STACK #249 July 2025

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 249 JULY ’25

STACK Issue 249 JULY 2025 “It is harder to create than to destroy. That’s why cowards tend to chose the deuce.” © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary. All rights reserved.

INSIDE:

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WIN A MOVA Z50 ULTRA WET AND DRY ROBOTIC VACUUM!

PERKS see page 5 for details

CONTENTS

ISSUE 249 JULY 2025

MOVIES & TV 6 Intro/Take 5/Filmmaker’s Signature/In development/Bob J’s Film Buff’s Bafflers 7 Merch of the month/Charts/This month 40 years ago 8 Dino-Mite!: Jurassic World Rebirth 9 A Minecraft Movie : The ultimate block buster 10 The Long Paw of the Law: Dogman / Looney Tunes : The Day the Earth Blew Up 12 Ryan Coogler’s Sinners / The horror of Until Dawn 14 Reel noir: Fear Below / Behind Bars: The Correspondent 15 Ghoul and the Gang: Fallout Season 1 16 Love of an Icon: Crocodile Dundee - The Encore Cut 18 New to 4K 20 Reel Classics: New from Imprint Films 22 What’s out this month? 24 The latest Anime MUSIC 25 My first album/ STACK Exchange 26 Bruce Springsteen delivers a slew of previously unreleased music, and we delve into Alice Cooper’s back catalogue. 28 Wet Leg releases sophomore album Moisturizer , while Five Finger Death Punch pull together volume one of a best-of. 30 New music from Kesha and Tim Minchin draws from the past for a new album 32-33 What new music is landing in-store at JB this month? 34 Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms was a landmark album when it released in 1985. It remains a crucial addition to any record collection. GAMING 36 Take 5/Charts/Q5/Wham, bam, game exam! 38 It’s monkey business in Donkey Kong Bananza 42 A classic gets a makeover: Tony Hawk 3 and 4 is back! 44-45 Gaming’s just getting started in 2025! We look at what else is coming this year 46 Razer Kishi takes your gaming mobile 48 Heads-up! Logitech’s stunning new gaming headset, the G522, is here 50 The HP Omen Max 16 is a powerhouse gaming laptop 52 Out this month/Editor’s pick TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 Geek speak and editor’s choice 6-7 A quick guide to audio tech 8 Device IP ratings explained 10-12 The A–Z of audio tech 14 Broadcast your audio with Auracast 16 Customising your sound 18-20 New audio tech check 22-24 Why open-design ear gear is cool 26 Bluetooth turntables for wireless wax 28-32 The hottest new audio gear 34-36 A quick guide to projectors 38-40 Projectors for all occasions 42 Hisense C2 Ultra 4K projector review 44 Nebula Capsule Air projector review 46 New tech at JB this month

WELCOME

There was a time when great sound was a luxury — something found in padded recording studios or behind glass in a high-end audiophile showroom. But today, that level of fidelity lives in our backpacks, on our bedside tables, and tucked into our ears on the morning commute. Thanks to remarkable advances in consumer audio — from Bluetooth speakers to studio-grade noise-cancelling headphones — high-quality sound is more accessible than ever. We no longer need to choose between convenience and quality. We can have both in every room and on every device. This issue is a celebration of that shift. Of the tech that’s made room-filling sound possible without a single cable. Of the gear that lets us take concert-hall clarity into our living rooms or our morning commutes. And of the changing way we engage with music itself — more personal, more portable, but no less profound. Music hasn’t changed. It still moves us, marks moments, and fills silence with feeling. But the way we hear it — that has changed. And all for the better. Here’s to listening wherever you are. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Billy Pinnell, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Stuart Coupe, Trista McConville, James O’Connor, Michael Caverzan

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson

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

Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

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, 2025 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.

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Mild fantasy violence and coarse language, some scenes may scare young children

© 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Legendary. All rights reserved.

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JARED HESS

A Minecraft Movie is the latest project from Jared Hess, a filmmaker who – alongside his screenwriter wife, Jerusha – has been delivering delightfully offbeat stories for over 20 years. Ever since shifting the comedy landscape with the seminal Napoleon Dynamite , Hess has carved out a unique creative voice. Let’s take a look at Watching just one of his films gives you a clear sense of the distinct brand of comedy he has perfected. Long stretches of awkward silence and deadpan delivery underpin the humour, while his characters speak with strange mannerisms and a bizarre, unwavering sincerity that adds absurdity to the everyday. Quirky, outsider protagonists Building upon that theme, his storytelling often focuses on underdogs with eccentric personalities. Usually socially awkward with a peculiar enthusiasm for life, these characters, like Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, receive affection from audiences, rather than ridicule. Retro Americana aesthetic Whether it’s Jason Momoa’s character in A Minecraft Movie being stuck in the ‘80s, or Napoleon Dynamite’s outdated fashion choices, Hess’s films are often grounded in vintage decor, obscure technology, and an op-shop sense of style – bringing a distinct sense of nostalgia to his contemporary storytelling. three of his signature trademarks. Awkward, deadpan comedy

JULY

movies that I would always rent from a video store. It’s an amazing family film

that I still watch to this day.

’ s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? It has to be Mamma Mia! – one of the best musicals I’ve ever seen. I’m a huge fan of Meryl Streep and everything she’s in. It’s emotional, funny, and keeps you entertained the whole way through. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? The Last of Us . I’m a huge fan of the video games, so when they released the TV show, I was hooked. It’s a brilliant adaptation with amazing performances from Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. I’ve been rewatching Ted Lasso . It’s one of my top 3 shows of all time. There is absolutely nothing to fault about it. It’s a comedy with an amazing presentation of what people deal with in their day to day lives. I can’t recommend it enough! What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend?

KAITLYN HADFIELD @ JB Lakeside Joondalup, WA

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The best thing about working at JB is the people and community you get to be part of. I’ve met some of my best friends working at JB. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Cheaper By the Dozen . It was one of those

FUN FACT

Here’s a facepalm fact for you: Quotation marks were added to the title of “ Crocodile ” Dundee on US posters so audiences wouldn’t think Mick

Dundee was an actual crocodile.

QUIZ

Q2 Stromboli was a villain in which Disney cartoon movie? Q3 Who played the lead role in the 1972 movie Lady Sings the Blues ? Q4 In which movie did Jeff Bridges win the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actor? Q5 Actor and comedian Bob Hope had what real first name? Q6 Which actor played the

role of Nelson Mandela in the 2009 movie Invictus ? Q7 What movie holds the record for most Oscars without winning the Best Picture Award? Q8 Who played Johnny Utah in the movie Point Break ? Q9 What was Alan Ladd’s final film? Q10 “ After all, tomorrow is another day ” is the final line of which classic movie?

File this under “Sequels we never imagined would happen.” It’s still hard to believe that acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher ( Se7en, Zodiac ) has signed on to direct a follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 hit Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood . But it’s true. Tentatively titled The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth , the film is based on a screenplay by Tarantino and sees Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio return, with Booth now working as a Hollywood studio fixer in the ‘80s. Produced by Netflix, the film will also receive a theatrical release. More to come, watch this space… IN DEVELOPMENT

Q1 How many western movies have been filmed about the Gunfight at the OK Corral?

JUNE 2025 (Issue 248) ANSWERS - A1. Bette Davis in All About Eve (1950) A2. Caprice (1967) A3. The Long Riders (1980) A4. Manhunter (1986) A5. Sam Peckinpah in Invasion of the Body Snatchers A6. Doctor Dolittle A7. Black Hawk Down (2001) A8. Francis Ford Coppola A9. Full Metal Jacket A10. Heat (1995) line delivered by Robert De Niro

JULY 2025

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THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

STACK SOCIAL

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 What you've been loving on socials this month: Sorry if our Raiders of the Lost Ark meme made you feel old, but judging by the hundreds of comments, it clearly struck a chord! Now excuse us while we go search for the Holy Grail of moisturisers.

Superman Cooler / Stubby Holder

Superman Logo Beanie

Superman Logo T-Shirt

Superman Light Box

Superman - Legacy (2025) - Superman with Krypto 7” Deluxe Figure

Superman - Legacy (2025) - Superman Pop! Vinyl

Superman - Legacy (2025) - Krypto Pop! Vinyl

Superman (2025) - Guy Gardner Pop! Vinyl

Back to the Future Ironically, time flies… It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since Back to the Future first hit cinemas, continuing to capture the imagination of every generation since. Originally titled Spaceman from Pluto , the film initially starred Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly before he was replaced by Michael J. Fox after several key scenes were shot. Its clever time-travel plot, iconic DeLorean, and unforgettable soundtrack cemented its place in pop culture – spawning two sequels, merchandise, theme park rides, and a hit stage musical. There’s still nothing quite like it.

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Joke of the day: A director once told Bette Davis she drew her eyebrows too high. She seemed surprised.

CHARTS

A happy birthday to KEVIN HART who turns 46 on July 6

DVD BEST-SELLERS in JUNE 2025

BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in JUNE 2025

4K UHD BEST-SELLERS in JUNE 2025

Born in Philadelphia in 1979, Kevin Hart began his comedy career in the early 2000s, quickly rising through the stand up circuit. He became a Hollywood star with hits like Ride Along and Jumanji , with career highlights

1 MICKEY 17 2 WAKE IN FRIGHT (1971)

1 DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SEASON 7 2 MICKEY 17 3 HEART EYES 4 FLOW (2024) 5 HAPPY GILMORE 6 BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN 7 WICKED (2024) 8 GLADIATOR II 9 BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY 10 FINAL DESTINATION COLLECTION

1 BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY 2 MICKEY 17 3 RUST (2025) 4 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 5 CODENAME ALARUM 6 WICKED (2024) 7 GLADIATOR II 8 HEART EYES 9 PADDINGTON IN PERU 10 FLOW (2024)

3 DIRTY HARRY (1971) 4 THE DEER HUNTER 5 THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES (1976) 6 JAWS 2 7 NOSFERATU (2024) 8 IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) 9 JAWS 3 10 PALE RIDER (1985)

including hosting major award shows and selling out arenas worldwide with his comedy tours.

STACK ’s fave celebrity quote: “I don’t mean to put down your black widow spider, but the funnel web spider can kill a man in eight seconds, just by lookin’ at him.” - Mick Dundee

7

CINEMA FEATURE

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quickly found it raised the bar, enabling him to quickly cast double Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey and Rupert Friend for the seventh Jurassic adventure. Portraying former special-forces operative and extraction expert Zora Bennett, Johansson’s inclusion ensured that all the cast were closely bonded from the outset of the five-month shoot in Thailand and Malta. “I think it's rare to have someone lead both on and off screen with the effortlessness and flair that Scarlett does,” says Rupert Friend, recalling how she rented out a yacht to whisk the cast away for a fun-filled weekend. “By renting that boat and giving us this experience together, meant that we were all able

For determined Jurassic fan Scarlett Johansson, landing the lead role in Jurassic World: Rebirth was a childhood dream come true. Words Gill Pringle S carlett Johansson had longed to star in a Jurassic film since

to bond and get through what was quite a gruelling shoot, but also, I think that the relationships on screen probably reflect some of that,” he recalls. "When I came into work on the Monday, there was this massive difference with all the cast, where they were totally bonded,” recalls Edwards. “They're all best

childhood. “It's been a dream of mine to be in the Jurassic family since forever,” she admits. “One of my first memories of going to the theatre was going to see Jurassic Park .

“For the last 15 years, I have been following every Jurassic movement, and each time I heard they were making a film, I reached out to say I was available, but nothing worked out.” Leaving nothing to chance this time, she even called Steven Spielberg and requested a meeting after hearing rumblings of Jurassic World: Rebirth . “I asked if he would like to sit down just to meet in general, but, of course, with the hope being that he would mention Jurassic or I could sort of slip it in. “We talked for hours and somewhere in the middle of it I said, 'Steven, I want to be in this film so bad. Even if it’s just to play someone who dies in the first five minutes, I’d do it! It's my childhood dream! Let me do this! I will crush this for you’,” she says. Fast forward a few months later when

Spielberg was meeting with his producers and director Gareth Edwards at Universal Studios. “I'd never actually had this

mates, and all laughing and joking. It was like night and day, from what it was like before that weekend and after that weekend. “I think it was really smart of Scarlett. I don't know if she'd done it before, but it really made everyone become a family,” he adds. But even with the mostly closely bonded group, there's always someone who has to get gobbled up by a dinosaur…

Jurassic World Rebirth Poster

kind of meeting before – basically there was a stack of photographs of all these A-list actors, all these celebrities, laid out and everyone was moving them around and talking about different people,” recalls Edwards, the British director best known for Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story . "There's like a sea of faces on this desk and everyone's saying so many names. We've got to figure this out, like now . “At which point Steven went, ‘Well, if I don't give the role to Scarlett, she's gonna kill me’. And we were like, ‘What do you mean?’ And he goes: ‘Well, she's just been hassling me relentlessly about being in Jurassic’. And as I'm hearing this, I'm like, ‘Wait a minute; Scarlett Johansson wants to be in the film? And he's like, yeah." “Then they said, ‘Oh, we sent Scarlett the script. She's reading it over the weekend, and then suddenly, I heard she loved it. She's in, it's happening. So it all went from there,” Edwards tells STACK . With Johansson on board, Edwards

Jurassic World Rebirth is in cinemas from July 3

David Iacono, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey

• Jurassic World Trilogy JB Exclusive 4K Steelbook is out Jul 2

JULY 2025

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FEATURE MOVIE

Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Sebastian Eugene Hansen

Jason Momoa and Director Jared Hess

make in the game are lasting,” says the director whose films include Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre . “When you play the game, you can really click into your creative superpower, and that's something that happens with the characters in the film. The crazy thing about the game is that there’s no story. Anyone who plays it – and there are billions of players worldwide – creates their own story.

Grab your pickaxes and saddle up for a wild and wacky ride-along with A Minecraft Movie . Words Gill Pringle

“So, there are billions of stories out there, and this is one Minecraft story. It's absurd, it's funny, it's just one of the most outrageous adventure movies you'll ever see,” says the director whose film also features Jermaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Matt Berry and Jennifer

FUN FACT

There are several cheeky Napoleon Dynamite easter eggs hidden throughout the movie. See how many you can find.

I f naysayers doubted popular video game Minecraft ’s cubic world could even be translated into live-action, the enormous success of the movie proved them wrong. “I think there were a lot of people out there who couldn’t believe it was really happening, that it was really real,” reflects Jack Black, who always believed the film’s ambitious concept could work. “I could feel it when I first posted about it, that, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be in Minecraft ’ post where I just did a photograph of me reading a Minecraft

Coolidge. “None of the characters in the film are your typical heroes. All the characters comprise a group of unlikely heroes that are all underdogs in their own way, but who are really coming to their own on this adventure,” adds Hess, who encouraged all his cast and crew to play Minecraft while working on the film. A Minecraft Movie isn’t aiming for Oscars, but it is aiming to make friends with the next generation of moviegoers. With its infectious energy, memeable moments, and pure fan service, it’s a big-screen love letter to creativity, block-building, and fandom. The story might be thin, but for anyone who’s ever lost hours to Minecraft , it’s a joyfully chaotic ride.

a villainous Piglin queen ... and maybe find their way home. Black and Momoa are simply camp-tastic, their on-screen chemistry and unfiltered energy fueling much of the fun. Director Jared Hess was always confident that Minecraft ’s devoted gamers would make this a huge cinematic hit. “When you play the game

for Dummies book, and it got millions of likes, and it was,

‘Oh, it’s bubbling out there’,” says Black who plays Steve, a world-renowned ‘expert crafter’. “It’s a phenomenon; this game has been loved by millions and millions all over the world for years now, and I think this movie is a big deal for

• A Minecraft Movie is out July 2

Minecraft , it's total community. There’s so many people that play it worldwide all the time, and the friendships that you

a lot of people, because now it’s generational. There are kids who have grown up and are out in the world working and living and have families of their own. It’s been that long that the game has been part of our world, so it was cool to finally bring that universe into cinemas,” he says. A Minecraft Movie follows four misfits – siblings Henry and Natalie, plus quirky adults Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks) – who are whisked into the blocky Overworld, where they team up with Steve to survive mobs, outsmart

Could A Minecraft Movie be this generation’s Rocky Horror Picture Show experience? No sooner had it hit cinemas than teens and tweens began losing their minds at the sound of the now-iconic “Chicken Jockey” war cry. The cue prompts chaotic outbursts, with popcorn flying and audiences erupting in gleeful mayhem. In some cases, screenings were even paused and police were called. Much like Rocky Horror before it, A Minecraft Movi e has quickly become an audience participation phenomenon – one that some cinema owners embraced as it brought a new wave of moviegoers back to the big screen.

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MOVIE FEATURE

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DOG MAN: THE LONG PAW OF THE LAW Dog Man – the bonkers spin-off of Captain Underpants – has finally arrived on physical media! GENRE: Comedy Action RUN TIME: 1h 34m

T he story of Dog Man begins when a human police officer and a dog are injured on the job. They are saved by groundbreaking technology that combines their anatomies. While this might sound graphic, director Peter Hastings assures us it's handled lightheartedly. Sitting down to chat with STACK , he explains how the movie follows the graphic novel's lead. “The origin story of Dog Man is at the front of every single Dog Man book. So, any kid who has read them knows the story, which is in the trailer, about the officer and the dog, the explosion, the operation, and them coming together. "And that sounds so crazy when you

tell people what that is, but when you see it in the movie, it's all so playful and carries that innocence that the books have as well.” Readers of both Dog Man and Captain Underpants will be familiar with their distinct style of illustration, and they can rest assured that the new movie remains very true to the source material thematically, while using the animation medium to push its look further. “The thing that was really important was keeping the feel of what the books are like. It wasn't about copying the style of the books, but looking at how buildings are done [for example], well, they're outlines and some windows.

Director Peter Hastings

"And we thought, 'Let's

do that, but it will be a whole city. And 'Oh, those lines are crooked, let's do that', because that's part of the charm and innocence as well. “So, that was the main thing, making sure we were true to the feeling and the tone of it, and then expanding upon that. Our character design is pretty simple, but the animation and the performances they do are pretty sophisticated.” Glenn Cochrane

• Dog Man is out July 9

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Captain Underpants, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, D.C. League of Super Pets

GENRE: Family Comedy RUN TIME: 1h 31m

THE LOONEY VOICE BEHIND THE TUNES! After 95 years of laughter, the Looney Tunes finally have their first fully animated feature film, The Day the Earth Blew Up .

T he popularity of Looney Tunes never seems to wane, a fact we discussed with Eric Bauza, the star and voice behind many of its iconic characters, during a recent catch-up. “Whatever they were

“For me, it’s like every day is the first day of work with these guys,” he says of writer, director and

producer Peter Browngardt and the team behind The Day the Earth Blew Up , who he has worked with for many years. “I’ll never get bored of voicing these

a kid who grew up in the '90s, so all of our animated feature films were hand drawn. And I think there’s

doing back in the '40s, they clearly were having the time of their lives,” he says. “They probably weren’t even thinking that those films would have a life past being in the movie houses where they were shown alongside newsreels.” The Canadian actor has been voicing cartoons professionally since the early 2000s including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Rick and Morty, Teen Titans Go!, Scooby Doo , and numerous Hanna Barbera shows.

Eric Bauza

FUN FACT

nothing that comes close, even with the technology that we have now, to that hand-drawn feel. “I have a nine-year-old son and to see some of the quality of cartoons that he accepts as normal, I’m like, ‘Oh Boy!’” Glenn Cochrane

characters. [Switching to Bugs Bunny voice] If I could say 'What’s Up Doc?'and you’re still smiling, I know I’m doing something right.” Eric shares what he finds most appealing about the new movie. “I mean, you’re talking to

Eric Bauza voices a wide range of iconic characters, including Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Sylvester, Woody Woodpecker, and Splinter – just to name a few!

• Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up is out July 9

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Space Jam, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Tom & Jerry: The Movie

10 JULY 2025

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MOVIE FEATURE

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Director Ryan Coogler (Right)

GENRE: Horror RUN TIME: 2h 17m

Ryan Coogler, the award-winning director also known for revitalising the Rocky franchise with Creed , now takes on horror with what he describes as a ‘genre fluid’ rollercoaster ride. SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT: RYAN COOGLER’S SINNERS

S TACK attended a media event ahead of the release of Sinners , a unique vampire film set in 1930s America starring Michael B. Jordan, and marking Coogler’s first foray into horror. “It’s such an important genre in cinema, you know?” he says with excitement. “All of the great filmmakers that I looked up to have all either made their home in the genre permanently or they’ve dabbled in it. So, for me,

I’m working in the same space and just trying to do it in a way that feels natural to my experience and the story I’m trying to tell.” Michael B. Jordan stars in dual roles as twin brothers Smoke and Stack in this period tale. The story follows the brothers as they return to their hometown, seeking refuge from their criminal pasts, only to uncover a sinister evil lurking in the shadows. “The film is very genre fluid. It switches in and out

of a lot of different genres, and yes, vampires are an element of the movie,” Coogler says. Given his strong foundation in drama, it may come as a surprise to some that he is now venturing into the horror genre. “I felt like I was at a point in my life where I did want to try something original,” he reveals. “I realised I had been working on things that were based on pre-existing things – maybe a real-life situation, or a pre-existing

Michael B. Jordan (Centre)

franchise or a pre-existing comic book franchise. So, I felt the itch to want to try." Sinners is a rich infusion of blues music, celtic folk, gothic horror and gangster noir, making it one of the year’s most unique and all-consuming movie

experiences. Glenn Cochrane

• Sinners is out July 23

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

From Dusk Till Dawn, Abigail, Nope

SCREAM. DIE. REPEAT THE HORROR OF UNTIL DAWN Video game movies rarely hit the mark, but for Until Dawn , Sony enlisted horror heavyweights David F. Sandberg and Gary Dauberman to get the job done. GENRE: Horror Survival RUN TIME: 1h 43m

• Until Dawn is out July 30

D avid F. Sandberg, known for directing Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation , brings a strong horror pedigree, while Gary Dauberman’s writing credits include It , It Chapter Two , and all three Annabelle films. Sandberg’s experience directing the effects-heavy Shazam! films also position him well to tackle the ambitious demands of Until Dawn . “The great thing about it was that it’s not a straight-up

them one by one. Trapped in a time loop, they’re forced to relive the same deadly night, again and again. To escape, they must break the cycle. Yes, it’s a Groundhog Day -style scenario – just like the video game. The beauty of this adaptation is that all the special effects are created practically and captured in-camera, with only minimal CGI used for subtle augmentation. “There was no pushback,” Dauberman explains when asked if the idea of doing all of the special effects raised any concerns, especially given that video games are inherently CGI. “I think for horror movies in particular, most fans like practical effects,” Sandberg adds. “It’s important to stay true to that rather than making an animation.” Glenn Cochrane

of course, to make something that people who hadn’t played the game could enjoy as well. But we do tie it together with certain characters and things in there.” A group of friends

adaptation,” says Sandberg, when he and Dauberman sat down to chat with STACK . “It’s like another instalment, or a part of a bigger story, so that took some of the pressure off because I think it would

[L-R] Writer Gary Dauberman and director David F. Sandberg

searching for a missing sister ends up at an abandoned lodge, where a masked killer hunts

have been very hard to do the game justice in condensed movie form. It was very important,

ONCE YOU’VE SEEN IT, PLAY IT!

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Evil Dead, Happy Death Day, The Hills Have Eyes

12 JULY 2025

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MOVIE FEATURE

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REEL NOIR: MAKING FEAR BELOW Fear Below is Jaws by way of Miller’s Crossing , a brilliant post-Depression-era shark thriller with mobsters and a buried treasure twist. GENRE: Action Thriller RUN TIME: 1h 25m

J ust when it seemed like killer shark movies had run their course, along comes a couple of Aussie bangers that blow the genre out of the water – Sean Byrne’s Dangerous Animals and this gem from Matthew Holmes, Fear Below – the best we’ve seen in 20 years. mobsters to retrieve lost gold from a riverbed, while a territorial bull shark stalks their every move. Fresh off the release of his gritty thriller The Cost , Holmes plunged straight into Fear Below . Now deep into production on his next film, The Sundowner , he took a break to chat with STACK about shaking up the shark genre. “Setting Fear Below apart from other shark films was a primary Set in the 1940s, the story follows a dive team hired by

goal from its inception” he admits, “because I find most modern shark films to be indistinguishable from one another, usually because they are set on the ocean with some beautiful, stranded 20-somethings wearing fluro swimwear. “Myself and co-writer Gregory Moss wanted to ensure four major distinctions: The time period it takes place, the location it takes place, the species of shark, and the reason our characters keep going back in the water. And we wanted to try to give the shark itself some kind of explanation for why it's doing what it is." The underwater sequences are as gripping as they come, but you might be surprised to learn how these scenes were achieved. ”The underwater scenes with

Director Matthew Holmes (second from right)

actors in old diving suits were shot dry-for-wet on a sound stage dressed as a riverbed, which means we didn’t use water at all. We used haze, lighting, and higher frame rates to simulate being underwater, then added bubbles and sediment in post-production to sell the illusion.” Glenn Cochrane

• Fear Below is out July 9

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Jaws, Dangerous Animals, Road to Perdition, The Shallows

GENRE: Drama RUN TIME: 1h 59m

BEHIND BARS: THE CORRESPONDENT Kriv Stenders, the director of Red Dog and Danger Close , brings the story of Australian journalist Peter Greste to the screen in The Correspondent .

P eter Greste was the Australian war correspondent who was mistaken for a spy by the Egyptian government and mercilessly tried and convicted for terrorism. His story made headlines around the world, causing outrage throughout. For Kriv Stenders, the story hit much closer to home, with the filmmaker and journalist having decades-long family ties. “Our fathers are friends,” he

and I was on tenterhooks the whole time he was in prison.” Although the idea of telling Greste’s story had momentarily crossed his mind at the time of the ordeal, he hadn’t entertained the idea until much later. “Carmel Travers, the producer, called me about four years ago and said, ‘Do you know anything about Peter Greste?’ and I laughed and said ‘I actually do know him’. She said that she was making a film about him and I said, ‘Sign me on, I don’t even have to read the script, I’m on board.” While wartime journalists are resilient,

Richard Roxburgh, Rahel Romahn and Julian Maroun

Director Kriv Stenders

moments where it was a little overwhelming,” explains Stenders. “But Peter’s also a very, very strong person. He had to be to survive what he did. And he picked up a lot of amazing psychological tools during his time there. “He has come to terms with it, and so by the time we were making the film he was fairly resilient, but I do remember the day I first showed him the film and that was quite confronting for him." Glenn Cochrane

FUN FACT

explains when chatting with STACK . “They’re colleagues, they’re both architects and both of our families are Latvian. And I met Peter when we were about ten or 12. “So, when the story broke, it was obviously big news amongst our families,

Kriv Stenders has directed music videos for John Farnham, Mental As Anything, Noiseworks, The Choirboys, 1927 and The Go-Betweens amongst others.

reliving the ordeal through the book and subsequent film must have been incredibly tough for Greste. “He had a couple of

• The Correspondent is out July 30

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

The Killing Fields, Midnight Express, Escape From Pretoria

14 JULY 2025

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FEATURE MOVIE

GENRE: Action

GHOUL AND THE GANG: FALLOUT While post-apocalyptic stories are nothing new in recent decades, Amazon Prime’s Fallout series stands out, and for good reason.

already played, while also making the show accessible to newcomers. Set in a retro futuristic version of America devastated by

the show as “The Ghoul”, a cowboy hat-wearing bounty hunter who’s survived the Wasteland for over 200 years. Goggins absolutely owns the role – his unique blend of menace, humour and sadness making his character one of the more compelling aspects of the series; grotesque and charismatic all at once. Fallout nails the franchise’s signature tone: brutal violence and grotesque imagery contrasted with 1950s-style optimism and

Walton Goggins

nuclear war in 2077, the story follows Lucy, a wide-eyed Vault Dweller who leaves the safety of her underground home and steps into the irradiated chaos above. She’s like a reverse Dorothy, swapping a tidy, artificial paradise for a violent,

kitsch. It moves effortlessly between dark comedy and high-stakes drama. One moment you’re chuckling at a glitchy Mr. Handy robot, the next you’re horrified by humanity’s worst instincts. That tonal balance makes Fallout one of the boldest and most entertaining game-to-screen adaptations yet. Gill Pringle

B ased on Bethesda’s hit video game franchise, the show brings the weird, wonderful, and darkly humorous elements of the Fallout universe to life in a way that feels true to its roots. Rather than directly adapting a specific game, it builds a fresh story within the established world. This gives longtime fans plenty of Easter eggs without simply rehashing what they’ve

unpredictable Oz. Ella Purnell ( Yellowjackets, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children ) brings charm and grit to the role, capturing Lucy’s transition from naive to hardened survivor. Her performance is

one of the show’s key strengths. The ensemble cast includes Kyle

MacLachlan, Sarita Choudhury, and Michael Emerson, but it’s Walton Goggins who steals

• Fallout: Season One is out July 9

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Borderlands, Halo, The Last of Us, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

XX

MOVIE FEATURE

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Victoria Baldock and Delvene Delaney

”To be honest, all of this really just indicates how much the audience loves it and what it means to everybody,” says Baldock proudly. Delvene Delaney has been a prominent

face on Australian television for five decades and has worked with Hoges since The Paul Hogan Show in 1973. More importantly, she was married for 44 years to the late John Cornell, the mastermind behind Hogan’s stardom and Crocodile Dundee ’s global success. In today’s cinematic landscape

