FILMS ROUNDUP

NICO MASTORAKIS

He’s back! One of the most infamous B-movie maestros to have ever sat in a director’s chair, Nico Mastorakis returns to Arrow Video with a collection of sci-fi shenanigans and screwball comedies that will take you out of this world – available now on Blu-ray.

Zany, shocking and unhinged, Nico Mastorakis offers a satirical and sardonic skewering of American cinema with a chutzpah that must be seen to be believed!

First up, Nico shows a more thoughtful side in The Time Traveller, where the widow (Adrienne Barbeau, The Fog) of an astronaut and her young son come across a mysterious man (Kier Dullea, 2001) with uncanny powers on a beach in Greece.

The wacky Sky High sees three American jocks on holiday in Greece being handed a tape by a mysterious figure, who begs them to not let it fall into the wrong hands before being shot by an unseen assassin.

Featuring an early score from the great Hans Zimmer, Terminal Exposure focuses on two carefree beach photographers, who accidentally photograph a murder and immediately set after the assassin: a tall, gorgeous blonde with a rose tattoo on her behind.

Glitch! sees two bumbling burglars whose attempt to throw the house party of the century in the luxury home of a Hollywood producer is foiled by a group of mobsters determined to collect what the producer owes them – no matter what.

Take a martial arts school, throw in a snotty rich kid, a clumsy geek, a paranoid survivalist, two beach joggers, a cool secret agent and a mime, and you get Ninja Academy, a madcap karate comedy like no other starring Gerald Okamura (Big Trouble in Little China).

Finally, in The Naked Truth, Mastorakis pays homage to a certain Billy Wilder film when two friends decide to pass as women and pose as makeup artists for a local beauty pageant to elude a vicious mafia boss. It seems like the perfect cover, until the mafioso gets the hots for one of them!

 

KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

London, UK (5/08/24) – The fate of the world is at stake when 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes arrives on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on 30^th September.

Director Wes Ball’s stunning new entry into the Planet of the Apes series has been heralded by critics as a “thrilling addition to a franchise that swings from strength to strength” (Wendy Ide, The Guardian) and “more than a big-budget epic… If this is the first chapter in Noa’s story, I can’t wait for the next” (Christina Newland, iNews).

The film has thrilled audiences worldwide, becoming one of the biggest global box office successes of the year and marking the beginning of a new era for the epic Planet of the Apes franchise.

Set generations after Caesar’s reign in a world where apes are the dominant species, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes follows an ape named Noa and a human named Mae as they emerge to define the future of how apes and humans will coexist.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes stars Owen Teague (It, TV’s “Bloodline”) as Noa, Freya Allan (TV’s “The Witcher”) as Nova, Kevin Durand (Robin Hood) as Proximus Caesar, Peter Macon (“Family Guy”) as Raka, and William H. Macy (Fargo, TV’s “Shameless”) as Trevathan.

The 4K UHD also arrives in a collectible limited edition SteelBook® with custom artwork by artist Dylan Cole.

Film Synopsis

Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise with this action-adventure spectacle from 20th Century Studios. Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species — and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Bonus Features*

• Inside the Forbidden Zone: Making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Join director Wes Ball, cast and crew as they expand the Planet of the Apes legacy for a new generation. Travel to the outdoor production in Australia, train at Ape School, and discover the practical and motion capture techniques in building a breathtaking Kingdom.
• 14 Deleted/Extended Scenes with optional audio commentary by director Wes Ball

*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has a runtime of approximately 145 minutes and is rated 12.

 

WHEN TITANS RULED THE EARTH

The ultimate struggle for power. Men against kings, kings against gods. From such conflict legends are born! When Titans Ruled The Earth is released 12th August on 4K UHD & Blu-ray from Arrow Video.

In Clash of the Titans, Perseus (Sam Worthington), son of a god but raised as a man, is helpless to save his family from Hades (Ralph Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Liam Neeson), king of the gods, and unleash hell on earth. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, can Perseus accept his power and defy fate to create his own destiny?

Wrath of the Titans picks up ten years on from his heroic battle with the monstrous Kraken, with Perseus now living a quiet life by the sea with his young son. But war is raging between the gods and the Titans, and Perseus learns of a treacherous plan for world domination by his power-hungry uncle Hades and godly half-brother Ares (Édgar Ramírez). No longer able to ignore his calling, Perseus joins forces with warrior queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son Agenor (Toby Kebbell) and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy) to enter the underworld, rescue the banished Zeus and overthrow the Titans once and for all.

A star-studded cast delivers legendary performances under the direction of Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) and Jonathan Liebesman (Darkness Falls, Battle: Los Angeles) in two action-packed tales of mythic high adventure!

