ARROW PRESENT NOVEMBER IS SHAW LOOKING GOOD

IN NOVEMBER, ARROW PRESENTS SHAW BROTHERS ACTION,
ELVIRA IN 4K, JEMMA MOORE SELECTS & MUCH MORE

Not to be missed in November on the expertly curated cult streaming service ARROW - a bone-crushing bonanza of Eastern action from the Shaw Brothers studio, superb Japanese psychological thriller Tomie, horror writer Heidi Honeycutt and Host star Jemma Moore choose their favourite Arrow flicks, and more.

In November, exclusively on ARROW in the UK, a collection of martial arts films with a difference from the legendary Shaw Brothers - the wuxia pain, that channelled the blood-soaked widescreen violence of Japanese samurai epics and Italian spaghetti westerns into a uniquely Chinese form.

With their enthralling tales drawn from historical myth and legend of sword-wielding (and often gravity-defying) noble heroes, the beautifully restored wuxia films showing in November include the iconic One-Armed Swordsman trilogy, directed between 1967 and 1971 by wuxia cinema godfather Chang Cheh; Ho Meng-hua's The Lady Hermit, with the great Cheng Pei-pei (Come Drink with Me) as a virtuous swordswoman called upon to stop a vicious warlord; Chor Yuen's scandalous Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan; Cheng Kang's all-star epic The 14 Amazons; The Magic Blade, Clans of Intrigue, Jade Tiger and The Sentimental Swordsman, all starring the redoubtable Ti Lung; Sun Chung’s breathlessly exciting The Avenging Eagle and Boxer's Omen goremeister Kuei Chih-hung's fatalistic masterpiece Killer Constable; Taylor Wong's Buddha's Palm, and Lu Chun-ku's Bastard Swordsman.

Also next month, Tomie, based on the smash-hit series of the same name by cult manga artist Junji Itō (Uzumaki), the story of an evil high-school seductress identifiable by a beauty mark beneath her left eye, whose bewitching kiss drives men to madness. A creepy supernatural chiller directed by Ataru Oikawa (screenwriter of the pioneering Japanese horror Door) and featuring a chilling turn by the sensational Miho Kanno (Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard of Darkness, Dolls), ARROW is proud to present this key title from the J-Horror boom of the late 1990s, which spawned a string of sequels.

ARROW’s selection of short films in November are the extremely gory Guts, written and directed by Chris McInroy, and winner of Best Short at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards; Memento Mori, written by, starring and co-directed by Anna Barker; and Crazy For You, written and directed by James Moran (Severance), about a serial killer looking for love.

Finally in November on ARROW, Elvira (played by Cassandra Peterson), Horrorland’s hostess with the mostest, finally busts out in a brand new 4K restoration by ARROW, with her big screen debut, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark! Campy, quirky and stuffed to the brim with more double entendres than your average Carry On movie, the 1988 film helped solidify the Elvira as a major pop culture icon, here owning every inch of the screen with her quick wit, sass, and of course, that rather enhancing gown!

Seasons in November include:

Banged Up, a collection of Cult prison films sent to the big house for all manner of crimes that they may or may not have committed, including Hired To Kill, Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion, and The Four of the Apocalypse

Jemma Moore Selects, with the star of the found footage sensation Host and ITV’s Red Eye conjuring up her ARROW streaming favourites, including Heathers, Eject, and A Bit of Fun

Future Shockers, a collection of Cult films set in forthcoming futures featuring zombies, groovy tech, Afrofuturism, unbreathable atmospheres and more, including Crumbs, Terrible Things, and Jesus Shows you the Way to the Highway

Killer Cuts, featuring a trove of Directors Cuts, Extended Cuts, Theatrical Cuts, and International Versions including Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge Phan Cut, Shock: Italian Version, and Season of the Witch: Extended Cut

Heidi Honeycutt Selects, with the journalist, author (I Spit On Your Celluloid - The History of Women Directing Horror Movies), actress, filmmaker, film programmer, and co-founder of the Los Angeles-based Etheria Film Night, choosing some of her faves from the ARROW catalogue, including The Stylist, The Deeper You Dig, and A Lucida Production - Reel Women

Shawscope Vol. 3 featuring a wealth of martial arts cinema classics from the legendary Hong Kong film studio, including The One-Armed Swordsman, Return of the One-Armed Swordsman, and The New One-Armed Swordsman

On a Mission, a collection of Cult films full of dangerous adventures and deadly journey, including Terra Formars, The Navigator and Doberman Cop

NOVEMBER RELEASE CALENDAR

From November 4
The One-Armed Swordsman - 1967
Return of the One-Armed Swordsman - 1969
The New One-Armed Swordsman - 1971

From November 8
Guts - 2021 - Short Film
Memento Mori - 2018 - Short Film
Crazy For You - 2013 - Short Film

From November 11
Elvira Mistress of the Dark 4K - 1988
The 14 Amazons - 1972
The Lady Hermit - 1971
Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan - 1972

From November 18
Tomie - 1998
The Magic Blade - 1976
Jade Tiger - 1977
Clans of Intrigue - 1977
The Sentimental Swordsman - 1977

From November 25
The Avenging Eagle - 1978
Killer Constable - 1980
Buddha's Palm - 1982
Bastard Swordsman - 1983

New Seasons this November

November 1: Banged Up

Have a stint in the slammer with Banged Up, a collection of Cult prison films sent to the big house for all manner of crimes that they may or may not have committed.

Titles Include: Hired To Kill, Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion, The Four of the Apocalypse

November 4: Jemma Moore Selects

Star of Host, ITV's Red Eye and Eric.

"Wow, when ARROW asked me to pick my Selects, my mind went into overdrive! How could I possibly choose from all the amazing movies on their kick-ass streaming service? But after a huge movie marathon, a few trips down memory lane and a lot of snack breaks, I've finally conjured (get it?) up my current top picks. I hope my Selects will bring as much joy and entertainment to fellow film lovers as ARROW has brought to me. Happy streaming!"

Titles Include: Heathers, Eject, A Bit of Fun

November 8: Future Shockers

How are things going to turn out? Are we going to end up in a utopia or a dystopia? Take a look ahead and see in Future Shockers, a collection of Cult films set in forthcoming futures featuring zombies, groovy tech, Afrofuturism, unbreathable atmospheres and more!

Titles Include: Crumbs, Terrible Things, Jesus Shows you the Way to the Highway

November 15: Killer Cuts

Directors Cuts, Extended Cuts, Theatrical Cuts, International Versions, discover a trove of alternate versions of Cult films here in Killer Cuts.

Titles Include: Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge Phan Cut, Shock: talian Version, Season of the Witch: Extended Cut

November 22: Heidi Honeycutt Selects

Heidi Honeycutt is a journalist, author, actress, filmmaker, film programmer, and co-founder of the Los Angeles-based Etheria Film Night, a film festival that showcases short films by women directors. Her latest book, I Spit On Your Celluloid - The History of Women Directing Horror Movies, is available now.

“Because women directors are so important to the horror genre, here is a selection sampling of some very fun, funny, scary, sad, and insane films from women directors for your horror enjoyment! Preserve the legacy of all filmmakers, even women!”

Titles Include: The Stylist, The Deeper You Dig, A Lucida Production - Reel Women

November 25: Shawscope Vol. 3

Before Hong Kong's mightiest film studio mastered the art of the kung fu film, Shaw Brothers hit box office gold with a very different kind of martial arts cinema, one that channelled the blood-soaked widescreen violence of Japanese samurai epics and Italian spaghetti westerns into a uniquely Chinese form: the wuxia pain.

With their enthralling tales drawn from historical myth and legend of sword-wielding (and often gravity-defying) noble heroes, the wuxia films housed in this Shawscope season demonstrate the sweeping stylistic evolution of the genre, from the righteous stoicism of the late-60s Mandarin period, right through to the wild-and-weird anarchism of the early-80s Cantonese explosion.

Titles Include: One-Armed Swordsman, Return of the One-Armed Swordsman, The New One-Armed Swordsman

November 29: On a Mission

They have a task and will do anything, and risk everything, to see it through. Welcome to On A Mission, a collection of Cult films full of dangerous adventures and deadly journeys.

Titles Include: Terra Formars, The Navigator, Doberman Cop

NOVEMBER TITLES - IN DEPTH

FROM NOVEMBER 4: ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN

Even non-kung-fu lovers will be mesmerised by Jimmy Wang Yu in the role that made him a superstar. As the mysterious swordsman whose one arm is more powerful than his two-armed rivals, Wang and director Chang Cheh revolutionised the Hong Kong action genre and broke box office records across Asia. A film that always makes the “top ten” list of martial arts masterpieces, this 1967 wuxia classic is as timeless today as upon its original release.

RETURN OF THE ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN

One-Armed Swordsman was a gigantic box-office hit, and overwhelming popular demand called for a sequel. Director Chang Cheh truly proved that he was indeed the “Godfather of the Wuxia Film” by mounting a follow-up which many say is even more accomplished and exciting than the original. Jimmy Wang Yu is back as one-armed hero Fang Gang, who just wants to lead a quiet life… until the Eight Demon Swordsmen won’t take “no” for an answer. That’s their mistake: Fang takes them all on, and more, in this fight-filled, action packed adventure which clearly proves that one arm, attached to the right hero, is better than many!

THE NEW ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN

Chang Cheh wasn’t kidding with the title of this fondly remembered wuxia epic, which deservedly won a prestigious Golden Horse Award for Editing. He took his charismatic new star, David Chiang, and made him an all-new-one-armed hero - a man who chops off his right arm rather than live with dishonour. But when the love of his life is kidnapped and his best friend is murdered at a gang’s stronghold on Tiger Mountain, enough is enough. The climactic battle on an amazingly engineered moat bridge is a particular favourite among true fans of martial art masterpieces.

FROM NOVEMBER 8: GUTS

A guy with his guts on the outside of his body really wants a promotion.

MEMENTO MORI

This film is one woman’s catalogue of the things people said to her during her cancer journey. Family gets closer, friends get weirder, strangers get too personal, and the loudest voice belongs to Cancer itself.

CRAZY FOR YOU

It's difficult to find love when you're a serial killer, so when Charlie meets the girl of his dreams he has to keep that flaw a secret. Will true love win the day? Or will she become one of his victims?

FROM NOVEMBER 11: ELVIRA MISTRESS OF THE DARK 4K

Having just quit her job as a Los Angeles TV horror hostess, Elvira receives the unexpected news that she’s set to inherit part of her great aunt Morgana’s estate. Arriving in the small town of Fallwell, Massachusetts to claim her inheritance, Elvira receives a less than enthusiastic reception from the conservative locals – amongst them, her sinister uncle Vincent, who, unbeknownst to Elvira, is in fact an evil warlock secretly scheming to steal the old family spellbook for his own nefarious ends…

Campy, quirky and stuffed to the brim with more double entendres than your average Carry On movie, 1988’s Elvira: Mistress of the Dark helped solidify the horror hostess (played by Cassandra Peterson) as a major pop culture icon, here owning every inch of the screen with her quick wit, sass, and of course, cleaving-enhancing gown!

THE 14 AMAZONS

Long before feminism made it to Hong Kong, women proved themselves more than equal to men in this martial arts classic set in ancient China, where a matriarchal clan uses sword, fist, and gravity-defying leaps to avenge their fallen menfolk. The cast is a veritable “who’s who” of the golden age of Shaw Brothers swordplay adventures, and was not only a major box office hit (ranking fourth for 1972), but also a top prize winner, including Best Supporting Actress for Lisa Lu, a special citation for outstanding lead female performance for Lily Ho, Best Director for Cheng Kang, and an award for Honourable Mention For Drama.

THE LADY HERMIT

Shaw Studios knew a good thing when they teamed their remarkable star Cheng Pei-pei with versatile director Ho Meng-hua. This wuxia film was considered one of the director’s most notable from a filmography spanning more than forty films. Cheng plays the titular master swordswoman, who is injured in her chivalrous attempts to reform the villainous Black Demon. Hell has no fury like a woman wounded, so she teams with a pretty young sword student and virtuous swordsman to take revenge. This exciting story proves once again that Cheng Pei-pei, rediscovered for her remarkable work as the villain in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, is one of martial art movies’ most beloved players.

