Soulsborne games are notorious for being difficult; however, the amount of love and dedication that goes into making them from Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team at FromSoftware is completely unparalleled in the gaming industry. Masterpieces like Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Bloodborne have catapulted the studio into the mainstream, and for good reason.
With breathtaking worlds, stories, and weaponry, the inspirations behind such works require an equal amount of appreciation. Particularly in the case of Bloodborne and, surprisingly, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a world-renowned Seinen anime paved the way to creating these two jaw dropping experiences.
Blood and Blades: The Inspiration Taken from Blade of the Immortal
A lot of Bloodborne‘s trick weapons are inspired by this anime.
Originally created by mangaka Hiroaki Samura, Blade of the Immortal is about a cursed samurai attempting to regain his mortality by killing a thousand wrongdoers. The manga has received two anime adaptations,...
With breathtaking worlds, stories, and weaponry, the inspirations behind such works require an equal amount of appreciation. Particularly in the case of Bloodborne and, surprisingly, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a world-renowned Seinen anime paved the way to creating these two jaw dropping experiences.
Blood and Blades: The Inspiration Taken from Blade of the Immortal
A lot of Bloodborne‘s trick weapons are inspired by this anime.
Originally created by mangaka Hiroaki Samura, Blade of the Immortal is about a cursed samurai attempting to regain his mortality by killing a thousand wrongdoers. The manga has received two anime adaptations,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Adil Farooq
- FandomWire
Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike has over 115 directing credits to his name, and it has only taken him 33 years to reach that impressive number. One of his latest credits came on a blood-soaked horror thriller called Lumberjack the Monster, and the folks at Rue Morgue have confirmed that Lumberjack the Monster is going to be available to watch on the Netflix streaming service as of June 1st.
Before the film reaches Netflix, New York City’s Japan Society (located at 333 East 47th Street) will be hosting its the North American premiere screening on Monday, May 6 at 8pm. Rue Morgue notes, “There will also be a pre-screening reception at 7pm with beverages donated by Sapporo-Stone Brewing and Brooklyn Kura. The screening is being presented in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Festival, as part of its Escape from Tribeca program.”
Lumberjack the Monster is based on a novel by Mayusuke Kurai and stars Kazuya Kamenashi,...
Before the film reaches Netflix, New York City’s Japan Society (located at 333 East 47th Street) will be hosting its the North American premiere screening on Monday, May 6 at 8pm. Rue Morgue notes, “There will also be a pre-screening reception at 7pm with beverages donated by Sapporo-Stone Brewing and Brooklyn Kura. The screening is being presented in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Festival, as part of its Escape from Tribeca program.”
Lumberjack the Monster is based on a novel by Mayusuke Kurai and stars Kazuya Kamenashi,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Prolific genre filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer) is back with Lumberjack the Monster, an adaptation of Kaibutsu no Kikori by Mayusuke Kurai. And it’s heading to Netflix this summer.
It’s going to be battle to the death between a serial killer and a psychopath.
Lumberjack the Monster will make its North American premiere on May 6 at the Japan Society, in partnership with Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca, ahead of its Netflix debut on June 1, 2024.
In the film, “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a monster mask. Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murders occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies.
It’s going to be battle to the death between a serial killer and a psychopath.
Lumberjack the Monster will make its North American premiere on May 6 at the Japan Society, in partnership with Tribeca Festival’s Escape from Tribeca, ahead of its Netflix debut on June 1, 2024.
In the film, “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a monster mask. Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murders occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies.
- 4/11/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Masashi Kishimoto’s legendary work, Naruto, has heavily inspired the anime industry very much. His work led the anime world to grow to extreme levels and gain international recognition. Not only that, the series also inspired a lot of other manga artists for their individual works.
Naruto
The tale of Naruto Uzumaki is one of the most interesting storylines, but the one thing that separates it from other anime and manga series is the action sequences that Kishimoto designed in a way that captivated the audience. It was a mixture of hand-to-hand combats and energy techniques.
However, even legendary manga artists like Kishimoto drew inspiration for the action sequences in Naruto, from another mangaka. In an interview, Kishimoto revealed that he was heavily inspired by Hiroaki Samura, the creator of Blade of the Immortal which is also one of the best mangas ever been created.
Masashi Kishimoto Drew Heavy Inspiration...
Naruto
The tale of Naruto Uzumaki is one of the most interesting storylines, but the one thing that separates it from other anime and manga series is the action sequences that Kishimoto designed in a way that captivated the audience. It was a mixture of hand-to-hand combats and energy techniques.
However, even legendary manga artists like Kishimoto drew inspiration for the action sequences in Naruto, from another mangaka. In an interview, Kishimoto revealed that he was heavily inspired by Hiroaki Samura, the creator of Blade of the Immortal which is also one of the best mangas ever been created.
Masashi Kishimoto Drew Heavy Inspiration...
- 3/20/2024
- by Tarun Kohli
- FandomWire
Here’s a nice surprise to get you over Hump Day: Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike secretly shot a 19-minute short film, titled “Midnight,” on an Apple iPhone 15 Pro. Apple quietly released the film on YouTube.
“Midnight,” originally a manga by Osamu Tezuka and directed for film by Miike, follows a mysterious taxi driver, Midnight, who lends a hand to Kaede, a young girl chased by assassins. This dude is a hell of a lot better than that “Cash Cab” guy, and “Midnight” is a hell of a lot better than your home iPhone videos.
Midnight can see the near future, which makes him one of the only people outside of Miike himself who saw this film coming. But when you do see it, you’ll probably want to trade in your Samsung device.
The short film is visually stunning, especially when you consider its camera — Miike’s iPhone has no...
“Midnight,” originally a manga by Osamu Tezuka and directed for film by Miike, follows a mysterious taxi driver, Midnight, who lends a hand to Kaede, a young girl chased by assassins. This dude is a hell of a lot better than that “Cash Cab” guy, and “Midnight” is a hell of a lot better than your home iPhone videos.