 

YOU’RE NEXT

You’re Next in line to discover the new Limited Edition release from Second Sight Films. The sumptuously sinister and riotously entertaining home invasion horror from dream team director Adam Wingard (V/H/S, The Guest, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire) and writer Simon Barrett (V/H/S, The Guest, Blair Witch), who join forces to create this critically acclaimed splatter-fest, which is set to thrill and chill once again more than 10 years on from its original release.

This ‘absolute beast of a horror… fierce, barbaric and terrifying’ (Way Too Indie), is the latest cult favourite to receive special treatment from the respected label who present a devilishly delightful Limited Edition Dual UHD and Blu-ray set for release on 19 August 2024, it will also be available in Standard Editions.

The must-own set promises a bucket load of special features including a new commentary with the director and writer, cast and crew interviews, essays and much more. Please see full list of special features below.

Meet the Davidsons, a wealthy family whose fortune can’t mend their fractured relationships. In a bid to reconnect, parents Aubrey played by horror favourite Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, Creepshow) and Paul (Rob Moran – There’s Something About Mary) gather their four children and their partners for a luxurious weekend at their holiday estate.

The couples – Crispian (AJ Bowen – The Sacrament) and Erin (Sharni Vinson – Step Up 3D), Drake (Joe Swanberg – V/H/S) and Kelly (Margaret Laney – Spider-Man 3), Felix (Nicholas Tucci – Father of Flies) and Zee (Wendy Glenn – Girl in the Video), and Aimee (Amy Seimetz – Sweet Tooth) and Tariq (Ti West – Pearl, X) – arrive for what should be a peaceful reunion. But their relaxing retreat soon turns into a nightmarish
battleground.

A crossbow bolt through the window shatters dinner and it’s not long before a group of terrifying masked intruders have invaded the estate. The fractured family must band together to survive, but the vicious assailants are in for a shock – one of the guests can be just as ruthless as they are…

Get ready to face the terror, because You’re Next.

Special Features
• New 4K restoration and HDR Dolby Vision grade approved by Director Adam Wingard
• Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
• New audio commentary with Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett
• Audio commentary with Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, Sharni Vinson and Barbara Crampton
• Children of the 80s: A new interview with Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett
• The Most of Us: A new interview with Producers Keith Calder and Jess Wu Calder
• Script as a Blueprint: A new interview with Actor AJ Bowen
• Down in the Basement: A new interview with Actor Joe Swanberg
• Be Funny and Die: A new interview with Actor Amy Seimetz
• Falling into Place: A new interview with Production Designer Tom Hammock
• Slashers Don’t Die: Tim Coleman on You’re Next
• Who’s Next? The Making of Your Next
• Animated Storyboards

Limited Edition Contents
• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Nick Charge
• 120-page book with new essays by Martyn Conterio, Andrew Graves, Kurt Halfyard, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Shelagh Rowan-Legg and Heather Wixson
• Six collectors’ art cards

TAROT

LONDON, UK (12/08/24) Play the game, seal your fate, and experience the horror at home with TAROT, available to Buy & Rent on Digital and on Blu-ray™ and DVD from Monday 12^th August 2024.

When a group of friends recklessly violates the sacred rule of Tarot readings – never use someone else’s deck – they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against death to escape the future foretold in their readings.

TAROT stars Harriet Slater (TV’s ‘Pennyworth’, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Adain Bradley (Wrong Turn, Butter), Avantika (Senior Year, Spin), Wolfgang Novogratz (The Half Of It, Yes, God, Yes), Humberly González (Slumberland, A Tail of Love), Larsen Thompson (Pearl, American Cherry), and Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Avengers: End Game).

Blu-ray^™ and DVD Special Features include:

• A Twist Of Fate: Making The Film
• Circle Of Friends
• Killer Outtakes

OFFSPRING

This month exclusively on ARROW comes Offspring – director Andrew van den Houten’s brutal adaptation of cult horror novelist Jack Ketchum’s book about a deadly clan of feral cannibals on the prowl.

Showing in 4K exclusively via ARROW, this must-watch horror features Pollyanna McIntosh, who would reprise her role in Lucky McKee’s The Woman. “It’s been fun producing and directing horror films all these years,” says van den Houten, “and I cannot wait for people to see my latest version of Offspring in 4K HDR.”

SYNOPSIS: Against the backdrop of grisly murders and child abductions, a clan of cannibalistic savages who have plagued the North-east Coast since 1858, is after an unsuspecting family and their innocent baby girl. Does the family have what it takes to survive?

