New to View: Nov. 2
By Bob Bloom
The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Nov. 2, unless otherwise noted:
Nine Days (Blu-ray)
Details: 2020, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: R, language
The lowdown: Life is precious and should be embraced, seems to be the theme of this movie.
Winston Duke stars as Will, who spends his days watching the live Point of View on televisions of people going about their lives.
When one subject perishes, it leaves a vacancy for a new life on Earth.
Soon, several candidates — unborn souls — arrive at Will’s to be interviewed and undergo tests to determine their fitness to fill that vacancy. If found not suitable, they face oblivion.
Will, though, soon faces his own challenge of conscience when one of the candidates, free-spirited Emma (Zazie Beetz, “The Harder They Fall”), forces him to look at himself and reconcile his own tumultuous past.
Will’s introspection leads to unexpected power, and he finds a daring new path forward in his own life.
This stunning and intelligent film, which earned an 88 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, marked the feature film debut of Japanese-Brazilian filmmaker Edson Oda.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: The main bonus component is a making of featurette.
Kung Fu: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray + digital)
Details: 2021, Warner Home Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A three-disc set featuring all 13 episodes of this reimagining of the 1970s TV series that starred David Carradine.
The new series is set in contemporary San Francisco and stars Olivia Liang as Nicky Shen, who spent three years at an isolated monastery in China absorbing the teachings of Shaolin kung fu.
When her teacher, Pei-Ling is killed, Nicky returns to her estranged family in San Francisco, where she finds the city running rampant with corruption and her parents’ restaurant business threatened.
Nicky uses her skills to protect her family and neighborhood, while seeking to unravel the mystery of the eight mystical weapons that led to the killing of her mentor.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 16:9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus components include unaired scenes and a “Bond of Honor” featurette.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Blu-ray)
Details: 1935, Kino Lorber Studio Classics
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Claude Rains, Heather Angel, Douglass Montgomery, David Manners and Valerie Hobson star in this adaptation of Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel.
Rains plays John Jasper, a finishing school choirmaster infatuated with one of his students, Rosa Bud (Angel). Jasper leads a double life — by day the moody choirmaster, at night an opium addict.
Rosa is engaged to Jasper’s nephew, Edwin Drood (Manners), who shortly thereafter disappears.
Suspicion falls on Neville Landless (Montgomery) who, with his sister, Helena (Hobson), has recently arrived from overseas.
The movie was directed by Stuart Walker, who almost helmed “Werewolf of London.”
The film, which also features Francis L. Sullivan, E.E. Clive and Walter Kingsford, is more suspense than horror.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: A commentary track by film historian David Del Valle is the major bonus component.
Frankenstein’s Daughter: Special Edition (Blu-ray)
Release date: Oct. 26
Details: 1958, The Film Detective
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This is a basement-budget feature that is so bad that it’s fun to watch.
Dr. Oliver Frank — whose actual last name is, you guessed it, Frankenstein — is the grandson of the original monster maker.
And he wants to follow in grandpa’s footsteps.
Frank also considers himself somewhat of a ladies man, but he usually is rejected. This allows him to kill his dates and use their body parts for his experiments.
Frank has special plans for Trudy (Sandra Knight), the niece of the kindly scientist for whom Frank works. But Trudy only has eyes for her boyfriend, Johnny (John Ashley).
Soon, a strange-looking female creature is running loose around Los Angeles. Is it Trudy or her friend, Trudy (Suzie Lawler), who also had rejected Frank’s advances.
This is such a low-budget feature that neither director Richard E. Cunha, nor anyone else associated with the movie, told the movie’s makeup artist that the creature was female. The mask he created was masculine — and the creature was played by a man — who was transformed into a female by adding lipstick.
Ah, the joys of cheap moviemaking.
Nonetheless, the film is a hoot, from Donald Murphy’s over-the-top performance as Dr. Frank to the cheesy musical interlude.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include commentary tracks by film historian-author Tom Weaver and filmmaker Larry Blamire, an interview with Cunha, a profile of Ashley and a booklet with an essay by Weaver.
The Secret of the Blue Room (Blu-ray)
Details: 1933, Kino Lorber Studio Classics
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This spooky house-mystery thriller centers on a 20-year-old tragedy and three men all vying for the hand of the same young woman.
Twenty years prior to the events in this movie, three men were murdered in the estate’s guest room, called “the blue room.” The killings were never solved.
Now, to prove their courage to Irene von Helldorf (Gloria Stuart) at her 21st birthday celebration, her suitors agree to spend a night in that room.
The first suitor who stays in the room disappears without a trace. The second suitor is shot and killed. The third suitor employs a dummy to catch the killer.
The movie features a strong cast, including Lionel Atwill, Paul Lukas, Edward Arnold, Onslow Stevens, William Janney, Russel Hopton and James Durkin.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: A commentary track by film historian-filmmaker Michael Schlesinger is the main extra.
Number One (Blu-ray)
Details: 1969, Scorpion Releasing-Kino Lorber
Rated: PG-13, sexual content, nudity
The lowdown: Charlton Heston stars as aging New Orleans Saints quarterback Ron “The Cat” Catlan, whose skills are fading and who refuses to come to grips with the idea that his career is coming to an end.
Catlan compensates for his failures through drink and extramarital affairs.
His wife, Julie (Jessica Walter), tired of his alcohol-fueled outbursts and dalliances threatens to leave him.
This is a very sad movie, as it follows the downfall of a pampered and isolated individual whose sole purpose was football.
The cast also includes Bruce Dern, John Randolph, Diana Muldaur, G.D. Spradlin, Mike Henry and members of the 1968 New Orleans Saints.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles.
The Spider Woman Strikes Back (Blu-ray)
Details: 1946, Kino Lorber Studio Classics
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Despite its title, this movie is not a sequel to the Sherlock Holmes thriller, “The Spider Woman,” which pitted Basil Rathbone’s home against villainess Gale Sondergaard’s Adrea Spedding, who used spider to kill her victims to collect their insurance policies.
In this film, Sondergaard plays Zenobia Dollard, a wealthy blind woman who uses the blood of young women and spider venom to create a death serum to kill local cattle.
Her goal is to drive out local ranchers so she can buy their land cheaply.
Brenda Joyce (who later played Jane is Tarzan movies opposite Johnny Weissmuller and Lex Barker) portrays Jean Kingsley Dollard’s new caretaker-companion, whose blood Dollard drains at night while the young woman sleeps.
Dollard is aided in her nefarious scheme by her deformed servant Mario, played by Rondo Hatton.
The cast also includes Kirby Grant (later television’s “Sky King”) and Milburn Stone (who played Doc Adams on the long-running “Gunsmoke” TV series).
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a short documentary about the movie and a commentary track with film historian-author Tom Weaver and David Schecter.
The Mad Doctor (Blu-ray)
Details: 1940, Kino Lorber Studio Classics
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Basil Rathbone plays a smooth and sinister physician, Dr. George Sebastien, who courts, marries and murders several wealthy women who were his patients for their fortunes.
With the help of his assistant, Gretz (the slimy Martin Kosleck), he covers up the murders to make it appear as if the women died of natural causes.
He intends his next victim to be troubled heiress Linda Booth (Ellen Drew), who becomes his fourth wife.
Booth’s former finance, Gil Sawyer (John Howard), with the assistance of Dr. Charles Downer (Ralph Morgan), set out to rescue Linda and unmask Sebastien for what he really is.
The movie was directed by Tim Whelan, who co-directed “The Thief of Bagdad.”
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: A commentary track by film historian David Del Valle is the main bonus option.
Homebodies (Blu-ray)
Details: 1974, Kino Lorber Studio Classics
Rated: PG, violence
The lowdown: A group of senior citizens are mad as hell as they’re not going to take it anymore as they exert “Gray Power” to protect their homes.
When six mild-mannered seniors are told that their old brownstone is going to be torn down, they decide to act — decisively.
Led by sweet-looking Mattie (Paula Trueman, “The Outlaw Josey Wales”), the group, which also includes Peter Brocco, Frances Fuller, William Hansen, Ruth McDevitt and Ian Wolfe, become an odd assortment of “hit men,” getting rid of those involved in the imminent demolition of their building.
This is a horror story with some sharp humor. And it’s wonderful to watch a group of veteran character actors having some fun on-screen.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include an interview with producer Marshal Backlar and a commentary track with director Larry Yust.
