Arrow Video is celebrating a batch of largely-forgotten direct-to-video action movies with Enter the Video Store: Video Vengeance, a new five-disc Blu-ray box set that puts the spotlight on cult revenge thrillers from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The biggest draw for many fans will likely be Joshua Tree (also released as Army of One), starring Dolph Lundgren as a man framed for murder who escapes prison and goes on the run while hunting the corrupt cop responsible for destroying his life. Directed by legendary stunt coordinator Vic Armstrong, the film receives a brand-new 2K restoration and includes both the R-rated theatrical version and the unrated cut through seamless branching.
But Joshua Tree is only one part of Arrow’s latest nostalgia trip. The collection also includes:
- Ministry of Vengeance (1989), starring John Schneider as a minister who trades the pulpit for an assault rifle after terrorists murder his family.
- The Final Alliance (1990), featuring David Hasselhoff as an ex-Marine battling a corrupt sheriff and a biker gang led by John Saxon.
- R.O.T.O.R. (1987), the infamous cult favorite about a rogue robotic police officer dispensing deadly justice across Texas.
- Hangfire (1991), with Brad Davis and Ken Foree teaming up against escaped convicts holding a family hostage.
Each film receives either a new or updated high-definition restoration along with a healthy slate of bonus features that include new audio commentaries, cast and crew interviews, visual essays, trailers, and image galleries. Joshua Tree also includes archival commentary with Vic Armstrong, new interviews with the director, alternate ending material, and retrospective featurettes. Check out the details on the Arrow Video website!
The limited edition package features newly commissioned artwork, reversible sleeves, and a collector’s book containing new essays on the films from Paul Lê, Jennie Kermode, Yasmina Ketita, Russell Lee, and John Torrani.
Arrow has built a reputation for giving overlooked genre titles the same deluxe treatment usually reserved for Hollywood classics, and Video Vengeance looks like another release aimed squarely at collectors who grew up browsing the action aisle at their local video store. I remember watching R.O.T.O.R. as a kid, but I think I missed out on the rest of these, and they all sound really cool.
Will you be picking up a copy of Enter the Video Store: Video Vengeance? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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