A couple of years ago, we heard that AMC was developing a third TV series based on the works of Anne Rice, adding to the franchise they’ve been building out of the Vampire Chronicles novels and the Mayfair Witch books written by Rice. Called Talamasca: The Secret Order, the show premiered on AMC last October, with its six-episode first season playing out through November. Now, AMC has confirmed that the first season will be the only season. Talamasca: The Secret Order has been cancelled.

Cast and Synopsis

This entry in the franchise that AMC is calling the Anne Rice Immortal Universe followed a secretive society called the Talamasca that’s responsible for tracking and containing witches, vampires, werewolves and other creatures. Members of the Talamasca had already been introduced in the AMC shows Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches.

The cast includes Nicholas Denton of Glitch and Dangerous Liasions, Elizabeth McGovern of Downton Abbey and She’s Having a Baby, Maisie Richardson-Sellers of The Originals and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, William Fichtner of Heat and The Dark Knight, Céline Buckens of War Horse and Free Rein, and Jason Schwartzman of Rushmore and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, with Eric Bogosian making a guest appearance as his Interview with the Vampire character Daniel Molloy.

Denton’s character Guy Anatole was “brilliant, handsome and sharp on the surface, but he’s always known his mind works a little differently. On the cusp of graduating law school, he is approached by a representative of the Talamasca, a secretive agency that monitors and protects us from the supernatural world. When Guy learns that the Talamasca has been tracking him since his childhood, he falls headlong into a world of secret agents and immortal beings who, up to now, have maintained a fragile balance with the mortal world. But for that balance to hold, and for Guy to survive, he will have to learn to embrace the dark, treacherous depths of his true and singular self.”

Fichtner played Jasper, “a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse. Though his motives and methods are cloaked in shadow, his charm and righteous sense of purpose are as dangerous as the power he’s pursuing.” McGovern’s character is Helen, “a seasoned veteran of the Talamasca, and the leader of its New York Motherhouse. She has long suspected that London’s Motherhouse has fallen under the influence of traitorous elements, and a mysterious death prompts her to recruit Guy Anatole (Denton), who will become her protégé.“ Richardson-Sellers played Olive, “a beguiling and ambitious agent of the Talamasca, assigned to be Guy Anatole’s (Denton) American handler. She is deft with information and a master of disguises in the old tradition of spy craft.” Buckens’ character is Doris, “an old soul who lives with a coven of witches on a houseboat.” Schwartzman is Burton, “a rakish vampire leading a cloistered life in a luxurious Upper West Side penthouse.“

John Lee Hancock, whose credits include The Blind Side and the Stephen King adaptation Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, wrote the Talamasca series and served as showrunner alongside Mark Lafferty of The Right Stuff and Halt and Catch Fire. Hancock directed the first episode. All of AMC’s Anne Rice projects are produced by AMC Studios and executive produced by Mark Johnson.

Cancelled

Variety broke the news about the cancellation. An AMC spokesperson told them, “While we are not proceeding with another season of Talamasca: The Secret Order, we are proud of the series and grateful for the efforts of everyone involved. The Talamasca has a storied place within the Anne Rice Immortal Universe, and we expect to see at least some of these characters, and the organization itself, in future expressions of the franchise.“

Interview with the Vampire, now called The Vampire Lestat, is returning for a third season on June 7, while Mayfair Witches will be back with its third season in early 2027.

Did you watch Talamasca: The Secret Order, and are you disappointed to hear that it has been cancelled? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Mike

Get your popcorn, a Coke, and a blanket, cuz. It’s time to dive deep into the sordid tale behind one of the wackiest entries in one of the wackiest horror franchises known to man. Today’s film features a fantastic-sounding Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel trilogy that never was, a producer allegedly claiming a writer’s work as his own, and some of the best ideas you’ve ever heard turned into some of the worst. It’s time to take a 3D look at all the questionable ingredients in this hot pile of Sawyer family chili. This is what happened to Texas Chainsaw 3D.

The Rights Shuffle and a Lost Trilogy

After two innovative forays into the franchise with the 2003 remake and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, Platinum Dunes and New Line Cinema parted ways, letting the rights revert to original creators Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper. Seeing an opportunity, Twisted Pictures, led by Mark Burg and Oren Koules, partnered with Lionsgate around 2009 to secure a multi-year deal.

