Review Category: DVD/Blu Ray

BLOOD HUNGER – THE FILMS OF JOSE LARRAZ

José Larraz was an interesting filmmaker. Passing away in 2013 he left behind a filmography that could so easily be ignored as generic semi-exploitation, films that frequently combine sex and horror with mixed results. Dig a little deeper and there is much more going on.

This new box set from Arrow Video presents beautifully restored versions of three of the auteur’s most significant films, but your enjoyment of them will largely depend upon your own tastes as opposed to the actual quality. One thing that isn’t open for debate is their cinematic relevance.

The set begins with Larraz’s debut Whirlpool (1970), which is a decent if somewhat tamer film than much of the director’s later works. Built largely around a young model lured to magazine editor Pia Andersson’s isolated cottage for a photo shoot, Whirlpool concerns itself with themes that Larraz would revisit throughout his career and to much greater effect; sexual obsession and unexplained motives. Interesting more for being his debut rather than in comparison to his later work, it is a worthy inclusion in this collection.

One of Larraz’s best films, Vampyres (1974) is also one of the better lesbian vampire films that became common fare throughout the decade. Stylishly shot in a moody English countryside – at the same location as The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – this is a taut, slow building thriller that explodes into a bloody feast of exploitation in the second half. Strong performances and beautiful camera work elevate Vampyres and it remains one of the most significant films of its type.

The third film is potentially divisive. The weakest in terms of acting and story, The Coming Of Sin (1978) spends much more time focussing on its naked cast rather than establishing their motivations. As a fix of erotica it does what it sets out to do, but the odd narrative built around psychological mystery isn’t fully ‘fleshed’ out and the sensuous visuals overpower any notable plotting.

It is in the extras that this collection really impresses. Several commentaries including Tim Lucas on Whirlpool and Kat Ellinger on Vampyres (who delivers a stunning exploration of everything from the gothic influences to a history of key locations) stand out. Interviews, featurettes and even a short film add to the impressive depth of content and leave you in no doubt of the reverence by which Larraz is held in artistic and cinematic circles.

As a tribute to a largely unknown and underrated filmmaker, this collection delivers a worthy tribute to one who deserves wider recognition. There is an element of ‘film studies’ about it, with the films and the content not likely to appeal to a casual fan, and with a hefty price tag, it will be more than simply an impulse purchase.

BLOOD HUNGER – THE FILMS OF JOSE LARRAZ / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: JOSE LARRAZ / SCREENPLAY: VARIOUS / STARRING: KARL LANCBURY, VIVIAN NEVES, MARIANNE MORRIS, LARRY DANN / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

NANNY McPHEE / THE BIG BANG

In 2006, in her first screenplay since her Oscar win for Sense and Sensibility, Emma Thompson adapted and starred in Nanny McPhee, based on a series of childrens’ books from the 1960s. The film did great box office, possibly better than expected, spawning a sequel in 2010.

Like a stern Mary Poppins with a massive conk, warts and a tombstone-like tooth overhanging her lip (she’s described in the books as the ugliest person you’ve ever, ever seen), Nanny McPhee appears when families need her most. For Edwardian widower Colin Firth, that time comes after his seven naughty children have made every nanny run away in tears, so badly behaved are they. Doing as they please and with a bereaved father who adores them but simply can’t cope, the children find that the mysterious Nanny McPhee gives as good as she gets and her life lessons soon teach the children responsibility, civility and how to cope with the loss of their mother. As the children learn, Nanny McPhee becomes less ugly-looking until, when the family no longer need her, she’s gone.

Severely walloped again with the ugly stick, Nanny McPhee returns for a sequel, The Big Bang, set in WW2 rural England. This time she’s helping (bizarrely) Maggie Gyllenahaal and her kids who have a father away fighting in the war.

Written and gleefully performed by Thompson, both films display a delightfully knowing awareness of what kids like. It can be a difficult balance to get right – keeping children laughing whilst teaching them important stuff – but the films have just the right level of silliness, sentimentality, thrills and action to please youngsters and bigger kids too.

