Streaming might be the future, but physical media is still the present. It’s also awesome, depending on the title, the label, and the release, so each week we take a look at the new Blu-rays and DVDs making their way into the world. Welcome to this week in Home Video for September 20th, 2022! This week’s home video selection includes Batman: The Long Night, the first two seasons of The Outer Limits, and more. Check out our picks below.
Pick of the Week
What is it? A murder mystery unfolds in Gotham.
Why see it? Batman’s early years were a trial by fire, and both his allies and enemies were a constantly changing field. Here he joins forces with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent to bring down some baddies only to discover a serial killer in their midst. The villain roster includes The Joker, Scarecrow, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, and more — even Calendar Man makes an appearance! — but the heroes’ lives are every bit as important. The nearly three-hour film is rich in character and atmosphere, and the story keeps a pace with turns and action beats as the investigation takes its final toll. The new UHD takes full advantage of the film’s rich color scheme — dark shadows, vibrant hues — and while there are some occasionally visible compression issues their level of distraction will vary.
[Extras: Two-part film connected into one, featurettes]
The Best
What is it? A sequel to God Forgives… I Don’t!
Why see it? The pairing of Terence Hill and Bud Spencer across multiple films was a highly successful one resulting in some of the highest grossing and most popular westerns of the 60s. Writer/director Giuseppe Colizzi brought the pair back together for a sequel to one of their hits, but charisma-wise they take a back seat to a new third wheel in the form of an ornery Eli Wallach. Loyalties bounce back and forth until they settle on a shared enemy which leads to lots of western violence and even a heist of sorts. It’s a bit overlong at two hours, but it looks great, sounds great, and entertains with both action and personality.
[Extras: New 4K scan, commentary by Alex Cox]
What is it? “The best program of its type ever to run on network TV.” – Stephen King
Why see it? Some might disagree with King’s assessment of The Outer Limits, especially when shows like The Twilight Zone and Tales from the Darkside exist, but that doesn’t slight this classic anthology series at all. It delivered more than a few absolute banger episodes, and now Kino is bringing them back to Blu-ray in two separate releases — all 32 episodes collected in season one, and all 17 episodes in season two. Both are worth a pickup for the episodes alone, but the discs also include numerous commentaries that add immeasurable value in their details and anecdotes thanks to folks like David J. Schow, Tim Lucas, Steve Mitchell, and more. For the curious, both of these releases are identical in content to the Blu-rays released in 2018. The difference is in the packaging as the older fold-out sleeves have been replaced with standard snap cases, and the booklet in the older version is no longer included.
[Extras: Commentaries, interviews]
The Rest
Dreamchild [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? The “true” story about the creation of a literary classic.
Why see it? Alice in Wonderland remains a bestselling tale and one that’s been adapted into numerous films, but the spin here is that this is a look at the biographical truth behind it. Ian Holm plays Lewis Carroll, and we watch as the adult Alice recalls her childhood and Carroll’s odd friendship with her family. It’s an engaging enough drama on its own, but it’s elevated by detours into Wonderland complete with creature creations by the Jim Henson Muppet Shop.
[Extras: Commentary by Lee Gambin]
Mercenary Fighters [Code Red]
What is it? Mercs hired to resist an African rebellion discover the truth behind the lies.
Why see it? You always know what you’re gonna get with an 80s Cannon Group release. This 1988 entry lands on the lower budgeted side of things, but we still get plenty of gun fights, explosions, and beefy faceoffs. Reb Brown is the good guy, a mercenary, sure, but one with a moral code. Also along for the ride? Peter Fonda, Ron O’Neal, and James Mitchum. It’s a straightforward action romp with the expected turns of loyalty, and it delivers all it needs to as a B-movie romp.
[Extras: New 2K master]
Post Mortem [Scream Factory]
What is it? A post mortem photographer finds something reaching out from the other side.
Why see it? This Hungarian slice of slow burn horror offers up a mildly interesting look at post World War I dramas. The ideas at play intrigue even if the execution is a bit bogged down in filmmaking choices. Digital effects underwhelm and the running time drags a bit, but the core themes and the lead performance by Viktor Klem make it just compelling enough. If this capsule sounds wishy washy, well, the film is ambitious enough to almost recommend to genre fans. Almost.
[Extras: Deleted scenes]
Where the Crawdads Sing
What is it? A young woman alone in the swamp finds her moment to shine.
Why see it? The novel this film is based on is a huge bestseller, and Reese Witherspoon’s production company quickly snapped it up for adaptation. The result is an engaging tale of isolation, inspiration, and the people we encounter along the way. Daisy Edgar-Jones is the highlight as the young woman left to live on her own outside of a small North Carolina town, and a local boy’s death brings her into the spotlight as the prime suspect. There’s minor mystery here, but it’s more a story of persistence and personality.
[Extras: Featurettes, deleted scenes]
Also out this week:
Crawl [4K UHD], Exotica [Criterion Collection], The Last Train from Madrid [kl Studio Classics], Le Corbeau [Criterion Collection], The Lost Boys [4K UHD], Murina, Poltergeist [4K UHD], The Reef: Stalked, South, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers [KL Studio Classics], The Turning Point [KL Studio Classics], Vengeance, Wrong Place