What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – September 8, 2026 – Star Trek, Minions & Monsters, Batman, Passenger, Tulsa King, Twilight Zone, TMNT & More!

By Mike Spring

 on September 8, 2026

What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – September 8, 2026

Wow. Usually on a holiday weekend (Labor Day here in the U.S.) releases are slow, but we are absolutely flooded with amazing new titles this week. We’ve got blockbuster hits, legendary TV shows, and exciting graphic novels, plus all the usual hidden gems and cult classics. Check out the full slate below!

In This Week’s Column:

• Star Trek: The Original Series – The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
• Minions & Monsters (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
• Passenger (Blu-ray + Digital)
• Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
• Tulsa King: Season 3 (Blu-ray)
• Guyver 2: Dark Hero (Blu-ray)
• The Hot Spot (Blu-ray)
• Black Belly of the Tarantula (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)
• Man of War (Blu-ray)
• Tag: The Assassination Game (Blu-ray)
• The Twilight Zone: Stories From the Fifth Dimension (Graphic Novel)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones (Graphic Novel)
• Castle Swimmer: Volume 4 (Graphic Novel)

Star Trek: The Original Series – The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

Six decades. Infinite worlds. Celebrating sixty years of iconic storytelling. Featuring new 60th anniversary collectible packaging, experience all 3 Seasons and 79 episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, previously remastered with enhanced visuals and original audio. Boldly go back to where it all began – celebrating the stories, characters and vision that inspired generations. From the bridge of the Enterprise to the far reaches of the universe, the adventure continues to inspire.

The Movie: 

2026 marks the 60th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series, and for a while, it seemed as if Paramount/CBS was going to let it go by unheralded. It turns out that they were just waiting for today, September 8th, which marks the 60th anniversary of the show’s premiere on network television. One of the ways they’re celebrating is with this new Blu-ray collection of The Original Series. 

Is Star Trek the greatest sci-fi show of all time? For me, the answer would probably be yes. Now, I may be a die-hard Trek fan to begin with, and I’ve always said that Deep Space Nine is my favorite Trek series. But The Original Series was so monumental, so influential, so intelligent, so meaningful, and so ambitious that it might just have to rank as the greatest science fiction series of al time. It’s The Beatles, the Michael Jordan, the Wayne Gretzky, the Jaws, the Muhammad Ali of genre TV. 

And honestly, I absolutely love it. Rewatching the original episodes for the first time in probably two decades, I was struck by both how much I remember the series and how much I still enjoy it. Honestly, as a kid, I loved the famous episodes like The Trouble With Tribbles and The City on the Edge of Forever. As an adult, which I still love those episodes, I also find I have a much greater appreciation for some of the lesser known episodes, such as The Conscience of the King or Balance of Terror. 

This new collection gives you all 79 episodes in one box set that’s compact but solid enough to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. It’s also worth noting that these are the remastered episodes with the updated special effects. I know some people have mixed feelings on those, but that’s what’s included. Officially, if you already have one of the previous Blu-ray releases of Star Trek: The Original Series, there’s nothing included in this one that isn’t in the earlier editions. (Still, you do get over nine hours of amazing bonus features!) If you don’t already own the series on home video, I can’t recommend this 60th Anniversary release highly enough! 

The Bonus Features: 

• Preview Trailers
• Spacelift: Transporting Trek into the 21st Century
• Starfleet Access Episodes – Picture-in-picture commentaries on several episodes
• Reflections on Spock
• Life Beyond Trek – William Shatner
• “To Boldly Go…” Season One
• The Birth of a Timeless Legacy
• Interactive Enterprise Inspection
• Sci-Fi Visionaries
• Billy Blackburn’s Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
• Kiss ’N’ Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
• Memories Part 2
• More Troubles, More Tribbles (Star Trek: The Animated Series Episode #1) with Audio Commentary by David Gerrold
• Trials and Tribble-ations (Star Trek: Deep Space 9 Episode #503)
• Trials and Tribble-ations: Uniting Two Legends
• Trials and Tribble-ations: An Historic Endeavor
• Star Trek: TOS on Blu-ray
• “To Boldly Go…” Season Two
• Designing the Final Frontier
• Star Trek’s Favorite Moments
• Writer’s Notebook: D.C. Fontana
• Life Beyond Trek: Leonard Nimoy
• Kirk, Spock, and Bones: Star Trek’s Great Trio
• Star Trek’s Divine Diva: Nichelle Nichols
• Life Beyond Trek: Walter Koenig
• Chief Engineer’s Log
• Memoir from Mr. Sulu
• Captain’s Log: Bob Justman
• “Where No Man Has Gone Before” The Restored, Unaired Alternate Pilot Episode
• David Gerrold Hosts “2009 Convention Coverage”
• “The Anthropology of Star Trek” Comic-Con Panel 2009
• “The World of Rod Roddenberry” Comic-Con Panel 2009
• “To Boldly Go…” Season Three
• Collectible Trek
• Star Trek’s Impact

Digital Copy Included: No

Minions & Monsters (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

Illumination expands its joyful Minions universe with a riotous chapter featuring all-new characters in the biggest global animated franchise in history. This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood as movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try saving the planet from the mayhem they created.

The Movie: 

I love the Minions, I really do. I think they’re great: they’re funny, they’re charming, they‘re endearing, and they’ve become iconic animated characters of the 21st century. 

That said, I feel like I should clarify something: I love the Minions… in the Despicable Me movies. I find them absolutely perfect as supporting characters. As leading characters… ehhh, not so much. Minions & Monsters is the latest Minions-centric feature film, this time focusing on Henry and James, two misfit Minions who are less interested in serving evildoers and more interested in making movies. When their attempt to create a monster movie goes awry, a very real monster menace threatens the entire planet. 

There are things I liked about the movie. There are some great Hollywood in-jokes and — as always — a ton of great visual humor. I loved the characters of Dort and Debbie, a play on the story of The Day the Earth Stood Still. But watching and listening to the Minions for 90 minutes, with the focus on them the entire time, it wears a little thin for me after a while. Now, that said, do I think the target audience will feel the same way? Probably not. But I think it might be telling that this movie grossed over $500 million worldwide (which is certainly not bad) but the first film crossed over the billion dollar mark worldwide  and the second one broke $900 million. That’s a significant drop, and I wonder if maybe the idea of Minions carrying the show isn’t starting to lose just a little of its appeal, even for kids. 

The 4K Video/Audio:

Not surprisingly, Minions & Monsters looks and sounds great in 4K Ultra HD. The colors are off the charts and really bring the film to life, while the animation as a whole looks crisp and clean. Black levels are deep and dark, and the film just really pops. The surround soundtrack is constantly active and all of the speakers get a full workout. You won’t miss a word of Minions dialogue, either! All in all, this is a terrific A/V presentation.

The Bonus Features: 

• Minions Take on Hollywood
• Casting Minions & Monsters
• Hollywood Sound
• How to Make Your Own Irene Blob Monster Slime
• Movie-Making Minions Style
• How to Draw

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Passenger (Blu-ray + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

After a young couple witnesses a gruesome highway accident, they soon realize they did not leave the crash scene alone, as a demonic presence called the Passenger that won’t stop until it claims them both turns their van life adventure into a nightmare.

The Movie: 

In the first half of 2026, we had two absolute blockbuster horror films, Obsession and Backrooms, both of which blew away box office expectations (with $250 million and almost $200 million, respectively.) Right around the same time, we had Passenger, which got lost in the shuffle and almost disappeared, although it managed to eke out a $30 million gross. The funny thing is, I think I actually liked Passenger the best of all three films. 

The story follows a couple who are setting out on a “Van Life” journey, meaning they’re living in their van and jetting across the country as nomads of a sort. When they stop for an accident, they unknowingly pick up a malevolent spirit known as The Passenger that starts to haunt them in increasingly more terrifying ways. 

There are a lot of things the movie does right. It’s creepy and scary without relying on excessive gore, even if there are a few bloody moments. The Passenger entity gets a proper origin, which is important to the story but isn’t belabored. So we don’t just get a ghost with no explanation other than “there’s a ghost” but it’s also not so convoluted or involved that we have to spend too much time learning about its history. There’s some really great camera work and practical effects, including one sequence with the couple’s van in a parking lot that is incredibly well-done. (Be warned, though, the filmmakers like to do 360-degree swooping shots a lot, so if you get motion sickness, keep an eye out.) 

Ultimately, Passenger is an enjoyable and effective horror film that hits a lot of right notes, has a lot of creepiness factor to it, good characters, great performances and a satisfying ending, all without bludgeoning us over the head with blood and guts. That’s increasingly hard to find in the horror genre these days, and I dug it quite a bit. 

The Bonus Features: 

Disappointingly, there are no bonus features on the disc. 

