Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Well folks, 2024 is almost over and what a busy and productive year it has been here at Road Rash Headquarters. Christmastime has rolled around again and it’s time for the gift guide. As always, we’ve had lots and lots of fabulous releases to review and we are happy to present our favourites.
Whether you are looking for an epic box set or a stocking filler, there’s something in here for everybody. Pull on your best santa hat and Christmas jumper and let’s dive in.
First up this year, we’ll take a look at the new releases, which included the stylish and clever new horror Late Night With the Devil, ultra violent action thriller Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, gentle coming of age tale A Greyhound of a Girl and finally hilarious and brutal action film Boy Kills World.
5 stars
What would you do for ratings?
Late Night with the Devil is a 2024 found footage horror film, written and directed by Australian brothers Cameron and Colin Cairnes (Scare Campaign, 100 Bloody Acres).
Following its successful run in UK cinemas, this eagerly awaited horror is available in the UK on Limited Edition 4K Box set as well as Standard Edition Blu-ray from 28th October 2024,
...more4 Star
A Generation of Hate.
Ultra-violent, Ultra-exhilarating, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is based around the Kowloon Walled City, a Chinese ex-military base that became a lawless city of illegals and drug lords. This hemmed in city brings all the claustrophobia of tens of thousands of people living cheek-by-jowl, with only a bare glimpse of sunlight. This is all brought
...more4 stars, an emotional roller coaster of a film.
A Greyhound of a Girl is a 2024 animated family film based on the 2011 novel of the same name written by Roddy Doyle (The Commitments, Rosie). It is adapted for the big screen by Dave Ingham (Mini Bods, The Rubbish World of Dave Spud) and Enzo D’Alò (Pinocchio, Lucky and Zorba), who also directs. It is a
...more5 star brutal, bloody non-stop martial arts action.
Boy Kills World is a 2024 dystopian action comedy film, with a screenplay from Tyler Burton Smith (Child’s Play) and Arend Remmers (Snowflake, Dreamfactory), who also co-wrote the story, alongside Moritz Mohr, who makes a truly remarkable and accomplished feature directorial debut.
“That’s not a very good disguise. Butterflies don’t exactly blend in.”
Boy (Cameron
...moreMartial Arts enthusiasts have some treats to enjoy this year, with the release of the epic Shawscope Volume 3, featuring lots of Wuxia films, Horrible Histories with 4 epic Chinese tales and Broken Oath, showcasing the talents of Angela Mao.
5 Star
Wuxia Film Binge Time!
Arrow Video bring us the Shaw Brothers, Shawscope volume 3, packed with cult wuxia films with heroes and heroines, some with disabilities, some out for revenge. All fourteen films, directed by legends of the Hong Kong action genre. All-new exclusive restorations, in this amazing limited edition boxset, that would grace the bottom of any Festive tree
...more4 Star
The Fight is Real.
This two disk limited release from Eureka Classics brings four martial arts films from Shaw Brothers. All directed by the leading martial arts director of the 1970s and beyond, Chang Cheh (Bao chou, Ninja in Ancient China) who takes historical events and the struggles people have against their oppressors of the past. Now they are brought
...more4 Star
Revenge is in the Blood
Hong Kong, the nineteen-seventies belonged to the amazing talents of Angela Mao (Angela Mao: Hapkido & Lady Whirlwind, WHEN TAEKWONDO STRIKES, A Queen’s Ransom, THE SKYHAWK) and this Eureka Classics release brings this 1977 unofficial remake of Lady Snowblood 1973, where her talents come to the front to exact the revenge that was called upon
...moreThere have been so many great horror films this year that there’s no room to list them here, but be sure to check out our Halloween Guide 2024 for some ideas and here’s a must own released just in time for Christmas, Critters: A Four Course Feast.
5 star remastered gnashing bundle of fur and teeth.
Critters: A Four Course Feast! is a collection of all four of the films from the beloved critters franchise.
These ravenous and toothsome aliens make their UK Blu-ray debut with this Limited Edition box set on 2nd December 2024 courtesy of Arrow Video.
“They’re from outer space like Charlie says…Maybe they’re some government experiment
...moreFor the younger members of the family we have heart warming new film I.F. starring Ryan Reynolds, a re release of children’s classic The Secret of NIMH and a gloriously remastered 15th Anniversary release of the creepy Coraline.
4 star heartfelt and earnest children’s film.
IF is a 2024 American comedy drama fantasy film, written, directed and produced by John Krasinski (A Quiet Place Part II, The Office), who also stars.
It is available to buy now on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment.
“The most important stories we have to tell are the ones we tell ourselves.”
Bea (Cailey
...more4 star beautifully restored children’s classic.
The Secret of NIMH is a 1982 animated children’s fantasy adventure film, based on the 1971 novel, Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, written by Robert C. O’Brien. It is directed by Don Bluth (Anastasia, Titan A.E) and was his feature directorial debut following his departure from Disney.
Just in time for Christmas, it is
...more5 star brilliant 15th anniversary release.
Coraline is a 2009 American stop-motion animated gothic fantasy film, based on the 2002 novella of the same name written by Neil Gaiman (Good Omens, Stardust). It is adapted for the big screen and directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and produced by Studio Laika (Corpse Bride, Kubo
...moreLast and by no means least, ideal for a nostalgic stocking filler, there have been absolutely loads of remastered classics released this year and here is our pick of the best.
Classic sci-fi Demolition Man has received the 4K treatment, as has beloved hitman Leon, iconic mysteries The Third Man and An Inspector Calls, all time classic The Great Escape, epic road trip Convoy, the glorious fantasy collection When Titans Ruled the Earth and finally the thoroughly satisfying The Mexico Trilogy.
5 Star
Boom! And The Utopia Was Gone.
It’s time to go back to 1993 and see the blockbuster Demolition Man, directed by Marco Brambilla (Destricted, Excess Baggage). This is his first feature film, in a short career of feature films, but what a Sci-fi legacy he has left in this twist on the dystopian future. Where all is fine and dandy
...more5 Star
The Only Professional.
After Nikita, La Femme Nikita and before The Fifth Element, writer/director Luc Besson brought us the greatest hitman ever in Leon: The Professional. This was Luc Besson’s seminal work, making its lead actors household names in the Western hemisphere. Going from the brooding illiterate hitman, to the little lost girl and a DEA drug addled officer on
...more5 Star
What’s That in the Shadows.
This Graham Greene (The Fallen Idol, This Gun For Hire), Orson Welles (A Man for all Seasons, Citizen Kane) written masterpiece has been dubbed the greatest British film of all time, and who am I to argue against the sublime monochrome marvellous feat of cinematography by
Robert Krasker (El Cid, Brief Encounter) and direction by Carol
...more5 Star
Sim, ply Sublime.
Oh, what a joy it is to sit back and watch a vintage Alastair Sim (Scrooge, Inspector Hornleigh) mystery in 4K. This 1954 British Lion Films release was based on J. D. Priestly’s play of the same name, adapted for the screen by Desmond Davis, and skilfully directed by Guy Hamilton (Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, The
...more5 Star
The One, The Only.
In time for the festive period, Arrow Video brings out ‘The’ epic escape movie, in The Great Escape. WWII prisoners unite against their Nazi captors, to halt the German war machine. Directed by John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral), and filmed by cinematographer Daniel L. Fapp (West Side Story, Ice Station Zebra)
...more4 Star
Sticking It to the Man
The film is based on the 1975 country and western novelty song “Convoy” by C. W. McCall ( “Wolf Creek Pass”, “There Won’t Be No Country Music (There Won’t Be No Rock ‘n’ Roll)”). The film was made when the CB radio/trucking craze was at its peak in the United States, which lead to the
...more5 Star
A Kraken Box-set
Arrow Video brings us When Titans Ruled The Earth, a limited edition 4K UHD box-set that will blow your sandals off. The 2010–2012 versions of the tale of the demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington, Nine Bullets, Last Night). Worthington, hot on the heels of his success in Avatar, must fight and defy the gods and defeat Titans in
...more5 Star
Guitar cases and guns and a Very Big Mexican.
Arrow Video Brings you a four disc special edition of the trilogy that changed cinematic history, as El Mariachi was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. Robert Rodriguez (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,
...moreWell, there you have it, this year’s recommendations for your festive viewing pleasure. Get filling those stockings and on behalf of Road Rash Reviews we would like to wish all our readers a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!
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