1 2 3 >
Detailed plotline for action comedy EAST MEETS WEST

Yeah OK, you could say a detailed plotline isn’t exactly essential for enjoying a superhero flick, but hey we’ve dug one up anyway for Jeff Lau’s upcoming comedy blockbuster - about a group of badly behaved Gods, expelled from heaven to earth until they learn to get along - East Meets West 2011. Sounds great (Disco gods!?) fun, and its always a bonus when the trailer looks it too. East Meets West opens in Asian next month. Now onto the "plot"...

Synopsis: Ten thousand years ago eight gods fought incessantly, not realizing that by doing so they were securing their own demotion into the secular world. They can only return to heaven once they come to understand one another and can get along with each other harmoniously. Ten thousand years later the stereotypical Hong Kong girl Zhong Xiaoming, and her smart and eccentric father Ah B, have no idea why they are being chased up for a debt. Having no alternative, they flee from Hong Kong to Guangdong to search for the girl’s unreliable mother Jia Jia to find out the reason. Jia Jia had cheated somebody out of a deposit to set up a concert which is impossible for her to realize. She is placed on a blacklist by Boss Zhou Dong because she has no way of honouring that deposit. Whilst the father and daughter are fleeing to Guangdong, they meet by chance all kinds of “wise and hip” people. What then unfolds is an urban romance full of jokes which could “startle the universe and move the gods”.

East Meets West teaser trailer

24Framespersecond goes Facebook

Update: Until we get a proper link sorted we'll bump this to the top of the page periodically, so those who might miss the fact we're now more "social," can catch on and sign up.

Yes indeed, after what will have seemed like an eternity to all those devotees to the world of social networking - 24frames has finally gone and got itself a Facebook page of its very own, offering a whole new way to get your daily fix of Asian, cult and horror movie news and reviews. We're good that way! To “follow” us, head on over to the page here, and spread the word.

Frightarama 2011 - TROLL HUNTER: Review

Director: André Øvredal. Review: Adam Wing.

What better way to spend your Halloween weekend then to mosey on down to Leicester’s Phoenix Square for their first annual Frightarama, where they were showcasing three horror smashes back to back. First up was Jack Nicholson in The Shining, last in line was William Friedkin’s classic The Exorcist, and sandwiched somewhere in between was the 2010 Norwegian hit Troll Hunter. Six hours of horror carnage, washed down with cans of Red Bull and Peanut M&M’s. The beer was a big mistake, and had it not been for Jack Nicholson’s wide-eyed theatrics I would’ve slipped into a coma midway through the first movie.

The heat was stifling too, which wasn’t helping me at all, but fortunately free sorbet was on hand to see us through. After one can of Red Bull I was back on track, munching my way through an oversized bag of Peanut M&M’s for the second feature presentation, André Øvredal’s Troll Hunter. Whilst investigating a series of suspicious bear killings, a group of students track a mysterious 'hunter' who wants nothing to do with them and attempts to shake them off his trail. “Do you think Michael Moore gave up after the first try?” asks Thomas determinedly. As the hunt gains ground, the students realise that their search is far more dangerous and mystical than hunting mere bears, leading them on a mesmerising thrill ride of awesome effects, pitch perfect performances and laugh out loud humour...Continue reading review.

 

OUTRAGE in the UK

Looks like there’s Outrage everywhere at the moment - We’ve already had news last week that Takeshi Kitano gangster pic is dropping Stateside, and now we’ve just learnt the UK is set to get a dose of hard core Yakuza violence, when it drops onto DVD and Blu-ray there, next month! Nov 14 is the date to be looking for - Pre-orders are goooooo.

Synopsis: The king of yakuza epics Takeshi Kitano (Brother, Zatoichi, Hana-Bi, Sonatine) returns with his most violent gangster film yet. Mr. Chairman, the head of the ruling Sannokai yakuza clan, suspects that his henchman Ikemoto has struck a forbidden alliance with rival gangster Murase. Ikemoto tries to quell his boss’ distrust by making a move against Murase, marking the start of a ruthless series of conflicts and betrayals. Before long, several yakuza clans are out for blood in their constant battle for power and money. The rival bosses fight to rise through the ranks by scheming and making short-lived allegiances. In this corrupt world where there are no heroes, it’s a bad guy vs. bad guy in a spiralling outrage of gang warfare.

Dutch evil Santa slasher SAINT: R2 DVD review

Director: Dick Maas. Review: Adam Wing.

There’s a good reason why your parents told you Santa Claus doesn’t exist. In the Middle Ages, the bloodthirsty St. Nicholas murdered his way across the country, killing all the good little girls and boys and doing away with their parents in the process - it’s not like he cared much for presents either. Some villagers didn’t take too kindly to this so they set out for revenge. On December 5th 1942, Niklas and his gang of looters were given a frosty reception, and there wasn’t a single snowman in sight. You can expect more jokes like that later. They hunted down Sint Niklas and burned him to death on his ship. This year, and every December 5th that coincides with a full moon, the bishop will rise from the dead to slaughter as many children as possible. He’ll probably take the mince pie you leave out for him too; he’s evil like that.

The last time the ghostly gang returned was in 1968. Hundreds of people were killed, including Goert’s entire family. Goert (Burt Luppes) has long since grown up and is now a police officer. The authorities downplay the incidents, keeping the possible involvement of Niklas a secret. Goert is ignored when he warns of impending doom and sent on leave, giving Niklas the time he needs to pack his sleigh with assorted weaponry and check his list a time or two. With Saint (a.k.a. Sint), Dick Maas returns to his horror roots, taking the gift of horror, wrapping it up in comedy and tying it off with a big red bloody bow. Attempting to do for Father Christmas what Dead Snow did for Nazi zombies, Saint arrives on DVD this month, proving once and for all that when it comes to horror, there’s no such thing as a silent night...Continue review here.  

 

More action from Japanese crime caper WILD 7

You know the drill by now...There’s the back story to Eiichiro Hasumi’s; secret govt agency, motorcycle riding, action flick Wild 7 to be read here and here, and then its on to the official site for an action filled full trailer. Can think of worse ways to round off a week!

 

 

 

 

Wild 7 official site 

 

First trailer for the CLAYPOT CURRY KILLERS

Don’t know how the hell we missed this one, but better late than never. A first trailer (though it watches more like a promo reel) has appeared online for James Lee’s Claypot Curry Killers, a happy little tale of perverted justice and cannibalism.

As far as we know Claypot has still not been granted a release certificate by censors in its native Malaysia - mainly due to a small matter of it being stuffed to the rafters with graphic scenes of violence - but it’s good to finally get a peek at it, and to know it’s started to get an airing on the festival circuit. A full trailer has been promised soon - but for now; in a little clay pot curry house......

Synopsis: Mrs. Chew and her three daughters run a popular restaurant that serves claypot curry with a twist. They have a rather unique view on how evil wrong doing men should be punished. They get eaten.

 

 

Claypot trailer

Facebook stills

Directors blog stills

Second outbreak of RABIES in the UK

A big hit at this year’s London Film 4 Fright (and the horror festival circuit in general) Fest, readers in the UK will get a second chance to catch a look at Israel’s first ever - quirky, darkly funny, and down right bloody - horror flick...Rabies (aka Kalevet) when it gets a second UK airing at this years JFF on 12 November (Coronet 10pm) and Thursday 17 November (Peckham Plex 8.30pm). Alas we can’t make the screening, but it looks one hell of a ride, and we’ll be picking this up on DVD...soon as!

Synopsis: A brother and sister in their twenties, run away from home after their dark secret is discovered. They find temporary refuge in a deserted nature reserve. When the sister falls into a hunting trap, set by a psychotic killer, the brother sets out in a race against time to rescue her. A forest ranger and his old dog, two apathetic cops, four tennis players and a murderer, wandering carefree amongst his traps, will all be gradually drawn into a whirlwind of misunderstandings, fears and violence.

 

Singapore hand cam horror HAUNTED CHANGI on US DVD

Even though Asia came quite late to the phenomena that was the sub genre of “found footage” horror, they’ve been making up some lost time, and the latest attempt to surface outside of the region is Andrew Lau’s (no not that one) Singapore frightener Haunted Changi...When it hits U.S DVD on November 22.

Synopsis: In January of 2010, a group of local filmmakers began exploring the famously haunted Old Changi Hospital in Singapore with terrifying and tragic results. This movie pieces together the original Haunted Changi film crew's footage, to tell the full story of the horror and mystery, of the world's most haunted location.

 Haunted Changi official site

 Haunted Changi intro scene

WOUND: DVD review

Director: David Blyth. Review: Adam Wing.

With a CV that includes Red-Blooded American Girl and Death Warmed Up, not to mention TV work like White Fang and Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, it’s fair to say that director David Blyth’s career has been anything but ordinary. That statement isn’t going to change anytime soon if his latest psychosexual horror movie is anything to go by. With a taste for the kind of absurd imagery Takashi Miike would be proud of - a birthing scene in particular echoes one of his most celebrated images - David Blyth is about to take you on one hell of a joyride.

Maybe we should start by getting our heads around the plot. Susan (Kate O’Rourke) has a history of horrific abuse, which refuses to loosen its grip on her. Tanya (Te Kaea Beri) is a lost girl searching for the mother she never knew, confused and consumed by the lack of direction in her ‘life’. As the two seek reconciliation with their pasts, their paths become intertwined resulting in a surreal nightmare they may never wake up from. Not until there’s blood on the dance floor at the very least, and believe me when I say it, that day will come much sooner than you think. If it’s dreamlike flourishes and hypnotic visuals you’re after, look no further, Wound is opening up on UK shores this month courtesy of Cine Du Monde...Continue reading review.

Wound stills & trailer

Malaysian gore fest THE HUNTER gets a teaser

Malaysia’s first ever 3D movie, Bjarne Wong’s horror thriller The Hunter - based around the murderous activities of the headhunting tribes of Borneo - has upped the ante (and decapitations!) from the earlier released promo reel, with a full blown teaser trailer. Bloody fun may now commence....

Synopsis: A film crew from China is tasked to shoot exotic flora and fauna of the world’s mysterious 3rd largest island, Borneo. Historical treasures and hundred year old human skulls still hang in the almost untouched equatorial virgin rainforests native homes, in this the notorious tribal land of the Head-hunters. Locals known for their supernatural prowess, bravery and fighting abilities to survive had been at uncountable wars, ending always with enemy skulls brought back home as trophies. The head-hunters live by the hundreds under one common roof. They wear exquisite tribal tattoos over their bodies, intricate woven cloth, produce practical tools, and arts dedicated nature. But most of all, they craft the sacred and ferocious blades meant for ending their enemies lives, and without hesitation, separating skulls from the bodies. The journey began happily on Borneo Island, little did they expect that some would find love, passion and laughter while almost all will taste the stealthy killing power of the warriors enchanted blade around their necks.

Poster for fantasy action film MAGIC TO WIN

Fans of CGI fantasy fests read on. Director Wilson Yip heads further down the Yellow brick road from earlier works such as ‘Ip-man,’ Ip-man 2,’ and is taking a stab at action comedy with his latest movie...Magic to Win. Looking at the cup half full, its got a great cast! Here’s the poster and a summary of the “plot,” to whet your appetite. Magic to Win opens in Hong Kong in December.

Synopsis: The world is constituted of five elements: gold, wood, water, fire and earth. In the wizard world of Magic to Win, the story revolves around the “Five Element Wizardry”, portraying a story that surpasses our imagination. Hong Sum-Kwai, a university professor, is also the wizard of water. Although he casts magic spells in daily life, his abilities power remains a secret. Then by accident, his power is transmitted to his student, Macy, bringing an enchanting and meaningful adventure to this ordinary girl. The magical world has been peaceful until But Yeh-Mo, wizard of fire, finds the key to time travel in a bid of rewriting an important incident in his past — gathering the magical power of the five elements. When he asked Ling Fung, his newly met buddy as well as the wizard of earth, to give him a hand, Ling disagrees because changing the past can cause huge sacrifice. The two friends fall out. In attempt to stop But, Ling informs the other wizards about his dangerous plan. However, he is attacked by But and launches a magic battle in the library. Seriously injured, Ling becomes an invisible “particle man” without memory.

Redband US trailer for Takeshi Kitano’s OUTRAGE

The fact that Outrage marks Takeshi "Beat" Kitano's return to what we love him best for (I.E no holds barred yakuza bloodbaths) should be more than enough reason to want to see it, but here’s the newly unleashed red band trailer to seal the deal. Outrage will be available via Magnolia On-Demand on October 28 and in theatres, starting December 2.

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 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.

Watch the original trailer

Outrage official site 

 

STAKE LAND: DVD review

Director: Jim Mickle. Review: Adam Wing.

Hailed by some critics as "the American horror film of the year", the highly acclaimed Stake Land has a lot to live up to. Or does it? It’s not exactly been a stunning year for American horror movies, and the prospect of yet another vampire yarn doesn’t exactly set the heart racing. Comparisons to Zombieland are inevitable; it is after all a road movie that finds two strangers joining forces in the fight for survival. Not forgetting of course that both films end in the word ‘land’, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end with this sombre, moody and utterly compelling genre entry. Zombieland was a laugh-fuelled riot from start to finish, whereas Stake Land takes us on a far bleaker journey, think The Walking Dead with vampires and you’ll be a lot nearer the mark.

Bleak is one way of describing the events that take place in Stake Land - another one might be cataclysmic. When an epidemic of vampirism strikes, humans find themselves on the run from not only the undead, but from the rest of mankind as well. Cities are tombs and survivors are few and far between, forever on their guard, fearful of what might lurk beyond nightfall. When his family is slaughtered, young Martin (Connor Paolo) is taken under the wing of a no nonsense hunter who preys on the undead. Known only as Mister (Nick Damici), he teachers Martin his battle techniques and takes him on a journey through the desolate towns of America's heartland. There they face off against not only vampires, but also the fanatical savagery of a right wing religious cult known as The Brotherhood, in search a safe haven called New Eden. With enemies both dead and alive in every neighbourhood, Stake Land drives a wooden point through the heart of American cinema...Continue review here.

Stake Land trailer

English subbed trailer for HEADSHOT

A variation on an earlier theme - but always good to know what’s going on when you don’t speak the language. A while back we brought you a new trailer for Pen-ek Ratanaruang's ultra violent Thai thriller Headshot. This week we’ve got one for you, English subbed. Nice.

Synopsis: Tul, a hitman, is shot in the head during one assignment. He wakes up after a two-month coma to find that he sees everything upside down, literally. He goes back to his job, but his new affliction doesn't make things easy. Doubt starts to set in about what he does for living. But karma's a bitch, and the past starts to catch up with him. Then he meets a girl who turns his world even more upside down. Plus, who was trying to kill him in the first place?

 

Headshot trailer

New poster for Oxide Pang’s SLEEPWALKER

Just in time for its world premiere at this years Tokyo Film Festival, a stunning new poster has been release for Oxide Pang’s latest horror...Sleepwalker. The quality of movies from the Pang boys has been shall we say - up and down - over the last couple of years, but when they’re on (and it’s been a while) form, you can’t beat them. Here’s hoping the film matches the quality of the artwork. Sleepwalker opens in Hong Kong Oct 27 and we have a feeling we’ll be seeing it around here, soon enough.

Introduction: A woman linked to an unsolved child abduction begins to suspect her own behavior when asleep. Dreams, reality, past, and present intersect as the truth emerges...in 3D! From the director of The Eye.

