With the spooky season soon to be upon us, Arrow Video is delivering a batch of Halloween frights in October, with two cuts of Exorcist II: The Heretic on Blu-ray, The Exorcist III on Limited Edition 4K UHD, the sinister and darkly humorous world of Trick 'r Treat on 4K UHD, and J-Horror Rising, a seven-film collection of Japanese chillers on Blu-ray.

EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (USA 1977)

Limited Edition Blu-ray | 7 October 2024 | £24.99

From John Boorman, the director of Point Blank and Deliverance, comes Exorcist II: The Heretic, a visionary metaphysical thriller that confounded audience expectation by delivering something unique and entirely unexpected.

It has been four years since the exorcism that saved the life of Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) and caused the deaths of Lankester Merrin (Max Von Sydow) and Damien Karras, the priests who helped her. Regan remembers nothing, but her therapist Dr Tuskin (Louise Fletcher) believes those memories are simply repressed and waiting. Meanwhile, Father Philip Lamont (Richard Burton) – his own faith shaken by a failed exorcism – is tasked by the Vatican with investigating Father Merrin, who faces posthumous charges of heresy for his controversial writings. His investigation will lead him to Africa, New York and Georgetown as he and Regan are drawn together in a spiritual battle that encircles the globe.

With an all-star cast, sublime cinematography, and a standout score from legendary composer Ennio Morricone, Exorcist II: The Heretic is a daring vision, packed with the kind of bold ideas and extraordinary images that Boorman would also explore in Zardoz and Excalibur. Forget what you think you know, open your eyes, and fly on the wings of a demon.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS:

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of both cuts of the film
• Original lossless mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Peter Savieri
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by film critics Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Glenn Kenny and Matt Rogerson, plus an archival interview with cinematographer William Fraker

DISC ONE – ORIGINAL PREMIERE VERSION:

• New commentary by film historian Lee Gambin and filmmaker David Kittredge, director of the feature length Exorcist II documentary, Heretics
• New audio commentary by screenwriter and author Kelly Goodner and film historian Jim Hemphill
• Archive audio commentary with director John Boorman
• Archive audio commentary with special consultant Scott Michael Bosco
• It's Okay, He's Gone, a new visual essay by film critics BJ and Harmony Colangelo
• What Does She Remember?, an archive interview with actress with Linda Blair
• An Interview with Editor Tom Priestley, archive featurette
• Theatrical trailer
• Teaser trailer
• Extensive image galleries

DISC TWO – INTERNATIONAL / ORIGINAL HOME VIDEO VERSION:

• Archive audio commentary by film critic Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast 
• Theatrical trailer

THE EXORCIST III (USA 1990)

Limited Edition 4K UHD | 7 October 2024 | £29.99

The true heir to William Peter Blatty and William Friedkin's 1973 masterpiece, The Exorcist III is a hellish horror detective story that pairs thoughtful theological themes with scenes of sheer terror.

The personal vision of Blatty (the acclaimed author of The Exorcist), The Exorcist III is set 15 years after the events of the first film and sees Lieutenant Kinderman (George C. Scott, The Changeling) investigate a series of horrific murders that follow the modus operandi of the notorious Gemini Killer... who died several years earlier in the electric chair. After his friend Father Dyer (Ed Flanders) is murdered in his hospital bed, Kinderman's investigations lead him to 'Patient X', a psychopath housed at the same hospital who claims to be the Gemini Killer, and who knows intimate crime scene details. Their encounter leads to a fiery climactic confrontation between the eternal forces of good and evil...

The Exorcist III boasts some of modern horror's most unforgettable scares and exceptional supporting performances from Jason Miller (The Ninth Configuration) and Brad Dourif (Wise Blood). Blatty's film is presented here in both its original theatrical cut and the Legion director's cut.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:

•  Two presentations of The Exorcist III: the theatrical cut, presented on 4K Ultra HD (2160p) Blu-ray in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and the Legion director's cut, presented on High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray 
• Original theatrical 2.0 stereo audio and optional 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio on both cuts
• Restored 2.0 stereo audio from 2023 on the theatrical cut
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing 
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Richard Wells 
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring writing on the film by Lee Gambin, archival articles and reviews

