Dead Format — Issue 5: The Last Boy Scout gets its first US HD release, plus Solange, Blair Witch, Frankenhooker, and Peter Jackson in 4K

RELEASE OF THE WEEK

The Last Boy Scout (1991) — Arrow Video, 4K UHD Limited Edition | $35.00

The Last Boy Scout has never had a proper US home video release in high definition. No Blu-ray. Not a standard edition, not a collector edition, not even a bargain-bin disc. The film has spent 35 years on DVD and a 2010-era iTunes master. Arrow Video has now fixed that with a brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, approved by director of photography Ward Russell, with Dolby Vision and HDR10.

The film itself: Shane Black wrote it, Tony Scott directed it, and Bruce Willis plays the whole thing at maximum contempt for everyone in the frame. It is a nihilistic neo-noir action movie that should not work and somehow is close to perfect in its genre. The combination of that cult reputation and a genuine first-ever proper presentation is what makes this the obvious pick of the week.

Forum consensus on blu-ray.com (thread page 29, October 9, 2026) describes the film as looking "gorgeous" and rates it a "fairly safe blind buy." Early screenshots posted to highdefdiscnews.com on October 4, 2026 showed no noise reduction or color issues. Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD MA 5.1, and original restored lossless stereo are all present.

The limited edition includes a new audio commentary by Josh Nelson and Martyn Pedler, new interviews with Shane Black and actress Danielle Harris, extended and alternate scenes from a pre-release workprint, and a collectors' booklet with writing from Jedidiah Ayres, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Justin LaLiberty, Andrew Male, and Priscilla Page. Reversible sleeve with artwork by Sam Hadley.

Buy now: Open Frame Media — $34.99 | Brother Belial — $33.99 | Blu-ray LE — $27.99 at Brother Belial

QUICK HITS

What Have You Done to Solange? (1972) — Severin Films, 4K UHD | $49.00 (sale from $69.95) — BUY. The worldwide UHD premiere of Massimo Dallamano's essential giallo. 4K restoration from the original camera negative with HDR, original English and Italian audio, a bonus Ennio Morricone soundtrack CD, and 6 hours of bonus features across 4 discs. Severin is treating this like a flagship release. At $49.00 that is $20.95 off SRP. Buy direct. severinfilms.com

Frankenhooker (1990) — Synapse Films, 4K UHD Standard Edition | ~$25.95 — BUY. The limited slipcase LE sold out, but the standard 4K is at mass market now. 9.1/10 on UHD Reference. Dolby Vision, new Atmos remix. Frank Henenlotter's best film finally has a transfer to match. synapsefilms.com

Eclipse Series 5: The First Films of Samuel Fuller (1949–1951) — Criterion, Blu-ray | $38.49 — BUY. Criterion's relaunched Eclipse Series arrives on Blu-ray for the first time. Three Fuller features: I Shot Jesse James, The Baron of Arizona, The Steel Helmet. Essential for Fuller fans. This is Criterion preserving its own back catalog on disc, which matters. DeepDiscount — $38.49 | Open Frame Media — $41.99

Project Hail Mary (2026) — Amazon Exclusive Collector's Edition 4K Steelbook | ~$45+ — WAIT / BUY if you find stock. The Amazon-exclusive Steelbook CE (2 4K discs + Blu-ray) sold out its pre-order window and canceled excess orders. The standard 4K at $29.96 is the safe play. If you find the Steelbook in stock, that is the one to get — it will hit the secondary market fast. Amazon steelbook listing (check back)

SKIP OF THE WEEK

The Blair Witch Project: Definitive Collector's Edition (1999) — Lionsgate Limited, Blu-ray | $39.99 — conditional skip

The film and the package are both excellent. But if you already paid import prices for Second Sight's 2024 UK Limited Edition, this Lionsgate US edition adds little. The filmmaker-approved 2024 restored theatrical cut and the festival cut that are making their US debut here were already in the Second Sight set. The Lionsgate extras are new, the booklet is different, but the Second Sight package is still the more comprehensive boutique release. For US collectors who missed Second Sight, this is a clean buy. For import completists: hold your money.

LIMITED EDITION ALERT

The Frighteners (1996) — Arrow Video, 4K UHD Limited Edition | $35.00 pre-order (SRP $49.99)

October 27, 2026. Peter Jackson's pre-Lord of the Rings CGI horror-comedy gets its first-ever 4K treatment from a new scan. The Turbine 4K released in Germany and the UK had no Region A equivalent. This Arrow LE is it.

Arrow's package includes a 225-minute making-of documentary, reversible sleeve, booklet, and the full Arrow deep-spec treatment. Collector response has been strong. Pre-order now at $35.00 (saving $14.99 off the $49.99 SRP) before it moves to retail.

Pre-order: Arrow Video US — $35.00

BACK CATALOG PICK

Suspiria (1977) — Synapse Films, 4K UHD + Blu-ray | ~$41.97 (sale)

Synapse's 4K restoration of Suspiria remains the definitive home video presentation of the film. Scanned from the original 35mm IB Technicolor print with a completely rebuilt RGB/CMY color grade that preserves Argento's famous oversaturated primary palette. This is not a regraded negative transfer. It is a print-based restoration that recovers what earlier releases destroyed by normalizing the colors. Nothing else available touches it.

The Morricone/Goblin score gets a new 5.1 DTS-HD mix alongside the original mono. Synapse catalog titles go in and out of print. The sale price is not guaranteed into late fall. If you do not own this, buy it now.

Buy: MVD Shop — ~$41.97 (sale)

This week's paid section includes the $50 Pick, the Upgrade List, and five Best Buys. Subscribe to read them.

$50 PICK

What Have You Done to Solange? 4K — Severin Films — $49.00

For $49.00 you get the worldwide UHD premiere of one of giallo's essential films, restored from the original camera negative with HDR, a 4-disc set with English and Italian audio, six hours of bonus features, and a physical Ennio Morricone soundtrack CD. This is the version giallo collectors have been waiting years for. The 2015 Arrow Blu-ray was excellent; Severin has now answered what a proper 4K scan reveals. At $49.00 it is $20.95 below the $69.95 SRP. Buy it direct from Severin.

Buy: severinfilms.com — confirmed $49.00 sale price

THE UPGRADE LIST

Releases worth holding off on. Something better is coming.

BEST BUYS

1. The Last Boy Scout 4K LE — Arrow Video | $34.99 at openframemedia.co
First-ever US HD release of the film, new 4K scan from 35mm negative, Dolby Vision, full LE spec. Buy it this week. Open Frame Media

2. What Have You Done to Solange? 4K — Severin Films | $49.00 at severinfilms.com
World UHD premiere, 4-disc set, Morricone CD, 6 hours of features. Direct from Severin. severinfilms.com

3. Frankenhooker 4K Standard — Synapse Films | ~$25.95 at Amazon
9.1/10 UHD Reference, Dolby Vision, new Atmos, from original 35mm vault materials. synapsefilms.com

4. The Blair Witch Project Definitive CE — Lionsgate Limited | $39.99 at lionsgatelimited.com
US debut of restored theatrical and festival cuts, 2-disc Blu-ray, 104-page booklet. lionsgatelimited.com

5. Eclipse Series 5: The First Films of Samuel Fuller — Criterion | $38.49 at DeepDiscount
Criterion's Eclipse Blu-ray relaunch begins here. Three Fuller films, first time on Criterion Blu-ray. DeepDiscount