THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR. (DVD Artwork). ©RLJE Films
By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features
Movies
The Boy Behind the Door (Horror)
RLJE Films, a unit of AMC Networks, will release “The Boy Behind the Door,” from Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, on VOD, Digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday March 15.
A night of unimaginable terror awaits 12-year-old Bobby and his best friend, Kevin, when they are abducted on their way home from school. Managing to escape his confines, Bobby navigates the dark halls, praying his presence goes unnoticed as he avoids his captor at every turn. Even worse is the arrival of another stranger, whose mysterious arrangement with the kidnapper spells certain doom for Kevin. With no means of calling for help and miles of uninhabited dark country in every direction, Bobby embarks on a rescue mission, determined to get himself and Kevin out alive—or die trying.
Written and directed by “The Djinn” filmmakers David Charbonier and Justin Powell, “The Boy Behind the Door” stars Lonnie Chavis (“This Is Us”, “The Water Man”), Ezra Dewey (“Criminal Minds”) and Kristin Bauer van Straten (“True Blood”). The bonus features include “The Boy Behind the Door” music video and bloopers.
National Champions (Sports Drama)
The high-stakes sports drama “National Champions” is available now on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Three days before the college football national championship game, star quarterback LeMarcus James (Emmy nominee Stephan James; “If Beale Street Could Talk,” “21 Bridges”) and teammate Emmett Sunday (Alexander Ludwig; “Vikings,” “The Hunger Games” franchise) ignite a players’ strike declaring they won’t compete until all student athletes are fairly compensated. With billions of dollars at risk and legacies on the line, the stakes could not be higher. Now, with only hours until kickoff, the head coach (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons; “Whiplash,” “Being the Ricardos”) and various power brokers—Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth (“Pushing Daisies”), Emmy nominee Timothy Olyphant (“Fargo,” “Justified”), Emmy winner Uzo Aduba (“Orange is the New Black”), Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out,” “Free Guy”), Tim Blake Nelson (“Watchmen”), Andrew Bachelor (“Holidate”), Jeffrey Donovan (“Sicario”) and David Koechner (“Anchorman”)—must race against the clock to protect or destroy the prevailing collegiate athletics system.
Bonus features on the Blu-ray, DVD and Digital include “Behind the Music,” “The Game” and sports trivia.
Shooter: 15th Anniversary Edition (Action Thriller)
“Shooter” celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and will be available for the first time on 4K Ultra HD in a Limited Edition SteelBook Tuesday March 15, from Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.
Originally released on March 23, 2007, this intense action-thriller marked the first time action star Mark Wahlberg (“Boogie Nights,” “Three Kings”) and acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day,” “Infinite”) teamed up.
Wahlberg stars as a respected former Marine sniper who is pressed into service to stop an assassination attempt on the President. When he’s double-crossed and framed for the attempt, he must prove his innocence while evading every law enforcement agency in the country and a shadowy organization that wants him dead.
Special features include “Survival of the Fittest: The Making of ‘Shooter,’” “Independence Hall” and seven deleted scenes.
Sight: The Story of Vision (Documentary)
Indiepix Films takes viewers on a journey of human knowledge about our most important sense in the captivating documentary “Sight: The Story of Vision,” narrated by Elton John.
Sight is arguably our most important sense. Our ability to see determines our quality of life, yet many of us take our sight for granted. “Sight: A Story of Vision” is a captivating journey of human knowledge, looking at the history, science and technology of vision. It details the research to cure blindness and improve low vision in our aging population, and covers the intersection of optics, digital science and medicine that hold promises for all of to keep our sight.
Stories include an Iraqi war veteran’s vision loss due to a traumatic brain injury and a woman who is losing both her sight and hearing, yet refuses to stop achieving her dreams. The film also chronicles the history of vision correcting optics and the fashion that keeps glasses on our noses.
The DVD/Digital will be available for the suggested retail price (SRP) of $24.95.
Signal (Crime Drama)
The long-awaited feature film adaption of the popular Japanese crime series based on the acclaimed South Korean masterpiece drama, “Signal: The Movie Cold Case Investigation Unit” will be released on Blu-ray + DVD combo pack and digital download Tuesday March 15, from Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory.
