Stranger on the Third Floor – Warner Archive (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1940
Director: Boris Ingster
Writers: Frank Partos, Nathanael West
Cast: Peter Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet, Charles Waldron, Elisha Cook Jr., Charles Halton, Ethel Griffies

Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 64 Minutes 14 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $27.98

"Peter Lorre plays the eerie title role in this once-neglected gem about a reporter (John McGuire) whose testimony sentences a small-time loser (Elisha Cook, Jr.) to the electric chair for murder. When the reporter himself is fingered in a second murder, he realizes both crimes are the work of a furtive stranger—but will anyone believe him?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "New 4K restoration from the original camera negative."

Stranger on the Third Floor comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.1 GB

Feature: 17.1 GB

Sourced from a brand new 4K restoration, this transfer is a massive improvement over this film’s previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced; ambient sounds and the score are well represented. 

Extras:

Extras for this release include two Looney Tunes cartoons; Ceiling Hero (8 minutes 49 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles) and Wacky Wildfire (7 minutes 40 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), and three radio show episodes starring Peter Lorre: Beyond Good and Evil (28 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Crime and Punishment (25 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), and The Mask of Medusa (29 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles).

Summary:

A newspaper reporter whose testimony is used to convict a man. He finds himself at the center of another murder. In which he is the lead suspect.

The film shows neither of the two murders on screen, deriving all the suspense from a psychological angle. Plot-wise, everything moves along briskly from one revelation to the next. Visually, Stranger on the Third Floor is a precursor to the style that would later become synonymous with the film noir genre. The cinematographer on Stranger on the Third Floor was Nicholas Musuraca, who would employ a similar visual style in other films he worked on, like Cat People, The Spiral Staircase, and Out of the Past.

The most memorable moment is a Salvador Dalí-like nightmare sequence. The protagonist, a newspaper reporter, lets his imagination run wild. Earlier that evening, he encountered a mysterious man lurking in the hallway outside his room. He fears that this man may have killed his neighbor, with whom he had previously had several arguments. His inability to decide what action to take traces back to earlier in the narrative, where he witnessed another murder. His testimony led to a man's conviction. Furthermore, he worries that his previous arguments with the deceased could lead to his own arrest.

The real backbone of this film is its cast; they are all excellent in their respective roles. Elisha Cook Jr. (The Killing) plays the man convicted based on the testimony of newspaper reporters, while Peter Lorre (Mad Love) portrays the mysterious stranger. Peter Lorre’s role was specifically designed for him, incorporating his unique physical attributes into his character. Reportedly, Peter Lorre had two days on his contract with RKO Pictures. Although his role is merely a cameo, he still received star billing. Fortunately, Peter Lorre makes the most of his limited screen time with a convincingly creepy performance. Ultimately, Stranger on the Third Floor is an exemplary thriller that exceeds the sum of its parts.

Warner Archive gives Stranger on the Third Floor an excellent release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a trio of radio episodes starring Peter Lorre. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Rockers: 2-Disc Collector's Edition – MVD Rewind Collection (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Jamaica, 1978
Director: Ted Bafaloukos
Writer: Ted Bafaloukos
Cast: Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace, Richard 'Dirty Harry' Hall, Monica Craig, Marjorie Norman, Jacob Miller

Release Date: February 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 99 Minutes 17 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $49.95

"In the heart of Kingston's music scene, reggae drummer Horsemouth (Leroy Wallace) dreams of making it big by distributing records on his brand-new motorcycle. But when the bike is stolen, Horsemouth rallies a group of legendary musicians to track it down and take on the corrupt elite exploiting their community." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (4K UHD), 4.25/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2025 4K (2160p) restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, HDR presentation in 1.78:1 aspect ratio."

Rockers comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 60.4 GB

Feature: 59.9 GB

Outside of some very minor print debris, the bulk of the source looks excellent. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are solid, there are no issues with compression and the image retains an organic look.

Rockers comes on a 50 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.4 GB

Feature: 24.6 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 5/5 (LPCM Mono English), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in English and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and the music sounds appropriately robust. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Note: "When we first announced the MVD Rewind Collection's Rockers 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release, the list of bonus features included “Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Ted Bafaloukos.” This was based on our understanding that a full commentary track existed, as a commentary feature was listed on the 2005 DVD, and our intention was to carry over all available archival supplements.

