Roadshow’s 4K Ultra-HD/Blu-ray & Blu-ray release will contain the following Special Features:

Dolby Vision/HDR Presentation (4K Ultra-HD Only)
Dolby Atmos Audio Track 
Joker: Vision & Fury – Featurette
Becoming Joker – Featurette
Please Welcome… Joker! – Featurette
Joker: A Chronicle of Chaos – Featurette
Optional English SDH, Spanish, Portuguese, and French Subtitles

JOKER on home entertainment from January 8th 2020.

AD ASTRA
Filmmaker James Gray (THE LOST CITY OF Z) helms what is quite possibly the greatest work of science fiction cinema in many years, if not the decade, concerning itself with the greater unknown of ourselves than the final frontier as such. Similar to Denis Villeneuve’s ARRIVAL, Gray’s AD ASTRA is deep-rooted in human drama and relationships encased in a wondrous and visionary portrayal of the not distant future where space exploration has to a degree been commercialised. Brad Pitt (ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD) delivers a career best as Roy McBride, an astronaut and son of the revered and long-missing astronaut Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones), who is sent on a mission to Neptune in attempt to stop a series of power surges that threaten the continued existence of mankind. AD ASTRA is thoroughly mesmerising throughout its two hour runtime, at times suspenseful, beautiful and poetic, its a true cinematic masterwork of wonderment, style and heart…hands down one of the finest films of 2019.

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD
Sylvester Stallone returns one last time to reprise the role of John Rambo, the character that gave rise to him as a cinematic action icon, under the direction of GET THE GRINGO’s Adrian Grunberg. Growing up as kid of the eighties, it was often rare for a film to live up to the promise of the key art on the VHS, the greater the scale of action on the slick the lower the budget of the film itself, however it was the sizzle that made the sale, not necessarily the steak itself. That said the bigger the budget and often better the film, the less inspiring the artwork, as there was less of a story needing to be sold, it was the star power of Stallone and Schwarzenegger with a typically huge gun that sealed the deal, case in point RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II or PREDATOR. However those days have long past and Stallone is arguably no longer a contemporary action hero, instead relegated to DTV (see ESCAPE PLAN 2: HADES, BACKTRACE etc) and the occasional nostalgia-driven cash-grab (like this one) so his image solely strewn across a bland story-less greyscale poster holding assorted weaponry does little to inspire the imagination. That said the marketing genius behind the poster for RAMBO: LAST BLOOD have in fact captured the tone, tension, drama and action of the film successfully as this is film is one of the most insipid studio action films in some time and a squalid shit-stain on the entire RAMBO franchise. Immediately from its opening five minutes, where Rambo attempts to save some hikers from a freak storm come flash flood, its established we’re going to watch a water-downed, under-budgeted and completely unnecessary cash-in on a beloved franchise. In the weakest of premises, Rambo’s niece rushes off to Mexico to confront her father as to why he abandoned her as a child, which leads Rambo to follow with an ill-prepared rescue mission that results in him being beaten to pulp and the girl dying, all at the hands of a human trafficking ring. However after a speedy recovery, our crafty veteran rigs up his farm ‘Kevin McCallister style’ and lures the group back to take them down one-by-one in possibly the fastest and bloodiest finale action cinema has ever seen. Outside of establishing that Rambo’s niece, Gabrielle ( Yvette Monreal), is a good student, with an arsehole boyfriend and a strong desire to speak with her father, her character is void of any genuine substance, she is merely a simple plot device. As a lamb to the slaughter, more time is spent inflicting unspeakable horror upon Gabrielle than ever developing her character so while its easy to empathise with her suffering, its hard to make any emotional connection which in turn makes the revenge aspect of the film far less satisfying. With what RAMBO: LAST BLOOD lacks in character development, it makes up for with an unnecessary amount of characters who did little more than slow the momentum and divert the plot, which would be forgivable had the film not run at under ninety minutes and had such a swift unrewarding climax. If facial trauma, severed limbs and human supernovas are your thing, you’ll be served in spades as while RAMBO: LAST BLOOD doesn’t quite equal the body count of its predecessor RAMBO (2008), it unequivocally is the goriest instalment of the series yet. Sadly the onscreen brutality of the film is delivered far too fast, frequently and without any sense of build that you’ll be left feeling more exhausted than morbidly elated by its abundance of grizzly carnage. RAMBO: LAST BLOOD is a fail from a script level to screen but if you are going to catch the film during its theatrical run, be sure to stick around for the closing credits which are undoubtably the best thing about the entire film!

GOOD BOYS
Writer Gene Stupnitsky (BAD TEACHER) makes his feature directorial debut with this vulgar, hilarious and absolutely adorable coming-of-age comedy. Max (Jacob Tremblay), Lucas (Keith L. Williams) and Thor (Brady Noon) are three 12-year-olds who in order to make it to their first kissing party must skip school, fence stolen goods, deal drugs, avoid the law, fight frat boys and elude two teenage girls in hot pursuit at all costs. Stupnitsky’s GOOD BOYS is escalation comedy at its finest, as frantic as it is funny and never resorts to sappiness to hit an emotional chord yet delivers genuine heart.

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM
It’s been five years since JOHN WICK first graced cinema screens and who would have thought that a simple revenge actioner would evolve into incredible and surprisingly detail-rich franchise. Picking right up from where JOHN WICK CHAPTER 2 concluded, this latest instalment sees the titular character go head-to-head with not only the New York underworld but that of an international destination also and the phrase ‘always outnumbered, never outgunned’ has never been truer. Kinetic in its action and poetic in its violence, JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM holds nothing back with some of the greatest set pieces ever committed to celluloid i.e. Keanu Reeves riding horseback down a busy New York street taking down armed assailants on motorbikes. Mark our words, if you love action films…this is a film YOU NEED OWN! Kudos to the animal actors in the film too, from the aforementioned steed to a pair of attack dogs, this film really has it all! StudioCanal’s 4K Ultra-HD/Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases contain no less than 10x Featurettes covering everything from animal stunts to post-production in the editing suite, there’s also 3x Trailers (of which which is for the JOHN WICK HEX video game) and 4K enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that it carries both Dolby Vision and Atmos along with the slightly extended <R>18+ cut with some severe eye trauma! 

ALADDIN
Taking a timeless and beloved animated feature to the live action realm is no mean feat as the past has proven with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and more recently DUMBO however ALADDIN is a genuine exception. Filmmaker Guy Ritchie’s (SNATCH) adaptation is one of true wonderment, filled with lavish production design, spectacular set pieces and not only apt casting but enchanting performances. Similar to David Lowery’s PETE’S DRAGON from 2016, this is a welcome addition to Disney’s live action catalogue, one that successfully transcends mere nostalgia to become a throughly enjoyable and memorable film. Disney’s 4K Ultra-HD/Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases contain 3x Featurettes, 6x Deleted Scenes, a Deleted Song, Music Videos and Blooper Reel.
GODZILLA II: KING OF MONSTERS
Genre filmmaker Michael Dougherty (KRAMPUS, TRICK ‘R’ TREAT) directs this latest cinematic outing of everyone’s favourite prehistoric sea monster come pop-cultural icon, GODZILLA. While this instalment is the second GODZILLA film to come out of Hollywood in recent years, it is in fact the third entry in Legendary Pictures’s ‘MonsterVerse’, following KONG: SKULL ISLAND (2017) and GODZILLA (2014), with GODZILLA VS KONG to come next year, from a script by Dougherty and directed by fellow genre stalwart Adam Wingard (THE GUEST, YOU’RE NEXT). Thankfully GODZILLA II: KING OF THE MONSTERS delivers on its promise of monsters, in fact three new kaiju (Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah) are ushered into the universe and the sheer spectacle of their city-scaled squabbles is truly awe-inspiring, from the richly detailed texture of the creature design to the prizefight choreography of their showdowns. Unfortunately with all that awesome comes clown car full of characters who do little more than provide excessive exposition, create unnecessary human drama and ultimately slow the pace. Memo to Hollywood: We came to the see the monsters, not Coach Taylor, Lorraine Warren & Eleven in HOME ALONE 6: LOST IN BOSTON. While GODZILLA II is far from perfect, its a step in the right direction and we can only hope that old mate’s next bout on the big screen will bring with it more fight and less drama. Roadshow’s 4k Ultra-HD/Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases contain an Audio Commentary, 7x Featurettes covering everything from actress Millie Brown to the military grade weaponry used in the film, 2x Deleted Scenes, 1x Extended Scene and Theatrical Trailers. 
ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES – ULTIMATE EDITION (Blu-ray)
Praise be Via Vision Entertainment for being the first-in-the-world to release the far superior theatrical cut of ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES to Blu-ray in their Ultimate Edition. Comprising of both theatrical and extended cuts of the film, this release also boasts 2x Audio Commentary tracks (the first with director Kevin Reynolds and actor Kevin Costner while the second is with actors Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, writer/producer Pen Densham and co-writer/producer John Watson), an archival half hour EPK ‘Robin Hood: The Man, The Myth, The Legend‘ Featurette hosted by Pierce Brosnan, interviews with Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, & Alan Rickman, the ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You‘ live performance by Bryan Adams, Photo Gallery and Theatrical Trailer. While the transfer on the theatrical cut is from a dated master and shows some compression issues which may be inherent in the source rather than the encode, its still fantastic to finally have it in high-definition at the very least while the extended edition’s transfer is a direct port of the previously released Warner/Roadshow Blu-ray.
Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan. 

CINEMAS

IT CHAPTER TWO
Andy Muschietti (MAMA) returns to the helm of the second and final instalment in the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s IT with mixed to mediocre results. Set twenty-seven years after the events of the first-film, IT CHAPTER TWO sees the now grown-up Losers Club return to Derry to do battle with Pennywise one more time. Running at a prolonged and padded two hours and forty-nine minutes, we advise the following three simple rules to surviving IT CHAPTER TWO at the cinema…1) Choose a theatre with comfortable seating 2) Have a strong coffee prior and 3) Be sure to use the bathroom before or escape to the lavatory during scenes where there’s the greatest amount of Losers Club members on-screen at the one time to avoid missing any of the action. Unfortunately Muschietti doesn’t use the unusually long runtime to flesh out and enrich the depth of the characters nor is the time spent genuinely building suspense, rather he just jam-packs scare upon jump-scare throughout, so much so that it soon becomes tedious, repetitive and ultimately redundant. Despite its less than subtitle homage to John Carpenter’s THE THING, a work of Rob Bottin’s prosthetic genius, IT CHAPTER TWO is almost completely dependent on CGI effects, that are often too cartoony to be anything other than a distraction from engaging with the threat in which they are attempting to represent. The strength of IT CHAPTER TWO is its adult ensemble (James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan & James Ransone) who all turn in formidable performances though never quite find the same chemistry or dynamics of the cast who played their child counterparts in the previous film. Despite King’s source material and the ongoing joke throughout regarding Bill Denbrough’s (McAvoy) writing, the film does reach a satisfying climax and while that doesn’t wholly forgive the slog it was to get there, it does allow you to leave this unnecessarily epic film feeling slightly pacified. Twenty-seven years after the Losers Club defeated Pennywise, he has returned to terrorize the town of Derry once more. Now adults, the Losers have long since gone their separate ways. However, kids are disappearing again, so Mike, the only one of the group to remain in their hometown, calls the others home. Damaged by the experiences of their past, they must each conquer their deepest fears to destroy Pennywise once and for all…putting them directly in the path of the clown that has become deadlier than ever.