As is the law of diminishing returns, the sequel still did well at the box office but not as well. The same could be said of Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (or, if you’re American, simply Nanny McPhee Returns) itself, being the lesser of the two films, despite big names in the cast including Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes and Ewan McGregor.

While the Blu-ray transfers for both films are fabulous, the extras are nothing new, all of them having been lifted from previous home releases. But there’s fun to be had with shorts showing the creation of the first film’s village, the casting of the children, a short history of the books and their writer, plus a commentary from director Kirk Jones and the kids who clearly got on like a house on fire. Similar behind the scenes featurettes make up the sequel’s extras.

Great fun.

NANNY McPHEE & THE BIG BANG / CERT: U / DIRECTOR: KIRK JONES, SUSANNA WHITE / SCREENPLAY: EMMA THOMPSON, CHRISTIANNA BRAND / STARRING: EMMA THOMPSON, COLIN FIRTH, ANGELA LANSBURY, MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, RALPH FIENNES / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

MY HERO ACADEMIA: TWO HEROES

Putting aside for one moment the perennial faves such as One Piece and Naruto, there’s no bigger anime worldwide than My Hero Academia. Adapted from a manga which began in Shonen Jump in 2014, the TV series is currently in its third season and is a smash hit, sweeping the viewers’ choice awards in last year’s Crunchyroll anime awards and inspiring a massive fandom, many of whom cosplay as their favourites at your local comic convention.

It was perhaps inevitable, then, that a movie spin-off would be created, and My Hero Academia: Two Heroes was released in Japanese cinemas in August last year, after a worldwide premiere at the Los Angeles Anime Expo. Earning $27 million at the box office worldwide, which included a limited run in both dubbed and subbed forms in UK cinemas, it was quickly announced that Bones Studio would produce a sequel in the spring of 2020.

Two Heroes takes place between season two and three of My Hero Academia, with the pupils of the superheroic UA High School embarking on a summer trip to I-Island, an artificial landmass where the world’s top scientists research Quirks, the superpowers that 80% of the world’s population possesses in the My Hero Academia universe.

The series protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, is a guest of his mentor, the legendary hero All Might, and meets All Might’s former sidekick, David Shield, now one of the top boffins on I-Island. Midoriya also meets Shield’s daughter, Melissa, who wants to follow in her father’s footsteps, and the scene is set for a relaxing time, yes? Of course it isn’t! The island soon comes under attack, and our heroes – plus the rest of the UA High School cast – have to band together to save the day.

At 97 minutes – four episodes of the regular show – the story is given time to breathe without easing up on the pace once the action kicks in, and it is animated beautifully, with Bones really flexing their muscles given the extra runtime and budget. The voice cast from the anime return for the movie, both Japanese and English, and keep it feeling very much like the bonus gift it is rather than the usual animated cash-in.

You don’t have to have watched the TV show to enjoy the movie (although there’s no reason why you shouldn’t – it really is that good!), but we can’t imagine it’s even half as good without having lived with these characters for the last few years. Even Mineta is bearable, and if you’re a fan of the show you’ll know that that’s remarkable in itself! My Hero Academia: Two Heroes is a fun action-adventure which adds depth to the MHA universe, particularly fleshing out some of All Might’s backstory, and is well worth adding to your anime library.

HELL FEST

It says Hell Fest on the cover but you’ll surely be inclined to scrawl ‘Generic 1980s-style Slasher Movie’ on the sleeve should you decide to take a punt on the home entertainment release of this shamelessly derivative stabby horror effort which came and went without leaving much of a Box Office blood trail last winter.

At a sprawling horror carnival called Hell Fest which travels the country during ‘Halloween season’ (it’s just one night!), a young girl, separated from her friends, is confronted by a masked figure who stabs her and hangs her up alongside the carnival’s prop corpses. Fast-forward a few years and Hell Fest is still up and running, and a new bunch of tiresome teens set off for a night of fun, frolics, screaming and assorted cheap Halloween antics. History looks like repeating itself when Natalie (Forsyth) attracts the attention of a strange masked, hooded figure and, inevitably, amidst the hooting and howling and screeching of the hormonal Hell Fest crowd, Natalie and her group of stereotypes become separated, and the body count starts to rise as the killer edges closer and closer to his ultimate prey.

