Arrow Video’s April Releases Include 4K Sergio Leone, ‘F/X,’ More Rare Japanese Crime Films
by David Lewis
Arrow Video’s April releases are a bunch of titles even more eclectic than usual, spanning little-seen Japanese crime pics, a classic Spaghetti Western, a pair of largely forgotten 1980s thrillers, and a ’90s thriller largely about forgetting. But first: Booger.
First up is the UK-only limited edition Blu-ray release of the indie body horror film Booger. Director Mary Dauterman explores grief and identity in this dark comedy about a young woman (Grace Glowicki), who is traumatized by the shocking death of her roommate, only to find herself going under some strange transformations after being bitten by their runaway cat, Booger. The film also stars Garrick Bernard, Heather Matarazzo, and Marcia DeBonis. The Blu-ray includes TBD bonus features, a reversible sleeve and an illustrated booklet.
UK movie fans will also be able to get their hands on Sergio Leone‘s iconic western A Fistful of Dollars (1964) on limited edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray. Some guy named Clint Eastwood stars as the Man With No Name in the first entry in the highly influential Dollars trilogy, presented fully uncut and restored in 4K with a fistful of new and archival bonus material, plus a poster, a reversible sleeve, and a perfect bound booklet.
Arrow Video will complete the trio in 4K later this year, with For A Few Dollars More (1965) arriving in May, and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) following in June.
V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets & Betrayal, available on limited edition Blu-ray in both the US and the UK, collects some of the wildest ’90s crime films from legendary Japanese studio Toei’s direct-to-video arm. The set will include Crime Hunter, Neo Chinpira: Zoom Goes the Bullet, Stranger, Carlos, Burning Dog, Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat, The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses, Danger Point: The Road to Hell, and XX: Beautiful Hunter. If these films are even half as good as their titles suggest, we’re in for a treat. The 5-disc set comes with art cards, reversible sleeves, an illustrated booklet, new intros and interviews, video essays, trailers, and more.
The amnesiac spy blockbuster The Long Kiss Goodnight is next up, making its debut in 4K UHD. Written by Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) and directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2), the 1996 actioner stars Geena Davis as a school teacher who harbors a deadly secret — if only she can remember it. Fortunately, Samuel L. Jackson is there to help. The 2-disc release sports a brand new 4K restoration, a new audio commentary, a reversible sleeve, an illustrated booklet, postcards, stickers, and more. Available in the US and UK.
Last but not least, 1986’s unsung thriller F/X: Murder by Illusion stars Bryan Brown as a special effects wizard tasked with faking the death of a big time mobster. What could possible go wrong? Brian Dennehy co-stars, so that part at least is very right. Five years later, F/X 2: The Deadly Art of Illusion appeared in theaters, sending Brown on another dangerous mission where his movie makeup skills come in particularly handy. Arrow is serving up the entire FXCU in one limited edition 2-disc 4K UHD set, including a 60-page perfect bound book, a reversible sleeve, double-sided poster, stickers, and TBD extras. Available only in the UK.
Also be sure to check out Arrow’s February fare, featuring Al Pacino’s Cruising, and a Tobe Hooper two-fer including Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and Lifeforce. March releases include Harlin’s Deep Blue Sea, more Brian De Palma and Lucio Fulci for your collection, and the 1970 Japanese exploitation rarity Play it Cool.