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

• 2K restoration of the theatrical cut of The Exorcist III, presented in 4K Ultra High Definition 
• Audio commentary by critics Alexandra Heller Nicholas and Josh Nelson 
• Audio interview with writer/director William Peter Blatty 
• Death, Be Not Proud: The Making of The Exorcist III, an in-depth 2016 documentary divided into five chapters: Chapter One: A "Wonderfull" Time, an interview with producer Carter DeHaven and members of the supporting cast and production crew; Chapter Two: Signs of the Gemini, an interview with actor Brad Dourif; Chapter Three: The Devil in the Details, an interview with production designer Leslie Dilley and more; Chapter Four: Music for a Padded Cell, an interview with composer Barry DeVorzon; Chapter Five: All This Bleeding, interviews about the additional shoot and special effects 
• The Exorcist III: Vintage Interviews, archival interviews with cast and crew members including William Peter Blatty, producer James Robinson, actors George C. Scott, Jason Miller, Grand L. Bush and Ed Flanders 
• Falling Down a Long Flight of Steps, an interview with special effects artist Randy Moore 
• The Exorcist III: Vintage Featurette, making-of documentary with on-set footage and interviews 
• Deleted scenes, alternate takes and bloopers 
• Image galleries 
• Trailers, TV spots and radio spots

DISC TWO – THE 'LEGION' DIRECTOR'S CUT (BLU-RAY):

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Legion director's cut, assembled from the best available film and video elements
• Legion audio commentary with esteemed film critics Mark Kermode and Kim Newman 
• Deleted Prologue, an alternate opening to Legion with optional audio commentary from Mark Kermode and Kim Newman

The Exorcist III will also be released as a Limited Edition 4K UHD Original Artwork version from the Arrow Store.

TRICK 'R TREAT (USA / Canada 2007)

Limited Edition 4K UHD | 28 October 2024 | £29.99

Dive into the sinister and darkly humorous world of Trick 'r Treat, written and directed by Michael Dougherty (Krampus). This anthology film communes with the spirits of classic horror portmanteaus like Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt, weaving together four chilling tales, all taking place during the same fateful Halloween night.

Follow the secretive and disturbing life of a high school principal (Dylan Baker, Spiderman 2) who leads a double life as a ruthless serial killer; the journey of a young girl (Anna Paquin, X-Men) looking for love who finds something infinitely more macabre; a group of teenagers playing a prank with disastrous consequences; and an old man (Brian Cox, Succession) confronted by Sam (Quinn Lord, The Man in the High Castle), a mischievous trick-or-treater with a terrifying secret.

With its interwoven tales of terror and unforgettable characters, Trick 'r Treat has cemented itself as a Halloween essential, paying loving homage to the golden age of horror comics and 80s creature features with a slick modern style sure to send shivers down the spine of any fright fiend. Get ready for the scariest Halloween of your life – and remember, always check your candy!

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:

• Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films, approved by writer-director Michael Dougherty
• 4K Ultra HD (2160p) Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) 
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo audio 
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing 
• Archival audio commentary by Michael Dougherty, conceptual artist Breehn Burns, storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins and composer Douglas Pipes 
• Tales of Folklore & Fright, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty, Breehn Burns and Simeon Wilkins 
• Tales of Mischief & Mayhem: Filming Trick 'r Treat, an archival interview with Michael Dougherty on the making of the film
• Sounds of Shock & Superstition: Scoring Trick 'r Treat, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty and Douglas Pipes
• Tales of Dread & Despair: Releasing Trick 'r Treat, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty and Rob Galluzzo of the Shock Waves podcast, exploring the film's release and fandom 
• Season's Greetings, a short film from 1996 directed by Michael Dougherty with optional director commentary 
• The Lore and Legends of Halloween, an archival featurette narrated by actor Brian Cox 
• School bus VFX comparison
• Additional scenes
• FEARnet promos
• Sam O'Lantern
• Storyboard and conceptual artwork gallery 
• Behind the scenes gallery 
• Monster Mash comic book set in the Trick 'r Treat universe
• Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck 
• Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
• Six postcard-sized artcards 
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Becky Darke and Heather Wixson

And more extras to be confirmed

Trick 'r Treat will also be released as a Limited Edition 4K UHD Original Artwork version from the Arrow Store.

J-HORROR RISING (Japan 1999-2007)

Vengeful ghosts returning from beyond the grave, young women with supernatural abilities, investigative narratives, a terror of technology, and an ominous aura of urban alienation and isolation mark the wave of horror and mystery films that emerged in Japan at the turn of the millennium, collectively labeled as "J-Horror". Remastered from the best available elements and packed with a host of new and archival extras, J-Horror Rising presents seven of the genre's most distinctive titles.

