Barry Forshaw

THE UGLY STEPSISTER, Emilie Blichfeldt, director/Second Sight

A striking debut (both as writer and director) for Norwegian filmmaker Emilie Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister examines, casts aside and remakes the conventions of the horror film, addressing (in currently apropos mode) what actually makes a woman. But intellectual underpinnings aside, the practical effects (often gruesome) are particularly memorable, and Emilie Blichfeldt sports a highly unusual visual style, perfectly suited here to her material. The film arrives in a Limited Edition Dual 4K UHD/Blu-ray makeover.

SPACEWAYS, Terence Fisher, director/Hammer

The Hammer studio dipped its toe into the science fiction genre before its horror heyday, but it was not to be a major preoccupation over the years. Nevertheless, the studio produced several SF movies – such as this (though it is — essentially – a whodunnit). But what makes Spaceways interesting for Hammer collectors (a very dedicated bunch) is the presence of director Terence Fisher, a man who frequently remarked on his relative lack of sympathy with the SF genre – but despite this produced several intriguing films in the genre such as Night of the Big Heat. This new 4K restored Limited Collector’s Edition showcases the film’s blend of Cold War double-dealing and efficient cinematography. The film stars Howard Duff, celebrated as the iconic private eye Sam Spade on radio, but here playing a space engineer caught in a lethal maelstrom. The supporting cast includes Eva Bartok (perhaps best known for her appearance in Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace) and a character actor who reminds us pleasurably that this is a British film, the always watchable Alan Wheatley. Like all the current Hammer issues, collectible, and a rarity.

THE STRAIGHT STORY, David Lynch, director/StudioCanal

David Lynch’s charming and uncharacteristically understated and reflective take on the classic road movie appears from StudioCanal, and is very welcome on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray. Based on a true story, Lynch’s visually striking vision of a stubborn-minded septuagenarian’s journey across America’s on a ride-on lawnmower reminded viewer what a subtle actor Richard Farnsworth is in this an Oscar-nominated study that follows of Alvin Straight as he attempts to reunite with his estranged brother. With a perfectly judged score by Angelo Badalamenti and moving support from a mature Sissy Spacek. In fact, Richard Farnsworth was terminally ill when took on the role because of his admiration for Alvin Straight.

V/H/S/HALLOWEEN various directors/Acorn Media

Aficionados of the portmanteau horror film will relish this eighth lively collection of the V/H/S horror anthology film series. Hit or-miss as some episodes are, this latest outing has a high batting average, and features five new segments and is among the most satisfyingly gruesome in the series.

PEKING OPERA BLUES, Tsui Hark, director/Arrow

With balletic action a hallmark of Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, cult director Tsui Hark dialled the visual and comedic aspects up to 11 with 1986’s Peking Opera Blues. Ace work from performers Brigitte Lin, Sally Yeh and Cherie Chung is shown to great advantage in this 4K restoration, sporting a host of extras. The setting is Beijing, 1913. With local tyrants duking it out, three women interact spectacularly in the local Peking Opera house, coming up with a revolutionary plan that stymies president Yuan Shikai.

RE-ANIMATOR, Stuart Gordon, director/Second Sight

Fans of inventive and quirky horror movies couldn’t believe their luck when this remarkable effort by Stuart Gordon appeared. Expectations were high for this riff on the writings of horror maven H.P. Lovecraft, and some adjustments had to be made when it became apparent that this was not typical Lovecraft fare with its duelling mad scientists and extreme body horror. Apart from the enjoyably ludicrous gruesomeness, the film is elevated by the wonderfully over-the-top performance by Jeffrey Combs, coming across like a modern-day iteration of Vincent Price. The Second Sight disc is truly stunning.

KNIGHTS OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER, Aleksander Ford, director/Second Run

Unless you are a dyed-in-the-wool cinéaste – and a specialist in Polish cinema at that – you’re unlikely to have seen this remarkable Polish epic which has been difficult to see in decent form for many years. That omission is now resoundingly put to rest with Second Run’s splendid new Blu-ray of Knights of the Teutonic Order, directed by the much-respected Aleksander Ford. As Martin Scorsese has noted, this is the first Polish historical blockbuster and the most viewed Polish movie of all time, featuring ‘battles galore, political manoeuvring and doomed love’. It’s refreshing to note that the film still works remarkably well in the 21st century, although the colourful costumes hardly appear to get dirty, however grimy the battles. But this is a small caveat, and the new Blu-ray will be welcomed by many, not least for Michael Brooke’s video essay which moves firmly out of the category of ‘extras’ to ‘essentials’. Hard to think of anyone else apart from Brooke creating such an elegant synthesis of analysis and hardcore info.

TURNER & CONSTABLE, David Bickerstaff, director/Exhibition on Screen

If you live in London and are even mildly interested in fine art, a visit to Tate Britain Turner & Constable exhibition is de rigueur. But if that’s not feasible, there is a highly attractive alternative. David Bickerstaff’s reveals the ways these artists redefined landscape painting and paved the way for Impressionism. TURNER & CONSTABLE offers intimate views of sketchbooks, personal items and beloved homes plus insights from leading experts. This is an unmissable opportunity to see these great artists side-by-side, as they so often were in life, on the screen for the first time.

EXCALIBUR, John Boorman director/Arrow

For many film lovers, the wait for a definitive Blu-ray iteration of John Boorman’s celebrated Arthurian epic Excalibur (mostly scored using music by Wagner and Carl Orff) here receives the kind of top-level sprucing up that admirers of the film have long sought. Those same admirers are often critical of one aspect of the film – Nichol Williamson’s bizarre and antic Merlin – but their views are likely to be softened by experiencing the film in what will clearly be its definitive version.

New from Indicator

After the recent selling out of a number of Indicator Limited Editions, eight Standard Editions will be released on 23 March: DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER, DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE, DEATH CARRIES A CANE (Blu-ray), and THE PERFUME OF A LADY IN BLACK (Blu-ray), and all four films from our JOHN FORD AT COLUMBIA, 1935-1958 box set: THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING, THE LONG GRAY LINE, GIDEON’S DAY, and THE LAST HURRAH