ST236

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 236 JUN ’24

STACK Issue 236 JUNE 2024 “You cannot see the future without seeing the past.” Ye s! at

© 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary. All Rights Reserved.

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INSIDE:

ISSUE 236 JUN ’24

GAMING

ISSUE 236 JUN ’24

MUSIC

CROWDED HOUSE GRAVITY STAIRS

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PERKS see inside cover (from back)

CONTENTS

ISSUE 236 JUN 2024

MOVIES & TV 5 Take 5/Filmmaker’s Signature/On the Radar/ In Development/Bob J’s Film Buff Bafflers 6 Merch of the Month/Charts/This Month 10 Years Ago/Socials 7 Cinema: Bad Boys: Ride or Die & A Quiet Place: Day One 8 Dune: Part Two : Twice the Spice 9 Imaginary : Interview with director Jeff Wadlow 10 Immaculate : Interview with director Michael Mohan 12 Godzilla x Kong : Interview with director Adam Wingard and stars Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle 14 We’re off to see the Wizard: Revisiting The Wizard of Oz 16 New from Imprint Films 18 New to 4K and Board Games 20 Out this month MUSIC 25 Crowded House return with new music 26 Charli XCX and Bon Jovi 28 $uicideboy$ and 21 Pilots 30 Warren Ellis 32-33 Check out what new music is releasing this month 34 More Vital Vinyl suggestions for your collection GAMING 36 Take 5/Chart/Q5 38 Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD 40 Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance 42 PDP Riffmaster 44 Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble 46-48 SingStar : Looking back after 20 years 50 Out this month/Fast Forward/Wham, bam, game exam! 52 Gaming chairs 54 STACK recommends TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 10 What to consider when buying a projector 12-14 10 things to look for in a projector 16 Portable projectors: Big screens to go 18-20 Portable projectors for all budgets 22 LG Cinebeam Q Projector review 24 Projector screens and stands 26-27 Home theatre projectors 28 Home theatre projectors for all budgets 30 Gaming projectors 32 Pump up the volume with a soundbar 34 Projector installation made easy 36-38 EOFY: Office essentials 40-46 EOFY: Top tech for tax time 48 A new era for Windows PCs 50 HMD Pulse smartphones 52 New tech at JB

WELCOME

Frank Herbert’s epic 1965 science fiction novel, Dune , is a classic of the genre. It follows the struggle between two great houses to control the planet Arrakis and its valuable, mind-altering ’spice’, and the journey of young hero Paul Atreides from visionary youth to messiah figure. It’s a dense brew that many filmmakers have attempted to bring to the screen, with David Lynch finally delivering a flawed but fascinating adaptation in 1983 that has since become a cult classic. Dune would return to the screen in 2021 with director Denis Villeneuve ( Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 ) at the helm to realise his dream project, on the condition it be a two movie project to honour Herbert’s novel properly. Villenueve’s Dune not only captured the book’s essence and its incredible world building, but he also made it accessible to a mainstream audience, leaving moviegoers eagerly anticipating the second instalment. Now Dune: Part Two is here, completing what is the definitive screen adaptation of Herbert’s novel. It’s also a stunning visual achievement on a colossal scale that sets a new benchmark for the look of sci-fi films. And fans are hoping for a trilogy, with Villeneuve having expressed a desire to adapt the second book in the series, Dune Messiah . Oh, and finally, there’s a birthday to celebrate this month. STACK turns 20 in June, so we’ve taken the opportunity to look back over those 20 years - check out the cool reverse cover! We hope you enjoy this landmark issue and thanks for your ongoing support. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2024 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

Denis Villeneuve

Canadian director Denis Villeneuve is one of the great modern auteurs, renowned for his large scale spectacles within genre frameworks. With Dune Part Two hitting physical media this month, let’s delve into some of his trademarks. Music If you pay close attention to the music of Villeneuve’s films, you will discover that his scores better resemble soundscapes. Using deep resonating tones and slow pulsating sounds, the music in his movies is often foreboding, though never overbearing, and reflects moodiness and attitude. Visual distortion Villeneuve’s films are full of mystery, and visual distortion is a hallmark of his storytelling. Important moments often begin as blurred images, or from obscure angles. This keeps the audience at a distance wanting to be let in. From rain-covered windscreens and humidified windows to laced curtains and soft focus reveals, nothing is given to the audience for free. Colour If you’re familiar with his body of work then consider the use of colour. His filmography is a spectrum of colours, mostly representing the mood of the story being told or the personalities on screen. When we think of Enemy (2013), for example, we think of yellow. Sicario (2015) is green, Arrival (2016) is blue, and Dune (2021) is orange, etc.

Definitely the first X-Men movie from 2000. We got a free copy with a DVD player we bought.

JUNE

I remember looking at the DVD excited to watch it, but being too young at the time. Once I was old enough it

hooked me on superhero movies.

What’s one of your all-time favourite movies, and why? The Princess Bride - I watched this movie as a kid with my dad and could always vividly remember scenes from it, but could never remember the title. It wasn’t until many years later after watching it with a friend that I came and bought a copy from JB. Now I watch it every year. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? Doctor Who - I remember watching what is now dubbed “Classic Who” with my dad every weeknight. Since ‘NuWho’ started up in 2005, with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, I haven’t missed an episode. What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? My partner and I have been watching through all the Agatha Christie Poirot and Miss Marple shows. If you love any of Agatha Christie’s other works like Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, or A Haunting in Venice , then you will love these!

’ s ROVING REPORTER

THOMAS DESMOND @ JB Whitford, WA

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The people and the culture that is created by them. I have made so many lifelong friends. It really makes JB-Hi-Fi such a fun place and I actually look forward to coming into work.

On The Radar

Things are set to get a little raunchy in July with Zendaya hitting the court in Challengers . The Spenglars are back with help from the original gang in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire , while Oscar winner Diablo Cody also returns with the hysterical horror-comedy Lisa Frankenstein .

What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you?

QUIZ

Opening lines from what 1967 classic crime movie? Q3 Which Oscar-winning film’s title refers to people whose parents are deaf? Q4 This movie featured a reading of the Bixby letter of condolences written by Abraham Lincoln to Lydia Bixby, who lost her five sons in the American Civil War. Title please. Q5 Who were the first father and son to win Oscars for the same film? Q6 Which Kevin Costner movie has a scene in a roadside diner called

Dotties Squat and Gobble ? Q7 What was unusual about Robert Rich, the Oscar-winning writer of The Brave One in 1956? Q8 What was the movie Alfred Hitchcock made twice? Q9 Which legendary film actress who won a clutch of movie awards had the middle name Houghton? Q10 This Martin Scorsese film is primarily about a classic rock band with probably the most generic name ever? Title please.

PRE-ORDER NOW

*not final artworks

IN DEVELOPMENT

Attack of the 50 Ft.Woman Tim Burton and Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn are currently developing a remake of Attack of the 50 ft. Woman for Warner Bros. The original film wowed audiences in 1958 and was part of a Hollywood moment when stories about abnormally sized

Q1 Which 1992 movie’s opening scene includes eight men eating breakfast in a Los Angeles diner discussing the Madonna song Like a Virgin ? Q2 “ Cell... prison cell... how did I get here? ”

humans dominated the screen. Contemporaries included The Incredible Shrinking Man and The Amazing Colossal Man (both 1957). Burton’s film will be the second remake following Christopher Guest’s 1993 film starring Daryl Hannah. Details of the new movie are scant, but we would like to think that it will be a fun companion piece to Burton’s most excellent love letter to 1950s B-movies, Mars Attacks! .

MAY 2024 (Issue 235) ANSWERS - A1. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) A2. Jamie Lee Curtis A3. In Like Flint and Caprice both released in 1967 (The system was made obsolete by the advanced Panavision) A4. Wesley Snipes’ character in Drop Zone is named Nessip A5. Peter Grant, who managed the heavy metal band Led Zeppelin A6. Javier Bardem won the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ Oscar for his role in No Country for Old Men (2007) A7. James Cagney in White Heat (1949) A8. Silence of the Lambs (1991) In fact it won five Oscars in total A9. The Exorcist (1973) A10. Randolph Scott in Sam Peckinpah’s western Ride the High Country (1962)

5

THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

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STACK SOCIAL

POP! Vinyl Dune 2 Paul Atreides

POP! Vinyl Dune 2 Chani

POP! Vinyl Dune 2 Princess Irulan

Join us on social media and stay updated with the latest news, reviews, and monthly competitions. See exclusive unboxing videos, the newest movie trailers, gameplay videos, and red carpet pics from film premieres. Make sure you get involved and follow us on: STACK Magazine stackmagazine @stackmag @STACKMag STACKPresents

POP! Vinyl Dune 2 Gurney Halleck

POP! Vinyl Dune 2 Feyd Rautha

POP! Vinyl Dune 2 Stilgar

Edge of Tomorrow Amusingly, some mistook the title of Doug Liman’s Edge of Tomorrow to be Live. Die. Repeat. due to its prominent tagline. The film offers a sci-fi twist on the Groundhog Day trope with Tom Cruise’s character being caught in a time loop during an alien invasion, repeatedly battling until victory. Co-starring Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, and Australians Noah Taylor and Kick Curry, it delivers a thrilling blend of action and sci-fi. It’s an underrated movie worthy of revisiting.

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Our Friday Flick Facebook posts continue to be some of our most popular content on socials. These are a great way to kick off the weekends and our recent focus on Star Wars (1977) and Aliens (1986) certainly hit the spot.

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Joke of the day: If I owned a DeLorean I’d probably drive it from time to time.

