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DISTRIBUTION: DEAD OR ALIVE?
SNIPS LAUNCHES MERCH…
…AS RENTALS GROW IN 2024
WHO GETS ANIMATED
POWERHOUSE LOOKS TO SPRING
DOUBLE WHAMMY FROM EUREKA…
…WITH FEBRUARY AND MARCH SLATE REVEAL
ARROW GETS DRESSED FOR THE PART
LIONSGATE GOES CONTINENTAL
SPOTTED OUT AND ABOUT
HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THE RAYGUN
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK 
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It was a good week for… THe new Superman trailer broke all kinds of records for Warner Bros…
It was a bad week for… Distribution, as UK indies report struggles, but is there good news as Letterboxd encourages new cinephiles?
We’ve been watching… We've been wondering how such prime DTV fare as Subservience seems to be all over Netflix and, because it's Christmas, enjoying Kneecap all over again…
Distribution is dead. Long live distribution. The last week has seen two articles published looking at the state of theatrical distribution in the UK and beyond. It’s intrinsically linked to home entertainment – as Variety’s article noted, the uptake in digital and streaming is not necessarily helping replace lost physical media sales for non-blockbuster fare in our realm, while box office woes for mid- and smaller scale releases feeds in to a lack of excitement for home entertainment releases. But, according to the Guardian, there are green shoots of hope, as Letterboxd and a younger generation of cinephiles are flocking to see repertory fare. This would tie in with some of the recent results seen by boutique labels – we mentioned here recently how successful Spirit’s Criterion promotion had been in giving a huge boost to sales, which suggests that new waves of fans are getting in to physical media. We’re not aiming to put a dampener on the mood of optimism that was in the air at the recent BASE Annual Wrap & Industry Outlook 2024-25, but there are some interesting – and troubling – points in the Variety piece. In a week when we celebrated the life of former world cinema and arthouse salesman extraordinaire Mike Flello, it’s tough to see indie labels, who have fought to bring subtitled and artier fare to wider audiences, first at theatrical and then on home entertainment, as Flello himself did, struggling. As for the Guardian piece, there’s more cause for optimism there and we are big fans of Letterboxd, but be wary of the newspaper’s tendency to conflate US and UK box office figures (the feature quotes US box office receipts but has comments from UK cinemas, which is far from scientific), but they’re worth a bit of your time. You can see them here and here…
Our year-end coverage early in 2025, across the first few newsletters of the year as assorted organisations release figures for 2024, should illuminate further. But in the meantime, the country’s remaining rental stores – just a handful now – have long been finding ways to supplement their incomes with other revenue derived outside of renting discs to members of the public. 20th Century Flicks in Bristol has two small but perfectly formed screening rooms in its shop, with punters being able to rent them to watch films with their pals in cinema-style seating, while Snips Movies on the Wirral in the north-west has long been selling party goods, cards and more to boost revenue. And now, Snips Movies has gone one step further with the launch of its own merchandise, taking in stickers, greetings cards and t-shorts. All feature bespoke designs and specially created artwork, playing up the rental stores genre credentials And as well as adding to the coffers, the range also acts as advertising for both the shop (“I leave my home to rent at Snips”} and the concept of video rental itself. The store’s Dave Wain said: “It's something that multiple people have requested over the last few years, but the logistics of it left a question mark. This year my friend and podcaster Brian Saur launched his own range of director inspired tees, so after road testing the vendor that he used, it seemed that it might well be doable! The key thing for me was to ensure the artwork was by people connected to the store; so my brother Paul's son Caspar did one design, then a range of customers did the other five. All of them had the same brief, which was to create your own individual interpretation of how you view Snips. It's been great seeing the finished artwork, and even better seeing people around the country – and abroad – wearing the merch! Most heartening of all is when customers come in wearing it, with the highlight being a little lad, no more than five, who came in to return his parents rentals with a Snips tote bag over his shoulder.”
