st238

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 238 AUG ’24

© 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved STACK Issue 238 AUGUST 2024 “Do you have it in you to make it epic?”

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 238 AUG 2024

MOVIES & TV 6 Intro/Take5/Filmmaker's Signature/On the Radar/ In development/Bob J's Film Buff Bafflers 7 Merch of the Month/Charts/This month 30 years ago 8 Cinema: Blink Twice 9 Furiosa : Interview with Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth and George Miller 10 The Fall Guy 12 Abigail : Interview with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillet and Kevin Durand & William Catlett 13 Tarot : Interview with directors Anna Halberg and Spenser Cohen 14 Bob J: Remembering The Conversation 16 New from Imprint Films 18 New to 4K 19 Out this month 20 The latest anime and board games GAMING 22 Take 5/Chart/Q5 24 Concord Q+A 26 Star Wars Outlaws Q+A 28 6 of the best Star Wars games of all time – and 2 of the worst! 30 Splatoon 3 bundle 32 Xbox – a controller (r)evolution! 34 Out this month/Fast Forward/Wham, bam, game exam! TECH 36 Tech tips and editor’s pick 38-46 STACK ’s ultimate washer buying guide 48 Washers for all budgets 50-52 STACK ’s ultimate drying guide 54 Wash towers 56-57 STACK ’s ultimate fridge buying guide 58 Fridges for all budgets 60-62 Coffee machines and KitchenAid 64 Behold, the Breville Oracle Jet 66-72 Looking for an electric shaver? We’ve got you covered 76 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 77 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 78 Samsung Galaxy Watch7 and Ultra 82 Screen time with the espresso monitor 84 The new Amazon Echo Show 5 86 Great cans for a good price – Audio-Technica ATH-S3000BT headphones 88 What’s new in tech this month MUSIC FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 3 My first album/ STACK Exchange 4 50 years of Cold Chisel 6 The master returns: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds 8 Amy Shark and Tones & I 10 New music from Grinspoon and Beabadoobee 12-14 What new albums are coming to JB this month 16 Vital Vinyl goes back to the ‘80s 18 Rock ‘n roll stories with Stuart Coupe

WELCOME

When it comes to screen heroes, America has Indiana Jones, Britain has James Bond, and Down Under, we have Mad Max. George Miller’s 1979 milestone of Australian cinema has now spawned four sequels, which detoured the franchise onto a post-apocalyptic highway. Mad Max 2 (1981) redefined the modern action film, while Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) took it to a new level again with a full throttle and hyper-stylised series reboot that introduced a female protagonist every bit as tough as Max’s road warrior, and the focus of the latest instalment, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga . A prequel to Fury Road , Furiosa reveals the origin story of the eponymous warrior, played by Anya Taylor-Joy. Combining high-octane action with a deeper dive into the character, Miller deftly expands his Mad Max universe, introducing a host of colourful new characters, including Chris Hemsworth’s formidable Dementus, along with a few familiar faces – look out for a subtle cameo by Max himself! Furiosa delivers everything we loved about Fury Road , further enriching the saga with greater character development and masterful world building. When the gangs take over the highway, remember, she’s on your side! 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 Jeff Jenkins, Zoë Radas, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone, Stuart Coupe, Trista McConville, Chris Mobbs, Michael Caverzan

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.

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Summary of Terms and Conditions: For full terms and conditions, please visit https://www.jbhifi.com.au/blogs/competitions/jb-hi-fi-perks- samsung-fold. Only JB Hi-Fi Perks members who are Australian residents may enter. The Promoter is JB Hi-Fi Group Pty Ltd (ABN 37 093 114 286) of Podium Level, 60 City Road, Southbank VIC 3006 (“Promoter”). Entrants must login to their JB Hi Fi Perks account (or alternatively join JB Hi-Fi Perks and login) and answer the question on the competition page. Entrants must remain a JB Hi-Fi Perks member until the date the competition is drawn. The competition commences on 1/8/24 at 12:00 AM and closes 30/08/24 at 11:59 PM. The winners will be the best valid entry as judged by the judging panel, having regard to skill, creativity, and originality, at the Promoter’s Premises on 9/09/2024 at 11:00 AM. The total number of competition winners in this competition is one. The winners will be notified by email and their names will be published online on our winners page for 90 days from the date of verification of the winner. Only one entry per person will be permitted. Total prize value is up to $4,447.00 (including GST), as at 1/8/24.

Radio Silence

Radio Silence, the self-appointed moniker of filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, and Chad Villella, have made a mark in horror with hits like V/H/S (2012), Ready or Not (2019), and the two recent Scream films. Now, they present their bonkers vampire flick Abigail . Let’s take a look at some of their trademarks Subverting tropes In most of their work, they infuse sharp humour with legitimately horrific situations, playing against the predictability of traditional tropes. In Ready or Not , for example, the typical helpless final girl is switched out with a self-reliant and capable bad-ass chick, while in Southbound (2015) they lean into nonlinear structures normally found in dramas. Blending genres As mentioned, they reinforce their brand of horror with humour, however, throughout their filmography, they’ve also woven other genres into their stories. In both V/H/S and Devil’s Due (2014) they utilise the found footage subgenre effectively, whereas strong psychological thriller themes can be found elsewhere in their work. Unexpected twists There’s nothing new about plot twists, but Radio Silence have mastered the art, often doubling down to throw several at unsuspecting viewers. Of course, we’re not about to spoil any of their movies for you, but as those who know the Scream franchise understand, their application sometimes differs from the rest. We can’t believe that we’re staring directly at September, as it comes hurtling towards us like a freight train. It brings with it a massive slate of big new releases, led by three absolute doozies starting with Will Smith’s bid for forgiveness, Bad Boys: Ride or Die . Then we’ve got John Krasinski’s wonderful IF coming to all formats, as well as The Watchers , from Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of M. Night. On The Radar

Connelly was easily one of the movies that left a lasting impression on me as a kid, the massive and elaborate sets and puppetry to bring the characters to life are still super impressive, and the music by Bowie is

AUGUST

phenomenal.

