New Release Tuesday! David Lynch on Criterion, classic monsters in 4K, and so much more! 

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) (CRITERION)

AUTOMAT, THE (2021)

The Automat recounts the lost history of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, which served affordable food to millions of New Yorkers and Philadelphians for more than a century. Founded by Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart in 1888, it revolutionized the nation’s restaurant scene with technology that captured the public’s imagination like nothing else— the customer put nickels into slots and little windows opened to reveal the customer’s pick, be it a slice of pie, macaroni and cheese, or a Salisbury steak. The chain welcomed those who had been ignored, including immigrants, the working class, Blacks, and women, all of whom were often not welcome in restaurants. Featuring interviews with Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colin Powell and Elliott Gould, The Automat illustrates how the company both served the public with great food and at the same time treated its employees with fairness and integrity. (DVD)

BARBARIANS (2021)

BEAST (2022)

Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, The Suicide Squad) stars in a pulse-pounding new thriller about a father and his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savannah has but one apex predator.

Elba plays Dr. Nate Daniels, a recently widowed husband who returns to South Africa, where he first met his wife, on a long-planned trip with their daughters to a game reserve managed by Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley, Russian Doll series, Maleficent), an old family friend and wildlife biologist. But what begins as a journey of healing jolts into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of blood-thirsty poachers who now sees all humans as the enemy, begins stalking them. (BLU-RAY and DVD)

BORDER TOWN: Seasons 1-3  (2016)

Chief investigator Kari Sorjonen and his family move to a small town to enjoy a more peaceful life. But it seems that the idyllic existence
they had hoped for is far from the reality of this bordertown nestled between Finland and Russia. As the new police chief, Sorjonen has to use his brilliant mind and exceptional deductive skills to investigate several murder cases along with a serial killer who is tormenting the community. (BLU-RAY)

BY CANDLELIGHT (1933)

Universal’s finest horror director James Whale (Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Old Dark House) brilliantly shifted genres with the dazzling Pre-Code romantic comedy By Candlelight. Josef (Paul Lukas, The Kiss Before the Mirror) is the ultra-dutiful butler to a Casanova-like prince (Nils Asther, The Bitter Tea of General Yen). Falling in love with Marie (Elissa Landi, The Sign of the Cross), whom he assumes to be a countess, Josef masquerades—quite convincingly—as his rakish master. The catch: Marie is herself a poseur, a mere maidservant of nobility. (BLU-RAY)

CAPTAIN NEWMAN, M.D. (1963)

This classic comedy-drama follows the affable Captain Newman (Peck) as he uses both humor and compassion to reach patients whose wartime injuries plague their minds instead of their bodies. Co-starring Tony Curtis (The Great Impostor), Angie Dickinson (The Art of Love), Eddie Albert (Attack), Robert Duvall (Tender Mercies), Dick Sargent (TV’s Bewitched) and Bobby Darin (Come September), this critically acclaimed film is just what the doctor ordered! Captain Newman, M.D. was nominated for three Oscars: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Darin), Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Richard L. Breen, Phoebe Ephron, Henry Ephron) and Best Sound (Waldon O. Watson). (BLU-RAY)

CHERIF: SEASON 1-6

Join the party that is Cherif because homicide detective Kader Cherif (Abdelhafid Metalsi, Spiral and Spin) from Lyon, France puts the fun in dysfunctional! He’s an overgrown kid doing an adult job: he gets investigative inspiration from vintage TV cop shows, receives advice and baked goods from his mother constantly and interviews suspects over tea in his apartment across from the police station. His methods are eccentric, but they work; the results win the admiration and loyalty of colleagues and supervisors. His flair for investigating leads him to sniff out the cracks in a case and his relaxed manner gets the criminals to let down their guard. He may be smooth with suspects and perps but he loves his friends and family authentically. He has primary custody of a teenaged daughter, Sarah and in that capacity excels as an engaged father. Sarah’s mother, his ex Deborah (Élodie Hesme, Detectives and Murder in Blois) is also one of his biggest fans – what kind of relational feat is that? She’s also the district attorney, so they see each other plenty! There’s no underdog or marginalized person Cherif doesn’t feel for and it’s only because of street smarts that his empathy doesn’t lead him into more trouble. His heart does lead him into a major passion with his partner, Captain Adeline Briard (Carole Bianic, Perfect Murders and Murder in Corrèze) but throughout the ups and downs he manages to dust himself off and stay open to life’s next adventure. It may not be easy being Captain Kader Cherif but it’s a blast to watch!  (DVD)

CHOCOLATE WAR (1988)

Based on Robert Cormier’s controversial novel – once the most widely banned book in America -this “starkly beautiful” (San Francisco Chronicle) allegory of abusive power is set in a Catholic boy’s school where a chocolate sale becomes a war over conformity. Jerry (Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Weird Science) is a student who refuses to take part, undercutting ambitious school administrator Brother Leon (John Glover, Scrooged). Leon secretly enlists Archie (Wallace Langham, credited as Wally Ward, Ford v. Ferrari) – the sadistic mastermind of the school’s resident gang – to force Jerry into line. But motives and results are far more complex than they first seem in this “fascinating film done with style, with care and with excellence” (Los Angeles Times) (BLU-RAY)

DEAD FOR A DOLLAR (2022)

DIFFERENT STORY (1978)

A lesbian real estate agent takes in a gay illegal immigrant as a roommate when he loses his job. They ultimately marry to keep him from being deported, but after a night of drunken impulsive sex, she gets pregnant. Can two sexually mismatched friends remain together to create a family, or will hormones tear them apart? (BLU-RAY)

DUETS (2000)

Duets is a road-trip comedy which revolves around the little known world of karaoke and the whimsical characters who inhabit it. There’s the struggling singer who dreams of making it to the big time, a frustrated salesman who ends up on an unexpected road trip, the dysfunctional family performers which includes a con-artist and his long lost daughter, and an escaped convict with the voice of an angel. All roads lead to Omaha, site of a national karaoke competition where this motley group of singers and stars come together for a blow-out sing-off. (BLU-RAY)

GOLDENGIRL (1979)

Gorgeous Susan Anton (Cannonball Run II) stars as an untried female sprinter who enters the Olympics, claiming that she will win an unprecedented three gold medals. But when one man (legendary James Coburn, Firepower) falls in love with her, he unravels the bizarre history of her training and the tough money men who stand to make millions…if she survives! Directed by Joseph Sargent (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three), scored by Bill Conti (Rocky) and co-starring Leslie Caron (Gigi), Robert Culp (TV’s I Spy), Harry Guardino (Dirty Harry), Curt Jürgens (The Spy Who Loved Me), Michael Lerner (Barton Fink) and tennis great John Newcombe, Goldengirl is a winning sports story with a unique sci-fi twist. (DVD)

GONE IN THE NIGHT (2022)

Taking a weekend’s getaway cabin rental for their flagging relationship, Kath (Winona Ryder) and Max (John Gallagher, Jr.) arrived to find it double-booked to younger couple Greta (Brianne Tju) and Al (Owen Teague). The kids were amenable to sharing… but the next morning found Greta and Max seemingly having run off together. Kath’s hunt for answers-with the help of surprisingly solicitous cabin owner Barlow (Dermot Mulroney)-takes stunning turns in this impressive thriller. (DVD)

HALLELUJAH: LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG (2021)

A definitive exploration of singersongwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, “Hallelujah.” This feature-length documentary weaves together three creative strands: The songwriter and his times; the song’s dramatic journey from record label reject to chart-topping hit; and moving testimonies from major recording artists for whom “Hallelujah” has become a personal touchstone. Approved for production by Leonard Cohen just before his 80th birthday in 2014, the film accesses a wealth of never-before-seen archival materials from the Cohen Trust including Cohen’s personal notebooks, journals and photographs, performance footage, and extremely rare audio recordings and interviews. (BLU-RAY)

HORRIBLE SEXY VAMPIRE (1970)

A series of murders is being committed. Both men and women are victims of a mystery assassin. The police think it is the work of a serial killer. The coroner is not sure it is so simple. He has been studying the case and has discovered that for nearly a hundred years in the same district people, have been killed in the same way and according to a very distinct time pattern.

