KITTEN KATNIP: The Best Stuff We Reviewed in 2025

We reviewed a slew of Blu-Rays, DVDs and movies in 2024. Time to take a look back at the best of them. While we have seen more movies than the Surgeon General recommends, our list consists strictly of titles which were sent to us for review purposes.

PURR-R-R...THE BEST: We reviewed some good stuff this year, but the following titles were better than taunting a mouse to death (in no particular order):

SINNERS, WEAPONS, COMPANION and FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES (Warner Bros) - It’s been a great overall year for horror, but no studio had the year that Warner Bros did. Sinners is actually Oscar worthy, Weapons proves director Zach Cregger is the real deal, Companion is surprising and thematically timely, while Final Destination: Bloodlines is far better than any fifth sequel ever has a right to be.

THE LONG WALK (Lionsgate) and THE LIFE OF CHUCK (Neon/Decal) - 2025 has also been a pretty damn good year for Stephen King movies. The Long Walk is one of the better King adaptations of the past 20 years, with a grim tone, anti-authoritarian themes prevalent in much of the author’s work, and a well-drawn cast of characters. Some of us waited a long time for this one, but it was worth it. The Life of Chuck defies genre classification, but might be the most emotionally affecting King movie since The Shawshank Redemption (though not always the most uplifting).

EDDINGTON (A24) - Eddington is Aster’s most narratively straightforward effort - it’s certainly his least ambiguous - but might also be his most compelling, to say nothing of polarizing. With healthy amounts of black comedy, none-too-subtle themes and bursts of brutal violence, it perfectly captures the chaos of the most tumultuous era in our recent history. I can imagine just as many people hating it, and any movie capable of such diverse reactions is always worth seeing.

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN 4K (Warner Archive) - The classic that put Hammer Films on the map has been beautifully restored for 4K in all its gothic glory (in three different aspect ratios), and has never looked or sounded better. But the icing on the cake is the sheer abundance of new and archival bonus material. The movie itself remains wonderfully entertaining all these years later.

SEPTEMBER 5 (Paramount) - Set during the terrorist siege on the Munich’s Olympic village in 1972, this is a dramatic reenactment of ABC’s coverage behind the scenes. We feel like a fly on the wall, watching barely controlled chaos as the coverage is often complicated by conflict, miscommunication, ethically questionable decisions and occasional overreaching ambition. 

SUNSET BOULEVARD 4K (Paramount) - Many classify this classic to be film noir, a label I don't necessarily agree with. But whether it’s considered noir, melodrama, satire or horror, what ultimately matters is that it’s a great film, one of the best of the 1950s and well worth revisiting from time to time for its rich performances, great dialogue and Wilder’s typically brilliant direction. It’s also been given a great 4K restoration.

RE-ANIMATOR 40th Anniversary 4K (Ignite Films) - 40 years later, Re-Animator holds up really well. Like the best horror films of the ‘80s, it has since transcended its decade - narratively and aesthetically - to become a true classic. The movie’s power to shock audiences may have diminished, but it’s still a potent shot of nostalgic nastiness. In addition to an excellent 4K transfer, this set features a ton of substantial new & archival bonus features, along with two cuts of the film.

RELAY (Bleecker Street/Decal) and BLACK BAG (Universal) - It’s a damn shame these two gems came and went in theaters almost unnoticed. In a perfect world, both would have been huge hits, or at least successful enough to remind Hollywood that not everyone goes to the movies for fireworks. Both are superlative adult thrillers driven more by complexity and characters than kinetic kaboom.

CONCLAVE 4K (Universal) - Forget Anora…Conclave was the Best Picture of all the Oscar nominees this year. Beautifully shot and unfolding like a thriller, Ralph Fiennes gives one of his best performances as Cardinal Lawrence, reluctantly overseeing the entire conclave and managing the sequestered cardinals charged with electing a new pope. On paper, it sounds like a dull way to spend two hours, but director Edward Berger makes it extremely engaging and surprisingly suspenseful.

JAMES BOND: SEAN CONNERY 6-FILM COLLECTION (4K) (Warner Bros) - Bond. James Bond. In 4K. This is obviously a great batch of classic, influential films, which Bond fans probably don’t need to be reminded of. If you’re one of those Connery purists seeking technical upgrades (and a great looking package), this set is a must-own. 

IN THE HEART OF THE MACHINE (Rising Sun Media) - The basic story of convicts attempting to free a pigeon from a piece of machinery is just scratching the surface. This stunning Bulgarian film achieves a tone similar to The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile…often harrowing and brutal, but ultimately life-affirming & inspirational, with characters we grow to love. Fans of either of those films owe it to themselves to check this one out. I can't imagine them being disappointed.

HONORABLE MENTION: .

Se7en 4K (Warner Bros); Antiviral 4K (Severin); Outland 4K (Arrow); Side Street (Warner Archive); Amadeus (Warner Bros); The Monkey (Decal); Juror #2 (Warner Bros); Bring Her Back (A24); Together (Neon); The Day of the Jackal - Season One (Universal); Airport - The Complete 4-Film Collection (Kino Lorber); The X Trilogy (A24); When We Went MAD! (Gravitas Ventures)

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.

TRAILER

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.

TRAILER

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

A Big Batch of ERROL FLYNN

6-FILM COLLECTION: ERROL FLYNN (Blu-ray)

1938-1948 / 709 min (6 movies)

Warner Archive Collection

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

Is this a collection of Errol Flynn’s greatest work? Not by a longshot, nor is it intended to be. Instead, this set gathers six Blu-ray titles that were previously released separately. So while we might scream “What?? No Captain Blood??” (there’s still no Blu-ray for that one), this does offer a varied selection of movies Flynn did during his tenure at Warner Brothers. 

Of course, it would have been a crime not to include The Adventures of Robin Hood, which many feel is his greatest film. While I’m not inclined to agree, it remains the definitive telling of the mythical Saxon outlaw. Filled with action, humor, romance and Flynn at his most charismatic (all in beautiful Technicolor), it’s impossible not to be swept along, even 87 years later. Since we don’t get Captain Blood, at least there’s 1940’s The Sea Hawk, which I do think is Flynn's greatest film. Released at the height of his popularity, The Sea Hawk is an epic adventure with Flynn as sea captain Geoffrey Thorpe, England's most infamous privateer, defending his country against enemies through piracy. The final showdown remains one of the greatest sword fights ever filmed.

Yet another collaboration with director Michael Curtiz, 1940’s Santa Fe Trail is a historical drama that plays fast and loose with history, with Flynn as confederate general Jeb Stuart and Raymond Massey as abolitionist John Brown. While not a great film, it’s certainly watchable, though I personally think Flynn is miscast. Flynn fairs much better in 1943’s Edge of Darkness, though he’s just one part of a uniformly excellent cast. Aptly titled, the film is somber in tone and occasionally infuriating when depicting injustice against a Norwegian town at the hands of the Nazis, but this leads to a stunning - and surprisingly violent - final act once they've been pushed too far. This one ranks among Flynn’s best films.

"Yo, Guy! Read between the lines!"

If you’ve seen Northwest Passage with Spencer Tracy, then you’ve seen 1945’s Objective, Burma!, which tells the same story, with Flynn leading his squad as Captain Nelson. Though I doubt anyone would argue that Flynn’s a better actor than Tracy, this one is ultimately more entertaining (though a little too long). Rounding out the set is 1948’s Adventures of Don Juan, and who better to take the role of the world’s most famous womanizing swordsman? Considering his own reputation and behavior, he’s arguably just playing a version of himself. And that’s just fine, because the movie’s a hell of a lot of fun.

Again, none of the Blu-rays in this collection are new. The restorations and transfers (generally pretty excellent) are identical to previous releases, as are the bonus features. Quantity and quality of the content varies, running the gamut from loaded (Robin Hood) to bare-bones (Santa Fe Trail). Robin Hood, Don Juan and The Sea Hawk also include “Warner Night at the Movies” as a great viewing option, with a cartoon, newsreel, short subject and trailers preceding the feature, just like the ol’ days. While the set isn't definitive, it's worth grabbing if you don't already have most of these particular titles.