Midnight can see the near future, which makes him one of the only people outside of Miike himself who saw this film coming. But when you do see it, you’ll probably want to trade in your Samsung device.
The short film is visually stunning, especially when you consider its camera — Miike’s iPhone has no...
- 3/6/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Key highlights this February on the essential, alternative streaming service Arrow include a second season of films from the legendary Brazilian director José Mojica Marins, a devilish double-bill from Spanish director Álex de la Iglesia, a season of wonderfully weird short films, Valentine’s Day done Arrow-style, and much more.
In February, Arrow presents a season of bite-sized shocks in the form of the very best wild and weird short films, including Smile, the extraordinarily imaginative and disturbing award-winning short from director Joanna Tsanis; as well as The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras, a Welsh language folk horror film about modern Wales, rooted in the country’s rich mythology, shot on 16mm and featuring a score by Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan from The Super Furry Animals; and ab adaptation of the famous short story by W.W. Jacobs, The Monkey’s Paw, produced by the newly revived Hammer Films, and...
In February, Arrow presents a season of bite-sized shocks in the form of the very best wild and weird short films, including Smile, the extraordinarily imaginative and disturbing award-winning short from director Joanna Tsanis; as well as The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras, a Welsh language folk horror film about modern Wales, rooted in the country’s rich mythology, shot on 16mm and featuring a score by Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan from The Super Furry Animals; and ab adaptation of the famous short story by W.W. Jacobs, The Monkey’s Paw, produced by the newly revived Hammer Films, and...
- 2/12/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
The annual Anime! Anime! General Election has unveiled the winners of the “Most Recommended Male Voice Actor” of 2023 on Dec 29, 2023.
The survey period spanned from Nov 15, 2023, to Dec 15, 2023, during which over 3,000 anime fans participated. With a majority of female respondents, accounting for approximately 65%, with 35% being male, the survey captured the sentiments of a diverse audience ranging from those under 19 to individuals in their 40s.
Participants were asked to identify the voice actors who left a lasting impression, whether through their roles in various anime or their appearances in other forms of entertainment. The criteria ranged from the most active and impactful voice actor of the year to the one fans found themselves recommending the most.
Checkout the top 20 most recommended male voice actors of 2023 below:
20. Takahiro Sakurai
Notable roles: Kenjaku / Suguru Geto in Jujutsu Kaisen, Giyu Tomioka in Demon Slayer, Reigen Arataka in Mob Psycho
19. Akira Kamiya
Notable roles: Ryo Saeba in City Hunter,...
The survey period spanned from Nov 15, 2023, to Dec 15, 2023, during which over 3,000 anime fans participated. With a majority of female respondents, accounting for approximately 65%, with 35% being male, the survey captured the sentiments of a diverse audience ranging from those under 19 to individuals in their 40s.
Participants were asked to identify the voice actors who left a lasting impression, whether through their roles in various anime or their appearances in other forms of entertainment. The criteria ranged from the most active and impactful voice actor of the year to the one fans found themselves recommending the most.
Checkout the top 20 most recommended male voice actors of 2023 below:
20. Takahiro Sakurai
Notable roles: Kenjaku / Suguru Geto in Jujutsu Kaisen, Giyu Tomioka in Demon Slayer, Reigen Arataka in Mob Psycho
19. Akira Kamiya
Notable roles: Ryo Saeba in City Hunter,...
- 12/30/2023
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
Blue Eye Samurai is an adult action anime created by Michael Green and Amber Noizumi. The Netflix animated series is set in Japan’s Edo period (17th century), and it revolves around a mixed-race swordmaster Mizu in her quest for revenge. So, if you loved the animated series, here are some similar shows you could watch next.
Samurai Champloo (Hulu & Prime Video Add-On)
Synopsis: Gintama is a story of a handyman named Gintoki, a samurai with no respect for rules set by the invaders, who’s ready to take any job to survive. He and his gang, however, are also among the very few who have not forgotten the morale of a swordsman. Wherever they go, all they do is to create troubles. Troubles that they of course try to solve, but in reality…
Dororo (Rent on Prime Video)
Synopsis: In Japan’s Warring States period, Lord Daigo Kagemitsu makes a pact with 12 demons,...
Samurai Champloo (Hulu & Prime Video Add-On)
Synopsis: Gintama is a story of a handyman named Gintoki, a samurai with no respect for rules set by the invaders, who’s ready to take any job to survive. He and his gang, however, are also among the very few who have not forgotten the morale of a swordsman. Wherever they go, all they do is to create troubles. Troubles that they of course try to solve, but in reality…
Dororo (Rent on Prime Video)
Synopsis: In Japan’s Warring States period, Lord Daigo Kagemitsu makes a pact with 12 demons,...
- 11/5/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Nothing gold can stay, and to make room for everything new at Hulu in November, we have to say goodbye to dozens of the series and movies on the platform. The streamer will make room for its upcoming Christmas library by losing some of its horror-themed titles throughout the month, including “Stephen King's It,” most of its “Saw” franchise, and “Shaun Of The Dead.” Other major titles leaving the platform include Emma Stone’s breakthrough comedy “Easy A,” the Nora Ephron classic “Sleeping in Seattle,” and more.
Check out The Streamable’s top picks for what to catch this month on Hulu before they’re gone!
30-Day Free Trial $7.99+ / month hulu.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Hulu in November 2023? “A Walk to Remember” | Friday, Nov. 3
Before “The Notebook,” “A Walk to Remember” was the go-to Nicholas Sparks coming-of-age schmaltz. Mandy Moore makes her film starring debut...
Check out The Streamable’s top picks for what to catch this month on Hulu before they’re gone!
30-Day Free Trial $7.99+ / month hulu.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Leaving Hulu in November 2023? “A Walk to Remember” | Friday, Nov. 3
Before “The Notebook,” “A Walk to Remember” was the go-to Nicholas Sparks coming-of-age schmaltz. Mandy Moore makes her film starring debut...
