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What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – October 13, 2026 – Moana, The Madison, Last Boy Scout, Little Shop of Horrors, & More!

Mike Spring

By Mike Spring

 on 

What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – October 13, 2026

It’s TUESDAY THE 13TH!!! Bwah ha ha ha ha!

Okay, that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as Friday the 13th. Maybe that’s why we’re not inundated with horror titles this week, even though we’re halfway through October. Take a look below and see what is on tap for this week!

In This Week’s Column:

Moana (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

In Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaaia) answers the Ocean’s call and voyages beyond her island’s reef with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on a journey to restore prosperity to her people.

The Movie: 

I’ve been largely neutral on Disney’s live action remakes over the past decade or so. Some of them I’ve really liked (Cinderella, The Lion King), others I’ve liked much less so (Mulan, Lilo & Stitch). For me, the idea of a Moana remake was a little odd right from the time they announced it. After all, the original film is only ten years old, which in movie terms is nothing. We just got a sequel a couple of years ago, and it feels like there could be a third film. It feels weird to ALREADY be remaking it. I get that part of that probably has to do with wanting Dwayne Johnson to be able to play Maui before he’s 80 years old, but it seemed like an unnecessary remake. 

That said, the result is somewhat mixed. The film is longer than the original, even though it’s incredibly faithful to it — there is some new music and a few other scenes added. But the majority of the film feels like a shot-for-shot remake, which makes you wonder why you wouldn’t just watch the original again. Newcomer Catherine Laga’aia does a great job in the lead role, and I always enjoy watching Dwayne Johnson, even if the animated Maui seems like more fun. 

All in all, as an adult male movie reviewer, I’m not the audience this movie was made for. I’m sure kids will enjoy it, even if at the end of the day I have to recommend the original animated Moana over this live action remake. 

The Bonus Features: 

Digital Copy Included: Yes

The Last Boy Scout (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

THE GOAL IS TO SURVIVE. From the star of Die Hard, the director of Top Gun, the writer of Lethal Weapon and the producer of 48 Hrs., comes The Last Boy Scout, an era-defining explosion of cynical wit and extreme violence! Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) is a burned out P.I. who hates the world and seemingly everything in it. Jimmy Dix (Damon Wayans) is a former all-star quarterback, busted out of the game on gambling charges. When Jimmy’s girlfriend, Cory (Halle Berry), is brutally murdered despite hiring Joe to protect her, both men become embroiled in a mystery that will lead them deep into a shady world of politics, blackmail and sports gambling on their quest to discover who killed Cory and why, and maybe find a little redemption for themselves along the way. With gags and violence as brutal as each other, this is screenwriter Shane Black at his darkest, pushing the buddy action formula as far as it can go while director Tony Scott ups the 90s action-thriller ante to deliver a nihilistic neo-noir masterpiece drenched in smoke and neon. Once seen, never forgotten, The Last Boy Scout is back and it’s looking so good you’ll dance a jig!

The Movie: 

I’m not sure if The Last Boy Scout qualifies as a cult classic, but it’s certainly always been an under-appreciated gem. This early ‘90s action thriller stars Bruce Willis (back when he still had hair) and Damon Wayans, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Superstar writer Shane Black (Predator, Kiss Kiss bang Bang, Iron Man 3) wrote the script for the film, which was directed by Tony Scott, one of the greatest action film directors of all time. (He not only gave us Top Gun, but also True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, Beverly Hills Cop II, and so many others.)

The movie itself is a thunder-punch of action, sarcasm, violence, drama, and humor, all blended together and delivered with Scott’s signature visual flair. Willis and Wayans are a surprisingly good pair together, and the fact that the movie has a heavy football theme without being a sports movie makes it kind of unique. It also features Halle Berry in one of her earliest film roles. 

This week we get a new Collector’s Edition of The Last Boy Scout via Arrow Video, one of my absolute favorite home video labels. As always, it comes loaded with great extra features (and a booklet!), many of which include Shane Black’s participation, which is a real treat. This one was an instant must-have for me!

The 4K Video/Audio:

The 4K Ultra HD presentation of The Last Boy Scout offers up a noticeable audiovisual upgrade. Image clarity is nice and sharp, and the print is free of any blemishes or artifacts, and that’s what you would hope for. The color saturation is solid, with some moments where some real vibrancy shines through, and the film has a nice, cool tone to it that gives it a lot of life. The surround soundtrack excellently bolsters music and dialogue, both of which sound great, while the action scenes take on new life and fill in the satellite speakers nicely. A very strong effort overall.

