BEAST OF WAR: A Solid Slab of Sharksploitation

BEAST OF WAR (Blu-ray)

2025 / 87 min

Well Go USA

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bigger Boat😸

Ah…another day, another low budget shark movie.

I generally don’t mind reviewing these things, because even the bad ones (which is most of ‘em) are usually good for a few shits & giggles, often at their own expense. And like many of you, I never go in expecting another Jaws because that’s never gonna happen.

Beast of War hails from Australia and purports to be “based on a true story.” Fans of ferocious fish probably don’t care how much of the “true” part ends up in the movie, as long as there’s plenty of shark action, which this one eventually serves up in abundance.

I say eventually because the first act takes time to introduce its main characters. Set during World War II, a squad of new recruits are training for an upcoming mission. Leo (David Coles Smith) is an indigenous Australian haunted by a past tragedy involving a shark, Will (Joel Nankervis) is a smart but inexperienced young man who Leo takes under his wing, and Des (Sam Delich) is a racist, self-aggrandizing bully. Though other characters mostly exist to be fish food, the narrative does an excellent job fleshing out these three, assuring that we’re invested in their survival…or horrible deaths. 

A Farewell to Arm.

On the way to the mission, the troop’s ship is torpedoed by Japanese forces and sinks, stranding a half-dozen survivors on a slab of debris in the middle of the Pacific. They have little food and no fresh water, but their more immediate concern lurks under the surface: a great white shark that might just be the hungriest fish in movie history, relentlessly stalking these guys and putting the bitedown on anyone unfortunate enough to end up in the water.

Because bad shark movies far outweigh the good ones, I kept waiting for Beast of War to descend into silliness or stupidity, but it never does. Though there are lapses in plausibility, it was around the halfway point that I found myself thinking, Hey, this is actually pretty good. Sometimes really good, in fact. In addition to engaging characters and decent overall performances, writer-director Kiah Roache-Turner manages to create plenty of tension and atmosphere despite obvious budgetary limitations. Best of all, this one doesn’t appear to rely too much on CGI. The shark isn’t always convincing, but at least we feel it’s physically sharing the screen with the cast. Additionally, the attack scenes are brutal and bloody, punctuated by pretty realistic gore effects. 

I don’t know much much of this true story is actually true, nor do I care. What ultimately matters is that Beast of War is a surprisingly solid slab of sharksploitation. Running a lean 87 minutes, it benefits from a brisk pace, and other than an amusing aside depicting how these guys manage to solve their thirst problem, a mostly serious approach to its premise.

FLASH POINT: Donnie Yen vs. Emma Thompson

FLASH POINT (Blu-ray)

2007 / 88 min

Well Go USA

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Brawler😸

As a reviewer of physical media, I often need to determine the order that I watch and write about the discs I’m sent, especially when a bunch arrive all at once (which happens a lot). Usually, I place priority on titles that are probably more anticipated than others. For example, the revered, Oscar-winning Merchant Ivory classic, Howard’s End, is finally being released on 4K UHD. Conversely, Well Go USA is putting out a Blu-ray re-issue of the 2007 Hong Kong fightfest, Flash Point.

But I must confess my review schedule sometimes depends on my own personal preferences. Of course, Howard’s End is a fine film…aesthetically elegant and boasting fine performances by a respected cast. However, neither Emma Thompson nor Anthony Hopkins are capable of putting a beatdown like Donnie Yen, Louis Koo and Collin Chou. So on this particular night, the Schlegels and Wilcoxes would have to wait. In my house, Donnie Yen movies almost always get placed at the top of the stack (even old Donnie Yen movies).

Not that all of his movies are good. Yen has made plenty of shitty ones, too. But when he’s on, you’d be hard-pressed to name another action star more dedicated to bringing the pain for our amusement, even in flicks with plots that could be summarized on a cocktail napkin. Fortunately, Flash Point is a good one. 

Donnie remembered to pack his angry eyes.

Yen plays Inspector Ma Jun, whose brutal methods frequently run afoul of his captain, which makes him sort of a Hong Kong Dirty Harry. He and partner Wilson (Louis Koo) are working to bring down a trio of violent sibling Vietnamese gangsters. After one of the brothers is apprehended, the other two target anyone whose testimony could convict him (including Wilson, who had infiltrated the gang until his cover was blown).

Though the plot would probably require both sides of that cocktail napkin, Flash Point is largely driven by violent action, which it delivers quite well. Bits of personal drama tend to stall the momentum at times, but for the most part, the film serves up fights, gunplay and chases with aplomb. Yen’s considerable skills are on full display here, especially during two extended fight sequences. But while Yen choreographs those scenes himself, he’s not the entire show here. Koo and Collin Chou both enjoy their fare share of consummate asskicking, especially the latter.

Still, it’s mostly Donnie Yen who makes the movie memorable, because even when not delivering blows or blasting bad guys, he’s always been an engaging actor. Flash Point doesn’t rank among his greatest films, but it’s solid entertainment that delivers plenty of exciting action. And in my house, there’s always time for movie like this. Merchant Ivory can wait.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MAKING OF FEATURETTE - Unlike the 5 minute promos Well Go USA typically offers, this one runs 20 minutes.

SHOOTING DIARY

DELETED SCENES

TRAILERS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION

PRISONER OF WAR: Scott Adkins, the Pizza Man

PRISONER OF WAR (Blu-ray)

2025 / 113 min

Well Go USA

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Brawler😼

My wife works a couple of evenings a week, and on those days, I am tasked with making dinner. Being the creative culinary Jedi that I am, that means we’re having frozen pizza on Thursdays. It may not be as delicious as some of the fancier pizzerias in town, but it’s cheap, easy and does its job of tasting more or less like a pizza.

When it comes to action movies, Scott Adkins is kinda like the guy who actually makes the pizzas we passively consume once a week. There’s nothing particularly outstanding or memorable about the B-movie brawls he stars in, but more often than not, you can count on them doing the job of serving-up perfunctory action, violence and, of course, Adkins' considerable martial arts skills. 

For Prisoner of War, the title and cover art tells all, just as the photo on that pizza box shows what it’s supposed look like once it's heated up. Here, Adkins plays British WWII fighter pilot James Wright, who gets shot down and ends up in a Japanese prison camp run by sadistic colonel Benjiro Ito (Peter Shinkoda). But instead of executing him - though he threatens to daily - Ito repeatedly forces Wright to fight other Japanese soldiers. Unsurprisingly, Wright whips their asses every time.

This pizza man delivers...pain.

Meanwhile, Wright hatches an escape plan with his fellow POWs, some of whom are provided personalities, but this is mostly just the Scott Adkins show. That oughta suit his fans just fine, who’d probably be just as happy if the film had him fighting his way out of a staff meeting that could’ve been an email. And unlike some of his direct-to-video contemporaries, Adkins is a fairly decent actor, so when not snapping limbs, at least he’s capable of delivering his lines without making the viewer cringe.

Prisoners of War runs a little longer than necessary, especially with a superfluous prologue and epilogue. But for the most part, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from a Scott Adkins fightfest. Like the frozen pizza I heat up for the family every Thursday, we won’t give it another thought afterwards, but it’s adequately satisfying in the moment.

THE POOP SCOOP: Killers, Critters & Keanu

🪚CHAIN REACTIONS Blu-ray Mediabook Featuring 8 Rare + Legendary Versions of Texas Chain Saw Massacre on Blu-ray December 2 from Dark Sky Films. Fifty years after Tobe Hooper’s THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE shocked the world and forever changed the face of global cinema and popular culture, CHAIN REACTIONS charts the film’s profound impact and lasting influence on five great artists – Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller- Nicholas, Stephen King, and Karyn Kusama – through early memories, sensory experiences, and childhood trauma. By crafting a dynamic dialogue between contemporary footage and never-before-seen outtakes and delving into personal impressions triggered by distinct audiovisual formats (16mm, 35mm, VHS, digital), CHAIN REACTIONS goes to the heart of how a scruffy, no-budget independent film wormed its way into our collective nightmares and permanently altered the zeitgeist.

🙀THE BLACK PHONE 2 on Digital Now and Blu-ray and 4K December 23 from Universal. Director Scott Derickson (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) continues the nightmare with darker, deadlier, and more terrifying scenes than ever before as Ethan Hawke (First Reformed) returns to his most disturbing role as deranged serial killer The Grabber opposite Mason Thames (How to Tain Your Dragon franchise, Incoming) in his breakout feature film role as Finn. Expanding on the original short story by Joe Hill, “the rare sequel that’s scarier than its predecessor” (Gizmodo) and hailed by critics as “a cold blooded masterpiece” (Slasher Reviews) comes home with all-new bonus content when purchased at participating retailers, including seven deleted scenes and in-depth behind-the-scenes featurettes, bringing home even more intensity and shocking new scares and secrets.

🦈BEAST OF WAR on Blu-ray and DVD December 9 from Well Go USA. When their boat is sunk while crossing the Timor Sea during World War II, a young troop of Australian soldiers must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking life raft. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark. From Kiah Roache-Turner, director of Wyrmwood and Sting, comes this uniquely terrifying tale.

😺GOOD FORTUNE arrives 11/7 on Premium Digital and 12/9 on 4K and Blu-ray from Lionsgate. In Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, GOOD FORTUNE, a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) observes a struggling gig worker, Arj (Aziz Ansari), who is barely making ends meet in Los Angeles, and intervenes to show him that money can't solve all his problems. Gabriel swaps Arj’s life with a wealthy venture capitalist, Jeff (Seth Rogen), but the plan backfires when Arj is convinced his newfound wealth has, in fact, solved all his problems. As Arj refuses to switch back, Jeff is left without his fortune, Gabriel loses his wings, and all three are forced to confront what it truly means to be human.

SCARFACE and FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S, Two Epic 4K Collector’s Editions Arriving 11/11 from Universal. SCARFACE: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION - This newly remastered 4K edition is packed with exclusive bonus features and collectible packaging. FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION - Experience the global horror hit in stunning 4K with brand-new extras 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 novel is an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go?

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.

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES on 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.  

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.

IN VITRO: There's More Than Cows in Jack's Barn

IN VITRO (Blu-ray)

2024 / 88 min

Well Go USA

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Ballcrusher😺

Sometimes all you need is a cool idea, a couple of decent actors and a remote farmhouse. That’s pretty much all directors Will Howarth and Tom Mckeith had to work with anyway, and still managed to put together a nifty little lo-fi sci-fi film. In Vitro isn’t very flashy, but what it lacks in visual panache is compensated by an intriguing story, effective performances and pretty cool twist ending.

Taking place in the near future, where agriculture is a dying industry, Jack and Layla run a remote ranch and struggle to make ends meet. However, Jack (Ashley Zuckerman) has been experimenting with ways to genetically “grow” his own cows, hoping to sell the cloned cattle to local buyers. Layla (Talia Zucker, who co-wrote the screenplay) remains supportive, but she doesn’t appear very happy with her life, stuck maintaining the farm and taking care of Jack. She also misses their son, who’s away at boarding school.

"Not tonight, honey. You smell too beefy."

Then while investigating a disturbance in the barn, Layla discovers more than just cows. I won’t say what, but it’s a plot development I didn’t see coming. This revelation not-only horrifies Layla, it immediately changes the viewer’s perception of Jack. Where we once thought of him as simply self-absorbed and indifferent to her unhappiness, now he’s the film’s detestable antagonist with a twisted agenda, becoming more repellant as the story plays out.

In Vitro is slow going at first, perhaps intentionally in order to establish the couple’s drab existence. In essence, we tend to feel as bored and restless as Layla, at least until her discovery. The film doesn’t turn into an action fest - remaining pretty deliberately paced - but there’s new urgency and tension as Layla realizes the implications of what Jack’s doing…and why she needs to escape. But the best twist comes at the end, bringing In Vitro to a satisfying conclusion. The movie may lack a big budget, but big ideas, smart writing and a couple of interesting main characters make it worth checking out.

RESURRECTION ROAD: You've Seen Worse

RESURRECTION ROAD (Blu-ray)

2025 / 77 min

Well Go USA

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

While Resurrection Road is the second historically-based vampire movie released this year to feature a primarily African-American cast, don’t go in expecting another Sinners. This one is a low budget quickie with little else on its mind but bloodsucking and gory kills. But since it’s more of a horror-western, I wouldn’t consider it a rip-off, and with tempered expectations, there are worse ways to get your vampire fix.

Set during the Civil War, Barabbas (Malcolm Goodwin) is a condemned soldier offered a choice, lead a black battalion to destroy the guns at an enemy fortress, or be executed. Naturally, he accepts what’s essentially a suicide mission, especially after they discover the area is crawling with vampires. And not just any vampires…these bloodsuckers are the same confederates that attacked them in the woods on the way there. Worse yet, the head vampire, Quantrill (Michael Madsen), happens to be the officer who murdered Barabbas’ wife.

Hat envy.

Though never particularly scary or atmospheric, Resurrection Road boasts decent overall performances and some fun scenes of violent action (with pretty good make-up effects). There’s nothing here that’ll knock anyone’s socks off, but it’s proficiently directed, fast paced, and with a very brief running time, doesn’t stick around long enough to wear out its welcome.

Fans of the late Michael Madsen should be advised…despite prominent billing, he’s hardly in the movie at all and doesn’t exactly light up the screen when he finally does show up. However, Resurrection Road is the last movie to be released while he was alive, which might ultimately be what it’ll be remembered for. But for a low budget film destined to dwell in the lower reaches of a streaming menu, it’s an enjoyable enough time killer. 

STOWAWAY: Set Sail for Sleepiness

STOWAWAY (Blu-ray)

2022 / 94 min

Well Go USA

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😾

Maybe it’s just a matter of semantics, but while watching this film (and struggling to stay awake), I had this nagging question: Can you be a stowaway on-board a boat you already own? 

I suppose the question is irrelevant, but if the unfolding plot was even remotely engaging, I probably wouldn’t have continued pondering it. Stowaway is a lethargic, languid and lazy variation of the ol’ Die Hard formula, further hampered by lapses in logic and a budget that precludes it from even qualifying as dumb spectacle.

Ruby Rose plays plays Bella, a rebellious young drifter with your standard-issue history of bad decisions. She’s contacted by a man named Meeser (Frank Grillo), who informs Bella that her estranged father has died and left her a boat. Not just any boat, but a massive yacht worth millions. After explaining that he and her dad were old war buddies, Meeser hands her the keys, only for them to be taken away soon after by the boat’s captain, Lawson (Luis Da Silva), who explains that some paperwork needs to be finalized before she can actually stay there (so why was she handed the damn keys in the first place?).

"Cut yourself shaving?"

That doesn't stop Bella from picking up a guy in a bar, Michael (Patrick Schwarzenegger), and taking him back to the boat for a little late-night kanoodling. Meanwhile, a couple of heavily armed guys, aided by Lawson, commandeer the boat and take it out of the dock. It's later revealed they plan to crack the onboard safe for the $80 million supposedly stashed inside. Why they need to be at-sea to do this is never adequately explained, but after Michael is dispatched while trying to swim for help, Bella is trapped onboard to face them on her own.

Even with limited financial resources, there’s still some story potential here, which Stowaway squanders with ill-conceived characters, dumb plot contrivances and, worst of all, a snail’s pace. There also are way too many scenes of wide-eyed Bella hiding and ducking around corners before conveniently displaying fighting skills never previously even hinted at. These shortcomings are exacerbated by dim, drab cinematography that sometimes makes it difficult to even see what’s going on. 

A decent cast tries their best, but they can only do so much with such thin characters. Grillo comes off best, though his face sharing space on the Blu-ray cover spoils the movie’s biggest plot twist (not that we wouldn’t have seen it coming anyway). Nearly devoid of surprises or suspense, Stowaway might be a decent insomnia cure, but I wouldn't have kept questioning the definition of its title if the thing was a little more interesting.