December 19 Digital, Blu-ray and DVD Releases
Welcome to ComingSoon.net’s December 19 Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD column! As you can see, we’ve added a video player at the top highlighting this week’s releases, and you can find more detailed write-ups of different titles and exclusive clips below! Click each highlighted title to purchase through Amazon!
New Movies on Blu-ray/DVD
Dunkirk
In his latest blockbuster, director Christopher Nolan tells the epic true story of British and Allied troops surrounded by enemy forces during one of the fiercest battles of World War II. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack features a whopping 16 behind-the-scenes featurettes that take you on a tour of the production team’s experience recreating the battle with large-format cameras.
Leatherface (exclusive clip)
French maniacs Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (Inside) directed this surprisingly effective prequel to the late Tobe Hooper’s original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Stephen Dorff plays the Texas Ranger going after the Sawyer clan, led by Lili Taylor’s homicidal matriarch, who is leading her son Jedidiah down the path of becoming the title horror icon. Check out our exclusive clip below featuring Stephen Dorff talking about his unhinged character, as well as the other filmmakers on how Leatherface fits in with the other films!
mother!
Director Darren Aronofsky’s controversial horror film comes to Blu-ray, with Jennifer Lawrence starring as a woman living in an isolated country house whose idyllic life with her husband (Javier Bardem) is shattered by unexpected guests. The biblical allegories and symbolism abound as the situation in the house escalates to absurd heights. Perhaps not for everyone, but if you go in knowing this is an unusual cinematic experience you just might embrace the boldness of the director’s vision. The disc includes features on the making of the film as well as the makeup fx.
Stronger
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this true story of a man named Jeff Bauman, who tragically lost his legs during the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson and Clancy Brown co-star in the David Gordon Green film. The disc includes a 30-minute documentary titled “Faith, Hope & Love: Becoming Stronger” that takes you on an in-depth journey into the making of the film.
Victoria & Abdul
Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) directs the charming true story of Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) and her touching relationship with her Indian Muslim servant Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal). The disc features bonus content focusing on the actors as well as the production design recreating 1887 period
Reissues
The Amicus Collection
This 4 Blu-ray box set from Severin Films presents three of the most famous films from British production company Amicus, plus an exclusive fourth disc containing over an hour of vintage trailers titled The Vault of Amicus. The three features all star legendary Peter Cushing: The horror anthology film Asylum, the gothic period chiller And Now the Screaming Starts, and the Agatha Christie-esque “which guest is a werewolf?” mystery The Beast Must Die. The latter film has some visible image issues, but is still a fine presentation of a super groovy ’70s horror pic, and is also exclusive to the box set! Recommended for ANY true vintage genre fan.
Suspiria
Dario Argento’s masterpiece comes to Blu-ray in a brand-new 4K restoration of the original uncut, uncensored Italian 35mm camera negative from Synapse films. The three disc (2 Blu-rays + a CD) limited collector s edition comes in exclusive steelbook packaging and collector’s o-card sleeve.
The Whales of August
In 1987, the late British director Lindsay Anderson (O Lucky Man, If….) made his elegiac final theatrical feature, which also served as the final film roles for actresses Lillian Gish and Ann Sothern as well as the second-to-last film for Bette Davis. It tells the story of two elderly widowed sisters (Davis and Gish) coming to terms with their past relationship during their autumn years.
Pulp
Get Carter director Mike Hodges and star Michael Caine reunited for this oddball crime story about a pulp novelist hired to ghost write the autobiography of an actor (Mickey Rooney) with gangster connections.
New on Digital HD
Friend Request (exclusive clip)
Evil is trending as a college girl becomes tormented by a dead girl she friends online who sets in motion a supernatural curse. ComingSoon.net has an exclusive clip from the Digital release, in which actress Liesl Ahlers talks about playing the mysterious Marina. Check it out below!
IT
Stephen King’s bestseller became the highest-grossing horror film of all-time this year, and now’s your chance to revisit the terror with Pennywise and The Losers Club on Digital.
American Made
Tom Cruise plays real-life pilot Barry Seal, who in the 1980s ran drugs for the Medellín Cartel all while moonlighting for the CIA. Cruise has never been better, and Doug Liman’s film moves like a torpedo from one insane event to another.
The Mountain Between Us
Idris Elba and Kate Winslet star in this drama about two strangers who charter a flight during a storm, but when their plane crashes in the mountains they have to work together to survive.
My Little Pony: The Movie
Emily Blunt lends her voice to the other denizens of Equestria as Tempest Shadow, a broken-horned unicorn who Twilight Sparkle must stop.
TV on Blu-ray and DVD
The Strain: The Complete Series
All four seasons of Guillermo del Toro’s epic vampire series come to DVD with over three hours of bonus features in one collectible box. The story follows a CDC doctor (Corey Stoll) who attempts to stop a virus that creates bloodthirsty human hybrids, and features incredible monster effects.
Luke Cage: The Complete First Season
Netflix’s critically-praised Marvel series comes to Blu-ray, with Mike Colter playing Harlem’s hero-for-hire who uses his superhuman strength and impenetrable skin to battle crime lord Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali). The disc features the exclusive bonus feature “Offstage at Harlem’s Paradise” about life during production during the season.
Ducktales: Woo-oo!
This 44-minute pilot for Disney XD’s new series comes to DVD with 6 “Welcome to Duckberg” shorts featuring treasure hunter Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie.
Tangled: The Series: Queen For A Day
This 46 minute DVD from the Disney XD series continues the story from the film, with Rapunzel becoming temporary Queen when King Frederic and Queen Arianna go out of town.
Salvation Season 1
This DVD collects all 13 episodes from the CBS series about a team of scientists and a sci-fi writer (Jacqueline Byers) who band together to save Earth from an oncoming asteroid. Includes deleted scenes and more!