- 10/31/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
While Konami seems to have been hogging all of the animated Netflix video game adaptations lately, Capcom has countered with a new trailer for Onimusha, which is set to start streaming on November 2. Set to “The Loneliest” by Måneskin, the trailer doesn’t get into the demon-slaying that the video games are known for just yet, but that’s quickly rectified.
Unlike the Castlevania Netflix adaptations, Onimusha instead utilizes 3D animation with a cel-shaded art style from animation studio Sublimation and director Shinya Sugai, whose work includes the CG anime adaptation of another Capcom property, Dragon’s Dogma.
Directed by Takashi Miike and featuring the voice talents of Akio Otsuka, Toshihiko Seki, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura and Katsuyuki Konishi, Onimusha will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.
Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history,...
Unlike the Castlevania Netflix adaptations, Onimusha instead utilizes 3D animation with a cel-shaded art style from animation studio Sublimation and director Shinya Sugai, whose work includes the CG anime adaptation of another Capcom property, Dragon’s Dogma.
Directed by Takashi Miike and featuring the voice talents of Akio Otsuka, Toshihiko Seki, Hochu Otsuka, Daiki Yamashita, Subaru Kimura and Katsuyuki Konishi, Onimusha will focus on Miyamoto Musashi, who is modeled after Japanese film icon Toshiro Mifune.
Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
Prolific genre filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi the Killer) is back with Lumberjack the Monster, an adaptation of Kaibutsu no Kikori by Mayusuke Kurai. A brand new Japanese teaser trailer highlights the violence in store when a serial killer crosses paths with a psychopath.
The trailer introduces a Patrick Bateman-like psycho and a masked killer that may prove even more bloodthirsty, teasing a hyper-violent grudge match for the ages. The film’s official site explains, “A series of bizarre murders in which people wear a monster mask from the picture book ‘Monster Woodcutter’ and steal their brains with an axe.” The teaser also touts Miike’s feature as “insanely suspenseful.”
Whoever loses, all signs point to audiences winning. Miike always delivers on the unexpected and never shies away from pushing boundaries when it comes to violence or taboos.
Lumberjack the Monster is slated for theatrical release in Japan on December...
The trailer introduces a Patrick Bateman-like psycho and a masked killer that may prove even more bloodthirsty, teasing a hyper-violent grudge match for the ages. The film’s official site explains, “A series of bizarre murders in which people wear a monster mask from the picture book ‘Monster Woodcutter’ and steal their brains with an axe.” The teaser also touts Miike’s feature as “insanely suspenseful.”
Whoever loses, all signs point to audiences winning. Miike always delivers on the unexpected and never shies away from pushing boundaries when it comes to violence or taboos.
Lumberjack the Monster is slated for theatrical release in Japan on December...
- 6/7/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The world of Asian cinema has seen a vast share of their most recent fare emanating from manga adaptations, with titles ranging from Rurouni Kenshin, “Death Note,” Blade of the Immortal, and Gantz finding their inspiration coming from its pages. Such is the origins of the latest Netflix release in Eiichiro Hasumi's adaptation of “Re/Member,” which started out as a multi-year run in the early 2010s and was followed by an anime adaptation several years later before this current live-action feature.
After what seems to be a normal day, high-school student Asuka (Kanna Hashimoto) sees the ghost of the dead student Haruka at school, asking her to find the girl's dead body. When she and Takahiro (Gordon Maeda), Atsushi, (Fuju Kamio), Rumiko (Maika Yamamoto), Rie (Mayu Yokota), and Shota (Kotaro Daigo), a group of students, set out to find the various scattered pieces of Haruka's corpse buried in the school,...
After what seems to be a normal day, high-school student Asuka (Kanna Hashimoto) sees the ghost of the dead student Haruka at school, asking her to find the girl's dead body. When she and Takahiro (Gordon Maeda), Atsushi, (Fuju Kamio), Rumiko (Maika Yamamoto), Rie (Mayu Yokota), and Shota (Kotaro Daigo), a group of students, set out to find the various scattered pieces of Haruka's corpse buried in the school,...
- 3/27/2023
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
It feels just like last month we were complimenting Hulu on its true crime offerings. Well, with its list of new releases for February 2023, Hulu is staying in the true crime lane. Suppose that’ll happen when you push back the release date of a series or two.
February sees the arrival of three notable true crime series on Hulu. Taiwan Crime Stories premieres on Feb. 1 and presents four true tales from Taiwan’s criminal “dark underbelly.” That will be followed by ABC News Studios’ Killing County on Feb. 3. That three-episode series ponders the question “what happens when police kill?” The most interesting true crime offering premieres on Feb. 9. That’s when Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence College shares its four-episode saga of Larry Ray and the young college students he victimized.
As far as non true crime offerings go, the third and final season of Hulu...
February sees the arrival of three notable true crime series on Hulu. Taiwan Crime Stories premieres on Feb. 1 and presents four true tales from Taiwan’s criminal “dark underbelly.” That will be followed by ABC News Studios’ Killing County on Feb. 3. That three-episode series ponders the question “what happens when police kill?” The most interesting true crime offering premieres on Feb. 9. That’s when Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence College shares its four-episode saga of Larry Ray and the young college students he victimized.
As far as non true crime offerings go, the third and final season of Hulu...
- 2/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The May 2022 lineup at Mubi here in the United States has been unveiled, most notably featuring a Cannes Takeover timed with the 75th edition of the festival. At long last, Arnaud Desplechin’s Philip Roth adaptation Deception will arrive stateside alongside Karim Ainouz’s documentary Mariner of the Mountains. Reaching further back into the festival’s history, Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure and The Square, David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, Gaspar Noé’s Irreversible, and Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank will also come to the service.
Their Franz Rogowski series will also continue with Great Freedom and Love Steaks, while works from Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Gia Coppola, Joachim Trier, Jeff Nichols, Satyajit Ray, Takashi Miike, and more will also arrive.
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
5/1/2022 | Everybody Street | Cheryl Dunn
5/2/2022 | Love Steaks | Jakob Lass
5/3/2022 | Our Lady of the Nile | Atiq Rahimi
5/4/2022 | Time Piece | Jim Henson
5/5/2022 | R100 | Hitoshi Matsumoto...
Their Franz Rogowski series will also continue with Great Freedom and Love Steaks, while works from Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Gia Coppola, Joachim Trier, Jeff Nichols, Satyajit Ray, Takashi Miike, and more will also arrive.
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
5/1/2022 | Everybody Street | Cheryl Dunn
5/2/2022 | Love Steaks | Jakob Lass
5/3/2022 | Our Lady of the Nile | Atiq Rahimi
5/4/2022 | Time Piece | Jim Henson
5/5/2022 | R100 | Hitoshi Matsumoto...
- 4/28/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
To complement Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s grieving, soft-spun vision for “Drive My Car,” which has received four Oscar noms including director and best picture, the choice of composer to create a melodramatic and delicate score was crucial.
Enter Eiko Ishibashi, an experimental Japanese multi-instrumentalist whose 2018 “The Dream My Bones Dream” was a turning point in an already decade-long career of scores for theater and short films.
Ishibashi’s 2018 album of haunting soundscapes and its electro-acoustic mix of noise, oddball pop, improvisational jazz and minimalist, modern classical music made her a cinematic force equal to Hamaguchi. The more textural and sweeping aspects of Ishibashi’s bittersweet melodies were an elegant match for Hamaguchi’s vision.
“It was a very unique experience for me to be able to create music with relative freedom and enjoyment,” says Ishibashi of her cinematic compositional scope.
After being known for crafting blunt, short films since...
Enter Eiko Ishibashi, an experimental Japanese multi-instrumentalist whose 2018 “The Dream My Bones Dream” was a turning point in an already decade-long career of scores for theater and short films.
Ishibashi’s 2018 album of haunting soundscapes and its electro-acoustic mix of noise, oddball pop, improvisational jazz and minimalist, modern classical music made her a cinematic force equal to Hamaguchi. The more textural and sweeping aspects of Ishibashi’s bittersweet melodies were an elegant match for Hamaguchi’s vision.
“It was a very unique experience for me to be able to create music with relative freedom and enjoyment,” says Ishibashi of her cinematic compositional scope.
After being known for crafting blunt, short films since...
- 3/11/2022
- by A.D. Amorosi
- Variety Film + TV
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired North American rights to “Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend.” The film is a currently in-production sequel to “Ip Man: Kung Fu Master,” which Magnet previously released.
“Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend” is written and directed by Li Liming and produced by Beijing-based Kai Pictures. International licensing is handled by All Rights Entertainment, a film sales company based in Hong Kong, Paris and Los Angeles.
The real-life Ip Man was mentor to Bruce Lee before Lee became a movie star and has been the subject of multiple film franchises. The new film sees the young Ip, then a police captain, fight opium traffickers trying to take control of the mainland Chinese port city of Foshan.
Dennis To (aka To Yu-hang) reprises the role of Ip for the fourth time following previous appearances in Herman Yau’s “Ip Man: The Legend Is Born,...
“Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend” is written and directed by Li Liming and produced by Beijing-based Kai Pictures. International licensing is handled by All Rights Entertainment, a film sales company based in Hong Kong, Paris and Los Angeles.
The real-life Ip Man was mentor to Bruce Lee before Lee became a movie star and has been the subject of multiple film franchises. The new film sees the young Ip, then a police captain, fight opium traffickers trying to take control of the mainland Chinese port city of Foshan.
Dennis To (aka To Yu-hang) reprises the role of Ip for the fourth time following previous appearances in Herman Yau’s “Ip Man: The Legend Is Born,...
- 11/11/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Magnet Releasing has acquired worldwide rights to Ultrasound, the first narrative feature from director Rob Schroeder, with plans to release it in theaters next year.
The sci-fi thriller follows Glen (Vincent Kartheiser), who is stranded by two flat tires on a rainy night and must seek help at a nearby house. There, he’s welcomed in by Art (Bob Stephenson), who cajoles him into sleeping with his younger wife Cyndi (Chelsea Lopez). Glen’s unease only escalates when, a short time later, the consequences of this strange night begin to spiral out of control. Glen and Cyndi soon find themselves at the center of a web of deception and manipulation that tests the foundations of reality.
Ultrasound made its world premiere at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and recently went on to screen at Fantasia Fest, where it won the Silver Audience Award.
Conor Stechschulte penned the film, which is based on his graphic novel,...
The sci-fi thriller follows Glen (Vincent Kartheiser), who is stranded by two flat tires on a rainy night and must seek help at a nearby house. There, he’s welcomed in by Art (Bob Stephenson), who cajoles him into sleeping with his younger wife Cyndi (Chelsea Lopez). Glen’s unease only escalates when, a short time later, the consequences of this strange night begin to spiral out of control. Glen and Cyndi soon find themselves at the center of a web of deception and manipulation that tests the foundations of reality.
Ultrasound made its world premiere at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and recently went on to screen at Fantasia Fest, where it won the Silver Audience Award.
Conor Stechschulte penned the film, which is based on his graphic novel,...
- 10/25/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A cavalcade of creatures from Japanese folklore come alive in “The Great Yokai War: Guardian,” a hugely enjoyable fantasy-adventure directed by the famously prolific and supremely versatile Takashi Miike. Starring amazingly talented child actors Kokoro Terada and Rei Inomata as brothers summonsed by peace-loving spirits to stop an angry demon from engaging in the time-honored Japanese monster movie tradition of destroying Tokyo, this smashing piece of young-adult entertainment should be a big hit in Japan, where it’s sure to get plenty of love from older adults as well. With its standout visuals and uplifting messages about trust, friendship and acceptance, “Guardians” should attract the interest of specialized overseas distributors following its international premiere as the closing-night attraction of Fantasia 2021.
Miike is most closely associated with extremely violent crime stories such as “Audition” and blood-soaked costume action-thrillers like “Blade of the Immortal.” Less well known outside Japan are his family-friendly hits such as “Ninja Kids!