The plan? A bold, low-budget, high-return trilogy model similar to Saw.

The Original Vision (That Never Happened)

Writer Steven Susco (The Grudge) crafted a story picking up immediately after the original 1974 film, continuing from Sally Hardesty’s escape. The trilogy was envisioned as:

• A direct continuation
• Shot on 16mm
• Possibly directed by James Wan

But Lionsgate had other ideas.

They pushed for:

• A PG-13 rating
• A modern setting
• 3D presentation

The final film? Somewhere in between: modern, 3D, and R-rated. The original plan was dead and the chaos was just beginning.

The “Shady Producer” Situation

Writers Adam Marcus and Debra Sullivan were approached by a producer they later described as “shady.” They pitched a concept, coincidentally similar to Susco’s: picking up right after the original film and transitioning into the present with 3D elements. According to them:

• Their two-page outline was taken and presented as someone else’s idea
• Lionsgate then shopped it to 17 writers
• Including Marcus and Sullivan themselves

Instead of backing out, they:

• Expanded it into a 15-page treatment
• Wrote the opening act

They got the job and ended up working with the same producer.

A Slick Director for a Gritty Franchise

With a script in place, Lionsgate and producer Carl Mazzocone hired director John Luessenhop. Fresh off Takers, Luessenhop brought a sleek, stylized look. For a… Texas Chainsaw Massacre film.

Casting Leatherface and the “Cool Kids”

Leatherface was played by Dan Yeager, a non-actor discovered through construction work connections. He was essentially cast on the spot.

The supporting cast leaned heavily modern:

• Alexandra Daddario as Heather Miller
• Trey Songz as Ryan
• Scott Eastwood as Deputy Hartman
• Tania Raymonde as Nikki
• Shaun Sipos as the hitchhiker

Yes, the timeline makes absolutely no sense. Heather is kidnapped in 1973 and somehow ends up in her twenties in 2012. Don’t worry about it. Just eat your popcorn.

Legacy Cast Returns

To its credit, the production brought back several original cast members:

• Gunnar Hansen as Boss Sawyer
• Marilyn Burns as Verna Carson
• Bill Moseley as The Cook
• John Dugan as Grandpa Sawyer

Hansen returned partly because he liked the direct-sequel concept and because he was finally paid what he felt he deserved.

What the Script Was Supposed to Be

According to Marcus and Sullivan (and corroborated by a journalist), the original script had:

• More likable, layered characters
• Stronger relationships
• Significantly more gore
• Creative 3D kills
• Leatherface battling townspeople
• A chase through a herd of cattle
• A ’90s setting

Instead, many sequences were replaced with:

• Modern gimmicks
• Smartphone scenes
• Simplified character writing

Budget Cuts and Production Chaos

The reported $20 million budget? Supposedly slashed to $8 million when Lionsgate only covered distribution. Filming began in 2011 in Louisiana under brutal conditions:

• 100+ degree heat
• Tight schedule
• Complex 3D rigs

At one point, Adam Marcus had to step in as a stereographer. The crew worked around the clock. Writers stayed on set for 20-hour stretches rewriting scenes on the fly. Just another Texas Chainsaw production nightmare.

Gore, Ratings, and Practical Effects

The legendary KNB EFX Group, led by Greg Nicotero, handled the effects. The original cut earned an NC-17 rating. To secure an R-rating:

• Several death scenes were trimmed
• A more graphic version was later released unrated

One standout moment? Leatherface stitching a face onto his own. Owie.

Recreating the Original and Burning It Down

The opening sequence:

• Recreated the original house
• Blended 1974 footage with new 3D material
• Used miniatures and CGI to burn it down

It’s an impressive effort, regardless of what follows.

The Haunted Mansion Story

A key location, the Carson Mansion in Louisiana, reportedly came with a ghost story. According to Alexandra Daddario:

• A crew member claimed to see a ghost
• Refused to enter the room
• Later learned the owner’s wife had died there

Make of that what you will.

The 3D Problem

The production used dual RED Epic cameras, which were cutting-edge at the time (also used on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Amazing Spider-Man). But:

• Constant calibration slowed everything down
• Filming fell behind
• Crews worked in rotating 24-hour shifts

Release and Box Office

Texas Chainsaw 3D hit theaters in January 2013. Results:

• #1 opening weekend
• $21M domestic opening
• $47M worldwide

Not bad for a troubled January horror release.

