(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, January 26th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, January 29th, 2010!)

THIS WEEK’S NOTABLE DVD & BLU-RAY RELEASES:

Pontypool [DVD] – Finally, you don’t have to rely on Blockbuster to see this fantastic quasi-zombie film. Set in a small, quiet, snowy town called Pontypool (located somewhere in Canada), this film focuses on a handful of people in a radio station that bear witness to a strange plague that is turning the locals into mindless killers. What makes this different from other “infected” and zombie films is the method of infection: The English language. Certain words just sort of “click” with people and turn them into enraged psychopaths. Naturally, this does not bode well for the folks that are confined, and broadcasting from, a radio station! I had the pleasure of watching this late last year, and thoroughly enjoyed its originality and amazing performance by Stephen McHattie. “Pontypool” easily gets my recommendation. As for extras and disc specs…. I have no idea. At the very least, expect widescreen picture, 5.1 surround sound, a trailer, and maybe a commentary and/or a few featurettes.

Rifftrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space LIVE! [DVD] – I am tempted to buy this just to recall the great time I had at the live nationwide screening of this show! Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett hilariously eviscerated Ed Wood’s sci-fi “classic” before a live audience in Nashville, Tennessee and transmitted their first-class riffing to roughly five-hundred theaters. If you weren’t lucky enough to catch the show last October, here’s your chance to enjoy it in the comfort of your own home! Also includes a hilarious short called “Flying Stewardesses,” a musical interlude with Jonathan Coulton, and other fun goodies!

Surrogates [DVD & Blu-ray] – Bruce Willis stars in this neglected and overlooked sci-fi film as a federal agent out to solve a murder in a world where nearly everyone walking around is a robotic “avatar” used by real people who are safely living at home. (Sort of like a mixture of “I, Robot” and “Gamer.”) The Blu-ray disc is packed with extras including deleted scenes, audio commentary with Director Jonathan Mostow, “I Will Not Bow” music video by Breaking Benjamin, and two featurettes. The DVD offers significantly less with only the director’s commentary and Breaking Benjamin music video as extra features. Both feature the same 2.40:1 widescreen transfer, but naturally the Blu-ray will look and sound better.

The Toolbox Murders [Blu-ray] – A deranged handyman begins slaying the “immoral” women living in his apartment building with any and all of the tools in his possession, including: claw-hammers, screwdrivers, power drills, and a friggin’ nailgun! All of this slasher goodness is featured uncut in a fully restored high-def transfer made from the original negatives! This fantastic release from Blue Underground includes the following extras: TV Spots, Radio Spots, Original Theatrical trailer, an interview with Star Marianne Walter, and an audio commentary with producer Tony Didio, Director of Photography Gary Graver, and star Pamela Ferdin. I’ve always been curious about this title, so maybe now is the time to pick it up and see this exploitation classic in perfect crystal clarity!

Troma’s War (Tromasterpiece Edition) [DVD] – A jetliner crashes into the coast of a secluded Caribbean island that is home to an army of terrorists who plan on taking over the United States. Armed with only their wits, the survivors of the plane crash battle the forces of evil in this twisted and ridiculously violent Troma classic! Extras on this disc include: Audio commentary by Lloyd Kaufman (ported over from 1998 DVD release), interviews with cast & crew during the film’s 10th anniversary celebration, the original theatrical trailer, Kill-O-Meter option that allows you to see all 300+ deaths in under ten minutes, and a handful of other throwaway extras. It’s worth buying if you’re a Troma fan and don’t own this flick, but otherwise, just stick with the good ole fashioned DVD release from ’98!

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THIS WEEK’S CULT BLU-RAY RELEASES:
* Surrogates
* The Toolbox Murders

THIS WEEK’S CULT DVD RELEASES:
8 Million Dollars
2081 | Based on Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”
Adventures of Robin Hood (Collector’s Tin with 20 Episodes)
Bad Biology
Birthday Mail / Kokurri-San
Blade of the Immortal: No Virtue in Forgiveness Volume 3
Cult Horror Collection (The Skull, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, The Deadly Bees)
Demonic Toys 2
Doctor Death Seeker of Souls
Dolph Lundgren Triple Feature (Direct Action, Retrograde, Direct Contact)
The Double Born
Fireball
Five Element Ninjas
Godkiller: Walk Among Us #2
Hard Revenge Milly: Hyper Violence Collection
Ikki Touson Dragon Destiny, Volume 2
InAlienable
Lady Ninja Kasumi Volume 5
Lost City Raiders
Madness
Naruto Shippuden: Box Set 1
Neo Angelique Abyss: Season 1
* Pontypool
* Rifftrax: Plan 9 From Outer Space LIVE!
Rifftrax: Planet of Dinosaurs
Rifftrax: Shorts-tacular Shorts-stravaganza
Rifftrax: Voodoo Man
Rifftrax: Wild World of Shorts
Sands of Destruction: The Complete Series
* Surrogates
Tears of Tiara: Collection 2
* Troma’s War (Tromasterpiece Collection)
Wushu

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:
Nothing new this week. But have no fear because you can still go see Daybreakers, The Book of Eli, and/or Legion.

That’s all folks! Next week promises more nothingness at the box office, but have no fear because “The Wolf Man” is finally arriving on February 12th! Despite the continued respite of theatrical goodness, your wallets (and purses) may be hard pressed next week because several quality flicks are hitting DVD and Blu-ray, such as Zombieland, Ong-Bak 2, Planet Hulk, and Universal Soldier: Regeneration! Check back next week for the complete list of mouth-watering DVDs and Blu-rays! – Vault Master