’ s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite movies, and why? My favourite movie must be Deadpool , Ryan Reynolds absolutely kills it as the titular character and the crude humour and violence throughout are perfectly balanced with the improv and dark humour, creating such an awesome balance and making for an always entertaining watch even after 30 viewings. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? My all-time favourite TV series has to be The Office , I absolutely adore Steve Carell as Michael Scott. The awkwardness of episodes like the dreaded dinner party just make it so entertaining - it’s definitely a show I will watch forever. What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? Lately, I have been watching The Sopranos for the first time and it is an incredible show. I definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn’t watched it before. It’s incredible!

CHRIS GEE @ JB Chirnside Park, VIC

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The best part about working for JB is definitely learning about the vast product range that we stock and increasing my knowledge of various product groups, and working with some awesome people. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Labyrinth with David Bowie and Jennifer

QUIZ

movie to use the title “Godfather” as a synonym for a mob boss? Q4 Olivia de Havilland rode the famous horse Trigger in which Technicolor film? Q5 Which silent film directed by Erich von Stroheim had its climax in Death Valley in eastern California? Q6 Which classic Hollywood movie has a pet monkey funeral sequence? Q7 The Thing from Another World became the

star of what long-running TV series? Q8 Name the Roman epic which film producer Alexander Korda began in 1937 but never finished? Q9 In 1960, which actor portrayed WW2 Admiral “Bull” Halsey? Q10 In which 2000 movie did four - far too old - guys get called up to stop a malfunctioning Soviet satellite from crashing to earth?

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*not final artwork

IN DEVELOPMENT

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Despite the release date for Suzanne Collins’ fifth Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping , not being until March 2025, Hollywood is already hot on her heels with a film adaptation in production. The projected release date for the movie is November 2026. The story will take place 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes , placing it 25 years before the events of the original trilogy, and

Q1 In which movie did former record producer Phil Spector portray a cocaine dealer? Q2 Frank Sinatra played a gambler and drug addict in what film? Q3 What was the first

will elaborate on the story of Haymitch Abernathy as previously referenced in Catching Fire (2013).

JULY 2024 (Issue 237) ANSWERS - A1. Pet Sematary A2. The Fifth Element (1997) A3. Clint Eastwood for both Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby A4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade A5. Hell Drivers (1957) A6. Pocahontas (1995) A7. Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) in Citizen Kane A8. For Your Eyes Only A9. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin A10. Winchester 73

AUGUST 2024

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6

THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

STACK SOCIAL

Deadpool & Wolverine Best Bubs Mug

Deadpool Playing Cards

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: We get it. You love Despicable Me. Despite the trailer being on our YouTube channel for two months and the movie already being released in cinemas, the trailer for the fourth movie is still going strong. Meanwhile, the new trailer for the big-budget Christmas action flick Red One is also gaining traction, even though its release date is still three months away (November 14).

Deadpool & Wolverine Movie Poster

Deadpool - Comic Covers Poster

Deadpool & Wolverine Can Cooler

Deadpool & Wolverine Mug

Deadpool & Wolverine T-Shirt

Deadpool 3 Claw T-Shirt

Deadpool 3 - Deadpool Pop! Keychain

Pop! Vinyl Deadpool 3 Deadpool with Headpool

Pop! Vinyl Deadpool 3 - Kidpool

Pop! Vinyl Deadpool 3 - Deadpool

Deadpool XXL Gaming Mat

Pop! Vinyl Deadpool 3 Dogpool

Pop! Vinyl Deadpool 3 - Wolverine with Babypool

Pop! Vinyl Deadpool 3 - Wolverine

Natural Born Killers In 1994, Oliver Stone transformed Quentin Tarantino’s straightforward Bonnie & Clyde -inspired script into a chaotic, controversial film. The story follows psychopaths Mickey and Mallory Knox on a killing spree across America, serving as a social commentary on the modern

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media landscape and consumerism. Despite Tarantino’s disapproval, critics praised the film as a masterpiece. Starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr., Tommy Lee Jones, and Tom Sizemore, it remains a significant statement on western culture, increasingly relevant in today’s social media era.

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Joke of the day: The pirate turning 80 said to his quartermaster “Aye matey!”.

