Mike Spring
What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – April 7, 2026
Spring has sprung, and with it comes a mix of all kinds of new titles! We’ve got some interesting home video releases, some great graphic novels, and a lot of titles that will probably fall under the “This is new to me” banner. Check it out!
In This Week’s Column:
- Mercy (Blu-ray)
- Randy & The Mob (Blu-ray)
- Zodiac Killer Project (Blu-ray)
- Sakuran (Blu-ray)
- The Dancing Hawk (Blu-ray)
- Fruitcake (Graphic Novel)
- Castle Swimmer 3 (Graphic Novel)
- Let’s Make Cocktails! (Graphic Novel)
- Mixed Feelings (Graphic Novel)
Mercy (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
In the near future, a detective (Chris Pratt) stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, before it determined his fate.
The Movie:
In the past few years, we saw filmmakers really get a handle on the concept of making movies that were set completely within technology. Specifically, I’m talking about the abduction thrillers Missing and Searching, which told their tales entirely through social media posts, web searches, phone calls, video chats, and such, yet were both extremely effective films.
Timur Bekmambitov’s Mercy is sort of a scaled-up approach to that style of storytelling. In this film, though, we do get a central character to focus on, he just never leaves one spot for pretty much the majority of the movie. Chris Pratt plays Detective Raven, who wakes up strapped to a chair in a virtual courtroom, accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an A.I. judge (Rebecca Ferguson) or he will be deemed guilty and executed. However, he has access to communications, video archives, and all the technology of the near future to try to piece together a narrative that will exonerate him.
So even though the movie is set in one location, with Pratt strapped to a chair, we do get a lot of scenes – and even action sequences – external to that thanks to live footage of the investigation Raven is coordinating through outside communications. The result is a pretty solid mystery/sci-fi/thriller that I actually liked quite a bit. The film came and went in theaters, but not because it isn’t enjoyable.
That said, while I was won over by the movie, I’m not overly thrilled with the home video release. More on that in the next section.
The Bonus Features:
There are no bonus features on the disc. Unfortunately, that includes the omission of even a digital copy. It’s pretty rare these days for a major studio release (this is an MGM film) not to include at least a digital copy, but since this is an Amazon/MGM release, I assume they left it off because they want to drive people who want the digital copy to Amazon to purchase or rent or stream it there. I liked this movie and would love to have it in my digital copy as well as owning the physical release (I like to have both), but I can’t do that and I’m not a fan of that approach.
Digital Copy Included: No, clearly.
Randy & The Mob (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
Good ol’ boy Randy Pearson (Ray McKinnon), can’t seem to help getting in over his head, and so he borrows from the Mob. When he can’t pay, his only hope is a helping hand from his long-suffering wife (Golden Globe Nominee Lisa Blount, An Officer and a Gentleman); his estranged, gay, twin brother (also played by McKinnon), and “Tino Armani” (The Shield’s Walton Goggins), a mysterious modern day prophet with a knack for high fashion, Italian cooking and making money appear – and disappear. Freshly scanned in 4K from the original film materials, this hilariously quirky mafia comedy makes its global Blu-ray debut.
This special edition release also includes the Academy Award-Winning, The Accountant, in which a hard-pressed farmer brings in a mysterious accountant with a knack for numbers and a love of beer – and the fate of the family farm on the line. 2001 Academy Award Winner for Best Short Film, this 40-minute feature stars Ray McKinnon (O Brother Where Art Thou, Deadwood, Blindside) and Walton Goggins (White Lotus, The Righteous Gemstones, Justified, Fallout, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight), who also produced.
The Movie:
Randy & The Mob is one of those quirky, down-home movies that is hard to rave about, but also hard not to be charmed by. The film sees entrepreneur Randy Pearson, who seemingly never met a business he couldn’t run into the ground, getting in over his head with mafia-connected loan sharks, and when they send in a unique accountant to help sort the situation, Randy also enlists his gay twin brother to help.
Ray McKinnon (who I know best from Apollo 13 but has a whole host of credits to his name) does a great job in dual roles as the twin brothers, and it’s clear that Walton Goggins’ character is… unique. (In fact, you do wonder if the writer of Ben Affleck’s The Accountant ever saw this film before he created his own character.) The film has a whole host of recognizable faces in it, including notably Burt Reynolds, but it’s also populated by character actors such as Lisa Blount, Tim DeKay, Bill Nunn, and Paul Ben-Victor, all of whom you’ll go, “Hey, I recognize them!”
Like I said, the movie is kind of a slow burn. It’s quite watchable, and you’ll chuckle here and there, but it’s not the kind of film that’s moving a mile a minute. It’s charming enough and I found it enjoyable, but it might not be the most memorable movie I’ve seen recently.
There is a nice bonus feature included, which is the 40-minute Academy-Award-winning short film The Accountant, also starring McKinnon and Goggins, which was the genesis for this feature film. So it’s kind of like getting two for the price of one. Nice!
The Bonus Features:
- Making of’ Featurette
- Cast and Crew Interviews
- Bonus feature film: The Accountant
Digital Copy Included: No
Zodiac Killer Project (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
Filmmaker Charlie Shackleton ruminates on his unfinished Zodiac Killer documentary, playfully probing and unraveling true crime’s inner workings with deadpan insight. A witty and beautifully assembled deep dive into our obsession with serial killers and the stories we tell about them, Shackleton’s film deconstructs the genre with the incisive eye of a true crime connoisseur.
The Movie:
So right off the bat, let’s get one thing out of the way: Zodiac Killer Project is not a film about the Zodiac Killer. It’s a film about a film about the Zodiac Killer… that was never made.
British documentarian Charlie Shackleton was all set to make a documentary film exploring late policeman/author Lyndon Lafferty’s theory about a suspect named George Russell Tucker, when the rights fell through and the movie ended up not being made. So instead, Shackleton turned inward and crafted a documentary out of the B-roll footage he’d put together and started to explore the draw of true crime, the limits of the genres narrative structure, and the demystification of the filmmaking style that’s become so ubiquitous in true crime these days.
The end result is fairly fascinating. There is some humor in Shackleton’s approach and his honesty is quite insightful. Visually, the film isn’t the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen, and of course, if you’re looking for insights on the actual Zodiac Killer, you will be sorely disappointed. But if you know what you’re getting into, it’s actually a rather quaint and unique documentary that is more interesting than I would have expected.
The Bonus Features:
- Charlie Shackleton Q&A from the Chicago premiere
- Director Uncommentary Track
- Full Evocative B-roll Reel
- Rejected Sundance Meet the Artist video
- Camera Test (King Cadbury) short film
- Charlie Shackleton on Paint Drying and the Letterboxd Community Phenomenon
- Letterboxd Visits Charlie Shackleton’s Paint Drying Wall
- Theatrical Trailer
Digital Copy Included: No
Sakuran (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
Rockstar Anna Tsuchiya (Kamikaze Girls) is Kiyoha, sold into a brothel at a tender age and put to training as a courtesan. As Kiyoha’s rebellious spirit and renowned beauty provoke the jealous rivalry of the other girls in the establishment, the possibility of romance raises its head, but can love provide a genuine possibility of escape for a young woman in her position, in a refined sensual world where looks and deportment are everything? Ancient Edo’s legendary Yoshiwara red-light district is brought back to life in Sakuran, the dazzling debut of acclaimed photographer Mika Ninagawa (Helter Skelter), based on the popular manga by Moyoco Anno. With its super-saturated colors and striking art design, Sakuran is a delicious feast for the eyes.
The Movie:
This 2007 movie from Japan is based on a manga that demonstrates that manga isn’t all robot mechs, kaiju battles, and high school fantasies. This period drama is set in the world of courtesans, and it focuses on Kiyoha, who is sold into a brothel at a young age and groomed to become something of a celebrity in the courtesan world.
The film follows her journey to both escape her world and also to conquer it in a way so that she doesn’t live as a victim. She overcomes the death of her mentor and even takes some of the younger girls under her wing to offer them some of the protections she didn’t receive herself. Musician Anna Tsuchiya of Kamikaze Girls is striking and effective in the lead role, and she carries the film on her shoulders with aplomb.
Director Mika Ninagawa started her career as a groundbreaking photographer, and while the cinematography in the movie isn’t overwhelmingly groundbreaking, Ninagawa’s dazzling use of colors in the film both catches the eye and reflects the movie’s comic book origins (even though most manga is published in black and white!)
Ultimately, I can’t say I absolutely loved Sakuran, but I enjoyed it more than I expected to and I appreciated the talent at work both in front of and behind the camera.
The Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary by Josh Slater-Williams
- Brand New Filmed Introduction by Amber T.
- Stills Gallery
- Trailers
- Booklet with Essays by Jasper Sharp
Digital Copy Included: No
The Dancing Hawk (Blu-ray)
Official Synopsis:
A peasant’s son rises through the ranks of post-war Polish society like none of his ancestors ever could. Moving to the city, he becomes part of a new socialist order. But in leaving his rural roots behind, does he also abandon his soul? Taking inspiration from Orson Welles’ monumental saga Citizen Kane, Grzegorz Królikiewicz (Through and Through) crafts a viscerally affecting portrait of a changing country through the fate of a man ruined by ambition. Strikingly original compositions from cinematographer Zbigniew Rybczy?ski (Angst) and absorbing sound design capture the psychic toll of capitalism and urbanization.
The Movie:
Radiance Films brings us a new Blu-ray release this week of The Dancing Hawk, a 1977 film from Poland that was based on a novel but is openly inspired by (if not based on) Orson Welles’ magnum opus Citizen Kane.
The film follows Michael Topomy, a man born into the working class in post-war Poland. As he enters the working world and works his way up to more and more success, the film explores what that success does to him as a person. If you are familiar with Citizen Kane, it won’t come as a shock to you that it doesn’t do much that can be seen as positive, outside of gaining money and some semblance of power.
The film is a little challenging for my money. Director Grzegorz Królikiewicz is clearly not a point-and-shoot kind of director. He has a colder style reminiscent of Christopher Nolan, but he also employs odd camera angles, disjointed storytelling, and unusual sound design to make his movie stand apart. While there are good performances and a solid story here, the filmmaking made it a more difficult watch than I would have preferred. Still, people more friendly towards arthouse fare will probably find a lot to like here.
The Bonus Features:
- New interview with critic Carmen Gray (2025)
- Two short films by cinematographer Zbigniew Rybczy?ski: Soup (1974, 9 mins) and Oh! I Can’t Stop! (1975, 10 mins)
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by critic Piotr Kletowski
Digital Copy Included: No
Fruitcake (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
A pitch-perfect middle-grade graphic memoir about crushes, coming out, and finding the courage to be yourself. Eighth grade isn’t off to a great start. Everyone but Rex seems to be coupling up, and he’s starting to feel like an outsider… until he meets Charlotte. She’s fearless, smart, pretty, and she likes him back. But as great as Charlotte is, there’s someone else Rex can’t stop thinking about.
Drew is Rex’s childhood best friend, so when he kisses Rex, all kinds of new feelings begin to stir. Though at school, Drew acts like he doesn’t even know Rex, making those feelings turn really confusing really fast. And with all the strong opinions Rex hears from friends and at church, he questions his own worth and what his affections actually mean. Rex wants to be more like his new friend, Nina, and not care what others think, but being himself seems impossible. When did middle school get so confusing?!
The Book:
Fruitcake is a new middle-grade graphic novel by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza. What’s interesting to me is how very different my middle school experience was from Ogle’s, yet how similar it was at the same time.
The book is autobiographical but told as a narrative. In it, young Rex is in eighth grade, but he’s wrestling with his sexuality and who he is as a person. Rex doesn’t know if he’s straight or gay, and he’s desperately trying to figure it out, in a time and place where being gay wasn’t a welcome thing. (That would be Texas in the 1990s.) Now, I’m not gay and I didn’t grow up in Texas, but that idea of struggling to figure out who you are in the eight grade…? That’s pretty universal. And Ogle captures it extremely well.
I absolutely loved Fruitcake. It’s written so compellingly and so realistically that you turn every page wanting to see what happens to Rex or what decisions he’s going to make. You feel for him as he agonizes over whether he’s gay or straight. So many books and movies focus on characters who already know their sexuality, so it was fascinating engaging with a character who was truly trying to figure it out. Add to that Dave Valeza’s fantastic artwork, which is so evocative and expresses emotions so realistically, all while wrapped up in a simple, cartoonish style. (I don’t actually like the word “cartoonish” to describe his art, but it’s more that than realistic, so I’ll use it for now.)
It turns out that Fruitcake is the third book in a series that started with Four Eyes and Pizza Face. I didn’t know that until I reached the end of the book, but that’s a check in the plus column for me. I read the entire graphic novel assuming it was a one-off and didn’t feel like I was missing a thing. It’s written as a complete story, and even if you haven’t read the previous books, you’ll enjoy every bit of it nonetheless. I know I did!
The Specs:
- Publisher: Graphix
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 240 pages
- Cover Price: $14.99
Castle Swimmer: Volume 3 (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
Kappa and Siren’s adventurous journey into the vast ocean begins in this exciting third installment of the hit Webtoon series Castle Swimmer. After leaving Siren to recover from his wounds in the shark castle, Kappa heads out into the big wide ocean once more. Minutes into his newfound freedom, another prophecy intervenes, pulling him towards a giant demigod crab scuttling along the ocean floor. As Kappa tries to figure out why he is drawn towards this crab, he comes across three magic-wielding octopi with tragic pasts and uncovers more about his greater purpose as the Beacon.
When Siren finally leaves the shark castle a month later, Kappa is long gone. Alone in the greater ocean, which he’s only ever heard about, Siren quickly realizes that he’s unequipped to fend for himself. After his supplies are stolen by thieves, Siren finds himself by luck in the company of a young fish and his mother and joins them on their travels. As they teach him to fight and tough it out in the wild, Siren begins searching for a cure for his curse.
This beautiful graphic novel collects episodes 42-65 of Webtoon’s Castle Swimmer and includes three new mini-episodes, plus exclusive bonus content.
The Book:
Castle Swimmer – the popular Webtoon series, returns in the third collected edition in book form.
Wendy Martin serves as writer and artist for this LGBTQ+-friendly tale of two mermen who live in an underwater society and form a Romeo-and-Juliet-like bond that transcends the loyalties of rival kingdoms. In Volume 1, we met Kappa and Siren. Kappa is meant to be The Beacon, a source of light for the underwater world, but when he travels to the shark kingdom, he is imprisoned. But Prince Siren – who is prophesied to kill the siren – helps Kappa escape instead. Then, in Volume 2, Siren is trying to get Kappa to safety, and Queen Susca knows she may have to kill Kappa herself. With other kingdoms offering to help, it gets harder and harder for Siren to keep Kappa safe. All the while, their relationship strengthens, but Siren may have to sacrifice it for Kappa to live.
Now we have Volume 3. This time around we see Siren and Kappa separated, which is sure to sadden some readers, but we also see some great new characters introduced. There’s a huge crab god, evil (or at least evil-ish) witches, and more. There’s the usual mix of danger, humor and excitement, but also character and world building. The two main characters being separated is a bit of a bummer if you’re into them, but it also fits the story and where it seems to be going.
Castle Swimmer: Volume 3 is available in hardcover or softcover and collects chapters 42-65 of the original Webtoon’s installments. It also includes three mini-chapters that are – I believe – exclusive to the book.
Wendy Martin has a writing style that flows gracefully and an art style that bridges the gap between cartoony and more traditional comic book art, and it fits the story perfectly. If you’ve been following along so far, I can’t see a reason you’d want to skip Volume 3.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
- Format: Softcover or Hardcover
- Page Count: 288 pages
- Cover Price: $18.99 (SC) or $24.99 (HC)
Let’s Make Cocktails! (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
A fun and approachable comic book introduction to the wonderful world of cocktails, with tips for stocking your home bar and 60 recipes for classic drinks, from the co-author and illustrator of Let’s Make Ramen! and Let’s Make Dumplings!
Sarah Becan invites readers to wet their whistles in Let’s Make Cocktails! Featuring her colorful, engaging illustrations that have become a series favorite, the book opens with insight on the proper tools, glassware, and staple ingredients such as juices, sodas, homemade syrups, and garnishes to always have in stock. With vivid, easy-to-follow graphics, Becan guides readers through basic techniques such as shaking, stirring, muddling, and more. The book explores the origins, traditions, and popular legends surrounding foundational cocktails, including fun tidbits on drink accompaniments and occasions.
With chapters organized by spirit for easy access, readers will delight in the panelized step-by-step comic instructions for crafting a proper Gin or Vodka Martini, a refreshing Mojito, an eye-opening Bloody Mary, and more. For those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks, she also includes delicious spirit-free options such as the perfect Arnold Palmer, Fruit and Vinegar Shrub, and Lemon, Lime & Bitters. With recipes ranging from venerated standards such as the Manhattan and Last Word to popular modern classics like the Paper Plane and Oaxaca Old Fashioned, Let’s Make Cocktails! is an accessible guide to bringing the Craft Cocktail Renaissance into your own home.
The Book:
Let me say this right off the bat: this is the first time I’ve come across writer/artist Sarah Becan’s works and man, am I impressed! She is incredible!
After reading Let’s Make Cocktails, it got me wondering how long it takes Becan to create a book like this. Looking at her publishing history, it seems as if she has a new book every two years, so I’ll assume that’s about how long it takes her two write and draw one of her comic book-style cookbooks. That tracks, because they are so detailed and jam-packed and exquisitely illustrated that I can’t see how she could do it in any less time.
Effectively, Let’s Make Cocktails is a mixed-drink recipe book, but it’s so much more than that. Becan presents the entire book as a graphic novel, with herself narrating (and appearing on page), with a little help from her bartender friend Mark. She starts off explaining the origins of the cocktail, then goes through all the tools used to make them, the ingredients, the methods, and everything else you could need to know, down to what the different types of ice are. Then she launches into a comprehensive recipe book, with each drink – and there are over a hundred – getting an illustrated two page spread that tells you about the drink itself and then how to make the perfect one. Again, all of this is told in graphic novel format, so it’s not just a bunch of recipes.
The book is educational, useful, and most importantly, fun! Becan’s illustrations are outstanding, her storytelling is impeccable, and her writing is crisp. I’m going to track down the rest of her books now!
The Specs:
- Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 192 pages
- Cover Price: $22.00
Mixed Feelings (Graphic Novel)
Official Synopsis:
Through a mix of humor and heart, this charming middle grade graphic memoir explores evolving friendships, puberty mishaps, and finding a place to belong. Perfect for fans of Real Friends, The New Girl, and Pizza Face.
Things are getting hairy!
What could go wrong on the first day of sixth grade?
A: You wake up with leg hair out of nowhere.
B: You have zero classes with your BFF and watch her run off with her new (annoying) friend.
C:You struggle to decide which school club to join because being mixed race makes you feel like you don’t belong anywhere.
D:All of the above. SERIOUSLY?!
At first, Sara’s got mixed feelings about middle school. But she finds comfort in TV — whether she’s watching it, performing her favorite scenes, or imagining her life is a show itself. So when she joins drama club, Sara discovers a community where she can be anything she wants — including herself. Has Sara finally found a place to fit in? Or will she instead find herself buried under her growing leg hair and off-stage friendship drama?
In Sara Amini’s semi-autobiographical story, navigating life as a mixed-race girl has never been more hilarious or heartfelt, with family, friendship, and fuzz all at the forefront of this laugh-out-loud and painfully relatable middle-school memoir.
The Book:
I like a lot of middle-grade graphic novels, even though I am far from being a middle grader myself. While I know I’m not always the target audience, a good book is a good book. Sometimes, however, a middle-grade graphic novel doesn’t quite resonate with me, and when that happens, I realize that more often than not, it’s because of those demographics and not the book itself.
Actress (and writer of this book) Sara Amini’s graphic novel debut Mixed Feelings – about a middle school girl dealing with all the change that comes with a new school year – didn’t quite click for me. Maybe it’s because I’m not a girl, I can accept that, and it’s certainly not a bad book in any way. The writing is good, with relatable situations that I think most people can connect with. I didn’t really care for Shadia Amin’s art style, it’s a little too cartoony for me (I’m using that word a lot today!) but in a way that feels loose and scratchy. Again, I think it fits the story well, it’s just not my particular aesthetic.
That said, I think middle grade readers, especially girls, will find a lot to like in Mixed Feelings. The characters are believable, the situations are relatable, and the humor does land. Even if the book wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I definitely think there’s an audience out there for it.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Graphic
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 240 pages
- Cover Price: $14.99