INTIMATE CONFESSIONS OF A CHINESE COURTESAN

The most famous erotic film in the history of Hong Kong cinema, Chor Yuen’s Intimate Confessions Of A Chinese Courtesan shocked Chinese audiences in 1972, and even today exerts a raw power. Lily Ho, in her most daring role, is an aristocratic maiden abducted and sold to the Four Seasons Brothel. Quickly becoming the brothel’s most desirable courtesan, she finds herself caught up in a web of sex, murder, and intrigue involving an official in the imperial court, and a neurotic courtesan who harbours an unrequited love.

FROM NOVEMBER 18: TOMIE

Based on the smash-hit series of the same name by cult manga artist Junji Itō (Uzumaki), Tomie tells the tale of an evil high-school seductress identifiable by a beauty mark beneath her left eye, whose bewitching kiss drives men to madness.

Photography student Tsukiko (Mami Nakamura, Tokyo Trash Baby, Love Exposure) is plagued by violent dreams as she struggles to recall long-suppressed memories following a teenage trauma with the help of psychiatrist Dr. Hosono (Yoriko Douguchi, Cure, Charisma). Meanwhile, as Detective Harada (Tomorō Taguchi, Tetsuo: The Iron Man) leads an investigation into a missing high-school girl, he discovers a long line of similar cases that can be traced back decades, with all of the victims going by the name of Tomie Kawakami, and all slaughtered and decapitated by jealous lovers before they reach womanhood. Meanwhile, Tsukiko’s new neighbour seems to be harbouring something nasty in the downstairs apartment, something which rapidly begins to take on a dangerous form.

Tomie is a creepy supernatural chiller directed by Ataru Oikawa (screenwriter of the pioneering Japanese horror Door) and featuring a chilling turn by the sensational Miho Kanno (Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard of Darkness, Dolls).

THE MAGIC BLADE

As all wuxia and kung-fu fans know, action is supreme but a good story helps keep things moving. Gu Long, the most famous martial arts novelist, provides The Magic Blade with just the right plot to give the brilliant swordplay an interesting context, and director Chor Yuen, an acknowledged master of the genre, provides the style to make this one shine above its kung-fu competitors. Of course, having martial arts superstars Ti Lung and Lo Lieh as the heroes doesn’t hurt. They play rival swordsmen in imperial China who battle it out with a power-hungry villain for possession of the Peacock Dart, a secret weapon which must never fall into the wrong hands. But that is precisely what happens, and the rivals must unite to wrest the magic blade from their common enemy. There are plenty of brilliantly choreographed fights, leading up to a final showdown that stands out as a highpoint in kung-fu cinema.

JADE TIGER

The headless corpse of the Chao Clan patriarch and the theft of a jade tiger set in motion another noteworthy collaboration between three of the biggest names in swordplay action dramas: director Chor Yuen, martial arts novelist Gu Long, and kung-fu superstar Ti Lung – the same trio who created The Magic Blade and Clans Of Intrigue. The stellar line-up in Jade Tiger is even more impressive than its predecessors, with Ti Lung and Lily Li belonging to the Chao Clan; and Lo Lieh, Yueh Hua, and Derek Yee members of the rival Tang Clan. At the centre of it all is the jade tiger, a mysterious heirloom that contains the key to the bloodshed and betrayals that befall the powerful clans. The authoritative Hong Kong Movie News magazine praised the film for the “unusual weapons which are used by the many characters in the story” and recognized Jade Tiger as one of director Chor Yuen’s most “well-known suspenseful thrillers.

CLANS OF INTRIGUE

The story of legendary swordsman Chu Liuxiang has been a favourite of Hong Kong filmmakers, but the roguish knave’s most stylish cinematic reincarnation is undoubtedly Clans Of Intrigue. How could it be anything but, with a story by celebrated martial arts novelist Gu Long, direction by movie master Chor Yuen, and a first-rate action cast that includes Nora Miao, fresh from the Bruce Lee blockbusters Fists Of Fury and Way Of The Dragon? Towering above them all is kung-fu king Ti Lung as the amorous knight. There is plenty of intrigue as the one-man dynamo goes about clearing his name after being framed for the death of three clan leaders, encountering treacherous palace maids and deceitful warriors along the way. A top-five box office hit in 1977, Clans Of Intrigue still packs quite a punch today.

THE SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN

One of director Chor Yuen’s crowning achievements, The Sentimental Swordsman epitomises the lone, virtuous, heroic swordsman with a twist. Swordsman Li Xunhuan, magnificently played by the highly respected and popular Ti Lung, is also a hero with weaknesses; he drinks too much and believes in love and emotion. Chor's swordsman films created romantic worlds lavishly infused with flamboyant atmospheric settings as evident by the film receiving the Special Award for Best Cinematography at the 1978 Golden Horse Awards.

FROM NOVEMBER 25: THE AVENGING EAGLE

One of director Chor Yuen’s crowning achievements, The Sentimental Swordsman epitomises the lone, virtuous, heroic swordsman with a twist. Swordsman Li Xunhuan, magnificently played by the highly respected and popular Ti Lung, is also a hero with weaknesses; he drinks too much and believes in love and emotion. Chor's swordsman films created romantic worlds lavishly infused with flamboyant atmospheric settings as evident by the film receiving the Special Award for Best Cinematography at the 1978 Golden Horse Awards.

KILLER CONSTABLE

Kuei Chih-hung was famous for his modern day crime thrillers, his horror flicks, and even his comedies. But even though the only wuxia film he ever made was this one, he is still spoken of with respect by even the most ardent martial arts movie fan. Many consider this real life martial arts champion Chen Kuan-tai’s best performance. As a deeply, even obsessively, dedicated Chief Court Constable, he illuminates the screen with fighting skill and emotional passion. Award-winning actor Ku Feng is his equal, playing an especially homicidal robber-chief who thinks nothing of throwing all his men at their relentless pursuer.

BUDDHA’S PALM

In the arsenal of classic martial arts secret weapons, there is none more lethal than the Buddha’s Palm, a technique by which an ordinary hand is transformed into a formidable force. Koo, a blind recluse living in a cave, knows its secret, which proves to be as much a blessing as a curse as it attracts all manner of mayhem, from giant birds to magic pearls, miraculous orchids, and a wide array of good and evil knights. Thus is the enchanted world of Buddha’s Palm, a top Shaw Brothers action hit of 1982, and a movie that stands at the cutting edge between the modern and post modern eras of Hong Kong martial arts cinema. Derek Yee excels in the role of a scarred swordsman who learns the secret of the Buddha’s Palm, with Alex Man Chi-leung as his blind mentor. Kara Wai and Candice Yu are on hand to demonstrate just what a woman’s touch can accomplish.

BASTARD SWORDSMAN

Actor Lu Chun-ku really hit his stride as a director of mystical kung-fu epics such as this, truly one of the best of its kind. Norman Tsui stars as a put-upon illegitimate son of a “Martial Arts World” master, who nearly sacrifices all to learn the “Silkworm Style”, making him a veritable “Spider-Swordsman”! That’s just the pay-off to this eye-filling, mind-bending phantasmagorical wuxia which elicited cries of joyous disbelief in virtually all the cinemas where it was shown. Featuring a top-notch cast including “Venoms” Lo Meng, Sun Chien, and Wang Li, this extravaganza truly warrants the description “unforgettable.”

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About ARROW

From Arrow Films, a recognised world-leader in curation and creation, ARROW is a premium platform giving you an unparalleled viewing experience across multiple devices, so you can explore the films and TV shows that the Arrow brand is famous for.

Specially curated by members of the ARROW team, ARROW will be home to premium film and TV entertainment, exclusive new premieres, cutting edge cinema, international classics and cult favourites - such as the works of Lars Von Trier, Brian De Palma, Dario Argento, David Cronenberg and Park Chan-wook - plus the very best in acclaimed TV series, including The Bridge and Italian crime series Gomorrah, and brand-new short films from both new and established filmmakers. In the coming months, ARROW will be adding Oscar-winning hits, European classics, Asian cinema masterworks, rediscovered Westerns, offbeat gems and much more, along with such festival favourites The Sacred Spirit and Dinner in America as part of ARROW’s international strategy to support and celebrate the medium of film.

ARROW will also be home to ARROW Stories - an ever-growing collection of interviews, trailers, documentaries and additional extras, newly created just for the service and from its extensive archives. The service will be updated regularly with fresh content, new curation focuses and never-before-seen content, all selected by the ARROW team as well as the filmmakers themselves. With a slickly designed and user-friendly interface ARROW is the new alternative place to go for the very best in On-Demand entertainment.