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Batman: Knightfall – Part 1 (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

Official Synopsis:

Arkham Asylum has been destroyed, and all its inmates have been unleashed upon Gotham City. As Batman races to round up some of his greatest enemies, he is pushed to his physical and mental limits and into a final confrontation with a new threat: the man called Bane!

The Movie: 

I’ve reviewed literally every single DC Universe Animated movie that’s ever come out, all the way back to 2007. That’s over 60 animated movies that I’ve watched and reviewed. And while I truly enjoy a large number of them, over the past couple of years they’ve started to become a little homogenized, a little by-the-numbers, for my tastes. 

So Batman: Knightfall was a true breath of fresh air, the best Batman animated movie in the last few years. Based on the epic 1990s storyline that saw Bane break Batman’s back (and was loosely the genesis for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises), this film is the first part of a trilogy, with the next two installments set to come out in late 2026 and early 2027. 

Not only is it just a great story, it introduces us to two great ‘new’ characters, Bane and Azrael, and it’s jam-packed with action. It also does a great job of bringing in Kelley Jones’ artwork style to the animation. For those of you not familiar with the comic books, Jones is one of the most distinctive Batman artists of the last 50 years, bringing exaggerated anatomy, shadowy inks, and heavy lines to the Dark Knight. The animation captures Jones’s style to perfection; not overdoing it but making sure the influence is there. This was a technique DC used for years, but I feel like the past several years they’ve settled on a sort of house style instead, which I’ve never cared for. 

Batman: Knightfall is a terrific animated Batman outing and I can’t wait for the next two installments!

The 4K Video/Audio:

As would be expected by now — since DC has done a good number of animated movies in 4K at this point — Batman: Knightfall looks and sounds great, as an animated movie should on 4K. Blacks are deep and solid and image clarity is sharp, while colors are vibrant and fit the feel of the movie well. The surround soundtrack also bolsters the presentation, with a generous spreading out of surround effects through each satellite speaker. Music is full and powerful, and the low end bass channel gives a nice underlying oomph. It’s a very strong A/V presentation overall.

The Bonus Features: 

• Breaking the Bat: Adapting Knightfall
• Batman Needs a Robin

Digital Copy Included: Yes

Tulsa King: Season 3 (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

In season three, as Dwight’s empire expands, so do his enemies – and the risks to his crew. Now, he faces his most dangerous adversaries in Tulsa yet: the Dunmires, a powerful old-money family that doesn’t play by old-world rules, forcing Dwight to fight for everything he’s built and protect his family.

The Show: 

I’m as big a Sylvester Stallone fan as you will ever meet, but I’ll be honest, when I first saw the trailer for Tulsa King, I was underwhelmed. Then I got the first season for review and of course it turned out to be absolutely FANTASTIC. Stallone plays a mid-level gangster fresh out of a 25-year stint in jail for protecting his mafia boss. Now a relic in an organization that has outgrown him, he is effectively banished to Tulsa, Oklahoma to establish a new income stream for the mafia. 

The show relies on excellent writing, terrific performances, and a perfect blend of drama, comedy, and action to end up being completely addictive, and it’s maintained that quality for three seasons now. This season, we see a new threat to Dwight’s operation, as a new crime family comes into play that does not pull any punches. It’s an exciting new antagonist for the show and brings a new intensity to the proceedings. 

And as always, Sly – who I’ve always maintained is a better actor than people give him credit for – is in the finest form of his career. Honestly, and I say this as someone who’s seen literally every single movie he’s ever made, this is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from Stallone. It’s subtle and nuanced at times, brash and overstated at other times, but you can’t help but like this character instantly, and that’s huge for a show where the lead character really isn’t a good person.

I watch a lot of my TV on Blu-ray and DVD these days, and it was great to finally catch up on the excellent third season of Tulsa King!

The Bonus Features: 

There are no bonus features on the disc. 

Digital Copy Included: No

Guyver 2: Dark Hero (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

The Guyver is back and ready to take on an ancient evil from destroying the world. The world’s most powerful superhero returns in this exciting sequel to THE GUYVER. Sean Barker returns to settle some unfinished business with the evil human mutants, the Zoanoids. Drawn to an archeological dig in Utah, he discovers an alien ship filled with weapons capable of world destruction. With the fate of all mankind in his hands, The Guyver makes a final stand against the forces of evil.

Making its Blu-ray debut with a new master transferred from the best surviving film elements, this set contains two cuts of the film – the Original 1994 version of Guyver: Dark Heroand an Enhanced version, with new special effects. Directed by creature effects wizard Steve Wang (KUNG FU RASCALS, DRIVE).