Critical Reception

Critics were far less kind. Common complaints:

• Timeline inconsistencies
• Weak characters
• Plot holes
• Questionable creative choices

Some even called it embarrassing to the franchise.

The Franchise Lives On

Despite the backlash, the film kept the series alive, leading to Leatherface (2017). And somehow… that makes this one look better in hindsight.

The Good Stuff (Yes, There Is Some)

For all its flaws, the film does have highlights:

• A carnival attack sequence
• A Ferris wheel chase
• An overturned vehicle assault
• Some genuinely gnarly kills

And hey, we got a full 3D entry in the franchise. It might not be what anyone asked for, but it is exactly what happened to Texas Chainsaw 3D.

A couple of previous episodes of this show can be seen below. For more, check out the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel—and don’t forget to subscribe!

The post The Messy Making of Texas Chainsaw 3D Explained appeared first on JoBlo.

Despite receiving very mixed reviews from fans and suffering one of the worst second-weekend drop-offs in history, Scream 7 just passed a huge international milestone this weekend. It became the first movie in the franchise to gross over $200 million worldwide. The previous record holder was Wes Craven’s original Scream, which made $173 million worldwide. By comparison, the last movie, Scream 6, made $166 million worldwide. If you happened to miss it in theaters, don’t worry—it hits digital retailers tomorrow.

What’s the catch?

Here’s the thing—$200 million is an amazing result for the franchise, but calling it the highest-grossing movie in the franchise is a bit misleading. While yes, it has grossed more money (both domestically and internationally) than any other movie in the franchise, as far as actual tickets sold, 1996’s Scream leaves it in the dust. After all, it came out thirty years ago, and tickets only cost a fraction of what they do now. In fact, if you adjust for inflation (not even accounting for tickets sold), Scream’s global box office total is somewhere in the $284 million range, which is significantly higher than what Scream 7 made.

When will we get Scream 8?

Even if you adjust for inflation, Scream 7 isn’t quite as big of a record-breaker as it may seem, but no one can deny it made a mint at the box office. Paramount and Spyglass keep the budgets for these movies relatively low, with it reportedly costing about $45 million. That’s a very nice profit. However, it can’t be denied that the 74% week-to-week fall in its second weekend was pretty steep, and it’s been a controversial addition to the franchise (our own Tyler Nichols had it down as the second worst of the series—behind Scream 3).

Whatever the case, a Scream 8 seems all but certain to happen, even if it will likely be without Kevin Williamson, the series’ original writer and director of Scream 7. He said in a recent interview, “I think the next Scream I’ll probably step back. I want to direct another film that I have written that is just waiting for me to find the time to direct.” However, he does sound like he’ll at least work on the screenplay, having earlier said he had a lot of ideas for how the franchise can move forward.

Scream 7 will be available on most digital platforms tomorrow. no news yet on when it makes its Paramount Plus debut but we will keep you posted.

The post Scream 7 sets a box office record; when does it hit digital? appeared first on JoBlo.

The summer’s not even here yet, but things are already heating up in the physical media sphere as confirmation of Scream 4′s 4K Blu-ray release circulates online. According to multiple posts, a 4K Blu-ray version of Wes Craven’s Scream 4 will hit shelves on June 9, 2026.

What is Scream 4 about?

In Scream 4, ten years after the original Woodsboro murders, one of the survivors returns home to promote their new book about surviving trauma, only for a new Ghostface killer to emerge, targeting a new group of teens.

Why all the fuss?

Why all the fuss for Scream 4’s 4K release? Lionsgate owns the rights to the film (separate from the rest of the franchise), so the pesky rights situation has made it unavailable until now. Another reason the film’s release is a big deal is that it’s the last film that Wes Craven directed before dying in his Los Angeles home of brain cancer in 2015. Craven is a treasured member of the horror community. If masters of horror were on currency, Craven would appear on the $20 bill.

Another aspect of the release worth mentioning is that, in addition to some color correction, the 4K release removes a “Vaseline smear” from the original Blu-ray. Fans of the series who released their own 4K editions online have lessened the “Vaseline” look before, but this is the first time it’s officially getting tinkered with.