Watching Hell Fest is probably as close as any of us are likely to get to time travel as the whole experience is akin to watching a cheap stalk’n’slash movie on VHS back in the 1980s. There is absolutely nothing new here at all, nothing we haven’t seen quite literally dozens of times before either in more iconic and highly-regarded genre films like the Halloween series or in cheap exploitation titles whose names we forgot the moment we ejected the tape from the video player. In some ways the breath-taking audacity of its lack of originality is quite impressive; this is a film that knows what it is and really doesn’t care. It wants to show us people getting killed in increasingly gruesome fashion (and in fairness several of the deaths are guaranteed to cause a squirm or two), and if you can set aside your critical faculties and accept Hell Fest for what it is, you’re likely to have fun with its brisk pace, its disposable cast of characters (horror hounds will enjoy an appearance by Tony Todd), its inventive slaying spree, and its utter lack of point or purpose. Naturally, the film sets up a sequel but with a worldwide return of only $18 million on a budget of about $5 million it seems likely that Hell Fest – a pleasure you will almost certainly feel guilty about – is now closed for business for good.

PARTY LINE

Everyone loves a bit of the 80s, don’t they? The music, the neon lights, the outrageous fashion, and who could forget the party lines? Yes, that’s right, before the internet had us all glued to our phones, some folk got their kicks on the party line, a place where people could talk to ‘like-minded’ strangers via phone whilst paying for the privilege. Racking up hefty phone bills was part and parcel, but as long as people were able to get their rocks off then many would have called it money well spent. So what better way to warn the youth of the 1980s about stranger danger than to make a slasher based on those late night calls.

Party Line follows upper-class siblings Seth and Stacy who live a secluded life in their family’s Beverly Hills mansion. Sharing a passion for murder, they entice lustful strangers using sexually driven party lines before dispatching them with a razor blade to the throat. With the body count rising and a Detective’s girlfriend caught up in the horror, it’s only a matter of time before their nefarious actions come to an end.

Starring Richard Hatch, Shawn Weatherly and Leif Garrett, Party Line contains a host of memorable faces from the past with Richard Roundtree also making the occasional appearance throughout. Although it may have initially gone under the radar upon its original release, it’s now coming to Blu-ray for the very first time. Newly scanned and restored in 4K from its original 35mm negative, Vinegar Syndrome has done a jaw-dropping job at giving this forgotten oddity an overhaul for new and old fans alike. Visually the film has never looked so good thanks to the crystal clear quality of the 4K which manages to enhance John Huneck’s cinematography to dizzying new heights.

Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the direction, as William Webb’s attempt at creating a competent slasher just falls short of hitting the mark. Admittedly, the film never takes itself too seriously, however it’s a shame that they didn’t have more fun with the almost camp delivery of its premise. Still, there’s a certain charm to be had when watching this nostalgic blast from the past. Whether it’s the bold and brash colours popping out from the screen or the synthesised beats of 80’s disco, there is plenty to entertain those who love a solid B-movie.

Party Line is a true product of its time and, although more imagination could have been put into many of the deaths, there’s still a lot here that’ll please newcomers to the film. There’s not much in the way of extras apart from an interview with screenwriter Richard Brandes. Talking in depth about what inspired him to write the screenplay, this will be an interesting detour for those who want to know more about the film’s development. One for the connoisseurs of cult cinema, Party Line is a visual treat that’ll please fans of B-movies but may potentially bewilder the uninitiated.

Special Features: Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm original camera negative, Party Line Fever – interview with screenwriter Richard Brandes, Original theatrical trailer, Reversible cover artwork, English SDH subtitles.

