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Hong Kong goes for gore on MYSTERIOUS ISLAND?

It’s not every day you see a poster for a Hong Kong horror movie featuring a graphic parade of severed body parts, but according to Chinese site Sina the reasons simple - Director Kai Cheung Chung has gone all “contemporary” on us, taking inspiration for his latest scare flick Mysterious Island from the likes of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and “Evil Dead,” rather than the traditional Chinese supernatural themes we’ve all seen many times before.

‘Island’ stars Chinese actor and musician Jordan Chan, who will take the lead in a story of a group stranded on a deserted island, inhabited by an evil demonic presence.

Granted that’s (so far) perhaps not sounding the most original of storylines, but with slash ’n’ gore style horror still a rarity in Hong Kong, the prospect of some fresh splatter coming our way from this emerging modern horror wave means we’ll be keeping an eye out for any new twists they might come up with. Mysterious Island opens in Hong Kong in February, so expect a trailer soon. Stills from the movie below.

 

Mysterious Island stills

EVANGELION 2.0 heading for U.S theatrical release

It’s rare enough these days when a live action Asian film gets anything other than a limited U.S theatrical release, let alone an Anime, so its great news that the latest cinematic episode of the classic cult anime Evangelion is to get a wider airing in America this coming January. Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, is being distributed by Cinema Asia Releasing, Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment with an aim to get it onto 70 to 100 screens this new year. So, all you die hard Anime nuts had best keep your eyes glued to those local cinema listings.   

 

 

Evangelion official Japanese site 

Via: Hollywoodreporter

Extreme horror A SERBIAN FILM gets UK trailer

It cost them 4 minutes, 11 seconds lost to the cutting room floor just to get an “18” (that’s an NC-17 to all you Stateside bods) certificate from the censors, but Srdjan Spasojevic’s extreme horror A Serbian Film is getting a theatrical release in the UK and the trailer has arrived. You can see that below, plus links the UK website and the movies original trailer. Pretty much everything to do Serbian is NSFW, so discretion is advised when viewing. ASB is released on December 10th.

Synopsis: Milos is a retired porn star leading a normal family life with his wife Maria and six-year old son Petar in tumultuous Serbia, trying to make ends meet. Aware of his problems, Layla, a former co-star, introduces Milos to Vukmir, a mysterious, menacing and politically powerful figure in the porn business who wants Milos to star in his latest project and is willing to pay him a fee that will provide financial 
support to Milos and his family for the rest of their lives. The only condition is that Milos signs a contract insisting on his absolute unawareness of the scripted scenes they are about to shoot. Encouraged by his wife to accept the job, Milos turns up for the first day of shooting and is immediately drawn into a maelstrom of unbelievable cruelty and mayhem devised by his employer, the ‘director’ of his destiny. It soon becomes apparent that Vukmir and his crew will stop at nothing to complete his insane vision. The only way for Milos to escape the living cinematic hell he’s entered and to save his family life is to sacrifice everything to Vukmir’s art – his pride, his morality, his sanity, and maybe even his own life.

A Serbian Film UK site

A Serbian Film original trailer

Full trailer for Chinese horror MIDNIGHT BEATING

A full trailer for director Zhang Jiabei's horror flick Midnight Beating (aka Midnight Heart) has just been released and unlike its rather off-the-wall, virally styled forebears this one goes straight for some classic chills.

Simon Yam and Francis provide the heavy hitting names in the cast, with a story revolving around a patients mysterious death and ghostly goings on in a haunted hospital, and according to several articles we've read the makers of Midnight are promising viewers some real psychological torment as well as the usual long-haired-ghost horror fair. 

Midnight was originally due to open in September, but the date was pushed back at the last minute so its opening would fall at the end of the Lunar (beats us why) new year, so it now hits its opening night at the end of December. 

Midnight Beating trailer

 

Korean Vamp horror HERO teases

When we first caught sight of Korea teen Vamp horror Hero we said we hoped it would end up being something a little darker and brooding, rather than a Buffy light knock off. Well from the looks of the teaser at least, first time director Kim Hong-ik’s has delivered the goods. Teen school bullying, gang violence, sex, betrayal and of course what any good Vampire movie needs….Blood. Trail at the link.

