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HMV: DVD AND BLU-RAY SHOWING GROWTH…
…AS ERA FIGURES SHOW DECLINE IS SLOWING
OXFORD STREET RETURN BOOSTS HMV…
…AS RETAILER CELEBRATES DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
ABIGAIL’S PARTY
9 AND OUT FOR INSIDE SERIES
FRIGHTFEST SLATE UNVEILED…
DARLING BE HOME SOON
SIGNATURE REPRESENTS AT FRIGHTFEST… …AS EVENT UNLOCKS KEYS AND PLAYS VIDEO…
…AS NIGHTMARE CELEBRATES TOO
RADIANCE UNVEILS OCTOBER SLATE…
…AND HEADS TO PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA
INDICATOR POINTS OUT OCTOBER TITLES
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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It was a good week for… hmv, out flying the flag for physical media again…
It was a bad week for… The games market, down 30 per cent year on year for the first half of 2024…
We have been watching… We caught up with Longlegs at cinemas – it really is everything it's cracked up to be – and also got stuck into Monkey Man from Universal…
The week started with a raft of strong physical media releases, many of which are outlined here in The Raygun, but alongside the likes of Hundreds Of Beavers, Love Lies Bleeding, Inside No 9, Abigail and more, hmv MD Phil Halliday was this week putting the case forward for physical media and films on TV on disc in a widely shared interview. Stating the case for “physical visual”, Halliday said that consumers were moving back to buying film and TV on disc again and both Blu-ray and DVD were showing growth. And he added that hmv was in “good health” and the recovery of visual media had been a high point. Halliday said he believed that the over-saturation of streaming services, uncertainty over which service was showing which product and increased subscription charges were all contributing to the revival of physical media. He said; “It’s been really positive to see the physical products in visual back in growth – 4K and Blu-Ray have been doing particularly well. It’s a bit like people buying music physically, in that we are getting a lot of people wanting to collect certain titles. Releases have picked up as well, and we have some really good titles like Challengers coming out at the moment. When streaming first came out I think a lot of people saw it as cheap and with huge breadth of choice, but I’m not sure people see it like that now. People are willing to pay for a physical copy of shows or films they know they will rewatch.”
Meanwhile, new figures from ERA for the first half of 2024 show that video sales overall grew, buoyed by growth in video downloads and digital rental. Music sales were the shining star of the first six months, while video grew by 5.45 per cent to £213.27m. The decline in physical sales seems to have slowed, with DVD and Blu-ray seeing a fall of 4.7 per cent, far less steep than the figures the previous year. Over in music, sales across vinyl, CD and downloads grew by 7.9 per cent, while video game sales across physical and downloads fell by almost 30 per cent. Music revenue stood at £163.8m, up from just over £150m year on year. Vinyl was up 13.5 per cent to £86.3m, boosted by strong Record Store Day figures, CD sales grew by 3,2 per cent and were worth £57.9m. The ubiquitous Taylor Swift and her album The Tortured Poets Department, alongside the best-selling single, Post Malone’s Fortnight, helped drive that growth. Physical game sales fell 40 per cent to £111.7m, while downloads fell by 23 per cent. There were no video streaming figures for SVOD services such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. ERA chief Kim Bayley said: “This is a striking result for music, driven most notably by Taylor Swift and Record Store Day. It was clear back in April the impact they have had on the vinyl sector, but they seem to have lifted the market as a whole too. It was a tough first half for the games business with a lack of heavy-hitting releases, but we are optimistic for a strong second half, the traditional time for blockbuster releases.”
 Back to hmv and its figures were and performance were further given a lift by its successful return to Oxford Street in the heart of London – as reported here the retailer went back to its former home in the shopping thoroughfare last year. As Phil Halliday said: "It's been a step up for the business. The store is a big site and it's been really fun to work on it and bring it back to life properly. But it's important to say that we aren't just shops like Oxford Street. To be honest, our bread and butter is that we have so many brilliant stores in communities all across the UK. At the moment, I think we have really good coverage in terms of locations in the UK, and we're pleased with how they're trading right now."
Staying in Oxford Street, and with hmv, and the retailer celebrated the forthcoming theatrical release of Deadpool & Wolverine with a raft of activity at the store. The takeover included launching a wealth of toys and licensed product from the forthcoming superhero film, ahead of pre-orders for the home ent release and more. Its iconic sign was taken over by one of the films stars, the weird-looking dog Peggy, with loads more activity. You can see more of what happened here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jqlz2j9wzo and here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/tqfYfRHFoF2R3RzP/. Comment came from hmv’s Kate Longbottom, who told The Raygun: “hmv has a unique platform to support theatrical releases and cultural moments to give our customers and fans of pop culture what they want. Across all of our ranges and merchandise, we have something unique for fans through the lifecycle. Working with Disney and our range of Pop Culture suppliers on this release was a great project and we look forward to seeing sales on the biggest summer release as the titles moves through its lifecycle.”