Miike is most closely associated with extremely violent crime stories such as “Audition” and blood-soaked costume action-thrillers like “Blade of the Immortal.” Less well known outside Japan are his family-friendly hits such as “Ninja Kids!
- 8/26/2021
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
By Wally Adams
“So….What’s your favorite Takashi Miike movie?” Since Miike is one of the most prolific modern directors the world has ever seen as well as the fact he’s worked in and at different junctures of his career focused on different genres and even different mediums, one is very unlikely to find any smooth consensus for that question. But there are popular choices among different film demographics: the closest thing to a universal critical favorite is “Audition” though it still thoroughly turns more than a few off, or more recently “13 Assassins“. Even more acquired tastes are exploitation audience favorites “Ichi the Killer” and “Dead or Alive”. Mainstream audiences in Japan actually best remember mega-hit movies that capitalized on (then) big trends like the cell phone horror movie “One Missed Call” or the idol-fueled “Andromedia” marking the Digital Age. But art film and major festival audiences...
“So….What’s your favorite Takashi Miike movie?” Since Miike is one of the most prolific modern directors the world has ever seen as well as the fact he’s worked in and at different junctures of his career focused on different genres and even different mediums, one is very unlikely to find any smooth consensus for that question. But there are popular choices among different film demographics: the closest thing to a universal critical favorite is “Audition” though it still thoroughly turns more than a few off, or more recently “13 Assassins“. Even more acquired tastes are exploitation audience favorites “Ichi the Killer” and “Dead or Alive”. Mainstream audiences in Japan actually best remember mega-hit movies that capitalized on (then) big trends like the cell phone horror movie “One Missed Call” or the idol-fueled “Andromedia” marking the Digital Age. But art film and major festival audiences...
- 2/17/2021
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
Based on the homonymous, multi-awarded manga by Satoru Noda, which has already sold more than 18 million copies, “Golden Kamuy” is a rather different shonen title, which stands out by focusing on an Ainu character, while highlighting the language, culture, and customs of the indigenous people, supervised by Hiroshi Nakagawa, an Ainu language linguist from Chiba University.
Saichi Sugimoto (nicknamed “Immortal Sugimoto” for escaping death multiple times but also for his savage fighting style), a veteran of the Battle of 203 Hill in the Russo-Japanese War, works as a miner in Hokkaido in order to provide for the widow of his dead comrade. He hears a dubious story about a hidden trove of Ainu gold, the location of which is hidden in the tattoos of a group of convicts who escaped from Abashiri Prison. When he discovers that the story is true, and that multiple other groups are in pursuit of the gold,...
Saichi Sugimoto (nicknamed “Immortal Sugimoto” for escaping death multiple times but also for his savage fighting style), a veteran of the Battle of 203 Hill in the Russo-Japanese War, works as a miner in Hokkaido in order to provide for the widow of his dead comrade. He hears a dubious story about a hidden trove of Ainu gold, the location of which is hidden in the tattoos of a group of convicts who escaped from Abashiri Prison. When he discovers that the story is true, and that multiple other groups are in pursuit of the gold,...
- 1/6/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Another Decade with Takashi Miike is a series of essays on the 2010s films of the Japanese maverick, following Notebook's earlier survey of Miike's first decade of the 21st century.Following Takashi Miike's progress over the 1990s and 2000s was one of the preeminent pleasures in world cinema of the past generation. Like a champion surfer, Miike rode the waves of modern moviemaking wherever they took him, making surprising turns, executing wild stunts, and maintaining remarkable stamina. He often released a half-dozen films a year, and his output was never predictable; Miike directed Yakuza movies, children's movies, art movies, outré cult hits, manga adaptations, and the occasional straight drama. He once said that he would accept any assignment that was offered to him, and it sounded like he wasn't exaggerating. Miike's movies weren't always good, but they were seldom boring; no matter the project, he usually exhibited flashes of impish wit,...
- 9/9/2020
- MUBI
Another Decade with Takashi Miike is a series of essays on the 2010 films of the Japanese maverick, following Notebook's earlier survey of Miike's first decade of the 21st century.Takashi Miike could have become the idea of himself held by many Americans and gotten rich doing it, but his career was always his own. After he indulged one last time in the uncomplicated thrill of homicide-as-spectacle in 13 Assassins (2010), he’d never spill blood the same way. In Miike’s films of the last decade, violence became the director’s way of working through feelings about a world ruled by a rotting morality. Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011), Lesson of the Evil (2012), As the Gods Will (2014), and Terra Formars (2016) all reckon with the problems of believing in some greater power or logic, and their findings are bleak. If teachers, gods, governments, and alien life aren’t looking out for us,...
- 8/31/2020
- MUBI
Twins Japan and Warner Bros. Japan are teaming up to produce “Ghost Hunt”, the live action, based on the popular novel and manga series.
Ghost Hunt, originally titled Akuryo, is a light novel series, targeting young adult demographic, written by Fuyumi Ono, whose last episode was published in 1994. The novels were later adapted into a radio drama, in 1997, then a manga adaptation written and illustrated by Shiho Inada began serialization in monthly shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi in 1998 and ended in 2010, also published in twelve volumes by Kodansha. In October 2006, the anime television series adaptation of the manga premiered in Japan under the same name “Ghost Hunt”.
Japanese actor Miura Haruma (“A Banana? At This Time of Night?“) has officially signed on to star in the adaptation, due to be released in September 2021 in Japan. Haruma would play “Kazuya Shibuya”, the owner of Spr (Shibuya Psychic Research). Hana Sugisaki (“Blade of the Immortal...
Ghost Hunt, originally titled Akuryo, is a light novel series, targeting young adult demographic, written by Fuyumi Ono, whose last episode was published in 1994. The novels were later adapted into a radio drama, in 1997, then a manga adaptation written and illustrated by Shiho Inada began serialization in monthly shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi in 1998 and ended in 2010, also published in twelve volumes by Kodansha. In October 2006, the anime television series adaptation of the manga premiered in Japan under the same name “Ghost Hunt”.
