Blu-ray reviews: A Most Violent Year and The Babadook

A cautionary tale of greed versus profit and a story about a mother trying to control evil are my top picks in Blu-ray home entertainment this week.

A Most Violent Year (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Rated R, $24.99) — Writer and director J.C. Chandor’s 2014 period crime drama makes it way to home theaters and explores an immigrant entrepreneur’s attempt to embrace the American Dream within the corrupt home heating oil business.

The movie starred Oscar Isaac as Abel Morales, a business owner trying to avoid violence and looking to make the right decisions, and Jessica Chastain as a too-smart wife willing to do what it takes to keep their family protected and business afloat.

By the way, the title refers to New York City in 1981, one of the most violent years on record for the Big Apple, as the film’s slowly simmering plot plays out over two hours and touches on mob influences, oil thieves and an aggressive district attorney looking to sink Mr. Morale’s dream.

A digital transfer further highlights the grit and grime of the city and its boroughs — from the roads into the city clogged with traffic to meetings in poorly lit restaurants and a chase through the subway  — casting a yellowish green hue over much of urban environments.

The extras make it a worthy of purchase for the fan. The best of the bunch is an optional commentary track with Mr. Chandor and producers Neal Dodson and Ann Gerb. The group explains, and sometimes over explains, decisions on the production and story but delivers plenty of informative anecdotes.

Also, viewers get a 44-minute documentary on the film focusing on the Wild West mentality of New York City in 1981 and the production with lots of cast and crew interviews. Additionally, friends Mr. Isaac and Miss Chastain interview each for about 12 minutes talking about their intercrossing careers and mastering the craft of acting.

The Babadook: Special Edition (Shout! Factory, Rated R, $29.93) — The award-winning film about a widowed mother spiraling into madness with help from a recently acquired children’s book dazzled critics and terrified audiences last year.

Now on Blu-ray, the 90-minute shocker plays out like “The Shining” meets “Home Alone,” (sans any humor) while overloading viewers with disturbing, supernatural imagery as her socially challenged, imaginative 7-year-old son quickly realizes that the tome might be tied to recent problems with a monster that appears in his bedroom at night.

Under Jennifer Kent’s direction, both Essie Davis (at her frightening and frazzled best) as the mother and Noah Wiseman as the heroic son team up to deliver potent performances as the unimaginable horror reveals itself.

Although the film basks in gloomy drab tones, with scenes often played out in near darkness, the digital transfer keeps the details sharp when possible while the sound transfer (DTS-HD 5.1) helps propel the terror with ambient noises in the old house and creepy sound effects heralding the arrival of the monster.

This Blu-ray edition, contained in a package mimicking the book and complete with a pop-up illustration of the monster, includes a pair of extras worth a look.

First, the 10-minute, black-and-white short film by Miss Kent “Monster” provides the basis for the extended effort and, frankly, is much scarier.

Next, an hour’s worth of bare bones, one-on-one, cast and crew interviews feature plenty of time with Miss Kent as she explains near all facets of the making of the film.

Remember: “If it’s in a word, or in a look, you can’t get rid of the Babadook.”