THE RACKET: Saved By The Olives

THE RACKET (Blu-ray)

1951 / 89 min

Warner Archive Collection

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😽

Robert Mitchum and Robert Ryan are a couple o’ film noir olives. 

There was a time when I decided to make martinis my drink of choice, probably because people in the movies looked cool drinking them. Then I actually tried one and…eh. As mixed drinks go, I suppose they do the job if you wanna cop a buzz, but I didn’t think there was anything all that special about it, save for the two plump olives marinating on a toothpick. Those were delicious, and I’m pretty sure I looked cool stirring my drink with ‘em.

If it was the olives I loved, I’d be better off sticking with a Bloody Mary, where a couple o’ fat Manzanillas make an already tasty beverage absolutely perfect. It’s the same with the two Roberts when it comes to film noir. Take 1947’s Crossfire, for example (which actually had three Roberts). Already a solid film, the presence of Mitchum, Ryan (and Young!) made it really crackle.

If Crossfire is a film noir Bloody Mary, then 1951’s The Racket is an example of a martini. It’s certainly watchable, but for the most part, it’s a standard-issue story of a big city police captain taking-on corruption and organized crime. For fans of the genre, there aren’t a hell of a lot of surprises, though John Cromwell’s meat-and-potatoes direction keeps the story moving fairly efficiently. But by throwing in a couple o’ Roberts, The Racket is suddenly a little more memorable.

"Eew...this one's mushy."

If there was such a thing as the Film Noir Hall of Fame, Robert Mitchum and Robert Ryan would be among the first inducted. They bring their indomitable badassery to characters that would have been forgettable otherwise. As the incorruptible Captain McQuigg, Mitchum is enjoyably stoic and unflappable. Ryan’s even more fun as Nick Scanlon, a hot-headed gangster whose violent methods bely his organization’s efforts to discreetly influence local politics. Ryan has been a bad guy or anti-hero in enough films that he could probably do it in his sleep, but who better to turn your generic antagonist into someone truly intimidating?

This is actually based on a popular Broadway play, so maybe the overall lack of action is indicative of the story’s stage origins. The Racket is ultimately second-tier noir, and its two stars have certainly done better films before and since. But they make it more palatable, much like the olives in my martini.

EXTRA KIBBLES

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By the one & only Eddie Muller, who’s always worth listening to.

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THE POOP SCOOP: Upcoming Collector's Editions!

😺SCARFACE and FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S, Two Epic 4K Collector’s Editions Arriving 11/11 from Universal. SCARFACE: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION - Relive Brian De Palma’s crime epic like never before with this newly remastered 4K edition packed with exclusive bonus features and collectible packaging—perfect for fans and collectors alike. FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION - Experience the global horror hit in stunning 4K with brand-new extras, behind-the-scenes content, and limited-edition artwork just in time for the holidays.

😺Stephen King’s THE LONG WALK on Digital October 21 and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD November 25 from Lionsgate. The highly anticipated adaptation of master storyteller Stephen King’s first completed novel THE LONG WALK, an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go?

🪐OUTLAND and RED PLANET on 4K November 4 from Arrow Video. Two underrated sci-fi films are finally on 4K from Arrow with new restorations and loads of bonus features. 

🙀HIM available 10/7 on Digital Now and Blu-ray & 4K November 11 from Lionsgate. Attacked by an unhinged fan, quarterback Cameron Cade receives a lifeline when his football idol Isaiah White offers to train him. But as Isaiah’s charisma curdles into something sinister, Cam descends a disorienting spiral that may cost him more than he bargained for. 

😺PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE on 4K & Blu-ray December 16 from Criterion Collection. One of the most eccentric comedies of the 1980s, this is a pop-culture touchstone that helped make a manic oddball named Pee-wee Herman into an icon for outsiders of all ages.

😺OUT OF AFRICA 40th ANNIVERSARY Edition on 4K November from Universal. This exquisite, intelligent romantic drama based on the life Karen Blixen, was the most highly acclaimed film of its time. Directed by Academy Awards winner Sydney Pollack and starring the late, great Robert Redford.

🙀THE CONJURING: LAST RITES on Digital October 1 and Blu-ray, 4K and DVD November 25 from Warner Bros. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reunite for one last case as renowned, real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in a powerful and spine-chilling addition to the global box office-breaking franchise.

😺Steven Spielberg’s MINORITY REPORT and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN on 4K December 9 from Paramount. Both Minority Report and Catch Me If You Can were remastered this year in 4K and the sparkling new transfers were reviewed and approved by Spielberg.  

😺ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST on 4K UHD november 11 from Warner Bros. Based on the 1962 novel of the same name by author Ken Kesey, the film is considered by critics and audiences to be one of the greatest films ever made.  

🎄Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION on 4K Ultra HD & Steelbook Coming November 11 from Universal.  This special release also includes over 30 minutes of brand-new bonus content exploring the making of the beloved holiday classic.

😺The Gialli Cult Classic, A HYENA IN THE SAFE, on Blu-ray November 25 from Celluloid Dreams. This Blu-ray release will feature the film in its original Italian language with English subtitles exclusively. 

🙀SHUDDER: A DECADE OF FEARLESS HORROR and CREEPSHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES on Blu-ray November 11 from Shudder. 10 of the streaming service’s best movies in one boxed set. On the same day, Shudder releases all four seasons of their acclaimed anthology series, Creepshow, based on the original film by George A. Romero and Stephen King. 

😺THE NAKED GUN (2025) on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD November 11 from Paramount. Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father's footsteps in THE NAKED GUN, directed by Akiva Schaffer.

Revisiting IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS in 4K

IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (4K UHD)

1994 / 95 min

Arrow Video

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

Home video has been pretty damn good to John Carpenter over the years. He’s done movies that run the gamut from great to good to abysmal, yet Halloween notwithstanding, none of them were blockbusters. But you’d be hard-pressed to name another director responsible for more movies that went on the become cult classics due to getting a second life on VHS and DVD. 

For years, Shout Factory led the charge in curating Carpenter classics (and a few that are not-so-classic), releasing and re-releasing collector’s Editions of most of his movies with good restorations, loads of bonus features and great packaging. This includes 1994’s In the Mouth of Madness, one of the most Lovecraftian films that isn’t actually based on one of his stories.

One of Carpenter’s better late-career films, it’s also emblematic of a lot of his ‘90s output…two-thirds of a great movie that doesn’t quite stick the landing, at least narratively, with a final act that’s a bit more disjointed than it needs to be. But tonally and visually, In the Mouth of Madness might be the director’s most immersive film since The Thing and has enough of a cult following deserving of the 4K treatment. 

The scariest part of the movie? The price of that popcorn bucket.

This time, however, Arrow Video is doing the honors. Having previously seen both Warner Bros’ and Shout Factory’s Blu-ray editions, I can say this 4K transfer is an overall improvement, with a generally excellent video restoration, as well as two audio options, the best one being the well-balanced 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. This release also comes with a nice selection of new and archival bonus features, the latter carried over from Shout’s Blu-ray edition. Carpenter's considerable cult of fans should have no complaints.

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.

NEW INTERVIEWS - Individual interviews with producer Sandy King Carpenter, actor Jurgen Prochnow, actor Julie Carmen.

ARCHIVAL INTERVIEW - With FX artist Greg Nicotero, (carried over from the Shout Factory blu-ray release).

WE ARE WHAT HE WRITES and REALITY IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE - These are a couple of new appreciations for John Carpenter and the film.

3 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By director John Carpenter & cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe; 2) By director John Carpenter & producer Sandy King Carpenter. 3) By Colors of the Dark podcasters Rebekah McKendry & Erlic Kane (not Sutter).

FEATURETTES - Horror’s Hallowed Grounds focuses on the shooting locations; The Making of In the Mouth of Madness; Home Movies from Hobbs End.

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THE X TRILOGY and My Cinephile Friend

THE X TRILOGY Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)

2022 & 2024 / 312 min (3 movies)

A24 Films

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

I have a cinephile friend who’s really into these movies. We aren’t so close that we regularly exchange gifts during the holidays. But if we were, I’d consider gifting him this nicely packaged Blu-ray boxed set of Ti West’s entire trilogy, even if he already has physical copies of them.