The Movie: 

It’s rare for sequels to be better than their predecessors, especially in the lower-budgeted end of Hollywood. But when the first movie isn’t all that good, I guess there’s nowhere to go but up. 

1991’s Guyver, based on a popular manga series, has its own cult fan base, but for me, it’s a little too silly to be truly enjoyable. Somehow, as a low-budget independent film, it turned enough of a profit to spawn a sequel, 1994’s Guyver 2: Dark Hero, and somehow, it’s a superior film. While still low-budget and cheesy in places, the more serious tone, better creature design, and less attempts at humor add up to a pretty solidly enjoyable sci-fi/action romp. It’s not quite a masterpiece, but it’s miles ahead of the first film. 

This new Blu-ray edition of Guyver 2 actually marks the film’s U.S. debut of the movie on Blu-ray, but it’s also one of the inaugural releases from Toy Robot, a new boutique distributor (that’s being sub-distributed by Arrow Video) that has some exciting new titles coming down the pike. With new masters, new extra features, and new packaging and artwork, Toy Robot is doing some great stuff, and this is a super cool release. I have at least one high school friend who will be very excited about this one, as he was always trying to rope me into watching the Guyver movies on VHS back in the day. 

The Bonus Features: 

• Three new audio commentaries including one with director Steve Wang
• NEW interviews with producer / director Steve Wang, actors David Hayter & Kathy Christopherson, screenwriter Nathan Long, composer Les Claypool III and other members of the cast and crew
• Behind-the-Scenes footage from the original shoot
• Trailers
• Photo Galleries including sketches

Digital Copy Included: No

The Hot Spot (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

Harry, a drifter (Don Johnson, Miami Vice) rolls into town and talks his way into a job at a car dealership where he becomes caught between two beautiful women: the boss’s conniving wife Dolly (Virginia Madsen, Candyman) and Gloria (Jennifer Connelly, Requiem for a Dream), a naive young accountant whose life is complicated by blackmail. When Harry plans to rob the local bank, he becomes enmeshed in a lethal web of lust, greed and extortion, whose only escape is murder.

Adapted from Hell Hath No Fury by Charles Williams, The Hot Spot is a dusty, sweaty modern noir that updates the pulp formula of twists and turns with an intensity to match director Dennis Hopper’s earlier film roles. Directed by Hopper (Easy Rider, Out of the Blue) with verve, the stellar cast are supported by William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption), Charles Martin Smith (The Untouchables) and Jack Nance (Eraserhead), accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack featuring Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal and original music by Jack Nitzsche.

The Movie: 

I’ve never really been a huge Dennis Hopper fan. I recognize that he was a great actor in some roles and has had his iconic moments in film history, but he’s never an actor that I see his name in a film’s credits and  go, “Oh, I’m more excited to see this movie now.”

So when I saw his name on the cover of The Hot Spot, I… well, I wasn’t that excited. But lo and behold, it turns out that Dennis Hopper is not the star of The Hot Spot, he directed it. And in fact, not only is the star of the film one Don Johnson, but it also co-stars Virginia Madsen and William Sadler, both personal favorites of mine. Well, now you’ve got my attention!

It turns out the film’s cast is loaded with future stars and reliable character actors as well. Jennifer Connelly plays the third lead, while recognizable faces like Barry Corbin, Charles Martin Smith, Jerry Hardin, and Leon Rippy round out the bill. The film is a slow-burning neo-noir combined with a sexual melodrama, and I have to give Hopper credit. The movie moves at a languid pace and runs two hours and ten minutes, which means normally I’d have been bored to tears by about a half hour in. But Hopper stages the action and the sex in such a way to keep it intriguing and engaging; I kept waiting for the movie to get boring, and it never did. Don Johnson is great in the lead role and Virginia Madsen absolutely sizzles in her performance, and I ended up enjoying the movie quite a bit. The Hot Spot is a hidden gem that is definitely worth tracking down. 

The Bonus Features: 

• Archival interview with Dennis Hopper – Hopper discusses The Hot Spot and features footage of John Lee Hooker and images from the set (1991, 4 mins)
• Interviews with stars Virginia Madsen (2021, 7 mins) and William Sadler (2021, 6 mins)
• Nick Dawson on Dennis Hopper and The Hot Spot – An interview with the editor of Dennis Hopper: Interviews (2023, 20 mins)
• Duane Swierczynski on Charles Williams’ source novel – The crime writer and expert looks at the adaptation and provides a background of the author (2023, 25 mins)
• Trailer
• Limited edition booklet featuring writing by critics Elena Lazic on the film, Leslie Byron Pitt on the erotic thriller genre and the film’s place within it, and an archival piece on the film featuring an interview with Hopper by RJ Smith

Digital Copy Included: No

Black Belly of the Tarantula (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

Only available at www.celluloid-dreams.net!

