STACK #257 March 2026

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REASONS TO WATCH 5

By 2002, David Fincher was Hollywood’s golden boy. After Se7en and Fight Club , he delivered Panic Room , a stylish, claustrophobic thriller starring Jodie Foster, Jared Leto, and Kristen Stewart, now receiving a 4K UHD upgrade. Here are five reasons to watch it.

Kung Fu Panda 2 . The red colour theme of the

movie is so powerful, and the villain Shen is one of the most underrated movie villains, and I will stand by that. Not to mention the themes

MARCH

1. The Fincher factor. Amongst his hits, David Fincher has a handful of smaller, less assuming and very underrated gems. The Game is one example, and Panic Room would be another, only now finding true appreciation. 2. David Koepp may be unfamiliar to casual viewers, but cinephiles know him as the writer behind Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, and Spider-Man. Panic Room is an ideal entry point to discover his sharp, suspense-driven work. 3. The small ensemble packs a punch. Alongside Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart are Jared Leto, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, and Patrick Bauchau, plus a brief cameo from Se7en writer Andrew Kevin Walker as a sleepy neighbour. 4. Fincher’s early embrace of digital tools allowed for seamless “impossible” camera moves and precision control, signalling a shift in modern studio filmmaking and foreshadowing techniques that would be imitated by all. 5. Clocking in under two hours, Panic Room is lean and propulsive, stripping away excess to deliver sustained tension, narrative momentum, and relentless forward drive without overstaying its welcome.

of dealing with trauma and finding inner peace. Powerful stuff, man.

’ s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? Has to be The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring . I know that everyone says that Return of the King is the best and I agree, but Fellowship just has that special spot in my heart. What I would give to live in The Shire and drink at the Green Dragon! What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? Always and forever, How I Met Your Mother and Ted Lasso . Both shows will forever be in my heart and I will always love them both. Every episode of the latest season of Ted Lasso made me cry like a baby! BELIEVE!!! What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? Lately I’ve been watching The Last of Us . Pedro Pascal is a gem and plays Joel so well. I’ve also been watching Oscar nominated films like One Battle After Another and Sinners . Both incredible movies that I’d highly recommend.

KODA KAMPAS @ JB Hi-Fi Erina Home, NSW

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The customers, 1000%. The people I meet at JB are always the loveliest people with some of the most interesting stories. I love spending time with customers discussing movies, music, TV shows, and everything else you could think of.

FUN FACT

Director Brian DePalma co-wrote the original

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

opening crawl for Star Wars (1977) after George Lucas test screened the movie to friends, who agreed that the opening needed more context.

QUIZ

Q3 What was the sequel to the 1930 movie All Quiet on the Western Front ? Q4 Name the two films 21 years apart with the exact same theme but with different titles, yet both have the same lead actor? Q5 In the film Custer of the West, who played General Custer? Q6 In which film did Richard Pryor portray Harlem speakeasy owner “Sugar Ray”?

Q7 Which classic 1967 movie do you associate with the Sheriff’s office in Sparta, Mississippi? Q8 Who or what lived in The House on Carroll Street ? Q9 Which famous actor’s first credited appearance onscreen was in the 1955 movie Francis in the Navy ? Q10 Always look on the bright side of life... Whose life?

IN DEVELOPMENT

It’s shaping up as a festive face-off, with two new takes on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in development. Paramount’s Ebenezer, directed by Ti West of the X trilogy, stars

Q1 Who dubbed Lauren Bacall’s singing voice in the 1944 film To Have and Have Not ? Q2 Who is the only film director to have won four ‘Best Director’ Oscars?

Johnny Depp as Scrooge alongside Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint, and Daisy Ridley. Currently shooting in London, it’s slated for release later this year. Meanwhile, Disney is developing Marley , directed by Bill Conti ( Beauty and the Beast ), which shifts focus to Jacob Marley and his cursed afterlife. Details remain scarce, but we’re watching closely.

FEBRUARY 2026 (Issue 256) ANSWERS - A1. GoodFellas (1990) uttered by Henry Hill played by Ray Liotta . A2. Stone Face A3. Erin Brockovich A4. Vertigo A5. Samuel L Jackson A6. Blackmail (1929) A7. Cocktail A8. Luke Goss (lead singer of Bros) A9. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore A10. The Maltese Falcon (1941) uttered by Sam Spade played by Humphrey Bogart

22 MARCH 2026

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