The Amazing Mr. X: Special Edition (Blu-ray)
Release date: Oct. 26
Details: 1948, The Film Detective
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This atmospheric suspense film stars Turhan Bey as Alexis, a mysterious man who claims that he can communicate with spirits.
One night, he appears on a beach where Christine Faber (Lynn Bari), a young widow, believes she hears the voice of her late husband. Alexis tells her things about her husband that he couldn’t possibly know.
Soon, Christine and her sister, Janet (Cathy O’Donnell), become ensnared in Alexis’ life.
But Alexis, who makes his living bilking people out of their money, finds himself manipulated into events that show him that the living may be more dangerous than the departed.
The movie has a sinister air about it, thanks to atmospheric cinematography by John Alton.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a commentary track, a full-color booklet with an essay about Bey and a featurette that looks at the world of spiritualism.
Counterpoint (Blu-ray)
Details: 1967, Scorpion Releasing-Kino Lorber
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Charlton Heston stars as Lionel Evans, a world-renowned conductor who, with his orchestra, are on a USO tour of Europe in December 1944.
The conductor and the musicians are captured by German soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge.
They are taken to Gen. Schiller (Maximilian Schell), who has orders to immediately execute all Allied prisoners.
Schiller, a lover of classical music, demurs, especially when he persuades Evans to have his orchestra perform for him.
Admittedly, the film’s premise is far-fetched, but it does contain some wonderful classical music, and the cat-and-mouse game between Evans and Schiller does create some suspense.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: A commentary track by filmmaker-historian Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin, author of “Combat Films: American Realism” is the main extra.
The Hidden Life of Trees (Blu-ray)
Details: 2020, MPI Media Group
Rated: PG, language, smoking, suggestive material
The lowdown: Author and forester Peter Wohlleben leads us on an exploration of trees in this fascinating documentary.
Wohlleben’s premise is that we should listen to nature because, in its own way, it is communicating with us.
With Wohlleben as our guide, we learn about the forest and how alive it really is. He answers questions about whether or not trees can talk, have a social life and memories.
Wohllenben understands the language of the forest and shares that knowledge with us.
This feature, which garnered a 94 percent positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes, is as educational as it is fascinating.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 16:9 widescreen picture; English and German 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
The Banishing (Blu-ray & DVD) (RLJE Films)
Come True (Blu-ray) (IFC Midnight-Scream Factory)
The East (Blu-ray & DVD & VOD) (Magnet Releasing)
Enormous: The Gorge Story (Greenwich Entertainment-Kino Lorber
The Flood (DVD & digital & VOD) (4Digital Media-ShineHouse Group)
Genesis: The Last Domino? (DVD) (Kino Lorber)
Genesis: When in Rome 2007 (DVD) (Kino Lorber)
Man in the Field: The Life and Art of Jim Denevan (DVD) (Greenwich Entertainment-Kino Lorber)
The Spore (DVD & digital & VOD) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Athens, GA Inside Out 2: Red Turns Into Blue (MVD Visual Entertainment, Nov. 5)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD
Assault from Death Block 13 (Uncork’d Entertainment)
Candyman (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
Electric Jesus (1091 Pictures)
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Fox Searchlight)
Nightshooters (Indiecan Entertainment)
On the Trail of Bigfoot: The Discovery (Small Town Monsters)
Operation Portugal (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
River’s End (Giant Pictures)
Shock Wave 2 (Echelon Studios-Stonecutter Media)
Dopestick: Episode 6 (Hulu, Nov. 3)
The Harder They Fall (www.netflix.com/thehardertheyfall) (Netflix, Nov. 3)
Dr. Brain (Apple TV+, Nov. 4)
A Man Named Scott (Amazon Prime, Nov. 5)
Animaniacs: Season Two (Hulu, Nov. 5)
Beans (FilmRise, Nov. 5)
The Beta Test (IFC Films, Nov. 5)
Cry Macho (Warner Home Entertainment, Nov. 5)
Finch (Apple TV+, Nov. 5)
Mark, Mary + Some Other People (Vertical Entertainment, Nov. 5)
Narcos: Mexico: Season 3 (www.netflix.com/NarcosMexico) (Netflix, Nov. 5)
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.