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GEMS SHORTLIST UNVEILED
KISSING THE PINK
SIGNATURE’S FALL IS A FRIGHTFEST HIGH…
…AS BURIAL RISES UP…
…AND 101 ON A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
POWERHOUSE GOES FOR MICRO
EUREKA PLAYS A DANGEROUS GAME…
…AS BLACK FRIDAY LOOMS
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Trade association BASE has unveiled the nominations for one of its brand new gongs due to be handed out at this year’s awards ceremony, due to take place at the Camden Roundhouse on October 6. The new award is, as noted here on The Raygun previously, the industry equivalent of a people’s choice award, where those in the business get to vote for the film that, irrespective of sales, has proved to be a winner with audiences, a title that captured their imagination, deserves plaudits and needs championing. The Hidden Gems shortlist list is made up of Ammonite (Lionsgate); Another Round (StudioCanal); Last Night in Soho (Universal); Navalny (Dogwoof); the BFI’s Nineteen Eighty-Four; Universal’s Promising Young Woman; Riders of Justice from Vertigo; Spencer (STX Films); The Father (Lionsgate) and The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Sony). Commenting on its nomination, the BFI’s John Ramchandani said: “We’re thrilled to see Nineteen Eighty-Four recognised in the shortlist for the BASE Hidden Gems award this year. Our dual-format release was a long time coming as we had to patiently wait for Orwell’s copyright to lapse in the UK and EU before licensing the rights from BBC. It’s a testament to the double-plus-good work in the BFI Technical team that we could use a transfer from a 2K scan of the 35mm telerecordings and the 35mm negative of the pre-filmed material.”
“I’m John Waters and I want to thank you for coming to Picturehouse Central for the 50th anniversary screening of Pink Flamingos…” The Raygun headed to the plush London cinema for a celebratory screening on Friday evening of the Waters trash classic ahead of its release on Monday July 25 by Criterion in the UK and, along with the sell-out audience, were treated to a specially filmed introduction from the director. He outlined the problems it had encountered with the BBFC over the years and noted its first ever uncut official airing (“no one will be arrested [and it’s finally being seen] the way we shot it”. The release is also being marked by a special issue of film magazine Little White Lies and, as Waters explained, the evening was also noteworthy for the handing out of special “barf bags” for more sensitive audience members who might be feeling sick after some of the film’s more shocking moments. Oh, and 50 years later, the newly restored version of the film looks both pristine and yet decidedly scuzzty and yes, it is still as shocking as ever.
We promised more on this year’s Arrow Video FrightFest event on last week’s newsletter after the biggest event on any self-respecting horror film fan’s calendar was made and we’ve been speaking to a few of the distributors involved about their work with FrightFest and the festival’s ongoing importance as a launchpad for all things shocking at cinemas and on home entertainment. As in recent years, chief among the companies showing off its wares at the five-day long August bank holiday weekend film marathon is Signature, which has forged close links with the fest-crew thanks to its FrightFest Presents imprint and continued relationship. Comment came from Signature’s Cliff Green, who said: “We are extremely excited to be continuing our long running partnership with FrightFest bringing the best in horror and thriller entertainment to the big screen(s) in Leicester Square. This year we are bringing six titles to the festival including a number of world premieres that will offer up something for everyone. To start we have the insanely entertaining return of Art the Clown in TERRIFIER 2, along with that we have BITCH ASS, FINAL CUT!, HOUNDED, CONTROL and the highly anticipated, high-octane shocker FALL will be closing out the festival before it heads into cinemas nationwide from September 2.”
More too as another key supporter of the event this year is 101 FIlms, which, thanks both to its ongoing new feature film releases and canny genre acquisitions, as well as its catalogue efforts with its Black Label and AGFA imprints, among others, is becoming an increasingly important player in the genre distribution field. 101’s Tim Scaping said; “Now the line-up for this year's FrightFest has been revealed we're delighted to share the news that the World Premiere of director Ben Parker's BURIAL will take place at the Leicester Square event. A thriller set in the final days of WW2 starring Harriet Walter, Tom Felton, Charlotte Vega, Bill Milner and Barry Ward, it is sure to be one of the highlights of the weekend, with director and cast members in attendance. The premiere, on the festival's final day, is the perfect springboard for our subsequent home entertainment release in late September.
