STACK #265 November 2026

MOVIE FEATURE

visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

Fun fact: The series is expected to run for five seasons.

GENRE: Fantasy RUN TIME: Series

Amazon’s epic fantasy series The Rings of Power returns to Middle-earth, exploringTolkien’s Second Age in one of television’s most ambitious productions.

Xxxxxxxx

P eter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy remains one of cinema’s greatest achievements, setting the benchmark for epic fantasy. Amazon’s The Rings of Power returns to Middle earth, exploring Tolkien’s mythology on an equally ambitious television scale. The series emerged from a high stakes bidding war for the television rights, with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, a self-confessed Tolkien enthusiast, personally involved in negotiations. The result was a planned five season production that became one of television’s most expensive undertakings. Filmed in New Zealand, the series showcases breathtaking landscapes, elaborate sets, intricate costumes, and cutting-edge visual effects. From the towering halls of Khazad-dûm to the

island kingdom of Númenor, it delivers a cinematic experience worthy of Tolkien’s world, complemented by Bear

its “themes of hope, optimism, and the idea that everyone has a role to play”. When Amazon secured the project, one of his sons, a devoted Tolkien scholar, offered a simple plea: “Dad, please don’t eff this up!” Director J.A. Bayona, who helmed the first two episodes, believed television was ideal for Tolkien’s expansive mythology, giving the storytelling room to breathe. Acknowledging the challenge of following Jackson’s films, he welcomed the chance to explore previously unseen territory. “I think they did something very smart, which was to portray the Second Age, which is something we haven’t seen before.” Glenn Cochrane

McCreary’s evocative score. Drawing primarily from the

appendices of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings , the first season unfolds during the Second Age, thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings . At its centre is Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), an Elven warrior determined to hunt down Sauron as an ancient evil begins to rise. Meanwhile, the Elves, Dwarves, and people of Númenor face their own challenges, with their stories converging towards the forging of the legendary Rings of Power. Speaking at the series’ world premiere, Bezos recalled falling in love with Tolkien’s universe at 14, drawn to

• The Rings of Power: Seasons 1 & 2 is out Nov 18

RETURN TO MIDDLE-EARTH WITH PETER JACKSON’S THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE HOBBIT TRILOGIES

WHAT’S OUT THIS MONTH? Alongside November’s major releases featured elsewhere in this issue, here’s a look at some other titles hitting the shelves.

Words Glenn Cochrane

NIGHTBORN Madman RELEASE DATE: Nov 11 GENRE: Horror FORMAT: DVD

ANNE RICE’S THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Madman RELEASE DATE: Nov 11 GENRE: TV Horror FORMAT: DVD The Vampire Lestat is the third season of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles , continuing the story established in Interview with the Vampire . This new chapter shifts the perspective to Lestat, who reinvents himself as a glam rock star and embarks upon a nationwide tour, bringing

YELLOWJACKETS: SEASON 3 Nov 11

From Hanna Bergholm, director of the acclaimed 2022 horror outing Hatching , comes Nightborn , her English-language debut. Starring Rupert Grint and Seidi Haarla as a married couple starting a new life at a remote house in the Finnish wilderness, the film follows their descent into a

nightmare when their newborn child begins displaying unearthly traits. Dark, twisted, and deeply unsettling, Nightborn blends folk horror with haunting fairytale imagery and striking production design, creating a genuinely eerie atmosphere throughout.

him closer to the powerful vampire Akasha. Stylish, seductive, and gloriously theatrical, the series expands Anne Rice’s mythology with a rock ’n’ roll sensibility. Essential viewing for horror fans.

BLUE MURDER MOTEL Nov 11

MRS. BROWN’S BOYS: CHRISTMAS CAPERS Nov 18

THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING Madman RELEASE DATE: Nov 4 GENRE: Thriller FORMAT: BD, DVD Matthew McConaughey stars as Amziah King, a charismatic beekeeper and bluegrass musician who runs a thriving honey operation in the backwoods of rural Oklahoma. When his estranged foster daughter Kateri returns, Amziah sees an opportunity to rebuild their relationship and create

GANGLAND Eagle RELEASE DATE: Nov 4 GENRE: Crime drama FORMAT: DVD

Lou Diamond Phillips and Nick Stahl headline this gritty crime thriller set on a troubled First Nations reserve. Phillips stars as Teddy Sharpe, a dedicated police officer tasked with teaching his new partner the harsh realities of policing on the ‘res’. When recently released criminal Ritchie

DEATH VALLEY: SEASON TWO Nov 18

a family business. But the honey trade is cutthroat, and ruthless rivals threaten everything he has built. A genre-blending mix of crime, drama, and western, The Rivals of Amziah King is a fascinating slow-burn thriller.

Blacklance returns to settle old scores, Teddy is forced to confront his troubled past and prevent a devastating gang war. Gritty, violent, and uncompromising, Gangland delivers hard-edged crime drama.

14 NOVEMBER 2026

jbhifi.com.au