Synopsis: Sim-dan gets bullied everyday in his school, becomes a vampire after an unexpected accident. After accepting this change, and thanks to his new found power, he saves a blind person who falls onto the track in front of a subway train. His story goes on air on TV news all over the nation, and many people start to call him a Hero. On the other hand, Sim-dan's friends start to wonder about how this power will effect him, and what is the true nature and intent of the dark force rising behind him, that’s returned after such a long sleep.

Hero teaser trail

Spanish horror EXORCISMUS on UK DVD

As it says on the tin - from the producers that brought us 'REC,' Manuel Carballo’s Spanish (shot in English) possession horror - Exorcismus is heading for a bow on DVD in the UK in 2011, and this first peek at the artwork for the release reveals more good news. Distributor Entertainment One are sticking to their guns going with the original Spanish title, rather than the painfully ordinary - last Turkey in the shop - “international” name tag of ‘The Possession of Emma Evans.’ Where they dragged that rubbish up from, noone knows. Exorcismus will land in the laps of Demonic horror fans on February 14th.

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Emma Evans is like any other teenage girl; she thinks that her parents don’t understand her. She longs for independence and a life free of family ties and responsibilities and she is prepared to do anything to achieve it. But one day she will be forced to face up to the consequences of her actions. Life seems to be carrying on as normal, until one day Emma starts experiencing frightening fits. Her parents are convinced that her problems are either medical or psychological, but when doctors´ tests are unable to draw any conclusions, the family is forced to look elsewhere for answers. It all started off as a bit of fun, Emma never really believed it, but the truth is there is something dark and sinister within her, and it won’t take long to surface.

Takashi Miike’s DEADLY OUTLAW REKKA: review

Director: Takashi Miike. Review: Adam Wing.

It seems strange that it’s taken this long for Takashi Miike’s hardcore Yakuza film to reach British shores, but Deadly Outlaw: Rekka is finally available on DVD courtesy of Arrow Films. Following the death of his boss, crazed killer Kunisada (Riki Takeuchi) dyes his hair grey and embarks upon a violent quest for revenge. Driven by madness and volatile temper, he finds himself up against both his enemies and his own Yakuza allies. The hunter becomes the hunted then, in one of Takashi Miike’s most accessible films to date. Pursued by a pair of hitmen, Kunisada becomes a pawn in a complex, not to mention occasionally perplexing, game of double crossing villainy. With his situation spiraling out of control, Kunisada realises he must take extreme violence to the next level if he has any chance of survival. It helps of course if you have a hand-held rocket launcher at your disposal. Sex, gore and twisted humour are the order of the day then, as Arrow Films welcome us back to the wonderfully deranged world of Takashi Miike...Continue reading review here.

Deadly Outlaw trailer

A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP coming to Blu in Feb

Sony Pictures has announced that it will be releasing Zhang Yimou's most recent A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop on Blu-ray next February 1st. Technical specifications are not yet available, but according to the announcement, the disc will only have single 'making of' feature for supplemental material. The suggested retail price is $38.96, but can currently be pre-ordered on Amazon for much less. Of course, it will also be available on standard DVD, as well.

The film is a remake of the Coen Brothers' Blood Simple transported to feudal China.The original film was a noirish thriller set in Texas about a bar owner who hires a private detective to kill his wife and her lover. Yimou's remake, on the other hand is a thriller-comedy set in a noodle shop in a desert.

Thanks to High-Def Digest for the heads up.

IFC releases PREY in the US this December

There’s something narsty living in the backwater forests of France and IFC Films are going to let it loose on an unsuspecting American audience next month. Antoine Blossier‘s bloody little French creature feature horror Prey (aka Proie) is set for a U.S release, and its arriving in select US theatres and VOD December 3rd. Keep it here for a trailer soon.

Synopsis: One night, several deer hurl themselves unexpectedly against the electric fence of a farm. Seeing deep signs of biting on the animals’ bodies, the farm owners realise that a predator is roaming about the neighbouring woods. Having determined to hunt it down, the farmer and his family penetrate deep into the surrounding forest. They look with bewilderment at the dying environment ravaged by a mysterious evil force. As the sun slowly sinks away, howling resounds through the forest. The hunters have become prey...

Prey stills

New poster & plotline for Norwegian horror thriller BABYCALL

Scandinavia’s been upping the ante on the horror/thriller movie front over the last couple of years with some great scare flicks coming out of the region, so it’s no surprise we’re always on the lookout for info/media on new movies. Latest to catch our eye is the new teaser poster for Norwegian psychological horror Babycall from local hemler Pål Sletaune which stars Noomi Rapace of ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ fame, who’s also rumoured to be in frame to star in Ridley Scott’s new Aliens prequel. Never hurts to have an up and coming international female star in your film, for some good overseas press coverage. Babycall is slated for release in Norway this coming February, so expect to see more soon. Detailed plot summary below.

Synopsis: Anna and her eight year old son Anders are under the witness protection program following a difficult relationship with Anders’ father. They move into a large apartment complex. Anna becomes overprotective of her son and even buys a babycall to keep track of him. Soon, strange noises from other apartments appear on the monitor, and Anna overhears what might be the murder of a child. Meanwhile, Anders’ mysterious new friend starts visiting at odd hours, claiming that he has keys for all the doors in the building … Does this new friend know anything about the murder? And why is Anders’ drawing stained with blood? Is Anna’s son still in danger?

New teasers for HK superhero pic MR. AND MRS. INCREDIBLE

Three earlier teaser trailers just weren’t enough for Hong Kong superhero action comedy Mr & Mrs. Incredible, because two more spoof promos have hit the web - featuring Louis Koo and Sandra Ng - lampooning the life and times of the immortal superhero couple. This time around we’re treated to a very funny glimpse of domestic bliss and fried Fish in the ‘Incredible’ household, plus a timely message to all those idiots who leave their phones on in the Cinema.

It’s pretty clear now that this movie is going to huge when it opens. The film pre-sold immediately, about everywhere when it was previewed at Cannes this year, and its a dead cert a movie is going to be massive in Asia when the main cast turn up as cutsie characters in a promotional cartoon, the designs of which you know in your bones are going to very soon end up as big selling action figures. Mr & Mrs. Incredible opens in China and Hong Kong on Chinese New Year. Which for us western types….is February 3rd.

Synopsis: Love is never meant to be an easy matter - especially for superheroes. Gazer Captain (Louis Koo) falls in love with Red aka Aroma Woman (Sandra Ng). Getting tired of their lifestyle, they decide to retreat to a small village and start a family. Five years pass, Gazer and Red live a quiet and happy life. One day an official announces that an upcoming martial arts tournament will be held in their tranquil village. Hundreds of kung fu masters and fanatics arrive for the ultimate championship, then trouble really kicks off.

Teaser promo 1

Teaser promo 2

K-20: THE LEGEND OF THE BLACK MASK swings on UK DVD

Top marks to Manga Entertainent, for the great cover of their release of Japanese special effects laden action extravaganza K-20: The Legend Of The Black Mask, which is finally dropping onto UK DVD. Adapted by writer-director Shimako Sato, ‘K-20’ stars Takeshi Kaneshiro in a swash - and indeed - buckling tale of an unlikely ‘superhero’ pitting his wits against the obligatory super villain who has his sights set on world (aren’t they always) domination. K-20 lands on R2 DVD January 10th - but if you are in the States and fancy caped crusading action, you’re in luck, it’s already out there now.

Plotline: 1949 in a slightly alternative reality to the one we know. In this version of history World War II never happened, Teito is the Imperial Capital of Japan, inventor Nikola Tesla has just won a Nobel Prize and Japanese society is divided between the extremely rich and the hopelessly poor. Taking advantage of the situation is a mysterious thief and master of disguise known as K-20 – the Fiend with 20 Faces, a self-styled Robin Hood figure who steals from the rich and gives only to himself. Having set his sights on a newly developed beam weapon that could make him the ruler of the world, K-20 sets about achieving his deadly goal, by framing a poor circus performer, Hekichi Endo, for his previous crimes. Endo is arrested at the scene of the rehearsal and sentenced to death but manages to escape. On the run, Endo realizes the only way to prove his innocence and clear his name is to assume the identity of K-20 and take on the villain at his own game by finding and obtaining the energy generator first.