Japanese actor Miura Haruma (“A Banana? At This Time of Night?“) has officially signed on to star in the adaptation, due to be released in September 2021 in Japan. Haruma would play “Kazuya Shibuya”, the owner of Spr (Shibuya Psychic Research). Hana Sugisaki (“Blade of the Immortal...
- 5/13/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
In case you have not heard about one of the most famous manga of all time, Hiroaki Samura’s “Blade of the Immortal” follows Manji, a skilled and relentless samurai who has a decisive advantage against any opponent that comes his way: no wound can kill him, except for a rare poison. In the past, his criminal actions led to the death of 100 other samurai (including his sister’s husband). He becomes immortal at the hand of an 800-year-old nun named Yaobikuni, and is compelled by the death of his sister to accept the quest that will end his agelessness. He has vowed to make amends by killing 1000 evil men, and until he does, he will be kept alive by “sacred bloodworms” remarkable creatures that allow him to survive nearly any injury and reattach severed limbs even after hours of separation.
His story has already been adapted...
His story has already been adapted...
- 5/8/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Magnet Releasing, the genre film arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired the North American rights to “Amulet,” a horror film that premiered in the Midnight section at Sundance this past year, the distributor announced Tuesday.
“Amulet” is the feature directorial debut of Romola Garai, an actress turned filmmaker, and it stars Carla Juri, Alec Secareanu, Imelda Staunton and Angeliki Papoulia. Magnet will release the film in theaters and on demand on July 24.
“Amulet” follows Tomaz (Secareanu), a former soldier who is left homeless after an accident and takes refuge in the decaying home of Magda (Juri), a lonely young woman in desperate need of help as she cares for her ailing mother. At first hesitant, Magda soon welcomes Tomaz into their lives. But as he gets closer to and begins to fall for Magda, Tomaz notices strange and unexplainable phenomena. Something seems very wrong with the mysterious old woman who never leaves the top floor,...
“Amulet” is the feature directorial debut of Romola Garai, an actress turned filmmaker, and it stars Carla Juri, Alec Secareanu, Imelda Staunton and Angeliki Papoulia. Magnet will release the film in theaters and on demand on July 24.
“Amulet” follows Tomaz (Secareanu), a former soldier who is left homeless after an accident and takes refuge in the decaying home of Magda (Juri), a lonely young woman in desperate need of help as she cares for her ailing mother. At first hesitant, Magda soon welcomes Tomaz into their lives. But as he gets closer to and begins to fall for Magda, Tomaz notices strange and unexplainable phenomena. Something seems very wrong with the mysterious old woman who never leaves the top floor,...
- 4/28/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Hokusai’s artwork has become globally recognized, with the “The Great Wave of Kanagawa” arguably the most iconic and influential Japanese painting. Director Hajime Hashimoto’s “Hokusai” looks to pay homage to the iconic artist Hokusai Katsushika through chronicling both his youth and later years, played by Yuya Yagiri and Min Tanaka, respectively.
The production has a tentative release date of May 29th, 2020. A full length trailer was recently made available, which can be viewed below.
Synopsis
As a young man, Hokusai Katsushika (Yuya Yagira) is an unpopular painter. He is conflicted by his work, but he decides to keep painting. As an old man, Hokusai Katsushika (Min Tanaka) still has passion for painting and strives to improve his work. (Asian Wiki)...
The production has a tentative release date of May 29th, 2020. A full length trailer was recently made available, which can be viewed below.
Synopsis
As a young man, Hokusai Katsushika (Yuya Yagira) is an unpopular painter. He is conflicted by his work, but he decides to keep painting. As an old man, Hokusai Katsushika (Min Tanaka) still has passion for painting and strives to improve his work. (Asian Wiki)...
- 3/22/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
The movie has been launched at Cannes last spring and here it is, at BFI London Film Festival, where the director will be also part of the guest list and will preside one of Screen Talks whose tickets sold out literally minutes after opening the sale.
“Blade of the Immortal” screened at BFI London Film Festival 2018
“Blade of the Immortal” is based on the long and extremely popular Hiroaki Samura’s homonymous manga saga. A short prologue in sharp black and white sets the mood and introduce us to Manji, a feudal Japan samurai, facing a horde of hundred rough bandits that threatens his little sister. When the hooligans cowardly kill the girl, Manji’s reaction is a carnage; he kills them all. Desperate and critically wounded, the samurai seems to accept death as a benevolent relief, but a mysterious veiled Nan rescues him, inserting a handful of Sacred Bloodworms in his blood stream.
“Blade of the Immortal” screened at BFI London Film Festival 2018
“Blade of the Immortal” is based on the long and extremely popular Hiroaki Samura’s homonymous manga saga. A short prologue in sharp black and white sets the mood and introduce us to Manji, a feudal Japan samurai, facing a horde of hundred rough bandits that threatens his little sister. When the hooligans cowardly kill the girl, Manji’s reaction is a carnage; he kills them all. Desperate and critically wounded, the samurai seems to accept death as a benevolent relief, but a mysterious veiled Nan rescues him, inserting a handful of Sacred Bloodworms in his blood stream.
- 2/27/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The two-film deal was negotiated between Njutafilms CEO Nicolas Debot and Arrow Films head of international sales Cameron Waaler.
British outfit Arrow Films has sold two of its genre titles to Swedish distributor Njutafilms
The features comprise Us horror The Dead Center, directed by Billy Senese, and UK genre comedy A Serial Killer’s Guide To Life, directed by Staten Cousins Roe.
The two-film deal was negotiated between Njutafilms CEO Nicolas Debot and Arrow Films head of international sales Cameron Waaler. Arrow is at the Efm as part of a move to increase its activity in the international sales market.
Recent...
British outfit Arrow Films has sold two of its genre titles to Swedish distributor Njutafilms
The features comprise Us horror The Dead Center, directed by Billy Senese, and UK genre comedy A Serial Killer’s Guide To Life, directed by Staten Cousins Roe.
