May 7th is a relatively quiet day of genre-related Blu-ray and DVD releases, so I’ll keep this installment of our ongoing home media column series on the short and sweet side. If you dig creepy kid horror and you happened to miss it in theaters earlier this year, Nicholas McCarthy’s The Prodigy comes home on Tuesday, and for those of you who might be more into nunsploitation stories, St. Agatha is set to arrive on both formats this week. Cult film fans can finally add The Nightcomers and The Man Who Haunted Himself (featuring Roger Moore) to their Blu-ray collections, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army is making its 4K debut on May 7th as well.
The Nightcomers (Kino Lorber Studio Classics, Blu-ray & DVD)
Two Children… Two Adults… One Unspeakable Crime! Captivating and disturbing, this highly intense psychological drama with its haunting, twisted notion of sexuality puts a new spin on the characters from Henry James’ celebrated ghost story, “The Turn of the Screw.” Marlon Brando (The Appaloosa, The Missouri Breaks) stars as Quint, a gardener who powerfully impacts the lives of young orphans Miles and Flora, who are left in the care of their governess (Stephanie Beacham, Dracula A.D. 1972, TV’s Dynasty) and housekeeper (Thora Hird, A Kind of Loving). Obsessed with the charismatic Quint, the children are mesmerized by his warped views of love and life and soon pattern their own lives after his crude, secret courtship with their governess. When the housekeeper finds out about the lovers’ relationship, she decides to fire them, leaving the bereft children to take matters into their own chilling hands. Top-notch direction by Michael Winner (Hannibal Brooks, Death Wish) and co-starring the great Harry Andrews (S.O.S. Titanic, Modesty Blaise).
Special Features:
-Audio Commentary by director Michael Winner
-Introduction by Michael Winner
-NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger
-Theatrical Trailer
The Prodigy (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Blu/DVD Combo & DVD/Digital)
In her much-anticipated foray into the horror-thriller genre, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Taylor Schilling stars in THE PRODIGY as Sarah, a mother whose young son Miles' disturbing behavior signals that an evil, possibly supernatural force has overtaken him. Fearing for her family's safety, Sarah must choose between her maternal instinct to love and protect Miles and a desperate need to investigate what -- or who -- is causing his dark turn. She is forced to look for answers in the past, taking the audience on a wild ride; one where the line between perception and reality becomes frighteningly blurry.
Special Features:
- Commentary by Director Nicholas McCarthy
- Promotional Featurettes
- Gallery
St. Agatha (Uncork’d Entertainment, Blu-ray & DVD)
A pregnant con woman on the run seeks refuge in a desolate convent only to be met with an unsettling and horrendous evil waiting on the other side.
ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army 4K (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, 4K Ultra HD/Blu Combo)
The Man Who Haunted Himself (Kino Lorber Studio Classics, Blu-ray)
Strawberry Flavored Plastic (Breaking Glass Pictures, DVD)