Also out: Evan Almighty meets Emmanuelle and more.

28 Weeks Later

28 Weeks Later Courtesy of Fox Atomic

Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo takes over for 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle in this blood-soaked sequel, and delivers much more than just a cheap franchise cash-in. Weeks, like any good sequel, broadens the scope of the original, while at the same time amping up the tension, the scares, and the red stuff. Starring Trainspotting alum Robert Carlyle and Sunshine's Rose Byrne, Weeks picks up, well, 196 days after the original. The U.S. military has managed to salvage a small piece of London as its inhabitants try desperately to return to something vaguely resembling normalcy. Like all best laid plans, things go awry…very quickly. Rage-infected ghouls infiltrate the Eden, and the few survivors find themselves on the run once again.

The DVD comes equipped with some surprisingly well-crafted extras — even the perfunctory behind-the-scenes docs seem to have been done with an effort toward avoiding Access Hollywood–style fluff. But the most original features are two shorts entitled "28 Days Later: The Aftermath — Stage 1, Development" and "28 Days Later: The Aftermath — Stage 3, Decimation." Taken from the Fox Atomic graphic novel series, these animated shorts ("Development" is literally a moving comic book, with word balloons and text boxes) act as bridges between the two films and boast some engaging eye candy (particularly "Decimation"). If you're not squeamish, this should be on your radar. (Buy 28 Weeks Later at Amazon.)

Poltergeist

Poltergeist: 25th Anniversary Edition

Considering that this paranormal classic last saw the inside of a DVD case in 1997 (in a flimsy edition that had no extras and a paltry Dolby 2.0 sound option), it's about time someone polished it off and gave it another go. We only wish Warners had dug a little deeper.

In case you don't recall, Poltergeist was the simple tale of girl meets spirits in her TV, spirits attack girl's brother with trees and clown dolls, girl's house discovered to have been built on a cemetery. Rumors have always swirled around the shoot (allegedly, writer and producer Spielberg all but took over for director Hooper, for reasons that could range from simple creative differences to Hooper's alleged drug problems, depending on the gossip you come across), so it's not a shock that the extra features don't explore the making of the movie at all. But, still, only two special-feature docs, both generic featurettes on the paranormal? We expect more from an anniversary edition, quite frankly. Where are the commentaries? How about cast retrospectives? You mean to tell us you couldn't scare up Craig T. Nelson or JoBeth Williams?

At least the new digital transfer of the film is nice, and it should replace the '97 version in your collection. (Buy Poltergeist: 25th Anniversary Edition at Amazon.)

Black Sheep

Following in the gross-out footsteps of Peter Jackson, young Kiwi director Jonathan King is hoping his horror-comedy Black Sheep will kick start his career like Bad Taste and Meet the Feebles did for the once and future Hobbit wrangler. And it damn well should.

Poltergeist Courtesy of IFC Films

Taking a tongue-in-cheek page from 28 Days Later, Black Sheep begins with a pair of idealistic environmental activists attempting to disrupt a New Zealand farm accused of genetically tampering with its sheep. Of course, things are worse than even they could have imagined, and what follows is a gory joke-fest filled with rabid sheep and, eventually, rampaging were-sheep. It's gross, but all in good fun. Sheep prove to be the perfect analog for zombies, and King rarely misses a chance to poke fun at the genre.

The Weinstein Company gave King plenty of room to have more fun on the DVD, resulting in a great package (assuming the movie was your cup of tea to begin with). King even shot a "surprise" short called "Early Morning" that we won't spoil here. King also delivers a commentary not only on the film, but also on the deleted scenes. For those who like their gore rubbery, cartoonish, and broken up with genuine laughs, this may be the pick of this litter. (Buy Black Sheep at Amazon.)