Has anyone ever told you how addictive buying DVDs is? Well, believe me, it’s hard to quit.

Not that I would want to. I’ve been very fortunate lately when it comes to finding cheap or reasonably priced DVDs to add to my collection, so there’s no need to quit when this is such an affordable pastime.

In recent days I’ve picked up titles such as Somewhere in Time, The Wave, and Darkness. Films like these aren’t amongst the usual crop of discs that are found at charity shops or second hand stores, so I’ve been making the most of what I can, when I can.

Below are further examples of what I’ve managed to pick up recently from trips to two different UK charity shops.

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Nowhere to Run (1993) – DVD

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rosanna Arquette, Kieran Culkin, and Ted Levine star in this ‘90s action film. Robert Harmon directs.

The blurb reads: “Action superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme has nowhere to run and nothing to lose. An escaped prisoner hiding from the authorities, Sam Gillen (Van Damme) always manages to be in the wrong place at the right time. Risking his hard-fought freedom, he aids a beautiful young widow, Clydie (Rosanna Arquette – Buffalo 66, Pulp Fiction) and her children, against a ruthless developer who’s trying to drive them off their land.

“Hunted by both the police and the developer’s hired killers, Sam pulls no punches in his furious fight for survival – he’ll do anything to protect the family who are protecting him. The result is more hard-hitting, high kicking Van Damme action than you’ve ever seen!”

Bonus features: Theatrical Trailer; Filmographies; DVD Trailer.

Condition: Wham, bam, excellent condition Van Damme!

Cost: 20p (five for £1). 

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Fairly likely. Van Damme movies tend to crop up quite often in charity shops. That said, I’ve not come across Nowhere to Run before – it’s usually one of Van Damme’s other films.

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The Complete Matrix Trilogy (1999 – 2003) – DVD Collection

Trio of sci-fi films from The Wachowskis. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne star. 

The blurb reads: “The Matrix: Perception: The Everyday world is real. Reality: That world is a hoax, an elaborate deception spun by all-powerful machines of artificial intelligence that control us. Mind blowing stunts. Techno slamming visuals. Mega-kick action.

“The Matrix: Reloaded: Sentinels swarm. Smith clones. Neo flies… but perhaps not even a Chosen One gifted with astonishing new powers can stop the advance of the Machines. Neo. Morpheus. Trinity. They’re back for the powerful second chapter of The Matrix Trilogy, and exciting new allies join them in the struggle against foes who are cloned, upgraded and closing in on humanity’s last enclave.

“The Matrix: Revolutions: Neo. Trinity. Morpheus. They and other heroes stand on the brink of victory or annihilation in the epic war against the Machines in the stunning final chapter of The Matrix Trilogy. For Neo that means going where no human has dared – into the heart of Machine City and into a cataclysmic showdown with the exponentially more powerful renegade programme Smith.”

Bonus features: HBO First Look Special: Making The Matrix; Follow the White Rabbit and Take The Red Pills for More Mysterious, Mind-Bending Extras; Filmographies.

Condition: Three films/discs in great condition, housed within a triple case, and complete with outer slip. 

Cost: 20p (five for £1). Yep, 20p for three films! What’s that, 6p a film? Madness!

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: The Matrix films are quite common in charity shops – especially Reloaded and Revolutions. It’s little less common to find a three-disc set for this price, but it happens.

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Wrong Turn (2003) – DVD

‘00s slasher starring Buffy the Vampire Slayer favourite, Eliza Dushku. Rob Schmidt directs.

The blurb reads: “Something strange is happening deep in the woods… but no one’s lived to tell about it. Chris Finn (Desmond Harrington, Ghost Ship) is on his way to an interview, but when he is faced with a huge backup in traffic, he makes a U-turn, taking a shortcut to avoid the traffic… but he has just made the biggest mistake of his life. This wrong turn may be the last turn he ever takes!

“After crashing into the car of a group of young friends lead by Jessie (Eliza Dushku, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), an indescribable nightmare begins. Stranded on an isolated road deep in the woods there seems to be no hope of rescue.

“When the friends encounter a group of monstrous mountain men with murder and mayhem on their minds, they must escape from a fate worse than death.

“As the grisly tension gathers in manic pace and shifts into high homicidal gear, only the strongest will survive…”

Bonus features: Audio Commentary; The Making of Wrong Turn; Fresh Meat: The Wounds of Wrong Turn Featurette; Eliza Dushku – Babe in the Woods; Stan Winston Featurette; Extended and Deleted Scenes; Poster Gallery; Theatrical Trailer; Scene Selection; Interactive Menus.

Condition: As new.

Cost: 20p (five for £1).

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Fairly likely. Early ‘00s horror tends to appear on charity shop shelves quite often, and Wrong Turn was a popular DVD from around this time, so it isn’t difficult to come by.

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Agatha Christie – Poirot: Feature Length Collection (1992 – 2010) – DVD Collection

Trio of feature-length Poirot tales, starring David Suchet.

