Supernatural Season Four - Part Two   Starring: Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles Warner Home Video RRP: £29.99 DY25368 Certificate: 15 Available 21 September 2009

Doing as their father taught them, Sam and Dean continue to travel the back roads of America, hunting ghosts, vampires, witches and more dark spirits - with thrilling and terrifying results. A visit to their old high school reveals dark secrets about the boys' teenage years. And all the while, the ultimate war draws them into its horror. Caught between Heaven and Hell, the Winchester brothers prepare to fight the forces of the apocalypse... and possibly each other...

Season Four - Part Two of Supernatural contains the second half of season four (episodes 12-22).

The first few episodes seem to be your usual demon-of-the-week affair, but towards the end of this season the build up to armageddon takes over as the main story arc.

Highlights include:

Criss Angel Is a Douchebag: a group of old magicians are becoming tired of the flashiness of the more modern performers. One old school conjurer decides that he's better than any of the young acts around and decides to prove it. He performs several death defying acts (one which Houdini refused to perform as it was just too dangerous). He manages to cheat death time and time again but every time he does, a young magician is found dead with wounds consistent with the very trick the old magician pulled off.

After School Special: Sam and Dean go back to one of their old high schools to investigate a murder. This episode also explores our heroes past at the school. Could it be that one of Sam's old friends is haunting the building?

Death Takes a Holiday: The locals of a small town seem to be immortal after Death goes AWOL. Sam and Dean have to die in order to investigate what has happened to the Grim Reaper.

It's a Terrible Life: Dean and Sam are not brothers. Dean is Dean Smith, a marketing executive going places. Sam is Sam Wesson, a tech support guy. The two work in the same building but have never met. When strange things start happening to members of Sam's team he confronts Dean, who he believes can help. Recently Sam has been dreaming that he and Dean are brothers who fight ghosts and monsters. While the conclusion to this episode is a little weak, the basic plot is well constructed. Also, look out for a cameo from A.J. Buckley (who CSI: NY fans will know better as Adam Ross)

The Monster at the End of This Book: Dean discovers that there was a short lived Supernatural book series in which his and Sam's adventures were chronicled. There are things in the books that no one could possibly know, and so our heroes track down the author, fearing that he may be either a demon or under the control of one.

The Rapture: This episode opens with Castiel having left Jimmy's body. Jimmy wants to return home to his wife and daughter and pick up where they left off. The rest of the episode follows Jimmy's back story and how he came to be the vessel for Castiel.

Extras include deleted scenes for most of the episodes.

This collection ends on quite an impressive cliffhanger - even if the build up to it was a little too obvious. For fans of the series this is an essential purchase.

9

Darren Rea