Movies

The Childe (Action, Drama, Thriller)

South Korea’s action-packed thriller “The Childe” debuts on Blu-ray and Digital Tuesday, Jan. 16, from Well Go USA Entertainment.

In a desperate attempt to secure funds for his mother’s surgery, an amateur boxer searches for the wealthy estranged father he’s never met. But after a lead takes him from the Philippines to Korea, he is relentlessly pursued by a quirky yet highly dangerous man. As additional entities join in his pursuit and cause chaos, he will be forced to confront a shocking truth that may cost him his life.

Directed by Park Hoon-jung (“The Witch: Part 1 and Part 2”), “The Childe” stars Kim Seon-ho (K-drama series “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha”) in his feature film debut, Kim Kang-woo (“Recalled”), Go Ara (“Phantom Detective”) and newcomer Kang Tae-ju. The film is presented in Korean with optional English subtitles.

The Devil’s Partner (Horror)

Vintage film restoration and distribution company Film Masters continues its tribute to the pope of pop cinema, Roger Corman, by releasing the third installment of The Filmgroup series on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Jan. 16 — “The Devil’s Partner.”

Corman and his brother, Gene, founded The Filmgroup to distribute their own films. While the company did produce the majority of its films, including the cult classic “Creature from the Haunted Sea,” it also occasionally acquired projects by other filmmakers, as is the case with 1961’s “The Devil’s Partner.” From director Charles R. Rondeau, the film is a macabre tale of an elderly man who regains his youth after making a deal with the devil.

Director/actor Edgar Buchanan (best known as Uncle Joe on “Petticoat Junction”) appears in the supernatural thriller about an old codger trying to reclaim his youth, employing black magic to lure a woman away from his rival. The film also stars Jean Allison (“Bad Company”), Richard Crane (“Mysterious Island”) and Ed Nelson (“Peyton Place”). The well-crafted, independent feature has been hailed for its atmosphere and as a pioneering film in the devil worshiping subgenre made popular in the 1970s.

Made in 1958, “The Devil’s Partner” languished with no release date until it was picked up and distributed by The Filmgroup, becoming a steady presence on the drive-in circuit. It often appeared in tandem with “Creature from the Haunted Sea,” another Corman classic from the golden age of drive-in schlock.

The spoof of spy/gangsters/monster movies stars Antony Carbone (“The Last Woman on Earth”) as a gangster and smuggler who decides to kill members of the ship’s bungling crew and blame their deaths on a legendary sea creature. What he doesn’t know is that the creature is actually out there!

Also starring Betsy Jones-Moreland (“The Last Woman on Earth”) and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Robert Towne (“Chinatown”) under the pseudonym Edward Wain, “Creature from the Haunted Sea” was conceived when Corman finished shooting “The Last Woman on Earth” in Puerto Rico and discovered he had enough film left over to make another movie. He enlisted long-time associate Charles B. Griffith, who — legend goes — had six days to write the script. Ever the pragmatist when it came to budget, Corman recruited locals to appear in the film as extras.

Two versions of “Creature from the Haunted Sea” are included on the newly restored “The Devil’s Partner” Blu-ray release: the theatrical version and an extended TV version. The televised version includes an additional 15 minutes of footage shot years later to extend the film for a sale to Allied Artists. Other special features on the release include a commentary for “The Devil’s Partner” by Larry Strothe, James Gonis, Shawn Sheridan and Matt Weinhold of the “Monster Party” podcast; a theatrical-length commentary for “Creature from the Haunted Sea” by fan favorite Tom Weaver, with contributions from Roger Corman, Kinta Zertuche and Larry Blamire; “Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story: Part 3,” a documentary by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures; a new interview with Roger Corman on the formation of The Filmgroup; recut trailers for both films made from resorted film elements; the original “Creature from the Haunted Sea” theatrical trailer from 16mm archival elements scanned in 4K; a before-and-after restoration video for “Creature from the Haunted Sea;” and companion essays for each film by screenwriter and author Mark McGee and film historian Tom Weaver.

Journey to Bethlehem (Adventure, Family, Musical)

The greatest story ever comes alive in “Journey to Bethlehem,” arriving on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Jan. 16, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The movie is also now available to own on Digital.

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical celebration for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with new pop songs in a music-infused retelling of the greatest story ever told — the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus.

Special features on the release include “Meet Mary & Joseph,” “Meet Fig,” “Meet Mary’s Sisters,” “Meet Antipater,” “The Heart of ‘Journey to Bethlehem’” and three deleted and extended scenes: “A Great Navigator,” “Travel Montage” and “Joseph’s Catapult.”

The Raid: Redemption (Action, Crime, Thriller)

The hard-hitting action-packed favorite “The Raid: Redemption” debuts as a limited-edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook Tuesday, Jan. 16, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Deep in the heart of Jakarta’s slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world’s most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the rundown apartment block has been considered untouchable. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite SWAT team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the drug lord, they find themselves stranded on the sixth floor with no way out. The unit must fight their way through the city’s worst to survive their mission.

“The Raid: Redemption” 4K Ultra HD disc features a completely new color grade under director Gareth Evans’s supervision. The disc also includes both the original Indonesian score and the international score by Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) and Joe Trapanese.

The Blu-ray disc included with the SteelBook release features the unrated version of the feature film presented in high definition with 5.1 Indonesian and English audio. Several special features are also included on the disc, including a commentary with Gareth Evans, behind-the-scenes video blogs, “Inside the Score,” “In Conversation with Gareth Evans and Mike Shinoda,” “An Evening with Gareth Evans, Mike Shinoda and Joe Trapanese,” “Behind the Music with Mike Shinoda and Joe Trapanese,” “Anatomy of a Scene with Gareth Evans,” Claycat’s “The Raid,” “The Raid” TV show ad (circa 1994) and the film’s theatrical trailer.

TV Shows

Magnum P.I.: The Final Season (Action, Adventure, Crime)

Watch Magnum and his team assemble one last time, as “Magnum P.I.: The Final Season” is now available to own on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Thomas Magnum (Jay Hernandez, “Suicide Squad”) returns in the final season as Hawaii’s favorite detective, and takes on exciting new cases with his partner, Juliet Higgins (Perdita Weeks, “Ready Player One”), and friends Rick (Zachary Knighton, “Happy Endings”) and TC (Stephen Hill, “Draft Day”). Whether they are taking down Hawaii’s most dangerous criminals, solving impossible cases or just throwing back a few mai tais after work, the team has never been tighter — and the adventure has never been bigger!

With noteworthy guest stars Bobby Lee (“Mad TV”) and Larry Manetti (the original “Magnum, P.I.”), the five-disc set includes every thrilling episode from the fifth and final season of “Magnum P.I.” along with exclusive deleted scenes. Also, now available to own on DVD is “Magnum P.I.: The Complete Series.” The 24-disc collection features all 96 episodes plus more than 2 hours of special features, including gag reels, deleted scenes, featurettes and a “Hawaii Five-O” crossover episode.

It may be mid-January, but Front Row Features is still in the giving spirit. That’s why we are giving away a copy of “The Childe” on Blu-ray to three lucky readers. To enter the contest, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Jan. 22 for your chance to win. Good luck!