 This week's big releases in-store include the double whammy of the film we can’t stop talking about, Hundreds Of Beavers, as well as Lionsgate’s excellent Love Lies Bleeding. Also due up is Universal’s Abigail and comment on that release comes from the major’s Simon Day, who said: “Pre-orders for Abigail have been really strong, so we expect a great result. Our bloodbath edition has some terrifically gory, behind-the-scenes extras that we think horror fans will be dying to sink their teeth into.”
Also landing with a bang on Monday July 22 was Inside No. 9, as the horror comedy anthology series has finally come to an end after nine series, with BBC Studios bringing the ninth series as well as a complete box set to market. The organisation’s Rob Crowe said: “Ten years ago, back in February 2014, the wonderfully dark and twisted comic series Inside No.9 first hit our screens. Sadly it’s come to an end, for now at least, after the small matter of 55 episodes across an entirely appropriate nine series. An incredible array of fantastic guest stars have joined Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith over the years in this astonishingly varied anthology series, and with both the final series and a complete box set coming from us in July, it’s a great opportunity to remind yourself of your favourite episodes.”
The annual horror event that is Pigeon Shrine FrightFest is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and is promising an extra special festival to mark the event. As ever, FrightFest will be taking over Leicester Square for the August bank holiday weekend, with the event taking place at the Odeon Luxe in the heart of London from Thursday August 22 to Monday August 26, showing more than 60 feature films, as well as shorts and plenty more. Almost half of the films airing will be world premieres. The event kicks off with Broken Bird, about a mortician, and closes with The Substance, a much-talked about title starring Demi Moore. Both are directed by by women, the former by writer turned director Joanne Mitchell, the latter by Coralie Fargeat, which follows her impressive genre pic Revenge. As ever, the event provides the perfect launchpad for genre fare at theatrical and home entertainment, with Broken Bird appearing at cinemas courtesy of Catalyst Studios on August 30, The Substance from MUBI on September 20. FrightFest co-director Alan Jones said: “FrightFest, the Dark Heart of Cinema, has been beating loud and proud now for an amazing 25 years. An incredible quarter of a century that has seen major challenges and transformations to the global film industry that FrightFest has embodied, embraced and emblazoned. Our past 25 glorious years have shown FrightFest in a state of continuous evolution, something we are determined will never, ever stop. So let the 25th Anniversary FrightFest begin.”
Also due at cinemas on September 20 following a premiere at FrightFest is the Icon release Strange Darling, which will then be released on Blu-ray and digital at the start of December. The film is from the team behind the likes of Late Night With The Devil and Barbarian and Icon’s Spencer Pollard said: “We are thrilled (literally) to be releasing Strange Darling in the UK later this autumn. It is such a clever film that twists and turns itself inside out and leaves the viewer surprised, enthralled and on the edge of their seat all the way through this glorious piece of cinematic beauty.”
Signature has, of course, been closely aligned with FrightFest since the company’s inception and in recent years its product has been a mainstay of the event, providing the perfect launchpad for its products across theatrical and home ent. And it has plenty on offer too, as outlined by the company’s Cliff Green. He said: “Signature is delighted to be a part of FrightFest, especially on its 25th anniversary. The festival has become a huge part of our calendar each year, as it’s great to show off a number of films to UK audiences for the first time. Two years ago we gave the festival the world premiere of Terrifier 2 which help set the stage for a great global campaign for distributors around the world. This year we have sci-fi driven madness with world-altering chaos featuring killer crabs in Survive, a neighbour that’s waited decades for gruesome and unforgiving revenge in Schlitter: Evil in the Woods, and Elijah Wood becomes the protector of a young girl in a New Zealand adventure with heart and a lot of imagination from Ant Timpson and once again comes face to face with Michael Smiley in an unforgettable confrontation. And there’s beyond that too. The festival is a great place not just to debut our content but it’s also a great place to meet the fans and find out what they think about the films, what they’re looking forward to next and the UK market in general. Never underestimate the power of a pint and a chat with attendees, you’ll make friends for life which is exactly what the festival encourages year upon year.”
Other new titles on show include the likes of 7 Keys, an indie British genre tale about a couple with dark secrets who go on a tour of London homes one of them has lived in. A sign of the importance of FrightFest in showcasing new titles came from director and writer Joy Wilkinson, who said: “I’m thrilled that 7 KEYS will have its UK Premiere at FrightFest. I'm a huge fan of the festival and found a lot of inspiration there, so to have my feature debut in its First Blood strand is beyond my wildest dreams - and my dreams can get pretty wild, as the film proves! I can't wait to watch it with the FrightFest crowd, especially in this extra special 25th anniversary year.” Similar comments came from Video Vision writer, director and producer Michael Turney, who said: ”Whether it's media formats, gender or the passage of time, Video Vision is a story of transition. The setting is New York City which has often changed but never escapes its history. As the VHS villain Dr. Analog says, ‘All of time is touching and I feel you’. If we don't hold the hand of the past it will leave us behind in the present. I'm so thrilled to be a part of FrightFest and screen this love story turned techno-nightmare to an audience that appreciates nuanced horror."
It's not just new releases getting screen time at FrightFest however, as A Nightmare On Elm Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and the horror fest has teamed up with Warner for a special birthday screening for Freddie Krueger and co at this year’s event. It will precede a special 4k UHD and Blu-ray set from the studio later this year, which will, Warner said, offer "a brand new 4K restoration and Ultimate Collector's Edition featuring a Steelbook with new key art, theatrical poster and other premiums”. This looks likely to include art cards and a booklet, with the poster being double-sided.
 Looking further ahead and there have been a raft of announcements from boutique labels and the like as the indies get ready for witching season with their October titles. First on the block is Radiance, with its slate to keep collectors happy as the nights start drawing in. Here’s the company’s Fran Simeoni on the titles due. He said: “We’re delighted to unveil a horror-centric line up for October as is becoming tradition for the run up to Halloween. First we have a trio of Japanese Ghost Stories in our Daiei Gothic collection of films by genre masters, adapted from tales by Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn who emigrated to Japan and his stories became classics which were famously adapted by Masaki Kobayashi in his 1964 masterpiece Kwaidan. We think fans are going to be delighted to see these films which come with interviews with modern filmmakers influenced by them including Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure) and other bonus materials in a rigid box limited edition. We continue with Japan with the release of Dogra Magra, a phantasmagoria based on the classic novel adapted by Toshio Matsumoto, famed for his transgressive masterpiece Funeral Parade of Roses. His final film is no less great and comes loaded with extras including items featuring the late filmmaker. And then we have Haxan, the nordic silent classic about witchcraft, a film so influential it predates everything from gothic horror to the found footage film. It comes loaded with multiple scores, alternate cuts, archival footage and much more. And finally we have Italy's first horror film, made by Riccardo Freda the filmmaker famously walked off the set when his time was up leaving it in the hands of cinematographer Mario Bava to complete. The final result would change Italian cinema forever! The release comes with archival and newly created extras. Early signs are each release is connecting with audiences very well and we're looking forward to seeing fans get their hands on them this spooky season.
Meanwhile, Radiance has also kicked off a partnership with legendary London rep venue the Prince Charles Cinema, tucked just off Leicester Square and but offering a lot more than the plush multiplexes nearby. The regular screenings will be put together by Radiance, with a choice of films as eclectic as its own offerings. Screenings will include Radiance titles but also dig beyond that too, and further helps build the Radiance community too. The label’s Paul Martinovic said: “When we discussed where to host a regular screening strand the first choice of venue was always the Prince Charles Cinema. To my mind it's the best repertory cinema in the UK and one of the best in the world full stop, and I've been lucky enough to have attended and occasionally hosted screenings there for nearly two decades. In that time I've watched the PCC audience grow and evolve, and the tastes seem to be moving in alignment with where Radiance is going, which is away from the more traditional cult/genre canon and into more esoteric and uncharted waters. It feels like people are more willing to take a chance on something a bit different now, particularly something screening at the PCC, which is clearly a curator they trust; Radiance similarly seems to be getting to a place where people will take a chance on our titles just because it's something we've chose to highlight. Bringing the two together therefore - a shared stamp of approval - seemed to make a lot of sense. The first screening of Jean-Pierre Mocky's Litan was very successful, with a great midweek crowd for such an obscure film. We're looking forward to upcoming screenings of Todd Solondz's Welcome to the Dollhouse and Kinji Fukusaku's Sympathy for the Underdog, and we hope to have a presence at the PCC for both their Halloween and Noirvember programming too. We really hope it's the start of a long association with them and look forward to building an audience there alongside the Radiance faithful who only know us for our Blu-rays.”
Also unveiling horror titles for October was the Indicator imprint from Powerhouse, with both classic major studio are and weirder, first ever Blu-ray releases for Mexica horror, as outlined here by the company’s Sam Dunn. He said: “Being granted access to the riches of any film archive, whether of a major Hollywood studio or a family-owned independent, is a privilege and an honour. And that's how we feel about being able to work on both of our latest collections. Providing alternative Halloween fare for die-hard film lovers, the Columbia Horror box set, which stars such screen luminaries as Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and Fay Wray, presents six rarely seen US horrors from the 1930s and 40s on UK Blu-ray for the first time. While El Vampiro: Two Bloodsucking Tales from Mexico finally grants world-premiere Blu-ray releases to two of the most influential Mexican horror films of the 1950s. As usual, these long-overdue, individually numbered limited edition collections are packed with plentiful special features, including expert commentaries, insightful interviews and appreciations, and previously unreleased archival short films, as well as comprehensive books containing new and archival essays and articles. These are a must for any horror fan."
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Due at FrightFest…
Also due at FrightFest…
And here’s the opener…
When you smile…
Another one everyone’s been talking about…
https://youtu.be/ExPt7vjR2Gc
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