What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – February 18th, 2025 – Nosferatu, Constantine, Panic Room, September 5, 100 Yards and more

Constantine

After a few particularly small weeks, we finally have a jam-packed slate of releases again. This week sees some recent theatrical hits, some incredible catalog 4K Steelbook releases, and a wonderful vinyl soundtrack! Read on for full details!

In This Week’s Column:

• Nosferatu (Blu-ray + Digital)
• September 5 (Blu-ray + Digital)
• Panic Room (4K Ultra HD Steelbook + Blu-ray + Digital)
• The Social Network (4K Ultra HD Steelbook + Blu-ray + Digital)
• Constantine (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
• Inside Out 2 Soundtrack (Vinyl Soundtrack)
• Legend of the Eight Samurai (Blu-ray)
• 100 Yards (Blu-ray)

Nosferatu (Blu-ray + Digital)

The Movie: 

It’s no secret that I have absolutely not been a fan of Robert Eggers’ first three movies (The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman.) His first movie without the word “The” in the title has also been his biggest hit: Nosferatu, a new take on the vampire/Dracula legend. So how would I feel about him tackling a well-loved subject such as this?

Pretty much the exact same way I feel about every other one of his films. Eggers never met an hour of story he couldn’t take two hours to tell, and Nosferatu fits that bill perfectly. Good lord was this movie too long by half! Yes, I will give it credit for being visually spectacular; the cinematography and editing are outstanding. But the movie is incredibly slow, I found it boring, and Eggers always makes choices in direct opposition to what I tend to like in films. Obviously, some people like what he does and I understand that art is subjective, but I just do not get him or his filmmaking choices. When the main bad guy of your movie taaaaaalllllllllkssssss liiiiiiiiiiiiike thiiiiiiiiiiissssssss for literally every scene they’re in… man, it’s exhausting.

The performances in the film are terrific, I’ll give you that. Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are all outstanding, so there are parts of the movie that are well made. But I’ll be honest, while watching it, I just couldn’t wait for it to end. I would say it’s Eggers’ best film so far — and I’d mean it — but that’s such a low bar that I don’t know that it means much.

The Bonus Features: 

• Audio commentary by writer/director Robert Eggers
• Extended Cut of the FIlm – This cut adds about four minutes to the film
• Nosferatu: A Modern Masterpiece – A making-of feature
• Three Deleted Scenes

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up: 

I feel like Nosferatu was the best shot Robert Eggers had at making a movie I would like and he failed. I recognize that I’m in a minority when it comes to his films among movie critics and cinema enthusiasts alike, and I’m okay with that. I hope you enjoy this film more than I did, I really do. It’s just not my thing.

September 5 (Blu-ray + Digital)

The Movie: 

Based on the true events of September 5th, 1972, in which terrorists took the Israeli Olympic team hostage at the Berlin Olympics, September 5 is a riveting drama/thriller that expertly blends genres.

The film takes place almost entirely in the studio of ABC’s Berlin station as they cover the Olympics for American audiences. When a group of terrorists assault the Olympic village in an effort to get political prisoners released by the Israeli government, the ABC crew continues to broadcast live to the entire world. How they did that — and what decisions they had to make while doing so — is what’s so expertly captured here. We see the producers and cameramen as they try to capture footage, stay on top of what’s happening amidst conflicting reports, and deal with tensions amongst themselves… all while 900 million people around the world are watching.

One thing the film does exceptionally well is utilize real footage of ABC anchor Jim McKay from the actual day in the movie. While it’s mostly seen on monitors in the studio, we hear a lot of the actual broadcast and it gives the film a real sense of authenticity in what exactly what was said live on the air over 50 years ago.

The cast features Peter Sarsgard, Ben Chaplin, John Magaro, and Leonie Besch, all of whom are excellent, but it’s Magaro who steals the show as a young and unproven director who finds himself in charge of the most important live event that’s aired to that point. It all comes together to tell a fascinating story from a new perspective and it will keep you glued to the screen from the first minute to the last.

The Bonus Features: 

Usually, I try not to give studios too much grief for not including extra features, but the fact that that there isn’t a single solitary bonus feature here is a huge disappointment. Maybe a featurette about using the real footage or how they recreated the look of 1972? But at the very least, there wasn’t even a single existing documentary on the events of that day that could have been included to get a sense of the bigger picture? What a disappointment.