All of this seemed like the perfect opportunity to get one of our regular reports from Dave Wain, who as well as running the store and his own Schlock Pit site with his associate Matty Budrewicz, also provides commentaries, along with Budrewicz, on numerous boutique Blu-ray releases (their recent contributions include some excellent work on the Arrow release of the Critters films) for one of his irregular updates on how rental has been performing. So how was 2024 for one of the last survivors? Wain said: “2024 has been one of the best years in recent memory for Snips. Rental numbers are up threefold, new customers are growing weekly, and repeat visits are consistent. This is predominantly down to a perfect storm of publicity. A detailed article in The Guardian, a double page spread in the Daily Mirror, and local column inches on the Liverpool Live website have really raised the profile of the business. Similarly, a local newspaper award for 'Best Independent Business' yielded two big articles in the Wirral Globe, while a nomination for the Merseyside Independent Business Awards might not have brought home any silverware, but attending the black tie event at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool was enough generate some good publicity. Over the course of 2024, Snips has added close to 1,700 titles to the archive, focusing primarily on the weird, the wonderful, and the non-streamers. New releases have retained their importance, with Blu-ray finally taking the spot of the most rented format. Only took you 20 years lads... Back catalogue and boutiques continue to grow in stature though. The extreme cost of living means that the notion of renting a lavish Indicator release for less than two quid is a very sensible proposition. For 2025 the plan is to grow some more. The toolbox is getting dusted down in January with more units to build, and some general reorganisation is needed to expand areas like world cinema which has outgrown its current home. In general though, it's just a case of maintaining this giddy resurgence, and luring some more people away from the spiralling cost and decreasing choice of the streamers.”
One of the season’s big Christmas telly treats this year is, as ever at Christmas, the Doctor Who Christmas special, with 2024’s extravaganza, airing on December 25, promising to be a festive goodie, with home entertainment release set to follow later in January from BBC Studios via Spirit. And looking beyond the too, diehard Whovians will be pleased to see that there’s another major project just been announced for later in 2025. For the previously lost series The Savages, which first aired almost 60 years ago, is set to return. BBC Studios has taken audio recordings from the episodes, alongside a recording of the soundtrack and created animation for the four wiped episodes. The animated series is set to land at the end of March and will come complete with all four animated episodes available in either colour or black and white alongside bonus features. Many of the early episodes of Doctor Who were similarly wiped and lost over the years and BBC Studios has been making ongoing efforts to create animated versions of the programme to bring them back to life. Executive producer Paul Hembury said: “We have a wonderful team of creators who work together to bring these lost Doctor Who stories back to life through animation. It’s always an exciting time when a story nears completion, and we prepare to share it with the fans, for whom it has been made.” BBC Studios has further announced plans for a new colourised version of classic Patrick Troughton Doctor Who outing The War Games following its transmission on December 23 on BBC4. In its announcement, the organisation said: “For the first time, these original episodes have been meticulously colourised and enhanced with updated visual effects edited into a new, 90-minute feature-length experience to appeal to today’s modern audiences. With updated sound and a new score, this newly updated version of The War Games offers both fans and newcomers even more ways to watch the much-loved classic story.”
Some more product announcements now – yes, there have been a raft of these in recent days – and first up, Powerhouse and its Indicator series has announced its March titles hot on the heels of a February announcement. In February, the operation company is releasing a quartet of titles from Hollywood’s Golden Age, with, it adds “two classic films from one of its greatest directors, and two mesmerising performances from one of its greatest stars. The four are two starring Gary Cooper, Now And Forever and Peter Ibbetson, both directed by Henry Hathaway, with two from Joan Crawford, Harriet Craig and Queen Bee. Into March, and it offers up something all together different, with a brace of Antipodean titles, as outlined by the company’s Sam Dunn, who said: “"With their bizarre plots, stylish visuals, audacious set-pieces, and shock moments, Thirst and Harlequin are great examples of the so-called Ozploitation genre, and we're delighted to be showcasing our brand-new 4K restorations of both films on Blu-ray, as well as on UHD (with Dolby Vision) for the very first time. Anyone new to the films is in for a treat, but those already familiar with them will be very pleasantly surprised to see how they've scrubbed up. And, as usual, we're loading both releases with an array of new and archival extra features, as well as packaging them with extensive 80-page books.”
Eureka has also been revealing its February and March titles, with, as ever, national accounts manager Marcus Garwood acting as our guide, with February first. He said: “Fantasy fights, bites and melodramas make up our forthcoming February slate here at Eureka Entertainment. Legend of the Eight Samurai gets us underway. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Samurai Reincarnation) the film brings together an impressive ensemble cast, including Sonny Chiba (Message from Space), in a sweeping epic that blends fantasy with historical drama. Available on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a new 4K restoration. Stunning new sleeve artwork from Chris Malbon encases the package, which is completed with a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by Tom Mes. Doctor Vampire is next, a perfect blend of horror and comedy with shades of Vamp, Fright Night and, of course, Hong Kong’s own Mr Vampire series. Offering a variation on the jiangshi craze kickstarted by Encounter of the Spooky Kind and Mr Vampire, Doctor Vampire is one of a handful of films – along with Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires and Vampire vs Vampire – to bring Hollywood’s creatures of the night to Hong Kong. Available on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a brand-new 2k restoration, the O-card slipcase features new artwork by Graham Humphreys, disc extras include A British Vampire in Hong Kong – new on-camera interview with Stacey Abbott, author of Celluloid Vampires: Life After Death in the Modern World and also Vampire Slaying 101: Remixing Monster Traditions in Doctor Vampire, a new video essay by gothic scholar Mary Going. The set is completed with a limited edition collector’s booklet. Masters Of Cinema now as we proudly present an unmissable collectors set of Douglas Sirk’s earliest films (entitled Sirk in Germany 1934-1935), all of which established a blueprint for his later work. Included in the set are three films – Sirk’s directorial debut – the comedy April, April!, his first melodrama - The Girl from Marsh Croft and Pillars of Society and also three shorts. The features – all released in 1935 – showcase the burgeoning talents of a filmmaker who would go on to become one of the most important figures in the history of Hollywood cinema. Available on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from brand-new restorations by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation. The set is encased with a Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring superb new artwork by Scott Saslow, disc extras include new audio commentaries on all three features by Sirk expert David Melville Wingrove and Magnificent Obsession, a new interview with film historian Sheldon Hall on Sirk’s career from Germany to Hollywood. The set is completed with a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring a new extended essay on Sirk’s early works by German cinema expert Tim Bergfelder.”
On to March releases from Eureka and Marcus Garwood continued: “Action and thrillers are the two genres covered in our March 2025 line-up. Our range of Shaw Bros film sets continues with The Daredevils and Ode To Gallantry. Directed by Chang Cheh – the Godfather of Hong Kong Cinema – the films star the celebrated Venom Mob, a group of skilled martial arts performers. Filled with thrilling action set-pieces courtesy of some of the most talented martial artists to emerge in the 1970s, The Daredevils and Ode to Gallantry are two of the Venom Mob’s very best films. Encased in a limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring stunning new artwork by Chris Malbon and available on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. A 1974 Kung Fu gem next from director Ta Huang – Shaolin Boxers offers a rare leading role to James Tien (Fist Of Fury) in an action-packed narrative that charges him with rescuing innocents from forces of corruption and evil. Available on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a new 2K restoration. Masters Of Cinema now with a four-disc Blu-ray set bringing together all six of the 1960s Dr Mabuse films, namely The Thousand Eyes of Dr Mabuse, The Return of Dr Mabuse, The Invisible Dr Mabuse, The Testament of Dr Mabuse, Scotland Yard Hunts Dr Mabuse, and The Death Ray of Dr Mabuse. Entitled Mabuse Lives!: Dr Mabuse at CCC:1960-1964 and clocking in at a 549 minute running time this is a real collectors’ piece, encased in a limited edition hardcase featuring authentically noir new artwork by Tony Stella. Disc extras include Mabuse Lives at CCC, a new interview with producer and managing director of CCC Film Alice Brauner, daughter of CCC founder Artur Brauner, and new introductions to each film by genre film expert and Video Watchdog founder Tim Lucas. The set is completed with a limited edition 60-page collectors’ book featuring new notes on each film by journalist Holger Haase, a new essay by German film scholar Tim Bergfelder, an archival essay by David Cairns, archival writing by Fritz Lang and notes by Lotte Eisner on Lang’s final unreleased projects.”
