Not since 2022 have Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy had a non-festival show where they reviewed 14 new films. But they did it again this week. Erik starts with a trio of documentaries including one on the growing concerns of a global food shortage (World Without Cows), then Dolph Lundgren looks back on his life after a potentially fatal diagnosis (Dolph: Unbreakable) and an incredible look at a comedian, actor (and painter) (Who Is Martin Mull?) Zachary Levi steps into the boots of John Wayne (Angel and the Badman) while Jesus may have come back to appear on a talk show (The Jesus Tapes) and a 19^th-century town deals with a lethal outbreak (A Prayer for the Dying). Margaret Qualley tries to outrun grief after COVID strikes (Love Of Your Life). There are varying levels of horror ranging from a new chapter in a ‘70s spoof (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence) and the ninth chapter in the ongoing anthology series (V/H/S/Mixtape). Samuel L. Jackson must outrun terrorists in his Presidential automobile (The Beast) and John Cena goes on a global mission with childhood friends who played with toy cars (Matchbox: The Movie). Ben Affleck stars and directs in a kidnapping thriller that has a familiar ring to it (Animals). Jessica Chastain is doubled up when a demon wants her daughter (Other Mommy). Finally, Aaron Sorkin returns to show us want Facebook has done since his Oscar-winning screenplay in 2010 (The Social Reckoning.)

It’s not a loaded week for physical media but Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski still have plenty to say about some new releases. Which is not to entirely dismiss an obscure sci-fi thriller about black diaspora rescued from obscurity by Criterion nor Shout Factory’s of a 1980s Hong Kong series. But much of the discussion is dedicated to the 40^th Anniversary of Frank Oz’s comedic horror musical and the 45^th Anniversary of John Landis’ still iconic contribution to the werewolf genre.

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy have the latest movie reviews for you as well as catching up on some titles from earlier including Steve checking in on Forgotten Island and Erik finally getting to Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie. There are more documentaries this week including more people going mountain climbing (The Last First: Winter K2) and a family’s attempt to get their daughter back from Hamas (Holding Liat). Steve handles a new giant snake film (Beware Boiuna) while Erik looks at the latest comedic bloodbath from actor-turned-director Clark Duke (Stranglehood). Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar unleashes bloody comic fury in a prison (Ghost In The Cell). The pair then try to breakdown the absurdity of the latest Colleen Hoover adaptation (Verity) and the manic insanity of Alejandro G. Inarritu and Tom Cruise’s satire (Digger).

Erik Childress & Peter Sobczynski are back on physical media duty this week featuring some of Peter’s favorites and maybe some of his least favorites. Not going to tell you which. But it’s a show filled with the work of Leos Carax plus bizarre musicals ranging from the life of Jesus to Steve Martin getting very serious very quickly. We’ve got Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Samuel L. Jackson and a pair of Robin Williams upgrades plus sets celebrating Frankenstein and The Wolf Man. There’s a somewhat forgotten ‘80s pairing of Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger and a family fantasy with John Goodman. One of the better Tarantino-inspired films of the ‘90s gets the Arrow treatment as does one of the greatest sci-fi films ever.

Erik Childress & Steve Prokopy return from the festivals in Toronto and Austin to come back to the world of the present releases. Erik looks at a pair of documentaries focused on the changing rivers of Texas (Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers) and the career of one of the most famous models (Twiggy). Steve checks in with a horror title that says it all from Fantastic Fest (Bloody Tennis) and what you might expect from Marvel’s big re-release this weekend (Avengers Endgame: Encore). There is a rom-com with source material you will not believe (The Love Hypothesis) and a Netflix film about the origin and capture of Ted Kaczynski (Unabomber). Jay Baruchel plays the Canadian equivalent of Evil Knievel (The Stunt Driver). Brad Pitt is trapped in the wild with his trusty combat dog (Heart of the Beast) and a pair of best friends have to remember their way out of a mythical location (Forgotten Island). Finally, Robert Pattinson is Chris Hansen from To Catch a Predator trying to explain himself (Primetime).

Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski return to catch you up on the world of physical media. This week you can get two very acclaimed films from just last year on behalf of Criterion. There’s a WWI thriller from John Ford and a story from the same era about a guy who really, really likes buildings. A Re-Animator sequel gets an upgrade as does a bizarre 3-D sci-fi film from the ‘60s and an even weirder sci-fi musical with Olivia Newton John. They got plenty of Italian crime films as well as one of Walter Hill’s most overlooked films. Finally, they take another look at the controversy over Neil Jordan’s big Anne Rice adaptation and how the film holds up.

The fall festival season is in full bloom and Erik Childress will be covering the Toronto International Film Festival for his 23rd year. Before he arrives though, there are ten films he wants to put on your radar if you are attending and can fit into your schedule. Otherwise, remember them in the future for when they hopefully find distribution. They include music documentaries of well-known singers and a pair hoping to find greater success. There are stories about masculinity and women fighting back against oppression and much worse. A harrowing new horror film from the director of Train to Busan but also a delightful summer hang comedy and another hysterical one with Christopher Walken as a mortician. And that’s just the beginning.

Just because Erik Childress is headed to the Toronto Film Festival doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have you covered in the physical media department while he’s gone. Peter Sobczynski and him go over two weeks worth of releases including Sidney Lumet’s incredible debut and Jon Favreau’s as well. There is also Mike Nichols’ final film as well as one of the great (if not greatest) film noirs of all-time. There are incredible documentaries ranging from the horrors of the Holocaust to the horrors of the highway. Warner Bros is doing Looney Tunes right for a change while Arrow does right by their star-studded Robert Towne noir. Finally, the newly formed Toy Robot Video does right by all the He-Man fans of the ‘80s who still carry a torch for the Cannon Films production of their beloved action figures.

A week before Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy take some festival trips, they have nine reviews for you over Labor Day weekend. Ten, in fact, is they catch up on one of the 193 shark movies to come out this year (The Devil’s Mouth). Then they get to this week with a music concert (Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live From Paris) and another songwriter creating a new album in the face of tremendous sadness (Sara Bareilles: Good Grief). You may have that Charlie Brown reaction for a murder mystery that has clearly seen other serial killer movies but not learned much from them (The Girl in the River). There’s a story about high school journalism from one of the best documentarians working today (Teenage Wasteland). People are climbing to new heights and putting themselves in danger once again (Fall 2: Deadpoint) while Gal Gadot is forced to jog to save her kid (The Runner). Adria Arjona has to fend off super soldiers in Adam Wingard’s latest (Onslaught). Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh are unlikely Cold War allies in an action comedy from the makers of Game Night (Mayday). Finally, Mark Wahlberg beats the hell out of racism for the FBI (By Any Means).

Some new titles in physical media this week and a few to catch up with from last week, Erik Childress & Peter Sobczynski have you covered. They include a couple of monumental documentaries from Barbara Kopple and the history of Ozploitation is lovingly told in its own doc. Val Kilmer dons the mask(s) of a classic character while Jude Law and Ed Harris snipe at one another. Danny Boyle’s original rage-infested tale gets an upgrade as does a film once torn apart by the Weinsteins. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are sister witches, there’s an early appearance by Rachel Ward and poor Don Johnson has to choose between Virginia Madsen and Jennifer Connelly. Poor guy.