The two-film deal was negotiated between Njutafilms CEO Nicolas Debot and Arrow Films head of international sales Cameron Waaler. Arrow is at the Efm as part of a move to increase its activity in the international sales market.
Recent...
- 2/25/2020
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
Another year has passed and it’s the perfect time to remember its best titles. Plenty of series have aired since the beginning of 2019 and there is such a huge variety of genres, that I guarantee you that you’ll find a gem of your taste. So allow me to elaborate more, by sharing all the anime that caught my attention, by hitting the right spots, in random order!
1. Carole and Tuesday
“Carole and Tuesday” takes place in a setting quite similar to Nana’s, though it has numerous sci-fi elements. The plot narrates the story of Carole and Tuesday, two young girls who love music and live on …Mars. In this futuristic environment, people have stopped making art and modern technology has taken over everything. However, those two stubborn ladies will make a difference, by following their dream of becoming professional musicians. This anime is produced by Studio Bones...
1. Carole and Tuesday
“Carole and Tuesday” takes place in a setting quite similar to Nana’s, though it has numerous sci-fi elements. The plot narrates the story of Carole and Tuesday, two young girls who love music and live on …Mars. In this futuristic environment, people have stopped making art and modern technology has taken over everything. However, those two stubborn ladies will make a difference, by following their dream of becoming professional musicians. This anime is produced by Studio Bones...
- 2/20/2020
- by Sofia Evangelidou
- AsianMoviePulse
A Blade Of The Immortal Season 2 anime seems likely in the future based on the popularity of the manga series that’s the source material for the anime series’ story. What’s more, there is already a direct manga sequel called Blade of the Immortal: Bakumatsu Arc (Mugen no Junin: Bakumatsu no Sho) that launched in 2019. First, let’s back up and explain how the current series came to be produced. The Blade Of The Immortal anime that’s streaming on Amazon Prime Video is a reboot of the anime. The first attempt was created in 2008 by animation studio Bee Train, comprised of 13 episodes that […]...
- 1/16/2020
- by Patrick Frye
- Monsters and Critics
In her 5-star Fantastic Fest review, Heather Wixson wrote that Takashi Miike's First Love "...delivered up everything I could possibly want from the Maestro and more." Following its successful film circuit run, the yakuza film from one of the most prolific directors working today is coming to Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital on February 11th from Well Go USA Entertainment, and we have the release details and a look at the cover art:
From the Press Release: Plano, Texas – Prolific auteur Takashi Miike is at his most fun and anarchic with the noir-tinged violent yakuza film First Love, debuting on Digital, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD February 11 from Well Go USA Entertainment. The wild, genre-blending story follows a young boxer and a call girl who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. First Love stars Masataka Kubota...
From the Press Release: Plano, Texas – Prolific auteur Takashi Miike is at his most fun and anarchic with the noir-tinged violent yakuza film First Love, debuting on Digital, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD February 11 from Well Go USA Entertainment. The wild, genre-blending story follows a young boxer and a call girl who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. First Love stars Masataka Kubota...
- 1/14/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
In February, Arrow Video send a wonderful Valentine to genre film fans, with a bells and whistles release of a classic J-horror trilogy.
The One Missed Call Trilogy- An iconic trilogy of J-horror films comes to Blu-ray for the first time! Tapping into the same brand of terror as the Ring and Grudge movies, visionary director Takashi Miike presents a modern, high-tech twist on that mainstay of Japanese folklore, the yurei or vengeful spirit, in the form of its own iconic antihero – the terrifying Mimiko.
In the first instalment in the trilogy, 2003’s One Missed Call, student Yoko receives a phone message from her future self, ending with her own death scream. Two days later, she dies in a horrific rail collision. As the mysterious phone curse spreads, claiming more young lives, Yoko’s friend Yumi joins forces with detective Hiroshi, whose sister met the same gruesome fate.
The One Missed Call Trilogy- An iconic trilogy of J-horror films comes to Blu-ray for the first time! Tapping into the same brand of terror as the Ring and Grudge movies, visionary director Takashi Miike presents a modern, high-tech twist on that mainstay of Japanese folklore, the yurei or vengeful spirit, in the form of its own iconic antihero – the terrifying Mimiko.
In the first instalment in the trilogy, 2003’s One Missed Call, student Yoko receives a phone message from her future self, ending with her own death scream. Two days later, she dies in a horrific rail collision. As the mysterious phone curse spreads, claiming more young lives, Yoko’s friend Yumi joins forces with detective Hiroshi, whose sister met the same gruesome fate.
- 12/1/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Takashi Miike, the director of films such as Audition, Ichi Killer, Blade of the Immortal, and more fantastic, crazy, and twisted films is back with a new one called First Love. If you’re a fan of the films Miike has made in the past, this is one that you don’t want to miss out on!
First Love has a perfect mix of brutal action, violence, comedy, and romance. This is Miike at his most fun, and the end result is an absolute blast! From start to finish I was engulfed in the story that this film told, and the characters that filled it were spectacular!
The crime thriller is set in Tokyo and takes place over the course of a single night. A young up-and-coming promising boxer unexpectedly finds himself helping a young drug-addicted prostitute whose life is in danger. They find themselves in the middle of a drug-smuggling plot involving organized crime,...
First Love has a perfect mix of brutal action, violence, comedy, and romance. This is Miike at his most fun, and the end result is an absolute blast! From start to finish I was engulfed in the story that this film told, and the characters that filled it were spectacular!
The crime thriller is set in Tokyo and takes place over the course of a single night. A young up-and-coming promising boxer unexpectedly finds himself helping a young drug-addicted prostitute whose life is in danger. They find themselves in the middle of a drug-smuggling plot involving organized crime,...
- 10/9/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
With more than 100 directorial credits on his résumé, Takashi Miike’s output over the last 30 years is unmatched. His latest, First Love, is yet another excellent addition to his legacy as a filmmaker, and probably this writer’s favorite filmic project from Miike since Ichi the Killer.
