Directed by Kevin Ko, 2009
Written by Sung In, Carolyn Lin
Taiwanese horror doesn’t have much brand identity.  In a way that makes it one of the more interesting Asian nations getting in on the International horror scene.  Korea, Japan and (most recently) Thailand all have emerged with their own symbolic staples both in front of and [...]

I figured a second review of THIRST was best reserved for when the film expanded to several new cities.  What a coincidence that 8/14/09 marks just such an occasion.  Click here for a list of theaters hosting the badass Korean mamajama.

Directed by Chan-wook Park, 2009
Written by Seo-Gyeong Jeong, Chan-wook Park
A film’s title can often be [...]

Brace yourselves, what I’m about to show you is a trailer for THE UNBELIEVABLE, “A documentary film of an alternate dimension”.  If I understand things correctly, it’s just a feature length compilation of stuff from a television show chronicling maybe-but-probably-not true hauntings and what nots.  I actually saw part of the show in my hotel [...]

Directed by Chan-wook Park, 2009
Written by Seo-Gyeong Jeong, Chan-wook Park
When I bought my wife’s engagement ring I was in over my head.  I knew nothing about rings, I knew nothing about diamonds and I knew nothing about purchasing a ring with a diamond in it.  She gave me a list of what to look for [...]

Written and Directed by Sopon Sukdapisit, 2008

It’s no secret that I am partial to Thai horror.   Because the US has no counterpart to it, I envy the genuine superstition for the afterlife found in Thai culture.  We have no nation spanning fears of spirits, which is precisely why American horror pales in the ghost department [...]

The Internet, many things it may be, is not stingy, so I suppose the rest of you can go ahead and watch this trailer for Park Chan-wook’s vampire film THIRST, but in truth this post is dedicated to Randy the Mountain Man.
Randy, who you may know/disagree with as the music reviewer around these parts, is [...]

I was out of town last weekend when I saw the press release for IFC’s upcoming slate of ‘Midnight’ movies’ and got excited to the point that I was sad I’d have to wait a few more days to spread the word in this here post.  I’ll get to why in a minute.
Firstly, if you’re [...]

To us round eye Asia has taken on a schema of quirkiness.  Like a dear friend, merely invoking its name has become a justification of manners.  Example: “He threw up in your parent’s bed?  That’s so Cody!”  “THE GIRLS REBEL FORCE OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS ended with a girl shooting a laser beam out of her [...]

Directed by Pil-Sung Yim, 2007
Written Pil-Sung Yim, Min-sook Kim
I once suckled on the cinematic teet of Asia.  Dramas, romantic comedies, action, horror – I was all over it.  Three years later, I’m all but over it.  I wish I knew whether it was me or the movies that changed, but they just don’t wow me [...]

Directed by Kôji Kawano, 2007
Written by Satoshi Ôwada
Do not be deceived by the title of the year: THE GIRLS REBEL FORCE OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS.  Do not be deceived by a cover featuring swimsuit clad girls holding baseball bats and chainsaws.  Do not be deceived when I say that GIRLS REBEL FORCE features a math teacher [...]

Written and Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom, 2007

I imported Shutter on a whim nearly three years ago.  This was when I was going to FSU, living by myself in a one-bedroom.  More specifically, it was during a period when I was watching Asian films almost exclusively — somewhere in the neighborhood of 12+ per [...]

Directed by Chukiat Sakweerakul, 2006Written by Chukiat Sakweerakul, based on the comic by Eakasit Thairatana

13 Beloved is not a horror movie.  It is a dark, brutal comedy with a plot that should fit snugly into the heart of any genre fan.  I’m not sure it has the international notoriety, yet, but I firmly believe that [...]

Directed by Patchanon Thammajira, 2006

I’ve had my eye on Colic ever since its original teaser poster popped up at the HK Filmmart.  And by popped up, I mean jumped off the screen and shoved its mutilated baby arm in your face.  That poster is the greatest teaser poster ever made.  End of discussion.
A slab of [...]

Directed by Joon-ho Bong, 2006

Expectations. 
I’m the first to confess my excitement regarding a film before its release, especially when said excitement borders on delirium.  I’m also the first to confess my disappointment when expectations aren’t met – and typically when that happens, I cast my words into a river of sadness with anger tied [...]

Here I am to keep with my original promise to let everyone know every little thing that I can find out about the movie with that incendiary poster.  The teaser trailer was pretty cool, but now the the full trailer has raised the bar once again.  I’m talking to the point where I was [...]

If you watched the video posted a few weeks back, you’ll have seen some of this footage, but even with any familiarity and the language barrier, it looks like city-wide monster mayhem perfection.
The Host’s native theatrical release is in a few weeks, but if Korea’s DVD habits keep up, I’ll have a copy in the [...]

I had no clue what it was about, but I was sold on Colic months ago.  Now KFCC has gotten the heads up on an actual synopsis, as well as a link to the official site, which contains the first teaser trailer for it.
Can any moving images ever live up to that poster? 
It looks [...]

Directed by Takashi Miike, 1999

Even though it’s only seven or so years old, Audition is almost a legendary film already.  It doesn’t have a mainstream following yet, but it’s the kind of viral movie that one of your friends sees and then says, "Dude, you’ve GOT to see this one Japanese movie!  It’s so fucked [...]

Directed by Su-chang Kong, 2004

The Tartan Asia Extreme (a company I truly respect, so you should too) R1 release of Korea’s R-Point touts on the cover, “The best military-guys-meet-supernatural-evil flick since Dog Soldiers.” That may be true, but it isn’t saying much. First off, there are only a handful of army v. supernatural [...]

Directed by Fruit Chan, 2004

I’d been waiting months for the R1 release of Three.. Extremes – as opposed to ‘importing’ the bootleg – because I knew the second disc was going to be the feature length cut of Fruit Chan’s Dumplings, which is easily the high tide line of the trilogy of shorts. It [...]