I get it. The transfer for this Dog Soldiers Blu-ray leaves a lot to be desired, and I admit I had to watch it twice in order to decide whether or not I was okay with it myself. In the end, I give Scream! Factory props. They’ve done what they could here while also assembling a set of special features and extras that do this underrated gem proud.

Slow West is a superior Western featuring superlative performances from Fassbender and Smit-McPhee and one that builds to a magnificent climax that stopped my heart cold. A tragically little seen gem released to theaters earlier this summer with too little in the way of fanfare, here’s hoping its reputation continues to grow now that it’s available on DVD and Blu-ray.

I’m glad I gave Dark Summer a second chance, I truly am. Even so, that doesn’t make it any less of a misfire. Some good moments aside, this film just doesn’t do it for me. That said, Scream! Factory has gone above and beyond in regards to this release, technical specification and special features for the Blu-ray strong all across the board.

While Kenner’s viewpoints are largely never in doubt, he still does a terrific job of staying objective as he interviews some of the worst offenders as far as all this rhetorical wheeling and dealing is concerned. What’s more, he allows them to state their case free of embellishment or shading from him, most more than willing to admit the truth behind their verbal nonsense, some even going so far as to be openly euphoric about just how talented they are at creating doubt where in all reality there shouldn’t be any.

It’s creepy, upsetting, emotional and fascinating, all pretty much at the same time, and if ever a movie could make the case for its style being enough to compensate for its lack of substance [The Cell (2000)] would arguably be it.

Anchored by a stupendous, marvelously intricate performance from its star, [Gemma Bovery] is a sprightly, introspectively fearless wonder that goes to some pretty dark places yet does so with a somewhat surprising amount of levity. It’s an odd amalgamation of comedy, drama and tragedy all melded into one gleefully anarchic whole, and as such it’s a joy to watch opening frame to last.

But for those who do like this type of thing, who are open to all its icky, sticky, gruesomely sadistic, blood-slathered charms, Diez has done a nice job of giving Aresty’s script life. [Stung] builds well, has some superb set pieces and offers up a relatively winning climax I was perfectly satisfied with.

Alien Outpost holds up surprisingly well the second time around. While not a great or terribly profound motion picture, it’s still far more entertaining than it maybe has any right to be, and as such I’m quite happy to add the Blu-ray to my personal library.

[Magic Mike XXL] is a blast, an animated shot of bare-chested adrenaline that’s easy to drink and even more satisfying to savor, the sequel stripping inhibitions to the point they vanish leaving only pleasure behind.