Catnip Reviews: SPACEBALLS - THE ANIMATED SERIES, ELVIS '56 and SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE

Snack-sized opinions from the frisky felines at Free Kittens…

SPACEBALLS: THE TOTALLY WARPED ANIMATED ADVENTURES (Blu-ray) - Even though Airplane came along to render Mel Brooks’ brand of parody somewhat old fashioned (and occasionally a little corny), the legendary director continued with business as usual. He had one more good film in him, Spaceballs, which didn’t have much of an impact at the time, but has since become such a beloved cult classic that we’re getting a belated sequel in 2027. Before that though, there was this ill-fated attempt to resurrect the property as an adult animated series, which I’m willing to wager some of you didn’t know even existed. For good reason, too. After a two-part pilot that pointlessly retells the original movie, the following 13 episodes are a scattershot collection of tales that use the Spaceballs characters to parody a variety of other movies, TV shows and video games. While occasionally amusing, most of the humor is juvenile, heavy-handed, and worst of all, painfully unfunny. A few actors from the film return to voice their characters, including Brooks, but others are solely missed. Sadly, the biggest laughs in this two-disc set come from trailers for Spaceballs and Spaceballs 2 (included as bonus features, along with a mini poster). For Mel Brooks completists only. (2008/329 min/MVD Rewind Collection).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼

ELVIS ‘56 (Blu-ray) - Of all the Elvis documentaries we’ve gotten over the years, this is definitely one of them, so there’s that. Made in 1987, it’s been resurrected on Blu-ray for those who still can’t get enough of The King (though the disc’s technical aspects are rather dreary). The film is a perfunctory compilation of performance footage from various TV appearances and concerts, his first film appearance in Love Me Tender, as well as plenty of behind-the-scenes stills from the era. The Band’s Levon Helm narrates, offering info about how Elvis was marketed to the public and his explosion in popularity. None of this is particularly revelatory and probably already familiar to his fans, so while Elvis ‘56 is watchable, it’s hardly essential. 20 songs are also included throughout the film, though few are performed in their entirety. (1987/59 min/Lightyear Entertainment).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺

SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE (Blu-ray) - I loved the original Sisu, which was awesome in its simplicity…90 minutes of Nazi killing mayhem at the hands of an old, legendary warhorse who just wanted to be left alone with his gold strike. The good news is that Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) is back for more, and the great news is Sisu: Road to Revenge is every bit as fast-paced, brutal and bloody as the first film. This time, he’s trying to move his entire home out of Soviet territory to his Finnish homeland, made much more difficult since he’s pursued by Yeagor Dragonov (Stephen Lang), the same sadistic Russian commander to murdered Aatami’s entire family. Though a bit more emotionally affecting than the original - due to Aatami’s heartbreaking backstory - the primary focus remains on the thrill of the chase. This was the best action film of 2025 and is worth watching again and again.   (2025/89 min/Sony).

KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼

SALEM'S LOT (1979): Boob Tube Bloodsuckers in 4K

SALEM’S LOT Limited Edition (4K UHD)

1979 / 183 & 112 min (Two versions)

Arrow Video

Review by Carl, the Couch Potato🙀

I remember feeling tempered anticipation for this miniseries when it first aired on CBS back in the late ‘70s. As a horror fan who recently discovered Stephen King, I devoured the novel it's adapted from just a few months before. However, television was a lot different back then and there was no way certain aspects of the novel would ever make it to the boob tube. Sure enough, Salem’s Lot was reasonably faithful to the book storywise, but certainly de-fanged (no pun intended) and sanitized to meet broadcast standards. Still, I enjoyed the show for what it was, and Trilogy of Terror notwithstanding, this was about as scary as TV horror ever really got back then.

The story is typical King, with author Ben Mears (a miscast David Soul) returning to his hometown to write about an old house with a dark past that terrified him as a boy. But the big local news is the opening of a classy new antique shop, run by newcomer Richard Striker (James Mason) and his partner, Kurt Barlow, whose impending arrival is highly anticipated. In reality, Barlow is actually a vampire, with Striker as his servant preparing for his arrival. Soon after, people begin dying or go missing. But of course, they don’t remain dead for long.

Time to go full Hutch.

Revisiting Salem’s Lot decades later was kinda fun. I’d forgotten how much the first half unfolds more like a nighttime soap than a horror film, with subplots involving unfaithful spouses and jealous boyfriends. But along the way, director Tobe Hooper does manage to build some creepy atmosphere here and there.

The cast is loaded with familiar faces, some who’d go on to bigger things (like Bonnie Bedelia), others who’ve been around forever. It wasn’t until re-watching it this time that I realized Elisha Cook Jr. and Marie Windsor once played together as husband and wife in the classic heist film, The Killing. They’re married in this one, too, but certainly get along better. Overall, the performances are perfunctory, save for Mason, who’s wonderfully sinister and steals the entire movie.

Salem’s Lot looks a bit quaint these days and is probably not as scary as you might remember it, but there’s a lot of nostalgic fun to be had here. Whether or not something that still plays like a ‘70s made-for-TV movie really benefits from the 4K treatment is debatable, though the picture and sound are an improvement over previous physical releases. For some fans, however, the real prize of this set might be theatrical version (originally released overseas) that’s included on a second disc along with most of the bonus features. Also rendered in 4K, it’s an hour shorter, but also includes scenes that weren’t considered suitable for American broadcast TV back in the day. I could be in the minority on this, but it's the version I prefer.  

EXTRA KIBBLES

NOTE: Free Kittens Movie Guide was provided with a promo disc for review purposes. Physical supplemental material included with the final product (booklets, artwork, inserts, etc) were not available for review.

ORIGINAL MINISERIES & THEATRICAL VERSION - The miniseries version features two viewing options, presented as the original two-parter or as a single movie.

INTERVIEWS - New individual interviews with Stephen King biographer Douglas Winter and frequent King adaptation director Mick Garris.

FEATURETTES - Fear Lives Here visits Salem’s Lot locations as they look today; We Can All Be Heroes features film critic Heather Wixson; Second Coming is an video essay by critic Grady Hendrix; A Gold Standard for Small Screen Screams features podcasters Joe Lipsett and Trace Truman.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By critics Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes (NEW); 2) By director Tobe Hooper.

IMAGE GALLERY

SHOOTING SCRIPT GALLERY

ALTERNATE TV FOOTAGE

TRAILER

THE POOP SCOOP: Sleepers...and Other Sleepers

UPCOMING KIBBLES THAT MAKE US PURR!

Gore Verbinski’s GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE on Digital Now, on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD April 21 from Universal. A man claiming to be from the future (Sam Rockwell) recruits an unlikely group of diner patrons to join him on a genre-defying adventure to save humanity from the perils of social media brainrot and the impending AI apocalypse! From Oscar-winning director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean), GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE is a comedic, kinetic, gonzo, world-ending adventure like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Proving that the best defense against an AI apocalypse is a gloriously chaotic crew, GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE features a fun and eclectic fan-favorite ensemble delivering performances as vibrant and unhinged as the film itself. Emmy Award winner Zazie Beetz, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Pena, BAFTA Award nominee Asim Chaudhry, and four-time Emmy Award nominee Juno Temple each bring their own electrifying energy to a wildly entertaining ride that audiences will want to jump back into again and again.

INNERSPACE on 4K and Blu-ray April 28 from Arrow Video. The microscopic science fiction comedy Innerspace makes its universal debut on 4K UHD. Director Joe Dante (Gremlins) takes his brand of cinematic fun inside the body of a man with Oscar-winning visual effects. The limited edition release features a brand-new restoration from the original 35mm negative by Arrow Films approved by director Joe Dante, hours of special features, and newly commissioned extras, including commentaries, a documentary, galleries, a booklet and a double-sided poster.

SLEEPERS 30th Anniversary Edition on 4K April 21 from Warner Bros Discovery. Four ordinary boys. A harmless prank gone awry. Their childhood innocence forever shattered, they vow to avenge its loss in the haunting drama Sleepers. Sentenced to spend time at a reform school for their reckless behavior, four basically good boys from a bad neighborhood suffer a horrible fate while there. Forced to perform unspeakable acts by the very adults entrusted to watch over them, the young quartet barely survives the ordeal. A decade and a half later, nothing can erase the painful memories. But neighborhood justice, with a little support from a loyal priest, helps even the score. Based on the book of the same name by Lorenzo Carcaterra, Barry Levinson’s film features an all-star ensemble cast, including Academy Award winners Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Brad Pitt, along with Kevin Bacon and Jason Patric.

SOLDIER, Starring Kurt Russell, on 4K April 28 from Arrow Video. the action-filled, science fiction cult classic, Soldier, touches down for a world premiere on 4K UHD. The limited edition release features a brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films approved by director Paul W.S. Anderson, hours of special features and newly commissioned extras, including an archival audio commentary by director Paul W.S. Anderson, actor Jason Isaacs and others; brand new interviews with actor James Black and others; a brand new behind-the-scenes look at how the film’s special effects were created with visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and others; a brand new retrospective on the film; the archival electronic press kit; on-set interviews with cast and crew; trailers; and a collectors’ booklet.

Finally! BLUE THUNDER Limited Edition 4K Coming May 5 from Arrow Video. A landmark of analog-age futurism, it remains a razor-sharp thrill ride that fires on all cylinders from beginning to end. Includes numerous new and archival bonus features.

GREENLAND on 4K March 31 from Lionsgate. A family fights for survival as a planet-killing comet races to Earth. John Garrity, his estranged wife Allison, and young son Nathan make a perilous journey to their only hope for sanctuary. 

THE SUBSTITUTE on 4K March 17 from Lionsgate.  In this action-thriller favorite, now on 4K for the first time, a mercenary faces off against one of his most formidable enemies: a high school gang. 

THE BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA on 4K and Blu-ray May 12 from Celluloid Dreams. This giallo classic will arrive in a beautiful slipbox that features the film, along with a vast array of bonus features that provide more insight into the film and its production than ever before. It is now available for preorder on the Celluloid Dreams website.

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD March 31 from Lionsgate. In the aftermath of a comet strike that devastates most of the Earth, GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION follows devoted family man John Garrity (Gerard Butler) and his wife and son (Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis) after they’re forced to leave the safety of their bunker in Greenland to search for a new home in a shattered world. 

THE HOUSEMAID on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD March 17 from Lionsgate. From director Paul Feig, the film plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems. What begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous.

The New ANACONDA on 4K and Blu-ray March 17 from Sony. Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd) have been best friends since they were kids, and have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie: the cinematic "classic" Anaconda. But things get real when an actual giant anaconda appears, turning their comically chaotic movie set into a deadly situation. 

POINT BLANK Coming to 4K and Blu-ray April 21 from Criterion Collection. Free Kittens’ CEO bought himself an older Blu-ray copy of this action classic, then literally the next day, Criterion announces this release! In addition to a 4K restoration, this disc comes with a bunch of bonus features.

MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN on 4K and Blu-ray April 14 from Criterion Collection. Featuring ribald Roman puns, sharp political commentary, and an audacious crucifixion-themed musical number, the Pythons’ most ambitious film is a hilarious satire of dogma and blind faith in which nothing is sacred.

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON on Blu-ray, 4K and DVD March 24, 2026 from Criterion Collection. An epic elegy of greed, betrayal, and murder, Scorsese brings a dark chapter of American history to the screen with gripping narrative power and a profound feeling for the weight of systemic injustice.

GRIZZLY NIGHT: More Bears, Please

GRIZZLY NIGHT (Blu-ray)

2026 / 87 min

Well Go USA

Available at MovieZyng

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bear Whisperer😼

Two genres I can’t resist are disaster movies and killer critter flicks. New and old, good and bad, epic and low budget, I generally have a good time with these things (if sometimes at the movie’s expense). It helps, of course, to adjust my expectations. No CGI-driven, direct-to-video cheapie is gonna match the epic thrills of The Towering Inferno, but still might be good for a few shits & giggles.

Similarly, there will never be another Jaws, and anyone thinking otherwise is delusional. Still, there’s been gobs of decent college tries over the years, including plenty that have attempted to create similar terror on land by replacing sharks with bears, arguably nature’s cuddliest carnivores. 1976’s Grizzly remains a highly enjoyable example of B-movie plagiarism, though the kitschy Cocaine Bear will probably go down in history as the Citizen Kane of belligerent bear movies.

But even with tempered expectations, Grizzly Night is not the movie I was anticipating, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. The film recounts the true story of a 1967 incident in at Glacier National Park, where a couple of bear attacks occurred on the same night, miles apart. In movies, “true story” is a term that’s often thrown around pretty liberally, but in this case, we get the impression that the events as depicted are more-or-less accurate. So on one hand, the film can be commended for its non-exploitative approach, maintaining a serious tone and an underlying theme of humans’ negative impact on animal behavior.

"Right behind me, huh? I ain't falling for that again."

On the other hand, not a hell of a lot actually happens in Grizzly Night, at least compared to your usual nature-run-amok flick. The animal attack sequences themselves are tastefully handled, but few and far between and not particularly exciting, with most of the mayhem occurring off-screen. The interim scenes largely consist of rangers and tourists searching for victims and treating their injuries while remaining wary of another possible bear attack. This may have indeed been how everything went down back in 1967, but that doesn’t always result in compelling viewing. Perhaps being more exploitative might have livened things up a little.

Still, while none of the characters are anything to write home about and the performances are merely serviceable, Grizzly Night is well made, makes good use of its scenic locations and at least features real bears (when it chooses to actually show them). There ain’t much in the way of animal action, but as an earnest account of true events, the film is watchable.

ON THE RUN: An Unusual Partnership

ON THE RUN (Blu-ray)

1988 / 89 min

88 Films

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Badass😸

I’ll say this much…this bleak and brutal Hong Kong action film doesn’t pull its punches. On the Run is the first film I’ve seen by director Alfred Cheung, and if this is indicative of his work, the guy’s got no qualms over killing off characters other directors might be compelled to spare. In this case, it adds some welcome unpredictability to an otherwise standard crime thriller, as does the unusual pairing of its two main antagonists.

Heung Ming (Yuen Biao) is cop whose estranged wife (also a cop) is murdered by a mysterious assailant, Chui Pai (Pat Ha). Though his status in the department is pretty lowly, Heung vows to find the killer. When he manages to track Chui down and capture her, he informs his superintendent, Lui (Charlie Chin), so he can make the arrest. Instead, Lui sends his men to kill them both because the entire squad are corrupt, ruthless drug dealers.

Shouldn't have picked at it, Heung.

Here’s the interesting part…since Heung is framed for his wife’s murder, he and Chui end up on the run together with his young daughter, Lin, in tow. Not only do the two learn to trust each other, they make a formative team when turning the tables on their pursuers. In fact, Chui becomes every bit as protective of Lin as her father. This quasi-family dynamic is pretty engaging, and if nothing else, it’s certainly an unusual partnership for a film of this type.

Elsewhere, On the Run maintains a grim tone, punctuated by frequent bursts of action and bloody violence (with a notable emphasis on eye trauma), culminating in a histrionic climax that’s simultaneously satisfying and silly. The basic story itself - a manhunt for someone wrongly accused - is nothing new, but it’s presented with a lot of flair and includes some unexpectedly affecting moments. However, the tacked-on denouement, presented as a title card, feels arbitrary and unnecessary. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Running Away is an interview with director/co-writer Alfred Cheung; Predicting the Future is an interview/analysis with David West.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By podcasters Kenneth Brorsson and Pjil Gillon; 2) By Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto.

ALTERNATE ENDING - Pretty much the same as the original ending, minus one final scene.

HONG KONG TRAILER

REVERSIBLE COVER - With new and original artwork.