DVD BEST-SELLERS in MAY 2024 1 THE BEEKEEPER 2 FORCE OF NATURE: THE DRY 2 3 AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM 4 ANYONE BUT YOU 5 VERA SERIES 12 6 STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS SEASON 2 7 MIGRATION 8 MEAN GIRLS (2024) 9 ONE LIFE 10 THE ZONE OF INTEREST

BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in MAY 2024

4K UHD BEST-SELLERS in MAY 2024

A happy birthday to MERYL STREEP who turns 75 on June 22

1 THE BEEKEEPER 2 THE DEPARTED 3 OCEAN’S TRILOGY 4 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) STEELBOOK JB EXCLUSIVE 5 AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM 6 TRAINING DAY 7 DUNE (2021) 8 THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (1961) STEELBOOK JB EXCLUSIVE 9 OPPENHEIMER 10 THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957) STEELBOOK JB EXCLUSIVE

1 FORCE OF NATURE: THE DRY 2 2 THE BEEKEEPER 3 THE ZONE OF INTEREST 4 JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS PART 2 5 STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS SEASON 2 6 AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM 7 WONKA 8 ANYONE BUT YOU

Born in New Jersey, Meryl Streep started acting in the late ‘60s, adopting her childhood nickname as her stage name. Her career began in theatre alongside the likes of John Lithgow and Mandy Patinkin, with her film breakthrough being A French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981). Renowned for her skill in foreign accents, Streep has received 21 Oscar nominations and won three, cementing her status as one of the greatest actresses of all time. STACK ’s fave celebrity quote: “Reality is the leading cause of stress for those in touch with it.” - Lily Tomlin

9 THE IRON CLAW 10 JUSTICE LEAGUE:

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS PART 1

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XX JUNE 2024

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FEATURE CINEMA

”T he scale of this story is bigger and more terrifying than ever before,” promised Lupita Nyong’o at this year’s annual CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, before unveiling a sneak peek of the third instalment of the gripping horror sci-fi franchise - A Quiet Place: Day One . After conceiving and directing the first two A Quiet Place films, John Krasinski hands over the reins to Michael Sarnoski, who made his feature film directorial debut just three years earlier with Pig starring Nicolas Cage as a lonely and isolated truffle hunter. Presumably, this put him into the mindset of The Quiet Place ’s bizarre and silent world. Not that this prequel flick, Day One , is anything but silent - as its new characters quickly learn that staying mute is the only way to survive. Starring Nyong’o, Djimon Hounsou, Alex Wolff, and Stranger Things ’ Joseph Quinn, Day One ’s dazzling and terrifying preview clip made it clear we are no longer in the countryside where the first two films were set. A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE Words Gill Pringle

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith

BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE

Words Gill Pringle

W ill Smith had just finished filming Bad Boys 4 when STACK met with him a few months ago at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. ”When we made Bad Boys . I didn’t realise first off the power of collaboration. That was the first time I learned that Martin and I together wasn’t just one plus one equals two. It was one plus one equals TEN!” he says. ”So, the power of collaboration is exponential and that was one of the things I saw on Bad Boys , which was a global phenomenon,” says the former rapper. ”In the beginning, I was against sequels. Until Bad Boys 2 and I just saw the energy that comes around it and that realisation that you’re cultivating a relationship with the people who go and see the films. ”And my thing with the sequel is, I refuse to make one just to make a sequel. I’m always trying to figure out: What is the elevation of the character? What is the new idea? What is the change that will match the changes in our lives? I want the character to grow and learn and expand as we’re learning and growing and expanding in our lives; to not just make it because it would be cool to make a sequel but to be able to make it because there’s something new to say and share,” he says. Returning to their roles as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence), they are investigating corruption within the Miami PD when their late Captain Conrad Howard is posthumously accused of being involved with drug cartels. What was unique about the original Bad Boys film was that it combined action with outrageous comedy, a winning formula repeated across all the films. ”That was always the goal,” says Smith, 55. ”You usually don’t laugh that hard in an action movie, right? So it’s hard to sustain the seriousness of the action, but also get big giant laughs sometimes when you’re laughing that hard - it breaks the seriousness of the reality that you need for the action. So it’s a really delicate balance.”

Lupita Nyong'o

Set to deafening action sounds, this is an apocalyptic version of a New York under wide scale invasion. Taking to the CinemaCon stage with her co-star Quinn, Oscar winner Nyong’o said, ”Now we are no longer in the isolation of the Abbott family’s farm. Instead, Day One finds our characters navigating one of the busiest cities on the planet - on the day it has to fall silent. The story is at a scale more compelling and horrifying than ever,” teased the celebrated actress. Giving a shout-out to their director, who was seated in the audience, Quinn added, ”His brilliant story asked the question: What would happen if New York City - one of the loudest cities in the world - went quiet? Filming this was a thrilling experience. And one I will never forget,” said the Brit actor whose break-out performance as Stranger Things ’ Eddie Munson made him one of the hottest properties in Hollywood, next up starring in Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated Gladiator II . Unlike the first two films, A Quiet Place: Day One doesn’t follow the Abbott family, instead, focussing on Nyong’o’s Sam in New York City. Here, she must work through the first moments of the alien invasion in the notoriously loud and busy city. The movie features the same creatures as the first two films: an alien species that hunts humankind by sound.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

A Quiet Place: Day One

is in cinemas June 30.

is in cinemas June 27.

