STACK #126 Apr 2016

DVD & BD

REVIEWS

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Zombies to the max! WYRMWOOD: ROAD OF THE DEAD

Till death do us part. STEPHEN KING'S A GOOD MARRIAGE

Release Date: 02/04/15

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Release Date: 22/04/15

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Ozploitation films have been severely lacking in zombies since Undead (2003), but talented Aussie brothers Kiah and Tristan Roache-Turner have fixed that problem with their ambitious and energetic feature debut, Wyrmwood . Mysterious lights in the sky and a biblical prophecy portend a living dead apocalypse that engulfs mechanic and family man Barry (Jay Gallagher), who turns into a road warrior in an attempt to rescue his sister from a sinister scientist. This wild mash-up of Mad Max and Dawn of the Dead injects some welcome innovations

Stephen King penned the screenplay for this adaptation of his novella from the 2010 collection Full Dark, No Stars . Bob and Darcy Anderson (Anthony LaPaglia and Joan Allen) have been happily married for 25 years, until Darcy uncovers something worse than dirty magazines while poking around in the garage one night. It appears that the affable, coin-collecting businessman has been moonlighting as a sadistic serial killer of women, which naturally casts a pall over their domestic bliss and leaves Darcy with an agonising decision to make. Although this big screen production looks and feels more like a telemovie, it boasts

into a now formulaic genre, including customised vehicles fuelled by zombie breath (genius!) and a character with the psychic ability to control the living dead. Solid production values, cool costumes and moist gore effects also complement this gritty ozpocalypse. • See page 38

a high concept that's loaded with nasty potential, which King exploits in ways you won't expect. Allen and LaPaglia deliver solid performances, with the latter particularly good at alternating between amiable and aggressive.

It's still a hard knock life. ANNIE

A hardy crime thriller. THE DROP

Release Date: 22/04/15

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Release Date: 15/04/15

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Everyone's favourite little orphan gets an African- American makeover in this all-new screen version of the popular comic-strip-turned-musical. Updated to a modern day setting, Annie 2014 began life as a project for Will Smith's daughter Willow, with new songs by Jay Z. However, the sun didn't come out for Smith and Jay (thank goodness), with Beasts of the Southern Wild star Quvenzhané Wallis eventually landing the lead role, alongside Jamie Foxx as Daddy Warbucks and a horribly hammy Cameron Diaz as foster home despot

Located in a tough Brooklyn neighbourhood, Marv's Bar operates as a laundry service for the borough's dirty money, including drops of cash for the Chechen mob. When it's robbed by masked goons one night, bartender Bob (Tom Hardy) must get the money back, or pay a bigger price. There's also a subplot involving a dumped pit bull puppy, which Hardy rescues and cares for with the help of his neighbour (Noomi Rapace), leading to the pair being stalked by the dog's psychotic former owner (Matthias Schoenaerts). This gritty, twist-

Miss Hannigan. The beloved musical numbers are all here, albeit now with a discernible hip hop flavour courtesy of Sia and Greg Curstin's rearrangements, giving Annie the cool factor it needs to delight a whole new generation of 10-year-old girls.

laden crime thriller from writer Dennis Lehane ( Mystic River ) features the final screen appearance by the late, great James Gandolfini, and another chameleonic turn from the versatile Hardy, who pulls off a convincing Brooklyn accent.

APRIL 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.com.au

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