NEKROTRONIC (Special Event Screenings)
Take GHOSTBUSTERS, THE MATRIX and EVIL DEAD II then give it the Roache-Turner brothers spin and you’ll have an idea of what to anticipate from their latest feature NEKROTRONIC. Australian filmmakers Kiah & Tristan Roache-Turner (WYRMWOOD) take their international festival favourite short DAEMONRUNNER to feature with NEKROTRONIC, a genre hybrid that expertly blends sci-fi, horror and comedy into a wildly entertaining thrill-ride! This will be your only opportunity to catch this instant classic on the big screen so don’t miss your chance to see it and hear first-hand from the lads as to how they created the boldest and biggest genre film to come out of Australia in many years! Picking up after a millennium of badass battles between demons and a secret order of demon hunters, known as Nekromancers, the forces of evil have found a way to possess souls through social-media apps. With every Wi-Fi-connected soul on the planet at risk, a dwindling band of Nekromancers find themselves forced to put their faith in a hapless sanitation worker, Howie (Ben O’Toole). Howie unwittingly carries an ancestral power that may afford them the means to definitively force evil offline.

AUSTRALIAN SPECIAL EVENT SCREENINGS

NSW
SciFi Film Festival
Friday, 6 September 6pm w/ Filmmaker Q&A
Event Cinemas George St (Sydney)
Tickets

VIC
Saturday, 7 September 7pm w/ Filmmaker Q&A
Village Cinemas Jam Factory (Melbourne)
Tickets

QLD
Sunday, 8 September 6:30pm
Event Cinemas Myer Centre (Brisbane)
Tickets

S.A.
Sunday, 8 September 6:30pm w/ Filmmaker Q&A
Event Cinemas Westfield Marion (Adelaide)
Tickets

https://youtu.be/q3aur4eBZLY

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UNDER THE SILVER LAKE (DVD Only)
Filmmaker David Robert Mitchell follows up his 2014 breakthrough horror film, IT FOLLOWS, with what could be described as hipster-noir, a cross between THE BIG LEBOWSKI and INHERENT VICE. Undoubtedly ambitious, excessive and self-indulgent, UNDER THE SILVER LAKE is awash of mesmerising visuals, bewitching characters and an engrossing though somewhat convoluted plot. Mitchell’s film is an experience rather than a conventional narrative, which some may fear to engage with but for those who do, they are in for a hypnotic and captivating cinematic adventure, one that with every viewing will reveal more and more mysteries within its shoegazing universe. Sam (Andrew Garfield) is a disenchanted 33 year old who discovers a mysterious woman, Sarah (Riley Keough), frolicking in his apartment’s swimming pool. When she vanishes, Sam embarks on a surreal quest across Los Angeles to decode the secret behind her disappearance, leading him into the murkiest depths of mystery, scandal, and conspiracy in the City of Angels. Umbrella Entertainment DVD release contains no supplementary material.
CHARLIE SAYS (DVD Only)
From AMERICAN PSYCHO director Mary Harron comes the notorious true story of the Manson Family Murders, that provides a rare perspective of the crimes and consequences from the perspective of the Manson girls themselves while never really revealing why they did it. Years after the horrific murders that made the name Charles Manson synonymous with pure evil, the three women who killed for him remain under the spell of the infamous cult leader. Confined to an isolated cellblock, the trio seem destined to live out their lives under the delusions that Manson created – until empathetic grad student Karlene Faith is enlisted to rehabilitate them. Convinced they are not the inhuman monsters the world believes them to be, Karlene begins the arduous process of breaking down the psychological barriers erected by Manson. But are the women ready to relive and to confront the horror of what they did? Defiant Screen Entertainment’s DVD release contains no supplementary material.
BANANA SPLITS
Hannah-Barbera’s short-run children’s variety series of the late sixties, THE BANANA SPLITS, is subverted into a slasher that blends nostalgia with blood and guts to create a highly unusual comedy-horror hybrid that’s worthy of a watch even if only as a curio piece. A boy and his family go to a taping of The Banana Splits Movie, unaware that the animatronic rock band has just learned that their show is about to be cancelled and they don’t plan to let that happen. As the body count rises, Harley, his mom, and their new pals must escape the Splits or else remain their audience forever. Roadshow’s Blu-ray & DVD releases contain three Production Featurettes (that we were unfortunately unable to preview and review prior) titled ‘Banana Splits: Behind the Horror’, ‘Terror on Set’ and ‘Breaking News! The Banana Splits Massacre’.
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT (Blu-ray)
Umbrella Entertainment heard the Australian public outcry for a HD home entertainment release of THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT and has delivered the Blu-ray! Winner of ‘Best Director’ at last year’s MONSTER FEST, this provocative and controversial thriller come black comedy follows the decade long career of titular serial killer, Jack (Matt Dillon) as he strives to concoct his most elaborate work of psychotic genius, resulting in a darkly sinister melange of callous sophistry and disturbingly humorous sociopathy. Lars von Trier’s disturbing drama follows the highly intelligent Jack (Matt Dillon) over a span of 12 years and introduces the murders that define Jack’s development as a serial killer. Taking place from Jack’s point of view as he postulates each murder as an artwork in itself. Inevitably as police intervention draws near, he takes greater and greater risks in his attempt to create the ultimate masterwork. Umbrella Entertainment’s DVD release contains no supplementary features.
CINEMA CULT SEPTEMBER RELEASES
This week Shock Entertainment’s imprint Cinema Cult unleash no less than eight titles to Blu-ray & DVD, five of which are making their local Blu-ray debuts and four of which are essential purchases! No reviews necessary for the following films as they are all undisputed classics worthy of a place on your shelf!
THE MONSTER SQUAD
Dracula is alive. In fact, he plans to rule the world and that is why he seeks the help of other legendary monsters. However, a bunch of kids regarded by their peers as losers uncover the devious plan and prepare for a counter strike.
APRIL FOOL’S DAY
When a group of college students decides to spend spring break at the secluded island estate of their wealthy classmate, Muffy St. John (Deborah Foreman), what starts out as a fun, hedonistic weekend turns into something more sinister. Muffy is very fond of practical jokes, and sets up numerous gags throughout her mansion. But, when friends begin going missing and turn up dead, they realize that they’re trapped on the isolated isle with a mysterious and brutal killer.
MY BLOODY VALENTINE
Twenty years after a Valentine’s Day tragedy, a small town prepares for its annual holiday dance. When a box of candy arrives containing an eerie warning and a blood-soaked heart, the townsfolk realise that this Valentine’s Day romance is as good as dead…and so are they!