After taking a closer look, we learned that this material is not a full-length audio commentary but instead a short, select-scene commentary. Once this became clear, we requested that the packaging be updated in August 2025 to remove the reference to a full commentary. Unfortunately, due to a production oversight, the incorrect information still appeared on the final printed packaging. To be clear, all previously available bonus materials were properly carried over to the new 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray editions. However, these releases do not include a full audio commentary with Ted Bafaloukos."

There are no extras on the 4K UHD disc.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a poster gallery with radio spots, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), WEA Rockers music video (4 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Waiting for the Bus music video (2 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Ted Bafaloukos (22 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with producer Patrick Hulsey (5 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a scene select audio commentary with Ted Bafaloukos (16 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a documentary titled Jah No Dead: The Making of Rockers, featuring interviews with Eugenie Bafaloukos, Todd Kasow, Kiddus I, Eddie Marritz (119 minutes 37 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English SDH).

Other extras include trailers for Mondo New York, Tunnel Vision, and Joysticks, reversible cover art, a collectible “4K LaserVision” mini-poster of cover art; and a slipcover (first pressing only).

Summary:

A reggae musician named Horsemouth, who plays drums in a local band, has his motorcycle stolen by a gang that sells what they steal to a wealthy businessman. When Horsemouth and his friends help him steal his motorcycle back, the gang retaliates and gives him a vicious beating. Horsemouth and his friends are determined to put the gang and their boss out of business, so they empty their homes and warehouse of stolen goods and give them to those in need.

What originally began as a documentary about Jamaican music and Rastafari culture evolved into the narrative feature film. The narrative features a blend of musical moments and limited exposition to drive the story forward. That said, despite its lack of depth in character development, the narrative does an excellent job of building momentum to a very satisfying finale.

The cast is comprised of musicians with no acting experience. Don’t let their lack of experience fool you; there is a rawness to the performances that actually works in the film’s favor. While the cast are likely portraying themselves or variations of themselves, Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace, who plays the protagonist, delivers a noteworthy performance.

Rockers is a textbook example of a film maximizing its resources. The main attraction of Rockers is the reggae music featured throughout, and it blends perfectly with the narrative that unfolds. Shot on location, Rockers takes full advantage of Jamaica’s scenic landscape. Whether you are already a fan of reggae or want to experience something from its golden age, Rockers has you covered.

Rockers gets an excellent release as part of the MVD Rewind Collection. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Hair High: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2004
Director: Bill Plympton
Writer: Bill Plympton
Cast: Eric Gilliland, Sarah Silverman, Dermot Mulroney, Keith Carradine, Michael Showalter, Hayley DuMond, Justin Long, Tom Noonan, Zak Orth, Beverly D'Angelo, Martha Plimpton, Ed Begley Jr., David Carradine, Matt Groening, Don Hertzfeldt

Release Date: April 21st, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 77 Minutes 2 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $30.95

"Legendary animator Bill Plympton's (The Tune, Mutant Aliens) cheerfully unhinged and wildly hormonal tribute to 1950s teen romance opens on star quarterback Rod (voiced by Dermot Mulroney) and head cheerleader Cherri (voiced by Sarah Silverman) as the unchallenged king & queen of Echo Lake High School. Enter scooter-driving Spud (Eric Gilliland) as the bumbling new kid in school, who quickly runs afoul of Rod and Cherri—but will love unexpectedly blossom between the geek and the prom queen?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Hair High comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.2 GB

Feature: 22.4 GB

Vital Passenger delivers a solid encode; the source looks excellent.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio sounds clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include two short films directed by Bill Plympton: Shuteye Hotel (7 minutes 24 seconds, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo, no dialog just screams and sound effects) and Horn Dog (4 minutes 46 seconds, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo, no dialog just barking and sound effects), "Ani-cam"—Timelapse of Bill's animation table as he drew Hair High (6 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo with music from the film playing in the background), a voiceover session with Sarah Silverman (3 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a voiceover session with Ed Begley Jr. (6 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a storyboard-to-voiceover-to-final-edit breakdown of a scene from Hair High (1 minute 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Bill Plympton and composer Maureen McElheron, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile (58 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), footage from the film premiere in Poratoland with Bill Plympton, cast and crew (13 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by film critic Celeste de la Cabra titled Horny High:  Sex, Identity and Animated Anarchy in Hair High (10 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Bill Plympton, and an audio commentary with animation producer and podcaster Adam Rackoff, podcaster and film critic James Hancock, and filmmaker and podcaster Martin Kessler.

