‘Huntsman,’ ‘Scandal,’ ‘Dark Horse,’ More on Home Entertainment … (plus a ‘Scandal’ giveaway!)
THE HUNTSMAN WINTER'S WAR. (DVD Artwork). ©Universal Home Entertainment.

THE HUNTSMAN WINTER’S WAR. (DVD Artwork). ©Universal Home Entertainment.

By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

Discover the story that came before “Snow White” in “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand Tuesday Aug. 23, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

The Blu-ray and DVD include the original theatrical version plus an all-new extended edition of the epic action-adventure, as well as exclusive bonus features that reveal the movie’s behind-the-scenes secrets. “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” also is available on Digital HD.

“The film stars Academy Award winner Charlize Theron (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Monster”) as the evil Queen Ravenna, who betrays her good sister Freya (Emily Blunt, “Sicario”) with an unforgivable act, freezing Freya’s heart to love and unleashing in her an icy power she never knew she possessed. Retreating to a kingdom far to the north, Freya raises an army of Huntsmen as her protectors, with the only rule that no two of them should ever fall in love.

As a war for domination escalates between the two queens, the hero standing between good and evil is Freya’s most elite Huntsman, Eric (Chris Hemsworth, “Thor”). Alongside fellow warrior Sara (Jessica Chastain, “The Martian”)—the only woman who has ever captured his heart—Eric must help Freya vanquish her sister or Ravenna’s wickedness will rule for eternity.

The fantasy adventure will also be available on 4K Ultra HD in a combo pack which includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and Digital HD with UltraViolet. The 4K Ultra HD will include all bonus features on the Blu-ray disc.

Bonus features include deleted scenes with commentary, a gag reel, a featurette called “Dressed to Kill,” behind-the-scenes with the cast and a director’s commentary with Cedric Nicolas Troyan. Blu-ray exclusives include the featurettes “Two Queens and Two Warriors,” “Meet the Dwarfs” and “Magic All Around—A Look at the Visual Effects.”

“The Man Who Knew Infinity” arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD Tuesday Aug. 23, from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  The drama, based on a true story, will also be available for sale or rental from cable, satellite and Telco providers through IFC Films

Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons (“Reversal of Fortune”) and Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”) star in this story of a friendship that forever changed mathematics.  In 1913, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Patel), a self-taught Indian mathematics genius, traveled to Trinity College, in Cambridge, England where over the course of five years, he forged a bond with his mentor, the brilliant and eccentric professor, G.H. Hardy (Irons), while fighting against prejudice to reveal his mathematic genius to the world.

The Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and English, English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles.  The Blu-ray includes the film in high definition. The DVD includes the feature film in standard definition.

“Clown,” from Dimension Films and Anchor Bay Entertainment, is available on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday Aug. 23. Directed by Jon Watts (“Spider Man: Homecoming,” “Cop Car”) and produced by Eli Roth (“Knock Knock,” “Hostel” franchise”), the horror film stars Peter Stormare (“Fargo”), Laura Allen (ABCs “All My Children”) and Andy Powers (“In Her Shoes”).

It’s a story of a loving father who dons a clown outfit and makeup to perform at his son’s sixth birthday, only to later discover that the costume—red nose and wig included—will not come off and his own personality changes in a horrific fashion. To break the curse of the evil outfit, the father must make grim choices with his own family facing danger.

“Clown” is available for the suggested retail price of $26.99 and $22.98, respectively, and includes “Making ‘Clown,’ featuring producer Eli Roth.”

Award winning writer-director Terrence Davies (“The House of Mirth”) brings to life the Scottish literature masterpiece by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, “Sunset Song,” available Tuesday Aug. 23 on DVD and Digital HD.

Starring Agnyess Deyn (“Clash of The Titans”), Peter Mullan (“Top of the Lake”) and Kevin Guthrie (“Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them”), the adaptation is available through Magnolia Home Entertainment.

Set in Scotland during the turn of the century and in the shadow of World War I, the drama is a coming of age story centered on Chris Guthrie (Deyn), a young farm girl forced to face a series of personal hardships. Following the death of their mother, Chris’ brother Will (Jack Greenlees, “Penny Dreadful”) runs away to get married, leaving Chris to tend to the family farm and fend for herself against their abusive father, John (Mullan). Believing she finally found happiness, Chris marries Ewan (Guthrie), who enlists in the army to fight in The Great War, once again leaving Chris to tend to the family farm by herself.

“Sunset Song” on DVD is available for the suggested retail price of $26.98.

“High-Rise” is available now on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD. The dystopian thriller stars Tom Hiddleston (“The Avengers” films) as Dr. Robert Laing, the newest resident of a luxurious apartment in a high-tech concrete skyscraper whose lofty location places him amongst the upper class. Laing quickly settles into high society life and meets the building’s eccentric tenants: Charlotte (Sienna Miller, “American Sniper”), his upstairs neighbor and bohemian single mother; Wilder (Luke Evans, “Beauty and the Beast”), a charismatic documentarian who lives with his pregnant wife Helen (Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”) and Mr. Royal (Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”), the enigmatic architect who designed the building.

Life seems like paradise to the solitude-seeking Laing. But as power outages become more frequent and building flaws emerge, particularly on the lower floors, the regimented social strata begins to crumble and the building becomes a battlefield in a literal class war.

Bonus features on the Blu-ray and DVD releases include audio commentary from Hiddleston, Wheatley and producer Jeremy Thomas, an in-depth look at adapting the beloved novel form the page to screen, a look at the acclaimed film’s ‘70s set design, special effects and more. “High-Rise” is available for a suggested retail price of $29.98 for Blu-ray and $26.98 for the DVD.

“Dark Horse,” a new documentary about a pub barmaid from a poor Welsh mining town who takes on the “elite sport of kings” and breeds herself an improbable racehorse champion crosses the DVD and Digital finish line Tuesday Aug. 23 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The Sony Pictures Classics release, a 2015 Sundance Film Festival winner, directed by Louise Ormond (BAFTA nominated for “Richard III: The King In The Car Park”), won the festival’s World Cinema Documentary Audience Award and also premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

Dark Horse begins in 2000 in Cefn Fforest, a small Welsh town, when Jan Vokes hears one of her pub regulars talking about owning a share of a racehorse. On her way home, Jan ponders, “I’ve bred pigeons; I’ve bred whippets; how hard could it be?”  She convinces 23 friends and neighbors to pool their money to produce an unlikely foal that grows up to compete against some of the wealthiest horse families in the UK. Named Dream Alliance after the group of investors, the horse suffers a near fatal accident, but then makes a remarkable recovery with the loving help of his owners, ultimately returning to the track for a heart-stopping comeback as a racehorse champion.

“Dark Horse” was produced by Judith Dawson and executive produced by Julian Ware, Lizzie Francke, Anna Higgs, Anna Miralis and Adam Partridge. Special features include a photo gallery.

Another documentary available on DVD and Digital HD Tuesday Aug. 23 is “The First Monday in May,” a rarely seen peek behind-the-scenes of the ultra exclusive Met Gala.

Centering on the celebrated event that takes place annually at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, this film is available from Magnolia Home Entertainment. Directed by acclaimed documentarian, Andrew Rossi (“Ivory Tower”), the film depicts the fashion world’s equivalent of the Super Bowl, highlighting the Costume Institute and its revolutionary curator, Andrew Bolton.

The film includes commentary by Bolton, Vogue editor in chief, Anna Wintour, music artist Rihanna, and appearances by filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai, fashion designers Jean Paul Gaultier, Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfeld, and celebrities including Kate Hudson, Alicia Keys and others.

The film follows Bolton and the Metropolitan Museum of Art/Vogue event planning teams who successfully execute the breathtaking fundraising event that raises enough money to operate the Metropolitan Museum of Art for an entire year. Revealing a rare look at the creation of The Met’s “China: Through the Looking Glass” exhibition, an exploration of Chinese-inspired Western fashions, the film explores how the gala continues to inspire high fashion, art, and culture. Diving into the debate of whether to view fashion as art, “The First Monday in May” celebrates creativity for viewers and truly brings fashion to life.

