Crime Thriller

• Rope | DVD | (17/10/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  An experimental film masquerading as a standard Hollywood thriller. The plot of Rope is simple and based on a successful stage play: two young men (John Dall and Farley Granger) commit murder, more or less as an intellectual exercise. They hide the body in their large apartment, then throw a dinner party. Will the body be discovered? Director Alfred Hitchcock, fascinated by the possibilities of the long-take style, decided to shoot this story as though it were happening in one long, uninterrupted shot. Since the camera can only hold one 10-minute reel at a time, Hitchcock had to be creative when it came time to change reels, disguising the switches as the camera passed behind someone's back or moved behind a lamp. In later years Hitchcock wrote off the approach as misguided, and Rope may not be one of Hitchcock's top movies, but it's still a nail-biter. They don't call him the Master of Suspense for nothing. James Stewart, as a suspicious professor, marks his first starring role for Hitchcock, a collaboration that would lead to the masterpieces Rear Window and Vertigo. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com

• Blood Simple | DVD | (30/10/2017) from £7.55   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The debut film of director Joel Coen and his brother-producer Ethan Coen, 1983's Blood Simple is grisly comic noir that marries the feverish toughness of pulp thrillers with the ghoulishness of even pulpier horror. (Imagine the novels of Jim Thompson somehow fused with the comic tabloid Weird Tales and you get the idea.) The story concerns a Texas bar owner (Dan Hedaya) who hires a seedy private detective (M Emmett Walsh) to follow his cheating wife (Frances McDormand in her first film appearance) and then kill her and her lover (John Getz). The gumshoe turns the tables on his client and suddenly a bad situation gets much, much worse, with some violent goings-on that are as elemental as they are shocking. (A scene in which a character who has been buried alive suddenly emerges from his own grave instantly becomes an archetypal nightmare.) Shot by Barry Sonnenfeld before he became an A-list director in Hollywood, Blood Simple established the hyperreal look and feel of the Coens' productions (undoubtedly inspired a bit by filmmaker Sam Raimi, whose The Evil Dead had just been coedited by Joel). Sections of the film have proved to be an endurance test for art-house movie fans, particularly an extended climax that involves one shock after another but ends with a laugh at the absurdity of criminal ambition. This is definitely one of the triumphs of the 1980s and the American independent film scene in general. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

• Death Occurred Last Night (Limited Edition) | Blu Ray | (29/01/2024) from £15.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  A lonely widower appeals to the police to find his missing daughter. The sceptical police officer picks up the case but it becomes murder when her body is recovered. Now they must find the culprit before the vengeful father does first. Genre master Duccio Tessari (A Pistol for Ringo, The Bloodstained Butterfly) adapts Italy's premier noir writer Giorgio Scerbanenco for this investigative thriller. Death Occurred Last Night goes into methodical detail of the investigation before getting to the titular death, focusing much more on character and process. Raf Vallone (The Italian Job) gives a tortured performance as the father, while Frank Wolf (Once Upon a Time in the West) stars as the dedicated cop. Product FeaturesLIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURESHigh Definition digital transfer from the original camera negativeUncompressed mono PCM audioAudio essay by Francesco Massaccessi on the importance of Milan in Italian noirs of the period as well as Scerbanenco's character Duca Lamberti inside and outside his cinematic iterationsArchival interview with Chris Alexander Original trailerReversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original postersNew and improved English subtitle translation for Italian audio and English SDH for English audioLimited edition booklet by David SodergrenLimited edition of 3000 copies presented in full-height Scanavo packaging

• Alex Cross | DVD | (06/05/2013) from £8.75   |  Saving you £11.24 (128.46%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Having cornered the market on his signature brand of inspirational comedy, Tyler Perry makes a bid for action-movie supremacy with this grisly adaptation of author James Patterson's most popular character. Loosely based on the 12th novel in the series (2007's Cross), the plot follows the early days of the title character, a genius police detective/psychologist trying to clean up the mean streets of Detroit while keeping his family out of the line of fire. As he mulls over accepting a job with the FBI, he and his team are forced to match wits with a psychotic contract killer (Matthew Fox), who displays a disturbing commitment towards seeing his job through. Director Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious, XXX) knows this turf well, delivering an effective mix of creeping thriller sequences and go-for-broke action scenes. Faced with the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of Morgan Freeman (who played the character in Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider), Perry does a credible job in portraying both the tender and vengeful aspects of his character, even if the script often falls into the trap of having other characters exclaiming how brilliant Cross is, rather than letting the viewers see the deductive process for themselves. Based on his first attempt, any future entries in the franchise appear to be in good hands. Ultimately, however, the other elements of Alex Cross pale in comparison to Fox, who goes all out--and then some--in giving the audience someone to hiss at. He's shorn down to what appears to be a negative body-fat ratio, and occasionally literally froths at the mouth--and his dedication to creating a villain for the ages quickly overpowers the material. Once this freaky beanpole starts chewing the scenery, you'll be glad that the filmmakers decided against shooting in 3-D. --Andrew Wright