CHARTS

A happy birthday to SAM ELLIOTT

who turns 80 on August 9

DVD BEST-SELLERS in JULY 2024

BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in JULY 2024

4K UHD BEST-SELLERS in JULY 2024

The quintessential rugged American actor, known for his distinctive deep voice and western charm, Sam Elliott first appeared as “Card Player #2” in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). After starring in numerous films and telemovies, his breakthrough role came alongside Cher in Mask (1985). Since then, he has become one of Hollywood’s most recognisable actors, known for his iconic moustache, appearing in memorable films like Road House (1989), Tombstone (1993), The Big Lebowski (1998), and A Star Is Born (2018). STACK ’s fave celebrity quote: “Optimism is a cure for many things” - Michael J. Fox

1 GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE 2 DUNE: PART TWO 3 THE CROW (1994) JB EXCLUSIVE 4 CIVIL WAR 5 GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE 6 DUNE 2 FILM COLLECTION 7 TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE

1 GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE 2 DUNE: PART TWO 3 GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE 4 KUNG FU PANDA 4 5 CIVIL WAR 6 CHALLENGERS 7 THE BEEKEEPER 8 DUNE 2 FILM COLLECTION 9 DR WHO CLASSIC: SEASON 15 BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION 10 TRUE DETECTIVE: SEASON 4

1 GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE 2 GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE 3 KUNG FU PANDA 4 4 DUNE: PART TWO 5 CIVIL WAR 6 DEATH IN PARADISE: SERIES 13 7 THE BEEKEEPER 8 TRUE DETECTIVE: SEASON 4 9 CALL THE MIDWIFE: SERIES 13 10 AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM

8 PURPLE RAIN 9 PEEPING TOM 10 FORREST GUMP

7

CINEMA FEATURE

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Channing Tatum

Zoe Kravitz didn't blink twice at the prospect of becoming a first-time director with her upcoming psychological thriller. Words Gill Pringle BLINK TWICE

D efiantly naming her debut film women to his private island to seduce them - Kravitz would come to rethink that memorable title in the aftermath of #MeToo. Now renamed Blink Twice , her film was originally inspired by the lack of conversation about the way women are treated, specifically in the entertainment industry. When the #MeToo movement arrived and the world began to have that conversation, the nature of her script changed to being about power struggles. Teaming up with screenwriter E.T. Feigenbaum - who wrote an episode of Kravitz’s TV series High Fidelity - the pair found themselves constantly reshaping the story. Seven years in the making, the film eventually went into production three P-ssy Island - in a nod to the story’s misogynist tech billionaire who takes

years ago, shooting in luscious locations around Mexico. Here Kravitz, 35, would fall in love with her leading man Channing Tatum, 44, and become engaged. Starring Tatum

as slippery tech billionaire Slater King, British actress Naomi Ackie plays cocktail waitress Frida, who meets him at his annual fundraising gala where sparks fly. Inviting her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island, Frida finds herself in paradise. Wild nights blend into sun-soaked days, and everyone's having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange and sinister things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality.

There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of this party alive. Kravitz - daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet - made her acting debut in rom-com No Reservations in 2007, although her major breakthrough was not until a few years later when she starred in the superhero film X-Men: First Class (2011).

Blink Twice is in cinemas August 24.

XX XXXXXXXXX 2024

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FEATURE MOVIE

G eorge Miller has left an indelible mark on the film landscape, having given us the Happy Feet and Babe movies, The Witches of Eastwick , and Lorenzo’s Oil , amongst others. But it’s Mad Max that blazes one of cinema’s biggest trails, and has become his life’s work. “I’m still bewildered by it, to be perfectly honest,” he admits earnestly. “Because that first Mad Max was the toughest film I’ve had to make, mainly because it was my first time on a film set and I didn’t really know what I was doing. I didn’t think that I would make another film, let alone another Mad Max . “I realised that Max was an archetype and I began to figure out why, and began to understand storytelling. And that’s led me on this path and my curiosity is still intact. After the first one, I didn’t want to make the second, but then it became a reason for me to atone for the first. And the third one was because the second one worked and I had other stories to tell. And then I said that I would never make another Mad Max movie again!” he says, with laughter. “And then 25 to 30 years later a story pops into my head, and I thought, ‘Gee, that’s an interesting story. Maybe we can do it”.

George Miller

Unprecedented weather forced the production of Fury Road to Namibia, however Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga saw George and his crew back in the dust bowl surrounds of Broken Hill. “It was very interesting to go back to Silverton and Broken Hill, where Mad Max 2 was shot, as one of our key bases. We shot on some of the exact roads we shot on all those years ago. To see that the landscape hadn’t really changed in all that time, and bit by bit with townspeople getting involved in the production, it’s become the home of Mad Max .”

From out of the Wasteland and into your loungeroom, George Miller’s ambitious fifth entry in the Mad Max franchise arrives with a fury, offering back story to the saga’s newest hero, Imperator Furiosa. Words Glenn Cochrane

• Furiosa: A Mad Max

Saga is out Aug 21

C hatting with STACK , the movie’s stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth discuss making the film, and being part of such a humongous legacy. “The Wasteland is

for her was. “So, for a large portion of the film he basically gave me my eyes. Like, my eyes were all I had in order to be able to communicate where the character was at. And what that instilled

exploration of these characters, shooting in the desert, and the extreme elements, the visceral energy that echoes through the entire set is now forever imprinted on me.”

