite the arrival of Ralph Fiennes and Djimon Hounsou. Both are good fun, and the action is more of the same high energy, hyper antics. It lacks the character elements of the first, but it’s arguably better than the second. The story line is pretty weak, though, as it feels like a somewhat onenote approach to the agency’s founding.

[Extras: Featurettes]

The Monster of Camp Sunshine [AGFA]

What is it? A killer made mad by science threatens the tranquility of a nudist camp.

Why see it? This mid 60s tale of nudists and weirdos is actually a pretty straightforward one at its most basic elements — two friends spending time at a nudist camp discover a fully clothed terror — but it’s also silly and sincere in its appreciation of the culture. So yes, lots of black & white nudity and a crazed killer lead up to more silliness involving cuts from war films and a recap for folks wanting to relive the film. Two additional 60s features, both micro-budget affairs with an eye for naked performers, are included here. Of the two, Honeymoon of Terror manages some thrills with its barebones setup and execution as a lumberjack-looking bastard tries to attack a young bride on her honeymoon at the beach.

[Extras: Two bonus features]

Side Out

What is it? Beach volleyball, baby!

Why see it? 1990 was a time in which Peter Horton could land a leading role in a harmless, forgettable little beach flick, and that’s not a knock. He plays the cool older dude who partners with a young newcomer (C. Thomas Howell) to the sport, and together they shake up things and win some fans. It’s a movie no one ever thinks about, but it’s a fun enough watch with romance, beach skin, and some entertaining volleyball action.

[Extras: None]

Village of the Giants [KL Studio Classics]

What is it? Rowdy teens get a hold of a growth formula!

Why see it? Leave it to Bert I. Gordon to realize that he’d already made movies about lots of different animals so why not give teens a growth spurt? It’s the 60s so you know there’s gonna be dancing and cops who just don’t understand the youth of today, but when the bad kids grow into giants they take control of the town. They didn’t count on a young Ron Howard inventing an antidote though! Add in Beau Bridges and Tommy Kirk alongside a silly sense of humor — the final gag sees a group of little people heading to the town where people get bigger — and you have a fun little piece of 60s genre entertainment.

[Extras: New 4K restoration, commentary]

Also out this week:

Alligator II: The Mutation [Scream Factory], Boat People [Criterion Collection], Dancing Pirate, El Planeta, Escape from L.A. [4K UHD], France, The Green Mile [4K UHD], Shattered, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy [4K UHD]