To the astonishment of the investigating officer, the coroner says he believes the killings to be the work of a supernatural creature – a vampire. Soon a stranger arrives in the area, claiming to be the sole descendent of the long dead baron who was believed to be a vampire. He accompanies the police into the burial vaults of the ancient castle, where a dreadful sight awaits them.

Something of a holy grail for fans of European horror cinema, and notorious for its frequent scenes of nudity, the film has been unavailable for many years. This is a world premier Blu-ray release. Filmed in Germany in the snowy winter of 1969, the film has a unique and morbid atmosphere and features an astonishing performance from Jess Franco favorite Wal Davis as both vampire and victim. (BLU-RAY)

IMPOSSIBLE LOVE (2018)

At the end of the 1950s, Rachel (Virginie Efira, Elle, Call My Agent!), a young office clerk living in a provincial town, meets Philippe (Niels Schneider), a well-educated man from a wealthy family. They share an intense but short-lived romance, from which a daughter is born. Over the next 50 years, their lives will be shaped by the unconditional love between a mother and her daughter, overshadowed by the impossible love of a woman for a man that rejects her, and of a daughter for an absent and abusive father. (DVD)

INGAGI (1930)

The exploitation cinema had its share of scandalous films, but none is so mired in controversy as the bizarre pseudo-documentary Ingagi. Purporting to be an ethnographic journey into the wilds of Africa, it combines authentic footage purloined from other films, with outrageous scenes staged for the camera in Los Angeles. Among the hoaxes perpetrated are the discovery of the “tortadillo,” a heretofore unknown species of animal, and the exposure of an indigenous cult that worships (and sacrifices its women to) gorillas—a particularly racist concept that would resurface in films for years, most notably as the dramatic springboard for King Kong. After spawning a whole sub-genre of exotic shockumentaries (e.g. Forbidden Adventure, Karamoja), the originator faded into obscurity, mired in lawsuits and cursed by the notoriety of its title (the Kinyarwanda word for “gorilla”). Ingagi has not been commercially distributed for at least 50 years, and this 4K restoration, from materials preserved by the Library of Congress, marks the film’s home video premiere. (BLU-RAY)

LOST HIGHWAY (1997) (CRITERION)

LOVE BRIDES OF THE BLOOD MUMMY (1973)

In ancient Egypt, the son of a high priest is sentenced to death for the murder and mutilation of young women. His father uses his influence to have his son placed in a cataleptic state and sealed intact in a grand sarcophagus. Thousands of years later, in a castle in remote 19th century Cornwall, Lord Dartmoor, an eccentric practitioner of the Black Arts, opens the sarcophagus and brings the body back to life through the power of electricity. The Egyptian needs fresh blood to survive and using his telepathic abilities he enslaves Dartmoor’s servant, John, and forces him to kidnap young women and bring them back to the castle where they will be drained of their life fluid by the monster. Lord Dartmoor is locked in a cage in the castle’s dungeon and becomes a powerless witness to the ensuing scenes of horror. (BLU-RAY)

MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (1935) (WARNER ARCHIVE)

Sir Borotyn (Holmes Herbert), a prominent Prague resident, is discovered murdered in his home, with all indications pointing to a vampire assault. The victim’s friend, Baron Otto (Jean Hersholt), and the physician who analyzes the body are certain that the vampire is the mysterious Count Mora (Bela Lugosi), or perhaps his daughter (Carroll Borland), but receive little help from the law. Professor Zelen (Lionel Barrymore), an expert in the occult, is called in to assist with the investigation. (BLU-RAY)

MR. WRONG (1996)

Martha is a single woman working at a television talk show. When her younger sister gets married, everyone’s wondering when Martha is going to meet Mr. Right and tie the knot. When by chance, Martha meets a handsome stranger named Whitman, the two fall madly in love with each other. But soon Martha discovers little quirks in Whitman… little quirks that become horrifying nightmares. But by the time Martha realizes that she must break up with him, it’ll take more than subtle hints to make him go away — she’ll have to get into the most outrageous predicaments to rid herself of Mr. Wrong. (BLU-RAY)

MURDER AT THE VANITIES (1934)

Kitty Carlisle (A Night at the Opera), Jack Oakie (The Eagle and the Hawk), Victor McLaglen (Klondike Annie) and Carl Brisson (Hitchcock’s The Ring) star in Murder at the Vanities, an artfully audacious Pre-Code musical comedy and murder mystery. An opening night of a new musical leads to real behind-the-scenes drama when the play’s leading lady (Carlisle) is the target of a brutal murder plot. Producer Jack Ellery (Oakie) hires detective Bill Murdock (McLaglen) to solve the crime and chase down a killer while staying out of the spotlight. (BLU-RAY)

NO ESCAPE (1994)

The Year is 2022. John Robbins (Ray Liotta, Goodfellas), a former Marine Captain, has been sentenced for assassinating his commanding officer and is banished to a secret and remote prison island run by The Warden (Michael Lerner, Eight Men Out). In this prison of the future, inhabited by society’s most violent and feared criminals, Robbins is left to the mercy of the elements and his fellow man. He finds the island divided into two camps: The Outsiders, led by the brutal and bloodthirsty Marek (Stuart Wilson, Lethal Weapon 3); and The Insiders, led by the strong-willed, benevolent Father (Lance Henriksen, Aliens) and his followers Hankins (Ernie Hudson, Ghostbusters) and Casey (Kevin Dillon, Entourage). Robbins doesn’t care to join either – his one aim is to break free of an island from which there is no escape. To aid him, he steals a powerful and destructive weapon from The Outsiders, sparking off a major war between the two encampments. Now bloody battle and the brutality of hand-to-hand combat will take many lives before Robbins can think of freedom again. Trapped on an island where nature can be as deadly as man, there is only one thought which keeps Robbins alive… escape…escape…escape. (DVD)

OLGA (2021)

A 15-year-old Ukrainian gymnast exiled in Switzerland, who is working to secure a place at the country’s National Sports Center. When the Euromaiden revolt breaks out in the country, anxieties rise as her family gets involved. (BLU-RAY)

OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR (1973)

Ana, a young songwriter and piano player, lives alone with her father in a large house on the island of Madeira. She meets a boy and they plan to marry. However when she tells her father of their intentions he tries to persuade her to call off the wedding.

With the help of her aunt, Ana continues with her plans and one day her expensive wedding dress is delivered. Ana puts on the dress and runs happily through the house to find her father. Entering his study she sees, reflected in a mirror, her father hanging by a rope. He has killed himself.

Ana leaves the island for the mainland and gets a job playing with a jazz band. However, she is haunted by visions of her dead father calling to her from beyond the mirror, summoning her to murder any man who gets close to her. Gradually the mirror world takes over Ana’s life until she can no longer separate fantasy from reality.

With a stunning performance by Emma Cohen as Ana, this was one of Jess Franco’s most unusual and personal films. This is its first ever US release and a world premiere on Blu-ray. (BLU-RAY)

ROUND UP (1920)

After Dick Lane (Irvin Cummings) disappears during a prospecting trip, his fiancé Echo Allen (Mabel Julienne Scott) agrees to marry Dick’s friend Jack Payson (Tom Forman) who is harboring a secret about his fallen pal. When “half-breed” Buck McKee (Wallace Beery), a rival for Echo’s affections, robs the express office and points the blame at Jack, it is up to jovial Sheriff Slim Hoover (Roscoe Arbuckle) to solve the crime. (BLU-RAY and DVD)

SLAUGHTER DAY (1991)

In the rural recesses of Hawaii, a pair of friends must fight an ancient evil force brought to life by an occult book that possesses a group of construction workers, turning them into murderous maniacs. (BLU-RAY)

SMOKE & MIRRORS: THE STORY OF TOM SAVINI (2015)

The definitive documentary on one of the most iconic and sought after special effects artists in horror film history, whose genre-defining creations earned him the title “The King of Splatter.” We follow Savini from his childhood in Pittsburgh and his tour of duty during the Vietnam War, leading into his legendary collaboration with George Romero (Dawn of the Dead, Creepshow) and beyond. Here. Savini is celebrated by his peers, friends and collaborators like Robert Rodriquez, Tom Atkins, Tony Todd, Greg Nicotero and more. (DVD)

SOUTH (1919)

When Shackleton set sail on the Endurance on August 8, 1914, he planned a brave attempt to cross the continent of Antarctica via the South Pole. But within a day’s travel, the Endurance was trapped in unusually heavy pack ice. What followed is one of the most spectacular adventure stories ever—an unbelievable tale of courage and survival. The crew drifted on ice floes for months before landing on the completely deserted Elephant Island. With no chance for rescue, Ernest Shackleton and five of his men made a 850-mile journey in an open boat with only a sextant to guide them across the roughest seas in the world. (BLU-RAY)

SQUEAL (2021)

Lost in remotest part of Eastern Europe, Sam is a foreigner, searching for his biological father Lagzdins where a minor road accident leads to a chance meeting with a pig-farmer’s daughter, who captures him and making a slave on the farm. (BLU-RAY)

SWEET TOOTH: SEASON 1 (2021) 

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962) 

Gregory Peck stars as courageous Southern lawyer Atticus Finch—the Academy Award-winning performance hailed by the American Film Institute as the Greatest Movie Hero of All Time. Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel about innocence, strength and conviction and nominated for eight Academy Awards. (BLU-RAY + 4KULTRAHD and DVD)

TWIN, THE (2022)

UNIVERSAL CLASSIC  MONSTERS: ICONS OF HORROR Vol. 2

From Universal Pictures, home of the monsters since the era of silent movies, comes a second volume of Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection, showcasing four more of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history: The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Starring Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester and Claude Rains in the roles they made famous, these iconic films set new standards for horror with groundbreaking makeup, cinematography and special effects that have withstood the test of time. (BLU-RAY + 4KULTRAHD) (Each title rents separately)

UNSTRUNG HEROES (1995)

When a youngster needs a break from the pressures of his parents’ household, he moves in with his offbeat uncle. From this unlikely pair, his family soon learns some invaluable lessons about life, love and pride. (BLU-RAY)

UNWANTED, THE (2014)

A young drifter arrives in a rural town seeking the whereabouts of the mother she never knew. When she becomes sexually involved with an emotionally fragile waitress, she exposes the secret of her mother’s disappearance and incites the wrath of the girl’s overprotective father. (BLU-RAY)

UPHILL ALL THE WAY (1986)

Out of the vast and glorious west gallops the legend of Booger and Ben! The west couldn’t be wilder, not with Ben Hooker (Roy Clark, Matilda) and Booger Skaggs (Mel Tillis, The Cannonball Run) are on the loose! They’re just two good ol’ boy con men with a knack… a downright gift for finding trouble wherever it might be hiding. From the Texas Panhandle to the Rio Grande to the Red River, our pair of lovable misfits manage to find more than their share of trouble. Caught cheating at poker, stiffing the local “madame”, bungling a robbery attempt, ambushing a Cavalry party, the pair has the entire Lone Star State hot on their trail. (BLU-RAY)

VAN DER VALK: SEASON 2 (2020)

Van der Valk (Marc Warren) and the team return for a second compelling season of murder investigations set against the stunning backdrop of Amsterdam and its contrasting worlds. (DVD)