New on DVD: 'Jungleland' pulls no punches

A heartbreaking tale of a boxer and his brother tops the new DVD releases for the week of Jan. 12. "Jungleland": The Kaminski brothers (Charlie Hunnam and Jack O'Connell) are in dire straits. Their story begins with a familiar morning routine sequence unfolding as manager Stanley (Hunnam) prods younger brother and star boxer Walter (O'Connell) out of bed and gets him ready to hit the gym. But in a grim twist on the old adage about what happens when God closes a door, an exterior shot reveals their home has been repossessed, the front entrance barred, the brothers forced to exit via rolling out the window. Walter (ring name "Lion") shows promise in the illegal underground fighting world, but it's not paying the bills, and the brothers need cash, fast, as they owe gangster Pepper (Jonathan Majors) more than what they have. Pepper sends them on a cross-country road trip from Massachusetts to Jungleland, a bare-knuckle fight in San Francisco with a six-digit prize. The catch? They must also transport a young woman, Sky (Jessica Barden), who has more secrets than one, to a mob boss in Reno, Nevada. The script, written by Theodore B. Bressman, David Branson Smith and director Max Winkler, hits the familiar underworld crime-boss beats. But it's elevated by Hunnam's and O'Connell's performances. Hunnam is the quintessential overprotective, at-times abusive older sibling, but his facial expressions reveal layers of guilt, love and sacrifice, while O'Connell's sensitivity sits powerfully on the surface. Tragedy strikes in equal parts from bad luck and quick decisions driven by desperation. Forgiveness leaves one brother victorious and the other down and out. Sometimes having someone in one's corner is enough. And sometimes it isn't. ALSO NEW ON DVD TUESDAY "American Dream": A pair of entrepreneurs (Michiel Huisman and Luke Bracey) face the wrath of a Russian mobster (Nick Stahl) after refusing his money. "Average Joe": A superhero team joins forces with a regular guy (Jason Sedillo) to take down an evil nemesis. "Beyond Hell": A woman (Kearsten Johansson) experiences a new level of hell after trying out a drug and becoming possessed by a murderous demon. "Legacies: The Complete Second Season": The CW fantasy series returns after Hope (Danielle Rose Russell) has given up everything to save the world. "Lupin III: The First": Animated film follows the familiar manga character as he embarks upon a journey to decipher the Bresson Diary. In Japanese. "Manifest: The Complete Second Season": Hit NBC drama continues with the mysteries of Flight 828 and its transported-to-the-future passengers. "Monsoon": A man (Henry Golding) returns to Vietnam decades after fleeing during wartime. In English and Vietnamese. "Skylines": A captain (Lindsey Morgan) and her crew race to save the human race after a virus pits people against aliens. "Spell": After a mysterious plane crash, a pilot (Omari Hardwick) must escape from an attic of a sinister woman (Loretta Devine). "The Twilight Zone: Season Two": The Jordan Peele-hosted reboot of the classic anthology series returns with guest stars Jimmi Simpson, Kristin Lehman, Jurnee Smollett, Joel McHale, Tony Hale, Damon Wayans Jr., George Takei, Gillian Jacobs and many more. OUT ON DIGITAL HD TUESDAY "Batman: Soul of the Dragon": Animated film follows Batman on a mission to find a missing martial arts teacher. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray Jan. 26. "Horizon Line": Exes (Alexander Dreymon and Allison Williams) on a flight to a destination wedding fight to survive after their pilot dies of a heart attack. Out on DVD and Blu-ray Feb. 16. "Jonathan Scott's Power Trip": Documentary explores the inequality of solar energy availability throughout the U.S. "Synchronic": Paramedics Steve and Dennis (Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan) make a horrifying discovery about a psychedelic drug following a series of crime scenes and the disappearance of Dennis' daughter. Available on DVD and Blu-ray Jan. 26. OUT ON DIGITAL HD FRIDAY "Don't Tell a Soul": While chasing teenage brothers (Jack Dylan Grazer and Fionn Whitehead) who have stolen thousands of dollars, a security guard (Rainn Wilson) falls into a well. ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC