A stone cold horror classic on UHD, Claude Chabrol, and a Castellari double bill arrive April (NEWS)

Arrow Video’s April lineup includes a superb UHD release of one of the greatest serial killer films ever made, two gangster thrillers from the Italian master Enzo G. Castellari, a lavish box set of four films from Claude Chabrol, and a UHD release of an outstanding Terry Gilliam sci-fi.

The releases will come in Arrow Video’s distinctive packaging, with fantastic new restorations of the films, brand new commentaries, fascinating video essays specially commissioned by Arrow, as well as informative limited edition booklets, art cards, fold-out posters, and much more!

First in April on Limited Edition UHD Blu-ray, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, widely heralded as one of the greatest serial killer movies of all time. Presenting a bleak and unflinching dive into the mind of a mass murderer, based on the horrific true-life crimes of Henry Lee Lucas, (Michael Rooker, Guardians of the Galaxy), the harrowing and controversial debut feature from John McNaughton (Mad Dog and Glory, Wild Things) returns to the UK in its best-looking release ever, in a new 4K restoration supervised by the director himself. The extras-laden release includes a 60-page booklet, hours of extras, collector’s postcards, a poster, and a brand new audio commentary by McNaughton producer Steven A. Jones as well as two archive commentaries by McNaughton. It will also be available in a Limited Edition Blu-ray version.

Next up, Rogue Cops and Racketeers: Two Crime Thrillers from Enzo G. Castellari. Over a long and wide-ranging career, director Enzo G. Castellari (Keoma, The Inglorious Bastards) helmed some of the most infamous of all the poliziotteschi – the gritty, action-packed crime films that proliferated in Italy throughout the 70s. Buckle up for a heart-stopping thrill ride through the seedy underbelly of Italian society in two of his most celebrated thrillers - 1976’s The Big Racket, and 1977’s The Heroin Busters. Featuring death-defying stunts, explosive shoot-outs and a pair of addictive, toe-tapping soundtracks courtesy of the De Angelis brothers (Torso) and legendary prog rock group Goblin (Suspiria), these two films represent the crème de la crème of the Italian crime thriller. Both make their high definition debuts with stunning new restorations in this feature-packed box set from Arrow, that includes an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the films by Roberto Curti and Barry Forshaw, limited edition packaging with reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork, and twelve double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards.

Also in April, Twisting the Knife: Four FIlms by Claude Chabrol. For five decades Claude Chabrol navigated the unpredictable waters of Cinema, leaving in his wake more than fifty feature films that remain among the most quietly devastating genre movies ever made. Sardonic, provocative, unsettling, Chabrol’s films cut to the quick with a clarity and honesty honed to razor sharpness. Though influenced by Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock and Jean Renoir, Chabrol’s voice was entirely and assuredly his own, influencing in turn filmmakers like Bong Joon-ho, James Gray and Dominik Moll. His amused, unblinkered view of life and refusal to judge his characters makes his films timelessly relevant and accessible to all. Arrow Video is proud to present this second collection of films by Chabrol - The Swindle (Rien Ne Va Plus), The Color of Lies (Au Coeur Du Mensonge), Nightcap (Merci Pour Le Chocolat) and The Flower of Evil (La Fleur Du Mal) - with a wealth of new and archival extras, an 80-page collector's booklet of new writing, and limited edition packaging.

Finally in April, 12 Monkeys on UHD. Following the commercial and critical success of The Fisher King, Terry Gilliam next feature would turn to science fiction and a screenplay by Janet and David Peoples (Blade Runner, Unforgiven) inspired by Chris Marker’s classic short film La Jetée. Starring Bruce Willis (Die Hard) and with an Oscar-nominated turn by Brad Pitt (Fight Club) as mental patient Jeffrey Goines, 12 Monkeys would become Gilliam’s most successful film and is now widely regarded as a sci-fi classic. Arrow Films are proud to present the film in a stunning new restoration, loaded with extras including a feature-length documentary, new sleeve artwork, and an Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Nathan Rabin and Ian Christie.

New Releases

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

On Limited Edition UHD Blu-ray 18 April

Recently released from prison, the nomadic Henry (Michael Rooker, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Walking Dead) finds temporary abode in the rundown Chicago lodgings of a former jail acquaintance and small-time drug dealer, Otis (Tom Towles). Hiding behind his unremarkable employment as a pest exterminator, Henry leads a double life, prowling the streets by night on a brutal and apparently motiveless killing spree. As the bodies mount up, Otis finds himself inducted into Henry’s dark secret world, but when Otis’ sister Becky (Tracy Arnold) moves in, herself fleeing from an uncomfortable domestic situation, it quickly becomes apparent that two’s company, but three’s a crowd.

Rogue Cops and Racketeers: Two Crime Thrillers from Enzo G. Castellari

On Limited Edition Blu-ray 18 April

In 1976’s The Big Racket, Inspector Nico Palmieri (Fabio Testi, What Have You Done to Solange?) is hot on the heels of a gang of ruthless racketeers. Realizing he’s not going to get anywhere within the confines of the law, Nico recruits a crack squad of civilians to dole out their own brand of justice. Then, in 1977’s The Heroin Busters, rule-flouting cop Fabio (Testi) goes deep undercover, chasing a globe-trotting ring of drug-smugglers suspected to be operating out of Rome. But can he and Mike Hamilton (David Hemmings, Deep Red), an Interpol agent with a hair-trigger temper, stay one step ahead of the criminals long enough to bring them down from the inside?

Twisting the Knife: Four Films by Claude Chabrol

On Limited Edition Blu-ray 25 April

The Swindle (Rien Ne Va Plus) sees Chabrol at perhaps his most playful as a pair of scam artists, Isabelle Huppert and Michel Serrault, get in over their heads. But who is scamming who and who do you trust in a life built on so many lies? The murder of a 10 year old girl sparks rumours and gossip in The Color of Lies (Au Coeur Du Mensonge), as suspicion falls on René (Jacques Gamblin) the dour once famous painter, now art teacher, who was the last person to see her alive. Enigmatic, perverse, seductive, Isabelle Huppert encapsulates everything that makes Nightcap (Merci Pour Le Chocolat) a film John Waters calls “Cinematic Perfection” in this tale of suppressed family secrets. Finally, in The Flower of Evil (La Fleur Du Mal), incest, old money and intergenerational guilt come under the scalpel as an outwardly perfect bourgeois family begins to unravel when the wife involves herself in politics.

12 Monkeys

On UHD Blu-ray 25 April

In 1996, a deadly virus is unleashed by a group calling themselves the Army of the Twelve Monkeys, destroying much of the world’s population and forcing survivors underground. In 2035, prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis, Die Hard) is chosen to go back in time and help scientists in their search for a cure.