Warm Water Under a Red Bridge: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 2001
Director: Shōhei Imamura
Writers: Shōhei Imamura, Daisuke Tengan, Motofumi Tomikawa
Cast: Kōji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Mitsuko Baisho, Mansaku Fuwa, Isao Natsuyagi, Yukiya Kitamura, Hijiri Kojima

Release Date: June 22nd, 2026 (UK)
Approximate Running Time: 119 Minutes 21 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Stereo Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"When a dying friend tells out-of-work salaryman Yosuke (Koji Yakusho, Perfect Days) about a hidden treasure, he sets off in search of the only clue about its location: a house by a red bridge. What he finds instead is a woman who transcends all his fantasies." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “Warm Water Under a Red Bridge was transferred in high-definition by Nikkatsu Corporation and supplied to Radiance Films as a high-definition digital file.”

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.2 GB

Feature: 34.9 GB

The thing that immediately grabbed me while watching this transfer is how much of a stronger encode it is compared to Film Movements' 2025 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), a theatrical teaser trailer directed by Takashi Miike, with newly filmed intro (4 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival Making of documentary shot on location (22 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival discussion between Shohei Imamura and Takashi Miike that originally aired on Japanese TV (22 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Daisuke Tengan (21 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, a removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings; and a 20-page booklet (limited to 3,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Water is Life written by Bastian Meiresonne, and information about the transfer. The Takashi Miike introduction can also be played before the main feature.

Summary:

Shôhei Imamura directed Warm Water Under a Red Bridge. He’s known for Pigs and Battleships, The Insect Woman, Intentions of Murder, The Pornographers, Vengeance Is Mine, The Ballad of Narayama, Zegen, and Black Rain.

A salaryman visiting a seaside town falls in love with a woman who has a most unusual way of climaxing during sex.

Although Warm Water Under a Red Bridge begins as a story about a man searching for an object hidden in a house by someone he knew, it evolves into a romantic comedy about characters searching for meaning in their lives. That said, its premise does a superb job drawing you in, and its well-crafted narrative effectively builds momentum.

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is a film infused with magical realism and social commentary. Themes explored include alienation, male sexuality and the fear of impotency, and a celebration of female ecstasy. Despite its salacious premise, Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is actually a heartfelt exploration of the human condition. Although the moments where Saeko is climaxing are striking, ultimately it is the non-sexual moments between her character and Yosuke that drive the narrative.

All around, the cast are excellent in their roles; the secondary characters are mostly quirky characters who provide some humor. That said, it is the two leads, Kōji Yakusho (Cure) in the role of Yosuke Sasano and Misa Shimizu (the eel), who shine the brightest. Their performances are nuanced, and they have an incredible amount of on-screen chemistry.

The narrative moves at a deliberate pace that allows characters' stories to flesh out and key moments to resonate. The last 20 minutes offer up a superbly executed twist and a dramatic tonal shift; things become violent and darker. The film culminates in a cathartic finale where the two leads reveal truths from their pasts, thereby exposing old wounds. Not to be overlooked when discussing Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is its use of odd sounds, which enhances the mood in a way a more traditional score would not. Ultimately, Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is an exemplary blend of melodrama, fantasy, and humor that serves as a perfect coda for Shōhei Imamura, a filmmaker who constantly challenged boundaries.

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge gets a solid release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Vengeance Is Mine - The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1979
Director: Shōhei Imamura
Writers: Masaru Baba, Shunsaku Ikehata
Cast: Ken Ogata, Mayumi Ogawa, Rentarō Mikuni, Mitsuko Baisho

Release Date: August 26th, 2014|
Approximate Running Time: 140 Minutes 45 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"A thief, a murderer, and a charming lady-killer, Iwao Enokizu (Ken Ogata) is on the run from the police. Director Shohei Imamura turns this fact-based story—about the seventy-eight-day killing spree of a remorseless man from a devoutly Catholic family—into a cold, perverse, and at times diabolically funny examination of the primitive coexisting with the modern." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This high-definition digital transfer was created on a Spirit 2K Datacine from a new 35mm low-contrast print made from the original camera negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTI's DRS and Pixel Farm's PFClean."