Ultimately, I think it’s releases like The X Trilogy that'll continue keeping physical media alive for those who still treasure it…such as yours truly and obviously you, since you’re reading this. For us, movies aren’t simply disposable entertainment to be consumed and discarded with the click of a remote. The ones we hold near and dear to our hearts are meant to be revisited and appreciated whenever we wish, now matter how much time passes. They’re meant to be proudly displayed on the shelves of our own personal libraries, even if nobody else we know actually cares about such things. 

Collector’s Editions are especially neat because nothing signifies one’s love for a particular movie or franchise like a big boxed set with great new artwork and physical supplements you simply can’t get digitally. That being said, The X Trilogy is obviously intended for people like my cinephile friend. The three films in this collection feature the exactly same Blu-ray transfers as earlier editions, and with the exception of new audio commentaries for each, there are no new bonus features.

Still, this is a really cool set. The outer box is as thick and sturdy as a hardcover book, with a transparent slipcover baring the titles and credits. The discs themselves are stored in a gatefold digipak, and along with it is a 64 page booklet loaded with great artwork inspired by the films (Maxxxine, in particular), as well as stills, concept art, storyboards, costume sketches, faux posters and an essay by Jon Dieringer. The overall package also set features interesting cover art.

Mia steps on a Lego.

As for the movies themselves…while I’m not quite as enamored with them as my cinephile friend, this is still a pretty great trio of horror films, each with their own unique aesthetic and tone (befitting the decades when they take place). The first film, X, is an obvious homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (at least visually), which has a group of young people renting a remote cabin to make a porno, but the old couple who own the place turn out to be murderous psychopaths. Loaded with sex and over-the-top violence, it’s well directed for a slasher film and features a star making performance from Mia Goth as Maxine (she also plays Pearl, the primary antagonist).

While X is a better than average slab of exploitation, Pearl is the trilogy’s highpoint. Trading in cheap & nasty thrills for disturbing psychological horror, this one is actually a prequel with Goth returning to play a younger version of the title character. Once again, director Ti West wears his influences proudly, this time drawing visual inspiration from the likes of The Wizard of Oz and other colorful classics of Hollywood's so-called golden era. With gorgeous production design & cinematography to offset an increasingly malevolent tone - and some extreme gore - this one is damn near a masterpiece. Goth is magnificent and probably should've gotten an Oscar nomination.

A direct sequel to the first film, Maxxxine isn’t quite as compelling, but is certainly a lot of gonzo, gory fun. With 1980s LA as the setting, Maxine (Goth) is a porn star trying to break into mainstream films. However, she’s also being stalked by someone who knows of her past. Concurrently, the notorious serial killer, the Night Stalker, is loose in the city, who may or may not be the same person terrorizing Maxine. There ain’t much subtly here, but the cast and performances are good, as are the spectacularly violent death scenes.

Is this version of The X Trilogy essential? Not really, but since when has that ever dissuaded a collector from sticking a set like this on their shelf? Consider it more of a great looking souvenir for people like my cinephile friend, who will certainly find this to be a worthy addition to his collection.

EXTRA KIBBLES

SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKLET

X

FEATURETTES - That X Factor is a making-of featurette; “The Farmer’s Daughters” is the amusing faux-movie of the porno the group was shooting in the film (minus the porn, of course); Pearl Make-Up Timelapse is a visual of the process turning Mia Goth into the monstrous antagonist.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director of photography Eliot Rockett & production designer Tom Hammock.

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PEARL

FEATURETTES - Coming Out of Her Shell: The Making of Pearl; Time After Time focuses on the film’s production design.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director of photography Eliot Rockett & production designer Tom Hammock.

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MAXXXINE

FEATURETTES - The Belly of the Beast is a making-of featurette with interviews with most of the main cast; XXX Marks the Spot; Hollywood is a Killer focuses on the nasty special effects; Q&A with Director Ti West; Deep Dive with Composer Tyler Bates.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By production designer Jason Kisvarday & set decorator Kelsi Ephraim.

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Revisiting THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN in 4K

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (4K UHD)

1957 / 83 min

Warner Archive Collection

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

Over the years, Warner Archive has done a fine job resurrecting and restoring classic & obscure WB and MGM titles on Blu-ray. Lately, they’ve been throwing their hat in the 4K ring, with impressive results. Both The Searchers and Get Carter recently got great video/audio facelifts. However, they were really only of interest for videophiles seeking technical upgrades, since neither included any new bonus material.

1957’s The Curse of Frankenstein is different matter altogether. The classic that put Hammer Films on the map has been beautifully restored for 4K in all its gothic glory, and has never looked or sounded better. But the icing on the cake is the sheer abundance of new and archival bonus material. Additionally, three versions of the film are offered, each presented in a different aspect ratio. Warner Archive, working closely with recently-resurrected Hammer Films, really pulled out all the stops for this one. For fans, this release is well-worth the upgrade, no matter what previous version you own.

As for the movie itself, The Curse of Frankenstein remains wonderfully entertaining all these years later. A loose adaptation of Mary Shelley’s perennial classic, this may not be the greatest Frankenstein film, but it’s still a lot of ghoulish fun (and pretty gruesome for its time). And at the center is Peter Cushing’s star-making performance as the titular character. Stopping just short of camp, he effortlessly conveys the mad doctor’s cold-blooded obsession that eventually drives him to murder in order to bring his creation to life.

"How 'bout we get a few fish for this thing?"

Elsewhere, Christopher Lee is (unintentionally?) amusing as ‘The Creature,’ which was one of his first prominent roles and paved the way for him to become one of Hammer’s go-to horror stars. Speaking of which, The Curse of Frankenstein isn’t the first Hammer film, but unquestionably the one that introduced the aesthetic template that served the studio well for the next 20-or-so years. In that respect, the film has considerable historic importance, which every self-respecting horror fan should experience at least once.

And the history lesson doesn’t stop with the movie. The numerous bonus features cover most of the movie’s production and cultural impact, as well as people on both sides of the camera whose best known work would be with Hammer. My only quip - and it’s a minor one - is that these are needlessly spread out across all three discs. For the sake of convenience, it might have been preferable to stick all of them on one disc, with all the cuts of the film on the other two. But that’s probably nitpicking, because other than that, this is an essential pick-up for classic horror lovers.

EXTRA KIBBLES

3 VERSIONS OF THE FILM - UK 1.66:1 theatrical aspect ratio version; 1.37:1 open matte aspect ratio version; US 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio version.

FEATURETTES (spread out over over all three discs) - Beside the Seaside is an affectionate look at the life of Peter Cushing, as told to actress Madeline Smith by author Wayne Kinsey (this is my favorite of the bonus features); Reviving The Curse of Frankenstein is a look at the restoration process; Recreating the Creature shows a few modern make-up artists recreating Christopher Lee’s monster make-up; A Fitting Vocation focuses on costume designer Molly Arbuthnot; Topped and Tailed is an interview with actor Melvyn Hayes (young Victor); Good or Tuesday? is about screenwriter Jimmy Sangster; Painting with Fine Brushes is a feature about cinematographer Jack Asher; A Gothic Tribute to Frankenstein is a look at Mary Shelley’s novel and its screen history; Frankenstein Reborn is a retrospective making-of featurette; Life with Sir is a tribute to Peter Cushing; The Resurrection Men has horror publisher discussing the movie’s impact on the genre; Hideous Progeny features historian Christopher Frayling discussing the history of gothic horror; Torrents of Light is another tribute to cinematographer Jack Asher; Diabolus in Musica is an appreciation of composer James Bernard.

4 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By Kim Newman, Barry Forshaw & Stephen Jones; 2) By Marcus Hearn & Jonathan Rigby; 3) By Heidi Honeycutt & Toby Roan; 4) Dr. Steve Haberman & Constantine Nasr. These commentaries are available on specific versions of the film.

ALTERNATIVE EYEBALL SCENE 

8MM CUT DOWN - Back in the day, fans could buy truncated versions of movie an 8mm film, to be shown with home projectors. Here’s one for The Curse of Frankenstein, trimmed down to 10 minutes.

IMAGE GALLERY - Posters, lobby cards, stills, etc.

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UK CENSOR CARD - Originally appeared on-screen before the movie.