By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

The legend of Samara takes a chilling turn in the new chapter of the hit Ring franchise, “Rings,” which comes calling on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand Tuesday May 2, from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  The Digital HD is already available.

When a radical college professor (Johnny Galecki, “The Big Bang Theory”) finds the mysterious video rumored to kill viewers seven days after watching, he enlists his students in a dangerous experiment to uncover the secrets behind the Samara legend. When the deadly video goes viral, they must figure out a way to break the curse and defeat Samara before her evil is unleashed upon the world. But, how do you stop her when she’s everywhere?  “Rings” also stars Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz (“Summertime), Alex Roe (“The 5^th Wav”), Aimee Teegarden (“Friday Night Lights”) and Vincent D’Onofrio (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”).

The “Rings” Blu-ray Combo Pack features more than 45 minutes of terrifying bonus content including deleted and extended scenes and a nail-biting alternate ending. Plus, go behind-the-scenes with interviews with the cast and crew as they discuss the new chapter in the iconic Ring franchise, dare to discover the real Samara, and more. The Blu-ray Combo Pack completes the circle with a bonus Digital HD of both “The Ring” and “The Ring Two,” for a limited time only.

Momentum Pictures will be releasing “The Shadow Effect,” available On Demand, Digital HD and DVD on Tuesday May 2. The action thriller stars Cam Gigandet, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Brit Shaw, and Michael Biehn. Obsessed with gene regeneration, and fascinated by the phenomenon of the waking dream, Dr. Reese (Rhys Meyers) explores the psyche of Gabriel Howarth (Gigandet), a young man whose life is turned upside down when his violent dreams begin to blend with reality. When Gabriel’s dreams mirror political assassinations, he must race against the clock to not only save himself and his wife Brinn (Shaw), but stop an experimental government program. With time running out, and Gabriel’s life on the line, only Dr. Reese holds the key to unlocking the truth. Obin and Amariah Olson co-direct from a screenplay by Chad Law, Evan Law and Tony Feole.

“The Salesman,” this year’s Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, makes its debut on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on Tuesday May 2, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Written, directed and produced by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Asghar Farhadi (“A Separation”), this dramatic tale of love, revenge and forgiveness stars Taraneh Alidoosti and Shahab Hosseini, as a young married couple living in Tehran whose lives and relationship are forever altered by an unexpected act of violence.  The Blu-ray/DVD and digital releases include .a featurette that goes behind-the-scenes with Farhadi as he shares his inspiration for the film and details how the suspenseful plot uncovers hidden truths behind relationships.

“Enter the Warriors Gate,” written by Luc Besson (“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,” “The Fifth Element”) and Robert Mark Kamen (“Taken,” “The Transporter”) will be available on VOD and Digital HD Friday May 5. The fantasy adventure film with martial arts elements is directed by Matthias Hoene (“Cockneys vs Zombies”).  “Enter the Warriors Gate” features an all-star international cast including Dave Bautista (“Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise), Uriah Shelton (Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why”), Mark Chao (“So Young”), and Ni Ni (“The Flowers of War”). It also can be seen in some theaters and on DirecTV.

The fight for survival continues on season three of “The Last Ship,” TNT’s hit action-packed drama, available on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday May 2. Navy Captain Tom Chandler (Eric Dane, Grey’s Anatomy) and his crew prepare to set sail again in its quest to save humanity after a devastating pandemic. “The Last Ship: The Complete Third Season contains all 13 episodes from the season, plus loads of bonus content, including the never-before-seen documentary “From America’s First Fighting Ship to The Last Ship.”

The crew of the Nathan James shifts their attention to Asia after President Michener hears that China’s leader has been hoarding the cure for the virus, rather than distributing it to the people in the region. Michener sends Chandler to a global summit to investigate this allegation, as well as rumors of a possible mutation of the original virus that has caused a fresh outbreak in Japan. If the mutation has occurred, and Asia has not been protected, the consequences for the world are dire. “The Last Ship: The Complete Third Season” will retail for $29.98 SRP for the standard DVD edition and $39.99 SRP for the Blu-ray edition.

“The Last Ship” has been renewed through season five. Since debuting as the most-watched new series on cable in 2014, the drama has consistently ranked as one of cable’s Top 10 summer dramas with adults 18-49. In 2016, the show’s third season reached an average of seven million viewers per episode across TNT’s linear, digital and mobile platforms.

“The Last Ship” stars Eric Dane, Adam Baldwin and Bridget Regan. Based on William Brinkley’s popular novel, the series chronicles the aftermath of a global catastrophe that nearly decimated the world’s population. Because of its positioning, the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Nathan James avoided falling victim to the devastating tragedy. Now, CNO Captain Tom Chandler (Dane) and his crew must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they may be among the few remaining survivors.

The third season of “The Last Ship” also stars Charles Parnell, Travis Van Winkle, Marissa Neitling, Christina Elmore, Jocko Sims, Bren Foster and Kevin Michael Martin. The series is produced by Platinum Dunes with its partners, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, serving as executive producers. Co-creators and showrunners Hank Steinberg (creator of “Without a Trace”) and Steven Kane (“The Closer”) are also executive producers, along with executive producers and directors Paul Holahan and Michael Katleman.

ITN Distribution’s “Black Rose” is available Tuesday May 2 on VOD and DVD. In this crime drama, a Russian police major (Alexander Nevsky, who also directs the film) is enlisted by the LAPD to help solve a series of gruesome murders perpetrated against young women by a sadistic sociopathic killer on the mean streets of Hollywood. The crime drama, written by Brent Huff and George Sanders, also stars Kristanna Loken, Adrian Paul, Robert Davi and Matthias Hues.

Calling all dog lovers! Front Row Features is giving a copy of the emotional family film “A Dog’s Purpose” on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack to one lucky reader. To enter the contest, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Tuesday, May 9 with “A Dog’s Purpose” in the subject line for your chance to win. Good luck!