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Universal Will Release ‘The Hunt’ and ‘The Invisible Man’ on VOD This Friday
We had been wondering how studios would respond to movie theaters being shut down to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, with many speculating that this would force the major players to test out straight-to-VOD options for new releases. Universal is the first to take the plunge, Deadline reports, with plans to release two big new horror movies to VOD this week.
Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man and Craig Zobel’s The Hunt, both Blumhouse productions, will both be released onto VOD outlets this Friday, March 20th.
The Invisible Man already had a profitable box office run beginning in February, making over $120 million worldwide, but The Hunt‘s release this past weekend unfortunately came at a time when many had already made the decision to stay out of their local theaters. It was doomed at the box office, but the VOD option will allow Universal to bounce back a bit.
Best of all, the bold move will allow us to watch the movies safely within our own homes.
The films will be available for “on-demand 48-hour rental at the suggested price of $19.99.” Deadline adds, “This is both for domestic and offshore markets where the titles are in release.”
“Universal Pictures has a broad and diverse range of movies with 2020 being no exception. Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable,” said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell. “We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible.”
No word yet on how many movies will eventually go this route. Stay tuned.
One of contemporary horror’s best werewolf movies is 2017’s Good Manners, and it’s finally set to receive a proper physical media release.
Icarus Films is partnering with OCN Distribution to unleash a new Blu-ray that’s now available to preorder via Vinegar Syndrome. and with a limited edition slipcover.
Set in São Paulo, the film follows Clara, a lonely nurse from the outskirts of the city who is hired by mysterious and wealthy Ana to be the nanny of her soon to be born child. Against all odds, the two women develop a strong bond. But a fateful night marked by a full moon changes their plans.
Good Manners is the second collaboration between filmmakers Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra, who write and direct. Zama’s Rui Poças‘ cinematography captures this unique werewolf tale described as “Disney meets Jacques Tourneur.”
Our own Trace Thurman wrote in his review, “With Good Manners, Rojas and Dutro have made one of the best werewolf movies ever made. That they are able juggle commentaries on racism and classism while still managing to tell two deeply affecting love stories is remarkable.”
BONUS FEATURES:
- Commentary from film critics Shelagh Rowan-Legg and Carolyn Mauricette
- 12-page booklet with an essay by film critic Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer
- Making-of short film: The Making of a Werewolf (2 mins)
- Two additional short films from the filmmakers: A STEM (15 mins), directed by Juliana Rojas & Marco Dutras, and DOPPELGANGER (24 mins), directed by Juliana Rojas
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