This article is authored by my friend and colleague Alonso Duralde. To learn more about him, click HERE.
WHAT’S NEW ON DVD/BLU-RAY/4K IN AUGUST: THE PEOPLE’S JOKER, I SAW THE TV GLOW, MONSTER MOVIES, AND MORE!
NEW RELEASES
The People’s Joker (Altered Innocence) and I Saw the TV Glow (A24): These two films are among the most intriguing and groundbreaking of 2024, representing a New New Queer Cinema that emphasizes trans filmmakers and narratives. Utilizing pop culture figures and themes, these films delve into the journey of trans identity: Vera Drew’s bold People’s Joker presents a coming-out story interwoven with the world of DC characters, while Jane Schoenbrun’s highly praised second feature depicts two teenage friends whose lives are irrevocably influenced by their obsession with a fictional 90s horror series. Both films challenge and redefine cinematic storytelling by creating art that is as unconventional and rebellious as their main characters.
Also available:
Babes (Decal/Neon): Pamela Adlon stars in this comedic take on pregnancy, featuring Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, and Sandra Bernhard.
The Bikeriders (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment): Tom Hardy and Austin Butler portray ’60s bikers in this atmospheric exploration of aimless rebellion.
Dragonkeeper (Shout Studios): This animated adventure follows a young girl on a quest to protect the last dragon egg.
The Garfield Movie (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): Join Garfield on an outdoor adventure with Odie, voiced by Chris Pratt.
IF (Paramount Home Entertainment): A young girl reconnects people with their long-lost imaginary friends in this heartfelt story.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Studios): In this independent sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes, a young ape faces a critical decision regarding the future of all bipedal beings.
The Watchers (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment): Dakota Fanning stars in this thrilling debut by Ishana Night Shyamalan, where she is trapped with three strangers in a forest teeming with creatures.
Watchmen: Chapter I (DC/WBD): This DC Animation adaptation of the Alan Moore–Dave Gibbons classic promises to stay true to the original source material, unlike Zack Snyder’s live-action version.
NEW INDIE
June Zero (Cohen Media Group): Jake Paltrow’s historical drama uncovers the trial of Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann.
Ride (Well Go USA Entertainment): An estranged family of bull riders must come together to fund their youngest daughter’s cancer treatment.
NEW INTERNATIONAL
Green Border (Kino Lorber): Acclaimed filmmaker Agnieszka Holland presents this powerful drama, a favorite at festivals, examining the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe. Set along the “green border” between Poland and Belarus, it depicts the stark realities faced by African and Middle Eastern émigrés drawn in by EU promises of opportunity, the harsh realities faced by guards, and the courageous activists who aid the refugees. This gripping film raises vital questions about our current global condition.
Also available:
Banel & Adama (Kino Lorber): A young couple from Senegal confronts community disapproval in this Cannes Palme d’Or nominee.
The Escort (IndiePix Films): A night of intrigue with a mysterious sex worker spirals into chaos in this Croatian thriller.
Marguerite’s Theorem (Distrib Films): A young French math student reassesses her life after her thesis presentation collapses in this Cesar award-winner.
NEW DOCUMENTARY
Swan Song (Greenwich Entertainment): This behind-the-scenes documentary follows the National Ballet of Canada as they produce a new rendition of Swan Lake.
NEW GRINDHOUSE
Empire of the Ants / The Food of the Gods / Frogs / Kingdom of the Spiders / Squirm (all Kino Cult): It’s not too late for a drive-in monster-movie marathon! Kino Cult wraps up summer with a collection of delightfully silly creature features. Bert I. Gordon’s Food of the Gods features stars battling giant rats and chickens, while Joan Collins contends with the titular insects in Empire of the Ants. Prepare for thrills as William Shatner fights off spiders, Ray Milland is overrun by frogs, and a bevy of character actors battle hordes of worms in Squirm.
Also available:
Door-to-Door Maniac / Right Hand of the Devil(Film Masters): Johnny Cash turns psycho in Maniac (a.k.a. Five Minutes to Live), while the low-budget Devil follows a chaotic heist.
The Mexico Trilogy: El Mariachi, Desperado & Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Arrow): Enjoy three of Robert Rodriguez’s classics, now in 4K. Fans should also check for a limited-edition standalone Desperado steelbook.
Navajo Joe (KL Studio Classics): Burt Reynolds stars in this spaghetti Western film, accompanied by a commentary from filmmaker and genre expert Alex Cox.
Sudden Death (KL Studio Classics): Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to face more adversaries in stunning 4K.
Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza (Radiance): Follow the journey of a nonviolent drifter in this ’60s yakuza classic.
When Titans Ruled the Earth: Clash of the Titans& Wrath of the Titans (Arrow): This limited box set in 4K is packed with extras you never knew you needed.
The Woman / Offspring (Arrow): This double feature set showcases two controversial contemporary horror films, complete with numerous special features.
NEW CLASSIC
Real Life (The Criterion Collection): After gaining fame for his Saturday Night Live skits, Albert Brooks made his directorial debut with this clever parody of PBS’ An American Family. This film humorously dissects the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into representing “truth” on television, making it a prescient critique well ahead of its time. Criterion also presents Brooks’ Mother, featuring the artist alongside Debbie Reynolds, who delivers a brilliantly unpredictable performance.
Also available:
99 River Street (KL Studio Classics): In this 1953 film noir, a cab driver and former boxer goes on the run after a scandalous murder.
Aces High (KL Studio Classics): A World War I epic seen through a 1970s lens featuring an esteemed cast, including Malcolm McDowell and Christopher Plummer.
Alphaville (KL Studio Classics): Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 sci-fi classic is now restored in 4K with its captivating New Wave noir elements.
Annie Laurie (Kino Classics): A stunning 4K restoration of this 1927 silent epic featuring Lillian Gish.
The Apartment (Kino Classics): This 1996 French drama starring Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci shouldn’t be confused with the 1960 classic starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.
Bill & Ted’s Most Triumphant Trilogy (Shout Studios): Experience all three Bill and Ted films in 4K, packed with enough special features to take you on an out-of-this-world journey.
Bless Their Little Hearts (Milestone Cinematheque): This essential neorealist family drama, crafted by Billy Woodberry and written by fellow LA Rebellion figure Charles Burnett, serves as an important artifact of ’80s Black Cinema.
Bob le Flambeur / Le Doulos (both KL Studio Classics): These two captivating crime dramas from the iconic Jean-Pierre Melville resonate with the influence of the French New Wave.
Brief Encounters / The Long Farewell: Two Films by Kira Muratova (The Criterion Collection): Rediscover two lesser-known dramas from the late ’60s and early ’70s by the renowned Romanian-Ukrainian filmmaker Muratova.
Can’t Hardly Wait (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): This charming 1998 teen party film in 4K features a roster of actors before they were stars.
Collateral (Paramount Home Entertainment): Jamie Foxx plays a cab driver held hostage by Tom Cruise in this gripping thriller by Michael Mann, now in 4K.
Death to Smoochy (Shout Studios): This dark comedic tale about rival children’s TV hosts has spent two decades cementing its cult status.
Drive (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment): A visually stunning 4K release of Nicholas Winding Refn’s atmospheric crime drama starring Ryan Gosling.
I Am a Sex Addict (Factory 25): Caveh Zahedi’s unique 2005 documentary candidly explores his experiences with sex work addiction.
The Last Emperor (The Criterion Collection): Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning epic chronicles the life of Puyi, the last emperor of China.
The Last Unicorn (Shout Studios): This beloved 1982 animated classic features the voice talents of Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, Angela Lansbury, and Christopher Lee.
Last Year at Marienbad (Kino Classics): Enjoy a 4K restoration of Alain Resnais’ influential film that forever altered the landscape of art cinema.
Nicholas Nickleby (Kino Classics): This 1947 Ealing Studios adaptation of the Dickens classic stars Derek Bond and Sally Ann Howes.
Not a Pretty Picture (The Criterion Collection): Martha Coolidge’s powerful 1975 hybrid documentary-narrative tackles the subject of date rape with unflinching honesty.
Observe and Report (Shout Studios): A shocking dark comedy featuring Seth Rogen as a mentally unstable mall security guard who takes the law into his own hands.
Prime Cut (KL Studio Classics): This gritty ’70s drama about a Midwestern crime syndicate stars Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman, and Sissy Spacek.
Viva la Muerte (Radiance): Set against the backdrop of the final days of the Spanish Civil War, Fernando Arrabal’s 1971 cult classic is a must-watch.
The White Dawn (KL Studio Classics): This ’70s Canadian Arctic adventure features Warren Oates, Timothy Bottoms, and Louis Gossett, Jr., filmed on location.
NEW TV
My Hero Academia: Season 6, Part 2 (Crunchyroll): The beloved anime continues with villainous chaos and intense power struggles.
Single, Out: Season 2 (Cinephobia Releasing): Catch the latest episodes of this heartwarming Australian series focusing on the lives of a young queer man and those around him.