Craven directs Scream 4 from a screenplay by Kevin Williamson. The film finds Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette coming face-to-mask with Ghostface once again, with Lucy Hale, Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Aimee Teegarden, Alison Brie, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella, and Eric Knudsen rounding out the cast.

Scream 7 is a mixed bag

Today’s news follows closely on the heels of Scream 7’s release in theaters. Kevin Williamson directs the sequel, with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox returning to survive another attack from the Ghostface killer. Scream 7 earned $191.5 million worldwide, with mixed reactions to the film across the board. Unfortunately, Tyler Nicholas, one of our horror writers, did not care for the film, especially its finale. In his review, Tyler said, “Outside of Ghostface himself being a lethal force and his dialogue with Sidney being a true highlight, there’s very little to latch onto here. Most of the new characters are simple set dressing or fodder for kills. I get that this is a slasher but no one even feels dimensional and they hardly get any characterization. With the worst final act in Scream history, I feel like it’s definitely time to put this franchise to bed. Please, our girl Sidney just needs a break.”

Are you excited about Scream 4 coming to 4K Blu-ray this summer? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Scream 4 is finally getting a 4K Blu-ray release – will it fix a Blu-ray transfer error? appeared first on JoBlo.

Thrashin’

In the new trailer for the upcoming thriller, Thrash, Djimon Hounsou screams, “Sharks on the loose in the category 5 storm!” This line appears to be nearly as tongue-in-cheek as “I’ve had it with these motherf*cking snakes on this motherf*cking plane!” And that’s what the trailer to Thrash is looking like — just a good old, cheesy, fun time. The Netflix film comes from Violent Night‘s Tommy Wirkola and is produced by comedy filmmaker Adam McKay, so you know you’re in for some self-aware excitement. The movie stars Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou. The additional names in the cast include Matt Nable, Andrew Lees, Alyla Browne, Stacy Clausen and Dante Ubaldi.

Who’s doing the thrashin’?

The official synopsis reads,
“When a Category 5 hurricane decimates a coastal town, the storm surge brings devastation, chaos and something far more frightening: hungry sharks.”

Wirkola writes and directs the film, as well as produces with Adam McKay and Kevin Messick credited right alongside him. D. Scott Lumpkin is on board as the executive producer.

Obsessed with sharks

Wirkola stated to Netflix, “I became obsessed with sharks after Jaws—and Jaws 2, which is an underrated movie. I spent a lot of my childhood obsessing over sharks and whatever movie was made about that subject. Fast forward to a world going off its rails when it comes to global warming and flash floods happening everywhere, and it dawned on me that this could be a great setting-off point for a movie, combining the idea of a disaster-movie with a shark-thriller.”

Then, McKay would add, “More and more, you’re hearing marine biologists acknowledge that climate is changing where these sharks go. It’s changing how they behave. So, in as much as this is an edge-of-your-seat popcorn film, the science behind it is not implausible.” McKay had also confessed, “I’m one of those kids who, from like age 9 on, was a bit obsessed with sharks. And my wife always jokes I know way more than I should know about sharks. It’s that primal fear. It’s that awe of any apex predator.”

Here’s the official poster:

The post Sharks invade a town during a category 5 storm in the trailer for Thrash (updated with official poster) appeared first on JoBlo.

Arrow Video, the video division of Arrow Films, is known for releasing horror and cult films on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K. Today, the company unveiled the new titles they’ll be releasing this June – and they have some interesting films in the mix, including a Mortal Kombat Kollection (you can read about that one HERE), Jackie Chan’s Breakout Hits, Takashi Miike’s Audition, and more. Let’s go over the list!

The June Lineup

John Woo’s 1990 film Bullet in the Head is getting both limited edition Blu-ray and limited edition 4K releases:

