October’s Blu-ray and 4K releases open with a monster plant and a classic murder mystery, both newly remastered and packed with bonus material.
Little Shop Of Horrors 4K
Frank Oz’s 1973 horror-comedy musical marks the 40th anniversary of its release with a remastered 4K edition. The story follows a sentient carnivorous alien plant, and the remaster includes Theatrical and Director’s Cuts alongside new bonus content featuring the cast, filmmakers, and the puppeteers behind Audrey II.
If you’ve never seen the darker ending of Oz’s version, the release makes that your first priority. The film has never looked better, but the ending is the real draw.
Death On The Nile 4K
Peter Ustinov plays a charming, if less-than-book-accurate, Hercule Poirot in this 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel. The film is widely regarded as one of the best Christie adaptations of all time, with an authentic Egyptian location and a cast that includes Maggie Smith, Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury, and Mia Farrow.
This edition includes a brand-new master from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, plus archival interviews with Ustinov and Jane Birkin, a making-of featurette, and an audio commentary by film historians. The film is delightfully old-fashioned without coming off as dated.
Bonus Content Worth Seeking Out
Both releases come with extensive extras. The Little Shop Of Horrors set features interviews with the cast and puppeteers, while the Death On The Nile release includes the Ustinov and Birkin interviews, the making-of featurette, and the audio commentary.
“Make that your first priority.”
What To Watch First
The month offers a clear choice. If you want dark humor, start with Little Shop Of Horrors and its director’s cut. If you want a classic mystery, Death On The Nile delivers a stacked cast and a new master from the original negative.
The Slate In Full
The full October slate runs deeper than these two titles.
Why October’s Releases Matter
The month pairs a beloved musical comedy with a classic murder mystery, both newly remastered and packed with bonus material. That combination is exactly what October was made for.
A Dark Ending You Should See
The Oz version of Little Shop Of Horrors is often passed over for the more familiar endings audiences know. This release brings back the director’s own vision, and the bonus content with the puppeteers adds a layer of insight into how the film was built. For fans who have only ever seen the standard cuts, this is the chance to see what Oz intended.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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