7

MOVIE FEATURE

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Dune and Dune: Part Two encompass only one of the six books in Frank Herbert’s Duniverse, and with Denis Villeneuve’s films receiving unanimous praise, the Canadian director is currently developing a third film based on the second novel, Dune Messiah , which explores Paul Atreides’s reign as Emperor 12 years later. Composer Hans Zimmer has already begun working on the score, with further details under wraps. Watch this space! DUNE: PART THREE

Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh discuss stepping into the world of Dune . Words Gill Pringle R eprising his role as Paul Atreides TWICE THE SPICE

• Dune Part Two is out Jun 12

stardom portraying The King in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis (2022). Butler believes Dune is more relevant today than ever. “When I first read the book, I was 15, I didn't understand those themes of corruption and greed and power, or the idea of one society living in harmony with nature and another society exploiting nature. But rereading it and then reading the screenplay, it felt like it is talking about what’s happening in the One ’s A list cast, Part Two doubles down on its international ensemble with the introduction of Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan, Christopher Walken’s The Emperor, and Léa Seydoux’s Lady Margot Fenring. Like Butler, Pugh had long been fascinated by the world of Dune - and it was a “pinch-me” moment when she actually arrived on set. “It was quite possibly the most thrilling welcome to a world I think I have ever experienced, and probably ever will experience. I'd always wondered if they’d ever make those huge epics again, and then Dune came out and it truly was an epic,” says Pugh, 28. “Being able to walk onto the sets and be a part of Denis Villeneuve’s imagination is quite an experience. If Denis told me I could be Spear Carrier #3, I’d have said yes.” news today,” he says. While welcoming the return of Dune Part

in the second part of sci-fi blockbuster Dune , Timothée Chalamet cannot disguise his joy at finding such a worthy adversary in Austin Butler’s bloodthirsty Feyd-Rautha. “I don’t want to give anything away about what happens in the film, but I will say that Austin is extraordinary, I mean really extraordinary,” he says. The two actors share a heart-stopping fight scene for which they both trained intensely. “Training started from day one. I started learning the fight choreography in Los Angeles, I think Austin was already in Budapest. So, as soon as I got there, we were working on the fight,” says Chalamet, 28. “Austin was a dedicated scene partner and fight partner. Not only is he an incredible actor, he’s a super hard worker, he really cares about the work. And that whole sequence was just epic - no other way to put it,” he adds.

Florence Pugh

Timothée Chalamet

the same feelings as when I saw Apocalypse Now for the first time. I knew right then that I wanted to be a part of the next one. So, I feel very fortunate,” says Butler, 32, who joins the all-star franchise as the menacing nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. “You don’t get to play characters like this every day, and on top of that was the challenge of the physical transformation. It was also about getting into his psychology, discussing with Denis why he behaves like he does, his

relationship with his family and the brutal world of the uncle, which he grew up within. “Characters like Feyd can be hard to justify, yet humanity is full of those types of people, so shining a light on that part of the human condition was a fascinating thing to explore,” says the actor, who achieved global

Timothée Chalamet used Austin Butler’s Elvis vocal and dialect coaches to prepare for his role as Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown . DYK?

Butler has been a huge fan of Dune , ever since he read Frank Herbert’s celebrated novel as a teenager, becoming further invested in the story after watching Denis Villeneuve’s first instalment of the film. “The first time I saw it I had

jbhifi.com.au

JUNE 2024

8

FEATURE MOVIE

Five of cinema's creepiest imaginary friends

Frank ( Donnie Darko )

The new Blumhouse picture ' Imaginary ' can only be the work of a filmmaker whose youth was spent in the back corner of a video store, obsessing over the horror movies. Words Glenn Cochrane T he film, which we reckon is one of Blumhouse’s best, is an assortment of ’80s horror movie cuttings, sewn

Bunny ( Bunny Lake Is Missing )

together into a gnarly quilt, made for those movie lovers who also lived at their local video store. ”Oh my gosh!” exclaims director

Jeff Wadlow upon receiving our compliment. ”That is ridiculously high praise,” he adds with amusement. ”I don’t even think it’s close to my favourite Blumhouse movie, but I am beyond flattered. Thank you.” The movie tells the story of a woman who returns to her childhood home, along with her

Tony ( The Shining )

Taegen Burns, DeWanda Wise, and Pyper Braun

Imaginary takes place on Elm Street in Springwood DYK?

influences, Wadlow elaborates on some of the films that influenced the look and style of Imaginary . ”There are so many influences. All

we do is talk about our influences when we’re in production. From pulling art, talking about stories, and asking our collaborators what their influences are. But for me as a filmmaker, I will always try to identify a couple of touchstones for a film when I’m working on it. ”And the touchstones for Imaginary were certainly the original Poltergeist from 1982, and you’d be surprised, a more recent film, Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth . That was another significant touchstone for us.” Although actress DeWanda Wise ( Jurassic World Dominion ) is the film’s lead antagonist (and she is excellent playing against type), the standout performance is undoubtedly from young Pyper Braun ( Desperation Road ), whose

Captain Howdy ( The Exorcist )

husband and two stepdaughters, only to find her old imaginary friend, a teddy bear named Chauncey, that she left behind. When her youngest stepdaughter befriends Chauncey, strange and scary things begin to happen, and it becomes evident that there is more to the toy than meets the eye. Cue buried traumas and mythical lore, and you’ve got a surreal and compelling fantasy that recalls so many classics before it. ”I’m a pop culture fanatic,” Wadlow admits. ”I love watching movies and TV shows. Comic books and action figures,” adding with laughter, ”I don’t care about sports and I’m single, so clearly you’re getting a picture of how I spend my time. And all of those references show up in whatever I’m working on.” ”I love a challenge, and I have always wanted to make a movie about an imaginary friend because I am very interested in subjectivity in storytelling. I like the idea of playing a game with the audience and having a dialogue with the audience. I’m saying to them, ’I’m showing you something, is it real or is it not? And if it’s not real does it have real consequences?’. I get such a rush out of that kind of filmmaking. Picking up on our fascination with the movie’s

Tomás ( The Orphanage )

comprehension of the story’s more sinister qualities is far beyond her years.

”She is next level,” Wadlow says of his young star. Her one take in the audition is as good as the thing she does in the movie. There’s an old Hollywood expression for when someone nails an audition, where you turn to your casting director and say, ’Get them in makeup!’, and what that means is to literally take this actor down to the lot, smack ’em with some makeup and put them in front of a camera, today! They are that good.”

Pyper Braun with Chauncey

• Imaginary is out Jun 5

9

MOVIE FEATURE

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Sydney Sweeney’s rise to the heights of Hollywood has seemed to be overnight, and the past few years have certainly been huge for her. But she’s no flash in the pan, and her ascent hasn’t been without years of striving. Like most A-list actors, her career began with shonky B-movies and a string of bit parts on long-running television shows. From Zombies of Mass Destruction (2009) to Heroes (2009), Criminal Minds (2009)

and 90210 (2010), she’s forged a career from the bottom up, arriving at the top and deserving of her accolades.

Immaculate is a shocker in all the right ways. It's a grotesque and provocative horror movie that takes the viewer on a descent into depths of depravity. Words Glenn Cochrane NUN’S THE WORD

persona she has cultivated in the public eye. Mohan and Sweeney, longtime friends, have collaborated on various projects over the years, notably the film The Voyeurs (2021), and it was Sweeney who introduced the project to Mohan. “It actually goes back a long way to Andrew Lobel,” he explains. “He actually wrote it about 18 years ago. It was in the studio system at one point, and Sydney auditioned for it about ten years ago. And, like many projects, it fell apart before it went into production. She had always thought about it and after Euphoria season two her fans were like, 'You gotta do a horror movie'.

I t tells the story of Sister Cecilia, a young American nun who accepts an invitation to take up residency at a reclusive convent in rural Italy. The property was established to house terminally and mentally ill nuns, and no sooner does Cecilia arrive, than she begins to notice peculiarities about the place. When she becomes pregnant while still virginal, the convent's hierarchy must do everything within their power to protect the unborn child - who they believe to be the second coming of Christ - from mentally deranged nuns, jealous of the Sister being the chosen one. While audiences and critics have recognised Immaculate as a modern take on the classic nunsploitation genre, director Michael Mohan confesses to STACK that the genre didn't cross his mind during the making of the film. “I didn't come at it from that perspective,” he explains with amusement. “It's interesting now sort of realising that we accidentally made a nunsploitation movie. Actually, one

Director Michael Mohan

She had always been tracking the script, so she reached out to Andrew and basically said, 'Hey man, can I try getting this back up off the ground?'. “They worked on the script a little bit and then she sent it to me. And when she sent it to me she was basically like, 'I am either making this movie with or without you. I have a small window in my schedule, so I have to be out by a specific date because I have to go shoot this other movie called Anyone But You . So, I start reading it. And I was really nervous to read it because I wanted to love it. I wanted to feel like I could do something with it, and I wanted to feel like I was right for it. “And when I got to a key reveal that happens in the middle of the story, I wasn't expecting it at all, and I realised that we could do some damage with it!” he says with relish. “I had a few ideas that I wanted to implement, some of which were pretty major, but she was on board, the producers were on board, the financiers were on board, and three months later I was on the ground in Rome, prepping.”

of the changes we made to the script was that originally she was a high school kid whose parents died and she was sent to this religious school, where the story took place. "But my main thing was that now that Sydney

Sweeney is older, let's make her a nun. Which also helps with the whole 'Sydney Sweeney is a virgin' side of things too,” he laughs, alluding to the desirable

Sydney Sweeney is trained in MMA DYK?