A serial killer has Rome on edge! Paralyzing his victims, then proceeding to slice them open before their own eyes, this sadistic maniac must be stopped! Conflicted, burned-out, and feeling overwhelmed, Inspector Tellini must find the madman before he claims another victim in a case that edges closer and closer to his personal life. Starring three Bond girls (Claudine Auger, Barbara Bouchet, and Rosella Falk), alongside another Bond alumnus, Giancarlo Giannini, “The Black Belly of the Tarantula” is a giallo cornerstone that broke the genre wide open and became one of the genre’s true classics. 

For the first time in stunning 4K ultra-high resolution, this 4-disc 4K UltraHD and Blu-ray Limited Edition features a brand-new, fully restored 4K transfer of the movie from the original camera negatives, in its original theatrical full-frame and 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio, as well as the international version and a 35mm Grindhouse version of the film. It comes in a high-quality, side-loaded slipcase that contains a disc case with reversible cover sleeve featuring the English and the original Italian title of the movie, as well as an 80-page booklet and a set of 16 reprinted publicity photographs.

This is a limited release that is not available in stores and is sold exclusively through this website! In addition, all orders of this release will also come with an exclusive set of beautifully restored 12?x8.25? color reproductions of the original Italian fotobuste (lobby cards)!

The Movie: 

Easily on of the most exciting home video releases this week is the super deluxe Limited Edition of the giallo thriller The Black Belly of the Tarantula. This 1971 genre stand-out stars the always-excellent Giancarlo Giannini as a weary police inspector trying to solve the mystery of a grisly serial killer who makes his victims watch as he kills them. 

Before I get into the movie itself, I have to rave about this Limited Collector’s Edition release from boutique distributor Celluloid Dreams. The label was launched by Guido Henkel, one of the pioneers in the home video review space, and they have since specialized in a small number of super-deluxe collector’s edition, focusing mostly on Italian cinema. While it’s not quite a box set in the traditional sense, the 4-disc release is so thick that it’s easily twice the width of a traditional Blu-ray case. The new painted artwork adoring the box’s cover is absolutely stunning, while the amaray case itself features the movie’s original key art. Inside the package you have an incredible 80-page squarebound book – and longtime readers will know there’s nothing I love more than when a home video release includes a book! And don’t worry, there’s a ton of new extra features to boot, but we’ll get to those in the next section!

As for the film itself, I was quite impressed. I’m not the biggest giallo fan in the world, but the presence of Giancarlo Giannini was a huge bonus, as I’m a big fan of the actor’s. I haven’t really seen him in much from his earlier days, so this was a nice experience. The mystery/thriller aspects of the film are captivating, and I found myself sucked into the film’s intrigue right from the start. But there’s also a slasher film aesthetic to the proceedings that pairs nicely with the actual mystery, as well as even a little campy humor. It’s a fascinating blend of genres that somehow all work together better than they should. Oh yeah, and did I mention that the film was scored by none other than Ennio Morricone? Come on, what more can you ask for?

Now, I haven’t watched all three versions yet myself, but also notable (and part of the reason why this release is four discs) is that you can choose between the slightly longer Domestic version of the film or the slightly shorter International version of the film, but then you also get a third option – The Grindhouse Cut, which has been intentionally drawn from a 35-mm print and looks gritty, grimy, and rough. It’s more of an aesthetic choice than a quality issue, but grindhouse fans might enjoy it. 

All in all, The Black Belly of the Tarantula is the kind of release that is responsible for keeping physical media alive. Film fans and collectors won’t find anything like this on digital, so order your copy now at www.celluloid-dreams.net.

The 4K Video/Audio:

So, there’s a lot to unpack here, but the short version is that I doubt any other home video version of the film (of which there are very few) compares to this one. First of all, each of the two main cuts comes in both 1.85:1 aspect ratio (as it was seen) and 1.37:1 aspect ratio (as the cinematographer claims is how it was meant to be seen.) I like the 1.85:1 look better, personally, but it’s up to you. The picture looks as good as it possibly can; there are some soft focus shots and stock footage that stand out as not being as crisp and clean as the surrounding footage, but for the most part you get crystal clear imagery with naturalistic and well-saturated colors. There’s some film grain present, but in the way that lets you know you’re watching actual film, and there’s not digital clean-up noticeable at all. Your audio options include choices between Italian or English in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Sound in Italian cinema in this time period was rarely recorded live, so both options feature overdubbing, but I’ll always go with the native language choice. Dialogue is clean and clear for the most part, and Morricone’s score nicely anchors the onscreen action. For a movie from 1971, I don’t think we could ask for anything more. 

The Bonus Features: 

• Commentary Track by film critic Guido Henkel
• Domestic (98 mins.) and International Cut (88 mins.)
• Grindhouse Version from 35mm theatrical print
• “The World of Paolo Cavara” Interview with director Paolo Cavara’s son, Pietro Cavara (22 mins)
• “Made-up Words” Interview with soprano Edda Dell’Orso (25 mins)
• Archival Interview with producer Marcello Danon’s son, Lorenzo Danon (16 mins)
• Archival Interview with director Paolo Cavara’s son, Pietro Cavara (5 mins)
• “What a Tangled Web We Weave” Video Essay by Andy Marshall-Roberts (25 mins)
• “The Uncanny Peephole” Video Essay by Howard S. Berger (25 mins)
• Image Gallery
• English Trailer
• German Trailer
• English Double-Feature TV Spot
• 80-page booklet with an essay by Jim Branscome (Cinematic Void), an essay by JA Kerswell, and a collection of Then/Now location photographs by Andrea Girolami
• A set of reprints of 16 publicity photographs from the original American press materials

Digital Copy Included: No

Man of War (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

An elite U.S. Special Forces veteran now works as a private military contractor in Ukraine during Russia’s invasion. While protecting vulnerable civilians on the front lines, he receives a desperate call: his adopted daughter, an aid worker, has been kidnapped by brutal Russian mercenaries. With a small team, he launches a relentless mission through artillery fire, drone strikes, and hostile terrain—risking everything to bring her home.

The Movie: 

I don’t exactly keep it a secret that I love action movies. No, I’m obsessed with action movies. I’ll often half-jokingly say that I have 27 streaming services and I’ve run out of action movies to watch. Like, I’ve literally seen every action movie on every single streaming service. So I’m always excited when a new action movie comes out on home video and crosses my desk for review. Unfortunately, the reality is that I get a lot of lower-budget action films and very few of them these days are very good. 

And then there’s Man of War, which I really enjoyed. In effect, it’s a riff on Taken, but to describe it that way is to do it a disservice. Mike Connor is a special forces operative whose niece is taken hostage by Russian soldiers when Russia invades Ukraine in 2022. He goes in country with a Ukrainian guide and has to locate her and rescue her. 

While there are some similarities to Taken, Man of War is much more of a war movie combined with a rescue film, and if it’s a lower-budget offering, you wouldn’t know it by watching the movie. It’s got no shortage of action, the set pieces are well-shot and well-staged, and we even get things like tanks firing in the streets of Kyiv. The Russia/Ukraine war being the backdrop for the story gives it an immediacy and a reality that only adds to the tension, and the end result is that Man of War is a top-notch action film that I would recommend tracking down. 

The Bonus Features: 

• Trailers

Digital Copy Included: No

Tag: The Assassination Game (Blu-ray)

Official Synopsis:

Before college movies were all about nudity, slapstick comedy, beer bongs and bad decisions, TAG: The Assassination Game gave this genre a killer twist. In this 1982 film noir-inspired gem, a group of students turns dorm life into a mock battle royale by playing a game that could never be done on campuses of today. The rules of TAG are simple. Players try to “murder” each other using rubber-tipped toy dart guns. If you are shot, you are “killed” and taken out of the game permanently until only one player remains. Unfortunately for this year’s TAG players, one sore loser is determined to win at any cost, even if it means murdering his competition for real! Writer-director Nick Castle, a frequent collaborator with long-time friend and associate John Carpenter, is widely known as Michael “The Shape” Myers in 1978’s horror classic Halloween. With his directorial debut, he demonstrates a knack for clever tension and spins this film’s concept into a wry and charming thriller. Forgotten for years, TAG: The Assassination Game endures as a cult curiosity — a sharp, stylish reminder that sometimes the most dangerous games are the ones we invent for fun. 