Linda Kozlowski and Paul Hogan

dominated by superhero franchises and massive

blockbusters, it’s easy to forget just how huge Crocodile Dundee was. Made independently with funds raised through public share investment, the 1986 film exploded worldwide, earning a staggering $328 million from a modest $8.8 million budget, equivalent to around $2.8 billion in today’s money. The film single handedly put Australia on the map, transforming the tourism industry and global perceptions of the country. The new Encore Cut restoration is nothing short of spectacular, with the film’s original negative painstakingly salvaged after decades of neglect. ”The restoration was done by The Grainery (formerly Fixafilm) in Canberra, who’ve restored quite a few other iconic Australian films,” explains Delaney. ”And lucky for us that they had, because that gave them the knowledge of what the green is in an Australian piece of grass, as opposed to a European piece of grass. And how the sunshine emanates from the screen, you know, there’s quite a different colour grade required for Australian films.” ”Particularly the outback, too,” adds Baldock. ”The red earth and the blue skies – it’s a different colour.” ”I had no idea it would be so labour intensive. It’s an artform, really,” says Delaney of the restoration process. ”It would have been different if it had been done elsewhere without that authenticity – and authenticity underpins Crocodile Dundee ’s message.” In addition to Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut , Delaney and Baldock have also directed an extensive feature-length documentary, Love of an Icon: The Legend of Crocodile Dundee , which will be included in the upcoming physical media release this month.

Australia’s most legendary icon, Crocodile Dundee , has been given a spiffy new Encore Cut 4K remaster, ensuring his legacy lives on. Words Glenn Cochrane

C rocodile Dundee is one of our greatest exports – if not the greatest – and a legacy worth preserving. To ensure that it transcends time, however, a few tweaks have been made so that future generations can fully embrace all that the film represents. ”Independent of the 'woke' aspect, that’s just not what a hero would do,” says Delvene Delaney when chatting with STACK , referring to two insensitive and outdated moments that have been removed from the film for the new Encore Cut . The decision to remove two jokes has been met with pushback from some quarters, with some arguing that the film should remain a cultural timestamp. However, by addressing modern social standards, the film’s preservation is ultimately ensured, and it’s been protected from potentially more significant interference. ”Those scenes have been out for about 12 years internationally,” she explains. ”They were just never addressed in Australia. And it wasn’t until we showed Paul [Hogan] a sample of the restoration and he said, ’Oh there’s a scene in there that I don’t like’ and I said ’I know what scene and I don’t like it either’. And he said, ’Well, take it out,’ and we did.” ”It’s frames,” explains Victoria Baldock,

Director Peter Faiman (Left)

Delaney’s co-producer. ”It gets discussed as if it’s scenes, but it’s not. It’s literally just a few frames that are a minute detail in the arc of the story. And yeah, they’d been taken out by distributors many years ago.” Over the years, distributors and television networks have snipped away at the film to achieve classification standards or fit time slots. By taking control of the restoration, with input from Paul Hogan, director Peter Faiman, and others, Delvene and Victoria have made the bare minimum of alterations, effectively futureproofing the film and ensuring it isn’t butchered by others.

• Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut and Crocodile Dundee II are out July 16

16 JULY 2025

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4K UHD HIGHLIGHTS

Words Glenn Cochrane

Also out this month...

JAMES BOND: SEAN CONNERY 6-FILM COLLECTION While the decision-makers at Amazon MGM Studios continue to debate who should be the next James Bond, the rest of us can revisit where it all began –

48 HRS. The film that redefined the buddy-cop genre and launched Eddie Murphy’s meteoric movie career gets a stunning upgrade with this pristine 4K release. 48 Hrs . stars Murphy as fast-talking convict Reggie Hammond, temporarily released from

again – with this stunning 4K collection celebrating Sir Sean Connery’s iconic run as 007. Spanning from Dr. No (1962) to Diamonds Are Forever (1971), each film has been meticulously restored and remastered in native 4K with Dolby Atmos-True HD sound and HDR10 enhancements. It’s the ultimate way to experience Connery’s suave, action-packed legacy and relive the golden age of Bond in breathtaking clarity and cinematic sound. Out July 2

prison to help hard-nosed detective Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) track down a dangerous killer on the streets of San Francisco. A box-office smash in 1982, it catapulted Murphy to Hollywood stardom and laid the foundation for a wave of action-comedy classics. Beautifully remastered, this edition features native 4K visuals and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and HDR10 enhancements. Out July 9

July is shaping up to be an absolute feast for 4K Ultra HD collectors, with an incredible lineup of remastered classics dropping throughout the month! Alongside the major titles featured elsewhere in this issue of STACK , there’s a treasure trove of cinematic gems arriving. So clear some shelf space and get ready to upgrade your collection. Leading the charge is the JB Exclusive Lethal Weapon steelbook, releasing July 2. This edition features a native 4K transfer, HDR10, and Dolby Atmos for the ultimate action experience. Also dropping on July 2 is Warrior , a gripping sports drama presented in upscaled 4K with Dolby Atmos and HDR10. James Cameron’s seminal The Terminator , also arrives July 2 with a native 4K scan, Dolby Atmos sound, and HDR10. July 9 offers a range of treats, including the dark, atmospheric Sweeney Todd (native 4K, Dolby Atmos, HDR10), the critically acclaimed and heartwarming Terms of Endearment (native 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10), and the iconic film noir The Third Man (native 4K, Dolby Atmos, HDR10). Rounding out the month on July 30 is Alfred Hitchcock’s tension-filled Rope (native 4K, HDR10), alongside the ultra-violent action thriller Smokin’ Aces (upscaled 4K, English DTS:X, HDR10).

TRADING PLACES Following the breakout success of 48 Hrs ., John Landis’s Trading Places (1983) further cemented Eddie Murphy’s status as a comedy superstar. This sharp, satirical film brilliantly tackles issues of class, race, and capitalism with a witty

CLUELESS Before Mean Girls , there was Clueless , the 1995 cult classic that redefined the teen comedy and brought Jane Austen’s Emma into the world of Beverly Hills high school life. Alicia Silverstone shines as the stylish and well-meaning Cher Horowitz,

script and unforgettable performances. Murphy stars alongside Dan Aykroyd in a story about a street-smart hustler and a wealthy broker whose lives are swapped in a high-stakes social experiment. Now beautifully remastered in native 4K with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby TrueHD 5.1, this edition offers a vibrant movie going experience. Out July 9

with a charming young Paul Rudd in one of his earliest roles. Packed with iconic fashion, quotable dialogue, and razor-sharp wit, the film became an instant pop culture phenomenon and remains just as influential today. This stunning remaster features native 4K with Dolby Vision and HDR10, plus DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for a totally immersive experience. Out July 9

ZODIAC Se7en and Fight Club were tough acts to follow, and after the lukewarm reception to Panic Room , David Fincher came back strong with Zodiac – his best film yet. This gripping, meticulously crafted thriller explores the obsession and frustration

EARTHQUAKE Cinema in the mid to late ’70s was full of disaster films, and one of the biggest was Earthquake - an epic, groundbreaking spectacle that made full use of Sensurround sound to deliver a visceral, rumbling experience, thrusting

surrounding the real-life Zodiac Killer case. Praised for its detailed storytelling, atmospheric tension, and standout performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo, Zodiac has become a modern crime classic. This 4K edition offers a native 2160p transfer with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby Atmos audio. Out July 9

audiences into the chaos of a catastrophic quake in Los Angeles. Like many of its genre peers, it boasts a star studded cast, including Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Walter Matthau, and Victoria Principal. This stunning native 4K remaster features HDR10, Dolby Atmos, and DTS 2.1 Sensurround audio to put you right in the thick of the action. Out July 30

18 JULY 2025

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MOVIE FEATURE

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Words Glenn Cochrane

This month Imprint Films presents three iconic classics – Malcolm X, In the Heat of the Night, and Midnight Cowboy – on stunning 4K UHD. Featuring two worldwide firsts, these stunning releases come packed with new and archival bonus content, essential for collectors.

MALCOLM X (1992) 4K UHD + Blu-ray Limited Edition Hardbox

Spike Lee’s Malcolm X is a landmark biopic that powerfully chronicles the life of a revolutionary leader with unflinching honesty and depth. Denzel Washington delivers a career-defining performance, capturing Malcolm X’s passion, complexity, and transformation.

The film traces the life of the human rights activist from childhood to his assassination, exploring themes of racism, identity, and resistance that remain profoundly relevant today, ensuring its lasting impact. The cast features a stellar lineup including Angela

Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Christopher Plummer, Giancarlo Esposito, and more. This stunning 3-disc hardbox set includes a pristine 4K UHD presentation, multiple audio commentaries, new and archival interviews, featurettes, and much more.

In HDR and Dolby Vision for the first time worldwide!

INTHE HEAT OFTHE NIGHT (1967) 4K UHD + Blu-ray Limited Edition Hardbox

In the Heat of the Night was groundbreaking for its time, boldly challenging racial boundaries in 1960s America while reshaping the police procedural genre. Sidney Poitier delivers a powerful and commanding performance as Virgil Tibbs, bringing strength, intelligence, and dignity to one of the earliest prominent Black protagonists in mainstream cinema. The film’s

unflinching exploration of racism, combined with a gripping and suspenseful murder mystery, helped pave the way for socially conscious storytelling in Hollywood. This gorgeous 4K UHD release features multiple audio commentaries, featurettes, an exclusive booklet with rare photos and essays, and much more, making it a must-have for any classic film enthusiast.

MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969) 4K UHD + Blu-ray Limited Edition Hardbox

Midnight Cowboy is a landmark of American cinema that shattered conventions and challenged the censorship standards of its era. With unforgettable performances from Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, the film broke new ground as the first

American X-rated movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Its unflinching portrayal of loneliness, survival, and the bond between two outsiders offers a raw, emotional experience that continues to resonate decades later. John Schlesinger’s direction

and the film’s gritty realism captured a haunting vision of urban America rarely seen on screen at the time. This definitive 3-disc collection features a world-first 4K UHD presentation, multiple audio commentaries, in depth featurettes, and much more.

Worldwide first on 4K UHD! That’s not all…

There’s plenty more new titles being added to the Imprint library. Check out these fantastic new Blu-ray releases, including no less than FIVE worldwide firsts to Blu-ray. Each film comes loaded with new and archival bonus content.

Worldwide first on Blu-ray

Worldwide first on Blu-ray

Worldwide first on Blu-ray

Worldwide first on Blu-ray

Blue / Fade In (1968/73)

Hud (1963)

This Property is Condemned (1966)

Track of the Cat (1954)

You Only Live Once (1937)

The Juggler (1953)

Jet Storm (1959)

Worldwide first on Blu-ray for Blue

• The new Imprint range is out on July 30 for a limited time only, while stocks last.

20 JULY 2025

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