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up:

September 5 is an excellent film about a subject matter that will not be familiar to many people who weren’t born yet when this all occurred. I highly recommend checking it out for a truly terrific viewing experience.

Panic Room (4K Ultra HD Steelbook + Blu-ray + Digital)

The Movie: 

David Fincher is one of my absolute favorite directors, and after a rocky start to his movie career with Alien 3, he hit a home run with Seven before directing the incredibly underrated thriller The Game with Michael Douglas. But his next film reinvigorated audiences as he crafted a taut, lean thriller with a simple premise and deceptively inventive visuals: Panic Room. Not surprisingly, it went on to become a box office smash.

The film’s story is pretty simple: a mom and her diabetic daughter are trapped in the panic room of their new luxury apartment when a trio of thieves break in. The problem? What the thieves want is inside the panic room. It’s such a simple concept yet such an effective one, and Fincher takes what could have become boring — with it being set in one location for the entire movie — and instead infuses it with so much energy and tension that it’s an undeniable thrill ride.

What sets the film apart is the fact that the “townstone” it takes place in (that’s a combination of townhouse and brownstone, FYI) is its own character in the film. Fincher utilizes a combination of inventive cinematography and visual effects to take us inside the inner workings of the house in creative ways, with camera movements that swoop through walls and between floors; it really keeps things moving. Also excellent is the cast, which includes Jodie Foster, a young Kristen Stewart, Jared Leto, Forest Whittaker, and a surprisingly menacing Dwight Yoakam. Basically, everything in this movie comes together perfectly.

This week, Panic Room is released on 4K Ultra HD in a sharp Steelbook case which makes a nice addition to any Fincher fan’s collection.

The 4K Video/Audio:

So, I don’t LOVE the way the movie looks here, but I blame literally zero percent of that on the transfer. I think this new 4K master sees the film look exactly the way David Fincher wants it to look. I know from things I’ve read online that he’s done some minor tinkering with lights and color and some visual effects, so the film often looks like it takes place in the world of The Matrix, with a lot of heavily green tint to the proceedings. Again, though, I think that’s exactly what Fincher wants, not a fault with the transfer. The imagery is as crisp and clean as you could imagine, with nary a hint of AI-generated DNR to give anyone a waxy look on close-up. The surround soundtrack is a marvelous effort; even though the film has long sequences of tense silence or minimal sound, it also has big bursts of action and dialogue, and everything sounds dynamic and alive. This is a top-notch A/V presentation that truly represents the director’s vision.

The Bonus Features: 

While almost all of the bonus features are archival and come from previous releases, the number of features included is still staggering. They’re largely broken up into pre-visualization, shooting, and post-production, but I’ve summarized them a bit here.

• Three Audio Commentaries – One with Fincher, one with Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, and Dwight Yoakam, and one with screenwriter David Koepp.
• Shooting Panic Room – An hour-long making-of documentary focusing on the shooting of the film.
• Over 35 Featurettes – On revisualization, digital effects, the score, and much, much more

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up:

It had been a while since I’d seen Panic Room before I sat down to rewatch this 4K release, and while I knew I liked the film, I had honestly forgotten just how great it is. This is an outstanding release in every way and it’s a perfect example of why physical media is still so important.

The Social Network (4K Ultra HD Steelbook + Blu-ray + Digital)

The Movie: 

Sony isn’t messing around this week, giving us not one but two 4K Ultra HD Steelbook releases of David Fincher films. One of the things I love about Fincher is how he isn’t afraid to move out of his comfort zone. Up until 2010, he had largely trafficked in the world of thrillers, but then he decided — seemingly out of nowhere — to make a biopic of sorts of Facebook’s founder Marc Zuckerberg: The Social Network.

To be fair, the film is less a biopic than a based-on-real-events drama; it tells the story of Marc Zuckerberg’s creation of and the rise of Facebook, yes, but it also focuses on Zuckerberg and his relationship with the Winklevoss twins and how Zuckerberg might have stolen Facebook from them. It’s not just a whitewashed profile of a controversial figure, oh no; it presents its version of what happened and allows you to draw your own conclusions about Zuckerberg, portrayed here masterfully by Jesse Eisenberg.

While The Social Network isn’t my favorite of Fincher’s movies, that’s more just because he has so many modern masterpieces that a dramatized documentary just isn’t going to compare to them. But it’s still an outstanding movie that — much like Panic Room above — I had forgotten just how good it was until I sat down to rewatch it.

