Movies

The Best New Blu-Ray Releases: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 4K And More

Texas Chainsaw Bryanston Distributing Company
By Chris Evangelista/

We have a very eclectic mix of Blu-rays for you in this latest Blu-ray column. In fact, I can't remember a time when I've rounded up such an odd assortment of films. Not only do we have the new 4K release of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," but we also have the animated "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," the beautiful drama "The Remains of the Day," and Dario Argento's "Phenomena" just to cap things off. Like I said: eclectic. 

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 4K

Texas Chain Saw Bryanston Distributing Company

Often copied, never duplicated, there will never be anything like "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" again. Even after all these years, Tobe Hooper's tale of some travelers who run afoul of a cannibal family is terrifying. Why? Because it feels like something we shouldn't be seeing. The rough, raw style makes the entire movie feel like a documentary; like someone created a snuff film and released it into the wild. The horror practically radiates off this thing; it's unbeatable. No amount of movies about hillbilly killers stalking youngsters will ever measure up to the nightmarish power Hooper and company unleashed here. 

Special features:

Disc 1 

  • 4K UHD feature film and four commentary tracks: writer-producer-director Tobe Hooper, actor Gunnar Hansen and cinematographer Daniel Pearl; actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger and Paul A. Partain with production designer Robert Burns; Tobe Hooper solo; and Daniel Pearl, editor J. Larry Carroll and sound recordist Ted Nicolaou. 

Disc 2 

  • New, never-before-seen feature-length documentary The Legacy of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and several featurettes. These include "The Cinefamily Presents FRIEDKIN/HOOPER," a conversation about the film between Tobe Hooper and The Exorcist director William Friedkin. 
  • "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth" 
  • "Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw" 
  • A tour of the TCSM house with Gunnar Hansen 
  • "Off the Hook with Teri McMinn" 
  • "The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman." 
  • Filling out the generous package are deleted scenes and outtakes, a blooper reel, trailers, vintage TV and radio spots, and much more to thrill fans old and new.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in boots DreamWorks

I don't have any affinity for the "Shrek" films (don't @ me), so when I learned a new "Puss in Boots" movie was on the way, I thought: "Well, I don't need to see that." But a wealth of positive buzz convinced me otherwise. And you know what? "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" is pretty darn good. And if you're not caught up with the "Shrek" films, that's okay. Hell, you needn't even have watched the first "Puss in Boots" movie. This feels like a completely standalone story. Here, Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) learns he's the last of his nine lives — a fact that triggers a kind of existential crisis in the kitty. While trying to avoid his imminent death, Puss gets swept up in a silly adventure full of great animation and surprisingly sharp humor. In other words, kids should like this, and their parents should like it even more. 

Special features:

  • ALL-NEW EXCLUSIVE SHORT "THE TRIDENT" - When you're the legendary Puss in Boots, life and death go paw in paw. In this epic original short, Puss recalls one of his most daring deaths yet.
  • DELETED SCENES
    • POTTY BREAK
    • LOVE AND DEATH
    • WALL O'SNAKES
  • A CAST OF CHARACTERS - You know their voices, now see the faces behind all the beloved PUSS IN BOOTS characters.
    • PUSS IN BOOTS
    • KITTY SOFTPAWS
    • PERRITO
    • GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
    • JACK HORNER
    • WOLF
  • IN THE BEGINNING - Go behind the scenes with the filmmakers of PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH to discover how they brought this great tale to life.
  • JACK HORNER'S LINE-O-RAMA - Jack Horner says it all in this comedic line-o-rama.
  • "FEARLESS HERO" LYRIC VIDEO - Sing along from home!
  • HOW TO DRAW THE PURRFECT PAWTRAIT - Join Director Joel Crawford and Co-Director Januel Mercado as they teach us how to draw our favorite characters.
    • PUSS IN BOOTS
    • KITTY SOFTPAWS
    • PERRITO
  • HOW TO MAKE A PAPER PERRITO - Every hero needs a sidekick and this 'how to' will help you create your very own.
  • KITTY CAM - Sit back, relax and enjoy a festive cluster of kittens as they frolic and play. This cat-stravaganza is sure to entertain for hours.
  • FEATURE COMMENTARY - with Director Joel Crawford, Co-Director Januel Mercado, Producer Mark Swift, Editor James Ryan and Head of Story Heidi Jo Gilbert

The Remains of the Day

Remains of the Day Columbia Pictures

For decades now, I'd assumed James Ivory's "The Remains of the Day" was a stuffy, slow-moving costume drama. Having watched the new 4K release from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, I now know how wrong I was. Yes, this is a story about quiet people in quiet rooms, but this movie moves, man. It flies by, thanks to a bustling score and great performances all around, particularly from leads Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Hopkins plays the head butler of a fancy manor, and Thompson is hired to be the head housekeeper. The two are at odds at first, and frequently. But there's also something growing between the duo; a type of unspoken, unrequited love that makes itself known through knowing glances and awkward physical contact. All of this is set against the backdrop of the manor's owner, the Earl of Darlington, slides into fascism by siding with the Germans as World War II approaches. That sets the stage for heightened drama, as Hopkins' character can't see past his devotion to his lord, and can't ever admit his true feelings to anyone, let alone Thompson's character. 

Special features: 

  • Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, approved by director James Ivory
  • Dolby Atmos audio + 5.1 + 2-Channel Surround
  • Special Features:o Audio Commentary with Director James Ivory, Producer Ismail Merchant, and Actress Emma Thompson 
  • Love and Loyalty: The Making of The Remains of the Day Featurette 
  • The Remains of the Day: The Filmmakers Journey Featuretteo Blind Loyalty, Hollow Honor: England's Fatal Flaw Featurette 
  • 7 Deleted Scenes with Optional Director's Commentary 
  • Theatrical Trailer

Phenomena

Phenomena DAC Film

"Phenomena" (also known as "Creepers") is one of Dario Argento's odder excursions. Not only does it feature an appropriately giallo-like serial killer, but it also features Jennifer Connelly as a girl who can psychically communicate with insects, and Donald Pleasance as a guy who has a helper monkey. And oh yeah, the helper monkey wields a razor at one point. Strange, dreamy, and wholly unique, "Phenomena" is so atypical that any casual horror fan sitting down to check this out is going to be befuddled, and I mean that in the best possible way. I avoided this film for years because I have a phobia about insects, but it's not nearly as bug-centric as I had been lead to believe. Instead, "Phenomena" stands out among Argento's filmography as one of his most singular works. 

Special features:

  • 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
  • 4K restorations of all three versions of Phenomena, including the original Italian version (116 mins.), the International cut (110 mins.), and the U.S. Creepers cut (83 mins.)
  • Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks on the international version, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
  • Rare alternate DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo mix on the international version, featuring different sound effects and music cues
  • Lossless Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
  • Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono and 2.0 'stereo music version' soundtrack on Creepers, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix
  • Lossless "hybrid" English/Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
  • Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
  • U.S. theatrical trailer and radio spots for Creepers
  • Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento (on Italian Version)
  • Audio commentary on the international version by Argento scholar and author Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator David Del Valle
  • Of Flies and Maggots, a feature-length 2017 documentary produced by Arrow Films, including interviews with co-writer/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and others
  • The Three Sarcophagi, a visual essay by Arrow Films producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of Phenomena
  • "Jennifer" music video, directed by Dario Argento
  • Slipcover/o-card with beautiful artwork from artist Nick Charge
  • Reversible cover with original Italian Phenomena artwork

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