Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy return for a little crossover show including new titles this week and a recap of films from this year’s Chicago International Film Festival; some of which you can see right now. Reviews this week include a documentary on a legendary composer (Music By John Williams), one of the best animated films of the year (Memoir of a Snail) and the immigrant experience told through a heated kitchen (La Cocina). There is also the latest film from Clint Eastwood that Warner Bros. is burying (Juror #2) and a Forrest Gump reunion from Robert Zemeckis (Here). Then they look at ten more festival entries ranging from politics to coups and terrorists. Erik sees one of the best baseball films in years and Steve checks out a documentary about one of the great bands of the ‘90s. It’s a great mix of movies giving you something to look forward to both soon and later.

The horror month of physical media closes out Halloween with a couple choice titles, though the horror-adjacent ones may be even better. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk a trio of film noir and a giallo film with Audrey Hepburn and James Mason. One of the great heist movies is here along with an all-timer true crime film from David Fincher. Wes Craven and Sam Raimi get the 4K upgrade as does a cult anthology that almost didn’t see the light of day. But the real joy may be in reminding everyone of a sequel too often left off the discussion of films vastly superior to the original. And that’s altogether ooky.

We are still in the month of horror and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about all the horrific and supernatural offerings getting upgrades this month. Not to mention Harmony Korine and Rob Lowe as a hockey player. But moving on from that the pair discuss the Hellraiser series and their lack of enthusiasm for even M. Night Shyamalan’s better films. They talk about the surprise hit of the summer of 1990, one of the films that established the horror genre and another that took it to such uncomfortable lengths Erik has to dare himself to watch it. There’s also Robert Zemeckis, Joe “3-star” Johnston and even some ‘80s teen shenanigans not involving death and murder.

Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to get you caught up on all the upgraded (not elevated) horror that you can add to your physical media library this week. But first there is some Jackie Chan, Rian Johnson, Jon Favreau and Sidney Lumet. Oh yes and some Hitchcock and Borchardt. But for your Halloween parties you can get probably the best J-horror remake from Gore Verbinski. Wes Craven delivers one of the most iconic horror characters of all-time. George Romero returns to the Land of the Dead and Tobe Hooper’s landmark cinematic achievement celebrates its 50^th Anniversary.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy dive into 11 films this week including a documentary that debuted three years ago at SXSW about a unique theatrical production (Alien On Stage). There is also a documentary about Pharrell Williams told through Legos (Piece By Piece) and another chronicling the week John & Yoko took over the Mike Douglas show (Daytime Revolution). A dysfunctional family tries to get through the weekend in Chicago (All Happy Families) and another has a loss in theirs exploited by an evil entity (Daddy’s Head). A high school student devises an elaborate cheating scheme (Bad Genius) while a missing child sets off a mysterious manhunt (Caddo Lake). Laura Dern hooks up with a Hemsworth (Lonely Planet) while Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh’s relationship is presented in a fractured timeline (We Live In Time). Finally you have your choice of evil this week in the third chapter of Art the Clown (Terrifier 3) or the beginning of Donald Trump (The Apprentice).

While there is not much on the physical media side this week there are definitely some choice titles to upgrade into your collection. It is also October and that means horror. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk about a must-own double feature from Criterion from the genre’s yesteryear as well as Tim Burton’s solid tribute to Hammer horror. Not to mention Lara Flynn Boyle getting blown off a roof. Alas though there is also some solid new theatrical horror titles on disc now as well as Peter Berg’s finest directorial effort getting an upgrade.

Steve Prokopy went to Austin for this year’s annual Fantastic Fest and he talks about a number of the titles he saw along with Erik Childress who caught up with some as well. They range from documentaries about Christopher Lee and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to the latest from the directors of Bodied and Psycho Goreman. There is action, sexual games along with other body merging and munching. They talk the latest anthology in the V/H/S series and find a real family adventure charmer with Elijah Wood. 

It’s a light week for physical media as we prepare for the onslaught of horror to arrive in October. The month does start off with a couple decent titles in the thrills department including a package Peter Sobczynski and Erik Childress catch-up on featuring the works of Lewis Allen. Paramount has put together the second of their “Scares” package which features at least one title worth getting in 4K that may also be more of a thriller than a horror film. Kino does deliver some witchy fun along with one of the best boxing films as well a young romance that may have you repeating the title of the episode. Finally, they look back on a series receiving numerous celebrations recently for its 25th Anniversary.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back on the review beat this weekend with eight new releases, many of them from the festival circuit. Horror comes in the form of sleepwalking for a couple (Sleep), for the woman that came before Rosemary (Apartment 7A) and creatures after a silent Samara Weaving (Azrael). Joseph Gordon-Levitt investigates a potential murder for Shailene Woodley (Killer Heat). Will Ferrell accompanies his newly transitioned friend on a road trip (Will & Harper) while Kate Winslet is the war photographer who captured the Holocaust (Lee). The director of How To Train Your Dragon has another heartwarming adventure (The Wild Robot) and the one who brought us The Godfather, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now finally delivers his passion project and the duo make no apologies for the final effort.

It’s a 4K-packed week with classics of the genuine and cult variety with Peter Sobczynski catching you up on the week’s physical media releases. There are titles from the emerging queer cinema of the ‘90s as well as, arguably, the best of the Todd Solondz oeuvre. There will be little argument about the best of British comedies and Peter makes one for what he considers may be the finest final film of any directorial career. Sidney Lumet does Agatha Christie justice and John Carpenter remakes a sci-fi classic. There is Woody Allen, Bob Hope and Elisabeth Shue facing off against a chimpanzee. Finally, Brian DePalma gets an upgrade on one of his most underappreciated, albeit controversial, films.