• Leon: The Definitive Edition SteelBook | Blu Ray | (02/12/2024) from £33.79   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  3 DISC EDITION CONTAINS A 4K DISC & 2 BLU-RAY DISCS.Jean Reno (Mission : Impossible, Ronin, The Crimson Rivers), Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour, Sid and Nancy, Romeo is Bleeding) and Natalie Portman (Black Swan, Closer, V for Vendetta) in her film debut, all star in this highly influential, seminal ˜90s action/thriller. Directed by Luc Besson (The Big Blue, Nikita, The Fifth Element), Leon is the controversial and unforgettable story of an unlikely friendship within a brutal and violent world. Twelve-year-old Mathilda lives within the desperate confines of a squalid New York apartment block. On returning from a shopping trip Mathilda finds that her abusive, dysfunctional family (and her beloved younger brother) have been slaughtered by a psychotic, drug dealing police officer. In fear for her life she takes refuge with her reluctant, mysterious and solitary neighbour. His name is Leon and he's one of the world's deadliest assassins. And while Mathilda begins to teach him how to live, Leon begins to teach her how to kill.Theatrical and Director's cuts in 4K UHD- Interview with AndréLabbouz, technicaldirector at Gaumont- Interview with Thierry Arbogast,cinematographer- Interview with Sylvie Landra, film editor- Interview with Alain Kruger, journalist

• Butterfly On A Wheel | DVD | (28/04/2008) from £5.38   |  Saving you £7.61 (58.60%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The taut psychological thriller "Butterfly on a Wheel" asks the question; what happens when your daughter's kidnapper decides he doesn't want the ransom money?

• The Rising | DVD | (11/07/2022) from £14.55   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The Rising is the story of Neve Kelly (Rugaard), who discovers that she is dead. She's scared and confused by this new existence. But, when she realizes she has been murdered, she's furious. She's determined to find her killer and get justice, believing that it was someone she knew. Impulsive and restless, Neve regrets never leaving her isolated community. And, as she comes to terms with her abilities, she begins to destabilize the lives of those she left behind. Particularly her estranged father, Tom (Matthew McNulty) and her beloved mother Maria (Emily Taaffe). Neve is a disruptive, unsettling hero who should not exist, and she needs to find her purpose. She takes us through the investigation into her death, going where the police can't. In the process she uncovers deeply buried secrets and is forced to re-examine everything about her life and the people she cared about. With nothing to lose but time, Neve will push for the truth even when it hurts. Her return forces everyone around her to change, confess, or start covering their tracks. But, it also reveals that there are others like her out there.

• Cold Eyes of Fear (Limited Edition 4K UHD) | Blu Ray | (26/06/2023) from £24.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Directed by Italian genre-film stalwart Enzo G Castellari (Inglorious Bastards), Cold Eyes of Fear (Gli occhi freddi della paura) is a tense and brutal thriller which features an all-star line-up, including Gianni Garko (If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death), Fernando Rey (The French Connection), Giovanna Ralli (What Have They Done to Your Daughters?), and Frank Wolff (Once Upon a Time in the West).When wealthy playboy Peter Flower picks up the beautiful Anna and takes her back to his uncle's house, he and his guest find that their plans for the evening are cut short by the shocking discovery of a corpse and the surprise appearance of a pair of violent criminals.With its vibrant London locations and discordant jazz score - composed by the great Ennio Morricone and performed by the legendary free-improvisation collective, Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza - this stylish home-invasion thriller is presented in an all-new 4K restoration from the original negative.Product FeaturesBrand-new 4K HDR restoration from the original negative by Powerhouse Films4K (2160p) UHD presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)Original English mono soundtrackAudio commentary with critics and authors David Flint and Adrian J Smith (2023)Directing Fear (2023): legendary director Enzo G Castellari looks back at the production and his experience of working with the actorsAn Italian in London (2023): actor Gianni Garko reflects on his role, and considers the film's place within his careerThe Men in the Editing Room (2023): assistant editor Gianfranco Amicucci recalls a creative collaborationLovely Jon on Ennio Morricone (2023): the DJ and soundtrack enthusiast dissects the film's experimental jazz scoreOriginal theatrical trailerImage gallery: promotional and publicity materialsNew and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearingLimited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Roberto Curti, a career-spanning archival interview with director Enzo G Castellari conducted by Mark Wickum, archival interviews with actors Gianni Garko and Giovanna Ralli, archival news reports on the death of actor Frank Wolff, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and full film creditsWorld premiere on 4K UHDLimited edition of 10,000 numbered units (6,000 4K UHDs and 4,000 Blu-rays) for the UK and USAll extras subject to change