It's not the company’s only involvement with FrightFest though, as noted here last week, the company is very much supporting the overall event too, sponsoring elements of the five-dayer. 101’s Tim Scaping said: “In addition, as long-time supporters and attendees of FrightFest, this year 101 Films have upped our direct support for the festival by sponsoring the three Discovery Screens. We're excited to have the 101 Films brand associated with the section of the festival that often throws up some of the more interesting and adventurous selections. We'll be attending the event and looking forward to what is always a fantastic weekend.”
It’s been in existence for little more than six years, but Powerhouse’s Indicator series continues to go from strength to strength and in its latest announcement – one shy of its double ton of releases, at number 199 – is arguably its most wide-ranging and impressive thus far. Michael J Murphy is a little known, bit astonishing filmmaker who was hugely prolific, but still remains largely undiscovered and under-represented at home entertainment , despite making scores of features and shorts over his five-decade-long career. All that will canoe with the 10-disc set due on October 24, Magic, Myth & Mutilation: The Micro-budget Cinema Of Michael J Murphy 1967-2015, which charts his lengthy career. In an arduous project, the company has pulled together the surviving 26 films from his DIY studio, complete with K frustrations and extensive extras and more. The company’s Sam Dunn said: “This 10-disc box set - our 199th Limited Edition publication since we launched almost six years ago - is the most ambitious project which Powerhouse has ever undertaken. We've newly restored a third of the set's 26 films from rare 16mm and 8mm elements, and have gone back to original archival tapes to remaster the rest. We've only just announced the release, but have been delighted and amazed by the response so far. We know only too well that the work of Michael J Murphy will be unknown to most, but it's incredibly encouraging to see the sheer volume of people whose voracious appetite and deep love for cinema, in all its weird and wonderful incarnations, sees them embrace such an extraordinary and exciting release as this.”
Also announcing October releases was Eureka, with, as ever, national account manager Marcus Garwood talking us through its slate for the witching month. He said: “As is traditional for the month of October things are going to be taking a decidedly spooky turn here at Eureka Entertainment as we deliver a quadruple threat of horror and thriller gems. We start off on Masters Of Cinema with 1932's The Most Dangerous Game. Based upon the ever-popular short story by Richard Connell, The Most Dangerous Game remains a hugely influential masterpiece 90 years after its release. The film stars award-winning actor Joel McCrea (Sullivan's Travels, Foreign Correspondent) alongside Leslie Banks, famed for his roles in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much and Jamaica Inn. The action is tense in this one as big game hunter, Bob Rainsford (played by Joel McCrea), barely survives a shipwreck in shark infested waters and washes ashore on the private island of the sinister Count Zaroff (played with a delightful zeal by Leslie Banks). Zaroff fancies himself an accomplished hunter also —only his preferred quarry, is man. Taking full advantage of the lavish jungle sets created for King Kong, The Most Dangerous Game was filmed at night after filming for Kong had concluded for the day, with many cast and crew pulling double duty on both productions. The release appears as a UK debut on Blu-ray from a 2K restored scan of the original camera negatives. Staying with Masters Of Cinema the next treat (no tricks here) is 1923 Wallace Worsley-directed The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Perhaps the grandest of Universal’s silent films—and featuring arguably its first iconic movie monster—The Hunchback of Notre Dame stars Lon Chaney in the role of Quasimodo which transformed him from a respected character actor to a global superstar. The film makes its UK debut on Blu-ray from a 4K restoration conducted by Universal Pictures. This special edition Blu-ray release is further enhanced with a collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by journalist Philip Kemp, illustrated with archival imagery. Disc extras include a brand-new interview with author and critic Kim Newman on the many adaptations of Victor Hugo’s novel, brand new audio commentary with author Stephen Jones and Kim Newman, plus a brand new interview with film historian Jonathan Rigby.”
