‘Split’ and Next Chapter of ‘800 Words’ on Home Entertainment … plus giveaways!!!

SPLIT. (DVD Artwork). ©Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense,” “The Visit”) delivers the frightening thriller “Split,” an original psychological thriller on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand Tuesday April 18, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. It also is available on Digital HD.

Jason Blum (“Insidious,” “The Purge” series) returns to collaborate with Shyamalan in the box-office hit, starring James McAvoy (“X-Men: Apocalypse”). “Split” delves into the mysterious depths of one man’s fractured mind as a terror unlike the world has seen prepares to be unleashed. SPLIT offers viewers a closer look at the movie fans are raving about with a never-before-seen alternate ending, deleted scenes, character spotlight, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film.

Kevin Crumb (McAvoy) has a fractured mind that has revealed 23 personalities, but one remains dangerously submerged, set to materialize and dominate the others.  As he reaches a war for dominance among all those that rage within him, it threatens his stability and impacting the survival of everyone around him.

Producer Marc Bienstock (“Before I Fall”) and executive producers Ashwin Rajan (“The Visit”) and Steven Schneider (the “Paranormal Activity” series) who collaborated on “The Visit” reunite with Shyamalan on “Split.” The film also stars Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Witch”), Betty Buckley (“The Happening”), Haley Lu Richardson (“The Edge of Seventeen”) and Jessica Sula (“Recovery Road”).

Acorn TV’s heartwarming Australian-New Zealand dramedy “800 Words, Season 2, Part 1” makes its DVD debut on Tuesday April 18, from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment brand. After its breakout success and No. 1 ranking in Australia, a second season with twice as many episodes was commissioned to air in two installments. The first eight episodes (Part 1) continue the saga of George Turner (Erik Thomson, “Packed to the Rafters,” “The Code”), a man looking to make a new home for himself and his family, in a strangely beautiful and quirky New Zealand coastal town. The series has received Logie Awards for Best Actor for Erik Thomson and Most Outstanding Newcomer for Melinda Vidler as George’s daughter Shay. The two-disc DVD set features eight episodes (MSRP: $49.99, AcornOnline.com). “800 Words” premiered in the U.S. in January on the streaming service Acorn TV (https://signup.acorn.tv/).

After relocating from the whirlwind of Sydney, newspaper columnist George Turner (Thomson) is slowly learning what it means to be a local in the quirky New Zealand town of Weld. He wanted his kids, Shay (Vidler) and Arlo (Benson Jack Anthony), to have a fresh start after the death of his wife, but all did not go according to plan. Now George must reunite his family by bringing Shay home from her self-appointed exile in Australia. And if George is to become a fully functioning town resident, he must actually start anew, including finding a job with a steady income and revamping his love life. Lucky for George, there are many attractive, eligible women living in Weld vying for his affections.

This sweet classic family drama also stars Rick Donald (“A Place to Call Home”), Bridie Carter (“McLeod’s Daughters”), Emma Leonard (“Home and Away”) and Michelle Langstone (“The Almighty Johnsons”).

This week, Front Row Features once again has a giveaway for every member of the family. For youngsters looking for adventure, we’re giving away two copies of the action-packed family film “Monster Trucks” on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack; for teens looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller, we’re giving away a copy of the terrifying supernatural movie “The Bye Bye Man” on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack; and for adults looking for an emotional drama, we’re giving away a copy of the Academy Award-nominated film “Lion” on Blu-ray.

Email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Tuesday, April 18 with the title of the movie you want to win in the subject line. Good luck!

Front Row Features also is giving away a copy of writer/director M. Night Shyamalan’s latest hit, the intense psychological thriller “Split,” on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack to one lucky reader.

Email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Tuesday, April 25 for your chance to win. Good luck!