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
Considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, Invasion of the Body Snatchers stars Kevin McCarthy (Academy Award nominee, Best Supporting Actor, Death of A Salesman – 1952) as Miles Bennell, a doctor in a small California town whose patients are becoming increasingly overwrought, accusing their loved ones of being emotionless imposters. They’re right! Plant-like aliens have invaded Earth, taking possession of humans as they sleep and replicating them in giant seed pods. Convinced that a catastrophic epidemic is imminent, Bennell, in a terrifying race for his life, must warn the world of this deadly invasion of the pod people before it’s too late.
Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.

CINEMAS

THE NIGHTINGALE
Writer/director Jennifer Kent delivers her sophomore feature, following her 2014 multi-award winning THE BABADOOK, and at its heart it’s a bold and bleak rape-revenge tale set within colonial Australia. While THE NIGHTINGALE is at times challenging to endure due to its brutal (yet not graphic) sexual violence, its impossible not to be engaged, this is a masterful filmmaker rendering a heartfelt and honest depiction of Australia in a time that cinema has largely ignored. Both plotting and pacing veer a little left of course during the film’s unnecessarily prolonged third act but ultimately its the sum of the parts that make THE NIGHTINGALE such a well crafted work of modern storytelling and historical representation. Set in 1825, Clare, a young Irish convict woman, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy, who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.

DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE
From producer Dallas Sonnier and critically acclaimed filmmaker S. Craig Zahler, the genre mashup maestro responsible for BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99 and BONE TOMAHAWK comes this hardboiled and highly engaging crime thriller that packs brutally confronting violence, strong characterisation and complete disregard for political correctness into a mix of visceral action and soulful character study. Two police detectives (Mel Gibson & Vince Vaughn) who find themselves suspended when a video of their strong-arm tactics is leaked to the media. With little money and no options, the embittered policemen descend into the criminal underworld and find more than they wanted waiting in the shadows.

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BRIGHTBURN
Take equal measures of SUPERMAN and THE OMEN and you’ve got BRIGHTBURN, a subversive take on a super-villain tale. While the film’s basic story structure is born from traditional superhero mythos, it’s BRIGHTBURN’s approach to plotting that takes the narrative into dark territory, one that is more akin to horror than the aforementioned genre. At a tight ninety minutes, the film succeeds at both building the origin story of its principle character, Brendon Breyer (Jackson A. Dunn), while delivering an onslaught of gripping carnage in the process. BRIGHTBURN’s tone is a genuinely unsettling one, ripe with suspense and shocking in its depiction of violence, in fact the film’s onscreen gore is some of the best we’ve seen on the big screen in many years. With a no holds barred script by Brian & Mark Gunn (JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND), assured direction of David Yarovesky (THE HIVE) and solid performances from Elizabeth Banks (THE HUNGER GAMES), David Denman (THE OFFICE) and Dunn (AVENGERS: ENDGAME), BRIGHTBURN has quickly become one of our favourite films of 2019 thus far! What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? Sony Pictures’ 4K Ultra-HD/Blu-ray & Blu-ray releases contain an insightful and engaging Audio Commentary with Director David Yarovesky, Cinematographer Michael Dallatorre, and Costume Designer Autumn Steed; 3x ‘Quick Burns’ vignettes hosted by Actor Elizabeth Banks, Producer James Gunn & Director David Yarovesky; two featurettes ‘Hero Horror’ and ‘ Nature vs Nurture’ that explore everything from the film’s genre-bending content and tone to the motivations of the central character.
ROCKETMAN
Rock biopics are in vogue and BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY co-director Dexter Fletcher (EDDIE THE EAGLE) helms this sometimes ugly but always magical account of Elton John’s life. Adopting a musical structure, ROCKETMAN distances itself from the aforementioned feature with its narrative approach, allowing anything seemingly important that’s gone untold or perhaps been conveniently repurposed to be completely forgivable…never let a true story get in the way of a good opportunity to break out in song! However the songs do tend to go on and on, leaving little time to bring about any genuine depth to Elton’s story, a shame given how fascinating a character he is. That said the costuming, production design, choreography and just about everything on a technical level is perfect, there’s no doubt that ROCKETMAN’s style is befitting of the legend that is Elton. The fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John, set to Elton John’s most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton – tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture. Paramount Pictures’ 4K Ultra-HD/Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases contain 4x Extended Musical Numbers with introduction by Director Dexter Fletcher, 10x Deleted Scenes with introduction by Fletcher once again, 5x Production Featurettes ranging from Actor Taron Egerton’s transformation into Elton to a behind-the-scenes look at Taron and Elton’s studio sessions and finally a functionality to Sing-Along with 13x select songs from the film!THE HUSTLE
Aside from its gender-swap, there’s little in the way of reworking the 1964 film BEDTIME STORY from its 1988 remake DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS with the exception that THE HUSTLE’s approach is a lot less charming and a lot more slapstick than its predecessor. While the jokes don’t always hit their mark, there’s enough to keep one entertained and engaged for its rather brisk 94 minute duration, helped greatly by Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson’s strong screen chemistry and ability to riff off one another. Hathaway and Wilson star as female scam artists, one low rent and the other high class, who team up to take down the dirty rotten men who have wronged them. Universal Pictures’ Blu-ray contains an Audio Commentary with Director Chris Addison and three Production Featurettes.
POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU
Rarely video games make great source material for films, far too often the essence of the game is lost in favour of an entirely new storyline i.e. SUPER MARIO BROS, RESIDENT EVIL and so on however POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU manages to do things a little differently. While maintaining vital elements of the long-running gaming franchise and the right amount of new material, it succeeds in creating a refreshing, funny and engaging mystery that will no doubt appeal to just as many audiences invested in the gaming franchise as to those not so familiar with it. Shoutout to Ryan Reynolds for injecting the character of Pikachu with such an endearing, hilarious and distinct personality! The story begins when ace private eye Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe. Roadshow’s 4K Ultra-HD/Blu-ray & Blu-ray releases contain an Audio Commentary, a plethora of Production Featurettes, an Alternate Opening scene and Music Video.
Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.

MIDSOMMAR (Limited Release)
Filmmaker Ari Aster follows up his 2018 breakthrough debut feature HEREDITARY with an uninhibited and hallucinatory folk horror that is as compelling as it is downright disturbing. MIDSOMMAR’s blend of contrasting imagery, unnerving pacing and deeply affecting psychological horror will have you riding the edge of your seat and clawing at the walls of your mind in equal measure. While Aster’s latest effort is truly an unsettling experience, it will likely divide horror fans between those whore adore it and others that’ll deem it pretentious artwank. Dani (Florence Pugh) and Christian (Jack Reynor) are a young American couple with a relationship on the brink of falling apart. But after a family tragedy keeps them together, a grieving Dani invites herself to join Christian and his friends on a trip to a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village. What begins as a carefree summer holiday in a land of eternal sunlight takes a sinister turn when the insular villagers invite their guests to partake in festivities that render the pastoral paradise increasingly unnerving and viscerally disturbing.

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THE CURSE OF THE WEEPING WOMAN
Michael Chaves make his feature directorial debut with this loose entry in THE CONJURING universe. We say loose as there’s really only one scene that ties this film into the aforementioned franchise and we suspect the studio wedged it in there to give this film an opportunity to find a theatrical audience. That said THE CURSE OF THE WEEPING WOMAN (known as THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA in the United States) is not too bad a film, unlike last year’s THE NUN, it’s just lacklustre. Despite an interesting premise based off Mexican folklore, THE WEEPING WOMAN is a rather run-of-the-mill spook-fest with jump-scares you can set your watch to. The real charm of the film lies with its family dynamic and the chemistry of its actors, that feels like a throwback to paranormal classics like POLTERGEIST and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. In 1970s Los Angeles, the Weeping Woman is stalking the night—and the children. Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker (Linda Cardellini) and her own family are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive the Weeping Woman’s deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide. Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul. And there is no escape from the curse of the Weeping Woman. Roadshow’s Blu-ray release contains three production Featurettes ranging from the mythology of the titular character to behind-the-scenes of the film, Deleted Scenes and Storyboards from the film itself.
THE WIND (DVD Only)
Director Emma Tammi’s period set supernatural horror is an atmosphere-soaked tale of isolation and strength that will hold you captive for its brief eight-five minute runtime. An unseen evil haunts the homestead in this chilling, folkloric tale of madness, paranoia, and otherworldly terror. Lizzy (Caitlin Gerard) is a tough, resourceful frontierswoman settling a remote stretch of land on the 19th-century American frontier. Isolated from civilization in a desolate wilderness where the wind never stops howling, she begins to sense a sinister presence that seems to be borne of the land itself, an overwhelming dread that her husband (Ashley Zukerman) dismisses as superstition. When a newlywed couple arrives on a nearby homestead, their presence amplifies Lizzy’s fears, setting in motion a shocking chain of events. Umbrella Entertainment’s DVD release contains no supplementary features.
THE SHADOW
Making its local Blu-ray debut courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment is Russell Mulcahy’s live action adaptation of the 1930s radio play starring Alec Baldwin as the titular character in what is a largely forgotten but immensely enjoyable superhero film. Donning his sweeping black cape and disguise, The Shadow (Baldwin) takes on his most dangerous nemesis yet: the last descendant of the great Genghis Khan whose weapon of choice is an atomic bomb. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, they square off for a spectacular battle in a dazzling mixture of mind-blowing special effects, humour and a dose of the macabre that will hold you spellbound! Umbrella Entertainment’s Blu-ray & DVD release contain no supplementary features.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN LONDON (DVD Only)
For the first time ever, the violent reign of two of London’s most notorious gangsters, Jack ‘Spot’ Comer and Billy Hill, is brought to life in ONCE UPON A TIME IN LONDON and despite its notably modest budget, its an engaging true crime tale worthy of a Sunday afternoon viewing. Charting the epic rise and legendary fall of a criminal empire that lasted for three decades and paved the way for the notorious Kray twins to exert their dominance over the London’s gangland realm. Defiant Screen Entertainment’s DVD release contains no supplementary features.

Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.

CINEMAS

APOCALYPSE NOW: FINAL CUT
Francis Ford Coppola returns to stoke the fire for a third time with his 1979 masterpiece, APOCALYPSE NOW, in what is titled the FINAL CUT, for the film’s 40th anniversary. Painstakingly restored from the original negative over a period of eleven months, this was extensive project that has also employed new tech such as Dolby Vision to enhance the image presentation, accompanied by an all-new immersive Dolby Atmos audio remix. Army Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is a troubled man sent on a dangerous and mesmerising odyssey into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade American colonel named Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has succumbed to the horrors of war and barricaded himself in a remote outpost.

