STACK Magazine April 2015 Issue 126

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054 APRIL 2015 JB Hi-Fi
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
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
Zombies to the max!
WYRMWOOD: ROAD OF THE DEAD
Release Date: 02/04/15 Format:
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
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.
Till death do us part.
STEPHEN KING'S A GOOD MARRIAGE
Release Date: 22/04/15 Format:
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
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.
It's still a hard knock life.
ANNIE
Release Date: 22/04/15 Format:
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-
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.
A hardy crime thriller.
THE DROP
Release Date: 15/04/15 Format:
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