Featuring a star-studded cast, including a young Linda Hamilton (Terminator series) in her first motion-picture role, TAG: The Assassination Game also stars Robert Carradine (Revenge of the Nerds, The Big Red One), Perry Lang (1941, Eight Men Out), Bruce Abbott (Re-Animator, Bad Dreams), Kristine DeBell (Alice in Wonderland, Meatballs), Xander Berkeley (Candyman, Air Force One), Michael Winslow (Police Academy series) and future Oscar-winner, Forest Whitaker (The Crying Game, The Last King of Scotland). Synapse Films is proud to present TAG: The Assassination Game in its high-definition worldwide home video premiere, lovingly restored in 2K from the original 35mm archival vault materials. This film might not have made box-office history, but for lovers of forgotten gems and VHS-era ingenuity, it’s an A+ in retro suspense.

The Movie: 

I think it’s funny that the description for Tag states that it’s “a game that could never be done on campuses of today.” Any parent of any teenager can tell you that – while they use water guns instead of rubber-dart guns – high school students have an annual game called Senior Assassin these days in which they do exactly what this movie is about, minus the murdering each other part. 

Now, there are cult classic movies and there are CULT cult classic movies, and Tag is one of those cult classics that really comes from the deep recesses of the memories. What’s interesting is that while I’d never seen the film before, I was definitely familiar with it. I’m pretty sure that it was on regular summer rerun rotation when I was a kid, so I might have seen bits and pieces of it years ago when I was flipping around trying to find episodes of Transformers or G.I. Joe to pass the time with.  

The story is exactly how it’s described: college students are playing an elimination game of ‘tag,’ with rubber-dart guns. In theory, the last student standing wins the game, but somebody has decided to take out their rivals for real. It’s effectively a slasher film, but because the characters are taken out with a gun, I think it gets overlooked in a lot of slasher movie lists. Honestly, I thought it was fantastic; it’s a ton of fun, it’s suspenseful, and it keeps you engaged until the very final scene. 

Of course, most cinephiles will be thrilled to see Linda Hamilton in her first film role, but this is definitely a cast filled with soon-to-be-famous actors, including Robert Carradine in a lead role and Forest Whitaker, Michael Winslow and Xander Berkeley in much smaller roles. As a film, it’s a really fun slasher-adjacent throwback. As an early-1980s Hollywood star vehicle curiosity, it’s even better!

The Bonus Features: 

• Audio Commentary with Director Nick Castle and Star Robert Carradine
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Digital Copy Included: No

The Twilight Zone: Stories From the Fifth Dimension (Graphic Novel)

Official Synopsis:

Return to the Twilight Zone in this all-new anthology series featuring stories by some of the best creators in comics today! Each issue is a new tale in the vein of the iconic original television series that’s captivated audiences for over 60 years. And like the show, these stories will be revealed in terrifying black and white! These stand-alone 22-page stories are a spiritual sixth season of the original show. All-star creative teams tell the tales of billionaires, scientists, families, and knights as they journey to island paradises, bitter battlefields, and the farthest reaches of outer space.

Featuring stories by Dan Watters (Batman: Dark Patterns, Shredder) & Morgan Beem (The Author Immortal, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches), Tom Scioli (Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre, Fantastic Four: Grand Design), James Stokoe (Godzilla in Hell, Orphan and the Five Beasts), Nate Powell (the March trilogy, Swallow Me Whole), and L. Marlow & Francesco Francavilla (Batman: The Black Mirror, Afterlife with Archie). 

The Book: 

Well, it’s about time! The last time we saw an original Twilight Zone comic book was in the 1990s, which is disappointing since the show’s concept is so ripe for a comic book anthology. Now, thanks to IDW, The Twilight Zone is back, and they’ve done a bang-up job with it!

The Twilight Zone: Stories From the Fifth Dimension collects the first five issues of the ongoing anthology series. Each issue presents a new, original story that fits into the Twilight Zone theme: science fiction with a twist. In a neat homage, the book is published in black-and-white, keeping the feel of the original series intact. (It’s also really more of a grey wash with multiple toes, rather than strict black-and-white line art.)

These first five issues feature stories by some of comics current heavy hitters, too, with standouts including James Stokes, Dan Watters, Francesco Francavilla, and Tom Scioli. The stories are all stand-alone offerings, and honestly — in something that’s kind of unusual for anthology books — I enjoyed all five issues equally. That’s hard to find in this day and age! I can’t wait for Volume 2!

The Specs: 

• Publisher: IDW Publishing
• Format: Softcover
• Page Count: 128 pages
• Cover Price: $19.99

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones (Graphic Novel)

Official Synopsis:

A familiar friend, Casey Jones, gets his own comic series! A brand-new foe, Ludovic—a new kind of mutant—wants Casey dead! Spinning out of the pages of the best-selling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2024) relaunch comes an all-new series featuring fan-favorite Casey Jones!