Read our review of K-20 here. 

Full trailer & official site for Bollywood distaster pic DAM999

Bollywood has taken a stab at just about ever movie genre going and then some, but has there ever being an Indian disaster movie? Well, if there hasn’t Sohan Roys is about to change all that with his first movie - in 3D no less - Dam999. The film has been in production since 2008 but according to the official site its now well into post, and full trailer has just been released online. Dam999 is set for release in the new year.

Synopsis: After many years two mariners return to their homeland with the hope of a new beginning. Little did they know about a disaster that would change their destiny. The story revolves around nine characters portraying nine variants of emotion (Navarasa) and an outdated dam. Each character holds a dam of emotions which eventually explodes along with the collapse of the mammoth dyke, replicating the worst man-made disaster witnessed in history. The question of survival rises!

Dam999 official site

Striking new posters for Chinese epic SACRIFICE

Two new posters have dropped for Kaige Chen’s (‘The Promise’) Chinese martial arts epic Sacrifice, giving us more than a hint to the darker side of the story. As with any epic worth its salt its looks like Sacrifice has got in all; love, war, death and of course best till last…revenge. Sacrifice opens in China next month, but seeing as U.S sales agent Arclight recently picked up the international rights to the movie, we’ll expect to see it cropping up for release outside of Asia very soon.

Synopsis: For generations the Zhao family has wielded power, until their mortal enemy TU'AN GU slaughters the entire clan, determined to wipe out their influence forever. But one Zhao baby survives hidden by CHENG YING the doctor who delivered him. When Tu'an Gu learns of the baby's escape he seizes every infant in the city, vowing to kill them all unless the Zhao baby is surrendered. As the tyrant's soldiers arrive at Cheng Ying's home the frantic doctor hides his wife with their own baby whilst surrendering the Zhao child as his own. But his family is discovered; his baby is presumed to be the Zhao heir and murdered along with his wife for harboring the infant. Now set on revenge Cheng Ying enrolls the Zhao orphan into the service of the Tu'an Gu household, plotting to use him as an instrument of vengeance when he comes of age.

Sacrifice posters

Sacrifice official site

Curzon Midnight Movies presents Dario Argento’s: DEMONS

Heads up all you British fans of classic horror. Prior to its UK re-release, Curzon Midnight Movies are to present a special screening of classic gory 80s horror Demons, brought to you by Dario Argento who penned and produced it. The Venue: Curzon Soho theatre London. The date: Fri 26th Nov. The time:10pm until late, & finally the dress code: 80s (a horror in itself?!) fashions. For full details on the screening, check out the Curzon website here.

 

 

 

 

 

Demons trailer

Teaser art for Luc Besson’s THE MECHANICS OF THE HEART

There’s no doubt ‘Fifth Element’ director Luc Besson is a busy man, but even though he’s well into in pre-production with his upcoming big budget live action sci-fi actioner ‘Lock Out,’ it seems he’s still found time to dabble in his other fascination….animation. Not only is he producing A Monster in Paris, he’s also developing a 3-D movie titled Le Mécanique du Coeur (The Mechanics of the Heart) based on the novel by Mathias Malzieu.

It's early days pegging down what we’re going to get with Mechanics, but we’re definitely getting a Gothic ‘Nightmare Before Christmas” type vibe (No bad thing, minus the songs) off this first artwork we’ve just turned up. Mechanics of the Heart is due for release in 2011. See the pic full size at the link

Synopsis: Edinburgh, 1874. Jack was born on the coldest day of the world and his heart remains frozen. Half witch half-shaman, the midwife who assisted delivery manages to save the infant, replacing the heart with a defective clock. This prosthesis functions and Jack lives provided he avoids the strongest of emotions: no anger, and especially not the most dangerous of all…love. But the fiery eyes of a little street singer will put the heart of our hero under desperate strain to find her, Jack starts like Don Quixote on a quest that takes him Scottish lochs to the arcades of Granada and he will know the delights of love and also its harsh cruelty.