Vengeance Is Mine comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.4 GB

Feature: 38.6 GB

For a release that is 12 years old, this transfer holds up really well. Flesh tones and colors look correct; contrast, black levels, and image clarity are solid, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The track sounds excellent, the dialogue is always clear, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical teaser (3 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), excerpts from a 1999 interview with director Shohei Imamura, produced by the Directors Guild of Japan (10 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with film critic Tony Rayns, and a 34-page booklet with cast & crew information, a writing by Shōhei Imamura titled On Vengeance Is Mine, an essay titled Civilization and Its Discontents written by Michael Atkinson, an archival interview with Shōhei Imamura titled To and From Fiction conducted by Toichi Nakata, a writing by Shōhei Imamura titled My Approach to Filmmaking, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Shôhei Imamura directed Vengeance Is Mine. He’s known for Pigs and Battleships, The Insect Woman, Intentions of Murder, The Pornographers, The Ballad of Narayama, Zegen, Black Rain, The Eel, and Warm Water Under a Red Bridge.

A con man and murderer named Iwao Enokizu evades capture by outsmarting the police for 78 days.

By the mid-1960s Shôhei Imamura would form his own production company after working for Nikkatsu Corporation for a decade. While Shôhei Imamura made a trio of films in the later half of the 1960s, he would only make documentaries in the decade following Profound Desires of the Gods. This brings us to Vengeance Is Mine, a film that fuses Shôhei Imamura's earlier cinema with his documentaries.

Vengeance Is Mine is based on the actual events of the 78-day manhunt to catch Iwo Enixum. Shōhei Imamura for Vengeance Is Mine employs a documentary style that enhances the realism of the event being depicted. Throughout Vengeance Is Mine, there is text that appears onscreen laying out dates and information about the victims. While the narrative begins with the killer's capture, from there it shifts to a non-linear structure that mostly takes place in the past. That said, once the story settles in and all of the main characters have been introduced, the non-linear structure becomes a nonfactor since the story is so overpowering.

Ken Ogata (The Demon) gives the performance of his career as Iwao Enokizu. Throughout, Iwao Enokizu takes on various personalities, many fashioned from his victims, and Ken Ogata’s ability to shift between these personas is extraordinary. Another area where his performance excels is how he often restrains any emotion and comes off as a blank slate. Another performance of note is Mitsuko Baisho’s (Hitokiri) portrayal of Iwao Enokizu’s wife, who becomes entangled in an affair with Iwao’s father.

Vengeance Is Mine is much more than a story about a killer; it's a film that explores themes of nihilism, voyeurism, jealousy, and religion. Vengeance Is Mine, like all of the cinema of Shōhei Imamura, requires one to dig deeper and look beyond the surface. While there are many moments of violence that occur onscreen, the most jarring of these moments is a scene where the killer's wife and father boil a dog to death; fortunately, the dog is only heard and never seen. That said, there is a rawness to the killings that enhance their authenticity. Ultimately, Vengeance Is Mine is an exemplary crime drama where the darkest sides of the human condition are on full display.

Vengeance Is Mine gets an excellent release from The Criterion Collection that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Killers on Wheels – Vinegar Syndrome Archive (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1976
Director: Kuei Chih-Hung
Writer: Sze-To On
Cast: Ling Yun, Terry Liu, Danny Lee, San Chiang, Wen-Wei Lin, Sung-Ling Li

Release Date: June 3rd, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 103 Minutes 12 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $49.98

"A weekend pleasure trip to an isolated island off Hong Kong turns into hell on wheels (and sand) when a wild, unruly motorcycle gang winds up on the same ferry as Carrie and her guests Mei-Chuan and Chien-Chung. Landing on the island, where Carrie's boyfriend Sze Wei welcomes them to his father's lush waterfront villa, the bikers then commence to party, carouse, and race their Yamahas on the beach. Once a few of them hassle Carrie, and Sze Wei confronts them with a harpoon gun, inevitable tensions start to boil. With any police a day or so away, vandalism and cruel pranks soon turn into violent retribution, and suddenly, far worse. Who'll remain alive when all the dust settles?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “Killers on Wheels has been newly restored from its original 35mm camera negative. Due to poor storage conditions, the negative suffered severe moisture damage. Although extensive restoration efforts were undertaken to remove as much of this damage as possible, much remains.