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ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
Robert Rodriguez (SIN CITY, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN) helms this live action adaptation of popular manga, BATTLE ANGEL ALITA, produced by James ‘where the hell is AVATAR 2 and does anyone care anymore’ Cameron. ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL is an odd film as for all intensive purposes it shouldn’t work, a film dependent on a computer animated lead acting alongside real actors in a largely computer animated landscape in a cliche-riddled summarised version of a long-running comic book series, but somehow it does. Rodriguez gives a depth to the character of Alita (brilliantly portrayed/voiced by a performance captured Rosa Salazar) that makes her more human than human (or perhaps more human than cyborg) that is easy to both identify and empathise with. ALITA BATTLE ANGEL is a film of true spectacle with draw-dropping imagery and elaborate set pieces that maintains genuine emotion throughout, this is perfect popcorn entertainment for all. When Alita (Salazar) awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognise, she is taken in by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate doctor who realizes that somewhere in this abandoned cyborg shell is the heart and soul of a young woman with an extraordinary past. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious history while her street-smart new friend Hugo (Keean Johnson) offers instead to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past – she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control. If she can stay out of their grasp, she could be the key to saving her friends, her family and the world she’s grown to love.
CRITTERS ATTACK!
CRITTERS fans rejoice, as we wait for Shudder to launch in Australia and release CRITTERS: A NEW BINGE to our screens, Roadshow has unleashed the latest feature-length film, CRITTERS ATTACK!. It’s been twenty-seven years between CRITTERS films and while we’re yet to see this latest offering, we’re assured anything has to be better than their last outing to space. Twenty year-old Drea (Tashiana Washington), who reluctantly takes a job babysitting for a professor of a college she hopes to attend. Struggling to entertain the professor’s children Trissy (Ava Preston) and Jake (Jack Fulton), along with her own little brother Phillip (Jaeden Noel), Drea takes them on a hike, unaware that mysterious alien critters have crash-landed and started devouring every living thing they encounter. While being tracked by the ravenous critters, Drea and the kids encounter an adorable, seemingly harmless female critter named Bianca, an exiled royal fleeing the critter race. As the critters converge on the college campus, Drea and the kids, who are now inextricably linked to Bianca, rush to head them off. Will Drea discover her inner badass, and will it be enough to stop the critter onslaught? And is the critter princess as innocent as she seems?
HELLBOY
Neil Marshall (THE DESCENT, DOOMSDAY) returns to the director’s chair with his first feature in almost a decade, this time around with an all-new adaptation of Mike Mignola’s beloved HELLBOY comic. Unfortunately for Marshall, this new outing for the sawed-off horned hero carries with it convoluted plotting, flatliner humour, lacklustre performances, patchy production design and woeful special effects that when they don’t look like second-rate CGI, end up looking like latex and foam. Regardless of whether Marshall’s adaptation adheres closer to the comic, the poor execution is its ultimate failure and we would sooner revisit Guillermo del Toro’s two previous efforts back-to-back for twenty-four hours straight before ever giving this one another viewing! Hellboy is back, and he’s on fire. This action-packed story sees the legendary half-demon superhero (David Harbour) called to the English countryside to battle a trio of rampaging giants. There he discovers The Blood Queen, Nimue (Milla Jovovich), a resurrected ancient sorceress thirsting to avenge a past betrayal. Suddenly caught in a clash between the supernatural and the human, Hellboy is now hell-bent on stopping Nimue without triggering the end of the world.

Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.

CINEMAS

THE LION KING
Jon Favreau (THE JUNGLE BOOK, IRON MAN) helms Disney’s update on their 1994 animated classic THE LION KING with mixed results. While the story for the most part remains the same, the style of animation has transitioned from cell to computer generated imagery and it’s truly awe-inspiring, arguably the most photo-realistic recreation of live animals cinema has ever seen. There is little doubt that audiences won’t be impressed with the sheer spectacle of THE LION KING’s visual aesthetic (and sound design) however where the film tends to fall over is with its emotional connection to the viewer. Lacking the heart, soul and charm of its predecessor, this update struggles to forge its own identity and instead merely feels like a cosmetic upgrade trading on memories of a beloved classic, in other words a needless retread. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4owzAuG3MN0

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SHAZAM!
From a deep dig into the DC Extended Universe comes an origin story of a superhero that is largely unheard of and the mining pays off. From genre director David F. Sandberg (ANNABELLE: CREATION, LIGHTS OUT) comes a wildly entertaining cross-between Penny Marshall’s BIG and SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, SHAZAM! provides as many big laughs as it does enthralling set-pieces, a real heavy weight in the light-hearted superhero department! We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard. Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). Roadshow’s 4K Ultra-HD/Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases contain 5 Production Featurettes, a whopping 37 minutes worth of Deleted & Extended Scenes, a Gag Reel and a Motion Comic!
JACKALS (DVD Only)
Kevin Greutert (SAW 3D, VISIONS) directs this familiar yet suspenseful home invasion horror meets cultist thriller with enough visual flair and jump-scares to entertain you for its brief eighty-five minute runtime. When their oldest son is brainwashed by a disturbing cult obsessed with violence, a family enlists a cult deprogrammer (Stephen Dorff) to extract him. But as they work on reversing the damage to his mind, the family finds themselves under siege, trapped in a remote vacation home deep in the woods and surrounded by ruthless cultists determined to take back their missing member. A vicious battle unfolds, unleashing a bloodbath in which there will be few survivors. Eagle Entertainment’s DVD release contains no supplementary features. 
Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.

