It's been a bit of a struggle to make it to release day, but we're here and undefeated. This week is top-lined by A Quiet Place: Day One, a film I expected to be radically different from the other two films in the franchise and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't. It is simply a really good popcorn feature with a purpose that extends beyond superficial entertainment. You should see it in theaters, but now you can watch it at home.

Of the other digital titles I've only saw Janet Planet and found it to be mid-level A24. The performances are strong, but I couldn't connect to the narrative. I suspect it will speak to some audiences. It just didn't talk to me.

I fully intend on seeing Touch in the near future.

Blu-ray and DVD releases are predominantly catalog titles. We do, however, get a handful of new horror films. I wasn't enamored with The First Omen. I vastly prefer the lower-budget thrills of the more ambitious Sting. Horror fans will want to take a look at Danza Macabra: Volume Three — The Spanish Gothic Collection from Severin. Those looking for a collection of gratuitous B-move chaos from the late 1980s will want to add The Nico Mastorakis Collection to their bookshelf.

The Election 4K UHD is tempting. As is the exhilarating Run Lola Run. I was fortunate enough to see director Tom Tykwer's electropop masterpiece in theaters. There's nothing quite like it that feels remotely as successful.

If you haven't watched Guy Richie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E. youre missing out on an overlooked gem. It should have been a massive hit,

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) [Paramount]

Synopsis: Experience the day the world went quiet.

AMFAD: All My Friends Are Dead (2024) [Cineverse Entertainment]

Synopsis: A group of college friends rent an Airbnb for the biggest music festival of the year. A weekend of partying quickly takes a turn, as the group is murdered one by one, according to their sin. Available: 8/2/24

Escape from Germany (2024) [Samuel Goldwyn Films]

Synopsis: Hitler's army was rapidly closing borders in August of 1939 while eighty-five American missionaries were serving their church inside Germany. As the German military preparations escalated, word came to speedily move those LDS missionaries to safety in adjacent countries. Taken from the personal diaries of those missionaries, this riveting story is a testimony that God truly leads and protects His servants, opens doors, and provides timely inspiration. The harrowing escape of these missionaries from Nazi Germany as World War II started is one of the most remarkable but little-known events in LDS history.

Available: 8/2/24

Janet Planet (2024) [A24]

Synopsis: In rural Western Massachusetts, 11-year-old Lacy spends the summer of 1991 at home, enthralled by her own imagination and the attention of her mother, Janet. As the months pass, three visitors enter their orbit, all captivated by Janet and her spellbinding nature. In her solitary moments, Lacy inhabits an inner world so extraordinarily detailed that it begins to seep into the outside world. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker captures a child's experience of time passing, and the ineffability of a daughter falling out of love with her mother, in this singularly sublime film debut.

Touch (2024) [Universal Studios]

Synopsis: Based on the Icelandic best-selling novel by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, Touch is a romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents. Touch follows one widower’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out.

Treasure (2024) [Decal Releasing]

Synopsis: A father-daughter road trip set in 1990s Poland, Treasure follows Ruth (Lena Dunham), an American music journalist, and her father, Edek (Stephen Fry), a charmingly stubborn Holocaust survivor, on a journey to his homeland. While Ruth is eager to make sense of her family’s past, Edek embarks on the trip with his own agenda. This emotional, funny culture clash of two New Yorkers exploring post-socialist Poland is a powerful example of how reconnecting with family and the past can be an unexpected treasure.

The Vourdalak (2023) [Oscilloscope Pictures]

Synopsis: When the Marquis d’Urfé, a noble emissary of the King of France, is attacked and abandoned in the remote countryside, he finds refuge at an eerie, isolated manor. The resident family, reluctant to take him in, exhibits strange behavior as they await the imminent return of their father, Gorcha. But what begins simply as strange quickly devolves into a full fledged nightmare when Gorcha returns, seemingly no longer himself. Available: 8/2/24

The Bohemian (2022) [Music Box Films]

Synopsis: In 18th century Italy, aspiring opera composer Josef Mysliveček dreams of becoming a musician. His ambitions lead him to embark on a journey, exploring the world of opera to fulfill his destiny. Against all odds, he makes his mark in sophisticated Venice society as “Il Boemo,” his talent and charm winning over socialites, impresarios, and performers – in addition to the many women captivated by his appeal. Embracing a hedonistic lifestyle within the “pleasure capital” of Europe, Mysliveček enjoys a multitude of sexual relationships while pouring his heart into his music.

The Bohemian follows Mysliveček’s most prolific decades, composing numerous works in the genre of Italian opera seria as well as influencing and befriending Mozart — though their relationship is tested when a life-changing commission comes between them. Winner of six Czech Lion Awards, including Best Czech Film and Best Director, and selected as the Czech submission for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, this lush biopic from Petr Václav commemorates an underappreciated, adventurous musical great.

Blu-ray & DVD

Alienoid: Return to the Future (2024) [Well Go USA]

Synopsis: After locating the Divine Blade, a shaman and a modern-day woman race through time to battle a powerful alien commander intent on destroying mankind in ALIENOID: RETURN TO THE FUTURE, Part II of Choi Dong-hoon’s epic sci-fi action series.

The First Omen (2024) [Disney]

Synopsis: When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2024) [Drafthouse Films]

Synopsis: Sasha is a young vampire with a very serious problem: she’s too sensitive to kill! Frustrated by their daughter’s empathy for humans, Sasha’s parents decide to cut off her blood supply to force her to learn how to hunt… or starve! Just as she decides to reject her vampire instincts and embrace a final death, she meets a lonely teenager named Paul who is willing to give his life to save hers, on the condition that she help to fulfill his final wishes before day breaks.

Sting (2024) [Well Go USA]

Synopsis: After raising an unnervingly talented spider in secret, 12-year-old Charlotte must face the facts about her pet—and fight for her family’s survival—when the once-charming creature rapidly transforms into a giant, flesh-eating monster.

Danza Macabra: Volume Three — The Spanish Gothic Collection (1971-1975) [Severin Films]

Features: Spain’s tradition of Gothic Horror – particularly during the Franco dictatorship – was characterized by daring concepts, lush visuals, extreme sexuality and a startling aesthetic all its own. These four classic shockers from the 1970s represent the genre at its most audacious: In NECROPHAGOUS, the debut feature by writer/director Miguel Madrid, a fractured family in a crumbling castle conceals a grisly graveyard secret. The anthology film CAKE OF BLOOD – never previously available outside of Spain – presents a quartet of supernatural tales by four young filmmakers. Hammer Films director John Gilling brings his inimitable style to the occult thriller in CROSS OF THE DEVIL. And a terminally ill woman is enticed by eternal life in León Klimovsky’s vampire masterwork, THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD. Each film in this collection has been scanned from its original negative – with over 8 hours of Special Features – for the first time ever in America. 

The Nico Mastorakis Collection (1984-1992) [Arrow Films]

Synopsis: He's back! One of the most infamous B-movie maestros to have ever sat in a director’s chair, Nico Mastorakis returns to Arrow Video with a collection of sci-fi shenanigans and screwball comedies that will take you out of this world!

First up, Nico then shows a more thoughtful side in The Time Traveller, where the widow (Adrienne Barbeau, The Fog) of an astronaut and her young son come across a mysterious man (Kier Dullea, 2001: A Space Odyssey) with uncanny powers on a beach in Greece. The wacky Sky High sees three American jocks on holiday in Greece being handed a tape by a mysterious figure, who begs them to not let it fall into the wrong hands before being shot by an unseen assassin. Featuring an early score from the great Hans Zimmer, Terminal Exposure focuses on two carefree beach photographers, who accidentally photograph a murder and immediately set after the assassin: a tall, gorgeous blonde with a rose tattoo on her behind. Glitch! sees two bumbling burglars whose attempt to throw the house party of the century in the luxury home of a Hollywood producer is foiled by a group of mobsters determined to collect what the producer owes them – no matter what. Take a martial arts school, throw in a snotty rich kid, a clumsy geek, a paranoid survivalist, two beach joggers, a cool secret agent and a mime, and you get Ninja Academy, a madcap karate comedy like no other starring Gerald Okamura (Big Trouble in Little China). Finally, in The Naked Truth, Mastorakis pays homage to a certain Billy Wilder film when two friends decide to pass as women and pose as makeup artists for a local beauty pageant to elude a vicious mafia boss. It seems like the perfect cover, until the mafioso gets the hots for one of them!

Zany, shocking and unhinged, Nico Mastorakis offers a satirical and sardonic skewering of American cinema with a chutzpah that must be seen to be believed!

Ali G Indahouse (2002) [Shout! Factory]

Synopsis: The hip-hopping, gangsta rapper wannabe (Sacha Baron Cohen) is thrown into the world of politics when he gets entangled in an evil Chancellor's plot to overthrow the Prime Minister of Great Britain (Michael Gambon, the Harry Potter series.) But instead of bringing him down, Ali G is embraced by the nation as the voice of youth and "realness," making the Prime Minister and his government more popular than ever.

Bwana Devil 3D (1952) [Kino Lorber]

Synopsis: Fully remastered for the very first time in 3-D by 3-D Film Archive! The first feature-length 3-dimensional color motion picture in history, Arch Oboler’s eye-popping adventure tale Bwana Devil kickstarted the 3-D movie craze with a roar! When British railway workers in Kenya become the favorite snack of two man-eating lions, the head engineers (Robert Stack and Nigel Bruce) desperately try to cease the slaughter. Big-game hunters are summoned and a vicious battle between man and beast ensues—all in thrilling color and three astonishing dimensions! Filmed using Natural Vision Corporation’s groundbreaking stereoscopic system with the theory “that the 3-D cameras should see and record the scene exactly as the human eyes see it” (cinematographer Joseph F. Biroc), the legendary Bwana Devil now makes the leap from silver screen to home video, promising to put “a lion in your lap” and “a lover in your arms”!

Can't Stop the Music (1980) 4K UHD [Kino Lorber]

Synopsis: New York City DJ/songwriter Jack Morell (Steve Guttenberg, Police Academy, Don’t Tell Her It’s Me) needs just one big break to get his music heard and land a record deal. But with the help of his retired supermodel roommate (that stunning villainess from Superman, Valerie Perrine) and an uptight tax attorney (Olympic champion Caitlyn Jenner), they bring together six singing macho men from the Greenwich Village scene for an outrageously ’80s adventure of fun, fantasy and disco fever. Welcome to the not-quite-straight story of the creation of the Village People in their one-and-only movie musical extravaganza—Can’t Stop the Music! Paul Sand, Tammy Grimes, June Havoc, Barbara Rush, Altovise Davis and Marilyn Sokol co-star in this beloved camp classic produced by Allan Carr (Grease) that features unforgettable dialogue, unimaginable performances and unbelievable production numbers of zesty hits like “Y.M.C.A.” and so much more!

Eighteen Years in Prison (1967) [Radiance Films] 

Synopsis: Trying to survive in the ruins of post-war Japan, Kawada (Noboru Ando, By a Man’s Face Shall You Know Him) and Tsukada (Asao Koike, Sympathy for the Underdog) run afoul of the military police after stealing valuable copper wire. Kawada is arrested and sent to prison, but Tsukada uses their gains to start a yakuza gang. Facing violent inmates and a cruel warden (Tomisaburo Wakayama, Big Time Gambling Boss), Kawada vows to escape and stop his former partner. Tai Kato directs this epic prison story with characteristic visual flair, while gangster-turned-actor Ando delivers a stunning performance charged with real-life gravitas. As an examination of the deep scars of wartime, this genre classic is also a clear precursor to Kinji Fukasaku’s epoch-making Battles Without Honour and Humanity series.

Election (1999) 4K UHD [Paramount]

Synopsis: A hysterical political-satire, 25 years later, ELECTION has been remastered in 4K Ultra HD for this limited-edition Paramount Presents, approved by director Alexander Payne (THE HOLDOVERS). Brilliantly adapted by Payne and Jim Taylor from the original novel by Tom Perrotta, Reese Witherspoon is unforgettable as Tracy Flick—the straight "A" go-getter determined to be president of Carver High's student body. She soon catches the attention of social studies teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), who decides to derail Flick’s obsessive overachieving by recruiting an opposition candidate (Chris Klein), putting in motion a disastrous series of events.

House of Gucci (2021) 4K UHD [Shout! Factory]

Synopsis: House Of Gucci is inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire. When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately ... murder.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 4K UHD [Arrow]

Synopsis: With Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, director Guy Ritchie established himself as a master of bravura set pieces and buddy movie banter, before proving he could successfully meld the irreverent spirit with classic properties in his Sherlock Holmes adaptations. Now, Ritchie brings his signature touch to his big-screen translation of the beloved 1960s television spy show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

1963: in the thick of the Cold War, roguish CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill, Mission: Impossible – Fallout) forms an uneasy alliance with brooding KGB officer Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer, Call Me by Your Name) to thwart a criminal organization with apocalyptic intentions. The rebellious daughter of a missing nuclear scientist (Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina) is their only ticket inside the sinister ring – but to whom is she truly loyal? A desperate race against time will determine whether the scientist’s atomic research will shatter the delicate balance of power in the world.

A thrilling spy romp with rich period detail and an infectious soundtrack of cool pop classics, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. puts a colorful, contemporary twist on 1960s espionage and delivers pure entertainment with swaggering ease.

No Way Out (1987) [Kino Lorber]

Synopsis: Charged with high-voltage tension and suspense, the electrifying thriller No Way Out is a tightly wound tale of intrigue set in the political whirl of Washington and the inner corridors of the Pentagon. In this ’80s box-office smash, Kevin Costner (The Untouchables, Revenge) stars as naval hero Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell, the new CIA liaison for Defense Secretary David Brice, a high-ranking master of political maneuvers played by the dynamic Gene Hackman (The Package, Narrow Margin). Sexy Sean Young (Blade Runner) is a gorgeous party girl who plays politics herself as Brice’s mistress and Farrell’s secret lover. And Will Patton (Desperately Seeking Susan) is the Secretary’s ruthless aide, architect of a cover-up scheme that protects his boss, but entraps Farrell, putting his life in danger. With its serpentine plot twists, narrow escapes and true-to-life Pentagon setting, No Way Out is the harrowing story of an innocent man caught in a complex web of romance and murder, power and corruption. Stylishly directed by Roger Donaldson (The Bounty, Species) from Kenneth Fearing’s classic noir novel, The Big Clock. The stellar supporting cast includes Howard Duff (Shakedown), George Dzundza (Basic Instinct) and Fred Thompson (Die Hard 2).

Run Lola Run (1998) 4K UHD [Sony Pictures]

Synopsis: This multiple award winner from Tom Tykwer (The Princess And The Warrior) stars Franka Potente as Lola, the orange-haired punk girlfriend of Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), a small-time courier for a big-time gangster. Manni is working a standard pickup/drop-off, and everything is going fine until an unforeseen incident makes Lola late to pick him up. One stroke of bad luck leads to another, and by the time Manni calls Lola, he has a big problem: He is supposed to meet his unforgiving boss in 20 minutes with 100,000 marks that suddenly he does not have. Lola rushes out of her apartment, attempting to get to Manni and somehow pick up 100,000 marks along the way. As the seconds tick down, the tiniest choices become life-altering (or -ending) decisions, and the fine line between fate and fortune begins to blur.

Sherlock Holmes (1968) [Severin Films]

Synopsis: Having first portrayed the legendary detective for Hammer Films in 1959, Peter Cushing enthusiastically returned to the role of Sherlock Holmes for this 1968 BBC television series co-starring Nigel Stock (THE LOST CONTINENT) as Dr. Watson. Though most of the shows were forever lost, these six surviving episodes – including the two-part The Hound of The Baskervilles adapted by award-winning playwright Hugh Leonard – showcase Cushing at his elementary best, with guest stars that include Madge Ryan (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE), Ann Bell (THE WITCHES), Nick Tate (SPACE: 1999) and Gary Raymond (JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS). This definitive presentation of SHERLOCK HOLMES – which also includes the classic cases A Study in Scarlet, The Blue Carbuncle, The Boscombe Valley Mystery and The Sign of Four – is now restored from BBC tape protection masters.

Tchao Pantin (1983) [Radiance Films]

Synopsis: Bensoussan (Richard Anconina) is a small-time drug pusher in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris. Being trailed by suspicious patrol cops he takes refuge in a petrol station and strikes up a conversation with night manager Lambert (Coluche). As Bensoussan continues to drop in on Lambert they develop a friendship. But it isn't long before problems arise for Bensoussan and Lambert feels a responsibility to the the young tearaway. Slick and stunningly shot by Bruno Nuytten (Possession), this rain-soaked neo-noir was a multiple winner at the French César Academy Awards taking home acting prizes for both leads, the film anchored by their tender performances. A tale of friendship and revenge set within the fatalistic noir framework, Claude Berri's Tchao Pantin was a box office smash in France. Radiance Films is proud to present Tchao Pantin on Blu-ray for the first time outside of France from a glorious 4K restoration supervised by Nyutten.

Ted Lasso: The Complete Series (2020-2023) [Warner Bros.]

Synopsis: In a bitter divorce settlement from her billionaire husband Rupert Mannion (Anthony Head), Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) becomes the new owner of AFC Richmond, a struggling British English Premier League football team. She's assisted by her garden gnome Director of Communications (and later Director of Football Operations) Leslie Higgins (Jeremy Swift), who formerly worked for her husband. Her first order of business is to fire the team's current manager and replace him with American football coach Theodore "Ted" Lasso (Jason Sudeikis). Formerly a small-time coach from Wichita Kansas, Ted and his friend, assistant Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) cross the pond to take up the management of the team's long, albeit modest history. Although he is nationally ridiculed for doing something so stupid, Ted works to change the team's profound mediocrity. Richmond is about to change the way they're doing things, from now on, it's the Lasso way. All 3 seasons of the Emmy-award winning series are available in this boxset which includes a double sided BELIEVE poster Included as a Gift-With-Purchase, While Supplies Last. Quantities Limited.

William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill (2023) [Decal Releasing]

Synopsis: An intimate portrait of William Shatner's personal journey across nine decades of a boldly lived and fully realized life, YOU CAN CALL ME BILL strips away all the masks he has worn during his storied career, to reveal the man behind it all.