STACK #180 Oct 2019

TV REVIEWS

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What is the cost of lies? CHERNOBYL

At Hill House, the dead don't stay quiet! THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE

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Release Date: 02/10/19

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Release Date: 23/10/19

This harrowing dramatisation of the catastrophic events of April 1986 – when an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the USSR led to one of the worst man-made disasters in history – is some of the most terrifying television you will ever experience. With a radioactive cloud spreading through the neighbouring Ukraine city of Pripyat and threatening Europe, brave souls suffer and sacrifice themselves to contain the meltdown

The eponymous 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson was first adapted for the screen by Robert Wise as The Haunting (1963) – one of the best haunted house movies of all time – and then unwisely remade in 1999. This 10-episode series ranks alongside Wise's film, honouring the source material while exploring the haunting's lasting impact on Hill House's residents, the Crain family. Alternating between two time periods, the effects of childhood trauma is the primary

and prevent further loss of life, all the while hindered by Soviet bureaucracy. What's just as frightening is what might have have happened had they'd failed. Such is the intensity of this Emmy- winning mini-series, you'll feel as though the invisible radioactive threat is seeping from the screen into your lounge room. SH

theme, with the Crain siblings still haunted as adults by the (literal) ghosts of their past. Director Mike Flanagan ( Doctor Sleep ) delivers some incredibly creepy moments, and keeps the viewer guessing as to whether the horrors are paranormal or psychological. The DVD includes three 'extended director's cut' episodes. Highly recommended. SH

DEADWOOD: THE MOVIE

WENTWORTH: SEASON 7

warrior: SEASON 1

FIVE BEDROOMS: SEASON 1

Release Date: 09/10/19 Format:

Release Date: 02/10/19 Format:

Release Date: 30/10/19 Format:

Release Date: 02/10/19 Format:

TV series Deadwood was a gritty depiction of the Wild West, with Shakespearean gravity and colourful profanity. When HBO abruptly cancelled the show in 2006, the unresolved carnage at the end of season three became a source of much trauma for its devoted fan base. Based on a script by original showrunner David Milch, this belated but much welcome telemovie picks up events a decade on from the series' end. The hardscrabble town is now a thriving community, united to celebrate South Dakota's joining of the union. But there are scores to settle. The excellent cast brings welcome depth, and if you think this is no country for old men, Ian McShane will prove you wrong. AC

Revenge is a dish served to just about everyone in the twist-laden seventh season of the award-winning and beloved Aussie prison series. Picking up three months after the season six finale, there are two new heavy hitters in Rita (Leah Purcell) and Ruby (Rarriwuy Hick), and the fiery Marie (Susie Porter) graduates to "Top Dog", setting her on a collision course with Rita. The core cast of series regulars continues to diminish with some notable exits early on, and with the prison on the brink of imploding, there's still room for one final, cliffhanging shock that will leave devotees reeling. AC

From an original eight-page treatment by Bruce Lee, this series, produced by his daughter Shannon Lee, stays true to its martial arts roots with plenty of emphasis on skill over camera trickery. If you are a fight fan you will not be disappointed. And if you've seen the short-lived series Banshee by the same showrunner, Jonathan Tropper, you will know the brutality is laced with an unerring eye for strong, character-driven narrative. It's the 1870s and Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) is a martial artist who emigrates to San Francisco in search of his sister. When he is forced to fight, he comes to the notice of an underground gang, who enslists his help as war comes to Chinatown. AC

Living in a sharehouse can be both a trying and rewarding experience, and this new Australian dramedy brings the highs and lows home. A chance (and drunken) meeting at a wedding results in five mismatched singles pooling their resources and investing in real estate, where they navigate the domestic dramas, relationship and financial hurdles that come with the sharehouse experience. Featuring Aussie faves like Hugh Sheridan, Stephen Peacocke and Kat Stewart, this delightfully cosy series is a must-see for those who loved Packed to the Rafters and Offspring . AC

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OCTOBER 2019

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