Mechanics teaser art

UK theatrical release for THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN

British Donnie Yen Fans rejoice, right out of the blue we’ve just been told Andrew Lau’s martial arts spectacular Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen is heading full tilt towards a theatrical release there next month, and we’ve been sent the UK trailer to whet your appetite with some full tilt action…Donnie style. The Return of Chen Zhen goes on release December 3rd - but if you miss that, not to worry, it then hits DVD on January 31st. We’re seeing the film next week, so expect a more than likely glowing review, soon.

Synopsis: After avenging his murdered master Huo Yuanjia, Chen Zhen vanished and was supposedly dead. He actually left China and joined the Allied war effort on the European battlefields. Seven years later, Chen Zhen returns to Shanghai in the guise of a young entrepreneur in order to infiltrate Club Casablanca, whose owner Tycoon Liu is suspected of collusion with the Japanese. He soon wins the trust of Liu while falling in love with the gorgeous club singer Kiki. Meanwhile, Japanese general Chikaraishi comes to Shanghai with his assassination squad, subjecting the city to his reign of terror. Donning a black mask to avoid exposing his real identity, Chen Zhen secretly works with police captain Huang to protect the Chinese patriots from the Japanese assassins, as the hope of a nation rests on his deadly fists.

Legend of the Fist HK official site

MACHETE slashes his way onto R1 DVD January 4th

The subtle clue to this one’s in the title.Yes indeed, dont forget Robert Rodriguez’s bloody grindhouse actioner Machete - starring the Danny Trejo - hits US DVD and shiny Blu-ray on January 4th. Hell of a good way to start the new year.

Synopsis: The highly skilled Federale ‘Machete’ is hired by some unsavoury types to assassinate a senator. But just as he's about to take the shot, he notices someone aiming at him and realizes he's been set up. He barely survives the sniper's bullet, and is soon out for revenge on his former employers, with the reluctant assistance of his old friend Cheech Marin, who has become a priest and taken a vow of non-violence. If you hire him to take out the bad guys, make sure the bad guys aren't you.

 

Machete US site

Malay horror comedy HANTU KAK LIMAH BALIK RUMAH

Following the huge local success of his 2007 hit horror comedy ‘Zombi Kampung Pisang,’ Malaysian director Mamat Khalid is back with a sequel movie Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah (aka ‘Back Home with the Ghost of Mak Limah’) It's another tale of the ghostly goings-on in Banana Village,  the inhabitants of which always seem to be on the verge of meeting a bloody end from something supernatural….with teeth!

If we’re honest Zombi Kampung was hugely over the top campy nonsense, but at the same time great fun, and by the looks of the new movies trailer this latest offering won’t be any different. Hantu opens next month.

Synopsis: Husin has been working in Singapore for some time and decides to return to his hometown, Banana Village. Upon returning, he feels that his neighbour Mak Limah is strange as she does not speak nor sleep. He then tells patrons at Munawer's coffee shop that Mak Limah might be a ghost. Pak Abu decides they should investigate further but when they go to her house, she is already a rotting corpse! Even when Mak Limah is buried, and put to rest, things get even more interesting when the village is haunted by strange occurrences.

Hantu trailer

Takeshi Kitano’s OUTRAGE in Hong Kong

Whilst it’s great news that Takeshi Kitano's brutal Yakuza thriller Outrage is to a get a rare English subtitled DVD release in Japan next month, there’s no denying the price tag of around $45+ is a pretty eye watering amount - for even a hard core Takeshi fan - to shell out for a single disc. Lucky for us an alternative source is on the horizon, with the movie set for a Hong Kong bow in early December. So consider this an early heads up if you are in the market for some hard core Kitano, gangland action, hold off until January when the HK DVD arrives. That should only set you back a far more reasonable eighteen-ish bucks. Full details on the release, when we get them.

In other 'Outrage' news...Readers in France might be interested to know that the movie hits French Cinemas, November 24th.

Synopsis: In a ruthless battle for power, several yakuza clans vie for the favour of their head family in the Japanese underworld. The rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks by scheming and making allegiances sworn over saké. Long-time yakuza Otomo (Takeshi) has seen his kind go from elaborate body tattoos and severed fingertips to becoming important players on the stock market. Theirs is a never-ending struggle to end up on top, or at least survive, in a corrupt world where there are no heroes but constant betrayal and vengeance.

Outrage official Japanese site

Outrage official French site

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