Reviews – CineSavant

Devil Doll + Curse of the Voodoo 05/13/25

Vinegar Syndrome

Blue-ray

V is for ventrioloquist, and Vorelli is a voice-thrower who, thanks to an Eastern Cult, knows how to transfer souls. Little wonder that his wooden theatrical prop Hugo takes on a life of its own. One of producer Richard Gordon’s better films emphasizes fantasy and lechery in equal measure. “It walks. It talks. It kills”…”Can a Beautiful Woman Be Enslaved Against Her Will?” Reviewer Charlie Largent recalls a promotional gimmick from the original release. It stars Bryant Haliday, William Sylvester, Yvonne Romain and Karel Stepanek. The disc includes uncut and clothed versions, and also the film’s original co-feature Curse of the Voodoo. On Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
05/13/25

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The Andromeda Strain — 4K 05/13/25

Arrow Video

4K Ultra HD

The COVID pandemic has given new relevance to an entire category of Science Fiction thrillers, and Robert Wise’s original tale of a ‘germ invasion’ from outer space is especially vivid. Michael Crichton novel task scientists Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson and Kate Reid with cracking the secret of an alien life form — only to find that it can mutate into newer and deadlier forms. The new 4K edition brings new textures to Boris Leven’s bold color designs; Douglas Trumbull headed up sophisticated visual effects that mix film and video. “The suspense will last through your lifetime!” On 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.
05/13/25

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The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers Two Films by Richard Lester 05/10/25

The Criterion Collection

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Richard Lester’s superb epic succeeds in every way — with a glorious production, dazzling swordplay, witty comedy, and fidelity to the spirit of the Dumas novel. It’s a showcase for a wonderful cast, and is probably the best movie of both Oliver Reed and Raquel Welch. Criterion’s massive box includes a feature-length, 4-part making-of tale that’s the most engaging piece of its kind we’ve yet seen — two solid hours of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

05/10/25

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The Iron Rose 05/10/25

Powerhouse Indicator

Blu-ray

Jean Rollin takes a break from nude vampires à la française for a direct-from-the-crypt meditation on morbid romanticism. Inspired by a 19th century poet, he locks two impressionable young lovers in a cemetery, where an emotional response to the maze of crypts and tombstonestakes over. Françoise Pascal has a starring role as la femme seduced by a death wish. The show almost attains its goal of annihilating delirium; it’s an honorable stab at art horror for Rollin. On Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator.
05/10/25

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The Good German — 4K 05/06/25

Warner Home Video

4K Utra HD + Blu-ray

We just got finished praising a picture by the ace filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, but have little choice but to be honest with this 2006 homage to postwar intrigue movies set in divided European cities. It stars George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire, and we’re sad to report that it’s a real catastrophe. Expect brief, sympathetic coverage, accompanied by ‘what happened?’ questions. Is what’s wrong as obvious as it looks, or does everybody love this picture? On 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from Warner Home Video.
05/06/25

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Film Noir the Dark Side of Cinema XXV 05/06/25

KL Studio Classics

Blu-ray

Volume 25 in Kino’s long-running noir series could be called ‘The John H. Auer Collection’ — the trio of thrillers include Auer’s almost-a-classic City that Never Sleeps, the odd Hawaii-set noir Hell’s Half Acre and the newly remastered ‘annihilating romance’ The Flame. The trio does not lack for interesting noir personalities: Marie Windsor, Gig Young, Mala Powers, William Talman, Evelyn Keyes, Wendell Corey, Elsa Lanchester, Edward Arnold, Broderick Crawford, Nancy Gates, Chill Wills, Constance Dowling. All are newly remastered. On Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
05/06/25

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Sands of Iwo Jima — 4K 05/03/25

KL Studio Classics

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Once upon a time the reigning WW2 battle action movie was this rough & tumble Republic offering, that cemented John Wayne’s glowing image as THE movie star who won the war. The production scored plenty of defense department cooperation to become an efficient recruitment tool — its leathernecks are no-nonsense killers but also complete gentlemen with the ladies — Adele Mara and Julie Bishop. John Agar gets a place of pride in the credits, with solid input from Forrest Tucker, Wally Cassell, and familiar faces Arthur Franz, Richard Jaeckel, John McGuire and Martin Milner. The finish is an impressive recreation of the flag-raising on one of the bloodiest battlefields of the war. On 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.
05/03/25

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The Informant! — 4K 05/03/25

Warner Home Video

4K Ultra HD

This Steve Soderbergh true-life ‘comedy’ drove us nuts: the audience I saw it with wanted to leap up and kill Matt Damon’s insultingly fraudulent corporate Veepee. The ‘nice guy jerk’ poses as a whistleblower while betraying everyone who crosses his path. Yet he squeaks by with an ‘oh I’m so innocent’ act. It’s more a comment on a new kind of business vermin that cover their greed and chicanery with oh-so-sincere personality quirks. It’s another worthy Soderbergh creation, now on 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros..
05/03/25

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