Mike Spring
Well, it’s kind of both a small week and a big week this week. But it’s all Steelbooks! There aren’t a ton of releases out this week (while there are also a few we simply haven’t received review copies of yet, so we can’t include them), but Bloody Disgusting, the popular horror brand, has dropped no less than SEVEN Wal-Mart exclusive horror movie Blu-ray Steelbooks. Plus we have a beloved children’s animated movie! So there’s still a lot of movies to talk about, just not a ton of variety. Check out the details below!
The Last Unicorn (4K Ultra HD Steelbook)
The Movie: The Last Unicorn is one of my treasured childhood memories, so of course I was thrilled when this new 4K Ultra HD Steelbook from Shout Factory came across my desk. I’m happy to report that, while the film isn’t quite as magical as it was when I was seven years old, I still really enjoy it. Yes, it’s a little bit slower than I remember it and yes, the music by America is far from the highlight of the film, but I still really enjoy it. Even after all these years, I still get emotionally caught up in the parts of the film I got caught up in as an excitable youth. Schmendrick and Molly and Amalthea are still characters that I care about and want to see happy endings for. That’s pretty impressive for an animated film that’s over four decades old. Rankin/Bass Animation might not be a force in the industry anymore, but they made some quality animated films back in the day. Are there some weird or questionable moments in the film? Absolutely. (What’s up with that buzzard bird with human cleavage?) But the heart of the film still beats strongly, and the Steelbook case this new 4K release comes in wraps it all up nicely inside.
The 4K Video/Audio: I’ve seen The Last Unicorn on literally every home video format ever, from VHS to DVD to Blu-ray. (Wait, was there a laser disc? I might have missed that one!) I can say that this 4K Ultra HD edition is the best the film has ever looked in your living room. That said, the film is 42 years old at this point. So it’s not flawless. There are some very minor specks of dirt or dust here or there, but largely it’s a clean print. Color saturation is deep and rich, with crisp black outlines, and backgrounds appear more vibrant than I’ve ever seen them. The surround soundtrack isn’t the most immersive one I’ve ever heard, but the dialogue is clean and clear and sounds natural and not hollow while the musical rock soundtrack sounds full and lush. It’s a terrific A/V presentation overall.
The Special Features: There are a few commentary tracks that were on previous releases that aren’t included here, so that’s a bummer, but you do get a new 15-minute interview with writer of the book/screenwriter Peter S. Beagle. There’s also a half-hour making of feature, another featurette on Beagle that runs about eight minutes, animated storyboards, and a trailer.
Digital Copy Included?: Sadly not.
The Wrap-Up: Oddities and all, The Last Unicorn is still a magical piece of my childhood, and people like me who are a little hesitant to revisit it will be pleased to know that there is still much joy to be found in this enchanted adventure.
Bloody Disgusting Steelbooks (Wal-Mart Exclusives)
The Movies: As I mentioned in the intro above, the popular horror brand Bloody Disgusting has released seven more recent (as in the past 10-15 years, not stuff from the ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s) horror movies on Blu-ray as Wal-Mart exclusive Steelbooks. These exclusive Steelbooks have become very collectible in recent years, as they’re usually only available for a limited time. The seven movies in this year’s wave are: You’re Next, Sinister, Hannibal Rising, Leatherface, Texas Chainsaw, Wolf Creek, and I Spit on Your Grave (2010). Let’s go through them one by one:
You’re Next – An exceptional entry in the horror genre, You’re Next had the misfortune of being the second home invasion thriller of that year featuring killers wearing animal masks (after The Purge.) While it didn’t do as well at the box office, You’re Next is a much better film. It owes a strong debt to The Strangers and Funny Games, but it works extremely well on its own. The story is simple: a family at a remote estate is terrorized by a group of mask-wielding killers. With a somewhat lesser-known cast, what sets this movie apart is the excellent pacing and measured direction. While not afraid to show blood and guts, it doesn’t overly revel in the gore, nor does it rely on jump scares as its sole method of thrills. Instead, it ups the tension slowly until things explode, and it manages to mix in some humor at the same time. I really enjoyed this one.
