STACK #264 October 2026

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH TO MOVIES, TV,

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 264 OCT ’26

STACK Issue 264 OCTOBER 2026 “How well we know each other. I wonder some days if it is not a pity we fight on opposing sides.”

INSIDE:

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 264 OCT

MOVIES & TV 06 A generation transformed: Transformers: The Movie 07 More than meets the eye: Meet the Primes 08 Take 5/Cinema highlights/Charts/ Bob J's Film Buff Bafflers 09 Get lost in Backrooms / Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition 10 Jackass : Growing old, not up!/ Lights, camera, mayhem: Minions & Monsters 12 The end of their time: Outlander Season 8 13 4K all the way 14 Reel classics: New from Imprint Films 16 Bob J: Blood Simple 17 What's out this month? TECH 20-28 Getting out and about with the right camera 30 Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro: What's new? 32 Soundtrack your run with new Shokz headphones 34 How Sonos's new Ultra sound gear works together 36 Mix and match with the Beats 360 headphones 38 Feel the bass with Sony's new party speakers 40 Fresh juice made easy by Breville 42 A KitchenAid icon gets a glow up 44 Turbo charge your daily blend with Nutribullet 46 Tefal turns up the heat on air fryers 48 Why premium smart fridges are cool and clever 52 The best family-sized fridges 54 Chill out with these summer entertainers 56 The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE brings flagship grunt 58 Google Pixel 11 series: What's new? 60 Dell XPS 13 laptop review 62 Lenovo's big reveal at IFA 2026 63 Is the HyperX Omen 16 your new gaming laptop? MUSIC 64 Take 5/My first album/ STACK exchange 66 New albums: Nickelback - Everything Under the Sun /Fontaines D.C. - Dopamine Chamber 68 New albums: Troye Sivan - She's the Best / The Avalanches - No Bad Memories 70 New albums: The Beatles - Rubber Soul / Cameron Winter - Live at Carnegie Hall 74-75 What's out this month?/Vital vinyl: Alex Lloyd - Watching Angels Mend GAMING FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 Take 5/Charts/Q5/Wham, bam, game exam! 6 This is the modern way: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 interview 8 Lob island! Nintendo Switch Sports Resort preview 10 E-Day to remember! Gears of War: E-Day Q+A 12 Total Control! Control Resonant interview 14 You are a toy! Toy Story: Retro Roundup! + Toy Story 3 Complete Edition preview 16 Grid expectations! Logitech G RS50 McLaren Racing Bundle 18 Triple threat! Logitech G PRO X3 SUPERSTRIKE Mouse, PRO X2 RAPID Keyboard, PRO X3 LIGHTSPEED Headset 20 Ready, Yeti, Go! Logitech G Blue Yeti 2 USB Microphone 22 This Clipper is a little ripper! Corsair Clipper Pro Mini 60 Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard 24-25 What's out this month?

2026

WELCOME

Forty years ago, two rival alien robot factions rolled, flew, and transformed onto screens for the very first time. What began as a toy line built to sell Hasbro figures became a saga of good versus evil, loyalty, and sacrifice - set to a theme tune still lodged in the brains of anyone who grew up in the '80s. Transformers has endured because it never stood still. From the original cartoon and Marvel comics through to Michael Bay's blockbuster reinvention, the Unicron Trilogy, Bumblebee's soulful reboot, and today's steady run of games, toys, and animated spin-offs, the franchise keeps finding new ways to appeal to fresh audiences. And it does this without losing what made it work in the first place: Optimus Prime's quiet, unwavering moral compass. The appeal of Transformers transcends generations – plenty of fans today weren’t even born when Optimus first rolled into frame. So this issue, we're marking 40 years of Autobots and Decepticons, the toys that started a war, and the stories that turned those toys into genuine pop culture mythology. 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, Trista McConville, 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

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, 2026 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.

Available at

4 OCTOBER 2026

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MOVIE FEATURE

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DVD

Blu-ray

4K

Transformers: The Movie is out Dec 2

Pre-order now!

a generation of young viewers, transforming a familiar Saturday morning hero into a piece of childhood history. It was a movie unafraid to take risks. Along the way came a spectacular roll call of new Autobots and Decepticons, including Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, Arcee, Springer, Kup, Cyclonus, and Scourge, while the voice cast featured Leonard Nimoy, Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, and Robert Stack, alongside many of the series' returning performers. And then there was the soundtrack. Featuring songs from the likes of Stan Bush, Lion, and Spectre General, it gave The Movie an unmistakably '80s rock'n'roll attitude, with The Touch becoming an enduring anthem for Transformers fans. 40 years later, Transformers: The Movie remains a remarkable time capsule of the decade and a landmark moment in the franchise. It was bigger, louder, and more ambitious than anything the TV series could deliver, and for a generation of fans, it was their first taste of just how spectacular Transformers could be. Now it's ready to transform your home entertainment setup once again, with its arrival on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD.

Forty years after it first transformed the big screen, Transformers:The Movie is ready to roll out again. Words Glenn Cochrane

F or a lot of Gen Xers, Saturday mornings were spent watching the Transformers animated series. And then there was Transformers: The Movie , a cinematic event that would have kids talking in schoolyards for months. Released in 1986, the movie arrived at a pivotal point in the animated series, effectively bridging

It was also considerably darker than the series that preceded it. The arrival of Unicron, a planet sized Transformer voiced by screen legend Orson Welles, provided an enormous threat, but it was the fate

the gap between its second and third seasons. Rather than simply giving fans a feature-length version of the TV show, The Movie expanded the Transformers universe, jumped the story forward to 2005, and introduced a whole new generation of characters.

of Optimus Prime that left the deepest mark. His death was an extraordinary moment for

imagination long before you see them on a screen. A toy can become the starting point for an entire adventure, with the transformation itself becoming part of the storytelling. And the formula is remarkably flexible. Change the setting, redesign the characters, introduce a new generation

of robots and suddenly Transformers feels fresh again without losing what made it special in the first place. For longtime fans, there's also the joy of rediscovery. A familiar character can bring back memories of childhood, while a new design or new interpretation can offer something completely different to appreciate. You can be in it for the nostalgia, the collecting, the stories, the engineering, or simply the sheer spectacle. Perhaps that's the real reason Transformers has lasted. It doesn't ask you to choose between being a fan of toys, movies, animation, or comics. It gives you an excuse to enjoy all of them. They're robots. They transform. They look incredibly cool. Sometimes, that's all you need.

There are plenty of toy franchises that have come and gone over the decades, but Transformers has managed something remarkable: it has remained just as much fun to play with as it is to watch, read about, and collect. And perhaps the secret is right there in the name. There's something so satisfying about taking a vehicle, aircraft, or other piece of machinery and, with a few twists, turns, and clicks, revealing the robot hidden inside. It's part puzzle, part magic trick, and part action figure, all rolled into one. Better still, you get to perform

the transformation yourself. In playground speak, that's "epic!" But Transformers isn't simply about the mechanics. The toys become more engaging because they have personalities. A figure isn't just a cool-looking robot on a shelf, it's Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Starscream, or Grimlock. You can recreate a favourite scene, invent a new battle, or simply transform the figure back and forth because, well, it's incredibly satisfying. That's where Transformers has always had an advantage. The characters can exist in your

OCTOBER 2026

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FEATURE MOVIE

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Few pop culture creations have transformed quite as successfully as Transformers. W hat began in the 1980s as a range of transforming robot toys quickly became a global phenomenon, MEET THE PRIMES

In Transformers mythology, the Primes are legendary figures who played a foundational role in the history of Cybertron. They

spawning animated series, comics, video games, blockbuster movies and, of course, generations of collectors.

are closely connected to the origins of the Transformers and have traditionally represented some of the greatest ideals, powers, and responsibilities of their people. That makes the Primes more than just another group of Transformers. They are part of the franchise's deep mythology, with their stories helping explain where Cybertronian society came from and how its legendary heroes came to be. The Age of the Primes collection celebrates this rich history with a range of figures inspired by characters from across the Transformers universe. For longtime fans, they're an opportunity to revisit some of the franchise's deeper lore. For newcomers, they're a great way to discover the characters and stories that have helped make Transformers such an enduring phenomenon.

At its heart, the concept remains brilliantly simple: robots from the distant planet Cybertron can transform into vehicles, weapons, and other forms, allowing them to disguise themselves while bringing an irresistible mechanical magic to the everyday world. But Transformers has always been about more than the transformation itself. The battle between the heroic Autobots and villainous Decepticons has introduced fans to

FUN FACT

an enormous cast of characters, each with their own distinctive personalities, powers, and designs.

In the ’80s, a must-have for Transformers collectors was the Rubsign, a heat sensitive sticker that revealed a hidden symbol when rubbed. No Rubsign? Fake Transformer!

Optimus Prime stands as the franchise's enduring symbol of leadership and heroism, while characters such as Bumblebee, Megatron, and Starscream have become pop culture icons in their own right. More than four decades on, the appeal shows no signs of slowing down. Part nostalgia, part character fandom, and part appreciation for some seriously cool robot designs, Transformers continues to welcome new generations while giving longtime fans plenty of reasons to return.

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7

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5 CINEMA HIGHLIGHTS

What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? It’s got to be Star Wars (specifically A New Hope ). It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. We used to have a recording off the TV on VHS (yes I’m old) before getting the Original Trilogy box set on VHS before the ‘97 re-release.

Digger Oct 1

The Social Reckoning Oct 8

OCTOBER

Sense and Sensibility Oct 15

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? Minority Report . The first collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise, with music by John Williams. It just has everything I love in a movie: sci-fi, action, suspense, and the classic Tom Cruise run. Mad Men is a series that I’ve revisited from start to finish three times now. It’s easy to romanticise that period of time (the clothes, the cars, and that mid-century modern aesthetic), but the series also shows why we shouldn’t romanticise it. I am constantly conflicted about how to feel about Don Draper, admiring his work and tenacity while also being disgusted by his actions. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? I have been recommending Project Hail Mary to anyone who will listen. I read the book prior to seeing the movie and the movie is just as good. I also saw The Odyssey at the cinemas recently, which will be a day one purchase for me once the 4K is available next month.

Street Fighter Oct 15

’ s ROVING REPORTER

Clayface Oct 22

CHARTS

4K UHD BEST-SELLERS in SEPTEMBER 2026

LACHLAN JORDAN @ JB Port Macquarie, NSW

1 PROJECT HAIL MARY 2 28 DAYS LATER STEELBOOK 3 BATMAN KNIGHTFALL PT 1 4 MORTAL KOMBAT 2 5 MICHAEL 6 THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD

7 ENEMY AT THE GATES 8 PRACTICAL MAGIC 9 MARS ATTACKS STEELBOOK 10 NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The best thing is that there’s always a cool new product to play with and you get to have so many interesting and unique conversations with both staff and customers. You meet people of all walks of life and it’s never boring. A really rewarding place to work.

BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in SEPTEMBER 2026 1 PROJECT HAIL MARY 2 BATMAN KNIGHTFALL PT 1 3 GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION 4 REACHER S3 5 HOKUM

QUIZ

Q3 Which actress delivered an unprecedented five

an appearance in Marvel films until his death? Q7 In which crime thriller did Pierce Brosnan make his film debut as an Irish hitman? Q8 In the movie The Usual Suspects (1995), what is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled? Q9 Why is the quote “red rum” so significant in the f ilm The Shining (1980)? Q10 What was the first traditional sports film to win an Academy Award for ‘Best Picture’?

6 MICHAEL 7 THE SHEEP DETECTIVES 8 THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD 9 MORTAL KOMBAT 2 10 MOBLAND S1

minutes and 30 seconds for her Oscar acceptance speech, after which the Academy Awards instituted a strict time limit? Q4 “You tell ‘em I’m coming. And hell’s coming with me” is a famous quote from which western movie? Q5 Which three movies hold the record for winning the most Oscars? Q6 Who always made

Q1 Which classic fantasy movie premiered in Hollywood on 15th August 1939? Q2 Who won an Oscar for portraying a woman on death row?

DVD BEST-SELLERS in SEPTEMBER 2026

1 PROJECT HAIL MARY 2 THE SHEEP DETECTIVES 3 MICHAEL 4 GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION 5 REACHER S3

6 TULSA KING S3 7 THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD 8 MOBLAND S1

SEPTEMBER 2026 (Issue 263) ANSWERS - A1. Burt Lancaster A2. Deborah Kerr A3. Coppola (his uncle is Francis Ford Coppola) A4. Morgan Freeman in the movie Invictus A5. Abraham Lincoln (He’s his third cousin, four times removed) A6. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest , 1975 A7. Gary Busey A8. Richard Gere, following Gerard Depardieu’s character in The Return of Martin Guerre A9. The One That Got Away (1958) A10. The Italian Job (1969)

9 BEYOND PARADISE S4 10 MORTAL KOMBAT 2

OCTOBER 2026

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FEATURE MOVIE

Inset: Director Kane Parsons with Chiwetel Ejioofor

GENRE: Horror RUN TIME: 2hr 7m

Fun fact: Kane Parsons is the youngest filmmaker to direct a film that opened at number one at the box office.

What began as a creepy internet image has become one of horror’s most intriguing new worlds, and for filmmaker Kane Parsons, it’s a reflection of the strange times we live in.

Renate Reinsve

A t just 20 years old, Parsons makes his feature filmmaking debut with Backrooms , expanding his hugely popular Kane Pixels YouTube series into an ambitious feature courtesy of A24. The original concept of The Backrooms began with a simple idea: if you somehow “no-clip” out of reality, you might fall into an endless maze of bland, abandoned rooms. Parsons was just 16 when he created The Backrooms (Found Footage) as a visual effects test using Blender and Adobe After Effects. Uploaded to YouTube in 2022, the nine-minute short quickly became a viral sensation. But Parsons sees the concept as more than just an effective horror premise. “For me, Backrooms is the cumulative

result of a societal exhaustion with this industrialised monoculture we’re slipping into,” he explains. “Repetition and patterns in society become like sensory deprivation – eventually the brain tries to find meaning and construct from all the incoherent noise.” That sense of repetition and isolation is central to the unsettling atmosphere of Backrooms , where empty rooms, fluorescent lights, and seemingly endless corridors become increasingly threatening. “When people are isolated from society, they become disconnected and conspiratorial thinking arises,” Parsons says. “How terrifying would it be if that was your existence forever, and all you could do is experience it over and over again?”

The feature expands Parsons’ original vision with Oscar nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, who bring a human element to the bizarre dimension. “For audiences who are familiar with The Backrooms , it’s exciting to see this expanded rendition of it, how it utilises and builds upon all the things people have loved about it over the years,” says Ejiofor. “And people who are new to it will be equally fascinated by this world, and Kane’s unique vision, created out of a singular imaginative leap.” For Parsons, that leap has transformed a viral experiment into a distinctly cinematic nightmare – and established him as a singular new voice in horror. Gill Pringle

• Backrooms is out Oct 14

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Exit-8, Obsession, Bring Her Back, Y2K, Triangle, Skinamarink, As Above So Below

GENRE: Documentary RUN TIME: 1hr 46m

Joining a growing roster of rock bands celebrated in recent documentaries, Iron Maiden gets the legacy treatment.

F ew heavy metal bands can match Iron Maiden’s longevity. Emerging from East London as a ragtag outfit, they bulldozed barriers to build a global empire defined by chart success, a fiercely loyal fanbase and mythology that continues to evolve. Formed in 1975, they remain a live force. Burning Ambition captures that endurance with clarity. Their commitment to music and audience is undiminished, and despite hovering on either side of 70, there’s no sense of winding down. Packed with archival footage and photography spanning their career, the documentary takes a linear, no-frills

approach, charting their rise from early struggles to worldwide dominance. For diehard fans, there are few revelations, but the sheer volume of iconic moments and performances makes it compelling. Where the film excels is as an entry point. It welcomes newcomers into Iron Maiden’s world, offering an accessible overview of what has made the band endure. Talking heads, including Tom Morello, Gene Simmons, Chuck D, and Lars Ulrich, add weight, while archival audio from the band members provides a guiding thread. Importantly, the fans are given their due. Personal anecdotes highlight

Maiden’s cultural reach, from everyday listeners to audiences in war-torn regions such as Poland and Lebanon, underscoring their global impact. And then there’s Eddie. The band’s mascot emerges as the film’s most fascinating figure, an evolving symbol that has mirrored shifting cultural moods across decades. It’s a subject rich enough to warrant a documentary of its own. Burning Ambition delivers what it sets out to do. For some, it will feel familiar; for others, revelatory. Either way, it’s hard not to come away wanting to crank Maiden at full volume and throw the horns skyward. Glenn Cochrane

• Burning Ambition is out Oct 28

TOP 5 IRON MAIDEN ALBUMS

Iron Maiden Number of the Beast (1982)

Iron Maiden Piece of Mind (1983)

Iron Maiden Powerslave (1984)

Iron Maiden Killers (1981)

Iron Maiden (1980)

9

MOVIE FEATURE

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GENRE: Comedy RUN TIME: 1h 32m

Fun fact: The original title for the TV series was Assholes , but MTV strongly objected to it.

There’s probably no other movie franchise quite like Jackass . Whether that’s a good thing or not, we’ll let you be the judge.

F or more than 25 years, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Danger Ehren, and the rest of the daredevil gang have made a career out of doing things most sensible people wouldn’t even consider. Now, with Jackass: Best and Last , these professional idiots are saying goodbye by doing it one last time. “This one’s the best because we picked our favourite bits from all the shows and movies and shot a bunch of strong, new bits,” says Jackass mastermind Knoxville who, at 55, should probably avoid such bone-breaking stunts. “And it’s the last because we can’t do this forever. A stuntman has an expiration date just

like milk. After 16 concussions, I can’t play with bulls or get shot out of rockets or anything like that anymore, so it seemed like the perfect time to stop.” Directed by longtime Jackass filmmaker Jeff Tremaine, the movie combines brand-new stunts with classic moments, previously unseen footage and plenty of the outrageous behaviour that turned the franchise into a pop culture phenomenon. A few original stars appear only in archival footage, including Bam Margera and the late Ryan Dunn, who passed away in 2011. Dunn features in one of Tremaine’s all-time favourite sequences. “It’s the end of the first movie and still one of the funniest things we ever shot,” says the director.

Ultimately, Jackass has endured because of the genuine bond between its cast. “We’re incredibly lucky and very grateful

that Jackass has come to mean so much to people,” says Knoxville. “It's a movie you want to see together so you can laugh with your buddies and trauma-bond with your buddies. That experience doesn’t come around often. It’s like our love letter and gift to ourselves and to the audience.” After a quarter-century of bad decisions, the gang gets one final chance to make us laugh, wince, and wonder: Why on Earth would anyone do that? Gill Pringle

• Jackass: Best and Last is out Oct 7

GO BACK TO THE START WITH:

Jackass: The Complete TV and Movie Collection

GENRE: Family RUN TIME: 1hr 30m

Before they met Gru, the Minions were movie stars. Now, they’re back in Hollywood’s golden age – with chaotic results.

T here’s something delightfully meta about Minions & Monsters taking over Hollywood – after all,

love with the movies, they decide to make their own monster

movie set is first overtaken by the Minions. While he fears the disaster will end his career, studio-head brothers Frank and Elwood, both voiced by Bridges, see the Minions as something far more valuable: stars. Bridges drew on Hollywood history to capture the brothers’ larger-than-life personalities. “I watched some old footage of Jack Warner to get a feeling for that kind of studio boss,” he says. “Those guys had enormous power, and there was a real theatricality to the way they carried themselves.”

FUN FACT

picture. Their typically Minion-like solution?

that’s essentially what these little yellow characters have been doing to the movie business for more than a decade. This rambunctious new adventure sends the Minions back to 1920s Hollywood, where they accidentally become movie stars before losing everything when the industry moves from silent movies to “talkies”. Unable

Minions & Monsters is a treasure trove of Easter eggs and classic Hollywood references. Look out for nods to famous filmmakers, classic cinema, and George Lucas’s first cameo in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith .

Stealing a spellbook from an evil sorcerer and using it to summon actual monsters for their film. Naturally, things go spectacularly wrong. Directed by Pierre Coffin, who helmed the first three Despicable

Me movies and the original Minions , the

For families looking for silly fun, Minions & Monsters is an easy choice – and for adults who’ve resisted the Minions until now, it may finally be time to surrender to the yellow army. Gill Pringle

to translate their Minionese into movie dialogue, the former celebrities find themselves broke and directionless. But James and Henry aren’t ready to give up on filmmaking. Having fallen in

latest chapter features an all-star voice cast including Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, and Jeff Bridges. Waltz voices Max, the director whose

• Minions & Monsters is out Oct 7

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, Boss Baby, The Super Mario Bros. Movie

10 OCTOBER 2026

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MOVIE FEATURE

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GENRE: TV drama RUN TIME: Series

After eight seasons of time travel, forbidden romance, political upheaval. and danger, Outlander is coming to an end.

Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan

F or almost a decade, Claire and Jamie Fraser's love story has taken

Fraser outfit at home.”

countries, second to Ireland,” she adds with a wink. While saying goodbye to Outlander is bittersweet, fans don't have to leave the Highlands behind. The franchise lives on with Outlander: Blood of My Blood , the prequel series exploring the love story of Jamie's parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie. Perhaps that's the most fitting

FUN FACT

Caitríona Balfe, meanwhile, has spent eight seasons bringing Claire's journey through time to life. “I think one of the things that's hit me the most is that Claire has been my greatest teacher. I learned so much over the years from her.” But Outlander has always been about more than its central romance. For the actors, wrapping the final season meant saying goodbye to their characters and the people and places that became part of their lives. “One of the things I miss most is standing out in the forest, or the hills,” says Balfe. “Scotland is one of the most beautiful

audiences from the Scottish Highlands to the battlefields of the American Revolution, spanning centuries while

Author Diana Gabaldon was inspired to write Outlander after watching an episode of Doctor Who .

keeping its emotional centre rooted in their bond. Now, the final season sees the cast saying goodbye to a defining career chapter. For Sam Heughan, who has played Jamie Fraser since the beginning, the farewell carries mixed emotions. “How do you say goodbye? When I was Jamie, there wasn’t a separation, but now I look back at this character, and I think he’s always there,” he says, adding, “Now I’ve got a full Jamie

farewell. After eight seasons built around love transcending time, its legacy can do the same. Claire and Jamie's journey may be ending, but their world continues to expand, giving audiences a chance to revisit the story that made Outlander a favourite. Glenn Cochrane

• Outlander: Season 8 is out Oct 7

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Poldark: Seasons 1-5, The Tudor Collection, Hornblower: The Ultimate Collection, The Hallow Crown

Moderate coarse language, Crude humour © 2006 Thunderbox Films. All rights reserved.

OWN IT NOW ON BLU-RAY TM OCTOBER 28 *WHILE STOCKS LAST

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HIGHLIGHTS 4K UHD

Words Glenn Cochrane

Halloween brings classic horrors to 4K Ultra HD, alongside ’90s gems and beloved cult favourites. Here’s a look at some of what’s in store for October. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS AID

SUZUME CRUNCHYROLL Makoto Shinkai’s acclaimed anime adventure Suzume finally makes its Australian 4K

THE SAINT AID Under-appreciated on release, Phillip Noyce’s The Saint has become a

SCREAM 4 AID Scream 4 was the franchise’s first

From the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Cabin in the Woods is the 2012 sci-fi horror-comedy that became a bona

comeback before the legacy sequel – aka Scream 5 - relaunched the horror series. Ten years after the Woodsboro killings, Sidney Prescott returns home as a new Ghostface targets fresh victims. Wes Craven returned for his fourth and final instalment, which would ultimately become his final film. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette return. This 4K release features a 2.39:1 presentation with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Out Oct 14

noteworthy slice of ’90s cinema, arriving alongside big-screen

Ultra HD debut in a collectible SteelBook edition.

The film follows teenager Suzume after she encounters a mysterious young man searching for a door, setting her on a journey

adaptations of TV favourites including Mission: Impossible and The Fugitive . Val Kilmer stars as suave master thief Simon Templar, hired to steal a revolutionary cold fusion formula before falling for its creator. Noyce’s stylish thriller blends espionage, romance, gadgets, and globe-trotting adventure. This 4K presentation features Dolby Vision/HDR and a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio. Out Oct 14

fide cult hit and helped launch Australia’s own Chris Hemsworth into superstardom. Five friends head to a remote cabin, where they discover something far more sinister than expected. This 4K release presents the film in 2.40:1 with Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Dolby Digital, and 2.0 Dolby Digital audio, offering fans a sharp new addition to their horror collection. Out Oct 14

across Japan to prevent catastrophic disasters. Beautifully animated and

emotionally resonant, Shinkai’s fantastical adventure blends romance, supernatural wonder and spectacular visuals. This two-disc 4K release runs for 122 minutes and includes English subtitles throughout. Out Oct 14 STAR TREK VIII: FIRST CONTACT AID One of the most acclaimed entries

SCARY MOVIE AID Wazzup! Following last month’s release of Scary Movie 6 , the

ANNIHILATION AID Written and directed by Alex Garland,

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON AID The greatest werewolf movie of

Annihilation caused quite a commotion when it was released in 2018. This epic sci-fi horror film, adapted from

in the Star Trek movie franchise, First Contact sees Captain Picard and the crew of the

all time (fighting words we stand by), An American Werewolf in London revolutionised the genre, earning accolades for its

2000 hit from the Wayans brothers arrives on 4K, letting fans relive – or perhaps discover - where this comedy institution began. Anna Faris, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, and Regina Hall star as teenagers stalked by a bumbling serial killer in this spoof of horror conventions. This 4K release presents the film in 2.39:1 with English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. An absolute cult classic!. Out Oct 28

Jeff VanderMeer’s novel, is a Lovecraftian nightmare starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Oscar Isaac, and Gina Rodriguez. When a biologist enters a mysterious quarantined zone, she encounters an ever changing ecosystem where nothing is quite what it seems. This 4K release features Dolby Vision HDR, a 2.39:1 presentation, and Dolby Atmos audio. Out Oct 14