Shuteye Hotel: A film noir-infused murder mystery at a hotel where a lot of guests are dying.

Horn Dog: A horny dog tries to impress a female dog he fancies.

Summary:

Bill Plympton directed Hair High. He’s known for The Tune, Mutant Aliens, I Married A Strange Person!, and Idiots and Angels.

Two teens who were in love and died tragically rise from their final resting place out at sea and return to the prom for their revenge.

Whether it's a film about marriage, aliens, or high school, all of Bill Plympton's have one thing in common: an absurdist humor that’s overflowing with innuendo. In Hair High, Bill Plympton places the narrative in a 1950s setting characterized by a gothic horror aesthetic. However, his distinctive drawing style is consistently detached from reality and is instantly recognizable.

Although the main attraction of a Bill Plympton is his distinct style of drawing, when it comes to the voice acting, he’s able to draw notable names. Hair High features his most impressive cast to date: Sarah Silverman (School of Rock), Dermot Mulroney (Young Guns), Keith Carradine (Nashville), Beverly D'Angelo (National Lampoon's Vacation), Martha Plimpton (The Goonies), Ed Begley Jr. (A Mighty Wind), David Carradine (Kill Bill Volume 2), Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers), and Tom Noonan (Manhunter). The voice acting throughout is pitch-perfect, and the cast excels at bringing the characters to life.

Two scenes with a couple on their way to the prom bookend the narrative, which is mostly a lengthy flashback. While sitting in a diner, the owner tells them the story of Cheri and Spud, who died tragically driving off a cliff into the ocean. The narrative remains consistently engaging, successfully building momentum toward its impressive revenge-themed ending. Ultimately, Hair High is easily Bill Plympton, making it a perfect introduction for someone who's never seen one of his films.

Hair High gets an excellent release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two bonus short films, and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of Mutant Aliens that comes in a slipcase and a 60-page book with an essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central) and an essay by longtime Plympton collaborator John Holderried.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Highway to Hell: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Release Date: USA, 1990
Director: Bret McCormick
Writer: Gary Kennamer
Cast: Benton Jennings, Richard Harrison, Blue Thompson

Release Date: March 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 79 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Convicted mass murderer Toby Gilmore has escaped from prison, and the open desert becomes his playground for sadism and destruction. Determined to stop him after failing to execute him years earlier, Officer Earl Dent (Richard Harrison) sets out on a relentless pursuit that turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse. But Gilmore has taken a hostage—Fran Tucker, a young woman caught in the wrong place at the worst possible time. As the chase hurtles across backroads and wastelands, Dent closes in, each mile bringing he and Gilmore closer to an explosive reckoning on the highway to hell." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 1.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "SD master from original tape elements."

Highway to Hell comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.4 GB

Feature: 15 GB (Highway to Hell), 9.9 GB (Redneck County Fever)

There is only so much that can be done with the source, which looks rough. That said, image clarity, and black levels are never convincing, and colors fluctuate.

Audio: 1.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio lacks depth, and it's a positive that there are English subtitles for this release.

Extras:

Extras for Highway to Hell include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/poster/home video art), a Visual Vengeance trailer (1 minute 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Tom Fegan (4 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Gary Kennamer titled Writing A Road Map to Hell (7 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actress Blue Thompson titled Road Trip (12 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Blue Thompson Answers Three Tough Questions (3 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Richard Harrison titled Red Hot Asphalt (1 minute 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Bret McCormick (6 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Bret McCormick.

Other extras include a bonus feature film Redneck County Fever (64 minutes 40 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a Visual Vengeance trailer Redneck County Fever (57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with producer Bret McCormick (6 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Gary Kennamer (12 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary track with Bret McCormick and Gary Kennamer, Visual Vengeance trailers for The Abomination, Ozone: The Attack of the Redneck Mutants, and Reanimator Academy, reversible cover art original poster art, a 'Stick your own' video store sticker sheet, a folded mini-poster, and a limited-edition O-Card slipcover (first pressing only).

Summary:

Highway to Hell: Bret McCormick directed Highway to Hell, who's known for low-budget cinema like The Abomination and Repligator.

A mass murderer escapes from prison and unleashes carnage on the highway.

It’s not a coincidence that Highway to Hell and Redneck County Fever are paired together for this release since their genesis came about from a phone call that Bret McCormick had with David DeCoteau. After finishing two films, Bret McCormick sought more work and secured two projects with David DeCoteau, provided he could meet two specific goals: to produce them at an extremely low cost and to adhere to their established premises. Bret McCormick would only direct Highway to Hell, passing on the directing responsibilities to Gary Kennamer for Redneck County Fever.

Highway to Hell is a film that understood its limitations. Working with an anemic budget, resources were minimized by doing two things: having as many scenes as possible with people driving cars and having moments with the police discussing what’s happening while sitting behind a desk. While there are occasional moments of carnage (nothing gory), most of the narrative is dialogue-driven.

It’s too easy to take shots at the performances of films like Highway to Hell. Instead, I want to pose the question of how someone like Richard Harrison (Challenge of the Tiger) found himself in a film like Highway to Hell. That said, Benton Jennings, who portrays the escaped mass murderer, does deliver a highly entertaining performance. Ultimately, Highway to Hell moves slowly and never manages to gain any momentum, making it a grueling chore to get through.

Redneck County Fever: Two stereotypical stoner dudes find themselves in a predicament when their car breaks down in a rural area known for its redneck culture. They decide to transport drugs in hopes of making quick cash to repair their vehicle.

Redneck County Fever is best described as Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure set in Hazard County. The acting is atrocious and although things are played for laughs, don’t expect to laugh. Despite its short running time, it feels twice as long. Ultimately, Redneck County Fever is puzzling; one must question who the intended audience for such a film could possibly be.

Visual Vengeance continues to rescue cinema from obscurity and give them Criterion-like home media releases.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Big Boobs Buster – Whole Grain Pictures (Blu-ray)

Release Date: Japan, 1990
Director: Hisashi Watanabe
Writers: Hisashi Watanabe, Kôichirô Yasunaga
Cast: Harumi Kai, Tôru Minegishi, Aya Katsuragi, Mariko Itsuki, Marina Matsumoto, Masakazu Arai, Natsuko Kayama, Asako Sakura, Hideyo Amamoto, Minori Yoshinaga, Uran Hirosaki

Release Date: March 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 48 Minutes 37 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Stereo Japanese, LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"High school girl Masako can only think about her crush, Bando. But when she finally confesses love, he turns her down flat... for being flat! This sends Masako into a wild spiral, one that leads her to become a superhero: the Big Boobs Buster! As such, she will pursue those lucky, evil, big-boobed girls to the ends of the Earth. She catches them, pins them down, and casts their boobs in resin, each boob mold a trophy of triumph for A-cups of the world!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Big Boobs Buster comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray. 

Disc Size: 18.7 GB

Feature: 11.7 GB

The source looks excellent; the flesh tones look healthy, the colors are nicely saturated, the image clarity and compression are solid, the black levels are strong, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 5/5 (LPCM Stereo Japanese), 4.5/5 (LPCM Stereo English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM stereo mix in Japanese and a LPCM stereo mix in English. While both audio tracks sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should, the Japanese language track is the clear winner. Included are removable English subtitles for the Japanese language track and removable English subtitles for songs and text in Japanese when watching the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a vintage English-language trailer (1 minute 2 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English, no subtitles), a U.S. Blu-ray release trailer (1 minute 12 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), Let in Shine; Big Boobs Buster! The Funniest Bloopers (12 minutes 20 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles or LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and a collection of trailers for titles also available from MediaOCD.

Summary:

A girl seeks revenge against all of the big-breasted girls at her school when the boy she likes rejects her because she’s flat-chested.

Big Boobs Buster is an action/comedy hybrid film that was adapted from Kōichirō Yasunaga's (he's most known for Prefectural Earth Defense Force) manga of the same name. Although the humor veers heavily into the absurd and is accentuated with exaggeration, there is actually a message behind Big Boobs Buster; it is a film about body positivity.

The narrative revolves around Masako, a girl who has everything except the one thing, large breasts. Jealous of the attention that well-endowed girls receive, Masako creates a group called Big Boobs Busters and designs a ridiculous-looking outfit for her alter ego. While her initial goal was to eliminate any competition for the boy she loved, by the time he finally showed interest, she had gained confidence and moved on.

At just under 49 minutes in length, the narrative has no throwaway moments and moves briskly. The narrative features a considerable amount of exposed breasts, and the humor consistently lands effectively. There is a running gag in which the girls for whom she makes life casts—specifically, the big-breasted girls—become aroused by her touch. Ultimately, Big Boobs Buster focuses on having fun, and it certainly delivers in that aspect and more.

Big Boobs Buster gets a solid release from Whole Grain Pictures. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer