We are in a very lucky period of boutique physical media collecting. There are so many excellent labels finding and curating some incredible films on Blu-ray and 4K UHD right now.
But where to start? You’re not particularly familiar with the label, and the films look and sound interesting but are little-seen gems that you’re not immediately au fait with. Don’t worry - we’ve got you.
In the ‘Where to start’ series, we’ll introduce boutique labels, give you a rundown on what they’re about, and make some recommendations for titles that make a good ‘in’. We’ll even tell you what you may like to check out next, if you’ve dug what you’ve seen so far.
So, let’s start with Radiance Films.
Radiance blends arthouse films with foreign films and underseen genre films. The films we’ll look at here first will have names and faces you’ll recognise, but often in films you may not have even known existed. Radiance also specialises in films from Japan, Italy and beyond, often in gorgeous box sets. Stick with us to the end, and we’ll pick a few of those out that would make good (and fun) places to start too.
Conveniently, everything is available to buy right here on the Limelight too, so we’ll be sure to include links as we go.
Let’s delve.
Keith Carradine (Cowboys & Aliens) and Shelley Duvall (The Shining) star in Thieves Like Us, a tale of Depression-era bank robbers in Mississippi from Robert Altman (The Player).
Holed up in a gas station after barely surviving a job, the youngest robber (Carradine) falls in love with the gas station owner’s daughter (Duvall) and the gang plot one last job before going their separate ways.
Likeable leads (Duvall is utterly charming), beautiful cinematography and score, and never going where you expect, Thieves Like Us is a sweetened mix of Bonnie and Clyde and Badlands.
Miami Blues is a violent crime black comedy, directed by George Armitage (Grosse Pointe Blank) and starring Fred Ward (Tremors), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Jessica Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight).
Sociopathic criminal Junior (Baldwin) struggles to go straight to impress his new girl (Jason Leigh) while on a crime spree using the badge and gun he stole from a cop (Ward).
Ward, Baldwin and Jason Leigh are all at the peak of their coolness in this genre-bending thrill ride that you will love if you’re a fan of GTA: Vice City.
Coastal horror Messiah of Evil is an atmospheric Lovecraftian masterpiece that you will certainly adore if you are a fan of seaside horror films like Dead and Buried, The Fog, and Offseason.
After a bravura opening that will have you glued to the edge of your seat, this literal nightmare from Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, the writers of American Grafitti, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Howard the Duck, is one you will never ever forget.
A sleazy LA revengeamatic that shows how scuzzy and scary those Hollywood streets used to be, Walking the Edge stars Robert Forster (Max Cherry in Jackie Brown) as a cabbie helping a woman get revenge on the scumbags that murdered her husband and son.
Co-starring Maniac’s Joe Spinell as the head baddie, this is a fast-paced revenge thriller that was clearly an influence on Quentin Tarantino - we won’t spoil it for you…
Todd Solonz’s first film flipped the teen movie on its head.
This excruciating comedy stars Heather Matarazzo (Randy’s sister in Scream 3) as the tragically named Dawn Wiener, a high school teen who just wants to be popular and to pull the lead singer of her brother’s garage band.
Welcome to the Dollhouse is a must for fans of Napoleon Dynamite and Heathers.
NEXT STEPS:
Any of the above would make a great entry point to the Radiance Films label, but if you enjoyed whatever you chose, what next?
Well, if you like Thieves Like Us, you should definitely check out A Man on His Knees. Miami Blues did it for you? Give Night of the Juggler a go. It’s on Radiance’s sub-label, Transmission, and a personal favourite starring James Brolin.
There is a lot of great horror on Radiance, so if you had a terrifying blast with Messiah of Evil, maybe try The Horrible Dr Hitchcock, Haxan or I vampiri? If Walking the Edge was the one for you, then try out the box set Hardboiled - three tough neo-noirs with a streak of wicked humour.
And, if you then get a taste for box sets, we’d recommend the ninja madness of the Shinobi sets, a big helping of World Noir, or some spooky and stylish Daei Gothic.
If you ever want more of a steer on titles from Radiance (or any other label) feel free to shoot us a message on socials, and happy viewing!