Enterprise face their most formidable foes, the Borg. When the cybernetic collective travels back in time to prevent humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life, Picard must stop them from altering history. This 1996 favourite arrives in 4K with a 2.35:1 presentation, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Out Oct 14

groundbreaking special effects. Terrifying and hilarious in equal measure, John Landis’ classic follows two American tourists whose tour of Britain takes a horrifying turn after a werewolf attack. Starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, and Griffin Dunne, this 4K release features a 1.85:1 presentation with Dolby Atmos and DTS 5.1 audio. Out Oct 28

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MOVIE FEATURE

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From sword-swinging barbarians and alien hybrids to wilderness manhunts and haunted hospitals, October’s Imprint releases deliver a seriously fun mix of cult classics. Words Glenn Cochrane

DEATHSTALKER COLLECTION For sword-and-sorcery fans, The Deathstalker Collection is pretty much catnip. This three-film set brings together the gloriously pulpy 1983 original, Deathstalker II (1987), and the brand-new 2025 reboot starring Daniel Bernhardt. All three films receive 4K UHD and Blu-ray presentations, with Dolby Vision and HDR10 on the 4K discs. The 2025 film also features two audio commentaries, interviews, and a stop-motion skeletons featurette,

RED SONJA More swords, sorcery, and peak '80s fantasy collide in Red Sonja , the gloriously campy 1985 adventure starring Brigitte Nielsen and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Originally conceived as a spin-off of Conan the Barbarian , copyright restrictions meant Schwarzenegger couldn't play Conan, so he instead portrayed Kalidor, a character clearly modelled on his musclebound barbarian persona. The result is a wonderfully

while the earlier films include commentaries and trailers. Housed in an exclusive steelbook and 3D lenticular hardcase, with three collectible posters included, this strictly

limited set is loaded with enough swords, sorcery,

bonkers fantasy romp packed with battles, monsters, and mystical mayhem. This limited edition steelbook presents the film in 4K UHD and Blu-ray with Dolby Vision/HDR10 and English 5.1 audio. Bonus features include audio commentary, interviews, featurettes, trailers, and a 60-page hardcover booklet, making it prime '80s fantasy collector bait.

monsters, and glorious fantasy cheese to satisfy even the most discerning genre completist.

SPECIES I & II Before the franchise went direct-to-video, Species (1995) and Species II (1998) delivered two gloriously slimy slices of '90s sci-fi horror. Natasha Henstridge stars as alien-human hybrid Sil, created using extraterrestrial DNA and soon pursued by a government team, while the sequel unleashes an even nastier threat following a Mars mission gone wrong. Both films are restored from their original camera negatives and presented in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision/HDR10, DTS-HD 5.1, and LPCM 2.0 audio. Bonus highlights include commentaries, documentaries, H.R. Giger featurettes, interviews, and uncut footage. The lavish five-disc set also includes posters, lobby cards, press kits, a hardcover photo book, and Sveta Shubina artwork. Fun fact: A very young Michelle Williams plays young Sil.

THE HUNTED If you love First Blood and The Fugitive , The Hunted is for you. Cut from the same cloth as both, William Friedkin’s gritty wilderness manhunt thriller is a brutal, uncompromising adventure. Tommy Lee Jones stars as a veteran tracker tasked with hunting down a former Special Forces soldier, played by Benicio Del Toro, who has disappeared into the Oregon wilderness after a violent breakdown. What follows is a tense

THE KINGDOMTRILOGY Long before prestige TV became a thing, Lars von Trier’s The Kingdom was serving up surrealist hospital nightmares that could sit comfortably alongside Twin Peaks as some of the most influential television of the 1990s. Set inside Copenhagen’s haunted Royal Hospital, the series follows patients, doctors, and staff as supernatural forces begin bleeding into everyday life. Stephen King was so enamoured with the series that he remade it as Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital , recently released on Blu

ray by ViaVision. This collection brings together all three seasons, including the long-awaited third series, which arrived 25 years later to critical acclaim. Packed with dark comedy, bizarre characters, and supernatural mystery, the set includes new and archival special features and high-definition presentations across its extensive 4K UHD and Blu-ray collection.

game of survival between two highly trained men who know exactly how to hunt and how to kill. This limited edition presents the film in stunning 4K UHD and Blu-ray with Dolby Vision/HDR10, plus audio commentary, interviews, featurettes, trailers, and a 52-page hardcover booklet.

Out Oct 28

• The new Imprint range is out on October 14 for a limited time only, while stocks last.

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OUT 14 OCT

OUT 14 OCT

OUT 14 OCT

OUT 28 OCT

Don Adams and Barbara Feldon reprise their iconic roles in the endearing spy movie Get Smart, Again! (1989), which comes to Blu-ray for the first time worldwide! Housed in a Special Edition glossy slipcase. Also on DVD.

Dissect gruesome conspiracies with the German horror films Anatomy (2000) & Anatomy 2 (2003), now on Limited Edition Blu-ray and housed in a Lenticular Hardcase + Art Cards! Individually numbered.

Get pumped for the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron (1977), which comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray in a Lenticular Hardcase + Art Cards! Follows Arnold Schwarzenegger as he competes for the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding title. Individually numbered.

It’s cute, and it’s popular to boot! The mighty Toros arrive on 4K UHD + Blu-ray with Bring It On (2000) starring Kirsten Dunst . Limited Edition Lenticular Hardcase release with Hardcover Booklet + Poster. Individually numbered.

OUT 14 OCT

OUT 28 OCT

OUT 7 OCT

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Starring Bill Nighy , George MacKay , and Noah Jupe , the intimate family drama & Sons (2025) makes its worldwide Blu-ray debut! Follows a writer who tries to make amends and reconnect with his sons. Also on DVD.