• Immaculate is out Jun 12

Sydney Sweeney

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10 JUNE 2024

MOVIE FEATURE

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THE ORIGINAL RUMBLE

These titans’ first clash was in the 1962 classic King Kong vs. Godzilla , which was the third instalment of both respective franchises. It also marked the first time either of them had been presented in colour. Much like the original Godzilla

(1954), the International version was significantly different, with film producer John Beck owning exclusive rights to the release in non-Asian territories. A new script

and new footage were shot to appeal to western audiences.

says of the franchise's enormity. “I love working with Rebecca,” she adds. “I'm very happy to be working alongside her again, and some new people as well”. Curious about any limitations she may have faced as a deaf cast member, we inquired about the fundamental differences, if any, between her experiences in the first movie and this second time around. “No, I didn't really have any challenges working alongside Adam. He was so open and understanding, and even though working with a deaf person was a new experience for him, he was informative and showed me the camera angles and stuff. He was so cool to me.” Keen to share her own thoughts on working with Kaylee again, Rebecca jumps in. “My ASL [American Sign Language] was much better this time,” she says enthusiastically, laughing “The first time around it was poor. I would haltingly try to ask her questions and then I'd be painstakingly finger spelling ev-er-y-th-ing v-e-ry, v-e-ry slow-ly. She's a lot older now and it's been fascinating to watch her grow up.” On returning to the series and reuniting with Adam, she adds “Everything is better. It's not often that you get to do two films with the same character and the same world. You learn a lot from the first one and everything is a little bit better the second time around. We know what worked in the first one, and we know how to make it that much better in the new one.”

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse ramps up with the release of Godzilla x Kong:The New Empire , marking the fifth entry in the film franchise. Words Glenn Cochrane T he film follows two titans as they unite to combat a colossal, undiscovered hidden threat that jeopardises not only their existence, but also our own.

Director Adam Wingard and stars Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle return following Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and sat down with STACK to chat about the latest clash of the titans. “King Kong and Godzilla are two of the biggest icons in film history, and it took both of them in one movie to sort of save cinema,” explains Wingard, recalling the impact of the previous movie, which was released when the world was coming out of the pandemic. “At the time, theatres were at their lowest point and no one was going to see films, not even Christopher Nolan movies,” he adds facetiously. With Godzilla turning 70 this year, we were

Director Adam Wingard with Dan Stevens and Rebecca Hall

keen to know if the anniversary was something Adam had in mind while chasing a 2024 release date. “You know, I didn't even think about that,” he admits. “I guess to a certain degree when you start these movies you don't really know when they're going to be finished. So, it's hard to predict those things, but perhaps it's just serendipitous? It's always nice when there's an anniversary that gives it that context.” Although 11-year-old Kaylie Hottle, who is deaf, may not be as familiar with the legacies of Godzilla and Kong, she shares her experience of being part of such massive blockbuster movies through her interpreter. "It's such an experience to be able to be this young and be a part of this movie, and I did not know about Godzilla or King Kong before being involved in the last movie. I think it's cool,” she

Kaylee Hottle and Rebecca Hall

• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is out Jun 26

12 JUNE 2024

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Burn the Witch! Margaret Hamilton was seriously burnt during the scene of her disappearing in a scarlet puff of fire and smoke. As she positioned herself on the elevator platform the pyrotechnics kicked off well before she began her descent. Her hat and broomstick caught fire, scalding her chin, her nose, and right cheek. Her upper lip and eyelid were also badly burned. Heavily bandaged, she was unable to continue filming for six weeks. Director Victor Fleming shot around her until she was well enough to return.

The massive critical and audience approval following the release of Walt Disney's fantasy film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in December 1937 persuaded MGM boss Louis B. Mayer to purchase the film rights of the popular children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , written by author L. Frank Baum. Words Bob J

The primary choice for the multi faceted Wizard role was originally W.C. Fields, but he turned down the part. Leroy finally settled for the MGM contract actor, Frank Morgan. For the Wicked Witch of the West, Leroy cast Gale

A Frank L. Baum biopic titled Dreamer of Oz was made in 1990. The film starring Beau Bridges can be found hidden as a bonus feature on the current 4K and Blu-ray releases of The Wizard of Oz . DYK?

Sondergaard, the winner of the very first 'Supporting Actress' Oscar. But it was pointed

production personnel were

The Wizard of Oz cast. (L to R) Jack Haley asTheTin Man, Judy Garland as Dorothy, Ray Bolger as Scarecrow, and Bert Lahr asThe Cowardly Lion.

challenged to devise all the necessary Oz

out to Leroy that the thousands of children who were familiar with the book would not accept a glamorous witch - she had to be an ugly and hateful witch. The beautiful

M ayer selected Mervyn Leroy to produce the film, who swiftly set about casting the production. The Wizard of Oz has often been described as one of the most perfectly cast films ever made, but almost all of its principal players were, in fact, second choices. Judy Garland was the second choice for the role of Dorothy after MGM privately tried to negotiate - but was unable to secure - the services of little Shirley Temple from 20th Century Fox. Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Scarecrow, and Ray Bolger as the Tin Woodman. But Bolger argued that his style was better suited to that of a strawman

magic that was required for the story. What they achieved by using - at that time - fairly primitive special effects, was phenomenal. However, when completed filming, MGM's investment in the production topped three million

Sondergaard had no intention of appearing onscreen as a grotesque looking villainess and flatly refused the role. Margaret Hamilton replaced her. Billie Burke was then selected to play Glinda the Good Witch as her slightly fey quality played well against the acerbic menace of Hamilton. To portray the Munchkins, vaudeville impresario Leo Singer arranged to augment his own troupe of miniature performers with one hundred more from all over the U.S. The final part to be cast was supplied by trainer Carl Spitz, who brought to the studio a little female Cairn terrier named Terry who won the part of Dorothy's dog, Toto. Furthermore, it was not just the casting of the characters that proved problematic for Leroy, as the film over its production time would use up four directors. Filmed entirely on MGM's soundstages, the studio's creative

dollars, but it fell well short of that investment during its first run with the elimination of much of the foreign market - due to the beginning of WWII. Ironically it was television - Hollywood's great nemesis - that finally put the film in the black when it was leased to CBS in 1956. This movie milestone of family entertainment has had an unparalleled career as a worldwide television perennial, making it the most widely seen and beloved motion picture of all time.