PARTY LINE / CERT: UNRATED / DIRECTOR: WILLIAM WEBB / SCREENPLAY: RICHARD BRANDES, TOM BYRNES / STARRING: RICHARD HATCH, RICHARD ROUNDTREE, SHAWN WEATHERLY, LEIF GARRETT, GRETA BLACKBURN / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (USA)

DOUBLE DRAGON

What happens when the newsreader from the V TV series teams up with The Crow (Stairway to Heaven-era) to do battle against T-1000 from Terminator 2 and his evil army? Let’s find out!

Based on the videogame of the same name, Double Dragon is a fairly standard tale concerning a baddie known as Koga Shuko (Robert Patrick/T-1000) who wants to harness the powers of the mystical Double Dragon medallion and take over the futuristic city of New Angeles – a rebuilt post-earthquake version of Los Angeles. He’s already found one half of the medallion and absorbed its power, but where could the other half be? Serious/goofy pair of berk brothers Jimmy and Billy Lee have got it, having inherited it from a long line of Kung Fu warriors. Shuko sends his best henchmen to retrieve the medallion, while Jimmy and Billy team up with the good guy faction known as the Power Corp to fight back and bring the bad guys down.

It plays out kind of like a kids’ version of Mad Max meets The Warriors, with Michelangelo and Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the starring roles. The fight choreography is fine, the explosions are great, the special effects are more than acceptable, the chases are pretty thrilling and, for the most part, the acting isn’t that bad. On the downside, almost every scene is littered with some of the cheesiest one-liners and misplaced comedy spots you’ve ever heard, and barely any of them hit the mark. Maybe it was funny back in 1994 when this was originally released, but a lot of the dialogue doesn’t hold up too well today.

The whole thing is as ridiculous as it sounds, which is either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view. If you’re looking for something serious and gritty to sink a couple of hours into, you’re definitely not going to find that here. On the other hand, it’s certainly got its flaws but it’s still pretty good if you’re in the mood for something loud and daft to occupy yourself with.

The Blu-ray here seems to be a direct re-release of 2015’s disc, although this edition marks the film’s HD debut in America, so that’s something. We also get a whole bunch of extra features this time around (the previous release had nothing at all), so it might be worth fans double-dipping for this one. There’s a fantastic brand new near-70 minute “making of” documentary featuring interviews with all the major players (someone please give writers Michael Davis and Peter Gould their own TV show ASAP!), as well as an extended 25 minute interview with producer Don Murphy. We also get the pilot episode of the animated Double Dragon series (which we’d happily watch much more of), a large selection of stills galleries, and a couple of archival featurettes presumably taken from previous DVD releases (most of which are now out of print, so these are a decent inclusion here). A slipcase, reversible cover, and a mini poster complete what really is quite a wonderful set. Overall, a real treat for fans of 90s silliness!

Special features:

High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations of the main feature, Audio: English 5.1 Stereo, English 2.0 Stereo, German 2.0 Stereo, English, French and Spanish Subtitles, “The Making of Double Dragon” (full length documentary featuring interviews with stars Scott Wolf and Marc Dacascos, writers Peter Gould & Michael Davis and producer Don Murphy), “Don Murphy: Portrait of a Producer” featurette, Archival ”Making of” featurette, Behind the Scenes featurette, 1993 Double Dragon Animated Series Pilot Episode #101: “The Shadow Falls”, Storyboard Gallery, Press Photos, Marketing and Behind The Scenes Photo Galleries, TV Spots, VHS Home Video Trailer, Original Theatrical Trailer, Collectible Mini-Poster, Reversible Sleeve Featuring Alternate Artwork

DOUBLE DRAGON / CERT: UNRATED / DIRECTOR: JAMES YUKICH / SCREENPLAY: MICHAEL DAVIS, PETER GOULD / STARRING: ROBERT PATRICK, MARK DACASCOS, SCOTT WOLF, ALYSSA MILANO, JULIA NICKSON, KRISTINA WAGNER / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (USA)

SISTER STREET FIGHTER COLLECTION

Starting out as a spinoff from Sonny Chiba’s The Street Fighter (the first film to be rated X in the USA due to its violent content, fact fans), 1974’s Sister Street Fighter bucked the trend for male heroes in martial arts movies by featuring a lady in the leading role. It might have been a bold move at the time, but the gamble paid off, with the film being so well received that two sequels were released the very next year, and a further instalment (which itself was a spinoff of the spinoff) following in 1976. The fine folks at Arrow Video have brought all four films together, transferred them to HD, whipped up a bunch of exclusive extras, and released the lot in this rather smashing box set.

The first three films share so many similarities that we might as well cover them all in one go. In each film, Etsuko Shiomi plays Li Koryu, a young lady whose friends, family members and close acquaintances seem to be incredibly prone to getting kidnapped. Of course, it’s up to Li to save them, by taking out mobs of gangsters in whatever ridiculously over the top (for the time) fashion she can. The final film is a slight departure from the others, being a bit more wordy with extra focus on the story side of things. There’s still plenty of action, but it’s not quite as fun as the others.

Shiomi is fantastic – undeniably pretty, but stoic enough to project an air of “don’t mess with me”, you genuinely believe she’s absolutely tough as nails. The story mostly takes a back seat to the action (in the first three films, at least) – it’s rare that 5 or 6 minutes go by without someone at the very least getting thrown through a window or kicked in the face. Many fight scenes include plenty of visual gags and slapstick prat-falls, and there are some surprisingly nasty bits too – the man with the broken neck who tries to walk down some stairs before he dies is especially haunting. Ropey special effects and visible wires during mid-air rumbles are all part of the appeal with films like this, and SSF really revels in its silliness, coming across like an adults-only comic book brought to life.

It’s difficult not to immediately notice that some of the audio is very peaky, with lots of hiss on some of the “s’s”, but it gets less noticeable as the set wears on. No issues on the video front though, with everything looking remarkably sharp and clear, considering the footage is more than 40 years old. The set includes a few exclusive 10-minute interviews with Sonny Chiba and SSF‘s director and screenwriter, which are all worth a watch and will likely give you a few ideas for things to watch next. We also get a dubbed R-rated version of SSF, included “for posterity”. A cracking set, well worth your time if you’re in the mood for some daft martial arts madness.

Special features:

High Definition digital transfers of all four films, High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations, Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio, Original English dubbed audio for Sister Street Fighter, New optional English subtitle translation for all four films, English SDH subtitles for the English dub for Sister Street Fighter, New video interviews with actor Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba, director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, and screenwriter Masahiro Kakefuda, Original Japanese theatrical trailers for all four films, Original U.S. theatrical trailer for Sister Street Fighter, plus original English opening titles to the film, Original German theatrical trailer for Sister Street Fighter, plus original German opening titles to the film, Stills and poster gallery, Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Kungfubob O’Brien, FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring writing on the series by Patrick Macias and a new essay on the U.S. release of Toei’s karate films by Chris Poggiali

SISTER STREET FIGHTER COLLECTION / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: KAZUHIKO YAMAGUCHI, SHIGEHIRO OZAWA / SCREENPLAY: VARIOUS / STARRING: ETSUKO SHIOMI, SONNY CHIBA, ASAO UCHIDA, TAMAYO MITSUKAWA, AKANE KAWASAKI / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

STANLEY: A MAN OF VARIETY

Imprisoned in a bleak, stark institution, Stanley (Spall) passes the time watching old tapes of comedy acts from yesteryear, using tokens he earns by doing menial jobs such as mopping the floor. It’s a solitary existence; Stanley is the only resident of the place from all we can see, although he continually pleads to be able to visit his daughter’s grave on the fifteenth anniversary of her death.

We’re not explicitly told why Stanley is inside. In fact, it’s a while until it is revealed where inside actually is. His mind is fractured and the only interaction he has is with fantasy representations of his music hall heroes – all brilliantly played by Spall, too. Rather than a reassuring, nice form of contact, these apparitions are there instead to pick apart his case, giving evidence against him for what might have been some heinous and unthinkable act.

