Arrow Video is thrilled to announce the world premiere Blu-ray release of Japanese cult director Takashi Miike’ musical horror-comedy, The Happiness of the Katakuris. Described as The Sound of Music meets Dawn of the Dead, this wacky Japanese cult classic will debut on Blu-ray in all its crazy glory from 22nd June 2015.

A super-production by Japanese star standards, Miike’s film features a cast that the filmmakers compare to Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and other Hollywood royalty! Taking a small Korean horror comedy as its inspiration (which Miike claims he watched on a poor quality VHS without subtitles) the renegade filmmaker re-made the film in his inimitable style, with the addition of music numbers for a truly bizarre concoction of genres that produces one of the finest comedy horrors of recent times!

Presented with new transfer of the film, this disc will come loaded bonus content, including an extensive brand new interview with Miike himself, a commentary by his biographer Tom Mes and much more including interviews and featurettes on the making of the film, the cast and their roles and a video essay profile of Miike’s sensational career.

Packaged with the release is newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil and a fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing by authors and critics on the film itself, The Quiet Family, the film’s star musicians (‘Elvis’ and ‘Jagger’) and a contemporary interview with Miike, illustrated with original stills.

Synopsis

From Takashi Miike, the prolific director of such shocking hits including Audition and Ichi the Killer comes “The Sound of Music meets Dawn of the Dead”!

The Katakuri family run a peaceful country inn at the foot of Mount Fuji. A little more peaceful than anticipated, their only visitors arrive in a series of suicides, murders and inexplicable deaths. In order not to ruin their reputation, the Katakuris decide to bury the bodies, but will the cover-ups come back to haunt them…

The Happiness of the Katakuris combines scenes of grotesque stop motion animation, surreal musical numbers and zombies to make one of the finest horror-comedies ever made

Special Features

New High Definition digital film transfer by Shochiku Co.

Presented in High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD

Original uncompressed Stereo PCM audio

Audio commentary by director Takashi Miike

Audio commentary by Miike biographer Tom Mes

Violent 'til I Die: A brand new interview with Takashi Miike

The Making of the Katakuris – An original documentary from the film’s production featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with the cast and crew

Interviews with the Katakuris cast members Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Tetsuro Tanba and Miike

Animating the Katakuris – A look at the creation of the film’s stop motion effects with animation director Hideki Kimura and Miike

Dogs, Pimps and Agitators – A visual essay on Miike's career by Tom Mes

Trailer and TV Spots

Easter Egg

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil

Booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Johnny Mains; Stuart Galbraith IV on Katakuris' star musicians Kenji Sawada and Kiyoshiro Imawano; Grady Hendrix on Katakuris and The Quiet Family, the film it remade; and a re-printed interview with Miike conducted by Sean Axmaker, illustrated with original stills

Out on 8th July on Warner: the first season from THE 100
Creator:Jason Rothenberg
Stars:Eliza Taylor, Eli Goree, Thomas McDonell

The series is set 97 years after a devastating nuclear war wiped out almost all life on Earth. The only known survivors are the residents of twelve space stations in Earth's orbit prior to the war. The space stations banded together to form a single massive station named "The Ark", where about 2,400 people live. Resources are scarce and all crimes no matter their nature or severity are punishable by death ("floating") unless the perpetrator is under 18 years of age. After the Ark's life support systems are found to be critically failing, one hundred juvenile prisoners are declared "expendable" and sent to the surface in a last ditch attempt to determine if Earth is habitable again. The teens arrive on a beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. However they discover that not all humanity was wiped out. There are people on Earth who survived the war, called "grounders" by the 100.

Graham Bendel (director of Billy Childish is Dead – a film that was nominated for a British Independent Film Award) has completed a feature-length independent film about the legendary SUBWAY SECT and their enigmatic frontman Vic Godard – who famously retired from music to become a postman.
 
Subway Sect – with their distinctive, tense and jagged sound – were one of the most interesting bands from the original punk-era, ­­and a major influence on The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Pop Group, Felt’s Lawrence, and many an indie band.
 
Predating the monochrome, understated dress-code of bands like Joy Division, Subway Sect were a more detached and considered alternative to the rowdy glamour of the Pistols. They were managed by Clash impresario Bernie Rhodes, and that's where their bittersweet story really begins.

We follow singer Vic Godard, as he blazes his own musical trail – amidst an abundance of old photographs and some rare footage – and learn about his predilection for Northern Soul, Tony Bennett and the Royal Mail.

Derailed Sense includes appearances from Irvine Welsh, Edwyn Collins, Bobby Gillespie, Luke Haines, Sex Pistol Paul Cook, Viv Albertine plus many more.

---------------
 
For fans of Billy Childish is Dead, Lawrence of Belgravia, Basically, Johnny Moped and Julien Temple’s Oil City Confidential. A must also for those interested in The Clash, Northern Soul, Sinatra and the emergence of Post-Punk.

---------------

Derailed Sense is directed, edited, produced by Graham Bendel.
Film Length: 74 mins.
Made in: 2012, United Kingdom.

BIOG of Director: Graham Bendel is a writer and independent filmmaker living in London. He has written two novels, published two volumes of poetry and released soundtracks for the films of 60s director Robert Downey Snr. His previous film Billy Childish is Dead (2005) has been screened all over the world and was nominated for a British Independent Film Award.

www.facebook.com/events/977961552256172

London trip-tonic three-piece, Desert Ships sound is heavily cinematic. Haunting guitar loops and hypnotic grooves allow the dream-like melodies to weave in and amongst each other, while the three-part vocal harmonies bring a spacey, ambient tint to the eclectic mix.

Comparisons have been drawn with the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala and at times, even the rousing film scores of John Barry. Their psychedelic sounds have garnered a passionate following, having toured extensively across the UK and Europe.

In 2012 they released their debut album ‘Doll Skin Flag’ (on iTunes and Spotify) which they recorded with acclaimed producer Mark Gardener (lead singer of seminal 90's band Ride). Mark described his time working with the band as “a total pleasure, a total trip.”

Sad news from the stars as according to many sources like The Independent, Christopher Lee has died at the age of 93. He passed away in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, on Sunday after being treated for respiratory problems.Apart from his immense filmography he will always be immortal as Dracula.