Continuing with Eureka’s October releases, the company’s Marcus Garwood said: “Our Eureka Classics imprint is up next with a superb three-film set entitled Maniacal Mayhem which contains three more tales of terror from the vaults of Universal Pictures, all starring the iconic Boris Karloff. Film one, The Invisible Ray (dir. Lambert Hillyer, 1936), sees Dr Janos Rukh (Karloff) exposed to a mysterious element that turns him into a deadly luminescent maniac who devises a plot to bump off his personal and professional rivals. Film two, Black Friday (dir. Arthur Lubin, 1940), has Karloff as the amoral brain surgeon, Dr Sovac, who transplants part of a gangster’s brain into the body of his dying friend, creating a terrifying Jekyll-and-Hyde figure who starts murdering his former criminal associates (including, again, the wonderful Béla Lugosi). Film three is The Strange Door (dir. Joseph Pevney, 1951). Maletroit has kept his own brother locked in a dungeon for 20 years, and now wants to ruin the life of his niece by forcing her to marry a violent rogue. His plan is upset when the rogue is unexpectedly noble-hearted and attempts to rescue the girl, aided by an abused servant (Karloff). The set is presented with a limited edition slipcase and also contains a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on all three films by film writers Andrew Graves, Rich Johnson, and Craig Ian Mann. Rounding off proceedings for October we are also releasing a standard edition of Vampyr. For those of you who missed the extremely fast selling Limited Edition we put out earlier this year, you now have a second chance to own this stunning all-new 2K digital restoration of the German version by the Danish Film Institute, which was completed in 2020 after an extensive decade-long restoration process, with uncompressed mono soundtrack. A dreamlike tale of an occult-obsessed student's visit to a small French village, as he is drawn into the unsettling mystery around a stricken family's struggle with malevolent forces, Vampyr remains a cornerstone work of the horror genre and an absolute must have for any fan of the genre. Now put those flour and eggs back on the shelf, stay in the warm of your dimly lit room and revel in one (or maybe all four) of our fine October releases."
AT THE MOVIES
It’s hard to think of a property that’s had more adaptations than Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and in the streaming world the story of Scrooge continues to be told and retold. Latest is a new Netflix animated “reinterpretation” of the seasonal classicm entitled Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, and the voice talent has been announced this week, with the likes of Luke Evans (Scrooge), Olivia Colman (Past), Jessie Buckley, Johnny Flynn, Fra Fee and Jonathan Pryce all lining up to provide voices. Director Stephen Donnelly said, “It’s been a fascinating challenge to adapt such a beloved and often-told story. I think this version will give those who know A Christmas Carol all the things they expect, but not as they’ve experienced them before. There are more than enough psychedelic, time-travelling and musical surprises to keep those familiar with the story on the edge of their seats, while the authentic essence of Dickens has been retained for those coming completely fresh to the classic tale. I can’t wait to share this new version of A Christmas Carol with the world and sincerely hope audiences embrace it this year and for many to come.”
In case you’ve not looked at a film site or anything similar over the past few days, the mammoth San Diego Comic Con event has been taking place in the US, with studio’s carefully unveiling their slates, trailers and more to giant halls full of cosplayers, fanboys, nerds, geeks and more. Chief among them this year was Marvel, which wowed audiences with its preview of forthcoming goodies. Studio chief Kevin Feige and pals talked about the final two biggies in phase four as well as unveiling phase five of the Marvel grand plan for world domination, (we long ago stopped counting and following these phases). So there was She Hulk and Wakanda Forever, as well as the big reveal over the next few years of Marvel business. This took in Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (February 2023), Secret Invasion (Spring 2023 on Disney+), Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 2023), Hawkeye spin-off Echo (Summer 2023 on Disney+), Loki Season 2 (Summer 2023), The Marvels (July 2023), Ironheart (Autumn 2023 on Disney+), Blade (November 2023), WandaVision spin-off Agatha: Coven Of Chaos (Winter 2023/2024 on Disney+), Daredevil: Born Again (Spring 2024 on Disney+), Captain America: New World Order (May 2024) and Thunderbolts(July 2024). And as if that wasn’t enough, there were teases of other forthcoming goodies in the following phase, which will include a new Fantastic Four film in November 2024 and two new Avengers titles in 2025… That sound you hear is everyone else adjusting their schedules, by the way.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
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TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
We Wakanda what the finished film will be like…
She-Hulk…
I Am Groot shorts…
And here’s Dwayne Johnson, aka the Rock, as Black Adam…
And more from Shazam…
Expect football banter…
We dig this…
Real buzz around this…
Enter Sandman…
Look who’s Tolkein…
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