New DVD Arrivals

Here’s a sampling of what’s new in DVD. Click an image for availability.

Hotel Transylvania (Rated PG) Samurai Jack’s Genndy Tartakovsky directed this animated tale concerning a hotel where monsters such as Dracula (voice of Adam Sandler), the Invisible Man (David Spade), Frankenstein (Kevin James), and his bride (Fran Drescher), along with a host of others, head to relax from a world full of humans. When a young man (Andy Samberg) stumbles onto the resort and falls for Drac’s teenage daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez), comedy high jinks ensue. Cee Lo Green, Steve Buscemi, and Molly Shannon also lend their voices.

Paranormal Activity 4 (Unrated) The Paranormal Activity film series continues with this fourth entry from Paramount Pictures and returning directors of the previous outing, Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. This time, the cell phones and computer cameras are focused on a teenage girl (Kathryn Newton) whose family allow a young boy in their neighborhood named Robbie (Brady Allen) to stay with them while his mom is sick. Soon after, eerie things start happening in the household, some of which focus on the girl’s younger brother Wyatt. As the bumps in the night become more pronounced, the mysteries surrounding Robbie’s family and the house across the street grow to the point where the only thing for the teen girl to do is investigate herself.

Pitch Perfect (Rated PG-13) A feisty coed joins a collegiate a cappella group and upgrades their song selection for the 21st century during the run-up to a major competition in this melodic comedy from Tony-nominated Avenue Q director Jason Moore. Drifting past the various cliques after arriving at college, Beca (Anna Kendrick) pays more attention to the jams pumping in her headphones than the people she passes on her way to class. But all that changes the moment she stumbles into the one place where every misfit has a voice — the campus a cappella group. Although the competition amongst the singers proves surprisingly fierce, there’s just one aspect of the group Beca can’t wrap her head around: All of the songs they perform are at least a decade old. Convinced that they can do better by adding some contemporary tunes into the mix, Beca whips up an exciting new set list that will set the group apart and leave their rivals in the dust. Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, and Rebel Wilson co-star.

Seven Psychopaths (Rated R) Three friends (Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, and Sam Rockwell) incur the wrath of a violent L.A. gangster (Woody Harrelson) by kidnapping his prized shih tzu in this black comedy from In Bruges director Martin McDonagh. Aspiring screenwriter Marty (Farrell) has a brilliant screenplay called Seven Psychopaths floating around in his head; unfortunately he’s usually to hungover to make any real progress on it. Meanwhile, Marty’s best friend Billy (Rockwell) has some great ideas for the story, but he’s reluctant to offer input without invitation. A down-on-his-luck actor, Billy pays his rent by running a lucrative dognapping scam with smooth-talking Hans (Walken). Just when frustrated Marty begins to fear that all of his ideas have dried up, however, Billy shows up with an adorable shih zhu swiped from a quick-tempered gangster (Harrelson), and a desperate trip into the desert finds the ideas flowing like drinks at an open bar.

Won’t Back Down (Rated PG) Two headstrong mothers (Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis) wage a valiant struggle to save their children’s troubled inner-city school, but find their forward-thinking efforts hampered at every turn by apathy and systematic bureaucracy. Holly Hunter, Rosie Perez, and Ving Rhames co-star.

Plot synopses from Amazon.