Gothic horror meets a metal vibe in the top new DVD picks for the week of May 5.
• “Gretel & Hansel”: We all know this one… Starving siblings Gretel and Hansel (Sophia Lillis and Samuel Leakey) seek out food and shelter in the woods and find hospitality from a witch (Alice Krige) who has evil intentions. But this version, directed by Oz Perkins, injects new ideas to the familiar tale, aided in great part by its uniquely creepy aesthetics. The score by Robin Coudert (aka Rob) integrates dark metal guitar-dominating hits with a moody full orchestra, while the dark cinematography by Galo Olivares and production design by Jeremy Reed — not to mention some magic mushrooms — steer the audience into upside-down “Alice in Wonderland” tonal territory.
Some of the dialogue comes off as stilted and a bit clunky, which makes it difficult to get to know the characters beyond surface level, and some plot points don’t quite feel authentic to the created world. But whether intentional or not, altogether these elements make the film a great escape.
Also new on DVD
• “Arkansas”: Two criminals face off with a drug lord. Stars Liam Hemsworth, Vivica A. Fox, John Malkovich and Vince Vaughn.
• “Bloodshot”: After a Marine (Vin Diesel) is resurrected as a biotechnical weapon, he seeks revenge against the person who murdered him and his wife.
• “Garth Brooks: The Road I’m On”: Documentary follows the country star.
• “Gunsmoke: The Final Season”/”Gunsmoke: The Complete Series”: The CBS Western series about Kansas Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) developed from a radio show and ran from 1955 to 1975.
• “Greed”: A retail mogul (Steve Coogan) attempts to salvage his reputation by throwing a lavish party.
• “Humans: Complete Collection”: The British sci-fi series takes place in a world where humanoids are purchased for household use. Stars William Hurt, Katherine Parkinson, Colin Morgan, Rebecca Front and Gemma Chan.
• “I Still Believe”: Based on a true story, Christian singer Jeremy Camp (KJ Apa) falls in love with a woman (Britt Robertson) who falls ill.
• “The Jesus Rolls”: The “Big Lebowski” spinoff follows bowler Jesus Quintana (John Turturro).
• “Lancaster Skies”: In 1944 Berlin, a British pilot (Kris Saddler) leads a bomber crew.
• “The Lodge”: A woman (Riley Keough) faces escalating horrors after getting trapped in a blizzard with her boyfriend’s two children.
• “Ordinary Love”: A longtime married couple (Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville) is forced to navigate the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.
• “Ray Donovan: The Seventh Season”: The final season of the hit Showtime series about a Hollywood elite fixer (Liev Schreiber).
“Tigers Are Not Afraid”: A girl (Paola Lara) joins a street gang after losing her mother. In Spanish.
Digital HD
• “Arde Madrid: Burn Madrid Burn”: Dramedy follows a 1960s Ava Gardner (Debi Mazar) on a trip to Madrid. In Spanish.
• “Better Days”: While struggling with exams, a teenage girl finds a protector in an elusive man. In Mandarin and English.
