Arrow Announcements, Speculation & Wild, Irresponsible Conjecture

[JamesF]

I don't think there's any point arguing that Arrow isn't quite a different company than it was even when I started in 2018; this is literally true from a business sense (new ownership, new offices, some significant staff changes), never mind a creative or curatorial one. That isn't all to do with the THG buyout - by that point, acquisitions were already generally skewing more mainstream and studio-driven, and we'd already decided to absorb Academy into the main Video brand, even though the timing wound up being somewhat coincidental. It's now a much larger company (both in terms of headcount and profitability) compared to a few years ago as well as in comparison to many other labels in the same space, which also means a lot more overheads and higher demands revenue-wise. Some of the people responsible for defining Arrow in its development, not least Francesco Simeoni, have moved on to other opportunities, and so you're inevitably going to see some shift in focus or attitude when that occurs, however subtle. On a related note, it's also not just us who have grown; other labels have stepped up their ambitions or started altogether that are acquiring titles previously within our wheelhouse, and we've had to evolve to maintain a strong foothold in the market in spite of that competition, especially through the embrace of UHD and new high-profile partnerships with studios like Warner. Look at it like an ecosystem - the business doesn't need Arrow to be the same company it was a few years ago when those niches are being ably filled by the likes of Radiance, Severin, Vinegar Syndrome, etc. That said, Arrow still has a lot of passionate people on the payroll who work very hard to ensure a high standard of quality regardless of the title, and that attitude isn't changing in 2025 with what is already looking like a very eclectic and varied slate, even if there's more 4K and more commercial heavy hitters than were available to us five years ago. Some of it might be your cup of tea, some of it definitely won't, but when there's this much choice out there, who can really complain?

tl;dr - change is inevitable, it's not you it's us, c'est la vie

[dwk]

Even Vinegar Syndrome has, to some degree, changed. Just look at the Blu-ray.com forum (I know) complaints about the VSA line recently having so many Hong Kong titles instead of the junk that they were releasing as VSA.

Unless you are a small operation, like Synapse Films, you have to change or die.

[therewillbeblus]

The thing I admire most about Arrow is their ongoing commitment to stacking supplements and giving the film the 'proper' visual treatment. I, too, have been disappointed by a larger chunk of their slate, but when I want something, it's one of the only labels I'm double dipping for

[nicolas]

I agree with James and am very excited for Arrow in 2025. I’ve got almost all of their UHD releases they put out in 2024, so their upcoming lineup likely fits me fine. Even though the interior structure of Arrow has changed so much and to an extent their title output, I feel that their identity as a label is still intact and the bigger films are usually treated as well as many of the smaller titles quality-wise. I don’t take that for granted and hopefully that lasts.

Preservation-wise, some of the studio films, such as A Simple Plan, were neglected for years and also in dire need of proper refurbishment, which Arrow did beautifully. I totally agree the way where the market is going is a win-win situation for us collectors as we’re getting an exciting variety of all sorts of titles from the labels with something to pick from for everyone.

[P-Rock]

Mainstream, that's the word I was looking for.

I agree that it's good to have choice, but I feel the new 'mainstream' releases don't add much to the already existing ones. Some fancy new packaging, a couple of new extras (mostly interviews by the looks of it) and that's it. That used to be different. Maybe Arrow should put that energy into original releases that don't already have a perfectly fine blu-ray?

Inevitably it will happen to every boutique label because of demand & supply, but especially with Arrow the shift in output has been quite noticable.

[dwk]

Mainstream, that's the word I was looking for.

I agree that it's good to have choice, but I feel the new 'mainstream' releases don't add much to the already existing ones. Some fancy new packaging, a couple of new extras (mostly interviews by the looks of it) and that's it.

I do find myself asking do I need a 60-page book of essays for something like Deep Blue Sea or Demolition Man, and truthfully, no, especially as Arrow's MSRP for those chipboard sets is like $10 more than the standard limited editions (although I caved and picked up the Demolition Man UHD instead of waiting for the standard because it dropped down to $33.)

[hanshotfirst1138]

Damn, I wish we could get some news about the Dollars trilogy. I know it hasn’t been long or anything, I’m just impatient.

[JamesF]

Wait, Arrow is releasing the Dollars trilogy?

[MichaelB]

On a related note, it's also not just us who have grown; other labels have stepped up their ambitions or started altogether that are acquiring titles previously within our wheelhouse, and we've had to evolve to maintain a strong foothold in the market in spite of that competition, especially through the embrace of UHD and new high-profile partnerships with studios like Warner. Look at it like an ecosystem - the business doesn't need Arrow to be the same company it was a few years ago when those niches are being ably filled by the likes of Radiance, Severin, Vinegar Syndrome, etc. That said, Arrow still has a lot of passionate people on the payroll who work very hard to ensure a high standard of quality regardless of the title, and that attitude isn't changing in 2025 with what is already looking like a very eclectic and varied slate, even if there's more 4K and more commercial heavy hitters than were available to us five years ago. Some of it might be your cup of tea, some of it definitely won't, but when there's this much choice out there, who can really complain?

tl;dr - change is inevitable, it's not you it's us, c'est la vie

Very much seconded. Although Indicator has been very consistent in terms of personnel (the last time someone left the team was way back in 2017, and everyone who's since joined it was a former colleague in a previous setup – typically Arrow or the BFI – so very much a known quantity coming in), it's also had to evolve over the years, partly because early success has paved the way for things like in-house restorations (off the top of my head, I think the first of these came out in 2019), and also because licensing opportunities wax and wane; right now, it's getting harder and harder to license major studio titles, and thus far StudioCanal is the only major who's sanctioned Indicator UHD licenses (albeit just one to date, but more are in development). And those gaps have to be filled somehow, even if a 20-disc Jean Rollin retrospective in original 4K UHD restorations seemed wildly unlikely five years ago (albeit not that unlikely; language aside, it's not that far removed from, say, the Norman J. Warren set).

As you say, it's the passion that ultimately matters, and there's no doubt at all about how much there still is at your end – in fact, I wrote your esteemed colleague Neil Snowdon's original reference, and have no regrets at all!

[Drucker]

right now, it's getting harder and harder to license major studio titles,

Is this due to consolidation of libraries (more films sit with Disney), wanting to withhold licenses for streaming platforms, a little of both? Just wondering...

[dwk]

Shudder And Arrow Video Teaming Up For Limited Edition Physical Media Releases

[Finch]

I'll grab the Arrow BD of Deadstream. Surprised that its took so long for The Sadness to reach the UK.

[nicolas]

I wish Romero’s The Amusement Park and Dario Argento’s latest film were included in the deal and that Speak No Evil received a 4K to match the German Plaion but maybe in the future if this deal does well.

[colinr0380]

Shudder And Arrow Video Teaming Up For Limited Edition Physical Media Releases

I had not realised before this that Nightwatch received a thirty years later sequel! The original 1994 film is going to be another example of a Tartan Video VHS rescue/upgrade.

And Ole Bornedal was the other director who notoriously also helmed the American-set, English language remake of their classic original thriller to mixed returns, although his 1997 remake of Nightwatch with Ewan McGregor and Nick Nolte is not quite as much of a travesty as George Sluizer's remake of The Vanishing! (But not as interesting as Haneke's remake of Funny Games that came along a decade later)

[beamish14]

I’m willing to bet that Mad God will be among the titles.

I’ll definitely get Deadstream as well

[dwk]

.I don't know, the Variety article makes it sound like the deal is only for the 8 titles mentioned.

[jazzo]

Shudder And Arrow Video Teaming Up For Limited Edition Physical Media Releases

I had not realised before this that Nightwatch received a thirty years later sequel! The original 1994 film is going to be another example of a Tartan Video VHS rescue/upgrade.

And Ole Bornedal was the other director who notoriously also helmed the American-set, English language remake of their classic original thriller to mixed returns, although his 1997 remake of Nightwatch with Ewan McGregor and Nick Nolte is not quite as much of a travesty as George Sluizer's remake of The Vanishing! (But not as interesting as Haneke's remake of Funny Games that came along a decade later)

I remember the remake being pretty terrible, but am I wrong in thinking Soderbergh adapted the screenplay?

[colinr0380]

Mad God already has a UK Blu-ray release through Shudder/Acorn Media.

[JamesF]

Mad God already has a UK Blu-ray release through Shudder/Acorn Media.

As did The Amusement Park.

[Finch]

[jt938]

I'm guessing Casino.

[domino harvey]

The redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

Zulu maybe?

[jazzo]

Some comments on the Facebook announcement have suggested The King of Comedy, which would be fucking great.

[What A Disgrace]

I hope it's The Joker, I crave the chaos that would ensue.