Eight frightening big screen adaptations come together in one DVD set with Stephen King - Ultimate Collection ! Includes Carrie , The Dead Zone , Needful Things , Secret Window , Riding the Bullet , 1408 , The Mist , and Bag of Bones .

Step into the elegant Metropol Hotel with A Gentleman in Moscow: The Mini-Series on Blu-ray! Stars Ewan McGregor as an aristocrat sentenced to house arrest, who watches a changing Russia from inside the hotel doors.

Follow humanity’s journey to the stars with the worldwide Blu-ray debut of Once Upon a Time in Space (2025)! An awe-inspiring four-part documentary, housed in a Special Edition glossy slipcase. Also on DVD.

OUT 7 OCT

OUT 28 OCT

OUT 28 OCT

OUT 14 OCT

Every time a plane crashes, the world takes notice. The latest installments of Air Crash Investigation: Seasons 24 - 26 come together in a 9-disc DVD collection! Examine every clue and crack the case with the investigators.

Season Four of Sullivan’s Crossing comes to DVD for the first time worldwide! Morgan Kohan , Chad Michael Murray , and Scott Patterson star in this small-town drama about second chances.

Air Crash Investigation: Seasons 1 - 26 come to a mammoth 72-disc DVD boxset! This ultimate collection spans all 241 episodes, which aired 2003 - 2026, featuring eyewitness accounts, reenactments, and interviews with the investigators.

The must-see definitive documentary series The Michael Jackson Story (2026) comes to DVD! Go beyond the music to the full story of one of the world’s most culturally significant and controversial figures. Includes rare archival interviews.

WHILE STOCKS LAST

MOVIE FEATURE

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Of all the acclaimed films the Coen brothers have made throughout their careers, none are as intrinsically connected to Blood Simple as Fargo . Cut from the same cloth, both are darkly comic crime stories populated by ordinary people whose bad decisions spiral deception, and murder, while balancing brutal violence with an almost absurd sense of humour. Even the snow covered landscapes of Fargo feel like a colder cousin to the dusty Texas setting of Blood Simple . Released 12 years apart, both films demonstrate the Coens’ unique talent for finding dark comedy in human folly. spectacularly out of control. They share a fascination with greed,

Blood Simple is out Oct 28 on 4K

Dark, twisted, and unmistakably Coen, Blood Simple arrived in 1984 and introduced the world to two filmmakers who were just getting started. Words Bob J

Dan Hedaya Below: Frances McDormand

Coen brothers

When Marty returns to his office after his fishing break, Visser hands him a photo of the apparently bloodied bodies of both Abby and Ray. Chaos now ensues in a maelstrom of ‘blood simple’ misunderstandings involving each character, leading to abject violence and murder. The four main actors, who were all practically unknown when the film was first released, delivered outstanding performances, especially M. Emmett Walsh and Frances McDormand. Originally, the role of Abby was offered to actress Holly Hunter, who had to turn it down. Instead, she persuaded her roommate Frances to audition for the part. The following year, McDormand married Joel Coen and went on to win four Oscars. Blood Simple hit screens in 1984 and proved extremely popular with audiences, so much so that the Coen brothers would never have to beg for movie money again.

B lood Simple (1984) is a and Ethan Coen. As this was their first attempt at making a feature film, they took wise advice from their close friend Sam Raimi, who had written and directed his successful 1981 horror film The Evil Dead . Raimi suggested that the Coens go door-to-door showing potential investors a short ‘three-minute trailer’ for the film they planned to make. Subsequently, in a little over a year, the brothers raised $750,000, which was enough to begin neo-noir film written and produced by brothers Joel

year, the now-determined Coens took their intricately plotted film to the New York Film Festival, and then to the Toronto Film Festival, where a deal was eventually made

Hedaya), who runs a dingy roadhouse, and her lover Ray, a bartender working at Marty’s bar. However, unbeknown to the couple, the brooding and bitterly resentful Marty has hired a lowlife, corpulent private detective, Loren Visser (M. Emmett Walsh), to follow the adulterous couple and confirm Marty’s suspicions. The couple pull into a motel, where Visser is able to shoot compromising photos and present them to Marty. The now enraged husband hires Visser again, offering him $10,000 to murder both Abby and Ray. Visser tells Marty to go fishing upstate and that he will call him when the job is done.

with Circle Films, who decided to distribute the movie domestically. The film’s title is based on a phrase from the Dashiell Hammett novel Red Harvest , in which ‘blood simple’ is a term coined to describe the fearful mindset people enter after prolonged immersion in violent situations. Blood Simple , set in

Texas, opens inside a car driving through pouring rain. Abby (Frances McDormand) tells the driver, Ray (John Getz), that she has decided to leave her hot-tempered, jealous husband. The film revolves around a love triangle

production on their low-budget movie. The finished film was then brought to L.A. and shown to the major movie studios, who all passed on releasing what they considered to be a brutally violent movie. However, later that

between Abby, her husband Marty (Dan

Fun fact: The Coens would later go on to write and produce Miller's Crossing (1990), which was loosely based on another Dashiell Hammett novel.