The 4K Video/Audio:

Sony has done a nice job of bringing The Social Network to 4K Ultra HD, with a transfer that results in the film looking the best I can say I’ve seen it on home video. Of course, the film looked pretty great to begin with, but close-ups especially are nicely clean and clear. The colors do feature that Fincher-ish look, but they seem to have gotten a new lifelike look on 4K. The soundtrack isn’t an especially overdone affair, but you get clean and clear dialogue with no crackle or hiss, and the music comes through sounding full and effective. During the more active scenes, the surrounds become much more well-utilized, and the low end bass hums when it needs to. Overall, it’s a very strong effort for a great film.

The Bonus Features: 

• Audio Commentary with David Fincher
• Audio Commentary with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and the cast
• How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?
• David Fincher and Jeff Cronenweth on the Visuals
• Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter and Ren Klyce on Post
• Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and David Fincher on the Score
• Swarmatron
• In the Hall of the Mountain King: Reznor’s First Draft
• Ruby Skye VIP Room: Multi-Angle Scene Breakdown

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up:

While The Social Network might have been Fincher’s first non-thriller, it’s also not hard to make a case that the story is told in such a way — and has so many natural twists and turns — that there is something very thriller-like about it. However you classify it, it’s a terrific movie with an excellent new home video release.

Constantine (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

The Movie: 

As any comic book reader will tell you, Keanu Reeves was absolutely the last person on the planet who should have been cast as John Constantine. A world-weary, alcoholic, and very blonde (and extremely British) magician, there are a ton of actors who would have been more in line with what the character is supposed to be. But Francis Lawrence’s Constantine isn’t concerned with what the character is supposed to be, and while that might have pissed off a lot of die-hard comic book fans, it still, somehow… works. And it works well.

Constantine sees the now dark haired and very American John Constantine getting caught up in a confluence of events that includes a police detective’s sister killing herself, a relic of incredible power coming to light, and his own terminal lung cancer. Oh yeah, and no small amount of angels, demons, and halfway in-betweens as well. With a mix of hard-boiled detective story, occult horror film, and action flick flavors, it’s a genre mash-up that is way more fun than it has any right to be.

This week, Constantine makes its 4K Ultra HD debut from Warner Home Video and it’s a great way to revisit the film.

The 4K Video/Audio:

Constantine looks and sounds quite good on 4K Ultra HD. The color saturation is quite vibrant when it needs to be (although large parts of the film feature a very stylized color palette). Image clarity is razor sharp, and shadow delineation is very strong, so there’s little to complain about. The surround soundtrack has constant activity to work with, and it does a great job of giving your speakers a full workout.

The Bonus Features: 

• Audio Commentary with Francis Lawrence and Akiva Goldsman
• Audio Commentary with Kevin Brodbin and Frank A. Cappello
• NEW Two Decades of Damnation (15 minutes) – Keanu Reeves and Francis Lawrence reunite to discuss the film. Cool!
• 14 Making-of Featurettes – These featurettes look at every aspect of  making the film and run a total of about 95 minutes. Nice!
• Deleted Scenes
• Alternate Ending

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up:

At this point, while I wouldn’t call Constantine one of my favorite movies, it is one I rewatch every few years because I really enjoy it. This new 4K Ultra HD release is a terrific way to add the film to your collection.

Inside Out 2 Soundtrack (Vinyl Soundtrack)

The Album: 

Over the last year or so, I’ve really discovered a love for original soundtracks. And I don’t mean the collections of songs that populate a film; no, I mean the original orchestral scores that have a devoted fan base in the music collecting world. As someone who has only recently become enamored with the idea of classical music, I’ve struggled to find classical music I like, until I rediscovered original scores.

This week, Made By Mutant brings us a physical media release of the Inside Out 2 soundtrack, exclusively on vinyl and wrapped up in gorgeous packaging. (It’s available on their website, madebymutant.com). It’s a two-LP release that also includes two exclusive pieces of music that are only available on the physical release: Sense of Self Theme (Strings Version) and Sense of Self Theme (Solo Piano).

Andrea Datzman’s score is masterful, too. So many soundtracks I’ve listened too are for action and horror movies, and so of course they are often very intense and very dark, which doesn’t always make for he most relaxing listening experience. Inside Out 2 has its moments where the action picks up, of course, but the soundtrack is much more character driven, with lighter themes and a lot more whimsy and humor throughout the music. It’s a refreshing change of pace and I really enjoy it.

The Specs: 

This limited edition physical media release is pressed on 2x140gm color vinyl, housed in a gatefold die-cut sleeve featuring artwork by Nicole Gustafsson, and features liner notes by composer Andrea Datzman. There are 29 tracks of music on two vinyl LPs.

The Wrap Up:

Obviously, original score albums have a bit of niche audience, but I know that soundtrack fans are a die-hard bunch and many of them still collect the albums on physical media. If you are one of us, don’t sleep on this outstanding vinyl double album.

Legend of the Eight Samurai (Blu-ray)

The Movie: 

I’ve watched a lot of Asian cinema in my reviewing days, and while I’m by no means an expert, I think I at least have a pretty good understanding of and appreciation for the genre. One thing that’s always stood out to me is the lack of really, truly 1980s Asian cinema. And when I say that, I mean “1980s” as an adjective, not just as a decade. Like, I’ve seen tons of 1970s Asian action when the genre was all about aping the style of Bruce lee and trying to find his successor. And there’s no shortage of 90s Asian action which is all about being gritty and dark. And yes, there were some ‘80s tropes in the actual 1980s like buddy cop movies and Rambo-style actioners. But where were all the weird and wacky and fantastical B-movies? The Beastmasters and Big Trouble in Little Chinas and Krulls and Clashes of the Titans?

Well, it turns out they were being made, but it seems like the home video realms that have shaped my genre knowledge have largely passed them over. Which brings us to Legend of the 8 Samurai, a thoroughly ‘80s flick from director Kinji Fukasaku, most well-known for his adaptation of Battle Royale that would go on to influence everything from The Hunger Games to Squid Game.

Legend of the 8 Samurai, now available on Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment, sees a young princess whose family has been killed by an undead clan of mystical warriors join up with a group of legendary samurai who possess the power to break the curse on her family. With shades of the fellowship in the Lord of the Rings, this band of adventurers face all kinds of mayhem and magic on their way to saving the realm. It’s over the top and fun and weird, in all the best ways of the 1980s.

The Bonus Features: 

This new Blu-ray edition is limited to just 2000 copies and does include some cool bonus features:

• New Audio Commentary by Japanese cinema expert Joe Hickinbottom
• Always Looking for the New – Interview with Kinji Fukasaku’s son, filmmaker Kenta Fukasaku (25 minutes)
• The Trials of the Eight Samurai – Video essay by film historian and critic Stuart Galbraith IV (16 minutes)
• Japanese trailer
• Limited collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by Tom Mes, co-founder of Midnight Eye

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up:

I’m sure there were lots of these kinds of movies made in China and Japan in the 1980s, but I’ve seen relatively few of them released on home video (or at least that I’ve received review copies of). Hopefully this terrific release of Legend of the 8 Samurai will just be the beginning of more fun releases of this kind.

100 Yards (Blu-ray)

The Movie: 

What do you say when a martial arts action film features incredibly well-executed fight sequences… but everything else in the film is completely off-putting? I don’t know either, but I guess we’re about to find out.

100 Yards takes place in roughly the 1920s, as China was exiting the last of its dynasties and moving into the more modern world. The leader of a martial arts school is dying and he passes leadership of the school on to his hand-chosen successor instead of his actual son, which naturally sparks a battle for supremacy between the two. Okay, so the story its nothing groundbreaking, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be in a movie like this. So where does it all go wrong?

First off, the visual look of the film. Yes, the fight scenes are top notch, there’s no denying that. But the entire film looks like it was shot on a green-screened soundstage, meaning that it looks artificial from the very first scene and never changes. There’s no point in the film where it feels like you’re actually in the time or place the film is set in, and it is, frankly, quite distracting. The characters are also paper thin — I didn’t even know who to root for — and the acting isn’t strong enough to overcome that. Ultimately I enjoyed the fights but didn’t care about a single other thing in the film.

The Bonus Features: 

• Making-of Documentary (30 minutes)
• Trailer

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up:

100 Yards is far from the worst Asian action film I’ve seen but it’s far from the best as well. It just feels artificially constructed from the top to the bottom in a way that doesn’t do the movie any favors. Worth a watch if you’re desperate for some good fight scenes, but beyond that it doesn’t offer much.