After re-inventing the action film with The Killer, John Woo would turn inward and deliver the semi-autobiographical Bullet in the Head, complementing the stylistic flourishes that made his name with an unflinching and nihilistic brutality to deliver one of the most intense war films of all time. Set during the Vietnam war, the film follows B, Fai and Wing (iconic actors Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Jacky Cheung and Waise Lee), three best friends fleeing from Hong Kong to seek their fortune as smugglers. In Saigon, they join forces with fellow expat Lok (Simon Yam) and double-cross the ruthless gangster Luong to steal his gold and rescue nightclub singer Sau-ching (Yolinda Yan) from his clutches. The gang must fight their way out of the country in a nightmarish odyssey where each new battle pushes them beyond their limits and threatens to destroy their friendship. Combining the gravity of Apocalypse Now with the spectacular action of Woo’s earlier films, Bullet in the Head is an uncompromising look at the ravages of war where ideals of brotherhood and comradeship disintegrate into greed and cruelty in a storm of bullets and blood.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Reversible sleeve and double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
• Six postcard-sized reproduction artcards
• Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet featuring new writing on the film by critics Priscilla Page and Sean Gilman, archival writing by critic Arnaud Bordas and an excerpt from an interview with John Woo conducted by Stéphane Moïssakis

DISC ONE – THEATRICAL CUT (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

• 4K Ultra HD (2160p) Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the Hong Kong Theatrical Cut
• Original lossless Cantonese mono and Dolby Atmos audio, and lossless English mono audio
• Optional newly translated English subtitles for the Cantonese audio and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English audio
• Brand new audio commentary by film critic and Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng
• Deleted and extended scenes
• Alternate boardroom ending
• Alternate English opening and closing credits
• Cantonese and English trailers
• Image gallery

DISC TWO – FESTIVAL CUT (BLU-RAY)

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the Festival Cut
• Original Cantonese lossless mono audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Extended Festival Cut, including footage previously exclusive to the Theatrical Cut
• Option to play with the alternate boardroom ending

DISC THREE – EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)

• Brilliance with a Bullet, a brand new interview with director John Woo
• The Long-Suffering Siu-Chun, a brand new interview with actor Fennie Yuen
• Head Case!, a brand new interview with actor Waise Lee
• Army of One, a brand new interview with regular John Woo collaborator Terence Chang
• Apocalypse Woo, a brand new interview with editor David Wu
• Tumultuous Times, a brand new interview with associate producer Catherine Lau
• Hong Kong Confidential: Inside Bullet in the Head, a brand new interview with author and Hong Kong film expert Grady Hendrix
• Apocalypse How, a brand new interview with author and historian Dr Lars Laamann
• Archival interviews with John Woo, David Wu, actors Jacky Cheung, Waise Lee, Simon Yam, stunt coordinator Lau Chi-Ho and associate producer Patrick Leung

Director Paul Bogart’s 1969 film Marlowe, starring James Garner as the Raymond Chandler character Philip Marlowe (and featuring an appearance by Bruce Lee), is getting the limited edition Blu-ray treatment:

Following in the footsteps of Dick Powell (Murder, My Sweet) and Humphrey Bogart (The Big Sleep), James Garner (The Great Escape) brought iconic private investigator Philip Marlowe into the Age of Aquarius in this 1969 neo-noir based on Raymond Chandler’s classic novel The Little Sister. When Orfamay Quest hires Philip Marlowe to find her brother, it seems like just another missing persons case. But soon enough Marlowe’s investigation leads him on a trail of blackmail and murder, all of it seemingly linked to a mobster and his TV star mistress. Luscious starlets, pugnacious gangsters, suspicious cops and corpses with ice picks jammed in their necks… welcome to Marlowe country! Garner’s easy-going style is a perfect match for Chandler’s “shop-soiled Galahad”, paving the way for his performance in classic TV show The Rockford Files. Meanwhile, the many suspects are brought vividly to life by the likes of Carroll O’Connor (All in the Family), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), Jackie Coogan (The Addams Family), Gayle Hunnicut (The Legend of Hell House) and none other than Bruce Lee (Enter the Dragon) making his American feature debut.

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original lossless mono audio
• $100 A Day (Plus Expenses), a brand new appreciation by film historian Howard S. Berger
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by John Pearson
• Collectors’ booklet containing new writing by critics Jeff Chang and Priscilla Page

Arrow is giving Takashi Miike’s Audition a limited edition 4K release:

One of the most notorious J-Horror films ever made, Takashi Miike’s Audition exploded onto the festival circuit at the turn of the 21st century to a chorus of awards and praise. The film catapulted Miike to the international scene and paved the way for such other genre delights as Ichii the Killer and 13 Assassins. When recent widower Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi, American Yakuza) is advised by his son to find a new wife, he seeks the advice of a colleague having been out of the dating scene for many years. The two men decide to take advantage of their position working at a film company to stage an audition to find the perfect partner. Interviewing a series of women, Shigeharu soon becomes enchanted by Asami (Eihi Shiina), a quiet, 24-year-old woman, who is immediately responsive to his charms. However, events quickly take a very dark and twisted turn as we find that Asami isn’t what she seems to be… Pulling the audience into a story that will lead to one of the most harrowing climaxes in cinema history, Miike twists and turns us through delirious editing and shocking visuals for one of the most depraved nightmares of all time, now presented in stunning 4K UHD.