Original poster art

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PREVIEWS MOVIES & TV PREVIEWS MOVIES & TV

WHAT’S OUT THIS MONTH? Behold, a massive month of hot new releases coming to physical media! In addition to the major titles featured elsewhere in this issue, here’s a look at what else is arriving in October. Words Glenn Cochrane

EDITOR’S PICK JACKASS: BEST AND LAST AID RELEASE DATE: Oct 7 GENRE: Comedy FORMATS: BD, DVD All good things must come to an end, and Jackass: Best and Last is determined to go out with a bang rather than a whimper. This final instalment combines brand-new stunts, classic showreel moments, and never-before-seen footage, bringing the gang’s glorious reign of pain, stupidity, and spectacularly bad decisions to a fitting conclusion. Will this really be the end? For this iteration, probably. But with Zach Holmes now calling himself “Zachass” on social media, perhaps a new generation of idiots is already waiting in the wings?

MINIONS & MONSTERS AID RELEASE DATE: Oct 7 GENRE: Family FORMAT: 4K, BD, DVD Set in 1920s Hollywood, Minions & Monsters is a love letter to old-school moviemaking, with the Minions setting out to make their own monster movie. The all-star voice cast includes

THE TERROR: DEVIL IN SILVER Madman RELEASE DATE: Oct 21 GENRE: TV horror FORMAT: BD, DVD It’s been a long wait, but The Terro r is finally back with its third standalone instalment, Devil in Silver . Based on Victor LaValle’s acclaimed novel, this six-part horror series stars Dan Stevens as Pepper,

Jeff Bridges, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, and Jesse Eisenberg, with Bridges especially bringing some Hollywood gravitas. It’s a treat for kids, but the affectionate nods to classic cinema make this a particularly fun watch for adult movie buffs and cinephiles, too.

a man wrongfully committed to a terrifying psychiatric hospital where patients, doctors, and something far more sinister await. With Karyn Kusama ( Yellowjackets ) directing and Ridley Scott producing, this highly anticipated return takes the anthology into unsettling new territory.

THE INVITE AID RELEASE DATE: Oct 14 GENRE: Comedy FORMAT: BD, DVD When married couple Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) invite their alluring upstairs neighbours (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) over for dinner, an awkward evening quickly turns into an unexpectedly

LEVITICUS AID RELEASE DATE: Oct 7 GENRE: Horror FORMAT: BD

From the producers of The Babadook and Talk to Me comes this chilling Australian horror from writer-director Adrian Chiarella. When teenage boys Naim and Ryan begin a tentative romance, their conservative community responds with

candid relationship intervention. Directed by Wilde, The Invite is a provocative comedy about marriage, intimacy, and the compromises we make in long-term relationships. The film is adapted from Cesc Gay’s Spanish comedy The People Upstairs . If you enjoyed The Drama , you’ll love this.

a disturbing religious ritual that unleashes a violent supernatural entity. Taking the form of the person its victim desires most, the creature turns their attraction into a terrifying weapon. Mia Wasikowska and Ewen Leslie co-star in this unsettling blend of queer romance, supernatural horror, and social commentary.

TUNER AID RELEASE DATE: Oct 7 GENRE: Thriller FORMAT: BD, DVD Leo Woodall ( The White Lotus ) stars as Niki, a gifted piano tuner whose extraordinary hearing leads him into an unexpected side hustle: cracking safes. Mentored by veteran tuner Harry (Dustin Hoffman), Niki’s newfound

VAMPIRES OF THE VELVET LOUNGE Eagle RELEASE DATE: Oct 7 GENRE: Horror FORMAT: DVD Perfect for Halloween viewing, who can resist a title like Vampires of the Velvet Lounge ? This throwback horror-comedy follows a coven of vampires who use dating apps to

criminal talents soon draw him into increasingly dangerous territory, while a budding romance with composition student Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu) complicates matters. Directed by Oscar winning documentarian Daniel Roher ( Navalny ), Tuner blends crime, romance, and suspense into an unusual heist thriller.

lure lonely singles to their back-alley Absinthe bar, where things get bloody. Mena Suvari, Dichen Lachman, Stephen Dorff and Tyrese Gibson lead the cast, with Adam Sherman writing and directing. Expect campy thrills, gore, seductive vampires and a healthy dose of grindhouse mayhem.

OUTLANDER: SEASON 8 AID RELEASE DATE: Oct 7 GENRE: TV drama FORMAT: BD, DVD After almost a decade of time-hopping romance, war, and family drama, Outlander reaches its epic conclusion with an eighth and final season. Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan return as Claire and Jamie Fraser,

CHIEF OF WAR: SEASON 1 AID RELEASE DATE: Oct 21 GENRE: TV drama FORMAT: DVD Jason Momoa swaps Atlantis for ancient Hawai‘i in this epic historical drama, based on true events. Set in the late 18th century, Momoa stars as warrior Ka‘iana, who sets out to unite the islands’ four kingdoms before Western

colonisation changes Hawai‘i forever. Told from an Indigenous perspective, the nine-episode series was co-created and written by Momoa and Thomas Pa‘a Sibbett, with Momoa also directing the finale. The predominantly Polynesian cast includes Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, and Cliff Curtis, while Hans Zimmer provides the music. The series is brutal, uncompromising, and beautiful.

Coming in NOVEMBER whose fight to protect their family and home continues amid the turmoil of the American Revolution. Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, and John Bell also return, with the ten-episode final season promising plenty of emotional farewells as the beloved saga comes to an end.

Some of the year’s biggest hitters arrive on physical media in November, including Spielbergian dino thriller The End of Oak Street , Masters of the Universe , and Jason Statham’s Mutiny .

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