By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, May 28, unless otherwise noted:
Greta (Blu-ray + digital)
Details: 2019, Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Rated: R, violence, disturbing images
The lowdown: The adage that one no good deed goes unpunished in turned on its head in this thriller starring Isabelle Huppert and Chloe Grace Moretz. Moretz plays Frances, a sweet young woman trying to make it on her own in New York. When she finds a purse on the subway, she — without hesitation — returns it to its owner, Greta (Huppert), a French piano teacher. Greta, whose passion is classical music, is eccentric and lonely. Frances, who recently lost her mother, empathizes with the older woman and, soon, grows close to her. The women are now very good friends, but Frances soon discovers that Greta’s disturbing behavior is getting worse — and that nothing in Greta’s life is what it seems. Neil Jordan directed this stylish thriller. Critics were lukewarm, giving the film a 59 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 2.0 Dolby digital DVS and French 5.1 DTS digital surround; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus features include deleted scenes and a look at the movie’s main characters and their intertwined relationships.
When a Stranger Calls Back (Blu-ray)
Details: 1993, Scream Factory
Rated: R, terror, violence, language, nudity
The lowdown: This sequel to “When a Stranger Calls” reunites most of the cast from the original. The story is set five years after the events in the first movie. Former baby-sitter Julia Jenz (Jill Schoelen) is trying to put her life back together and return to normalcy. But her past seems to be catching up to her. Someone is breaking into her apartment, moving things around and frightening her. The police believe she is simply a hysterical coed, but student advisor Jill Johnson (Carol Kane), who was victimized in the same manner 13 years earlier, believes her and is hellbent on discovering her tormentor. Retired detective John Clifford (Charles Durning), who save Jill’s life earlier, also is on the case, determined to find and outthink the culprit before it’s too late for Julia. The movie is available in widescreen and full-screen versions.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen and 1.33:1 full-screen pictures; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Supplemental offerings include interviews with director Fred Walton, Kane and Schoelen and a restoration of Walton’s short film, “The Sitter.”
Lords of Chaos: Uncensored Director’s Cut (Blu-ray + DVD)
Details: 2018, Unobstructed View
Rated: R, graphic violence, grisly images, disturbing behavior, sexual content, nudity, language
The lowdown: This dramatization, based on a true story, tells of a teenager’s attempt to launch Norwegian Black Metal in Oslo in 1987. The movie follows one of its most notorious followers, a group of young men known as MAYHEM, who restore to church burnings and murder to garner publicity. The group’s leader, Euronymous, and his mates, Dead and Varg, believe they are on the cusp of a musical revolution. They are driven by the black metal dogma to spread evil wherever they can. Not only do they burn churches, but they steal tombstones form graveyards. When the press finally catches up with them, Euronymous takes more credit than he deserves for their dark deeds. This angers Varg, who was recently released from prison, and he decides to settle the score in the darkest manner possible. The movie stars Rory Culkin as Euronymous, as well as Emory Cohen, Jack Kilmer, Sky Ferreira and Sam Coleman. The set features the 118-minute director’s cut.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 surround; English SDH and French subtitles; DVD: 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 surround; English SDH and French subtitles.
Don’t miss: The main extra is comprised of 11 director’s teasers and trailers.
Penny Points to Paradise Details: 1951, Juno Film Selects
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This British feature is notable because it marks the feature film debuts of the legendary Peter Sellers as well as Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe. The story centers on a couple of friends who hit it big at gambling and, despite their winnings, decide to go to the same shabby seaside boarding house they always have visited for their summer holiday. Their good luck, however, means that everyone is out to get a piece of their winnings — including two young women out to marry rich men, a shady investment adviser and a master forger and his assistant. It’s interesting to see a young Sellers before he became an international star. Technical aspects: 4x3 full-screen picture; English 2.0 Dolby digital. English subtitles.
Don’t miss: The major extra is a 32-minute short film, “Let’s Go Crazy,” starring Sellers.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
Eleven (Monarch Home Entertainment)
General Commander (DVD + digital download) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
In the Last Days of the City (Big World Pictures)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD
Captain Marvel (Marvel Studios-Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)
Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs (Acorn TV, June 3)
Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (Acorn TV, June 3)
Living in Shadow of World War II (Acorn TV, June 3)
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. My movie reviews also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.