The 1989 cult favorite The Wizard, toplined by Fred Savage and directed by Todd Holland (Krippendorff’s Tribe), hits Blu-ray March 24 via Shout Select. Along with a 4K scan of the film, the disc comes with a plethora of special features.
The narrative centers on Jimmy Woods (Luke Edwards) who runs away from home with his brother Corey (Fred Savage) after a family tragedy. Accompanying them on their road trip is Haley (Jenny Lewis), a teen who’s headed to Reno. Jimmy’s hidden talent in video games may come in handy during his journey to California, but unfortunately his father (Beau Bridges) and other brother (Christian Slater) are in hot pursuit!
The Wizard’s special features include audio commentary from Todd Holland, never before seen deleted scenes, and a featurette (“The Road to Cali-forn-ia”) that looks into the making of the film with interviews from Fred Savage, Luke Edwards, writer/producer David Chisholm, and producer Ken Topolsky. Other extras include a post screening Q&A from Let’s Play Gaming Expo 2019 with Edwards, Chisholm and Topolsky, a photo gallery, and two other featurettes “How Can I Help You? Confessions of a Game Play Counselor,” “A Clinical Analysis of the Wizard,” and trailers.
It Chapter Twomay not have been as critically beloved as the first installment, but it did make over $472 million worldwide at the box office. The feature is now out on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital, and one of the feature’s strongest aspects is Bill Hader’s performance as the grown up version of Richie (Finn Wolfhard plays Richie as a youth).
Click on the media bar to hear Bill Hader talk about how Finn Wolfhard helped him get the role in It Chapter Two:
Special features available on the 4K UHD Combo Pack includes audio commentary from director Andy Muschietti and several featurettes (“Pennywise Lives Again!,” “Finding the Deadlights,” “The Meeting of the Losers Club Has Officially Begun,” “Finding the Deadlights,” and “The Summers of It”).
It Chapter Two is now out a 4K UHD Combo Pack and DVD (digital code also included).
Bruce Willis, seen this year opposite Edward Norton in Motherless Brooklyn and the M. Night Shyamalan directed flick Glass, plays a police detective out to solve the murders of his partners and informant in Trauma Center. The thriller hits Blu-ray and DVD on February 4 via Lionsgate.
Teaming up with Lt. Wakes (Willis) is Madison (Nicky Whelan), a witness who was injured during the shootings. The two culprits are actually corrupt vice cops who are attempting to covering their tracks, and it’s up to Wakes to bring these criminals to justice. Willis has played police detectives way too many times to count (my personal favorite, not including the Die Hard films, is the underrated Richard Donner cop film 16 Blocks).
Rounding out the cast for Trauma Center are Tito Ortiz, Texas Battle and Steve Guttenberg. Check out the trailer and tell us what you think!
The House That Jack Built, the latest feature from revered filmmaker Lars von Trier (Antichrist, Breaking the Waves), hits Blu-ray and DVD on February 4 via Scream Factory.
The narrative centers on a failed architect and killer named Jack (Matt Dillon) as he recounts his elaborately planned murders, each of which help define his “career” as an accomplished serial killer. This black comedy which, like many of Lars Von Trier’s films has its devotees and detractors, co-stars Uma Thurman, Riley Keough, and Bruno Ganz.
Both the Blu-ray and DVD versions come with the theatrical cut and director’s cut of the flick.Special features include Sonning Prize: An Interview With Director Lars Von Trier, a teaser trailer, and theatrical trailer.
Are you a fan of Lars von Trier’s body of work, or is his approach to cinema a bit too much for you? Feel free to comment below!
Sliding Doors(Collector’s Edition), which marks the 100th release from Shout! Select, hits Blu-ray on January 21.
Directed by Peter Howitt (Johnny English), the narrative centers on a publicist named Helen whose life changes during a morning train back to her apartment. The film follows Helen’s life when she catches the train as well as when she misses it. This parallel storytelling earned its share of raves from critics, and in that same year (1998) Paltrow was also seen in Hush, A Perfect Murder, Great Expectations, and Shakespeare in Love.
Special features include a new audio commentary with writer/director Peter Howitt, trailers, and the featurette “A Stroll Through Sliding Doors London With Peter Howitt.” Also included is the documentary “The Sliding Doors Moments” which features new interviews with Howitt, Paltrow, and Hannah.
The critically acclaimed thriller Ready or Not centers on Grace (Samara Weaving), a young bride whose wedding night turns out to be a nightmare. Her new family (Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell) place her smack center in a deadly game of “Hide and Seek,” and she must use her wits and resourcefulness to survive the evening. Directed by Radio Silence (aka Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett), the unpredictable nature of the feature was an immediate draw for Weaving.
“It’s terrifying and hilarious,” said Weaving, whose previous credits include The Babysitter and Mayhem. “It doesn’t stick to one genre. It plays them really well together.”
Special features on the Blu-ray and DVD include the featurette “Let the Games Begin: The Making of Ready or Not,” audio commentary by Radio Silence and Samara Weaving, and a Gag Reel.
Click on the media bar to hear Weaving talk about the seventeen wedding dresses she wore for Ready or Not:
