Copyright Screen Rant
If the popularity of physical media is waning, nobody told genre fans: Vinyl soundtracks and Blu-rays remain some of the most popular ways for lovers of horror, sci-fi and fantasy to showcase their fandom. (Then again, maybe it’s just me.) Just in time for Halloween, we’ve assembled a list of the best new Blu-rays and 4K releases for purchase. These follow the terrific and terrifically in-high-demand A Nightmare on Elm Street set that Warner Home Video released at the end of September, and are accompanied by a few other titles also worth seeking out, such as Shout Factory’s Nosferatu The Vampire (that's Werner Herzog's version, not Robert Eggers') and Jess Franco's jazzy, lurid 1972 giallo Death Packs A Suitcase. But take a look at what’s new on disc and pick up one or two to watch during the witching hour! I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) Jennifer Kayton Robinson’s legacy-quel to the original film of the same name offers some fun twists and turns involving O.G. cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., and harkens back to a time in the 1980s and ‘90s when comely teenagers frequently met with grisly fates at the end of a crazed killer’s weapon of choice. In addition to a handful of deleted and extended scenes, the disc includes two featurettes and reels for bloopers and outtakes. Weapons (Warner Home Video) Zach Cregger’s film about the unexpected, overnight disappearance of a class of schoolchildren mesmerized audiences upon its release earlier this year, and watching it at home only offers another chance to admire its cohesion and inventiveness (not to mention to get your pants scared off). The single-disc release includes three featurettes, including one focusing on Cregger and his approach to the genre as the onetime comedy maven continues to develop his voice as a horror filmmaker. Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate Collection (Universal Studios Home Entertainment) Alfred Hitchcock has been a mainstay of Universal’s home video library for decades, so the likelihood of collectors owning at least a few of these films already is possible. But who doesn’t want to see Psycho, Vertigo or The Birds in 4K? This new set not only offers 4K upgrades of 15 of his films, but pairs those stellar transfers with more than nine hours of bonus content and a 64-page collectible booklet. A must-have for any cinephile, whether you’re into horror or not. Eyes Without A Face (Criterion) Georges Franju’s 1960 film about a doctor developing a radical form of plastic surgery remains one of the most beautiful and haunting horror movies ever made. Its arrival on 4K only enhances the film’s inventive visual effects, and Criterion’s set not only carries over from its previous edition a ton of great extras (including a documentary about French slaughterhouses that is arguably more upsetting than the film) but an illustrated booklet featuring archival essays and a brand-new commentary track recorded by critic and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. Jacob’s Ladder (Lionsgate) An outlier among Adrian Lyne’s erotically-charged films, Jacob’s Ladder tells the story of an American infantryman who returns from Vietnam and begins experiencing strange and increasingly disturbing hallucinations. In addition to providing pristine 4K transfer of the movie, Lionsgate’s release adds the documentary “The Rungs of Jacob’s Ladder” to an expansive slate of extras including two commentary tracks and multiple featurettes and interviews. X Trilogy 4K (A24) Indie distributor A24 packages all three films in Ti West’s recent trilogy together for a gorgeous, grisly movie marathon starring Mia Goth. The collection marks the first physical release of X and Pearl on 4K in the U.S., and in addition to new commentaries and featurettes on each film, the collector’s edition packaging includes a 64-page booklet with essays, concept art, behind-the-scenes photography and more. Altered States (Criterion) Criminally underappreciated by the Film Twitter cognoscenti (at least in comparison to the higher-profile work of the likes of David Cronenberg and John Carpenter), Ken Russell’s first Hollywood production, about a researcher (William Hurt in his first film role) who subjects himself to a series of substance-fueled psychological experiments, is a visual odyssey and a thrillingly disturbing film. As always Criterion delivers a gorgeous new transfer of the film, while the disc includes a new audio commentary, archival interviews with the cast and crew, and a special featurette on the film’s visuals with a special effects designer. Fascination/ Shiver of the Vampires/ The Night Of The Hunted (Powerhouse Films) Known for beautifully-defined female characters, exquisite cinematography and hallucinatory storytelling, French filmmaker Jean Rollin is one of the horror genre’s masters who doesn’t receive as much attention or appreciation as many of its other longtime auteurs. Perhaps it’s because the availability of his work in the U.S. has been inconsistent, a problem Powerhouse intends to correct with these stunning new editions featuring 4K transfers. Each comes with tons of commentaries, interviews and much more. Especially if you like your thrills to have a sexy tinge, all three are absolutely worth a blind buy. Ms. 45 (Arrow Video) One of Abel Ferrara’s earliest films, Ms. 45 sits next to The New York Ripper and Maniac as one of the great NYC-centered horror films. The always-exceptional Arrow Video assembles a package worthy of its legacy, starting with a brand-new 4K restoration from the original camera negative, and bonus features that include new commentaries and featurettes focusing on insights from female critics about its complex portrait of female empowerment, as well as a library of interviews from key collaborators. Nightmare Alley (Criterion)