Special features on the DVD include deleted scenes, an exclusive interview with the director and the theatrical trailer. The DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $26.98.

The four-part Irish crime drama “Clean Break” makes its DVD debut Tuesday Aug. 23, from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment brand.

Adam Fergus (“Being Erica”) stars as a car dealer whose life is falling apart around him. Before he loses everything, he devises a reckless kidnapping plan to fix his money problems while also getting revenge on the people making his life miserable. Written by award-winning writer Billy Roche (“The Eclipse”), “Clean Break” co-stars Aidan McArdle (“Ella Enchanted”), Damien Molony (“Being Human”), Sean McGinley (“Republic of Doyle”), Ned Dennehy (“Dominion Creek”), Kelly Thornton (“Life’s a Breeze”), Simone Kirby (“Alice Through the Looking Glass”), Packy Lee (“Peaky Blinders”), and Amybeth McNulty (“Agatha Raisin”). Originally premiering on RTE One last year, “Clean Break” explores how far desperation will drive the residents of one small Irish town.

This two-disc DVD set features four episodes ($39.99, AcornOnline.com).

“Clean Break” made its U.S. premiere in May on Acorn.TV, a North American streaming service for world-class television from Britain and beyond.

Car dealer Frank Mallon (Adam Fergus) has reached the end of his tether. His wife has left him, his cars aren’t selling and his teenage daughter (Thornton) is out of control. Now his bank manager Desmond Rane (McArdle) says he’s in financial trouble and needs to see him before the end of the week. Frank is rapidly running out of fiscal rope and is about to lose everything. So he comes up with a plan that will not only give him the means to survive but will also give him revenge on his tormentors.

“The Strain: Season 2” arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday Aug. 23. The mysterious epidemic transforming the citizens of New York into horrifying creatures continues to rage during this second terrifying season of this acclaimed horror series. While doctors Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll) and Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) race to create a biological weapon to destroy the creatures, Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley) relentlessly searches for an ancient book that may hold the key to defeating the sinister “Master.” Aware that he is now hunted by his handful of unlikely allies, the Master creates even more unstoppable bloodthirsty monsters in this darkly thrilling show that delivers nonstop chills from the first episode through the climactic season finale.

Extras on the Blu-ray and DVD include deleted scenes, Meet the Crew, The White Room, audio commentary on the episode called “Night Train,” featuring the show’s creator Carlton Cuse, a gag reel and more.

“Scandal: The Complete Fifth Season” arrives on DVD Tuesday Aug. 23. The acclaimed series, from producer Shonda Rhimes, stars Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, an ambitious First Lady.

The Oval Office is up for grabs, and none of the players are playing nice, including Olivia, who now realizes she can never be content as a wifely First Lady. Domestic bliss pales in comparison with holding the reins of the highest office in the land, so when faced with a chance to wield unrivaled influence at any cost, will she continue to wear the white hat or prove that she is, indeed, her father’s daughter? Prepare for a battle royale as Olivia, the White House politicians and the O.P.A. “gladiators” play an anything-goes game of blackmail, murder and seduction in a bid for that all-consuming, all-corrupting commodity: Power.

The DVD set includes all 22 intoxicating episodes of the fifth season, spiced with exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features.

In addition to Washington, the tantalizing series stars Guillermo Diaz as Huck; Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan; Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins; Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant; Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene; Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant; Joshua Malina as David Rosen; Scott Foley as Jake Ballard; Portia de Rossi as Elizabeth North and Cornelius Smith, Jr. as Marcus Walker.

Front Row Features wants you to relive every shocking moment from “Scandal’s” game-changing fifth season. That’s why we’re giving away a copy of “Scandal: The Complete Fifth Season” on DVD to one lucky reader. To enter, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Tuesday Aug. 30 for your chance to win, and don’t forget to tune in to season 6 of “Scandal” when it returns to ABC in February 2017.