and switched roles with Ebsen. The primary element of Ebsen's make-up was an aluminium facial dust spray which, when inhaled, caused him to suffer a severe breathing impairment resulting in Ebsen spending two weeks in an iron lung. Leroy was forced to replace him with vaudevillian Jack Haley and to use different make-up to avoid what happened to Ebsen. The Cowardly Lion character was originally going to be a real lion with vocals supplied off-screen by an actor's voice. This, however, proved too difficult and Bert Lahr was fitted into a lion's costume for the role.

Buddy Ebsen asTinman

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Draw a circle around July 3 because Imprint Films is releasing a swag of incredible titles, including two worldwide firsts and a long list of newly commissioned features. Words Glenn Cochrane

Fresh (1994) Overshadowed by big studio

After Dark: Beo Noir Cinema CollectionThree The latest After Dark collection comprises six modern noir films exploring themes of crime, corruption, and vengeance, featuring two worldwide first releases. The lineup includes David Mamet’s Homicide (1991), making its Blu-ray debut, starring Joe Mantegna and William

films upon its release, Fresh is widely regarded as one of the best films

H. Macy. Roger Donaldson’s White Sands (1992) features Willem Dafoe, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Mickey Rourke, and Samuel L. Jackson. Sean Penn’s The Crossing Guard (1995) stars Jack Nicholson, while Phil Joanou’s Heaven’s Prisoners (1996), starring Alec Baldwin, also makes its worldwide Blu-ray debut. Stephen Hopkins’ Under Suspicion (2000), starring Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman, and Stephen Frears’ Dirty Pretty Things (2002), featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou, complete the collection. Each film is accompanied by audio commentaries, and the collection includes a vast array of new and archival bonus content.

The United States of Leland (2003) This shocking and disturbing indie drama stars Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle, Chris Klein, Jana Malone, Lena Olin, Sherilyn Fenn, and Michelle Williams. It tells the story of an ordinary teenager who commits a brutal crime that shocks a community, and chronicles a teacher’s attempt to tell his story in a book. It’s a powerful and of 1994. Starring Sean Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Giancarlo Esposito, the film explores the hard realities of life in the city as a streetwise kid strives to create a better future for himself and his family by keeping ahead of local criminals. The Blu-ray is packed with five new interviews, archival features, an audio commentary, and more.

Look out for the upcoming releases from the new Imprint Asia label.

confronting film, that will leave you stunned with its depictions of violence and disorder.

Martin Scorsese: Films of Faith Collection Three critically acclaimed films exploring challenges of faith from one of the world’s greatest living directors, Martin Scorsese. The limited edition 5-disc hard box includes The LastTemptation of Christ (1988), Kundun (1997), and Silence (2016), an exclusive hardcover booklet, and more.

Secretary (2002) The suggestive tagline of this provocative erotic drama reads “Assume the position”, and sets the tone for this critically acclaimed film starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. When Gyllenhaal’s character’s first job ends up being a secretarial position at a prominent law firm, she discovers her true calling: flirting, typing, and making coffee. The lines of professional conduct

Rambling Rose (1991) Making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, this Academy Award-nominated drama from director Martha Coolidge ( Real Genius ) stars Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, and Robert Duvall, and tells the story of an alluring young woman hired to care for the children of a Southern family, who becomes promiscuous with anyone she meets. The Blu-ray

features an audio commentary and all-new interviews, as well as outtakes, an alternative ending, and more.

are crossed in this scandalous film which could serve as a ‘What not to do’ guide for any HR department. The Blu-ray includes new commentaries, interviews, a featurette, and more.

• The new Imprint range is out on July 3 for a limited time only, while stocks last.

16 JUNE 2024

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Words Amy Flower

DISCS OF THE MONTH

PRIMAL FEAR The tense and captivating courtroom thriller from 1996, starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, and Edward Norton (in his debut feature role), has now wended its way to the 4K Ultra HD format. We’ll be following every gripping twist and turn as it unfolds from a

EVENT HORIZON Director Paul W.S.