The blurb reads: “Murder on the Orient Express: One of Agatha Christie’s best loved murder mysteries, this new production is directed by BAFTA winner Philip Martin. Travelling from Istanbul to London on the famous Orient Express train Poirot is asked by Samuel Ratchett to provide him with protection against an unnamed threat. Heather refuses but when Ratchett is found murdered Poirot vows to find the killer. Starring Dame Eileen Atkins, Hugh Bonneville, David Morrissey, and Barbara Hershey.

“Death on the Nile: A lavish murder mystery adapted from Agatha Christie’s most famous crime thriller. Shot in stunning locations, Death on the Nile is set aboard a Nile cruise where, against Poirot’s advice, a heartbroken Jacqueline De Bellefort has joined the trip to stalk her former fiancé and his new heiress wife. When the unfortunate heiress is found shot in the head, Jacqueline has the perfect alibi after being locked in her cabin for attacking her ex-love. Starring Emily Blunt, JJ Field, James Fox, and David Soul. 

“The ABC Murders: A is for Andover, the town where Mrs Ascher is found battered to death. B is for Bexhill, where Betty Barnard is strangled. C is for Churston, the tiny Devonshire village where Sir Carmichael Clarke is murdered. Beside each body lies a copy of the ABC Railway Guide – open at the relevant page. The police are baffled. But the murderer has already made a grave mistake. He has challenged Hercule Poirot to unmask him. Starring Nicholas Farrell, Peter Penry-Jones, and Donald Sumpter.” 

Bonus features: David Suchet on the Orient Express – Documentary; Murder on the Orient Express – Behind the Scenes; Death on the Nile – Cast & Crew Interviews.

Condition: Excellent, as new.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). Absolute bargain! The David Suchet Poirot stories are brilliant, so to get three films/discs in one set for 20p is insanity! 

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Low, but not unlikely. Poirot DVDs do crop up from time-to-time, however, you would expect to pay more than 20p.

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Money Monster (2016) – DVD

Crime thriller starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Jodie Foster directs.

The blurb reads: “In this real-time, high-stakes thriller, George Clooney and Julia Roberts star as financial TV host Lee Gates and his producer, Patty, who are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor who has lost everything (Jack O’Connell) forcefully takes over their studio. During a tense stand-off broadcast to millions on live TV, Lee and Patty must work furiously against the clock to unravel the mystery behind a conspiracy at the heart of today’s fast-paced, high-tech global markets.”

Bonus features: Deleted Scenes; George Clooney: The Money Man; Inside the Pressure Cooker; Analysis of a Scene: The Showdown; Dan the Automator (feat. Del the Funky Homosapien) ‘What Makes the World Go Round (MONEY!)’ Music Video.

Condition: Good condition.

Cost: £1.99. This DVD came from Oxfam in Manchester City Centre. This particular Oxfam (and maybe others?) prices its items much higher than many other charity shops – sometimes ridiculously so! 

However, as Money Monster isn’t currently available on disc in the UK, I was willing to pay £1.99.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Not that likely. I’ve personally not come across Money Monster in any charity shop. It is a film from 2016 (a period where less people were buying DVDs), so it’s not something that is in abundance, like some other films.

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Spider-Man 3 (2007) – DVD

Third entry in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, and Topher Grace star, while the villains include Sandman and Venom.

The blurb reads: “Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it also transforms Peter, bringing out a dark, vengeful side that he struggles to control.

“He must now battle his inner demons as two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace), gather unparalleled power and a thirst for revenge which threatens Peter and everyone he loves.”

Bonus features: (Disc One) Main Feature; Commentary with Sam Raimi & Cast; Filmmakers Commentary; (Disc Two) Grains of Sand: Building Sandman; Re-Imagining the Goblin; Covered in Black: Creating Venom; Hanging On… Gwen Stacy & the Collapsing Floor; Fighting, Flying & Driving: The Stunts; Tangled Web: The Love Triangles of Spider-Man 3; Wall of Water; Inside the Editing Room; The Science of Sound; On Location New York: From Rooftops to Backstreets; On Location Cleveland: The Chase on Euclid Avenue; Photo Galleries; Snow Patrol: ‘Signal Fire’ – Music Video.

Condition: Excellent, as new.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). 

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: The Spider-Man movies (even the Tom

Holland entries) tend to pop up quite regularly in UK charity shops. Quite possibly because Spidey is popular, meaning lots of people own Spider-Man DVDs, and therefore many get donated to charity.

Now, that said, while I’ve seen Spider-Man 3 quite a few times on the shelves, the discs are never in a good condition. However, this one looked brand-new, so I felt compelled to pick it up.

Plus who can resist the cover? OK, I’ll admit it: I bought this DVD purely based on the cover alone.

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Another fruitful trip to the charity shops. Between the Poirot triple, The Matrix Trilogy, and the single films, I picked up ten movies.

The total cost? Just 2.99!

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