Arrow, meanwhile, looked ahead to March with a varied slate, headed up by a classic from Lucio Fulci, Italian genre-meister, and his classic Don’t Torture A Duckling. As Arrow noted: “Deemed shocking at the time for its brutal violence, depiction of the Catholic Church and themes of child murder and implied pedophilia, Don’t Torture a Duckling is widely regarded today as Fulci’s greatest film, rivalling the best of his close rival Dario Argento. Arrow Video is proud to present this uniquely chilling film in its 4K debut, with a brand new restoration and a host of extras, along with a reversible sleeve and an illustrated collector’s booklet.” Also in March comes Dressed To Kill from US genre-mister Brian De Palma, a slasher film that was picketed on its original UK release. As Arrow noted: “One of De Palma’s darkest and most controversial suspense thrillers, Arrow Video is proud to present this iconic neo-Hitchcockian masterwork in stunning 4K alongside a raft of archival and newly commissioned bonus features. The release features a reversible sleeve and collector’s booklet.” There’s also the next fruits of the company’s ongoing deal with Warner as schlocky shark shocker Deep Blue Sea lands, with a 60-page perfect bound book, postcards and a 4K restoration for this hugely enjoyable creature feature. The Terminal Man stars George Segal in a Michael (Jurassic Park, Westworld) adaptation and March for Arrow is rounded off by little seen but recommended 1960s Japanese fare in the shape of Play It Cool
And our last product news of the year will be a brace of the final releases of 2024, both from Lionsgate and both of which landed in stores on December 16. The Continental is the latest outing from the world of John Wick, and, as the company’s Kirsten Sweeney said: “Lionsgate is pleased to release the three episode event series The Continental on DVD and Blu-ray. Expanding the beloved world of the John Wick franchise, The Continental follows the rise of a young Winston Scott in 70s New York.” And finally, Halle Berry stars in Never Let Go, with Lionsgate’s Imogen Dodds saying: “December 16 saw the packaged release of Never Let Go. Halle Berry’s return to horror is available to bring home on DVD and Blu-Ray. We’re supporting the release with a targeted media spend that will cut through the busy Seasonal gifting window.”
 SPOTTED OUT AND ABOUT
Paramount's theatrical arm lit up the London night sky using 20K lumin projection technology to promote its Sonic The Hedgehog 3 release. As the release noted: "The spectacle included a stunning transformation of the London Eye, where the cast flipped the switch to shift its iconic colours from pink to blue, kick-starting the dazzling light show.
 
All that it’s left to do is for us to tell you all that we’ll be back in 2025, just after New Year, with one of our most-read issues of any year, as we look back on the past 12 months across entertainment with a raft of facts, figures and opinion, and also to remind you that our plan for a social event in the first quarter of 2025 are advancing, as we look to bring together old industry faces, as well as current staffers from across the business, somewhere in London. It’s for past and present industry types, ad will mark the recent 30th anniversary of the launch of timecode magazine and The Raygun’s 15th birthday too. Let us know if you’re interested in attending. Oh, and we’d like to thank everyone who’s supported us this year, with advertising, comments, invitations, screeners and more, and wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and a fantastic and very prosperous 2025.
A prime slice of 80s trash gets updated for 2025, due from Lightbulb…
Back to zero for Bobby…
From the creator of Peaky Blinders…
THe only Krypto we’re interested in, here’s Supes…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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