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original Super 16mm camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director of photography Hideo Yamamoto
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly restored original lossless stereo and 4.0 audio, plus optional DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Introduction by director Takashi Miike
• Audio commentary by director Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan
• Audio commentary by Miike biographer Tom Mes
• Callback, a brand new interview with actor Ryo Ishibashi
• Ties that Bind, an interview with director Takashi Miike
• Damaged Romance, an appreciation by Japanese cinema historian Tony Rayns
• Archive interviews with stars Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Renji Ishibashi and Ren Osugi
• Deeper Deeper Into Audition, an audio essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Trailers
• Image gallery
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anton Bitel, Jennie Kermode and Jamie Graham
• Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Dark Inker – Sampson and original UK artwork by Graham Humphreys

Ted Kotcheff’s Wake in Fright is coming to both Blu-ray and 4K:

Raw and brutal in its depiction of Outback country drinking culture in the 1970s, Wake in Fright is an uncompromising landmark of Australian cinema from director Ted Kotcheff (First Blood). John Grant (Gary Bond, Zulu), a bored schoolteacher working in the remote outback, stops overnight in the frontier mining town of Bundanyabba on his way back to Sydney for the Christmas holidays. After he loses all his savings in a bad gambling bet, Grant finds himself marooned and swept up in the vortex of a succession of hard-drinking, hard-living and crude men led by Doc (Donald Pleasence, Halloween) who threaten to make him just as crazy, drunk, and violent as they are. Ignored upon release, Wake in Fright has now been acclaimed as one of Australia’s most legendary, unique and horrifying contributions to cinema history by the likes of Martin Scorsese and Nick Cave, and is presented here in a definitive 4K restoration.

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary by director Ted Kotcheff and editor Anthony Buckley
• Audio commentary by Peter Galvin, author of The Making of Wake in Fright
• Return to the ‘Yabba, a featurette tracking down the film’s Broken Hill locations
• Take in Fright, an interview with director of photography Brian West
• Sounds of the Outback, a previously unreleased interview with sound editors Keith Palmer and Eddy Joseph
• The Cinema’s Great Squeaky Bald Git, an appreciation of actor Donald Pleasence by film historian Kim Newman
• The Filmmaker and the Film Buff, a discussion between Philippe Mora and Paul Harris
• Yer Mad, Ya Bastard!, an archive interview with director Ted Kotcheff
• Not Quite Hollywood, an archive interview with actor Jack Thompson
• Q&A with Ted Kotcheff from the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
• Audio interview with Ted Kotcheff, conducted by Paul Harris
• Audio interview with composer John Scott, conducted by music historian Daniel Schweiger
• Alternate scenes from Outback
• 2009 TV report on the rediscovery and restoration of Wake in Fright
• Who Needs Art?, a 1971 TV segment with behind-the-scenes footage
• Chips Rafferty obituary by Ken G. Hall
• US theatrical trailer and TV spot
• Foreign Visions of Local Stories, a trailer reel of Australian films helmed by overseas filmmakers
• Image gallery
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Jay Slater, Paul Lê and David Michael Brown plus archive materials
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jeff Marshall

And then we have two versions of Jackie Chan’s Breakout Hits, one of which is an Arrow store exclusive!