With a surreal edge and drab atmosphere, it’s Spall’s tour-de-force performance that shines throughout. In a bigger budgeted film, it would be BAFTA worthy at the very least. The historical characters he plays may not have the public’s zeitgeist these days, however. Indeed, it would be fair to say they are from a different age and younger viewers would probably struggle to make any connection to who they are meant to be. This is by no means a fault of the film, more one of today’s society that doesn’t respect entertainment’s past. That the likes of George Formby, Max Wall, James Finlayson, and Alistair Sim are not the household names that they used to be is sad, but they perfectly represent Stanley’s solitude and reliance on his the past and his obsession with memorabilia from those days.

As a portrayal of mental degeneration, it’s as haunting as the deserted location. Bolstered by an equally eerie soundtrack that wouldn’t be out of place in a David Lynch film, it’s an occasionally disturbing watch, even taking in account the humorous origins of his fantastical visions. Brilliantly, what is real and what is in Stanley’s crumbling imagination is never quite clear right to the very end and although it’s certainly not going to be for everyone, there’s plenty to recommend.

STANLEY: A MAN OF VARIETY / CERT: 15 / DIRECTOR: STEPHEN COOKSON / SCREENPLAY: STEPHEN COOKSON, TIMOTHY SPALL / STARRING: TIMOTHY SPALL / RELEASE DATE: MARCH 29TH

PET SEMATARY (1989)

For some reason, the utterly iconic and masterful written works of Stephen King have a reputation of not always translating well to the big-screen. In fact, the very best King-based movie is Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining; an adaptation that saw Kubrick change so many elements that King himself eventually made his own Shining adaptation years later. But back in 1989, horror hounds were treated to a feature film take on King’s Pet Sematary, complete with a screenplay from the iconic writer. Now, 30 years later, that ’89 picture has had a new Blu-ray release, so let’s see just how well this particular King adap fares and whether this new release of a 30-year-old effort is worth your time.

As the movie opens up, our attention is on the Creed family (led by Dale Midkiff and Denise Crosby) as they movie to the small town of Ludlow, Maine. Bizarrely, the parents decided it was a smart call to move their two children and cat to a fenceless house that resides right on the cusp of a tankers ‘n’ trucks-filled road. Wouldn’t you know it, but pretty soon their poor feline pal is soon offed and that’s when this film starts to take a turn for the eerie. You see, friendly old neighbour Jud (Fred Gwynne) takes the family to a nearby pet cemetery where the locals have been laying their animals to rest for decades. Once alone with patriarch Louis Creed, however, Jud lets him in on a secret: that just behind the cemetery is an old Indian burial ground that can bring things back from the dead. And when tragedy hits the Creed family, Louis is left debating whether to use this ancient burial ground or whether dead really is better.

Where the horror favourites of the 1980s are concerned, Pet Sematary is one that many feel goes a little overlooked. After all, by 1989 many audiences had soured on horror movies after being oversaturated with too many sequels or too many rip-offs of the same basic formulas. But with Pet Sematary, it’s actually an impressive film for the most part. In terms of setting up the terrors that lie ahead, the first half of the film is great in hitting the right beats and tone. And when the inevitable terrors do come, there are some genuinely great scares in the mix. Throw in some marvellous, pitch-perfect musical notes from Elliot Goldenthal and the result is often something slightly otherworldly.

In terms of performances, obviously the Creed family are at the centre of the tale, yet it’s Fred Gwynne as Jud, the local who’s been there and seen it all, that completely and utterly steals the show. For those used to seeing Gwynne yucking it up as Herman Munster, Pet Sematary shows a whole other side and versatility to the hugely talented actor. With Louis Creed often taking centre-stage in the film, Dale Midkiff does well with what he’s given and has you wondering why the actor didn’t go on to achieve any other major success in the year’s since Pet Sematary was first released. Young Miko Hughes does remarkably well for somebody so young as Gage Creed, the youngest of the Creed family, while Blaze Berdahl is a little underused as Gage’s older sister Ellie. In terms of underused, though, poor Denise Crosby so often feels like an afterthought as we see matriarch Rachel Creed largely take a backseat. For those who’ve seen Pet Sematary, you’ll also remember the great job that Brad Greenquist does as Victor Pascow, a tortured soul who brings mixed elements of horror and quirkiness to the feature.