Also, please note that the opening sequence was never included in the English language version, so if viewing the film with its English soundtrack, this sequence will be presented in Mandarin with English subtitles."

Killers on Wheels comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.3 GB

Feature: 30.1 GB

The above text provides a clear indication of what to expect; there are moments where emulsion stains become prominent. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Mandarin), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both tracks sound clear and balanced. Range-wise, ambient sounds are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin-language track and removable English SDH for the English-language track. The opening sequence is only in Mandarin and it comes with removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (stills/posters), a locations featurette (20 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles), a behind-the-scenes featurette (4 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles), a video essay by author and film historian Samm Deighan titled Killers on Wheels and the Biker Exploitation Film (13 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with martial arts film expert Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, a double-sided folded poster, a spot gloss slipcase edition (limited to 5,000 units), and a 40-page perfect-bound book with an essay titled Born to be Wild in the Hollywood of the East: Chih-Hung Kuei’s Killers on Wheels written by John Charles, an essay titled Pictures from the Revolution written by Walter Chaw, and an essay titled Copaganda: The Evolution of Danny Lee’s Law and Order Persona written by Erica Shultz.

Summary:

Chih-Hung Kuei directed Killers on Wheels. His other notable films include The Lady Professional, The Delinquent, The House of Bamboo Dolls, The Killer Snakes, Virgins of the Seven Seas, Killer Constable, Hex, Bewitched, Corpse Mania, and The Boxer’s Omen.

Two couples' trip to an isolated island off the coast of Hong Kong turns into a weekend of terror when they are targeted by a vicious motorcycle gang.

Beyond their martial arts and horror films, the Shaw Brothers made a variety of down-and-dirty exploitation films. Some of the Shaw Brothers' notable exploitation films are Kiss of Death, The Virgins, The Bamboo House of Dolls, Virgins of the Seven Seas, Mini-Skirt Gang, and Big Bad Sis. This brings us to Killers on Wheels, a delinquent biker gang film that firmly places itself among the Shaw Brothers' best exploitation films.

While the opening setup shows how dangerous and out of control the bikers are, there is little character backstory. Fortunately, although Killers on Wheels lacks in exposition, it compensates with a series of intense moments that escalate and lead to an explosive finale. That said, the narrative moves quickly and there are no issues building momentum.

Danny Lee (City on Fire), who portrays Sze Wei, is the most notable cast member. His character and three others are terrorized by a biker gang. Danny Lee is given the most to work with out of all of the cast and he makes the most of it. When it comes to the performances, they suit the story well, especially those portraying bikers.

Although martial arts takes a back seat to the sleaze and mayhem that unfolds, there is at least one moment where Danny Lee’s character gets to showcase his martial arts fighting skills. That said, there is an abundance of impressive stunt work, most of which involves the bikes doing dangerous things. The Last House on the Left and Straw Dogs are two films that Killers on Wheels could have drawn inspiration from. Ultimately, Killers on Wheels is a solid exploitation film that quickly grabs you and keeps you interested as it builds to a crazy finale that has to be seen to be believed.

Vinegar Syndrome Archive gives Killers on Wheels a first-rate release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Magnificent Bodyguards: Deluxe Limited Edition – 88 Films (3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1978
Director: Lo Wei
Writer: Gu Long
Cast: Jackie Chan, James Tien, Leung Siu-lung (Bruce Liang), Wang Ping, Lau Ming, Lee Man-tai, Luk Chuen, Fang Fang, Ko Keung

Release Date: June 29th, 2026 (UK), June 30th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 103 Minutes 55 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), R (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English, LPCM Mono English With Alternate Music Cues
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £25.00 (UK), $49.95 (USA)

"Jackie Chan leaps out of the screen in Magnificent Bodyguards! As Lord Ting Chung, he commits to leading a team of warriors escorting a gravely ill man across a treacherous land known as Stormy Hills—a place filled with danger, betrayal, and possible death. But as the journey unfolds, could their mysterious charge be hiding a deadly secret?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (All Versions)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negatives."

Magnificent Bodyguards 3D version comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.6 GB

Feature: 37.8 GB

Magnificent Bodyguards, the 2D version, comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.2 GB

Feature: 34.4 GB

Magnificent Bodyguards, an anaglyph 3D version, comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39.9 GB

Feature: 33.1 GB

The source is clean, free of any imperfections; it's easily the best it's looked on home media. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression. That said, while watching the 2D version, the moments that do not use 3D look considerably stronger.

Note: There are reports that some people are having trouble with some of the discs, notably the 3D disc.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono Cantonese), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono English, LPCM Mono English With Alternate Music Cues)

This release comes with four audio options: a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in English, and an alternate music cue LPCM mono mix in English. Mandarin and Cantonese are the two strongest tracks; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. That said, the two English-language tracks sound muffled and lack the depth that the other tracks have. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin-language track, removable English subtitles for the Cantonese-language track, and removable English subtitles for Mandarin text when watching in English.

Extras:

Extras are the same across these three discs. Extras include an English-language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 35 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), a Mandarin-language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 35 seconds, DTS-HD mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an interview with Steve Lawson titled Magnificent Bodyguards - A New Dimension in Action? (8 minutes 56 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with film critic James Mudge titled Punching Into the 3rd Dimension, and an audio commentary with Hong Kong film experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto.

Other extras include reversible cover art; a lenticular cover featuring new artwork by “Kung Fu Bob” O'Brien; one pair of anaglyph 3D glasses (red and blue); and a 32-page booklet with an essay titled Long Live The King: Crossing the Cloudy Mountain written by Thorsten Boose and archival images.

Note: The 3D anaglyph Blu-ray and glasses are only available for the first pressing.

Summary:

Lo Wei directed Magnificent Bodyguards. He is best known for directing two Bruce Lee films and six Jackie Chan films.

A kung fu master is hired to escort a woman and her sick brother through the dangerous Stormy Hills, an area controlled by criminals.

Over the course of their six film collaborations, Lo Wei attempted to make Jackie Chan the next Bruce Lee, and in Magnificent Bodyguards, he employed 3D technology and everything he could to make Jackie Chan the next big thing in martial arts cinema. In their first film, New Fists of Fury, Lo Wei tried to make Jackie Chan the next Bruce Lee, and with Magnificent Bodyguards, Lo Wei would employ 3D in hopes of elevating his stature as a filmmaker. Unfortunately for Lo Wei, he would never try the one thing that would later make Jackie Chan a star.

At the heart of Magnificent Bodyguards is a story rooted in deception. While there is a hero, Lord Ting Chung, he actually takes a backseat to a rogue gallery of criminals and killers who each have a unique set of fighting skills. Unknown to Lord Ting Chung is that the man he’s escorting is actually the king of Stormy Hills, and he’s on a vendetta against an imposter who assumed his throne.

Although Jackie Chan’s character Lord Ting Chung would be considered the protagonist, Magnificent Bodyguards is really an ensemble cast where no one cast member stands out. Other notable cast members are James Tien (Fists of Fury) in the role of Tsang, a character who skins their opponents and Leung Siu-lung, who’s better known as Bruce Liang, in the role of a deaf fighter named Chang.

While the fight scenes are not on the level of other Jackie Chan films like Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin, and Drunken Master, they do take advantage of the 3D aspects. Another thing about the fight choreography and Lo Wei’s directing: both benefit more from the cast's contributions than his creative instincts. The most notable fight scene sees Jackie Chan’s character fight snakes.

