STACK NZ Jul #64

REVIEWS

BEST OF

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DVD of the MONTH

IT FOLLOWS Have-sex-and-die was a staple of ‘80s teen slasher films, and this theme is given a frightening new twist in writer-director David Robert Mitchell’s terrific indie horror movie. There’s a wealth of subtext here, particularly for fans of Cronenberg’s early work, but It Follows more closely resembles an arthouse version of the original A Nightmare on Elm Street , sans gore and flashy visual effects. It also evokes John Carpenter’s classic Halloween ; autumnal suburban streets are captured with wide angles and long tracking shots, and evil can be lurking anywhere within the widescreen frame. And the pumping synth score is pure ‘80s/Carpenter. The emphasis here is on mood and atmosphere; the ordinary and everyday oozes malevolence – a device that fans of Ramsey Campbell’s horror fiction will immediately

recognise. Moreover, a weirdly anachronistic setting – where black and whiteTVs and e-readers co-exist – in a Detroit landscape of derelict buildings and urban decay adds further to the inherently creepy vibe. What’s also impressive, and refreshing, is that the protagonists are real teenagers with real hopes and fears about growing up, instead of the gorgeous-looking, vacuous social media addicts who populate a majority of today’s horror films. It’s a crime that movies like It Follows struggle to make it onto cinema screens, and if they do, they’re granted a very limited release, whereas Paranormal Activity: PartWhatever can dominate the multiplexes for an extended run.Thank goodness for DVD, where quality films like this can reach the wide audience they deserve.

ALBUM of the

TAME IMPALA Currents “They say people never change/but that’s bullshit,” sings Kevin Parker on Yes I’m Changing , a track on Tame Impala’s new

MONTH

puts us on notice that that incarnation of Tame Impala has soared over some distant horizon, possibly never to return. In its place is this eclectic psychedelic confection – a galactic space-pop album of sorts, not nearly as daffy as Empire of the Sun, nor as cooly removed as Daft Punk. It’s a 13-track odyssey with plenty of fuzz, fun, funk and futurism at its core. Parker’s embraced a multi-faceted future, and only his most conservative fans would reject this adventurism. It cruises more than it bruises, certainly, but it’s still a trip worth taking, even if it’s not the one you were expecting.

album Currents . The sentiment likely doesn’t relate to music, but there’s little doubt Currents finds the now internationally renowned West Australian in a state of flux. When I first heard Tame Impala in 2008, they struck me as the result of hip parents leaving their Cream and Blind Faith albums lying around for their kids to discover – and that was no bad thing. While Lonerism and Innerspeaker stylishly and powerfully evolved the riffage, Currents

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT Get ready to strap yourselves in, boys and girls – it’s finally time to be the Batman. The conclusion to the acclaimed Batman: Arkham trilogy – Batman: Arkham Knight – finally dropped late last month, and boy was

GAME of the MONTH

Cruise the streets the way only the Dark Knight can, and put the pedal to the metal as you hoon around the city’s streets for hours on end. If simply cruising is too predictable for you, opt instead to blow things up with the fully-functioning weapons system. The final instalment in the Batman series hosts a playable area five times that of Arkham City, allowing you to explore three islands of Gotham City in beautiful detail. Arkham Knight also does its best to revive the classic, genre-defining combat that we’ve all come to love. Pair that with the endless hunt for Riddler trophies, and you’ll have dedicated a reasonable amount of time to fighting crime.

it worth the wait. Grapple and soar your way around Arkham in true Caped Crusader style, fighting crime and just being generally badass – but not killing anyone, right? Arkham Knight takes place a year after the events of Arkham City, and features all the familiar baddies; Poison Ivy, The Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn all strive to make your life hell as you battle be the hero Gotham deserves. Arguably the most noteworthy of additions to Gotham City is the Batmobile.

JULY 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

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