Catnip Reviews: DEADMAN'S BARSTOOL, TMNT TRILOGY (4K) and HARLEY FLANAGAN: WIRED FOR CHAOS

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

DEADMAN’S BARSTOOL (Blu-Ray) - This ain’t your daddy’s Anchor Bay. Those of a certain age might fondly recall this boutique label was renowned as purveyors of B-movie horror and cult classics. These days, the label’s been putting out quirky, low-budget indies, most of which are an acquired taste. The black comedy, Deadman’s Barstool, is no exception. This one involves the disgruntled wife of a philandering televangelist who plots with his mistress to rob him blind, only to have their plans go up in smoke when he turns up dead. And that’s just the beginning of their problems. Not bad for a microbudgeted film by a writer-director (Dean Dempsey) with obvious cult aspirations, though he clearly loves his eclectic assortment of  characters more than you’re likely to. (2018/78 min/Anchor Bay). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TRILOGY (4K UHD) - I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact there are people pushing 50 who grew up watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on TV, then dragged their beleaguered parents to theaters to catch these - the original live-action trilogy - on the big screen. If you’re one of them, here’s a big ol’ box of nostalgia. This set collects Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, all given good 4K restorations. These films are definitely products of their time, and their crude charm will likely be lost on anyone raised on the later (and better) films. However, if they were a part of your childhood, it’s an enjoyable trip down memory lane. You also might end up chuckling at what you used to think was awesome (like Vanilla Ice). This three disc set also comes with a generous selection of new and archival bonus features, as well as some physical goodies to re-establish your fandom.  (1990-1993/278 min min/Arrow Video). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

HARLEY FLANAGAN: WIRED FOR CHAOS (Blu-ray/DVD) - Though I’ve occasionally enjoyed my share of punk rock over the years, I never really delved into the hardcore stuff, and prior to watching this film, had never heard of Harley Flanagan (founder of the band, Cro-Mags). But it’s also been my experience that the most interesting music docs have been those about artists I’m not familiar with. That being said, Wired for Chaos is a fascinating (and sometimes harrowing) look at the life of a guy who has lived, eaten and breathed the genre all his life. Flanagan himself candidly tells his own story, which includes a childhood I wouldn’t wish upon anybody. The film also features interviews and testimonials from a variety of musicians, artists and people who know him well. The movie didn’t make me want to rush out and buy a Cro-Mags record, but Flanagan’s perseverance and dedication to his craft is admirable. We also get the impression he’s lucky to still be alive. (2025/99 min/Lightyear Entertainment). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼

THE POOP SCOOP: Battle & Boogie Edition

BOOGIE NIGHTS on 4K on 12/16 from Warner Bros. The film features an all-star ensemble cast, including Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, Nicole Ari Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Written and directed by Anderson, the film is produced by Lloyd Levin, John Lyons, Anderson, and JoAnne Sellar. Boogie Nights will be available to purchase on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Fandango at Home and more. 

BATTLE ROYALE 25th Anniversary 4K/Blu-ray SteelBook Coming 12/9 from Lionsgate. In the near future, the economy has collapsed, unemployment has soared, and juvenile crime has exploded. Fearful of their nation’s youth, the Japanese government passes The BR Law: Each year, a 9th grade class is sent to a remote island where they will be locked into exploding neck collars, given a random weapon, and forced to hunt and kill each other until there is only one survivor left. Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill) and screen legend Takeshi Kitano (Ghost in the Shell) star in the movie that has been argued, acclaimed, and banned around the world. Presented in 4K for the first time on its 25th anniversary, it remains one of the most savage, shocking, and emotionally powerful films of all time.

The Original TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Trilogy on 4K and Blu-ray 12/16 from Arrow Video. Martial arts mayhem rises from the sewers when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy makes its global 4K UHD debut. The three films are live action with realistic animatronic costumes created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles features a brand 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director Steve Barron. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III feature 4K restorations of the films from the 35mm interpositives by Arrow Films. The Limited Edition boxset is overflowing with hours of special features, collectible packaging, and newly commissioned extras. There is also a Blu-ray release.

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER on Digital 11/14 and Blu-ray, 4K & DVD 1/20/2026 from Warner Bros. Written, directed and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Academy Award and BAFTA winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti. 

PRIDE & PREJUDICE 20th Anniversary Edition Coming 11/23 on 4K from Universal. The exclusive Pride & Prejudice 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition includes a beautifully curated 42-page book filled with behind-the-scenes photos, a foreword written by Director Joe Wright, excerpts from cast and crew, behind-the-scenes photos, and much more!

HOWARD’S END on Blu-ray & DVD 11/18 from Cohen Media Group. A gorgeous 4K restoration from the original negative, overseen and approved by director James Ivory and cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts. 

DANTE’S PEAK is Finally Coming to 4K/Blu-ray on 12/16 from Kino Lorber. Who will survive when the inferno unleashes its fury? The answer will leave you breathless, and the special effects will blow you away! 

CHAIN REACTIONS Blu-ray Mediabook Blu-ray December 2 from Dark Sky Films. Fifty years after Tobe Hooper’s classic shocked the world, 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. 

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..

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. 

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), and intervenes to show him that money can't solve all his problems. 

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.

Catnip Reviews: SHAKESPEARE'S SH*TSTORM, THE OGRE OF ATHENS, AIRPORT 4-FILM COLLECTION

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

SHAKRESPEARE’S SHITSTORM (4K UHD/Blu-Ray) - If Dick Clark was the “World’s Oldest Teenager,” then Lloyd Kaufman is unquestionably the world’s oldest 12 year old boy. His sense of humor hasn’t changed one whit since first assuming the throne of low-budget bad taste in 1984 with The Toxic Avenger. If anything, he’s since plunged to new depths of immaturity, as demonstrated with Shakespeare’s Shitstorm. If nothing else, the title is accurate. Traces of The Tempest can be found if you squint hard enough, while massive amounts of spewing excrement are the catalyst to what can loosely be called a plot. Elsewhere, there’s plenty of the juvenile, scatological, gross out gags that helped build Kaufman's empire, along with heavy-handed “satire” attacking modern political correctness with the subtlety of a jackhammer. But I’ll give the Troma team props for one thing…Blu-ray & 4K releases of their titles are generally loaded with bonus material and this one is no exception. (2020/94 min/Troma Entertainment). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼

THE OGRE OF ATHENS (Blu-ray) - In this 1956 obscurity, Thomas (Dinos Iliopoulos) is a lonely, nebbish banker who is suddenly mistaken for The Ogre, a notorious criminal who’s been terrorizing the city of Athens. But upon a chance meeting with a sultry dancer, he ends up falling-in with a crew of small time gangsters who are planning a big heist, believing Thomas to be The Ogre himself. Along the way, Thomas strikes up a friendship with another young dancer who’s unhappy with her life. Considered a milestone in Greek cinema, The Ogre of Athens features fine moments of perceptive human drama, charming comedy and even some film noir touches. Well worth seeking out, this disc also comes with a few supplements that offer valuable historical context.  (1956/104 min/Radiance Films). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😺😺😺

AIRPORT - THE COMPLETE 4-FILM COLLECTION (Blu-ray) - This set is a disaster lover’s dream. Obviously products of their time - when disaster movies were plentiful and profitable - none of them are works of art, but remain tons of melodramatic fun...occasionally at their own expense. While the original Airport is widely considered the best one (and credited for popularizing the genre to begin with), I’ve always been more partial to Airport 1975 and Airport ‘77, both of which are more action driven. As for The Concorde - Airport ‘79…it’s still a morbidly fascinating, unintentionally hilarious train wreck. All four films have been given terrific 4K restorations, so they look and sound great, though I do wish more effort was put into providing some substantial bonus material. There’s a booklet featuring a perfunctory essay, along with insightful new audio commentaries for each, but considering their cultural impact of ‘70s cinema (for better or worse), surely they deserve a bit more. (1970-1979/470 min/Kino Lorber). KITTY CONSENSUS: 😼😼😼😼

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.

TRAILER

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.

TRAILER

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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