FOOTLOOSE (1984) It’s now been 40

Anderson’s cult sci-fi favourite from 1997, starring Laurence Fishburne and Sam

years since the music died in Bomont, and to celebrate this anniversary the original Footloose , starring Kevin Bacon, arrives in Australia this month on 4K Ultra HD. Visually, it’s presented in native 4K, featuring both

Neill, and telling of a long missing

spaceship’s strange reappearance, gets a welcome 4K restoration treatment. It comes to the 4K Ultra HD format

Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancement options. Meanwhile, the audio is delivered via DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, which should have Kenny Loggins’ theme song – and massive hit – cutting footloose in real style. Out June 5

native 4K transfer, which features both Dolby Vision and standard HDR10 enhancement. As for the audio, expect to follow every strand of the drama while listening to a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix. Out June 5

via a native 4K transfer that offers both Dolby Vision and HDR10 enrichment. The vision is nothing without the sound, and here all of the spacey audio is delivered via a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. Out June 5

A CARD GAME FOR PSYCHOS Love ‘80s slasher movies? This game is for you! I f ever a game has been suited to the STACK , office, then Psycho Killer is it. Loosely based on the classic ‘80s horror movies, this card game will have you fearing the collection of each card. PSYCHO KILLER

you evade or defend against the killer. Amongst the pile are weapons cards. These cannot be discarded, and they have numbers on them depending on the damage that the weapon inflicts. Known as injury points, you want to avoid accruing too many. However, whenever one of the five Psycho Killer cards is drawn, all players must present their weapons cards, and the total number of injury points is totted up. When the number exceeds ten, players become ‘Left for Dead’ and must try to get

back into the game. The rules are simple, but there are heaps of further cool features to playing the game, such as Effects cards and Predicament cards, where you must play out the instruction immediately before picking up another card. It’s a game of sabotage and survival, and the player with the least number of injury points at the end of the game is the winner. For lovers of horror flicks or high-tempo games, Psycho Killer should definitely be on your list for the next game night.

Designed for two to six players, the pack needs to be thoroughly shuffled, and piles of cards are evenly distributed between the players with a gap in between for the discarded pile. Now, the aim of the game is not to pick up one of five Psycho Killer cards, but to pick up as many other cards that will help

18 JUNE 2024

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LOVE LIES BLEEDING Director Rose Glass follows up her critically acclaimed film Saint Maud (2019) with this provocative thriller starring Kristen Stewart, Kety O’Brien, Jena Malone, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris. A gym manager falls for an ambitious bodybuilder and finds herself caught in a world of violence with her new lover’s criminal family. With A24’s stamp of quality, it has been likened by critics and moviegoers to the work of the Coen Brothers and David Lynch. NO WAY UP Colm Meaney ( Con Air ) stars in the latest outrageous shark movie, No Way Up . He plays the pilot of a commercial airplane en route to an island resort, which crashes and ends up at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. With the air supply running out, the surviving passengers' only chance of survival is to swim up, but they must avoid a huge school of sharks circling the blood-tainted water above. SUZUME Suzume is a coming-of-age anime like no other from Makoto Shinkai, the director of the critically acclaimed award-winning films Weathering with You (2019) and Your Name (2016). The film follows a teenage schoolgirl and a young stranger who open a strange door, which opens other doors, triggering catastrophes across Japan. They must race against time to close them all before total destruction. This unique fantasy adventure is a must for all anime fans. THE LAST KINGDOM: SEVEN KINGS MUST DIE Seven Kings Must Die is the feature-length film sequel and conclusion to the popular historical Viking series The Last Kingdom . With the series cast reprising their roles, the story has Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) riding once more across his fractured kingdom, battling alongside and against new allies and enemies. Critics have praised the film for its stunning production design and excellent storytelling, making it a must-see final chapter for fans of the series. 5/6/24 Anime STEELBOOK 12/6/24 Horror 5/6/24 Thriller

DAMAGED Samuel L. Jackson and Vincent Cassel star in this gritty serial killer thriller in the vein of Seven . Jackson plays a Chicago detective invited to investigate a series of serial killings in Scotland alongside another detective played by Cassel. The crimes bear a striking resemblance to a case he investigated five years earlier. Boasting a similarly dark production aesthetic to those films above, Damaged is an edgy exploit for fans of the genre. CHIEF OF STATION Action director Jesse V. Johnson ( Avengement ) returns with a tough thriller starring Aaron Eckhart ( The Bricklayer ). A former CIA officer is drawn back into espionage after his wife, a former operative, dies in an accident. Receiving a cryptic message from Eastern European criminals, he teams up with a former adversary to unravel a conspiracy that challenges everything he knew about his life and agency. Martial arts action star Daniel Bernhardt ( Nobody ) co-stars. THE GREAT ESCAPER A must-see film for all cinephiles, The Great Escaper is the final film for Michael Caine, who has now retired, and Glenda Jackson, who passed away before its release. This moving comedic drama tells the true story of Bernard Johnson, an 89-year-old man who broke out of his nursing home to attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France, in 2014. From the director of Dad’s Army (2016), the film has received critical acclaim and shouldn’t be missed. 19/6/24 Thriller 26/6/24 ACTION DELIA’S GONE Stephan James ( 21 Bridges ), Marisa Tomei ( The Wrestler ), Paul Walter Hauser ( Richard Jewell ), and Travis Fimmell (TV's Vikings ) star in this violent and gripping story of murder and redemption, about a mentally handicapped man imprisoned for the murder of his sister and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the crime. Directed by Robert Budreau ( Stockholm ) and packed with weighty performances, Delia’s Gone is one of the year’s most understated thrillers. 5/6/24 DRAMA

TV DRAMA

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Thriller

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