In the ghostly pastoral horror of Shikoku (1999), a young woman returns after many years to her rural birthplace, only to find her best friend from childhood has died by drowning when just sixteen. The dead girl's mother, the local Shintoist priestess, has embarked on the region's famous pilgrimage – but why is she walking backwards? The aftermath of the devasting Kobe Earthquake of 1995 creates fissures in the already fractured mind of a high-school girl in Isola: Multiple Personality Girl (Tajuu jinkaku shôjo, 2000), allowing an unwelcome intruder to set up home in her head and leaving a volunteer worker with psychic powers to determine which of her personas is the fake one. Shikoku also provides the mystical backdrop to Inugami (2001), as a teacher from Tokyo finds himself drawn to a local papermaker, only to find himself the subject of some hostility from her extended family, who have long ties to the region and are rumoured to be the descendants of the guardians of ancient evil canine spirits.

Megumi Okina (Ju-On: The Grudge) plays the art designer for a horror-themed videogame in the innovative St. John's Wort (Otogiriso, 2001), who is forced to confront her childhood traumas when her colleagues ask her to gather visual materials from the creepy gothic mansion she has inherited from her estranged artist father. Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (Kuchisake-onna. 2007) features the titular predatory murderess drawn from urban legend, where it turns out home isn't the safest place for her potential child victims in this disturbing supernatural horror. A new craze for wearing ceramic masks sweeps the students of a high school, unleashing a wave of anonymous juvenile delinquency amongst the literal fashion-victims of Persona (Kamen gakuen, 2000), which boasts early appearances from Battle Royale stars Tatsuya Fujiwara and Chiaki Kuriyama. Last but not least, the chilling Noroi: The Curse (Noroi, 2005) adopts a pseudo-documentary format as an investigative reporter into paranormal phenomena is forced to confront horrors beyond his wildest imagination after learning about an ancient folkloric demon.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS:

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all seven films 
• Original lossless 5.1 and lossless stereo sound options for Shikoku, Isola: Multiple Personality Girl, Inugami, St. John's Wort, Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman and Noroi: The Curse, and original lossless stereo audio for Persona 
• Optional English subtitles for each film 
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by Eugene Thacker, Jasper Sharp, Anton Bitel, Amber T., Mark Player, Jim Harper and Sarah Appleton 
• Double-sided foldout poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Conlon
• Limited Edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by John Conlon

DISC ONE: SHIKOKU / ISOLA: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY GIRL:

• Brand new audio commentary on Shikoku by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes 
• Brand new audio commentary on Isola: Multiple Personality Girl by critics and Japanese cinema experts Jasper Sharp and Amber T. 
• The Aftermath, Tom Mes discusses J-Horror at the turn of the millennium 
• Something in the Water, a brand new interview with Shikoku director Shunichi Nagasaki 
• Archive interviews with director Shunichi Nagasaki and actors Chiaki Kuriyama and Yui Natsukawa on Shikoku
• Archive interview with actors Yoshino Kimura and Yu Kurosawa on Isola: Multiple Personality Girl
• On-set footage of the filming of Shikoku
• Original trailers and TV spots for both films
• Image galleries

DISC TWO: INUGAMI / ST. JOHN'S WORT:

• Brand new audio commentary on Inugami by Japanese cinema expert Jonathan Clements 
• Brand new audio commentary on St. John's Wort by Japanese cinema expert Amber T. 
• Dog Days, brand new video interview with Inugami director Masato Harada
• The Making of St. John's Wort, archival featurette 
• Archive interviews with St. John's Wort actors Megumi Okina, Koichiro Saito, Reiko Matsuo and Koji Okura 
• On-set behind-the-scenes footage of the filming of St. John's Wort
• Original trailers and TV spots for St. John's Wort
• Image galleries for both films

DISC THREE: CARVED: THE SLIT-MOUTHED WOMAN / PERSONA:

• Brand new audio commentary on Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman by Japanese folklore expert Zack Davisson
• Why So Serious?, a brand new interview with Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman director Koji Shiraishi
• Weapon of Choice, a brand new video essay on Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
• Confessions of a Mask, a brand new interview with Persona director Takashi Komatsu
• Image galleries for both films

DISC FOUR: NOROI: THE CURSE:

• Brand new audio commentary by film critic Julian Singleton
• Director's POV, a brand new video interview with Noroi: The Curse director Koji Shiraishi 
• The Man in the Shadows, a brand new interview with Noroi: The Curse producer Taka Ichise 
• Changing Perspective, a brand new video essay on Noroi: The Curse by Japanese horror specialist Lindsay Nelson
• Ectoplasmic Worms, a brand new video essay on Noroi: The Curse and Japanese cosmic horror by Japanese cinema expert Amber T.
• How to Protect Yourself Against Curses
• Urgent report! Pursuing the Truth about Kagutaba!! TV Special
• Over half an hour of deleted scenes 
• Trailers and TV spots 
• Image gallery