He was the biggest movie star in the East for two decades, but Hong Kong action legend Jackie Chan had never successfully cracked the West… until the 1990s kicked off a six-film run of phenomenal smash hits that would finally make him an international household name, instantly synonymous with the most jaw-dropping and death-defying stunts ever put on screen! 1994’s Drunken Master II sees Jackie back as Wong Fei-hung, the role that first made his name, and teaming up with Shaw Brothers legends Lau Kar-leung and Ti Lung to deliver the ultimate, era-defining love letter to classic kung fu. The following year saw Jackie’s first number one box office success in America thanks to Rumble in the Bronx, in which he visits New York City and must defend his friends and family against vicious street gangs and ruthless smugglers, followed by Thunderbolt in which Jackie is forced to compete behind the wheel against a criminal street racer who has kidnapped his sister. In the fourth entry of the much-beloved Police Story series (also known as First Strike), Jackie chases a stolen nuclear warhead on an explosive globe-trotting secret mission; Chan’s “big brother” Sammo Hung takes the director’s chair in Mr. Nice Guy as Jackie plays a TV chef in Australia forced to do bloody battle against the mob; and finally in Who Am I?, our hero is an ass-kicking amnesiac on the trail of a mysterious new power source as well as his own lost identity. Finally together and restored in 4K for the first time, this collection of unparalleled martial arts madness chronicles Jackie Chan’s crossover to worldwide superstardom (just before Rush Hour made him a bonafide Hollywood icon), in which no bone in his body is left unbroken in his quest to leave you entertained!

LIMITED 10-DISC 4K UHD COLLECTION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restorations of each film from the original negatives by Arrow Films
• Limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Sam Hadley
• 160-page perfect bound book featuring an archive interview with Jackie by Craig D. Reid plus new writing by Thorsten Boose, Peter S. Bruce, Matt McAllister, Elaine Chung and Jialu Zhu
• Twenty-four lobby card reproductions
• Reversible poster with vintage poster artwork

DISC 1 – DRUNKEN MASTER II

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of three versions: the uncut 102-minute Hong Kong Cut , the 100-minute International Cut and the American Cut re-titled The Legend of Drunken Master (102 mins)
• Original lossless Cantonese, Mandarin and English mono audio for the Hong Kong Cut
• Original lossless English mono audio for the International Cut
• Original English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio for The Legend of Drunken Master
• Optional English subtitles and subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
• Before the Breakout, a new featurette in which stuntman Wang Yao, academic Dr. Wayne Wong and critics David West and James Mudge look back at Jackie Chan’s earlier career
• Breakout! Part 1, a new featurette in which Wong, West, Mudge and stuntman Mars look back at the film
• Deadly When Drunken, a new interview with co-writer Yuen Kai-chi
• Tipsy Tribulations, an expanded interview with stuntman Mars
• Period Postures, a new interview with academic Dr. Lars Laamann on the historical context behind the film
• Drunken Defiance, a new appreciation of the film by martial arts cinema expert Ricky Baker
• Archive interview with Jackie Chan filmed for the American release in 2000
• Alternate Mandarin drinking scene (contains standard-definition inserts)
• Textless outtakes
• Chinese New Year messages recorded by Jackie for the Taiwanese and Malaysian openings
• Trailer gallery
• Image gallery

DISC 2 – RUMBLE IN THE BRONX (HONG KONG CUT)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless Cantonese/English (sync-sound) stereo audio and English (export dub) mono audio
• Optional English subtitles and subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
• Breakout! Part 2, a new featurette in which stuntman Mars, stuntwoman Kathy Hubble, martial arts cinema expert Ricky Baker and critics David West and James Mudge look back at the film
• Rumble Recollections, an expanded interview with Hubble
• Alternate footage
• Textless outtakes
• Image gallery

DISC 3 – RUMBLE IN THE BRONX (INTERNATIONAL CUT)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original English-dubbed lossless stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Electronic press kit interview with Jackie Chan
• Two scenes added for the network TV version with dubbing unique to this version
• US trailer and TV spots

DISC 4 – THUNDERBOLT

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the uncut 110-minute International Cut
• Original lossless Cantonese/English (sync-sound) stereo audio, English (export dub) stereo audio and English (US dub) DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles and subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• 97-minute Japanese Cut with lossless Cantonese/English sync-sound stereo audio (high-definition only)
• Brand new commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
• Breakout! Part 3, a new featurette in which stuntman Mars, critics David West and James Mudge, and dubbing supervisor Paul Clay look back at the film
• A Thunderous Presence, an expanded interview with Clay on his collaborations with Jackie Chan
• Alternate English export credits
• Textless outtakes
• International trailer
• Japanese trailers
• Image gallery

