Garv’s Pick of the Week: Viy (Severin Films)
For the release week of December 10th:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: Viy [Blu-ray / Severin Films]: The first Soviet-era horror film produced in Russia has a strangely Disneyesque feel to its scare scenes (as if they were deleted from Darby O’Gill and the Little People). Some of the exposition is clunky, but there is real cleverness to the supernatural effects. Adventurous moviegoers should give it a look.
Additional Titles of Interest —
Fritz Lang’s Indian Epic [Blu-ray / Film Movement]: Towards the end of his career, Fritz Lang returned to Germany and to his serialized adventure storytelling roots. His penultimate film was an Indian epic that was split into two features, The Tiger of Eschnapur and The Indian Tomb (both 1959), which are collected in this set. It’s worth the purchase for Debra Paget’s suggestive dance scenes alone.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood [4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital / Sony]: It’s been an above-average year for theatrical releases, and this is one of the best. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt display true “movie star” magnetism.
The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: This early Hammer horror is more about mood than scares, but it has an intriguing story and Peter Cushing is always watchable.
Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: Not only is this one of the best late-Hammer horrors; it also has a tremendous score.
The Fly Collection [Blu-ray / Scream Factory]: Help me, help me! The 50s, 60s, and 80s Fly films come together in this sey.
Blue Collar [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: Will Paul Schrader ever cheer up? Unlikely.
The Cotton Club Encore [Blu-ray / Lionsgate]: Coppola goes back to the cutting board to produce an extended version of The Cotton Club.
Until the End of the World [Blu-ray / Criterion]: Speaking of extended versions, the 287 minute cut of Wim Wenders film gets a Blu-ray release.
){kind=link}