Directed by renowned filmmaker Hajime Hashimoto (“Detective in the Bar,” “Aibou: The Movie IV”),
“Signal” is a masterfully crafted suspense thriller that combines stylish visuals, captivating narrative and edge-of-your-seat action.
The film features the theme song “Film Out” by international K-Pop sensation BTS. The song was written by BTS member Jungkook, in collaboration with the lead vocalist of Japanese rock band back number, Iyori Shimizu, and produced by back number and UTA for Tiny Voice Production.
When officer Kento Saegusa (Kentaro Sakaguchi) picks up a dusty old police radio that’s about to be scrapped, it brings him into contact with Takeshi Oyama (Kazuki Kitamura). The two detectives—one from the past and one from the present— have worked together previously to solve countless cold cases. Now they’re back together again.
Tokyo, 2021. A high-ranking government official is killed when his chauffeur loses control on an expressway. Saegusa suspects it was far from accidental. Meanwhile in 2009, parliamentary officials are dying in a succession of fatal car crashes. While the police write them off as accidents, Oyama is the only one convinced of foul play. This time, Saegusa and Oyama are forced to go up against corruption in their own home turf—the police force. Will they finally reunite in the present?
Available for the first time in North America, the highly collectible Blu-ray + DVD combo pack boasts an exciting, action-packed movie presentation.
West Side Story (Musical)
Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg presents an inspired reimagining of the beloved musical “West Side Story,” arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday March 15, from 20th Century Studios.
The film has been nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress and 11 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner Tony Kushner, “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); with Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works); and introducing Rachel Zegler (Maria.)
Moreno—one of only three artists to be honored with Academy, Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Peabody awards, also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.
Bringing together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood, the film’s creative team includes Kushner, who also served as an executive producer; Tony winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and Grammy winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award-nominated composer and conductor David Newman (“Anastasia”), who arranged the score, Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”), who supervised the cast on vocals; and Grammy nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Chicago”), who serves as executive music producer for the film.
The film has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show, with original choreography by Jerome Robbins, based on the stage play, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, play conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein.
Feast your eyes on the spectacular new choreography alongside the iconic songs—plus see astonishing all-new footage of Spielberg at work in documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau’s revealing “The Stories of West Side Story.” “West Side Story” also is available to stream on Disney+.
The Whaler Boy (Drama)
In the far-flung corner of the Tundra, a young Inuit whale hunter dreams of a new life in America in “The Whaler Boy,” arriving on DVD/Digital Tuesday March15, from Film Movement.
15-year-old Leshka (Vladimir Onokhov) lives in an isolated village on the Bering Strait. Like most men where he lives, he is a whale hunter. When the Internet arrives in the village, Leshka becomes infatuated with a web-cam model from America—so far away and yet almost close enough to see across the waters of the Strait.
Coming-of-age in the male-dominated whaling community, Leshka’s encounters with this mysterious woman awakens in him a desire to find love outside of the confines of his remote world. He becomes determined to meet her in real life, setting forth on a dangerous adventure across the raging waters of the sea.
Directed by Philipp Yuryev, this delightful coming-of-age drama won the Venice Days Director’s Award at the 2020 Venice Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Star Director’s Award at El Gouna and the best New Film at the 2021 Beijing Film Festival. The DVD/Digital set includes the bonus short film “Before the Typhoon Comes.” “The Whaler Boy” will be available for $24.95 (SRP).
TV Shows
The Proud Family: The Original Series Anniversary Collection (Comedy)
“The Proud Family: The Original Series Anniversary Collection,” a seven-disc DVD set arriving Tuesday March 15, from Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution.
Twenty years ago, viewers were introduced to Penny Proud, a young African American girl navigating through her teens, in spite of larger-than-life situations. Penny’s encounters with her friends, her over-protective parents and her too-hip granny spiral into adventures filled with hijinks, hilarity and heart. Relive all the moments in “The Proud Family Complete Original Series Anniversary Collection” with all 52 episodes of the original series. The release comes just weeks after the release of “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” the highly-anticipated revival, airing on Disney+.
“The Proud Family: The Original Series Anniversary Collection” also is available now on Digital.
