Movies

A Creature was Stirring (Horror)

The terrifying holiday horror thriller “A Creature was Stirring” debuts on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Feb. 13, from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Faith (Chrissy Metz, “This is Us”) keeps her troubled teenage daughter (Annalise Basso, “Ouija: Origin of Evil”) on a tightly controlled regimen of experimental drugs, their only means of fending off a mysterious, terrifying affliction. But after two burglars (Scout Taylor-Compton, 2007’s “Halloween,” and Connor Paolo, “Stake Land”) attempt to rob the home on Christmas, they stumble upon a long-kept family secret — with monstrous consequences.

“A Creature was Stirring” is the first feature film by director Damien LeVeck, with creature design and effects by award-winning SFX artist Tate Steinsiek (“Face/Off”).

Footloose (Drama, Music, Romance)

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the beloved classic “Footloose” arrives for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD Tuesday, Feb. 13, from Paramount Home Entertainment.

City-boy Ren McCormick (Kevin Bacon, “Apollo 13”) is new to an uptight small town where dancing has been banned. Ren quickly makes a new best friend in Willard (Chris Penn, “Reservoir Dogs”) and falls fast for the minister’s daughter (Lori Singer, “Fame”), but his love for music and dancing gets him into hot water equally as fast.

Originally released on Feb. 17, 1984, “Footloose” thrilled audiences with its spirited dancing, electrifying soundtrack and inspiring story. Kevin Bacon gives a star-making performance as a city boy whose rebellious love for music and dancing shakes up a small town.

Directed by Herbert Ross (“Steel Magnolias”) and written by composer and writer Dean Pitchford (“Cinderella…Frozen in Time”), “Footloose” was a massive success, earning $80 million at the domestic box office. The film features an exceptional supporting cast, including Dianne Wiest (“Edward Scissorhands”), John Lithgow (“3rd Rock from the Sun”) and Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and the City”), along with a sensational soundtrack featuring Kenny Loggins, Shalamar, Deniece Williams, Bonnie Tyler, Quiet Riot, John Mellencamp, Foreigner and more. Both Loggins’ “Footloose” and Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song.

Newly remastered, “Footloose” will be available as a two-disc 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray set or a collectible SteelBook with artwork designed to look like an ’80s Walkman. Both sets include access to a digital copy of the film and the following legacy bonus content on the Blu-ray disc: a commentary by producer Craig Zadan (“Chicago”) and writer Dean Pitchford, a commentary by Kevin Bacon, the film’s theatrical trailer, Kevin Bacon’s Screen Test, a Kevin Bacon Costume Montage, “From Bomont to the Big Apple: An Interview with Sarah Jessica Parker,” “Let’s Dance! Kevin Bacon on ‘Footloose,’” “Remembering Willard,” “‘Footloose’: A Modern Musical — Part 1,” “‘Footloose’: A Modern Musical — Part 2” and “‘Footloose’: Songs That Tell a Story.”

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Action, Adventure, Drama)

The Capitol invites you to the 10th annual Hunger Games when “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Feb. 13, from Lionsgate. Walmart will also have an exclusive 4K Ultra HD SteelBook debuting on the same day, with brand-new art prominently featuring the star-studded cast. The film is currently available to own on Digital.

Sixty-four years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth, “Benediction”) as he unites with Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler, “West Side Story”) in the 10th Hunger Games and battles his instincts for both good and evil.

Based on the Suzanne Collins best-selling novel of the same name, with a screenplay by Michael Lesslie (“Assassin’s Creed”) and Michael Arndt (“Toy Story 3”), and directed by Francis Lawrence (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” also stars Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”), Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”), Josh Andrés Rivera (“West Side Story”), Jason Schwartzman (“Asteroid City”) and Viola Davis (“Fences”). Additionally, three-time GRAMMY Award winner and six-time nominee singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo joins the prestigious franchise, co-writing and performing the preeminent original song “Can’t Catch Me Now.”

Bonus features on the 4K, Blu-ray and DVD releases include an audio commentary with producer-director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson (“Crazy Rich Asians”), “A Letter to the Fans” and “The Hanging Tree” song by Rachel Zegler. The 4K and Blu-ray discs also include the exclusive eight-part documentary “Predator or Prey: Making ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,’” while the DVD features the featurettes “Welcome Back to Panem,” “The Music of ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,’” “The Costumes of ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’” and “The Casting of ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.’” Additionally, exclusive to the 4K release is the film’s theatrical trailers.

The Swiss Conspiracy (Action, Crime, Drama)

Action-paced, international intrigue ensues in “The Swiss Conspiracy,” available Tuesday, Feb. 20, as a special collector’s edition Blu-ray and DVD from Film Masters.

In “The Swiss Conspiracy,” a Swiss bank president hires a former U.S. Justice Department official to ferret out a group of blackmailers who have learned the identity of five, anonymous numbered account holders — including a Chicago mob figure who is also being pursued by American gangsters. Investigator David Christopher (David Janssen, best known as Dr. Richard Kimble in the hit ‘60s series “The Fugitive”) identifies four potential suspects, including the bank vice-president’s mistress, Rita (Elke Sommer, “A Shot in the Dark”). Adding to the intrigue are the suspicions of the Swiss Federal Police, which complicates the investigation. When the bank pays the chief blackmailer in uncut diamonds, the ransom rendezvous results in a dramatic showdown in the snow-covered Alps and a shocking revelation.

Shot entirely in and around Zurich, “The Swiss Conspiracy,” based on the hit novel by Michael Stanley, was directed by Jack Arnold, best known for B horror/cult movie classics such as “The Incredible Shrinking Man,” “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and “It Came from Outer Space.” One of the best directors of science-fiction feature films, Arnold is also known for directing multiple hit television series such as “Gilligan’s Island,” “Wonder Woman” and “The Love Boat.”

Scanned in 4K from original 35mm archival elements, “The Swiss Conspiracy” has never seen a high-quality release to date. Film Masters enlisted colorist and restoration expert Marc Wielage to painstakingly bring back vibrant and original colors that have not been seen since the film made its original debut in 1976. Specials features on the release include a commentary track by author/podcaster Daniel Budnik and film historian Rob Kelly; Ballyhoo Motion Pictures’ “Jack Arnold: The Lost Years,” focusing on the late career years of the filmmaker; “A Three-Dimensional Filmmaker” video essay by Ryan Verrill and Will Dodson from Someone’s Favorite Productions; liner notes in a full-color booklet by Lee Pfeiffer, editor-in-chief of Cinema Retro magazine; the film’s original 1976 restored trailer scanned in 4K from 35mm archival elements; and a 2024 recut trailer made from restored film elements.

Calling all horror movie fans! Front Row Features is giving away a Blu-ray copy of “A Creature was Stirring” to three lucky readers. To enter the contest, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Feb. 20 for your chance to win. Good luck!