For the week of April 4th, Paramount Home Media Distribution will release Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's Scream (2022), starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid and Mikey Madison. The fifth entry in the Scream franchise came to theaters over a decade after the previous entry, but enthusiasm for more Ghostface was hardly dampened by the passage of time. Scream (2022) opened in January as the first major release of the year and managed to knock Sony's Spider-Man: No Way Home off the top of the box office, with over $30 million on its opening weekend, on its way to over $81 million domestically and over $140 million globally so far. Paramount's home video releases include DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio, with Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K UHD disc. Extras include filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes, behind the scenes and more. In addition to standard packaging, both a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Walmart Exclusive with Poster will also be available.
Also coming from Paramount this week are Blu-rays for Joe Pytka's Let It Ride (1989) and Michael Hoffman's Soapdish (1991). Both releases come with behind the scenes featurettes and theatrical trailers as extras.
Also new this week, from Walt Disney Home Entertainment and 20th Century Studios comes Kenneth Branagh's Death on the Nile (2022), starring Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branagh, Russell Brand, and Ali Fazal. Filmed in 2019, Branagh's follow up to his version of Murder on the Orient Express (2017) was re-scheduled several times, initially because of delays in post-production, and then because of the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Eventually the film was released theatrically in February 2022, where it topped the box office on its opening weekend, on its way to a domestic total of over $45 million and a global haul of over $134 million so far. As with its predecessor, critical reception was mixed, but a third film is reported to be in development. Disney's 4K UHD disc contains the film's Dolby Atmos audio, while the included Blu-ray features several deleted scenes and four featurettes as extras.
Next this week, we have two new releases on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. First is Clint Bentley's Jockey, starring Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, and Moisés Arias.
Studio description: An aging jockey (Clifton Collins Jr.), hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer (Molly Parker), who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse. But the years – and injuries – have taken a toll on his body, throwing into question his ability to continue his lifelong passion. And the arrival of a young rookie rider (Moises Arias), who claims to be his son, and whom he takes under his wing, further complicates the path to fulfilling his dream.
Sony's Blu-ray for Jockey contains deleted scenes and a trailer as extras.
Then from Sony is a Blu-ray for Pedro Almodóvar's Parallel Mothers (Madres paralelas), starring Penélope Cruz, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Milena Smit, Rossy de Palma, and Julieta Serrano.
Studio synopsis: Two women, Janis and Ana, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn't regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way.
New this week from RLJE Films is a Blu-ray for Cody Calahan's Vicious Fun, starring Evan Marsh, Amber Goldfarb, and David Koechner.
Official description: In VICIOUS FUN, Joel is a caustic film critic for a national horror magazine who unwittingly finds himself trapped in a self-help group for serial killers. With no other choice, he attempts to blend in with his homicidal surroundings or risk becoming the next victim. "Bloody, heartfelt, and hilarious, VICIOUS FUN is one of the best horror comedies in years" (Dread Central).
RLJE Films' Blu-ray for Vicious Fun contains extras such as a filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes and alternate takes, a blooper reel and more.
Coming to Blu-ray from Well Go USA is Rich Ragsdale's The Long Night (AKA The Coven), starring Scout Taylor-Compton, Nolan Gerard Funk, Jeff Fahey, and Deborah Kara Unger.
Description: While searching for the parents she's never known, New York transplant Grace (Scout Taylor-Compton) returns to her childhood southern stomping grounds with her boyfriend (Nolan Gerard Funk) to investigate a promising lead on her family's whereabouts. Upon arrival, the couple's weekend takes a bizarre, terrifying turn as a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader terrorize the pair en route to fulfilling a twisted ancient apocalyptic prophecy.
Well Go USA's Blu-ray for The Long Night contains an audio commentary, a short film, three featurettes and a trailer. Reviewer Jeffrey Kauffman was impressed with the disc's DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track. For a full disc breakdown, read Jeffrey's Blu-ray review.
Finally this week, Lionsgate Home Entertainment has a Blu-ray for Michael Feifer's Desperate Riders, starring Tom Berenger. Trace Adkins, Drew Waters, Vanessa Evigan, and Sam Ashby.
Description: In this Western starring Tom Berenger and Trace Adkins, the action begins as Kansas Red (Drew Waters, "True Detective") rescues young Billy from a card-game shootout. The boy asks Red for help protecting his family from the outlaw Thorn (Adkins), who's just kidnapped Billy's mother, Carol. As Red and Billy ride off to rescue Carol, they run into beautiful, tough-as-nails Leslie, who's managed to escape Thorn's men. The three race to stop Thorn's wedding to Carol with guns a-blazing — but does she want to be rescued?
The only extra included on Lionsgate's Blu-ray of Desperate Riders is the film's trailer. For a full disc breakdown, read Jeffrey Kauffman's Blu-ray review.