DVDs Releases: October 27, 2009

It's Tuesday which means it's time to look at this weeks releases on DVD! I snuck in one Blu-Ray as it's an awesome pick but the set doesn't come out til next week. Most titles have DVD and Blu-rays released on the same day for new releases. Looks like lots of Halloween choices this year with several creepy films to choice from.

Piquant Picks:
I'm thrilled to share that the fantasitc Finnish horror/drama Sauna is being released on DVD today. It's harsh, dark and moody and was so glad I had a chance to see it back at TIFF'08 and what a treat. There was even a Q&A with director Antti-Jussi Annila which you can see selection from here. Keeping with the horror picks, Orphan comes to DVD today and I found it to be one of the scariest of the horror films released this year (only trumped by Paranormal Activity). The DVD release also boasts an alternate ending, which has me very curious. We also have the French animated omnibus film Fear(s) of the Dark animation featuring selections the following six directors Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Caillou, Pierre Di Sciullo, Lorenzo Mattotti and Richard McGuire. We also have the festival fave biopic Il Divo based on Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, which won the Cannes Jury Prize in 2008. I also found a bit of a wild card this week with Afterwards, which I'd never heard of but this drama did hit a few festivals. I piqued interest with cast including Evangeline Lilly, John Malkovich and Romain Duris and being a France/Canada/Germany co-production.

It's Not Film, But....
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan hits DVD today, it's directed by Adama himself: Edward James Olmos, and is a feature length prequel to the Battlestar Galactica TV series from the perspective of the Cylons. More TV goodness with a Blu-Ray release of the 1967 TV series "The Prisoner" with Patrick McGoohan. Great timing here in case you want to get revved up for the 2009 re-make of the series by AMC that stars James Caviezel and Ian McKellan.

Blast from the Past:
So, looking for creepy alien slug-like zombie turning frat party madness? That can only mean one thing. 1986's Night of the Creeps is coming to DVD.

Big Wigs
And now for films you've already heard a lot about! The animated three-quel Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is being released, along with Woody Allen's latest Whatever Works starring Larry David. If you are feeling holiday centric there is the parody Stan Helsing which came out in the theatre just last week, or rev up for Christmas with Nothing Like the Holidays.

What goes on your wish list?

Titles on Amazon.ca (Canada):



Titles if available on Amazon.com (US):