Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “The Evil Dead”
There’s a running joke among the collector community about the endless re-releases of the “Evil Dead” films, so it’s no surprise that Sony has put out yet another version of the 1981 original to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Though many of the movie’s flaws are even more obvious in 4K, “The Evil Dead” remains a horror classic in part because of the ingenuity required to overcome its production limitations. The film’s unique visual style remains a hallmark of director Sam Raimi’s filmmaking (and has influenced more than its share of copycats), while Bruce Campbell’s performance, though not as memorable as his work in the two sequels, delivers the perfect mix of physicality and everyman charm. “The Evil Dead” is every bit as gritty and raw as you would expect from a low-budget horror movie made by a group of friends in the woods, but its brilliance lies in just how effective it is in spite of that.
Extras include an audio commentary by Raimi, Campbell and producer Rob Tapert, as well as a picture-in-picture video commentary with various horror directors discussing the film’s influence and legacy, a making-of documentary and much more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“The Drama” — The inciting incident at the center of Kristoffer Borgli’s dark comedy “The Drama” comes so early in the film that you could hardly classify it as a twist, but it succeeds in turning the story on its head in a way that creates some intriguing psychological drama, not to mention some brilliant moments of black humor. An anxiety-laced exploration of modern relationships and how little we truly know about our partners, “The Drama” is built on the discomfort of both its characters and the audience, tackling highly sensitive subject matter that’s designed to provoke. It’s a tightrope walk from start to finish, and Borgli handles it remarkably well, thanks in no small part to a pair of excellent performances from stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Though your mileage will vary depending on your tolerance for cringe-inducing black comedies, “The Drama” is one of the first movies about cancel culture that actually feels like it’s saying something. Extras include an audio commentary by costume designer Katrina Danabassis, production designer Zosia Mackenzie and co-editor Joshua Raymond Lee, as well as a making-of featurette and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