Dundee and Mad Max . They were my childhood and I have very vivid memories of watching those films with my dad and talking about the cars and the motorbikes. My dad raced motorbikes and knew a lot of the stunt riders in the film, so for years later to be a part of that world was an incredible pinch myself moment. I’m covered in bruises still”. Anya recalls the serendipitous moment she found out that she’d been cast as Furiosa. “I was in Belfast shooting a movie when Fury Road came out, and we went to see it as a cast bonding experience. I remember the film finishing and that it was absolutely gobsmackingly amazing. And in a fun bit of kismet, I was walking past that same cinema when I got the call that Furiosa was happening.”

not a place that celebrates any show of hyper-visible

in me was perseverance for making sure that I could have moments in the film where I could break out.” “I’m not great at sitting still,” admits Chris. “I had four hours in the makeup chair, which was a real test for me and my genetic makeup,” he says with amusement. “So that was a lesson in stillness. But everything else that was asked of me I just found so enjoyable. The creative adventure we went on, and the

emotion,” says Anya, when asked what George Miller’s tallest order

Hemsworth, a born and bred Melbournian, had a strong affinity for Mad Max growing up, and fondly recalls watching the earlier movies with his old man. “We had a very mad family,” he says cheekily. “It was Crocodile

Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth

9

MOVIE FEATURE

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Just some of the movies David Leitch has been a stuntman in.

Just like Australia’s own Nash Edgerton, there comes a time when every stuntman must call it a day for the sake of self-preservation. Words Gill Pringle W hile Nash was taking the punches for his brother Joel - as well as doing stunts on such iconic films as The

But instead of Majors’ superhuman take on the role, Gosling portrays him as a battle scarred stuntman who, having left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health, is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie being directed by his ex-girlfriend (Blunt), goes missing. Gosling eagerly embraced the role. “The opportunity to work with David Leitch was so exciting to me because I’m a fan, but also the fact that he’s a stunt performer who’s making a film about the stunt community just felt like the perfect fit,” says the Barbie and La La Land star. “Setting an action movie within the world of the people who make action movies felt so authentic, because they’re the only people who really know how to achieve those things. "One of my first acting jobs was on a kids’ action show called Young Hercules , so

Matrix , Wolverine , and Star Wars - he was planning a future career as a filmmaker. Ditto Brad Pitt’s former stuntman, David Leitch, who ten years ago also segued into a safer career behind the camera, directing box office hits Bullet Train, Deadpool 2, and Atomic Blonde . But once a stuntman always a stuntman, and he long dreamed of making a movie that would honour his profession. “ The Fall Guy , to me, is truly a love letter to stunt performers and the unsung heroes of the film industry - the highly skilled and talented artisans who contribute their passion and dedication to the art of moviemaking,” says Leitch. “It’s a tribute to the production designers, cinematographers, grips, electricians, PAs, ADs, and everyone in between who pour their hearts and souls into crafting the magic of storytelling on screen. This project holds a special place in my heart, because it weaves in real-life anecdotes from my journey as a stunt performer and a part of the crew.” The term ‘fall guy’ has a rich history in the stunt world, originally

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt

Ryan Gosling with David Leitch

given this term a broader meaning. It’s evolved into a metaphor where our fall guy is not just a stuntman taking falls for the camera; he’s someone unfairly taking the blame for something he didn’t do. He’s also a man who’s fallen deeply in love, willing to risk it all to reclaim the love of his life,” says Leitch, who cast his dream couple of Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt to tell this story, which is equal parts rom-com and action adventure. Inspired by the hit 1980s TV series, The Fall Guy stars Gosling as

I’ve almost always had a stunt double. In my experience with stunt doubles, they’ll come in, do all the cool stuff, risk everything, then disappear into the shadows, and the actors take credit for what they’ve done. So, it’s exciting to be part of

something that shines a spotlight back onto them, and highlights all of the incredible things that they do and the risks they take to do it,” he says.

David Leitch co-directed the first John Wick movie, but was not credited due to the rules of the American Director’s Guild. DYK?

referring to the performers who take physical hits for the sake of creating cinematic magic. “They’re the ones falling off horses, bikes, or down a set of stairs. But in our film, we’ve

Colt Seavers, whom Lee Majors memorably played on the small screen.

• The Fall Guy is out Aug 7

10 AUGUST 2024

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MOVIE FEATURE

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Alisha Weir as Abigail

”I mean, I think we would love it if people don’t know anything and see it without seeing the trailer,” admits Matt, when asked if they were at all tempted to dupe the audience with a false premise. ”But that said, we were very aware when we were making the movie that it was going to be

In Abigail , six criminals kidnap the daughter of a billionaire businessman, only to discover that she’s a ferocious vampire with a blood lust that’d put Vlad the Impaler to shame. Words Glenn Cochrane

given away, so then we took it upon ourselves to make sure that

Abigail was originally intended to be part of Universal Pictures’ scrapped Dark Universe series, following The Mummy (2017) and The Invisible Man (2020). DYK?

everything leading up to that point was still engaging.” The film is hysterically funny as

well as violently scary, with the humour being woven into the story with pinpoint precision. Comedy is

S uch is the simple premise of Abigail , the latest horror treat from the directors of Scream V, Scream VI, and Ready or Not , which cleverly leans into all of the obvious genre tropes, as well as exploring new lore while dishing up an absolute bloodbath. Chatting with STACK , directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett come across like two kids who’ve been let out to play, with mischief on their minds. ”That is an incredibly high compliment,” says Tyler, after our suggestion that they’d gone full Peter Jackson on their cast, throwing a Braindead amount of blood at them. Actors Kevin Durand and William Catlett weigh into the conversation, having been subject to gallons of the slimy red stuff while filming the movie. ”It’s fun, because this is what the audience wants and you’re having fun in the moment,” says William, before recalling the endurance of his castmates. ”I remember Kathryn [Newton] having a moment, coming out of a pool of it, and

no easy feat, as Tyler explains. ”It’s definitely difficult. I think that even for us on this one, we were surprised at how well it was working during the previews and then seeing it with an audience. And I think some of it is that you’re trapped in an editing room for so long and kind of forget how tuned the movie is until you see it with people who are watching it for the first time. Turning our attention to Kevin, we felt obligated to confess our fandom by referencing one of his best and earliest performances of his, opposite Russell Crowe in Mystery, Alaska (1999). While watching his performance in Abigail , we couldn’t help but recall his character of ’Tree’ Lane in that fantastic ice hockey movie from all those years ago. It came as a relief when our remark was met with a Cheshire Cat-like grin, having obviously struck a chord with him. ”Yeaaah!” he exclaims, upon hearing the name ’Tree’ Lane. ”That is so wild that you said

William Catlett and Kevin Durand

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

I’m like, ’She’s not having fun’, and yet she is having fun,” he says, as Kevin laughs at the thought. The premise of the movie hinges on the revelation that Abigail, initially perceived as an ordinary little girl, is actually a monster, and yet it would seem to us that having to reveal this major pivot in the plot in order to market the film would be a missed opportunity to catch the audience off guard.

that, because that was the last time I had got to play a character with my natural accent, because I’m French Canadian. So that’s so cool. It felt kind of full circle coming back around to that accent, which kind of liberated me to

• Abigail is out Aug 7

Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens and Kevin Durand

just kind of find lightness.

12 AUGUST 2024

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FEATURE MOVIE

Humberly González

Tarot follows a circle of friends trapped by a curse, pursued mercilessly by death as their fortunes, once foretold, start to materialise. It's a formulaic exploit that the directing partners have zhuzhed up and given a unique take on, and Anna explains how the project came to be. “We had made a short film with Sony called Blink , and so we had a great relationship with the studio. And we were talking about other ideas and things to do after that

Directors Anna Halberg and Spenser Cohen are only getting started with Tarot , the new horror movie that puts the horror into horrorscope. Words Glenn Cochrane S peaking with STACK , they discuss making the leap from writing and producing duties on movies like Extinction (2018) and Moonfall (2022) to taking the reins of their first full-length feature.

project, and they approached us about doing a horror movie based on astrology. She adds with amusement, “And for us there's nothing inherently scary about astrology. “But what is scary are tarot

Tarot was shot entirely in Serbia with a mostly Serbian crew. DYK?

cards and tarot readings. And so we thought to combine the two of these things, which ultimately became the movie that you see.” With a strong hook, they set about extracting as much horror from the concept as possible, pulling no stops to ensure authenticity, as Anna explains. “We wanted to make sure that it was very accurate, and that people who know way more about astrology and tarot than we do could look at the spreads, or could hear the things that were being referenced in the movie, and know that they were spot on. We also hired an expert who knows a lot about both of these worlds to come and advise, and make sure that everything that we were saying was true.” Spenser admits that it was a tricky balance finding the right people to align with each of the various tarot monsters. “We were trying to look at the inverse of their shadow side, you know? Like, you have Jacob playing this sort of funny character and so his shadow side is The Fool, The Trickster. And so we were really looking at Jungian archetypes and tarot represents that. We were trying to match each character up and how that would feel for them.” Elaborating, Anna adds, “More than

“ Tarot was the first successful attempt to make a feature,” explains Spenser. “Over the past ten years, we've had many close calls where it almost happened for us. When we graduated from film school we didn't have a lot of money and we were poor film students who were 21 and 22 years old, with dreams to make movies. And no one hands you a feature when you're 21 years old. “We didn't have tons of equipment or things to use, but what we did have was paper and a pencil, or a computer, and we learned to basically direct on the page. So, even though

Jacob Batalon

we started out as writers, we were always thinking, 'If we were shooting this, how would we do it? What's the production design, what's the music going to be?' We would talk about all those things. And we would have directors over the years say to us, 'You guys write like you're supposed to direct.'”

Larsen Thompson

anything it was about casting an ensemble of characters that felt like real friends that we believe and love from the beginning. In order for the scares to work and for us to go on this journey with them, and to care what happens to them, you need to be invested in their friendship.”

• Tarot is out Aug 7

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MOVIE FEATURE

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Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation is a taut suspenseful thriller that taps into ’70s paranoia about technology and surveillance that is even more relevant today. Words Bob J

Enemy of the State

back to a rooftop, where a man lies with a rifle-like contraption. However, it’s not a gun but rather a high-tech sound recorder focused on the mouths of a young couple, Mark and Ann (Frederic Forrest and Cindy Williams), who are having a conversation. Caul is the chief surveillant walking around with a hidden microphone himself, as indeed are a few of his team all picking up the couple’s distorted voices. When they’ve finished recording Caul takes all of the tapes back to his apartment, where he has developed his own technology that

Tony Scott’s 1998 political thriller Enemy of the State , starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman, is speculated to be a sleuthy sequel to The Conversation . Although Hackman’s character is named Edward ’”Brill” Lyle”, his appearance and exclusive skillset are the same. He is a surveillance expert hired to help clear the name of a lawyer (Smith) targeted by rogue N.S.A Agents. In addition to their modus operandi being similar, Brill’s N.S.A file photo is an image of Hackman from The Conversation . That’s enough to convince us movie conspiracists.