Synopsis: Yee suffers from sleepwalking after a tragic incident and is completely unaware of her strange behavior, but all evidence implies that she is a suspect in a murder case. She crosses paths with Sergeant Au, who is investigating the case of her missing ex-husband. Au follows the clues hidden in Yee’s dream, but the corpse is nowhere to be found. Did Yee really kill someone when sleepwalking?

Sleepwalker poster

Spanish horror thriller KIDNAPPED escapes on to US DVD

Winner of Best Picture and Best Director honours at Fantastic Fest 2010 - Miguel Angel Vivas's Spanish, intense little ride of a home invasion horror thriller Kidnapped aka ‘Secuestrados’ was picked up for release in the U.S via IFC films back in May, and now finally (for those who haven’t yet dipped a toe into the world of VOD) you can get to see it Stateside, on DVD, from Nov 29. Well worth a look.

Synopsis: Jaime, Marta and their daughter Isa have just moved into a luxurious new house. Marta begins to prepare the dinner and puts a bottle of champagne on ice to celebrate the move. As night falls, three hooded men violently force their way into the house. Panic ensues and soon the real violence will begin.

Kidnapped Spanish trailer  

Five Star set to take us on a DARK FLIGHT in 3D

Early days for info on this one, but as the movie house behind Thailand’s first ever 3D movie is the high end production outfit Five Star Entertainment (who brought us some of the best ever Thai horror flicks (including; ‘Art of Devil 1,2,3,’ ‘Slice’ and ‘The Unseeable,’ to name but a few) we are whacking Isaara Nadee's Dark Flight 3D onto the must see list right now. So far we've got a teaser poster and a fairly detailed summary of the plot to go with, and as always - more when we get it. Check out Five Star's back catalogue, on their official site.

Synopsis: Thailand’s first 3D horror movie is ready to take off. It will be the darkest flight of your life. Ten years ago, a young air hostess, New, miraculously survived a plane crash. New insists that a vengeful spirit caused that accident, but her belief unsettled those around her and she had to go through a psycho-therapy. Now, the woman is ready to fly again. But on her first flight, New is struck by a disturbing feeling. The plane on which she’s working looks familiar, and New realizes that it’s actually the same aircraft that crashed ten years ago, though it has been repaired and repainted. New is gripped by terror, but there’s nothing she can do because the plane has already taken off, along with the same vengeful spirits that reside in it. Up in the air, the spirits are determined to take her life this time.

Five Star official site

Trailer for Daniel Lee’s WHITE VENGEANCE

Daniel Lee, the director behind 14 Blades and Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon has another historical action flick, White Vengeance, on its way and we've got the trailer for you here.

Due out in November, this one stars Leon Lai, Anthony Wong, Liu Yi-Fei, Jordan Chan and Zhang Han-Yu and is due for release in Hong Kong on November 24th. Keep an eye out for this one, as it looks like it could be Lee's best feature yet. Fingers crossed.

 

First teaser for Chinese epic LEGENDARY AMAZONS

Another historical Chinese action epic film is hitting screens on November 18th, and this time it's Frankie Chan's Legendary Amazons. Produced by Jackie Chan and featuring a star-studded cast including Cecilia Cheung, Richie Jen, Simon Yam, Chang Pei-Pei, Chang Chen and also featuring the return of Yukari Oshima to the big screen! Oshima is best known for her many low budget action films, which have gained her a bit of a cult following. This writer is certainly excited to see her back in the game.

The teaser is a short 30 seconds and doesn't give a whole lot to go on, but the cast alone makes this one worth watching out for. Over in China and Hong Kong, this flick is getting pushed pretty hard. There have been a lot of promotional materials released for the film already, including about out 20 different posters, which you can check out over at ChineseMov.com, and you can see a bunch of stills here and here at Sina.

Synopsis: Formerly titled Lady Generals Of The Yang Family, Legendary Amazons is based on a famous Chinese opera set in the Song Dynasty. When the men of the Yang Clan were massacred in battle, the women, from elderly grandmother to little sisters, put on armor and led the army to victory. A Yang family daughter-in-law, Mu Guiying, is a celebrated woman warrior in Chinese folklore.

Recent Entries