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News
Archive #3 April 2005 Cont.- March 2005 |
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The
Eye 2 (US DVD): The Pang Brothers sequel to their
film THE EYE is set for Lions Gate video release August 16 2005.
The film stars Shu Qi this time the recipient of the gift or
shall I say curse of the ability to see the undead. This is
brought on by a suicide attempt and she also discovers that
she is pregnant. This leads to some strange visions of the ghosts
and spirits of the dead as they walk among us. She can see them
and what is it they want with pregnant people? |
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Séance:
The Kiyoshi Kurosawa films Séance and Charisma
are both coming to US DVD in mid May 2005 from Home Vision Entertainment.
These two films from Kiyoshi Kurosawa are classified as thriller/suspense
films but are of interest to fans of the Asian horror genre.
Its great to see that HVE is releasing these DVDs and they will
now be available to region 1 DVD viewers. Séance is said
to be "A moody, atmospheric shocker from one of the most
exciting directors working today". |
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Sky
High: Sky High is now available from Media Blasters
on US region 1 DVD. Based on the manga by Tsutomu Takahashi
(Alive), follows detective Kanzaki Kohei's vengeful search for
the killer who stole his wife's heart after cutting it out on
their wedding night. A full length feature on this film will
be added to Kyonsi very soon. The film is by Ryuhei Kitamura
the Director of Down to Hell and Versus, as well as the upcoming
Versus 2. A must see film from an excellent director. |
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Hideaki
"Billy" Sekiguchi RIP: Asian Horror Zombie
Film Wild Zero actor and Bassist for extreme band Guitar Wolf,
Hideaki "Billy" Sekiguchi passed away. We are sorry
to report the news to you and send his friends and family our
regards. From the official website guitarwolf.net. We regret
to inform you that Hideaki Sekiguchi, a.k.a. Billy has passed
away by heart attack in the morning of March 31st., at the age
of 38. Guitar Wolf had just finished a month worth of shows
in No. America. |
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Yôkai
daisensô (aka Big Spook War) : Directed by Takashi
Miike and one of the stars is Chiaki Kuriyama (Battle Royale
and Kill Bill's Go-Go Yubari). She has gotten alot of attention
recently. Well this news should get your attention. The Old
Yokai Monsters genre has been resurrected and Yôkai daisensô
should be a trip you know. The original old films were a trip
so this Takashi Miike helmed film should be a super trip. Perhaps
even weirder than the originals? www.yokai-movie.com |
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New
Tomie Films: The newest Tomie installments are hitting
the screen in Japan this month April 2005. More horror awaits
in this series and they are bringing us more films releasing
both Tomie: Beginning and Tomie: Revenge in a short period of
time this month. The trailer I saw looks about the same as the
other installments in this series that must counting these two
flicks up to like 6 films. I have yet to review any of the Tomie's
on Kyonsi but will eventually. Site: www.tomie-movie.jp |
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P:
More Thai horror in the works, P is Based entirely
on mythology and common anecdotes, 'P' is a roller coaster ride
of chills and thrill, with a deep, dark, malevolent center.
In the remote North-East of Thailand, near the Cambodian border
– in the small villages around the towns of Surin, Si
Saket and Buriram, magic is a powerful force. I saw the stills
on the web site and read the full synopsis and this looks very
promising. More info to come soon. This is not just myth. It
is real. |
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The
Neighbor No. Thirteen: Upcoming psycho-suspense based
on a legendary manga by Santa Inoue about Juzo and his violent
alter ego Number 13, who takes out revenge on the man who bullied
him as a little boy. With a guest role by Takashi Miike (Pictured)
as an angry neighbor. Miike looks a bit concerned in this promo
picture. The film looks like it should be a kick ass genre mixing
revenge flick. It is sure to be violent, The film has a Japanese
Language website: www.rinjin13.com |
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Organ
Boxed: More Gore coming from Synapse. The Asian Cult
Cinema: Extreme Horror Collection featuring the films: Organ,
Evil Dead Trap, Entrails of a Virgin and Entrails of a Beautiful
Woman. This will be packed all together in one beautifully designed
collector’s slipcase. The special release will be limited
to Only 7,500 Copies and is set for a May 31, 2005 release.
This is good news for fans into some of the more extreme Asian
horror splatter films, Not for those with a weak stomach. |
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Tokyo
Zombie: Sakichi Sato screenwriter of Gozu and Ichi
the Killer is making a film that will mix the kung fu with the
zombie genre. From the looks of the picture it seems a bit comical?
Synopsis: A pair of expert jujitsu fighters Sho Aikawa &
Asano Tadanobu combine forces against an army of zombies. This
picture was posted on a german newsboard recently. I saw the
title listed on the official asanotadanobu.com while researching
Electric Dragon, then found some info in spanish and translated
it. |
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Death
Trance: The upcoming supernatural samurai adventure
Stars Tak (VERSUS) Sakaguchi and to be directed by Yuji Shimomura,
the action choreographer on Ryuhei Kitamura's VERSUS and ALIVE
(Media Blasters DVD). The executive producer Yoshinori Chiba
also has a long list of genre credits, including Takashi Miike's
FUDOH. The release of DEATH TRANCE will be accompanied by a
manga book series. Looks like a really good ones in the works. |
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Infection
(aka Kansen): This J-Horror release again shows up
on Kyonsi and will be playing at the Tribeca Film Fest in April.
In Kansen death is just a breath away in this horror film from
Japan that is set in a horrifying hospital whose overworked
staff is busy covering up their own malpractice until one patient
exhibits gruesome, and deadly, symptoms - and then disappears.
This is set for US DVD release also later this year from Lions
Gate. Dates at: www.tribecafilmfestival.org |
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Premonition
(aka Yogen): This other J-Horror Theater film will
also be playing at the Tribeca Film Fest 2005 and I am glad
they are showing some real Asian Horror films.This film and
Infection both look interesting. Created by the director of
one of the influential original Ring films. This time the malevolent
source is not a vicious videotape, but a mysterious newspaper
that predicts deaths, beginning with the daughter of the story's
protagonist. Dates at: www.tribecafilmfestival.org |
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Finger
of Doom: In Shaw Brothers news Finger of Doom was just
released and its good to see them put out another one of the
old school horror-kung fu flicks from the vault. Synopsis: From
its very first moment, when umbrella makers track a zombie burial
party carrying a red coffin filled with a living dead heroine,
you know you're in for something special. Mystery thrills, horror
chills, and kung-fu spills await anyone fighting villainous
Madame Kung Sun's "Finger of Doom. Sounds great to us... |
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The
Ring Trilogy: This Official 4 DVD Collector's Edition
of the Ring Trilogy has been completely remastered, and features
impeccable image quality along with new DTS and Dolby Digital
5.1 Surround audio option and improved subtitles. On the bonus
disc, Tartan Video UK is proud to offer an exclusive presentation
of Hideo Nakata's rare film Sleeping Bride. Stay tuned for more
info. Region 0 PAL. Most of you have All region and Pal coverters
so this is great news. www.tartanvideo.com |
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Danger
After Dark: The Philadelphia Film Fest is on April
7-20 2005 this year and they have racked up on great films again
this year. For Asian horror fans they have R-Point (S. Korean),
Spider Forest (S. Korean), Marebito (Japan Dir. Takashi Shimizu
"Juon"), One Missed Call (Takashi Miike), and the
pictured IZO (Takashi Miike). Also Oldboy (S. Korean by Park
Chan-wook) and action flicks like Arahan, Cutie Honey, Throw
Down and a ton more. Be There! www.phillyfests.com |
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Rahtree
Returns: Thai actress Chermarn Boonyasak returns in
the newest Rahtree horror film installment called Rahtree Returns
(Rahtree 2). I have just watched the trailer and the film looks
like a comedy horror genre film. Some robbers hide out in an
apartment complex and are faced with the haunting and perhaps
deadly specter of one of the units ghosts/demons. Looks like
some upcoming spooky yet comical Thai horror film fun. Site
and Trailer at: www.rahtreereturns.com |
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Longunis:
A film from "Versus" Director Ryuhei Kitamura
is making the rounds and should be of interest to Japanese horror
fans. The film is a short and clocks in at under 40 min's. I
will do a feature on this soon when I get a hold of the DVD.
Looks like the film will contain some vampiric content as well
as some mysterious story of the fabled Spear of Longunis. In
a military hospital, a soldier with what appears to be an animal
bite is brought in. Vampyric legends? Ryuhei Kitamura is great. |
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Electric
Dragon 80,000 Volts: The balls out Japanese film Starring
Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer, Gemini, and the Upcoming Ranpo
jigoku) will get a official US DVD release later this year from
the gorehounds at Unearthed Films in Florida. The trailer looks
like this short yet action packed flick will become one of the
hottest must see Japanese genre films coming to US release.
I will keep the news section updated as news on the DVD comes
in. Also upcoming from Unearthed is "ICHI 1". |
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Save
the Green Planet: Hits the big screen and NYC very
soon. Wednesday, April 20 - Tuesday, May 3 will be its 2 week
run at The Film Forum NYC Showtimes:1:30, 4:00, 7:20, 9:40.
This film was called "The most violent anti-violence movie
ever made" by my friends at Subway Cinema. I am doing a
full feature on this hilariously violent Science Fiction film
so stay tuned to the sitemap on Kyonsi. We are glad to bring
you this news and we hope you attend this upcoming big screen
event. |
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Bangkok
Haunted: The haunting horrorfest from Asia will be
released in the US from the new company Panik House in Los
Angeles, Ca. along with some other titles like Omen and The
Uninvited. Bangkok Haunted is a great film and is a trilogy
of stories from the darker side of Thailand. I am glad this
DVD as well as the other titles will see US version releases.
We at kyonsi.com wish the best of luck to Panik House and
the upcoming dvd releases. See our links page for banner link. |
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A
Chinese Ghost Story Box Set: Fortune Star in Asia just
released the Digitally Remastered, Letterboxed 16x9 enhanced
with DTS box set version of the A Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy.
It contains all three films A Chinese Ghost Story, A Chinese
Ghost Story 2 and A Chinese Ghost Story 3. The set also has
two interviews. This will be a great addition to the ghost genre
because of the Remastering. Alot of the VCD versions of the
past were from bad stock and looked inferior. |
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The
Eye 10: The third film involving The Eye and the Pang
Brothers will explore the ten different ways people can see
a ghost. The film comes out in Asia soon and the official website
is fully active. "The Eye" was a good horror film
that got an official (and flawless) DVD release here in the
US from Palm Pictures. "The Eye 2" was an interesting
release as well starring the beautiful Taiwanese starlet and
Playboy model Shu Qi. More news on The Eye 10 as its available.
See www.eye-ten.com |
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Bahay
Ni Lola 2: This Pinoy horror flick “Bahay Ni
Lola 2” should begin terrifying audiences out of their
homes very soon. I have seen the online trailer and the film
looks like an interesting ghost/haunted house flick. The film
will be released by Regal Entertainment Inc.. They have also
done other horror films from the Philippines like the still
somewhat new "Sigaw". The films website promises a
venture into a haunted house experience Filipino style. Trailer
at: www.bahaynilola2.com |
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Shutter:
Another Thailand shocker now on Asian DVD. Directed
by Parkpoom Wongpoom and starring Ananda Everingham and Natthaweeranuch
Thongmee. Shutter deals with a problem with strange and horrific
images appearing in photos taken. The images seem to have things
not there when the picture was taken, like a person behind you
or next to you etc. Some of the images are even completely blocking
the whole image. Ghosts show up on film and not in the room.
Snap... |
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Dark
Water (US): The Touchstone USA remake of the fine Japanese
film Honogurai mizu no soko kara aka "Dark Water"
comes out late summer 2005. Its was written by Koji (Ringu,
Ring 2) Suzuki the Japanese novelist behind the Ring series
of books and then films. It stars american actress Jennifer
Connelly. The film will have the same plotline as the Japanese
film and has a creepy old haunted apartment building with hidden
ghostly secrets. The newest in an upcoming slew of US Asian
remakes. |
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Sukeban
Films : Just announced is the release of a large set
of Sukeban Japanese titles from the new US company Panik House.
Sukeban is a street slang conjunction of Zubeko Bancho which
would literally translate as "bitch female boss".Sukeban
films are almost science fiction, at least in a sociological
sense, which is to say that they work as a collective cautionary
tale for Japan in much the same way that A Clockwork Orange
was in England. See our links page for banner link. |
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Battlefield
Baseball: Produced by Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus, Alive,
Azumi, and Aragami) Battlefield Baseball is the directorial
debut from Yudai Yamaguchi, Ryuhei Kitamura's assistant Director/Screenwriter
on "Versus". This US release of the Japanese horror
comedy will be in Region 1 / NTSC Format for the first time
officially. The DVD coming from new hard hitters in the Asian
and extreme genre Subversive Cinema it's going to be fully packed
with extras. Splatter Up.......... |
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