I found the narrative engaging, despite its shortcomings, notably its inability to maintain momentum. The narrative could have achieved better balance by incorporating more exposition and reducing the heavy reliance on action set pieces. Magnificent Bodyguards is yet another 1970s martial arts film with familiar music cues, this time around Star Wars. Ultimately, Magnificent Bodyguards is a film that is most remembered for being the first Hong Kong film in 3D, and it is only recommended for Jackie Chan completists.

Magnificent Bodyguards gets a solid release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Nine Demons: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1984
Director: Chang Cheh
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Lee Chung-Yat, Yu Tai-Ping, Chris Lee Kin-Sang, Wang Quen, Chang Peng, Wang Chang-Chi, Liu Yin-Shang, Wang Chi-Sheng, Chang Fu-Chien

Release Date: June 23rd, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 44 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English, Dolby Digital Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95

"After striking a Faustian deal with the devil, fighter Zou Qi gains the power to summon nine demon spirits to do his bidding. Armed with new supernatural abilities and bound to a chain of skulls that unleashes the flesh-hungry minions, he sets out to settle a bloody score between rival families and save his childhood friend. But he quickly finds himself losing control as the demons consume everything and everyone around him. He must confront the true cost of the wicked power he's unleashed before it devours him completely in this hybrid horror/martial arts wuxia classic." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “New 2K transfer from original film elements supervised by film archivist Toby Russell."

The Nine Demons comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 22.6 GB

The source used for the transfer is by far and away the best-looking from Visual Vengeance to date; that said, some minor source imperfections remain. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 3.25/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English), 3.75/5 (Dolby Digital Mono Cantonese)

This release comes with two audio options, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English and a Dolby Digital stereo mix in Cantonese. Although both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, the Cantonese track is noticeably more robust. Included are removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Visual Vengeance trailer for The Nine Demons (1 minute 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/poster), a video essay by Justin Decloux titled The Discovery of James Wu Kuo-Ren (10 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Justin Decloux titled The Late Period Chang Cheh (20 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Unsung Horrors Podcast: The Nine Demons episode (53 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Yu Tai-Ping (10 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), The Nine Demons: complete old-school ‘Dirty VHS’ version (93 minutes 6 seconds, 4:3 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with martial arts film historians Justin Decloux and Dylan Cheung, reversible cover art featuring original alternate art, a folded mini-poster featuring original theatrical art, ‘Stick Your Own’ VHS sticker set (limited to the first pressing), an O-card (limited to the first pressing), and an 8-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an essay titled Enter: The Venom Mob written by C.J. Lines.

Other extras are Visual Vengeance trailers for Born a Ninja and Commando the Ninja, Fatal Flying Guillotine, and Ninja Operation Knight and Warrior.

Summary:

Chang Cheh directed The Nine Demons. He is known for One-Armed Swordsman, Golden Swallow, The Boxer From Shantung, The Water Margin, and Five Venoms.

A fighter named Zou Qi makes a deal with the devil that gives him the power to summon nine demon spirits that feed off of human blood.

The Nine Demons is a melting pot of genres: action, fantasy, and horror. The action sequences are bloody and have the visceral edge Chang Cheh is known for. There is an abundance of supernatural elements, most of which come from Zou Qi’s powers given to him by the devil. The horror aspects come from the nine demons, which devour and drain blood from their victims.

While Chang Cheh had the benefits of working for nearly two decades for the Shaw Brothers, when he started a production company in 1984, he no longer had the resources he once had. Although The Nine Demons does not have the star power that Chang Cheh’s earlier films had, when it comes to the performances, they are all highly entertaining. The standout performance is Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi’s (Five Elements Ninja) portrayal of Zou Qi. His role in The Nine Demons is the most sizable of his career and he takes full advantage of the screentime.

