It’s a packed week on physical media this week, thanks at least to one filmmaker. But Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski have plenty of good stuff for your libraries this week. They include one of the great filmmaking documentaries with Werner Herzog. There are a pair of Oscar-winning Best Pictures making their 4K debuts as well as a pair of Jim Carrey upgrades. Alex Winter’s ‘90s cult film gets an incredible new package and one of Peter’s favorite directors gets a package worth celebrating. If you’re a fan.6:05 - Criterion (Burden of Dreams (4K))13:02 - Lionsgate (The Descent 4K)18:10 - Kino (Frightmare)22:41 - Warner Bros. (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (4K))33:45 - Shout Factory (Spotlight (4K), Snowden (4K))46:24 - Drafthouse Films (Freaked (4K))54:35 - Arrow (The Mask (4K))1:05:16 - Universal (How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (4K), U-571 (4K))1:21:49 - Sony (The Luc Besson 9-Movie Collection (1983-2005) (4K))1:49:31 - New TV Titles On Blu-ray (Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way (4K), Creepshow: Complete Series (2019-2022), Two and a Half Men: The Complete Series, The Morning Show (Seasons 1 & 2))1:50:41 - New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (The Naked Gun (2025) (4K), Caught Stealing (4K), Together (4K), Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (4K), Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (4K), Freakier Friday, The Count of Monte Cristo, Him (4K), Eden, Red Sonja (2025))1:57:01 - New Blu-ray AnnouncementsSIGN UP FOR AUDIBLECLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outErik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten TomatoesCritics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, ILChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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1:58:37
Episode 609: If It Bleeds, We Can Milk It
Eight reviews are on the docket this week with Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. They include a film about a recording of a photographer telling us about their day (Peter Hujar’s Day). Steve covers many of the elements with a documentary about one of the biggest franchises ever (Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films) and the hunts for millions in the tundra (Ice Fall). Sydney Sweeney becomes one of the most successful female boxers ever (Christy) and Russell Crowe is on trial for being Hitler’s second-in-command (Nuremberg). A non-binary teenager is kicked out of their home (I Wish You All The Best). Jennifer Lawrence goes through hell after having a baby with Robert Pattinson (Die, My Love) and the antagonist becomes the protagonist in the continuing adventures of a 40+-year franchise – or two (Predator: Badlands).4:46 - Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films13:45 - Peter Hujar’s Day23:08 - Ice Fall30:21 - Christy41:37 - I Wish You All the Best51:10 - Nuremberg1:06:52 - Die, My Love1:21:02 - Predator: BadlandsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outErik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten TomatoesCritics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, ILChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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1:37:17
Episode 608: Baby, This Ain’t No Flare Gun
Its physical media time again on the show with Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski talking about the film that got Dillinger killed a pre-Lady Eve comic mystery with Barbary Stanwyck & Henry Fonda. Apple goes back to physical media to add an Oscar winner to your shelf. There’s an all-star cast in a late ‘70s Godfather wannabe plus Peter Hyams’ western in space. Tim Burton gets an upgrade for one of his very best films as does the great John Woo with an action film (and baby) for the ages. Plus Criterion upgrades their entry from the John Hughes era which the duo have a lot of thoughts on.3:50 - Criterion (The Breakfast Club (4K))19:34 - Apple (CODA 4K)30:17 - Warner Archive (Manhattan Melodrama, The Mad Miss Manton)43:11 - Cinematographe (King of the Gypsies 4K)52:13 - Disney (Edward Scissorhands (4K))1:04:35 - Arrow (Outland (4K))1:15:45 - Shout (Hard Boiled (4K))1:23:21 – New TV On Blu-ray (Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Legacy Collection, Happy’s Place: Season One)1:26:26 - New Blu-ray AnnouncementsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outErik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten TomatoesCritics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, ILChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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1:28:55
Episode 607: I’ve Glimpsed Our Future…Go Back
It’s Halloween weekend and there isn’t a lot of horror but Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy still have eight films to talk about. They include a documentary about an archbishop who wrote the gay disco anthem of the ‘70s (I Was Born This Way) and another true story about drugs, family and revenge in the Ozarks (Violent Ends). There are some holiday-themed titles including a daughter realizing her mom may have fallen into a cult (Self-Help) and an animated Frankenstein-esque tale for kids (Stitch Head). The director of Conclave has Colin Farrell gambling away in Macau (Ballad of a Small Player) and Nia DaCosta swaps race and gender in an updating of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play (Hedda). Diane Lane watches her family come apart in a new America (Anniversary) and the pair share their memories on the 40th anniversary of a masterpiece (Back to the Future).3:32 - I Was Born This Way13:44 - Self-Help21:53 - Stitch Head30:43 - Violent Ends42:14 - Ballad of a Small Player51:14 - Anniversary1:09:10 - Hedda1:20:33 - Back to the Future (40th Anniversary re-release)CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outErik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten TomatoesCritics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, ILChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
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1:29:18
Episode 606: Have You Read Sutter Cane?
It’s another week of horror, weirdness and cult titles on physical media but also another addition from our annual “Why Is This Not On Blu-ray?” shows. Erik Childress and Peter Sobczynski guide you through this week on physical media including the works of Dan Curtis, Richard Stanley and Guillermo Del Toro. Abel Ferrara’s infamous revenge picture gets the upgrade as does one of the great Godzilla films. John Carpenter’s best film of the ‘90s gets its due praise while there is a deep dive into one of the infamous slasher spoofs of the ’80s. Finally, Mike Nichols’ adaptation of an anti-war classic is reappraised with a deserving new transfer.4:00 - Criterion (Deep Crimson (4K), Nightmare Alley (2021) (4K))15:25 - Kino (The Cat and the Canary (1927) (4K), Dan Curtis’ Classic Monsters (1968-1974), Dead of Night, Dust Devil (4K))38:02 - Arrow (In the Mouth of Madness (4K), Ms. 45 (4K))55:20 - TerrorVision (Student Bodies 4K)1:16:14 - Shout (Shin Godzilla (4K), Catch-22 (4K))1:37:33 – New TV & Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (St. Denis Medical: Season One, The Day of the Jackal: Season One, The Toxic Avenger (2023), Americana, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Smurfs, Jimmy and Stiggs, Familiar Touch)1:42:18 - New Blu-ray AnnouncementsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outErik’s Weekly Box Office Column – At Rotten TomatoesCritics’ Classics Series – At Elk Grove Cinema in Elk Grove Village, ILChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik’s Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com
Movie Madness is a weekly podcast hosted by Chicago film critic Erik Childress presenting movie reviews, interviews, film festival coverage, DVDs, awards, box office and much more! erikthemovieman.substack.com