After Casey Jones was shot and left in a coma by District Attorney Hieronymus Hale in the pages of TMNT, he’s now awake and living life to the fullest, and doing a little too much. His friends Raphael and April O’Neil try to tell him to slow down and let himself heal, but Casey can’t wait—he needs to be back on the streets. Especially with a new drug called Nostrum, a derivative of the ooze that created the TMNT, being out there and empowering criminals…including the brand-new villain Ludovic, who hates everything Casey stands for and wants him dead. Casey just finished one fight for his life, and now he’s in for an even tougher one!

Features the IDW comics debut of iconic TMNT characters including Jack Marlin, Warren Stone, and more! Collects issues #1-6 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey Jones miniseries. 

The Book: 

I’ve made very clear over the years that I am both a huge fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and also not a huge fan of IDW’s TMNT universe of comic books. I’ve never really cared for their style and their overuse of mutated characters, where now the books are populated largely by characters who are Mutanimals, for lack of a better word. The comics are very popular, so I know I’m in the minority on that, but that’s how I feel. I don’t hate the comics by any stretch, they’re just not done in the direction I would like to see. 

So I was both excited and skeptical to read Casey Jones, the collected trade paperback of the six-issue miniseries from IDW. To be honest, I wasn’t sure that Casey is an interesting enough character to carry a whole book. The good ness is that writer Alex Paknadel seems to realize that, and the book co-stars the Ninja Turtles; Casey definitely takes the driver’s seat, but the Turtles show up enough to keep the book from relying solely on Casey. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I don’t really care for Amancay Nauhelpan’s artwork. He draws the first four issues (and the last two issues by guest artists do look better), but I find his art style a little on the — for lack of a better word — amateurish side. It looks like a lot of the indie artists I see who just aren’t quite ready to take on a full book yet. 

Overall, though, I found Casey Jones to be an enjoyable read. This graphic novel gives you not only the six issue series, but also an extensive cover gallery featuring some amazing art by notable artists. 

The Specs: 

• Publisher: IDW Publishing
• Format: Softcover
• Page Count: 168 pages
• Cover Price: $21.99

Castle Swimmer: Volume 4 (Graphic Novel)

Official Synopsis:

Kappa and Siren descend deeper into the darkness of the ocean and uncover the harrowing truths of their own destinies in this thrilling fourth installment of the hit Webtoon series Castle Swimmer.

Kappa and Siren continue their thrilling journeys beyond the kingdom walls. Accompanied by his new companions Pim and Pagoon, Siren ventures into the shadowy ocean depths in search of a cure for his curse. Facing terrifying creatures that prey on their deepest fears and desires, the trio uncover more about Siren’s prophecy and the darkness entwined with his fate. Meanwhile, Kappa continues to battle the great demigod crab with the last of the Octalia people, learning to harness his magical powers and grow his strength. Despite being on separate missions, Kappa and Siren remain connected through their unwavering dedication to each other, even if it is just an inflicted hallucination.

Join Kappa and Siren as they bravely push forward into the unknown and face more mythical obstacles in this captivating continuation of the Castle Swimmer saga. This beautiful graphic novel collects episodes 66-86 of Webtoon’s Castle Swimmer.

The Book: 

Castle Swimmer – the popular Webtoon series, returns in the fourth 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. 

Okay, a quick recap, culled from my previous reviews: 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. 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. In Volume 3, we saw Siren and Kappa get separated, but we also saw some great new characters introduced, including a huge crab god, evil (or at least evil-ish) witches, and more. 

Now, in Volume 4, Kappa and Siren are still separated, much to my chagrin. I hate when characters who are supposed to be together are split up. And while I certainly don’t want to spoil anything here, I’ll just say vaguely that the end of the book hints that the future promises to make those of us who are sad to see the two apart much happier. As always, thew characters we know and love are present and at the center of the action, while the new characters are endearing and intriguing. The book continues to be an engaging read from start to finish. 

Castle Swimmer: Volume 4 is available in hardcover or softcover and collects chapters 66-86 of the original Webtoon’s installments. It also includes three mini-chapters that are exclusive to the book, and feature moments from Siren and Kappa’s earliest moments together, which definitely focus more not he romantic side of things. As always, 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 4.

The Specs:

• Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
• Format: Hardcover or Softcover
• Page Count: 288 pages
• Cover Price: $24.99 (HC) or $18.99 (SC)