• Eagle Eye | Blu Ray | (16/03/2009) from £7.85   |  Saving you £18.40 (279.21%)   |  RRP £24.99

  A young man and a single mom get tangled up in a terrorist cell plotting a political assassination.

• Fear Index | DVD | (18/07/2022) from £13.35   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Dr Alex Hoffman, a computer scientist and genius who is ready with a new AI product launch that promises big returns, but whose roll-out plans go awry. What follows is a journey through the worst 24 hours of his life cutting across reality, memory and paranoid fantasy, forcing him to question everything he sees with his own eyes. Adapted by Paul Andrew Williams and Caroline Bartleet, and directed by David Caffrey (The Alienist), the fast-paced four-part limited series also has Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie), Arsher Ali (The Ritual) and Grégory Montel (Call My Agent) in the cast.

• Shoot First, Die Later | Blu Ray | (19/05/2025) from £12.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  In Shoot First, Die Later, Luc Merenda (Torso) stars as Police Commissioner Domenico Malacarne, a young rising star in the force who is also taking bribes from the mob. A routine complaint comes through to a local station in which a lowly officer, Malacarne's father, takes the statement. Unbeknownst to Malacarne, the complaint implicates someone who the mob wishes to remain hidden, putting Malacarne in a difficult position with his father, who begins to suspect his son isn't the law-abiding official he was previously so proud of Another impressively action-packed thriller from poliziotteschi master Fernando Die Leo, Shoot First, Die Later is presented on Blu-ray in the UK for the first time. LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES High-Definition digital transfer from the original camera negative Optional Italian and English audio tracks, uncompressed mono PCM audio New audio commentary by film critic Travis Woods Archival interview with director Fernando Di Leo Archival interview with star Luc Merenda Italian and English trailers Reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original posters New and improved English subtitle translation for Italian audio and English SDH for English audio Limited edition booklet containing new writing by Sam Moore Limited edition of 3000 copies

• Venom: Let There Be Carnage - Steelbook with Amazon Exclusive Art Cards (2 disc UHD & BD) | Blu Ray | (03/01/2022) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Dark City | DVD | (01/10/1999) from £19.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  If you're a fan of brooding comic-book anti-heroes, got a nihilistic jolt from The Crow (1994) and share director Alex Proyas's highly developed preoccupation for style over substance, you might be tempted to call Dark City an instant classic of visual imagination. It's one of those films that exists in a world purely of its own making, setting its own rules and playing by them fairly, so that even its derivative elements (and there are quite a few) acquire their own specific uniqueness. Before long, however, the film becomes interesting only as a triumph of production design. And while that's certainly enough to grab your attention (Blade Runner is considered a classic, after all), it's painfully clear that Dark City has precious little heart and soul. One-dimensional characters are no match for the film's abundance of retro-futuristic style, so it's best to admire the latter on its own splendidly cinematic terms. Trivia buffs will be interested to know that the film's 50-plussets (partially inspired by German expressionism) were built at the Fox Film Studios in Sydney, Australia, home base of director Alex Proyas and producer Andrew Mason. The underground world depicted in the film required the largest indoor set ever built in Australia. --Jeff Shannon

• Cop Land | DVD | (22/01/2001) from £6.09   |  Saving you £11.90 (195.40%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Freddy Heflin (Stallone in a critically acclaimed performance) is a simple small-town Sheriff who had big dreams of becoming a New York City cop before a heroic deed left him deaf in one ear. Though he saved the life of the woman he loves (Annabella Sciorra - The Hand That Rocks The Cradle) she went on to marry someone else. But everything in Freddy's life is about to change! After he uncovers evidence of a murder fakes suicide and police tampering Freddy must choose between the men he idolises the woman he adores and the law he's sworn to defend.

