thai horror Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Admittedly the news that Paramount has abandoned their remake of Paranormal Activity in favor of releasing an original film for a change is interesting news, but within the same Variety profile of Steven Schneider (one of their "10 Producers to Watch") baring that particular revelation is even cooler news. Oddly enough what has me all a flutter is not even buried deep within the article, it's in the opening sentence, "With "Paranormal Activity" readying to open via Paramount and a raft of projects poised at other venues -- including "The Colony" at Participant, "Sacred Prey" at Warner Bros. and "13: Game of Death" at Dimension -- Steven Schneider may become the dark genre's warlock of choice."

Wait a sec. "13: Game of Death" at Dimension"? Apparently I'm the only one who cares about the accidental announcement that a remake of the coolest genre movie to come out of Thailand in years is no longer just hypothetical. I know the rights to 13:GOD were purchased by the Weinsteins well over a year ago, but such behavior is not out of the norm (buying the remake rights to obscure foreign films is a morning ritual for those two). As expected, there has been zero visible movement towards making the film a reality until now. And considering one of Variety's "10 Producers to Watch For" is involved, I'd say it finally has a fighting chance to see the light of day.

Has anyone kept track of all the remakes of Asian horror films? It fairly numbs the mind to even begin counting, as soulless and derivative as they are. I know I've had to slog out to the Cineplex many an opening Friday to catch the latest one that was withheld from press screenings. Even the originals begin to blur together, following the same formula of a wronged spirit -- usually a ghostly girl with stringy black hair and hollow eyes -- entering into the lives of unsuspecting people, often through technology. Usually the heroes think they've solved the riddle at some point, but there's always one more overlooked step at the climax. Very often in the middle the heroes find themselves someplace like a library or an office building that's supposed to be brightly lit, but instead is illuminated only by a few buzzing gray lights. The original Shutter (2004) is different only because it originated in Thailand -- and is set in Bangkok -- rather than Japan. The new American remake squashes even that one unique factor by turning right around and setting the story among Americans in Tokyo.

Ben Shaw (Joshua Jackson) is a professional photographer newly married to blonde hottie Jane (Rachael Taylor), who apparently works as a 6th grade teacher and not a photographer's model. (Um... yeah. How did they meet again?) Just after their honeymoon, they land in Tokyo so that Ben can start his amazing new job, shooting colorful layouts of geisha girls. On the road, their car strikes a girl, though no evidence of her body is ever found. More strange things begin happening. White streaks appear in Ben's photos and Jane begins seeing the girl all over the place. With a little detective work, Jane discovers that Ben actually knew her. She was Megumi Tanaka (Megumi Okina), a shy, uncertain translator. Ben may have been her first love, but he didn't love her quite the same and things ended badly. So why, then, are Ben's buddies Bruno (David Denman) and Adam (John Hensley) suddenly dying?