The Bonus Features: 

Digital Copy Included: No

The Madison: Season One (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

Manhattanite Stacy Clyburn (Michelle Pfeiffer) had never grasped the affinity that her entrepreneur husband Preston (Kurt Russell) felt for the small spread he’d maintained, and sojourned to often, in southwest Montana. Tragedy would drive her to uproot-with her nonplussed family-in the hopes that Big Sky country life could help her process grief. “Yellowstone”-universe spin-off series from Taylor Sheridan co-stars Beau Garrett, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer.

The Show: 

I’ve said before and I’ll say again that in the aftermath of the juggernaut that is Yellowstone, it feels like every show coming out these days has to be set on a ranch and involve a multigenerational family. And The Madison — which was created by Taylor Sheridan, creator of Yellowstone — takes place on a ranch and involves a multigenerational family. So I’m not exactly wrong. 

But The Madison is a different kind of show than the others we’ve seen in this genre so far. Rather than being about politics and romance and backstabbing and oil, this is a show about grief. Michelle Pfeiffer plays a family matriarch who is grieving over the loss of a loved one (I’m trying to avoid spoilers here, even though most of the plot is fairly well known at this point), so she moves her family out west to the Madison River Valley in Montana to reconnect with here lost loved one. 

The show then focuses more on the grieving and healing of the family members and how they move on and try to get through their grief, rather than the melodramatic political machinations we usually see, which gives it a fresh approach. It’s also a more somber approach, as there’s some difficult stuff to work through, but the show is well-acted and well-written, so it’s hard to really complain. 

This new Blu-ray set includes all six episodes of The Madison: Season One, and with Seasons Two and Three already announced, it’s also a great way to get caught up before they come out. 

The Bonus Features: 

There are no bonus features on this release. 

Digital Copy Included: No

The Little Shop of Horrors: (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

A Singing Plant. A Daring Hero. A Sweet Girl. A Demented Dentist. Seymour–an orphan and a nerd who works in a run-down flower shop on Skid Row–spends his time doing menial tasks and dreaming of his co-worker, Audrey. Then, one day, just after an eclipse of the sun, Seymour discovers a strange plant. The exotic plant draws customers, saves the flower shop from bankruptcy and makes Seymour a hero in Audrey’s eyes. But the plant has a rather unique appetite … and it’s getting interested in Audrey too. Based on the 1961 film and the stage musical.

The Movie: 

I feel like The Little Shop of Horrors is one of those stories that could only really work as a musical. I mean, it would be easy to make a movie about a man-eating plant and turn it into a horror film. But a romantic comedy that centers around a giant carnivorous flower? Well, you can’t really do that seriously. But you add songs to the mix…? Voila! Suddenly you have a campy, frothy, offbeat, bizarre, lovable singalong. 

Now, honestly, I enjoy The Little Shop of Horrors, but it’s not like it’s one of my favorite ‘80s movies. And I’m a little surprised that it made it to 4K Ultra HD before some more high-profile films from the WB catalog such as L.A. Confidential. But, of course, the film comes to shelves just a couple of weeks before Halloween, which makes it make more sense. If you need a high-profile release for Spooky Season, TLSOH fits the bill much more than a crime drama or some other sort of movie. (It also happens to be Little Shop’s 40th anniversary.)

Still, Little Shop, as directed by Frank Oz (the literal puppet master of Hollywood) is a lot of fun, with a game cast and some terrific puppetry work. And this new 4K release is outstanding, with great picture and sound and a terrific collection of bonus features. You also get two different cuts of the film, the theatrical cut and the director’s cut, which features a different ending. This one is a treat (and not a trick) for fans!

The 4K Video/Audio:

Little Shop of Horrors is still a medium-budgeted film from 40 years ago, so it’s not like it suddenly looks brand new, but thanks to some great restorative work from Warner Brothers, the audiovisual department gets a nice upgrade. You’ll notice brighter colors, a sharper picture, and good contrasts, and the whole picture looks cinematic but also has the vibrance of a theatrical musical. There is a relatively active soundtrack (mostly making sure the dialogue is clear and the music sounds good) that also offers up some ambient surround activity to help fill in the soundfield. It’s hard to complain about any of those things.

The Bonus Features: 

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Bookcessories: Star Wars, Disney & More (Book/Toy)

Official Synopsis:

Tiny book. Big charm! Insight Editions today announced the launch of Bookcessories, an all-new collectible line bringing Disney and Star Wars fandoms into the palm of your hand. Measuring just 1.34″ x 1.73″ and packed with 192 pages of images, art, quotes, and more, each Bookcessories edition is housed in an eye-catching, durable, character-shaped PVC case with a clip for easy attachment to backpacks, purses, keys, and more. Launching today with nine Disney and Star Wars editions, the collection is designed for kids, kidults, and collectors of all ages. Each Bookcessories set has an MSRP of $19.99 and is available online wherever books are sold, as well as at select retailers nationwide.

The Books: 

You might be asking yourself, “What the heck is a Bookcessory?” Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like, a backpack or purse accessory that houses a tiny little book. Bag accessories are big money these days; you see them everywhere, usually as little clips featuring licensed characters. They can be plush or vinyl or cardstock, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some people adorn them to their bags, others hang them in their office or their car, you can find them everywhere. 

Now, Insight Editions has introduced Bookcessories, which combine the accessory market with tiny books. Basically, each Bookcessory a high quality rubber/vinyl 3-D bag clip of a beloved character, but then you also get a tiny book (think of the items you see when you’re waiting on line at Barnes & Noble) that goes inside the bag clip. The clips open up like a clamshell with a special nook for the tiny book, which are about the size of a slightly thicker matchbook but weigh in at a whopping 192 pages. Each two-page spread includes a photo and artwork in the Star Wars books and a storybook in the Disney ones. So these aren’t exactly novels, but as hidden little add-ons to your bag clip, they give you something fun you can crack open and read when you’re waiting on line for concert tickets or a limited Pokemon trading card drop. 

The quality on the Bookcessories is fantastic. We received two of the Star Wars clips to review, and they look incredible, with a highly detailed yet animated look to them. Any Star Wars fan will want to have one clipped to their backpack or purse. The books feature high quality imagery and text, too. They’re small, but feature nice detailing and imagery. 

Currently, there are Bookcessories for Star Wars and Disney, which includes Darth Vader, Grogu, R2-D2, Moana, Cinderella, Beauty & The Beast, Lilo & Stitch, The Little Mermaid, and Winnie the Pooh. Fun!

The Specs: 

Frankenhooker (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

A medical student sets out to recreate his decapitated fiancée by building her a new body made of Manhattan street prostitutes. From Frank Henenlotter, the creator of the Basket Case trilogy and Brain Damage, comes Frankenhooker, a sexy horror-comedy twist on the Frankenstein legend. When Jeffrey Franken’s fiancée (Patty Mullen, Penthouse Magazine’s 1988 “Pet of the Year”) is chopped to pieces by the blades of a remote-controlled lawnmower, he uses his dubious medical knowledge to try to bring her back to life. Using his home-made explosive “Super Crack” to entice beautiful New York City prostitutes, Jeffrey resurrects his beloved Elizabeth using their assorted body parts. Unfortunately for him, Elizabeth’s brain is scrambled and she runs amok on 42nd Street, turning tricks and bringing high-voltage death to her customers! Starring James Lorinz (King of New York, Street Trash, Last Exit to Brooklyn), the cast of this cult film classic also includes Louise Lasser (TV’s Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) and Shirley Stoler (The Honeymoon Killers, The Deer Hunter). Synapse Films is proud to present the uncut version of Frankenhooker in an all-new 4K Dolby Vision restoration created from the archival uncut original 35mm vault materials with a remastered 5.1 surround sound mix.

The Movie: 

I mean, really, when you think about it, it was kind of inevitable that someone was going to make a movie about a mad scientist (of sorts) using dead prostitutes’ body parts to bring his dead fiancee back to life. It’s a tale as old as time, right?

Okay, maybe not, but it is a tale as old as the 1990s, which is when the film came out. It was actually released in 1990, which is notable only because it really feels like an ‘80s movie more than a ‘90s movie, but that’s because it’s one of the “cusp” films: made in the ‘80s but released in the ‘90s. 

Frankenhooker isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, but it is a cult classic. It’s low budget schlock mixed with humor, camp, gore, comedy, and no small amount of sexual themes. There’s a wry sense of humor to the proceedings that’s mixed with an over-the-top ridiculousness, but also somehow a bit of earnestness. It’s a heady mix, and while the film is far from perfect, it’s hard to fault it for its ambitions. 

This week, we get a new 4K Ultra HD edition of Frankenhooker that comes with a nice collection of bonus features. Fans should find this a terrific new edition for their collections. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

Frankenhooker is a low-budget movie from over 30 years ago, but it looks better than it has any right to on 4K Ultra HD. Colors are vibrant if not overly so, but picture clarity is strong, and contrasts hold up well. The new 5.1 surround soundtrack does a good job of making sure the dialogue is as clear as can be and the ambience sounds full and active. It’s hard to complain about any of those things. 

The Bonus Features: 

Digital Copy Included: Yes/No

Models Vs. Werewolves (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

A gang of sexy and self-centered influencers escaping the city for a rural weekend fight off terrifying and bloodthirsty werewolves. Beauty IS a beast in MODELS VS. WEREWOLVES, the latest Full Moon horror/comedy directed by Danny Draven (BAD CGI GATOR, WEEDJIES) and produced by iconic genre film figure Charles Band! This bloody, campy, high octane creature feature sees a gang of sexy and self-centered influencers escaping the city for a rural weekend away. But they soon discover that they are NOT alone, as terrifying, bloodthirsty shapeshifting fiends are prowling the countryside and setting their sights on tasty femme-flesh! Featuring an appearance by THE HOWLING and E.T. legend Dee Wallace, MODELS VS. WEREWOLVES is an absolute howl!

The Movie: 

I mean, if you’re gonna make a movie called Models Vs. Werewolves, I’m going to watch it. It’s that simple. I’m not a complicated man; I like horror movies, I like creature features, I like supermodels. So what’s not to love?

Well, the movie itself, unfortunately. First, let me start with the good. The movie pokes fun at influencer culture and there are a few good jabs at that world and some strong satirical moments. I don’t even mind the low-budget nature of the movie or the decent-for-its-genre acting; those come part and parcel with a Full Moon feature film. 

But here’s one of the biggest problems: the werewolf special effects, rather than using cheap make-up or masks or rubber suits, use generative A.I. Yep, that’s where we are. I don’t even mean that it’s just CGI effects, it’s full on A.I. and it looks awful. It’s lifeless and out of place and it just doesn’t work. And that’s beyond the ethical issues that are raised by the use of A.I. instead of practical filmmaking means. 

There could have been a fun low-budget romp here, but ultimately Models Vs. Werewolves is a letdown, especially with a name/concept like that. 

The Bonus Features: 

Digital Copy Included: No

Burning (DVD)

Official Synopsis:

After a grieving family’s home burns down, conflicting accounts and rumors of a mysterious curse spread like wildfire. In a quiet suburban village, the home of a young family grieving the loss of their firstborn goes up in flames. As rumors of a curse spread through the community, no one can explain how the fire began. Each eyewitness offers a different terrifying account of the tragedy, but all are drawn to the same unsettling mystery surrounding the house and its inhabitants. As speculation grows, fact becomes inseparable from superstition.

The Movie: 

I had to look up how to spell Kyrgyzstan, which is where our final movie comes from this week. And yes, I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever reviewed a movie from Kyrgyzstan.

And it’s actually pretty interesting. Kyrgyzstan-ian culture seems to be rooted in older European ideals, so it has a bit of a rural/folk horror to it, even though it takes place in modern times. A house belonging to a young couple — the wife is pregnant and the mother-in-law is staying with them — burns down. From there, we get three different versions of not the house burning down, but instead what caused it, and the story gets more and more horror-esque as it gets closer to the climax. 

With good performances and a three-act structure that keeps you guessing, The Burning is a pretty solid film. It has a few flaws and I can’t claim to be an expert on Kyrgyzstan’s culture, but I think horror fans will be intrigued by it. 

The Bonus Features: 

There are no bonus features on the disc. 

Digital Copy Included: No

What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – October 13, 2026 – Moana, The Madison, Last Boy Scout, Little Shop of Horrors, & More!
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