 

THE MOUSE TRAP

14th August 2024, London UK – A night of frights awaits in THE MOUSE TRAP on digital platforms and DVD in the UK & Ireland from 30th September.

There’s a seemingly familiar face stalking the funfair in THE MOUSE TRAP, a horror chiller that’ll make you look at one of your childhood favourites very differently!

Directed by Jamie Bailey (What Lurks Beneath), THE MOUSE TRAP is written by Simon Phillips (Blood Harvest), who also stars as Mickey, the masked killer, terrorising a gang of friends late one night at an amusement arcade. There’s shocks and gore galore as Mickey dons his mask and goes on a rodent rampage.

With a trailer that’s already scored over one million views on YouTube, this is a horror film that’s sure to get everyone talking. If you enjoyed The Terrifier films and the Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey slashers, then this blood-soaked frightener will be just the ticket.

SYNOPSIS: It’s Alex’s 21st Birthday, but she’s stuck at the amusement arcade on a late shift so her friends decide to surprise her, but a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse decides to play a game of his own with them which she must survive.

THE MOUSE TRAP will be released on digital platforms and DVD from 30 September

 

SOMETHING IN THE WATER

STUDIOCANAL is excited to announce that the tense and terrifying shark survival thriller SOMETHING IN THE WATER is available now to buy and rent on digital platforms and available to own on Blu-ray & DVD from 9th September.

The film follows Meg (Hiftu Quasem, Ten Percent) who attends an old friend Lizzie’s (Lauren Lyle, Outlander) dream destination wedding in the Caribbean with her ex-partner Kayla (Natalie Mitson, The Larkins) and friends Ruth (Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart, One Four Three) and Cam (Nicole Rieko Setsuko, Eavesdropping). However, when a boat trip goes horribly wrong, the five friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives as well their relationships as they brave the shark-infested waters.

This formidable all-female fright flick is directed by Hayley Easton Street (Art director – Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Justice League: Part One) making her feature debut, and written by Cat Clarke (Good Omens). A fresh spin on the survival thriller, with a terrific ensemble cast, SOMETHING IN THE WATER is edge of your seat viewing. You will not be able to take your eyes off this very 21st-century creature feature.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER is available now to buy and rent from digital platforms and available to own on Blu-ray & DVD from 9th September

 

INSIDE OUT 2

London, UK (15/08/24) – Make room for new emotions when Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on 30^th September. The highly anticipated heartwarming sequel has already proven to be a blockbuster smash hit, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, the fastest animated film to reach $1 billion globally, and is currently the 10th highest grossing film in global box office history.

Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™, the historic box office run has also established Inside Out 2 as Pixar’s top-grossing movie of all time globally.

Fans can continue the emotional roller coaster with exclusive content featuring an all-new documentary, an alternative opening, deleted scenes and much more. The 4K Blu-ray will be available in a Limited-Edition Collectable SteelBook™ release.

Film Synopsis

Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen.

Bonus Features*

• New Emotions – With Riley’s imminent puberty, the story of Inside Out 2 always suggested that there would be a party of new emotions complicating Riley’s world—and throwing a wrench into Joy’s hard-won stability. But exactly what those new emotions could be was a big question mark. Casting the new emotions in Riley’s mind was a fun exploration into the shifting mindset of a teenager, and was also informed by some of the discarded scenes and characters from the original film. In this documentary we’ll discuss that process of creating Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy—from narrowing them down from a long list of possible emotions, to the design, animation, and voicing of these new, hilarious, and strangely recognizable characters.

• Unlocking the Vault – In a kind of visual commentary, a group of central creatives watch and discuss the scene “The Vault.” As they stop and start—and refer to various IP versions of the scene—we’ll hear about the inspiration for Riley’s repressed memories like Bloofy and Lance Slashblade, the development of the scene in Story, and the technical challenges of creating 2D characters that exist in the CG world of Riley’s mind.

• Deleted Scenes
  • Cold Open – In this alternate opening, a now 13-year-old Riley awkwardly fumbles her way through an original song she wrote for a school audition.
  • Broken Joy – After momentarily being unable to drive the console, Joy worries that she might be starting to malfunction.
  • Pool Party – After Riley tries too hard to be fun at an older teen’s party – resulting in utter embarrassment – her “Anxiety” becomes “Self-Loathing” who then ousts our hero emotions from headquarters.
  • Puberty Park – After seeing their faces printed on “wanted posters,” Joy and the others rogue emotions race through a puberty-themed amusement park while being chased by mind worker cops.
  • Shame Spiral – At a lock-in with some cool, older girls, Riley and friends play a game of “Never Have I Ever” that goes a bit too far – wreaking havoc in Riley’s mind.

*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer