April 5th Blu-ray & DVD Releases Include AVA’S POSSESSIONS, THE BLACK CAT, CHERRY TREE

2016/04/05 03:26:15 +00:00 | Heather Wixson

It feels like almost every new movie is coming out on April 5th—and yes, that is probably a bit of an exaggeration, but still, we do have over 20 horror and sci-fi titles arriving on Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday and there’s no denying that’s a bunch.

Of course the big title this week is Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but there are also several great indie horror films being released this week, including Ava’s Possessions, The Hallow, Cherry Tree, #Horror, and Creep, which is finally makes its way to DVD as well. Arrow Video has several special edition releases coming out on Tuesday, including The Black Cat, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key and the Death Walks Twice box set.

Other notable releases for April 5th include Anguish, Deadly Weekend, The Entity, The Tell-Tale Heart and Journey to the Seventh Planet.

Ava’s Possessions (Entertainment One, DVD)

Ava is recovering from demonic possession. With no memory of the past month, she is forced to attend a Spirit Possessions Anonymous support group. As Ava struggles to reconnect with her friends, get her job back, and figure out where the huge blood stain in her apartment came from, she is plagued by nightmarish visions the demon is trying to come back.

The Black Cat Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)

From Italy’s own Godfather of Gore Lucio Fulci (Zombie, The Gates of Hell) comes The Black Cat a gruesome reimagining of the classic Edgar Allan Poe tale starring Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange) and Mimsy Farmer (The Perfume of the Lady in Black).

When a young couple goes missing in a sleepy English village, Scotland Yard Inspector Gorley (David Warbeck, The Beyond) is brought in to assist on the case. But what starts off as routine investigation turns into a murder inquiry when the couple are found dead in mysterious circumstances.

Fusing a classically gothic atmosphere with the decidedly more visceral elements that are the hallmark of Fulci’s films, The Black Cat is a too-often overlooked and underrated entry in the Italian master filmmaker’s canon.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS INCLUDE Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, Original Italian and English soundtracks in DTS-HD mono audio, Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack, Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack, Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker and Fangoria editor Chris Alexander, From Poe into Fulci: The Spirit of Perverseness film historian Stephen Thrower on Fulci’s Poe-tinged classic, In the Paw-Prints of The Black Cat a look at the original Black Cat locations, Frightened Dagmar a brand new career interview with actress Dagmar Lassander, At Home with David Warbeck an archive interview with the Black Cat star, Original Theatrical Trailer and Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin.

Cherry Tree (Dark Sky Films, Blu-ray & DVD)

Faith’s world is turned upside down after she finds out that her beloved father is dying. When the mysteriously alluring Sissy Young becomes her new hockey coach, Faith has no idea that Sissy is the head of a witches coven that has resided in her home town of Orchard for centuries. Using the fruit of an ancient cherry tree in a bloody ritual, the witches can bring the dead and dying back to life, and when Sissy offers to cure Faith’s father, she lures the young woman into a dangerous deal that will leave her fighting for her life.

CHERRY TREE is the sexy, gory and haunting new film by David Keating, the critically acclaimed director of Wake Wood. Special Features include Making of and Trailer.

The Hallow (Scream Factory/IFC Midnight, Blu-ray & DVD)

A family moves to a remote house in rural Ireland and finds themselves in a fight for survival with an ancient evil living in the secluded woods.

Special Features include Audio commentary with director Corin Hardy, “Surviving the Fairytale: The Making of “The Hallow””, Behind-the-Scenes: “The Story”, Behind-the-Scenes: “Influence”, Behind-the-Scenes: “Practical F/X”, Director’s storyboards gallery, Director’s sketchbook gallery, “The Book of Invasions” original illustrations gallery, Creature concepts gallery and Theatrical Trailer.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Walt Disney Studios , Blu/DVD/Digital HD)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw the eagerly anticipated reteaming of original Star Wars stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, along with Anthony Daniels, the only actor to have been in all seven Star Wars films, and Peter Mayhew. The returning cast was joined by newcomer Daisy Ridley, who beat out fierce competition to take the principal role of Rey; BAFTA Rising Star Award winner John Boyega (Attack the Block, Imperial Dreams) as reluctant stormtrooper Finn; Emmy nominee Adam Driver (Lincoln, Girls) as the villainous Kylo Ren, and Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, The Bourne Legacy) as Resistance pilot Poe Dameron.

The film was directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt. Lucasfilm president and eight-time Academy Award nominee Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams, along with his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, are the film's producers. Having established a musical legacy with his iconic scores for the previous six films in the Star Wars saga, acclaimed composer John Williams also returned to score Star Wars: The Force Awakens, ultimately garnering his 50th Oscar nomination for it.

Secrets will be revealed through extensive footage, never-before-seen deleted scenes, and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers. Bonus features include:

Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary.
The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie's script.
Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.
Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life.
Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren.
John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens.
ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider's look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie's visual effects.
Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others.
Deleted Scenes