Gene Hackman

I t was nominated for three Academy Awards and deservedly won the Palme d’Or at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival. Michaelangelo Antonioni’s conspiracy thriller Blow Up (1966) involved a young hip British photographer unknowingly takes a photo of what could be a murder. When he discovers it, he becomes obsessed with solving the mystery behind the image. Coppola has cited that Antonioni’s film was a key (played by David Hemmings) who

allows him to filter out the crowd noise to ensure that the couple’s conversation is 100% clear. Once completed he must deliver it to his current client, referred to as ”the Director”-

Gene with director Francis Ford Coppola

Will Smith and Gene Hackman

(a Robert Duvall cameo role). Caul and his team are the best surveillants in the country but Caul, a devoted Catholic, is highly paranoic and takes extreme precautions to protect his own privacy. He also respects the privacy of his clients and doesn’t know why this conversation was recorded and apparently doesn’t care what it contains. However, now alone in his apartment

get finance until The Godfather became an enormous success. Subsequently, between

misreads entirely the intentions of the two protagonists captured on his tapes. He attempts to confront his client only to discover that ”the Director” has been supposedly killed in a car accident. Returning to his apartment, which has three locks, an alarm system, and a phone no-one knows about - his phone suddenly rings. The caller

his masterpiece and its 1974 sequel, Coppola directed his

version of a thriller movie based on audio eavesdropping using state of-the-art electronic surveillance. As the opening credits of The Conversation roll, we view a brilliantly executed sequence overlooking a heavily populated Union Square in San Francisco. The camera zooms on to a middle aged, balding man wearing a well-worn trench coat. This is Harry

influence on his conceptualisation of The Conversation , with both having themes that are based on surveillance versus participation, and perception versus reality. Coppola had written the outline for his film in 1966 but couldn't

piecing together the various recordings of the conversation, he discovers the potentially dangerous phrase, ”He’d kill us if he got the chance”. Haunted with guilt from a previous job that resulted in three deaths, Caul now becomes totally obsessed with his current contract when he

is his client’s nefarious assistant Martin Stett (Harrison Ford in his last pre- Star Wars major role) who informs Caul that his apartment has been wired, and warns him not to get involved any further. What follows has been

Caul (Gene Hackman), whom the camera now follows as he seemingly wanders aimlessly about the crowded park. When the opening shot ends, it zooms

• The Conversation

is available on 4K Aug 7

described as one of the most memorable movie endings ever.

Harrison Ford and Gene

14 AUGUST 2024

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MOVIE FEATURE

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This month Imprint Films is taking us back to the swingin’ sixties (yeah, baby, yeah!) and comes packing FIVE worldwide firsts on Blu-ray. Heads up, film junkies!You’re going to want to draw a circle around these groovy new release titles. Available August 28. Words Glenn Cochrane

WOMAN IN STRAW (1964) This month we get two Bonds; first, it was Roger Moore in Crosspoint , and now it’s Sean Connery in Woman in Straw , a film from the screenwriter of Firestarter and Conan the Destroyer , about an enraged man who recruits a young nurse for a nefarious scheme, to tend to his dying uncle who hasn’t included him in his will. This awesome release comes with a new audio commentary, a new interview with sound assistant Graham V. Hartstone, a video depiction of drug and alcohol addiction at the actual facility of the same name at Santa Monica Beach, California. Directed by Richard Quine ( Paris When it Sizzles, The Prisoner of Zenda ), the film stars Edmond O’Brien, Chuck Connors, Stella Stevens, and Alex Cord. SYNANON (1965) Yep, you know it. Here’s another world first comin’ at us on Blu-ray. This controversial film chronicles the ongoings at Synanon House, a rehabilitation centre for people with addictions, and is notable for its realistic and unflinching

CROSSPOINT (1969) Making its worldwide debut on Blu-ray, Crosspoint stars Roger Moore as a suave executive from London whose perfect life is

turned upside when when he’s framed for the murder of a beautiful model. This action-packed thrill ride from the director with the best surname ever, Alvin Rakoff ( City on Fire, Death Ship ) also stars Claudie Lange, Martha Hyer, and Francis Matthews. Crammed with bonus content, Crosspoint includes new audio commentary, a new interview with the director, new interviews with the surviving cast, new featurettes, and more. Not to be missed!

BANNING (1967) Bam! Another worldwide first on Blu-ray! Who would have thought that golf could be so dangerous? This rarely-seen classic starring Anjanette Comer, Guy Stockwell, James Farentino, and Gene Hackman follows a player who changes his name after being thrown off the pro golf circuit and finds himself in a new high-stakes tournament and literal sudden death playoff. This exciting release includes a new audio commentary, new interviews, and more, and is essential for any respectable collection.

JESSICA (1962) Guess what? Jessica is ANOTHER worldwide first on Blu-ray! Angie Dickinson ( Dressed to Kill ) stars in this delightful romantic comedy set in stunning Sicily. This cheeky film follows an American midwife whose physical attractions raise the libido of the men in a small Sicilian town, and when the local women abstain from sex to forego pregnancy (and avoid her delivering their babies), the town priest steps in to bring normal marital relations back

essay by Kat Ellinger on Gina Lollobrigida, and a

on track. The release features all-new commentary from cult writer C. Courtney Joyner, and an in-depth interview with Angie Dickinson.

reproduction of the original pressbook.

THETAMING OFTHE SHREW (1967) Shut the front door! Imprint is wrapping up the August slate with ANOTHER worldwide first on Blu-ray with The Taming of the Shrew , starring Hollywood icons Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Cyril Cusack, and Michael York. Directed by the legendary Franco Zeffirelli, the film tells of a poverty-stricken gentleman who journeys to Padua in search of a wealthy wife and marries a fiery, self-willed shrew who is determined to maintain

Check out the latest crop of standard edition Blu-rays for those who missed out on their previous deluxe releases. Available August 14.

her independence. This is an absolute classic that cinephiles will want in their possession. Not to be missed.

• The new Imprint range is out on August 28 for a limited time only, while stocks last.

16 AUGUST 2024

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4K UHD HIGHLIGHTS

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Words Amy Flower

RUN LOLA RUN Tom Tykwer’s wild ride of a race against time thriller, starring Franka Potente with flame red hair, bursts onto the 4K Ultra HD format in native 4K. It features both Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancement and boasts both original German and

THE ITALIAN JOB G et ready to blow the bloody doors off your home theatre room, as one of the greatest caper flicks of all time makes its way to 4K Ultra HD. Michael Caine and friends come to our screens in native 4K, complete with Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancement. Meanwhile, audio comes via DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. A boot full of extras includes two audio commentaries, a deleted scene (with commentary), two trailers, a featurette on the mighty Mini, and three documentaries. Out August 21 DISC OF THE MONTH

dubbed English soundtracks in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Two audio commentaries lead the extras, which also number a near 40-minute long making-of, another featurette, a music video, and a trailer. Out August 21

DREDD The thrilling - and brutal - futuristic action blast, penned by Alex Garland and based on the Judge Dredd comic strip, finally makes it to 4K Ultra HD in Australia. Smashing onto our screens with HDR10 enhancement accompanied by searing Dolby Atmos

sound, the tale of a cop and a trainee going up against a drug lord and her gang within a locked-down building also delivers six featurettes, a motion comic, a trailer, and not only a standard Blu-ray, but also a 3D one. Out August 28

On August 7, StudioCanal deliver us three more of their Classics Remastered, with Francis Ford Coppola’s spy thriller The Conversation (native 4K, Dolby Vision/HDR10, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), Scorsese’s One from the Heart: Reprise (native 4K, Dolby Vision/HDR10, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), and Ralph Nelson’s brutal 1970 western Soldier Blue

CHINATOWN Regarded as one of the genuine masterpieces of cinema, Roman Polanski’s neo-noir mystery Chinatown has been high on the wish lists of many 4K Ultra HD fans. Now it arrives on the format via a native 4K transfer, restored from the

ELECTION From writer/director Alexander Payne, who most recently gave us awards darling The Holdovers , comes the

(native 4K, HDR10, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0). Speaking of westerns, on August 21, Sergio Leone’s 1968 classic Once Upon a Time in the West also arrives (native 4K, Dolby Vision/HDR10, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), while the American Psycho Collection , featuring the first movie

now classic high school black comedy that really set Reese Witherspoon’s career alight, thanks to her

in 4K (Dolby Vision/HDR10, Dolby Atmos) plus its sequel on standard Blu-ray, hits August 28. Rounding things out is Park Chan-wook’s excellent war thriller JSA: Joint Security Area (HDR10, Dolby Atmos (Korean)), which arrives on August 7.

original camera negative, with Dolby Vision and HDR10. The audio, meanwhile, comes via Dolby TrueHD 5.1. An array of bonus features includes a selection of Interviews, an audio commentary, a raft of featurettes, and a trailer. Out August 21

portrayal of perennial overachiever Tracy Flick. It hits 4K Ultra HD via a native 4K transfer, with Dolby Vision and HDR10. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 ably handles the audio side of things, while bonuses include a commentary from Payne, four featurettes, and a standard Blu-ray. Out August 7

18 AUGUST 2024

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MOVIES & TV SHOWS OUT THIS MONTH AUGUST PREVIEWS MOVIES & TV

BUTCHERS - BOOK TWO: RAGHORN Director Adrian Langley returns to the backwoods for this brutal centrepiece of his hixploitation trilogy, which follows the gruesome exploits of cannibal siblings who prey upon any unfortunate soul that stays in their neck of the woods. If you thought that the first instalment was bonkers, wait until you get a load of this follow-up, packed to the brim with gnarly gore and bone-crunching violence. It's not for the squeamish. HELLHOUND In the vein of John Wick , Hellhound is a brutal and uncompromising action thriller that stars Aussie Louis Mandylor as you’ve never seen him before. Playing an ageing assassin on the cusp of retirement, his character reluctantly travels to Bangkok for one final mission and is plunged deep into an ultraviolent world of gang warfare. His limits are tested when secrets are discovered, and bodies pile up. This is a full-on bone-cruncher for fans of gritty, hard-hitting action. IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS Ireland, 1970s. Eager to leave his dark past behind, Finbar Murphy (Liam Neeson) leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country. But when a menacing crew of terrorists arrives, led by a ruthless woman named Doirean (Kerry Condon), Finbar is drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, forcing him to choose between exposing his secret identity, or defending his friends and neighbours. DETAINED Rebecca (Abbie Cornish) wakes up inside a dilapidated interrogation room in the middle of the night, with no memory of how she got there. Charged with a hit and run, and with blood on her hands, she tries to bribe her way out, but something is not quite right in this police station. Now she must outwit the hidden danger before it's too late. But unbeknownst to everyone, there's more to Rebecca than meets the eye... 7/8/24 Action 7/8/24 Horror 7/8/24 Action

