Release News - Asia Extreme Originals

THE ORIGINAL TASTE OF HORROR

Tartan’s Asia Extreme titles have become increasing popular with the public in both the UK and the US, offering powerful, innovative, unforgettable tales of terror and suspense. They are also amongst Tartan’s most successful titles ever. Now Hollywood has discovered the wealth of ideas and talent from Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea, creating its own versions of popular Asia titles. But Tartan was there first and the films continue to prove that the originals are still the tastiest and the best.

Japan’s master of suspense, Hideo Nakata, has provided the prime source for remakes with the horror classics RING and RING 2 (he directed both original and the US remake!). His DARK WATER has recently been remade by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries), whilst his CHAOS is currently rolling forward with Sexy Beast’s Jonathan Glazer directing, and starring Robert De Niro. Nakata himself is helming the English-language version of the Pang Brother’s THE EYE. Hong Kong’s intelligent cop thriller INFERNAL AFFAIRS has spawned two sequels, INFERNAL AFFAIRS II and III, but Martin Scorsese has just completed his reworked version, The Departed, which pairs Leonardo Di Caprio with Matt Damon.

OLD BOY has won universal praise from critics and audiences alike, becoming a top seller on DVD for Tartan. Park Chan-wook’s seminal revenge movie from Korea, which won praise from Tarantino, is now being remade by Justin (Better Luck Tomorrow) Lin, with Nicholas Cage in the lead role. His earlier film, J.S.A. - Joint Security Area is all set for its US makeover, set on the Mexican/US border, and directed by Gladiator scriptwriter David Franzoni, here making his directorial debut.

Korea’s is the latest cinematic treasure trove being plundered. The ghostly R-POINT, one of the Korea’s Top 5 box-office hits of all time, is set in the jungle of Vietnam and has just been released in cinemas by Tartan Films. But, once again, the remake is already preparing to roll under the helm of Hero’s Zhang Yimou. The visually stunning psychological thriller, A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, Korea’s most successful horror film to date, is also being lined up for the English-language treatment by Dreamworks.

The wealth of talent and terror that is Asian cinema continues to brim with exciting chillers ripe for the picking by Hollywood but the cream of the crop is already available or lined up for DVD release on Tartan’s Asia Extreme label. Among the gems to look out for in coming months are SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE, TELL ME SOMETHING, and A BITTERSWEET LIFE. So why wait for Hollywood when you can have true, undiluted horror permeating your living room now!

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