The Horror! The Horror! – Week Five Feb 18 – Feb 25th

Good morning, fellow- festers! As the nights of February get colder and colder, the joy of sitting in warm, darkened rooms, watching an endless amount of movies becomes even more visible. Back with another edition of out little column of tidbits, news, rumors and information, let’s see if we can’t come up with something that will appeal to every one of you.

Although Southland Tales might not have been the follow-up everyone had been expecting, there was no denying the fact that Richard Kelly has talent. His next project, however, could be the turnaround point for him to regain some of the regard he has lot within the past year. The Box is thriller based on a story by Richard Matheson – it tells the story of a story of a desperate couple, Norma and Arthur Lewis, who are faced with a terrible dilemma when a mysterious glass box turns up at their door.  If they press the button inside the box, they’ll get enough money to save their ailing son, but in exchange, someone, somewhere in the world will die.  To ruin anymore of this excellent story would be a crime so let us just say that the film star Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as the couple who find the box and that the film is scheduled for a release in 2008. Here’s hoping this one actually pulls through.

Midway through the next week I came across an excellent and beautiful poster for a new Korean horror film called G.P. 506. Directed by Su-Chang Kong, the man behind the fun R-Point, Guard Point 506 tells the story of a group of Korean soldiers sent to investigate a virus at Guard Point 506 which is turning people into zombie like killers. You can catch the teaser for what is looking out to be a great little zombie title here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmIhQBCtmFA

Next week, I also came across the trailer for the new Art Of The Devil film, Art Of The Devil 3. Keen-eyed readers might remember the excellent and gory Art Of The Devil 2 from a few years back (trailer here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7JsYtPYCGxw) with its’ weird blend of mystical stuff and out and out body horror – now Art Of The Devil 3 promises bring more of the same, which can only mean a good ride for us horror fans: Trailer here: http://www.longkhong2.com/ (Do not be confused by the 2 at the end of the original title – in Thailand Art Of The Devil is a separate film from the two sequels that followed it with Art Of The Devil 2 being released as Longk Khong and Art Of The Devil 3 a sequel to Longk Khong and therefore being Longk Khong 2)

I don’t know how many of you out there had the pleasure of catching ‘Dog Bite Dog’ a brutal, nasty, extremely well-filmed and beautifully written Korean film that did something different with its’ natural fight scene but the director has a new project coming up titled ‘Assassins’. Starring Louis Koo and Richie Jen, the film will tell the story of a group of assassins who find themselves forced to meet each other for the first time when their facilitator and mastermind gets locked up by the special police force. Further details are a little sketchy on the title right now but I’ll be sure to let you know when more filters through.

A hard core action thriller from Britain! Yes, you did hear me correctly: a new film by the name of The Tournament is getting ready to be released: Every ten years in an unsuspecting town, 'The Tournament' takes place. A battle royale between 40 of the world's deadliest assassins, with the last man (or woman) standing receiving the $10,000,000 cash prize and the title of Worlds No 1 which itself, carries the legendary million dollar bullet price tag. All fights are monitored 24 hours a day on redirected CCTV camera and broadcast secretly to a ring of high stake billionaire gamblers. 'The Tournament' brings together international killers from every imaginable discipline in a blood-bathed contest to the death. We follow the 'favourites' through stories of love, betrayal, revenge and redemption as they finally discover the value of life. Starring none other than Robert Carlyle and Ving Rhames and produced by Keith Bell who produced both of Neil Marshall’s films Dog Soldiers and The Descent, The Tournament sounds like it might be one heck of a ride! (Little gossip here: Before the weekend an unedited promo reel was leaked onto the internet – and it looked rather good! It has been removed now for obvious reasons for with a digging around who knows what you might be able to watch?)

A new Malaysian horror film by the name of Susuk has appeared on the list of up-and-coming titles. Due out in Malaysia in Spring, the film has been delayed from 2007 because of production problems but is now back on track. Susuk refers in Malaysia to the forbidden act of inserting and embedding foreign objects such as gold, silver, and diamonds under a person's skin in order to increase the person's allure. The story of the film concerns Soraya who is a young trainee nurse who feels disaffected by her life. A chance introduction to the world of glamour piques her earlier ambition to be a star. She does not succeed at first, but she is told that the forbidden practice of susuk can help. She has to make a choice whether to stay the way she is, or cross the line... Meanwhile, Suzana is a prominent diva with an air of mystery. She has long been a practitioner of the black arts due to her use of the extreme susuk keramat. Every time she violates a taboo, a human life is required.

And finally let us finish this week with a trailer for the new Stuart Gordon movie, Stuck. Some lucky souls have already seen this at last year’s Fantastic Fest and I can only sigh in anticipation and exasperation when I think about when us poor plebs will get it. Enjoy for now! http://youtube.com/watch?v=wREl4FKtSN8&feature=related

Until next time I remain yours faithfully;

Evrim ‘The Duke’ Ersoy

P.s. Let me make two last recommendations: Johnny To’s Mad Detective and Takashi Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django: two reasons why my weekend was absolutely awesome! Both films have trailers out right now, so , go and watch and see if they don’t excite you! And also as a brief side-note, the remake of The Day Of The Dead was nowhere as awful as the early reviews indicate: it might not be anything special but it sure is not deserving of all the slack it’s receiving. In fact the only major problem with the film is its’ awful dialogue and Mena Suvari who cannot carry a film by herself!

Back to
Blog Central