THE EXORCISM OF MOLLY HARTLEY. (DVD Artwork). ©20th Century Fox.
By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features
The horror thriller “The Exorcism of Molly Hartley” arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Oct. 20. Sarah Lind (“Wolfcop”) plays the title character, a young woman who has an unholy demon dwelling inside her in this unrated sequel that takes terror to the next level. Six years after graduating high school and discovering that a secret pact assigned her soul to the devil, Molly is suspected of murder and confined to a mental hospital, where she wreaks supernatural havoc on the staff and other patients. Her only hope is an exorcism by a defrocked priest (Devon Sawa, “Final Destination”). Directed by Steven R. Monroe (“I Spit on Your Grave”), this unrated Blu-ray and DVD edition features bonus material including a discussion among exorcism experts about the origins of demonic possession, bonus security camera footage giving fans a closer look into Molly’s “exorcism” and a director’s diary showcasing some of the filmmaker’s favorite scenes from the film. “The Exorcism of Molly Hartley” also is available on Digital HD.
“Chasing Shadows,” the acclaimed British detective series, debuts on DVD Tuesday, Oct. 20. Reece Shearsmith (“The League of Gentlemen”) and Alex Kingston (“ER,” “Doctor Who”) star as a missing person’s crime unit tracking serial killers. Noel Clarke (“Star Trek Into Darkness”) and Don Warrington (“Rising Damp”) also star.
As Det. Sgt. Sean Stone, Shearsmith plays a detective who has an uncanny ability to identify and predict patters of human behavior. He knows how people work, but he doesn’t understand them. When no one else will work with him, Sean is cast out to the Missing Persons Bureau and partnered with Ruth Hattersley (Kingston), an empathetic analyst. Despite the conflict and frustration between them, they make the perfect team as they protect the most vulnerable in society from the evil that stalks them. Originally broadcast on UK’s ITV, the crime drama made its U.S. premiere on Acorn TV (Acorn.TV). The series has been compared to American detective dramas with brilliant though socially inept heroes like Bones and Monk. The DVD is available for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $34.99.
The 1981 Masterpiece Theatre and BBC production “Therese Raquin” also is available Tuesday, Oct. 20 on DVD from Acorn. Oscar nominee Kate Nelligan stars alongside Brian Cox, Alan Rickman and Kenneth Cranham in this classic Masterpiece Theatre drama. The three-part miniseries is based on the classic 1867 novel and play by French writer Emile Zola and unfolds a tale of forbidden love against the backdrop of idyllic French countryside and gritty Parisian streets. Therese (Nelligan, “The Prince of Tides”) is unhappily married to her first cousin, Camille (Cranham, “Rome”), so she begins a passionate affair with his friend Laurent (Cox, “Braveheart”). Therese and Laurent will go to any lengths to be together, but their actions may haunt them forever. The miniseries is available to watch anytime on Acorn.TV, the streaming service for TV shows from Britain and beyond. The DVD’s release coincides with a new, star-studded Broadway adaptation starring Keira Knightley and Judith Light. The SRP is $29.99.
Cartoon Network’s “Transformers: Robots in Disguise—A New Autobot Mission” is available in a Special Collectible DVD edition at Wal-mart Tuesday, Oct. 20 from Shout! Factory Kids. The lure of “Transformers” saga begins a new chapter as Bumblebee and a team of Autobot action heroes embark on a new mission to protect and save Earth from a new faction of Decepticons. Hasbro Studios’ highly rated animated series “Transformers: Robots in Disguise,” which airs on Cartoon Network, is the latest installment of the Transformers franchise and builds on the lore of both the Autobots and the Decepticons. Featuring five episodes, this series is filled with exciting action adventures and humor for fans of all ages. The DVD includes a behind-the-scenes special feature.
Classic Hollywood comedy is in store with “W.C. Fields: Comedy Essentials Collection,” available on DVD Tuesday, Oct. 20. Eighteen classic films are in this collection including 1932’s “Million Dollar Legs,” 1933’s “Alice in Wonderland,” 1940’s “My Little Chickadee,” 1941’s “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break” and more. Fields is a true comedy legend and remains one of the most recognizable and beloved actors of all time. From his early days on stage in vaudeville and Broadway through his live appearances on radio, he created an iconic persona that has never been matched. His comic is best captured forever in his body of films that highlight his notoriously sarcastic quick wit and slapstick routines. The vintage documentary “Wayne & Shuster Take an Affectionate Look at W.C. Fields” is included as a bonus feature.
With Christmas just around the corner, discover the true meaning of the holiday season with the live action adaptation of the beloved children’s classic, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” available in a newly remastered Grinchmas Edition, with improved picture and sound. The Blu-ray comes with a Digital HD copy that can be downloaded on handheld devices. Starring Jim Carrey as The Grinch, director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer re-imagine one of the most enduring holiday stories of all time. Why is The Grinch (Carrey) such a grouch? No one seems to know, until little Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen, “Gossip Girl”) takes matters into her own hands and turns both Whoville and The Grinch’s world upside down. Bonus features include deleted scenes, outtakes, Faith Hill’s “Where Are You Christmas?” music video, a feature commentary with director Howard and more.