CINEMAS

ANNABELLE COMES HOME
Screenwriter Gary Dauberman (IT, ANNABELLE) steps into the director’s chair for his debut feature film, the third in the ANNABELLE franchise and seventh in THE CONJURING universe. ANNABELLE COMES HOME takes place in 1971, after both ANNABELLE CREATION (1955) & ANNABELLE (1967) and immediately follows on from THE CONJURING (1971), which means it occurs prior to THE CONJURING 2 (1977). Confusing? Well only if you’re attempting to determine the timeline of events between long breaks of watching films within THE CONJURING universe. A genuine strength of ANNABELLE COMES HOME is that you need not have seen any films within the universe to enjoy it as its own standalone feature, however if you have seen others it certainly offers up plenty of intertextual references to reward fans. ANNABELLE COMES HOME plays less as a sequel to its previous haunted dolly films and more as amalgamation of NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, 13 GHOSTS and FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE SERIES, whereby the haunted artefacts of demonologists Ed & Lorraine Warren’s home come to life and wreak terror upon three teens and a child. Whilst each cursed object is given due screen-time as the protagonists sort to defeat them, some would have benefitted from a little more backstory but that’s what spin-offs are for (right?). Tonally this instalment is more akin to THE CONJURING 1 & 2, trading on atmosphere and suspense, whereby scares for the most part aren’t served by clockwork but rather earned in investment. Finely tuned performances, rich production design and a distinct visual aesthetic also lend ANNABELLE COMES HOME a level of authenticity that lacked in prior ANNABELLE films, elevating it from a mere sequel to standout feature in a filmic universe that still holds promise. Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artefacts room in their home, placing her “safely” behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target—the Warrens’ ten-year-old daughter, Judy, and her friends.

YESTERDAY
Director Danny Boyle (TRAINSPOTTING, 28 DAYS LATER) helms this offbeat modern fairy tale penned by Richard Curtis (LOVE ACTUALLY, FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL) with mixed results. YESTERDAY offers up an interesting premise, being that a global power outage creates an alternate timeline where seemingly only one man, being a failed musician, can recall the music of THE BEATLES. Even if loosely influenced by a plotline from HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2, the concept is strong however its only enough to get it half the way there, unfortunately YESTERDAY loses momentum midway through, deviating course and becoming entangled in unnecessary plotting. At its heart, YESTERDAY wishes to be a love story though it feels as if this aspect of the film isn’t given due attention throughout and instead only becomes a heavy focal point in the film’s final act. Where YESTERDAY does succeed is with its overall charm, humour and creative renditions of THE BEATLES songs, it’s just a shame that the story itself didn’t stick to a more linear path as if it had it may well have been one of the year’s best films. Jack Malik (Himesh Patel, EASTENDERS) is a struggling singer-songwriter in a tiny English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES). Then, after a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that The Beatles have never existed … and he finds himself with a very complicated problem, indeed. Performing songs by the greatest band in history to a world that has never heard them, and with a little help from his steel-hearted American agent, Debra (Kate McKinnon, GHOSTBUSTERS), Jack’s fame explodes. But as his star rises, he risks losing Ellie — the one person who always believed in him. With the door between his old life and his new closing, Jack will need to get back to where he once belonged and prove that all you need is love.

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THE LEGO MOVIE 2 
It feels like we’ve had a slight over-saturation Lego films (THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE) between the release of the first film and this sequel, subsequently the wait between films hasn’t felt that long nor anticipated. As for the film itself, despite its hefty ambition, it feels bloated, repetitive, confused, ill-paced and ultimately far less ‘awesome’ than its predecessor. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild. The battle to defeat them and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are. Roadshow’s 4k Ultra-HD/Blu-ray & Blu-ray releases include an Audio Commentary track with the filmmakers, four production Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Music Video and an ‘Everything is Awesome’ sing-along video!

Grim Pickings is written and compiled weekly by Jarret Gahan.

CINEMAS

JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM
It’s been five years since JOHN WICK first graced cinema screens and who would have thought that a simple revenge actioner would evolve into incredible and surprisingly detail-rich franchise. Picking right up from where JOHN WICK CHAPTER 2 concluded, this latest instalment sees the titular character go head-to-head with not only the New York underworld but that of an international destination also and the phrase ‘always outnumbered, never outgunned’ has never been truer. Kinetic in its action and poetic in its violence, JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLIUM holds nothing back with some of the greatest set pieces ever committed to celluloid i.e. Keanu Reeves riding horseback down a busy New York street taking down armed assailants on motorbikes. Mark our words, this is a film NOT TO BE MISSED on the big screen. Kudos to the animal actors in the film too, from the aforementioned steed to a pair of attack dogs, this film really has it all! Super-assassin John Wick (Reeves) returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.

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THE VANISHING
An intimate slow burn thriller come psychological drama that yields strong performances from its three leads and delivers as much in eeriness as it does in surprising brutality. On an uninhabited island 20 miles from the rugged Scottish coast, three lighthouse keepers arrive for their 6-week shift. As James (Gerard Butler), Thomas (Peter Mullan) and Donald (Connor Swindells) settle into their normal quiet routine, something unexpected and potentially life-changing occurs they stumble upon a hidden fortune in gold. What follows is a tense battle for survival as personal greed replaces loyalty – fed by isolation and paranoia, three honest men are led down a path to destruction.
RIVER RUNS RED
John Cusack continues to drift down the DTV sewer line with another lacklustre revenge thriller affair that’s only surprise is that features once popular American comedian George Lopez in a dramatic role. It’s attempt at social commentary is about as commendable as its poorly staged action set pieces, cliched and a drag, RIVER RUNS RED takes the thrill out of thriller. When the son of a successful judge is killed by two police officers and the system sets them free, a hardened veteran detective finds some incriminating files on the officers and the judge teams up with another mourning father to take the law into his own hands.
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD
Peter Jackson returns with his first feature since 2014’s THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, only this time with a revolutionary World War I documentary, that employs state-of-the-art technology to restore, transform and shape archival footage into a compelling narrative. Using state of the art technology to restore original archival footage which is more than a 100-years old, Jackson brings to life the people who can best tell this story: the men who were there.  Driven by a personal interest in the First World War, Jackson set out to bring to life the day-to-day experience of its soldiers. After months immersed in the BBC and Imperial War Museums’ archives, narratives and strategies on how to tell this story began to emerge for Jackson. Using the voices of the men involved, the film explores the reality of war on the front line; their attitudes to the conflict; how they ate; slept and formed friendships, as well what their lives were like away from the trenches during their periods of downtime. Jackson and his team have used cutting edge techniques to make the images of a hundred years ago appear as if they were shot yesterday. The transformation from black and white footage to colourised footage can be seen throughout the film revealing never before seen details. Reaching into the mists of time, Jackson aims to give these men voices, investigate the hopes and fears of the veterans, the humility and humanity that represented a generation changed forever by a global war.

Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.

IN CINEMAS

Thursday March 14th
PIMPED
Following its win at Monster Fest 2018 for ‘Best Australian Feature’, writer/director David Barker’s debut feature, PIMPED,  a taut and intense psychosexual thriller, opens in limited release in cinemas across Australia. With exceptional performances from leads Ella Scott Lynch (LOVE CHILD) and Benedict Samuel (GOTHAM), this stylish though grim exploration of duality, toxic masculinity and retribution is one not to be missed. Sarah Montrose (Lynch) is a conflicted, mysterious woman who meets the philosophical, smooth-talking Lewis Blake (Samuel). Handsome and captivating, Lewis is the bait in a sick and twisted game conjured up with his low-life-rich-kid housemate, Kenneth. When the men’s sexual game backfires with wild abandon, Sarah is forced into an unlikely and bloodied alliance. And when her fragile psyche is threatened by a monster, she calls on all her strength and cunning to do battle with a psychopath, and her own inner demon.

HOTEL MUMBAI
Dev Patel (LION) leads this gripping and intense recounting of the devastating terrorist attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel back in 2008. The terrifying assault brings together the guests and staff of the luxurious hotel including wealthy new parents David and Zahra (Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi), Russian businessman Vasili (Jason Issacs) and newly promoted waiter Arjun (Patel) in a desperate fight for survival. This story celebrates humanity, compassion, courage, resilience and the unwavering desire to survive.

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Now Available
OVERLORD
he sophomore feature from Australian filmmaker Julius Avery (SON OF A GUN) and producers J.J. Abrams (CLOVERFIELD) & Lindsey Webber (STAR TREK) defies description, its a bold genre-hybrid of the highest order and will no doubt find its way into your favourite films of 2018! With only hours until D-Day, a team of American paratroopers drop into Nazi-occupied France to carry out a mission that’s crucial to the invasion’s success. Tasked with destroying a radio transmitter atop a fortified church, the desperate soldiers join forces with a young French villager to penetrate the walls and take down the tower. But, in a mysterious Nazi lab beneath the church, the outnumbered G.I.s come face-to-face with enemies unlike any the world has ever seen. Paramount Pictures’s Blu-ray & 4K Ultra-HD releases of OVERLORD contain a six-part documentary featurette titled ‘The Horrors of War’, the UHD release also features Dolby Vision and a punishing Dolby Atmos audio track.
GHOSTLAND
MARTYRS filmmaker Pascal Laugier’s latest is a gruelling exercise in terror that takes the horror of home invasion and twists it into a tension-filled and taut modern slasher. Following her aunt’s death, Colleen and her daughters inherit her house. However, during their first night in their new home, murderers enter the home, putting Colleen in a situation where she must fight to save her daughters’ lives. When the girls suffer a terrible trauma during the night, their disparate personalities diverge even further. The eldest daughter, Beth, is said to become a famous horror author with a perfect family and life in Los Angeles, while her sister, Vera, can’t cope and loses her mind faced with an unshakable sense of paranoia. Sixteen years later the daughters and mother reunite at the house where Colleen and Vera continue to reside. It is then that strange events begin to take place.
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD
Following on from the HARRY POTTER spin-off feature of 2016, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, this latest instalment is a slower burn than its predecessor but equally rewarding as it expands the universe of both franchises while containing some critical reveals in the mythos of the series itself. Gargantuan in scope, magnificently stylized and thoroughly engaging, THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD is valued addition to the HARRY POTTER universe! At the conclusion of FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world. Roadshow’s Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and 4K Ultra-HD releases contain Deleted Scenes and 9 featurettes that focus on everything from ‘Unlocking Scene Secrets’ to the author/screenwriter herself J.K. Rowling. The UHD also boasts Dolby Vision and an engulfing reference quality Dolby Atmos audio track! 
ROBIN HOOD
Taron Egerton (KINGSMAN franchise) plays the titular role in director Otto Bathurst’s ambitious, action-skewed and completely laughable retelling of the Robin Hood legend. Despite a valiant effort from Egerton with his performance, the film is a complete fail, from its dated stylization to Ben Mendelsohn’s inexcusably dreadful portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin of Loxley (Egerton) returns to England after years of fighting in Crusades to find his estate destroyed and his neighbours impoverished, all by the command of ruthless Sheriff of Nottingham (Mendelsohn). Learning that his death has been falsely reported and his love, Marian, is involved with a local politician, Robin and co-conspirator Little John (Jamie Foxx) launch a covert crusade against the corruption. Robin uses his lethal archery skills to intercept tax collections destined for the Sheriff’s coffers, which he turns over anonymously to Marian, now a leader of the clandestine grassroots rebellion. Discovering a larger conspiracy that threatens the stability of Europe, Robin and his men launch an attack that solidifies his status as a legendary and unstoppable rebel leader. StudioCanal’s Blu-ray & 4K Ultra-HD releases contain Deleted Scenes, Outtakes and a seven-part documentary featurette.  
Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.