Many of us rely heavily on streaming services to watch the latest releases as well as memorable films from the 2000s. However,the evolution of the cinema agehas always been prior to the 1990s, when CGI played a minimal role, rendering the efforts of films indescribable. While many streaming platforms, such as Hulu, often bring old classics to the audiences, it still feels somewhat lacking, which is where Arrow comes in.
Arrow Films is a film distributor based in England that has grown tremendously since its inception in 1991, mainly specializing in horror and classic films. As it continues to expand its catalog, it adds new movies every month, and July is no exception. Recently, Arrow Films released its cutting-edge cult cinema lineup for this month, which ranges fromBruce Lee’s most influential filmsto mafia classics worth rewatching, and we’re here to give you a rundown on the best ones from the schedule. You can check out the highlight reel of the best selections, and our breakdown of them below.
Lake Michigan Monster (2018) - July 7
While Arrow is well-known for bringing incredible vintage movies to its service, it has also produced some strange yet well-crafted films likeLake Michigan Monster, which, while having a low budget, utilized it to its advantage.
In the movie, Captain Seafield (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) vows to seek vengeance on a titular beast that killed his father and assembles a crew consisting of a weapons expert, Sean (Erick West), a sonar whiz Nedge Pepsi (Beulah Peters), and a former Navy officer, Dick Flynn (Daniel Long).
However, the captain is notorious for screwing up simple opportunities. How can he succeed in his adventure where the lives of his crew members lay in the hands of his decisions?
Yakuza Graveyard (1976) - July 7
Yakuza Graveyardis created by Kinji Fukasaku, the man behindthe hit Japanese filmBattle Royale.Yakuza Graveyard, like his other films, is way ahead of its time, not in terms of storytelling or acting, but rather due to the masterful direction he executed throughout the film.
Related:Best Movies About the Yakuza, Ranked
The movie follows a cop named Kuroiwa, who gets transferred to a new precinct where he gets friendly with the yakuza, but his intentions remain unknown to both his colleagues and these gangsters, which puts him in a difficult predicament.
Fist of Fury (1972) - July 17
Fist of Furyis without a doubt the most intense film Bruce Lee has ever done in his career as it is ripe with his kicking trademarks and anti-japanese theme, which gave rise to one of cinema’s most empowering moments: the Japanese garden fight.
The story follows Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee), who returns to his village in hopes of marrying his sweetheart but is devastated to learn that his master has passed away. However, he eventually realizes that his untimely death was caused by Suzuki, the boss of a Japanese dojo. Faced with a ruthless and strong enemy, Chen must seek vengeance for his master while dealing with racial discrimination.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) - July 21
Elvira: Mistress of the Darkhas to be one ofthe best horror parodies ever made, which you could label as a guilty pleasure. While it has its flaws, no pun is left unchecked or overlooked in the film, making every scene worth staying for.
Elvira, a horror hostess, has quit her job in the hopes of producing her own show in Las Vegas, but due to the huge sum the productions demand, she could only hope that things would play out in her favor. Out of the blue, she finds out that her aunt Morgana has passed away and left her an inheritance, and Elvira travels to her aunt’s small town only to confront her evil uncle and the town’s people.
$10,000 Blood Money (1967) - July 24
Western films used to bethe trademark versions of the 1960ssince the age between the 1940s and early 1960s was known as the “golden age” of the subgenre. Romolo Guerrieri’s$10,000 Blood Moneyis one such film you must watch if you like Westerns with an antihero twist.
Related:13 Westerns With Incredible Cinematography
In the movie, Gianni Garko plays Django, a bounty hunter who pursues a villain for kidnapping his client’s young daughter. However, as he is not offered enough money, he joins forces with the enemy, but things get heated when he gets double-crossed.
The Boxer’s Omen (1983) - July 28
You may have watched many freakishAsian horror films likeThe Wailing, which goes beyond human understanding, but there are countless masterworks that go unnoticed by modern audiences, andThe Boxer’s Omenis no exception.
The movie is about a Hong Kong boxer named Chan Hung, who travels to Thailand to avenge his brother, who has been crippled by a dishonorable opponent named Mr. Bu-bo. However, what awaits Chan in the country exceeds his expectations as he is pitted not only against a ruthless boxer but also against an evil wizard who draws the power from dark magic to stop the local abbot from achieving immortality.