DISC 5 – POLICE STORY 4: FIRST STRIKE (HONG KONG CUT)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless Cantonese/English (sync-sound) stereo and Mandarin (dubbed) stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles and subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
• Breakout! Part 4, a new featurette in which critics David West and James Mudge look back at the film
• Textless outtakes
• Image gallery

DISC 6 – POLICE STORY 4: FIRST STRIKE (INTERNATIONAL CUT)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original English-dubbed lossless stereo and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Striking Back, a new interview with martial arts cinema expert Frank Djeng
• Scenes added for the US network TV version with dubbing unique to this version
• US trailer

DISC 7 – MR. NICE GUY (JAPANESE & HONG KONG CUTS)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and lossless stereo audio for both cuts
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new commentary by critic James Mudge
• Breakout! Part 5, a new featurette in which stuntman Mars and critics David West and James Mudge look back at the film
• Nice Thoughts, a new appreciation by martial arts cinema expert Frank Djeng
• Alternate English credits
• Textless outtakes
• Original trailer
• Image gallery

DISC 8 – MR. NICE GUY (INTERNATIONAL CUT)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and lossless stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• US trailer

DISC 9 – WHO AM I? (HONG KONG CUT)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and lossless stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Brand new commentary by critic James Mudge
• Breakout! Part 6, a new featurette in which critic James Mudge, actor Glory Simon and second unit cinematographer Ray Wong look back at the film
• From Drunk to Slam Dunk: Jackie Chan in the New Millennium, a new featurette in which Mudge, Simon, Wong, stuntwoman Kathy Hubble, stuntmen Wang Yao and Mars, critic David West and others look at Jackie’s career in the years since
• The Making of Who Am I?, a three-part archive behind-the-scenes featurette
• Alternate English credits
• Textless outtakes
• Original trailer
• Image gallery

DISC 10 – WHO AM I? (INTERNATIONAL CUT)

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and lossless stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Who, When & Where, an expanded interview with Wong
• Jostling with Jackie, an expanded interview with Simon
• US trailer

What do you think of Arrow Video’s June line-up? Will you be adding any of these 4Ks and/or Blu-rays to your collection? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Arrow Video’s June Blu-ray and 4K releases include Jackie Chan’s Breakout Hits, Audition, and more appeared first on JoBlo.

One of the biggest news stories on the site in the last few months has been that, after twenty-five years, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are reuniting for an upcoming Mummy legacy sequel. But before that movie even starts shooting, we have another Mummy movie coming to theaters—and unlike those (really good) adventure movies, this is straight-up horror and definitely ain’t no PG-13.

Indeed, in the Motion Picture Association’s latest ratings bulletin, it was confirmed that Lee Cronin’s The Mummy has nabbed an R-rating for “strong disturbing violent content, gore, language and brief drug use.” Now, it can’t be said that this was unexpected. Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise was R-rated, made close to $150 million on a $15 million budget, so no one ever thought his follow-up would be anything other than R. WB and New Line, who are distributing the film, have also been good about keeping horror fans satisfied with a solid stream of R-rated goods, including Final Destination: Bloodlines, The Conjuring: Last Rites and Weapons. Indeed, R-rated horror is the default now, with the days of bad PG-13-rated studio horror films long behind us.

What’s Lee Cronin’s The Mummy about?

Here’s the official plot: The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace—eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.

The film stars Sing Street’s Jack Reynor, Laia Costa (Victoria), May Calamawy (Moon Knight), Veronica Falcón (Queen of the South), Hayat Kamille (Vikings: Valhalla), and May Elghety (Clash).

Is it related to the Universal Mummy movies?

So here’s where it gets a little confusing. While all involved say it has nothing to do with Universal’s franchise, it is produced by Blumhouse, who did some reimagining of classic Universal Monsters horror properties with The Invisible Man and Wolf Man. Yet, this is being put out by New Line. It is still called The Mummy, but the thought is that Lee Cronin’s possessory credit was included in the title in order to keep it separate from the Universal franchise, especially considering that it’s about to become active again. For a while, there was talk that the film was going to be renamed, but hey—it’s a Mummy movie, so you might as well call it The Mummy, right?

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy hits theatres in its R-rated glory on April 17th.

The post Lee Cronin’s The Mummy gets an R-rating for “gore” appeared first on JoBlo.