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A scene from ‘The Blackening’ courtesy of TIFF
This week’s releases include a meta horror comedy; a stop-motion sci-fi picture; the latest car extravaganza; and a classic romance.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
The Blackening (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital copy)
A group of Black friends reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a masked killer who forces them to play a twisted board game by his rules, which they soon realize ain’t no motherf****** game.
In the tradition of Scream and Scary Movie, this slasher picture sets out to turn the horror rules and tropes on their head, as well as challenge and play with racial stereotypes. With an all-Black cast, they immediately address the issue of coloured characters dying first and never making it to the end by making both inevitable. It’s not the most unpredictable horror movie, but it makes up for that by being incredibly entertaining and intensely thrilling. Though they frequently break the tension with humour, that doesn’t make hiding from the killer or avoiding their attacks any less scary. Moreover, the characters all have distinctly engaging personalities. To that end, the cast’s chemistry and timing is spot-on, keeping audiences engaged from start to finish, with the conclusion overlapping with some of the end credits.
Special features include: commentary with director Tim Story, and writers Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins; “Do the Write Thing”; “They Can’t All Talk First”; “Shall We Play a Game?”; “Cabin in the Woods”; “’Who’s the Blackest?’ Game Show”; and theatrical trailer. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Fast X [Collector’s Edition] (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital copy)
Ever since their saga started on the streets of L.A.’s underground racing scene, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have overcome impossible odds to outsmart, out-nerve and outdrive every foe. Yet when the team took down a nefarious kingpin back in Brazil, they had no idea his son, Dante (Jason Momoa), was watching from the shadows. More lethal than any other enemy they’ve faced, Dante now rises as a terrifying new nemesis who’s fueled by revenge, and determined to shatter their family and destroy everything and everyone that Dom loves. From London and Brazil to Antarctica and Rome, new alliances are forged and old enemies resurface. But everything changes after Dom discovers his eight-year-old son is Dante’s ultimate target.
There are, of course, impressive wheels, ranging from a gold-plated Lamborghini to a McLaren Senna to American muscle like the Dodge Charger. However, there isn’t as much car play as is typically expected from the franchise. The major stunts bookend the movie, while there’s only one high stakes race. Instead, much of the street action is replaced by an unprecedented amount of hand-to-hand combat, which is unfortunately full of quick cuts and disorienting editing that diminishes the actors’ physical abilities. However, the film’s biggest downfall is perhaps the thing that’s tied all the movies together: its emphasis on “family.” It’s so heavily underscored in this movie, it becomes a punchline as Dom’s relentless commitment to protecting his family is repeatedly testedOn the other hand, Momoa’s villain is deliciously over-the-top as he relishes playing the insane psychopath and delivers the picture’s best moments, singlehandedly raising the movie’s watchability rating.
Special features include: commentary with director Louis Leterrier; “This is Family”; “Fast Breaks: Scene Breakdowns with Louis Leterrier”; “Xtreme Rides of Fast X”; “Belles of the Brawl”; “Tuned into Rio”; “Jason Momoa: Conquering Rome”; “Little B Takes the Wheel”; “A Friend in the End”; music videos; and gag reel. (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
Diabolik
Junk Head (Blu-ray)
Mankind can no longer reproduce because of gene manipulation aimed at making life longer, but the clones ruling the bottomless underworld may have become fertile. Therefore, Parton is selected to go on a mission through a subterranean labyrinth crawling with monsters to secure humanity’s future.
This is a rare science fiction stop-motion animation that stretches the imagination to create an almost post-human future in which most of the population is mutated or robotic. The creatures are abstract in their appearance, featuring too many limbs or heads and not enough facial identifiers. The people also vary greatly in their shapes, though many are often concealed in suits or uniforms. Parton’s quest is perilous and results in the frequent loss of his body parts, memories and consciousness. The story is linear, but it’s very strange and unpredictable to the extent that it may deter some viewers. Moreover, it’s unfortunate the ending is not more satisfying, particularly after such an already eventful journey.
Special features include: featurette. (Diabolik)
Paramount Home Entertainment
Roman Holiday [70th Anniversary] (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital copy)
The story of a modern-day princess (Audrey Hepburn) who, rebelling against her royal obligations, explores Rome on her own. She soon meets an American newspaperman (Gregory Peck) who pretends ignorance of her true identity, in the hopes of obtaining an exclusive story. Naturally, his plan falters as they inevitably fall in love.
This was one of the first films to be moved from a studio lot and shot on location, so there’s a great deal of effort made to showcase Rome throughout the picture. Hepburn and Peck’s on-screen meeting is less than ideal as the princess’ night on the town leaves her drunk in the street and imposed chivalry compels the newspaperman to come to her rescue. Of course, his shrewdness and her lack of an effective disguise leads him to believe he can gain something from his act of kindness. They have good chemistry and their time together gets additional humour from the inclusion of the reporter’s friend and the group’s third wheel. Part travelogue and part rom-com, the film is still a light and fun tour of another time.
Special features include: “Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin”; “Behind the Gates: Costumes”; “Rome with a Princess”; “Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years”; “Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist; “Paramount in the ’50s: Remembering Audrey”; photo galleries; and theatrical trailers. (Paramount Home Entertainment)
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