MURDER COMPANY In this compelling action war film, a group of US soldiers amid the D-Day invasion are given orders to smuggle a member of the French resistance behind enemy lines to assassinate a high-value Nazi target. The film stars William Moseley ( The Chronicles of Narnia ), Kelsey Grammer ( Frasier ), Joe Anderson ( Across the Universe ), and Pooch Hall ( Ray Donovan ). It's a must for fans of war films like Battle Over Britain (2023) and Wolves of War (2022). THE CONVERT Once Were Warriors director Lee Tamahori returns to New Zealand for this unflinching drama starring Guy Pearce, set in the 1830s. Telling the story of a lay preacher running from a violent past and arriving at a British settlement, The Convert depicts the bloody warfare of Maori tribes pre-colonisation. In the vein of The Dead Lands (2014) and River Queen (2005), the film also stars Australian actress Jacqueline McKenzie and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne. THE EXORCISM This atmospheric chiller from the creators of The Final Girls (2015) stars Russell Crowe, Sam Worthington, Ryan Simpkins, and David Hyde Pierce. The story revolves around a Hollywood remake of The Exorcist , with Crowe playing a disgraced actor seeking a comeback, only to become a victim of the Exorcist curse. Directed by Joshua John Miller, son of actor Jason Miller (Father Damien Karras in The Exorcist , 1973), this is one of the year’s most underrated horror movies. LAND OF BAD Russell Crowe doubles down this month with this new action movie co-starring Liam Hemsworth. The film follows an elite extraction team who are ambushed deep in enemy territory in the South Philippines, and chronicles their 48-hour battle for survival. From the director of Underwater (2020), this hard-hitting action movie also stars fellow Aussies Luke Hemsworth, Daniel McPherson, and Lincoln Lewis, and is a must for fans of 13 Hours (2016) and Lone Survivor (2013). 14/8/24 War 21/8/24 DRAMA 21/8/24 Horror

Thriller

14/8/24

War

21/8/24

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EXTRAS HIGHLIGHTS

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THE LATEST

Words Michael Caverzan

CAMPFIRE COOKING IN

BUDDY X DADDIES

KONOSUBA - AN EXPLOSION ON THIS WONDERFUL WORLD Focussing on the incredibly

ANOTHER WORLD WITH MY ABSURD SKILL Based on the Japanese light

Kazuki and Rei, two highly skilled hitmen, become the carers of four-year-old Miri after one of their missions

funny character Megumin from the series KonoSuba , this spin-off follows her as she learns the art of magic (and explosions) long before the events of the main series. Despite learning that explosive magic is almost completely impractical and looked down upon, Megumin forges onward and works hard to master these skills. Along the way she meets Yunyun, who becomes her friend and rival, and the two get up to all kinds of mischief as Megumin endeavours to master the art of blowing up. Hilarious and engaging, An Explosion on This Wonderful World is just as good as the series that inspired it. Blu-ray | Available Aug 7

leaves her without a guardian. Despite their careers, the two have hearts of gold and try to balance caring for Miri with the dangers of their work. Just like the two protagonists, the warm exterior belies the darker core of the series. It is fun, of course, but also has a surprisingly emotional tale to tell that’s as capable of tugging on the heartstrings as it is of earning a laugh. The gorgeous animation helps too. Blu-ray | Available Aug 7

novel of the same name, Campfire Cooking follows the adventures of a man named Tsuyoshi, who is summoned to a fantasy world to help against the incoming tide of demons. The problem? His only power is his ability to access and order from an online supermarket in Japan. Using these skills, he pursues a simple life– and ends up cooking for gods and monsters. Campfire Cooking is good fun and kind hearted, serving up great animation and fun storytelling that’s as satisfying as the meals within it. Blu-ray | Available Aug 7

CHICKEN HOTDOG VS

H otdog or chicken? but for some rip-snorting fun on a Friday night, it doesn’t get much better than this! The premise is based around that annoying bottle flip game your kids play all over the house. Except in place of a bottle is, erm, a rubber chicken and a rubber hotdog. After picking either the chicken or the hotdog, each player has six Character Cards that build a greyed-out picture of said hotdog and chicken. When a player wins a round, they turn over one of these It’s down to personal preference, we guess,

a number on the back. Once the challenge is revealed, the player who bids the highest number takes it on. If they win, they get to turn over a character card. Get it wrong, and the opposing player turns their character card instead.

Chicken vs Hotdog is a highly entertaining game that the whole family or friends can enjoy over and over again. And if you don’t fancy playing by the rules, tossing the chicken and the hotdog in a traditional game of ‘flip’ sounds far more appealing than a crinkly old water bottle thudding into the floorboards. Players 2+ Age 8+

each round, a challenge card is turned over. These cards task the players to land the hotdog/chook on its base by spinning them with two complete rotations or using both hands to flip them. Each player has four Bidding Cards with

character cards to reveal a colour version – once all six cards are turned over, that player wins. However, you need to play Challenge Cards to get to this point. At the start of

20 AUGUST 2024

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