Even more to give Santa Claus a bad rep

Bad Santa

Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox

Dimension, $30

Though it’s crude, rude and offensive, “Bad Santa” boasts a deliciously twisted performance from Billy Bob Thornton as a boozy, womanizing safecracker who works as Santa at a different department store every year so he can case the place with his little-person partner (Tony Cox). But even this “bad” Santa learns the meaning of Christmas from a chubby, lonely little boy (Brett Kelly). Bernie Mac and the late John Ritter also star.

Dimension is offering “Bad Santa” in its original theatrical R-rated version and an unrated version, appropriately titled “Badder Santa.” But there aren’t many presents on the DVD. The “making of” documentary and gag reel are formulaic, and although the deleted and alternate scenes and outtakes (especially Thornton’s ad-libbing) are funny, they’re not for the faint of heart.

*

Secret Window

Johnny Depp, Maria Bello

Columbia TriStar, $29

Johnny Depp is the main reason to watch this uneven adaptation of a Stephen King tale about a divorced, depressed writer holed up in his mountain cabin home who is being harassed and threatened by a mysterious stranger (John Turturro) who accuses him of plagiarism.

Extras on the digital edition include passable “making of” documentaries, deleted scenes and insightful commentary from writer-director David Koepp.

*

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra

Larry Blamire, Fay Masterson

Columbia TriStar, $25

Most directors don’t set out to make a dreadful movie, but that wasn’t the case with Larry Blamire, the writer, director and star of “Cadavra.” Blamire incorporated every ‘50s schlock movie cliche in the book for this slight but often hilarious spoof of low-budget horror flicks. The acting is dreadful, the special effects are cheesy and the music is from a stock music library.

The DVD is full of extras, including a tongue-in-cheek “making of” documentary, a wan blooper reel, a photo gallery, the vintage animated short “Skeleton Frolic,” excerpts from the cast and crew Q&A; at the American Cinematheque and director and cast commentaries.

-- Susan King