The opening setup does a superb job of drawing you in with a sequence that depicts a clan's slaughter and the narrow escape of two men. The narrative moves briskly and is heavily loaded with action set pieces. The special effects, though dated, effectively enhance the unfolding story. Like so many martial arts films of the 1970s and 80s, The Nine Demons has uncredited music cues from Vertigo and Blade Runner. Ultimately, The Nine Demons is a very satisfying mix of action and fantasy that greatly benefits from Chang Cheh’s instincts as a filmmaker.

Visual Vengeance gives The Nine Demons a solid release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Double: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1971
Director: Romolo Guerrieri
Writers: Libero Bigiaretti, Sauro Scavolini, Sandro Continenza
Cast: Ewa Aulin, Jean Sorel, Lucia Bosè, Silvano Tranquilli, Sergio Doria, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Marilù Tolo

Release Date: July 20th, 2026 (UK), July 21th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 40 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Giovanni (Jean Sorel, Rosa la rose, fille publique) is shot in an underground parking garage by a mysterious bearded man. As his life flashes before his eyes, through flashbacks we learn about his life and what led to this moment. His flirtatious wife, Lucia (Ewa Aulin, Death Smiles on a Murderer) and the fissures her behavior creates complications with the family business, Lucia’s relationship with a traveling hippie, and her beautiful mother-in-law (Lucia Bosé, Fellini Satyricon)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “The Double was restored in 4k from the original camera negative by Video Mercury and supplied to Radiance Films as a high-definition file.”

The Double comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.2 GB

Feature: 28.2 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and the image always retains an organic appearance.

Audio: 5/5 (LPCM Mono Italian), 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Italian and a LPCM mono mix in English. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. The Italian language track sounds more robust than the English language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival interview with director Romolo Guerrieri and star Eva Aulin newly edited for this release (14 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an appreciation by author Stephen Thrower (26 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with author/film historian Tim Lucas, reversible cover art, a removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings; and a 20-page booklet (limited to 3,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Compelled to Death in The Double written by Nathaniel Thompson, and information about the transfer.

When you highlight the title on the main menu, there is an Easter egg; it is an extended scene from a Greek release (2 minutes 44 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with non-removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Romolo Guerrieri directed The Double. He’s known for Johnny Yuma, The Sweet Body of Deborah, Detective Belli, Young, Violent, Dangerous, and Covert Action.

A man ambushed and shot after getting out of his car lay on the ground, remembering the events that led to that moment.

Although the killers' identity is never kept a secret, the way in which the narrative unfolds ensures that the mystery of their motive is kept intact. From there, the narrative shifts to a series of flashbacks that provide backstory about the man who was shot. The narrative shifts to a series of flashbacks that fill in backstory about the shot man. Through a series of flashbacks, the narrative effectively puts into perspective the who’s and the why's of the story that unfolds.

While there are a handful of visually striking moments, The Double relies more on atmosphere than stylized set pieces. Moments where the visuals stand out are scenes where it showcases its three leading ladies' beauty, especially Ewa Aulin and Lucia Bosè, who portray a daughter and a mother who look alike. Another area where the visuals excel is how they take advantage of the scenic landscapes.

The entire cast is outstanding in their roles, especially Ewa Aulin (Death Laid an Egg), who portrays Lucia, the much younger, flirtatious wife of the protagonist. She delivers a performance that more than fulfills her role as an object of desire. Another performance of note is Jean Sorel (A Lizard in a Woman's Skin) in the role of Giovanni, a jealous husband who’s shot by a man with a vendetta. His performance fulfills a function that is similar to his role in Short Night of Glass Dolls.

Although the narrative moves at a deliberate pace, its puzzle box structure ensures that there is never a dull moment. Another strength of the narrative is its ability to use tension to build momentum to an exemplary finale that will catch most viewers off guard. Not to be overlooked when discussing The Double is Armando Trovajoli’s (Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow) score, which does a superb job enhancing the mood. Ultimately, The Double is a solid thriller that effortlessly blurs the line between reality and fantasy.

The Double gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer