Black Friday approacheth People! There were a metric crap ton of interesting films that came out this year on Blu-Ray, DVD and MOD Discs. These are all my favorites. I may have gotten a little carried away here, but I thought it'd be nice to give you all LOTS of options! Be they good, odd, interesting or just plain silly I am a fan of all of these films. Several titles in this group had never seen any official release on home video before this year. Some had been previously out of print or were just upgraded to DVD or Blu. It's quite a diverse mix. There is truly something for every kind of cinephile below. Please keep in mind that I left off some bigger releases as I assume you are all quite aware of those. Did I buy the JURASSIC PARK Blu-Rays? Sure I did, but this list is more meant cover some potentially neglected releases and upgrades to High Def. Hopefully at the very least I can make even the most rabid movie lover aware of a few discs they missed(and want as gifts). Happy shopping folks! Your film geek will thank you!
(Links to where to buy the films embedded in each title)
ALEX IN WONDERLAND(MOD)(Warner Archive)-Mazursky's take on 8 1/2.
BARRY LYNDON(Blu-Ray)(Warner)-Beautiful Kubrick film. Not talked about enough.
BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS(Blu-Ray)(Shout Factory)-Some believe this is better than THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.
BLOW OUT(Blu-Ray)(Criterion)-Great Travolta performance, De Palma at the height of his powers.
BREAKING GLASS (Blu-Ray) (Olive Films)-Good companion piece to LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS.
THE BREAKING POINT (MOD)(Warner Archive)-TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT w/Garfield & Patricia Neal. Excellent.
COBRA(Blu-Ray)(Warner)-Pizza. Scissors. Nuff said.
BURIAL GROUND: THE NIGHTS OF TERROR(Blu-Ray)(Shriek Show)-"Magnificent" Italian cheese log.
COEN BROTHERS COLLECTION(Blu-Rays)(Fox)-Amazing set. I am most excited about MILLER'S CROSSING. Probably my favorite Coen Film.
THE COLLECTOR(1965)(Blu-Ray)(Image Entertainment)-Super creepy Zod.
COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK(DVD)(Olive Films)-Overlooked 50s sci-fi.
THE CONVERSATION(Blu-Ray)(Lion's Gate)-In my all-time top 5.
COOL AS ICE(MOD)(Universal Vault Series)-A cult favorite and it's easy to see why.
CRY TERROR!(MOD)(Warner Archive)-Great cast and a neat thriller from the nearly unheralded Andrew L. Stone.
DAMNATION ALLEY(Blu-Ray)(Shout Factory)-Very silly, but I like it.
DARK OF THE SUN(MOD)(Warner Archive)-A favorite of both Tarantino and Joe Dante. Excellent.
DARK STAR(Blu-Ray)(Fabulous Films)-Early Carpenter, still has his youthful cinematic spirit.
DAVID HOLZMAN'S DIARY (Blu-Ray)(Lorber Films)-Early mockumentary, really solid. Hugely influential.
DEEP END(Blu-Ray)(BFI Video)-Jerzy Skolimowski's best. Discovered this one via Danny Peary's books.
THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD(Blu-Ray)(Synapse)-Entertaining low-budget 80s slasher.
DRESSED TO KILL(Blu-Ray)(MGM)-My favorite De Palma.
FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION(Blu-Ray)(Raro Video)-More QT favorites. Some of the best Eurocrime films out there.
FRIGHT NIGHT(Blu-Ray)(Twilight Time)-Stephen Geoffreys kills it in this.
THE FUNHOUSE(Blu-Ray)(Arrow Video)-Blasphemous, but I'd rather watch this than TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.
HALLOWEEN II(Blu-Ray)(Universal)-A very solid sequel that picks up right where the 1st left off. Has a great bonus feature - includes old VHS horror doc TERROR IN THE AISLES.
HEARTS OF THE WEST(MOD)(Warner Archive)-Definitely an unsung Jeff Bridges role. I like Howard Zieff. Big fan of his film SLITHER too.
HICKEY & BOGGS(MOD)(MGM Limited Edition Collection)-One of the great revisionist detective films of the 1970s.
HORROR EXPRESS(Blu-Ray)(Severin)-Wonderful British Horror.
HUMONGOUS(DVD)(Scorpion Entertainment)-Truly shuddersome.
THE ISLAND(1980)(MOD)(Universal Vault Series)-Had one of the most memorable VHS covers of all time.
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS(Blu-Ray)(Criterion)-My most anticipated release of the year. A true horror classic that is still effective and unnerving to this day.
JULIE DARLING(DVD)(CODE RED)-Was turned onto this by Lars Nilsen of the Alamo Drafthouse. A pretty crazy and out there experience.
KILLER PARTY(MOD)(Warner Archive)-An undervalued 80s gem.
THE KILLING(Blu-Ray)(Criterion)-Probably my favorite Kubrick.
THE LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN(MOD)(Sony/Columbia Classics Collection)-Fair is often NOT fair.
LETHAL LADIES COLLECTION(DVD)(Shout Factory)-Only seen TNT JACKSON, the other two look sensational.
LOVELINES(MOD)(Sony/Columbia Classics Collection)-One of my favorite underseen 80s cheesefests. Written up in DESTROY ALL MOVIES.
M.A.S.K. THE COMPLETE SERIES(DVD)(Shout Factory)-I often think I should be working overtime fighting crime.
MATINEE(Blu-Ray)(Carlotta Films)(Import)-Possibly Mr. Dante's best. It's a close race between this and THE 'BURBS for me as preferences go.
MEAN STREETS(Blu-Ray)(Carlotta Films)(Import)-Has grown on me A LOT each time I've viewed it.
MEATBALLS PART 2(MOD)(Sony/Columbia Classics Collection)-Better than the original(in my opinion of course). Ridiculous movie.
THE MISFITS(Blu-Ray)(MGM)-Shockingly, I've still not seen this though I've meant to.
MORE BRAINS! A RETURN TO THE LIVING DEAD(DVD)(Michael Perez Entertainment)-From the makers of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET doc. A must-own for fans.
MOROCCO(MOD)(Universal Vault Series)-Another film I've meant to see for years. Love this era Dietrich.
MYSTERIOUS ISLAND(Blu-Ray)(Twilight Time)-Among my favorite Harryhausen.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK(Blu-Ray)(MGM)-Something about this really draws me in. At once wickedly funny and tragic.
NEIGHBORS(MOD)(Sony/Columbia Classics Collection)-Oddball cult favorite that defies interpretation. So glad this is on DVD now.
NICKEL RIDE/99 & 44/100 % DEAD(DVD)(Shout Factory)-Great double feature of crime films that were previously pretty hard to see.
NIGHT OF THE DEMON(1980)(DVD)(Code Red)-Mind blowing. Perhaps the most batty Bigfoot film this side of SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED.
NIGHT SCHOOL(MOD)(Warner Archive)-Neglected 80s slasher. Rachel Ward's hotness is pretty spectacular.
OBSESSION(Blu-Ray)(Arrow Video)-De Palma does VERTIGO.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN(MOD)(Universal Vault Series)-Can't explain my affection for this one, but I know I'm not alone in liking it.
THE PACK(MOD)(Warner Archive)-One of my 'animals attack' favorites. Still waiting for Robert Clouse's masterpiece DEADLY EYES to make a DVD appearance.
PARK ROW(MOD)(MGM Limited Edition Collection)-Long awaited Sam Fuller classic.
POOR PRETTY EDDIE(Blu-Ray)(Cultra)-Sleaze festival.
QUATERMASS AND THE PIT(Blu-Ray)(Studiocanal)(Import)-My favorite Hammer Horror film.
RITUALS(DVD)(Code Red)-Very DELIVERANCE. Already OOP it seems.
THE ROCKETEER - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION(Blu-Ray)(Disney)-Still Joe Johnston's best, though I am an apologist for even his lesser films.
SANDS OF THE KALAHARI(Blu-Ray)(Olive Films)-Falls squarely into one of my favorite genres.
THE SEVEN-PER-CENT SOLUTION(MOD)(Universal Vault Series)-Very enjoyable Holmes interpretation. Better than the Downey Jr.
SILENT RUNNING(Blu-Ray)(Masters of Cinema-Eureka)(Import)-Bruce Dern is a hippie in space. What's not to love?
SKIDOO(DVD) (Olive Films)-A whacked-out curiosity that was long unavailable.
SLEDGEHAMMER(DVD)(Intervision)-Up there with David A. Prior's greatest achievements(like DEADLY PREY).
THE SUPER COPS(MOD)(Warner Archive)-Edgar Wright is a big fan. Same here. Early-ish buddy cop film. Good stuff.
TAKING OFF(Blu-Ray)(Carlotta Films)(Import)-Very interesting Milos Forman flick.
TARNISHED ANGELS(MOD)(Universal)-Definitive Sirk.
TENEBRAE(Blu-Ray)(Arrow Video)-Top tier Argento for me.
TOUCH OF EVIL(Blu-Ray)(Masters of Cinema-Eureka)(Import)-A true classic.
THE TRAVELING EXECUTIONER(MOD)(Warner Archive)-Another in a long line of amazing Stacy Keach performances. (We really need to see THE DION BROTHERS on DVD soon!)
ULZANA'S RAID(MOD)(Universal Vault Series)-Aldrich. Lancaster. Do it.
VIOLENT SATURDAY(DVD)(Twilight Time)-I am a big proponent of Richard Fleischer. See as many of his films as you can.
WELCOME TO L.A.(MOD)(MGM Limited Edition Collection)-Feels like 70s era Altman, though Alan Rudolph directed and Altman just produced. This cast is truly a thing to behold.
WHITE LINE FEVER(MOD)(Sony/Columbia Classics Collection)-Jan-Michael as Carroll Jo Hummer. Gotta love it. Directed by the great Jonathan Kaplan.
THE WOMEN IN CAGES COLLECTION(Blu-Ray)(Shout Factory)-A trio of the best Women in Prison movies out there.
YOR, THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE(MOD)(Sony/Columbia Classics Collection)-Reb Brown flying on a freakin' pterodactyl.
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