To be honest, you’re likely well aware of all of the above – what, given the film has been around for 30 years – so the chances are you’re more interested in what else this new release has to offer. Firstly, the movie has never looked so glorious. The new crispness of the picture adds so much to proceedings; in particular helping the pet cemetery itself look fantastic in detail. Away from the HD spruce-up afforded by this Blu-ray (and even more-so in 4K), the bonus material included features a fun and engaging new interview with director Mary Lambert as she looks back on the film. Similarly, another new piece sees the cast and crew of this year’s Pet Sematary remake take a conveniently timed look at the original movie. The true highlight of the special features, however, is the chat track with Lambert; the 1989 film’s director proving a fascinating and fun presence who seems to hugely enjoy talking us through this old favourite. This commentary track has been featured on previous release of the movie, mind.

Is Pet Sematary perfect? Of course not, but it’s a movie that still remains a whole lot of fun, and the new HD transfer and special features offered up in this new Blu-ray release will certainly make it an appealing purchase for genre fans both old and new.

Special Features: Two new featurettes / New image galleries / Archived audio commentary with Mary Lambert / Three archived featurettes

PET SEMATARY (1989) / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: MARY LAMBERT / SCREENPLAY: STEPHEN KING / STARRING: DALE MIDKIFF, FRED GWYNNE, DENISE CROSBY, BRAD GREENQUIST, MIKO HUGHES, BLAZE BERDAHL / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH (1957)

DIRECTOR: THOM SOUTHERLAND | SCREENPLAY: THOM SOUTHERLAND, PAUL ALEXANDER | VIRGINIA MCKENNA, BILL TRAVERS, PETER SELLERS, MARGARET RUTHERFORD | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Set during the post-Second World War years, The Smallest Show on Earth sees real-life acting couple Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna play fictional husband and wife, Matt and Jean, who learn via a letter to their house that the former’s uncle has died. Through their assigned solicitor Robin Carter (Leslie Phillips), they learn that they’ve inherited a rather dilapidated and decaying cinema called the Bijou in the town of Sloughborough.

The venue is clearly on its last legs and is suffering from the rivalry of the neighbouring Grand Cinema, owned by ruthless Mr Hardcastle (Francis DeWolff). Faced with conflicting dilemmas, Matt and Jean decide to re-open the venue, with help from the ageing resident staff, elderly cashier Mrs Fazackalee (Margaret Rutherford), detoxing projectionist Mr Quill (Sellers), and past-his-prime doorman Old Tom (Bernard Miles). Through a bit of ingenuity, the punters soon start coming in (as is Hardcastle with a more substantial offer to buy the place) and business begins to pick up, but Hardcastle is determined to level the Bijou flat so he can build a car park for the Grand on its foundations…

Reflective of a time when Britain was regrouping and rediscovering its purpose in the world, The Smallest Show on Earth mixes comedy and poignancy within a fulfilling narrative taking us back to when celluloid projected in single screen venues was the norm (and seating was a little more simplistic than the luxury recliners finding their way into screens these days!). Older viewers will certainly cast their minds back to their own young experiences in those old long gone venues, and that is where its primary audience remains, while the younger generation will be more willing to go for the current blockbusters on show. However, future Indiana Jones cinematographer Douglas Slocombe in the credits may help gauge their curiosity.

Performances are rock solid throughout, especially Sellers (in amazing old age make-up), and veteran Rutherford, who defined elderly performances effortlessly – as colleagues and rivals in the Bijou. A playful music score by William Alwyn adds to the charm.