• Escobar: Paradise Lost | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £8.98   |  Saving you £6.00 (85.84%)   |  RRP £12.99

  For Pablo Escobar (Benicio Del Toro), nothing is more important than family. When young surfer Nick (Josh Hutcherson) falls for Escobar's niece, he finds his life on the line when he's pulled into the dangerous world of the family business.

• Madeleine | DVD | (15/09/2008) from £9.98   |  Saving you £5.00 (62.58%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Lean's accomplished film of the famous Scottish Madeleine Smith case in which a woman from a wealthy family is accused of the murder of her lover.

• Bring Them Down | Blu Ray | (14/07/2025) from £12.89   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Starring Oscar-nominee Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) and Christopher Abbott (Possessor), BRING THEM DOWN is a tense and gripping thriller about two warring families set against the harsh landscape of rural west Ireland. When the ongoing rivalry between farmers Michael (Abbott) and Jack (Keoghan) suddenly escalates, it triggers a chain of events that take increasingly violent turns, leaving both families permanently altered. From award-winning first-time filmmaker Christopher Andrews and co-starring Colm Meaney, Paul Ready and Nora-Jane Noone, this is a fierce, muscular debut that signals a bold new cinematic voice.

• A Perfect Getaway | DVD | (18/01/2010) from £4.19   |  Saving you £11.80 (73.80%)   |  RRP £15.99

  One adventurous young couple on their honeymoon soon discover there's trouble in paradise as their backpacking retreat turns into a nightmarish game of survival.

• Phone Booth | DVD | (11/08/2003) from £5.99   |  Saving you £14.00 (233.72%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Colin Farrel stars as a slick publicist trapped in a New York City phone booth. After he picks up the ringing receiver a sniper warns him that if he hangs up he dies.

• VIY (Masters of Cinema) (Limited Edition) Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (15/03/2021) from £74.90   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Eureka Entertainment to release VIY [Вий], the ground-breaking gothic folktale made in Russia during the Soviet era, presented as a Limited Two-Disc Blu-ray Edition (3000 Copies Only) as a part of The Masters of Cinema Series from 15 March 2021. The Limited-Edition will feature a Bonus Disc containing A Holy Place (1990, dir. Djordje Kadijevic) and an exclusive O-Card Slipcase. Bursting with startling imagery and stunning practical effects courtesy of directors Konstantin Yershov, Georgi Kropachyov, and perhaps most notably, artistic director Aleksandr Ptushko (the legendary special effects artist whose spectacular stop-motion effects and innovative colour cinematography has seen him referred to as the Soviet equivalent of Willis O'Brien, Ray Harryhausen, and even Mario Bava), VIY has influenced generations of directors for more than half a century. In 19th century Russia, a seminary student is forced to spend three nights with the corpse of a beautiful young witch. But when she rises from the dead to seduce him, it will summon a nightmare of fear, desire, and the ultimate demonic mayhem. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present VIY in its UK debut on Blu-ray from a HD restoration of the original film elements. Exclusive to this Limited Edition, The Masters of Cinema series also presents director Djordje Kadijevic's A HOLY PLACE [Sveto mesto] for the first time ever on home video in the UK. Features: Exclusive O-Card Slipcase | 1080p presentation on Blu-ray | Original Russian mono audio | Optional English mono audio | Optional English subtitles and English SDH | Brand new audio commentary with film historian and eastern European cinema expert Michael Brooke | Brand new video essay on Russian novelist and VIY author Nikolai Gogol | Archival documentary on VIY | Three Russian silent film fragments, The Portrait [1915, 8 mins], The Queen of Spades [1916, 16 mins], and Satan Exultant [1917, 20 mins] | Newly commissioned sleeve artwork by Peter Savieri [TO BE REVEALED AT A LATER DATE] | PLUS: A Collector's Booklet featuring a new essay on Aleksandr Ptushko by Tim Lucas, and a new essay by Serbian writer and film critic Dejan Ognjanovic EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC: A HOLY PLACE [Sveto mesto] (1990, dir. Djordje Kadijevic) An adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's short story and a stunning example of Serbian Gothic cinema from director Djordje Kadijevic. Described by critic Dejan Ognjanovic as an unparalleled excess of perversity and terror | New Interview with A HOLY PLACE director Djordje Kadijevic (Limited Edition Exclusive Only)