‘Shape of Water’ casts a spell

“The Shape of Water” (2017, Fox, R, $30), the latest from Guillermo Del Toro (“Hellboy”), has many of the same plot devices as classic monster movies. But the filmmaker has turned those conventions inside out and upside down to create a stunning adventure that is part Cold War thriller and part interspecies romance.

The Oscar-winner for Best Picture pivots on a mute cleaning lady (Sally Hawkins) at a secret government facility who vows to rescue a much-abused Amazonian sea creature (Doug Jones) with whom she’s forged a deep connection.

Not since 2006’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” has Del Toro found such a stunning outlet for his visionary filmmaking. Aided by a fearless turn from Hawkins, “The Shape of Water” is pure movie magic. Extras: featurettes.

Also New to DVD

Justice League (2017, Warner, PG-13, $28): D.C.’s answer to Marvel’s “The Avengers” is exactly what you’d expect from a superheroes-getting-togetherto-save-the-world flick. Even though the film’s mood is one of anxiety and fear, director Zach Snyder brings some levity to the proceedings as he blends three new characters – Cyborg (Haddon Heights High graduate Ray Fisher, Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) — with the likes of Superman (Henry Cavill), Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gidot). It’s better than “Batman V. Superman” but still nowhere near as much fun as “Wonder Woman.” Extras: feautrettes. Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno (2017, Arrow, unrated, $35): Back in 1964, French filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot was at the peak of his powers, coming off such acclaimed films as “Wages of Fear” and “Diabolique.” Yet his Columbia Pictures-based thriller “Inferno” starring Romy Schneider would end in disaster with three week’s worth of footage shelved. With this riveting documentary, filmmakers Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea revive Clouzot’s original rushes and conduct interviews with crew members who witnessed the debacle in action. Fascinating stuff. Extras: featurettes. The Family I Had (2017, FilmRise, unrated, $20): Directed by Katie Green and Carlye Rubin, this riveting true-crime saga looks at the aftermath of a crime which ripped a family apart. Back in 2007, a 13-year-old named Paris murdered his 4-year-old sister Ella, seemingly because he wanted to strike back at his mother, Charity. In the aftermath, Charity doesn’t give up on Paris but tries to get him psychiatric help even as she learns to come to terms with the fact that he’s a sociopath. While touching upon themes of family dysfunction as well as drug addiction and mental illness, “The Family I Had” humanizes all of the players, even Paris who is interviewed in prison. Extras: none. Lords of Dogtown - Unrated Extended Edition” (2005, Mill

Creek, unrated, $15): Based on the story of the daredevil surfers-turned skateboarders who inspired the 2001 documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys,” this new-to-Blu-ray docudrama is flashy, frenzied and about as much fun as a wipe-out. John Robinson (“Elephant”), Emile Hirsch (“The Girl Next Door”) and Victor Rasuk (“Raising Victor Vargas”) are the riders who trespass, damage property and nearly cause accidents in the name of spinning their wheels. With such unsympathetic protagonists, it’s hard to care what becomes of any of them. The extras: commentaries, gag reels, deleted scenes and makingof featurettes. The Young In Heart (1938, Kino, unrated, $25): The last movie Janet Gaynor shot before retiring at the age of 33 is a lovely showcase for her comic genius. She plays the youngest member of a family of con artists (Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Billie Burke) who plans to fleece an elderly dowager (Minnie Dupree) out of her fortune. But as Gaynor and her fellow grifters try to live up to the old woman’s high expectations of them, they surprise themselves by actually becoming better people. It sounds gooey but it works beautifully thanks to the warm performances, breezy tone and director Richard Wallace’s ability to give it all a unique comic rhythm. Extras: none. The Red Squirrel (1993, Olive, unrated, $25): On the verge of suicide, a failing rock star (Nancho Novo) winds up saving the life of a woman (Emma Suarez) in a motorcycle accident. When he discovers that she’s now an amnesiac, he convinces her that she’s his girlfriend and together they head off to an isolated campground to regroup. There’s something Hitchcockian about the whole perverse set-up which gives the movie plenty of bite. As Novo and Suarez become closer, “Red Squirrel” grows darker, sexier and more unpredictable. Extras: none. Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Ninth Season (2017, HBO, unrated, $20):

After six years, Larry

David is back and better than ever. Whether grousing about the price of haircuts for bald men or sending a jokey text after the death of a friend’s parrot, Larry makes a lot of hilarious trouble for himself. The season’s central arc about Larry mounting a stage musical doesn’t always work but the show would be worth seeing if only for the many times that Susie (Susie Essman) berates Larry, instantly putting him in his place. Extras: deleted scenes and featurettes. Fear the Walking Dead - The Complete Third Season (2017, Lionsgate, unrated, $40): The latest season of “The Walking Dead” spin-off is the best yet as our heroes (Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane) struggle to rebuild society and keep their families together following the zombie apocalypse. Set largely in the region of the U.S./Mexico border, the series unspools scary survivalists, creepy military types and the demise of a major character. Expect the unexpected. Extras: commentaries and deleted scenes.