Sinister – Ethan Hawke stars in this hit horror film about a spirit that is loosed on a hapless family courtesy of a 16mm home movie. Like so many movies in this genre in recent years (I’m looking at you, Insidious franchise), Sinister starts off really creepy and becomes less so by the end, but it’s pretty darn good for a fright flick. Fans of the genre should enjoy watching it. I’m not sure why this one didn’t ignite at the box office as well as movies like those in The Conjuring universe (even though I think it’s superior), but I’m glad to have it included in this collection.
Leatherface – Oh yes, please, do give us a film that tells the origin of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s iconic villain, Leatherface. Because everyone wants to see a young Leatherface, and we’ve all learned by now that prequels can never go wrong. Okay, I’ll give the filmmakers credit for casting Stephen Dorff and Lili Taylor to give the movie some actual talent, and I’d be lying if I said it’s the worst horror movie ever, but I can’t say there was any point at which I was all that interested in what was going on. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise remains one of the more disturbing/disgusting horror franchises, and this prequel doesn’t do much to change that.
Texas Chainsaw – Alexandra D’Addario and Scott Eastwood star in this 2013 outing in the famed franchise. It gets hard to keep track of which film is which at this point, but this one is effectively not a prequel or a sequel, but kind of a reboot. Is it the worst film in the franchise? It is not. Is it a really good movie? It is not. Originally released in 3D, the movie veers wildly between suspenseful moments that use tension to great effect and then typical blood-splattered over-the-top gore that looks like it was made strictly for 3D moviegoers. Still never my favorite franchise.
Hannibal Rising – Speaking of origin stories for famed killers, Hannibal Rising is a prequel to the Silence of the Lambs series (Manhunter, Silence, Hannibal, and Red Dragon.) It shows us a young Hannibal Lecter, played by Gaspard Ulliel during World War II, and explores some off the events that shape him into Hannibal “The Cannibal.” This is one of those movies that, on its own merits, is a decent enough serial killer thriller. But you add to it the fact that it’s supposed to be Hannibal Lecter, who nobody comes close to portraying the way Anthony Hopkins does, and the film suffers a bit in comparison.
Wolf Creek – It’s hard to talk about Wolf Creek without spoilers, but for me the original Wolf Creek — because there was also a sequel and a TV series — was a nasty, gritty horror movie that garnered a pretty good sized cult following. I never loved the film, largely because it’s one of those “based on a true story” movies where, let’s just say, it would be hard to corroborate any of the events depicted in the film. That said, while it’s not a favorite, it’s bot a terrible movie, either, it’s just for people who like more hardcore horror than I do.
I Spit on Your Grave (2010) – The original I Spit on Your Grave is a cult classic horror movie, but it’s also a grindhouse genre touchstone, and it’s hard to deny that it has a place in horror history. But it’s not a great movie, nor is it easy to watch. The 2010 remake, starring Sarah Butler, is a much better film in terms of filmmaking, but it’s an equally difficult watch. The story of a woman who is violently assaulted by a group of men only to survive and take out revenge on them in deservedly gruesome ways, it’s not light fare. I don’t love movies that are this extreme, but, hey, cult classics are cult classics for a reason, so obviously it has its audience.
The Special Features: Each film includes the same extra features (or most of them) that were included on their original Blu-ray release. Here’s the breakdown:
- You’re Next – There are two audio commentaries, a making-of feature, and the film’s trailer.
- Sinister – You get two audio commentary tracks, two making-of featurettes, and a collection of deleted scenes (also with optional commentary.)
- Hannibal Rising – Includes an audio commentary, two making-of features, and a collection of deleted scenes, also with optional commentary.
- Leatherface – You get a making-of, deleted scenes, and an alternate ending.
- Texas Chainsaw – This one is loaded. It comes with no less than three audio commentary tracks, six making-of features that run over an hour and a half in total, and a trailer.
- Wolf Creek – There’s a commentary track, a making-of documentary, deleted scenes, and a trailer.
- I Spit on Your Grave (2006) – Features an audio commentary, a documentary, multiple trailers, and a radio spot.
Digital Copy Included?: Yes. Each film (all of them are available separately) come with the corresponding digital copy.
The Wrap-Up: I am hit or miss with how much I enjoy each of these films; some I love, some I… really don’t love. Your mileage may vary on which ones you like the best, but for any of the movies that you are a fan of, these steelbooks look terrific, contain great extra features, and include a digital copy, so it’s hard to pass them up.
