Blu-ray Review Archives | Otaku No Culture

From Night of the Blood Beast, just what will Attack of the Giant Leeches Feast on? And a Future connection…

Could there be a connection with the types of scares made with Creepy Bits and Corman? Probably not with Night of the Blood Beast, but for the second film, read on to find out!

Night of the Blood Beast Blu-ray Release — **Available to purchase on Amazon USA**

The Film Masters latest double-feature is showing what producer Roger Corman loves about horrors from space and undersea. In Night of the Blood Beast (1958), humanity has to face off against some alien parasite that’s reanimated a dead astronaut. This pilot was aware something hit his craft, but when he aborted the flight, little did he know he had a rider back to earth!

I like to think of this film as a precursor to the way the 94 Spider-Man animated series introduced Venom. The tales are wildly different, but I couldn’t get that image off my mind! As for what’s special about this release is that it’s the most ‘complete’ of the releases. This includes the Mystery Science Theatre 3K episode where this film gets riffed upon. It’s a nice add-on for fans of this series.

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Shake It Up Now With Twisters on Home Video

And yes, it’s best to have an ATMOS sound system hooked up to fully experience Twisters as it was intended! You may want to duck too.

Twisters 4K Disc Release No scientific knowledge is required to understand what Twisters, the spiritual sequel to the 1996 film, are about. Since time has passed. I suspect most of those storm chasers have moved on. And to bring this IP back in today’s age and concerning Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) works in favour of why we love these films. I’m hoping this lead will lead to a new set of films about chasing after EF4 class tornadoes.

While I’m still waiting for a film about someone coming up with the idea to turn the American South East into a super tornado zone to belt out volcanic ash into space, perhaps the idea isn’t too far-fetched. Maybe that’s how the planetary ecosystem worked during a prior epoch. In this tale, Carter wants to reduce the intensity of these windstorms, but sadly her first experience caused the opposite effect! For half the film, she’s trying to deal with survivor’s remorse.

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When The Film Masters’ Creature with the Blue Hand and Web of the Spider has a Nosferatu Connection with Klaus Kinski….

It’s a dose of Halloween, 60s style! Are krimi films a precursor to the Slasher genre? The Film Masters latest release, Creature with the Blue Hand, offers an answer and gives fans a double dose of Klaus Kinski too!

Creature with the Blue Hand Blu-ray — **Available to purchase on Amazon USA**

The Film Masters know who to love and Creature With the Blue Hand offers fans of 60s cinema a double (or dare I say triple?) dose of Klaus Kinski. His fame peaked in the 60s because of his work in five of Werner Herzog’s most celebrated films. But in recognition of tomorrow, All Hallow’s Eve, hd did wonders in Nosferatu, the Vampire (Amazon purchase link). He played the seminal count in this update, and made this villain all the more terrifying.

In Creature with The Blue Hand, Dave Emerson (Kinski), a suitably deranged murderer, escapes from the asylum and decides that hiding out at his family estate is the best course of action. When his twin, Richard (also Kinski), arrives, there’s a chance to turn his life around. However, he’ll have to dispense with his brother! In this crime drama, the sequence of events that unfolds concerns catching the killer in the act, and that isn’t easy! What I’m seeing is a very dangerous cat-and-mouse game!

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Celebrating Despicable Me 4 Home Video Release and Benny’s Birthday Surprise!

Long time fans of this franchise can now binge watch all four of the Despicable Me films, or just enjoy more Minion Mayhem stitched together, assuming they’re willing to get off the couch to change discs.

Despicable Me 4 Blu-ray — Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Illumination Studios

The Despicable Me franchise has some amazing staying power, and I’m always interested in what new wacky adventures Gru’s family can have. I reviewed this movie when it was at theatres, and as always, am interested in what’ll get offered in the home video release. They never fail to deliver some hilarious short. That’s why I keep on buying them over streaming (I’m in the camp that should a film get pulled, I can’t revisit the movie when I want to) or asking for review copies. I must thank Universal Studios as the Despicable Me 4 package arrived before my birthday. I celebrated my day with Benny’s Birthday short.

Here, this Minion is afraid of what the others planned. That’s because he’s stuck in a temporal loop, and he can’t figure out how to escape. By the time the cake arrives, he gets hurt, and the day starts all over again! How he breaks free is not too unexpected. It’s tough to find fault with these shorts because the works of Mack Sennett inspired most of them. He’s the Silent Film King of Comedy, and in his vast catalogue of works, there’s plenty to borrow from.

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Riding Bean or Bean Bandit, The Difference is in What Kenichi Sonoda Says is Official.

Barack Obama once said, “Let me tell your something. I’m from Chicago. I don’t break.” But we’re betting he never saw the anime, Riding Bean. We also offer the latest news concerning the Japanese release, Bean Bandit.

Release Date: Sept 10, 2024
Available to Purchase on Amazon USA or direct through MediaOCD

Technically, the only thing new in the re-release of Riding Bean is the interview with creator Kenichi Sonada. What he offers are some anecdotes regarding what inspired him to make the anime, and subsequent manga sequel, and he also shares what he loved back then, which he brought over to this series. For example, he talked about I Dream of Jeanie and also Terminator. I won’t give away the deets, but upon checking out this bonus video first, and this short film again, I agree about the latter’s influence. As for the former, that was a “Really?” moment.

Although Sonada-san didn’t say much regarding who he was drawing from for Percy, the police commissioner who is after Bean, I’m guessing he takes after Edward Rooney (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) along with Walter Peck (Ghostbusters). They share similiar manic characteristics! He’s why I love this short film so much.

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You May Look, But Will Want to Hide when “Door-to-Door Maniac” and “Right Hand of the Devil” Are Paired Together!

When The Film Masters is pairing up Door-to-Door Maniac and Right Hand of the Devil in this latest home video release, what’s offered is a great look at attempting to revitalise the neo-noir genre.

Door-to-Door Maniac & Right Hand of the Devil — Available to purchase on Amazon USA

The Film Masters next release is absolutely criminal! With Door-to-Door Maniac, (originally released in 1961 as “Five Minutes to Live.”), I was curious because of Johnny Cash, who plays Cabot, a hardened crook who thinks taking a hostage in her own home (Cay Forester) is easy. However, anyone who has seen Abigail knows that’s a bad idea!

No, there’s no scary twist ending. These tropes were not as established back then. Also, to see Ron Howard in the credits made me curious! This film was made back when he was better known as Opie from The Andy Griffiths Show.

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