First Love recently screened as part of the stellar lineup at the 2019 Fantastic Fest, and Daily Dead had the opportunity to speak with Miike about his involvement with the film, how he approaches collaborating with his actors, what still excites him about the moviemaking experience, and more.
First Love opened this past weekend in theaters in New York and La, and will be expanding to more locations this Friday.
You have had such a prolific career. So, what excites you these days as a storyteller? And what inspired your approach to First Love, because it feels very much like a “Miike Sampler,” but also,...
First Love recently screened as part of the stellar lineup at the 2019 Fantastic Fest, and Daily Dead had the opportunity to speak with Miike about his involvement with the film, how he approaches collaborating with his actors, what still excites him about the moviemaking experience, and more.
First Love opened this past weekend in theaters in New York and La, and will be expanding to more locations this Friday.
You have had such a prolific career. So, what excites you these days as a storyteller? And what inspired your approach to First Love, because it feels very much like a “Miike Sampler,” but also,...
- 10/3/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Hiroaki Samura’s badass 1993 samurai manga Blade of the Immortal has been adapted into a new anime series that is coming to Amazon Prime. The anime comes from Linden Films, who is best known for their 2016 adaptation of Berserk.
The story follows the journey of Manji, “a samurai who is unsurprisingly cursed with the inability to die. To cure himself of his affliction, he must go on a quest to kill 1,000 evildoers. On his path to regain his mortality, he runs into a young woman named Rin. Upon agreeing to help her avenge the death of his parents, the duo crosses paths and swords with several schools of samurai and villains.”
As you’ll see, the series will be filled with brutal violence and flooded with blood. The anime adaptation definitely isn’t shying away from the insanity of the manga.
This isn’t the first time the story has been adapted.
The story follows the journey of Manji, “a samurai who is unsurprisingly cursed with the inability to die. To cure himself of his affliction, he must go on a quest to kill 1,000 evildoers. On his path to regain his mortality, he runs into a young woman named Rin. Upon agreeing to help her avenge the death of his parents, the duo crosses paths and swords with several schools of samurai and villains.”
As you’ll see, the series will be filled with brutal violence and flooded with blood. The anime adaptation definitely isn’t shying away from the insanity of the manga.
This isn’t the first time the story has been adapted.
- 9/17/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Takashi Miike has directed a new film called First Love, and it looks like one hell of a wild and crazy ride! We’ve got a trailer to share with you today for the noir-tinged Yakuza action film, and I think you’re gonna like what you see.
It’s explained that this is the filmmaker at “his most fun and anarchic.” It blends “genres in the story of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo.”
The story is set over one night in Tokyo, and it centers on Leo, “a young boxer down on his luck as he meets his 'first love' Monica, a call-girl and an addict but still an innocent. Little does Leo know, Monica is unwittingly caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the...
It’s explained that this is the filmmaker at “his most fun and anarchic.” It blends “genres in the story of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo.”
The story is set over one night in Tokyo, and it centers on Leo, “a young boxer down on his luck as he meets his 'first love' Monica, a call-girl and an addict but still an innocent. Little does Leo know, Monica is unwittingly caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the...
- 9/5/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The eclectic characters in Takashi Miike’s new gangster movie include a low-level punk yakuza, a sullen prizefghter with nothing to lose, an oblivious sex worker who is being haunted by half naked ghosts, and an unhinged femme fatale on a mission to avenge the death of her pimp boyfriend. Those are just the main players in “First Love,” an absurdist gonzo comedy and wild goose chase that is never short on memorable characters. “First Love” premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, and it will go on to play Fantastic Fest, but its next bow will be in the Toronto International Film Festival’s highly vetted Midnight Madness program.
The newly released first trailer offers a colorful and musical glimpse of the latest work from the prolific Japanese auteur. Though Miike’s work ranges wildly in genre, he is best known for films such as “Audition” (1999), “Ichi the Killer...
The newly released first trailer offers a colorful and musical glimpse of the latest work from the prolific Japanese auteur. Though Miike’s work ranges wildly in genre, he is best known for films such as “Audition” (1999), “Ichi the Killer...
- 9/3/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Looking for to learn more about the real-life creepy clown phenomenon that has swept the nation in recent years? Ahead of its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, the documentary Wrinkles the Clown has been acquired by Magnet Releasing, with an October 4th theatrical release planned.
Press Release: New York, NY – Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights to Wrinkles The Clown, an unnerving new documentary that seeks to uncover the mystery behind chilling accounts of a nightmarish clown seen terrorizing disobedient children throughout Florida. Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Michael Beach Nichols (Welcome To Leith) and financed and produced by Topic Studios, Wrinkles The Clown will world-premiere at Fantastic Fest, followed by an October 4th theatrical release.
It started with a silent black and white surveillance video uploaded to YouTube that depicted a child sleeping peacefully. Until a disheveled old man disguised...
Press Release: New York, NY – Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights to Wrinkles The Clown, an unnerving new documentary that seeks to uncover the mystery behind chilling accounts of a nightmarish clown seen terrorizing disobedient children throughout Florida. Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Michael Beach Nichols (Welcome To Leith) and financed and produced by Topic Studios, Wrinkles The Clown will world-premiere at Fantastic Fest, followed by an October 4th theatrical release.
It started with a silent black and white surveillance video uploaded to YouTube that depicted a child sleeping peacefully. Until a disheveled old man disguised...
- 8/28/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
It’s sometime in the 90’s (according to Miike – year 199X), and the Osaka’s shabby neighborhood is impatiently waiting for the live transmission of the match of the year from the Tokyo dome – a mixed martial vent featuring the Bantam-weight boxing champion Kazuyoshi Tamai (Kyosuke Yabe) and the wrestling champion Takeshi Hamada. It is announced that it will be a dirty game with no rules, with all tricks allowed, a reason more for the crowd to get frantic about it. As men start placing bets on the winner, the fighters are preparing for their first clash ever, making sure their hidden trumps will cause the painful damage to the opponent.
Based on Seijun Ninomiya’s novel of the same name (adapted by Masa Nakamura) which was inspired by the true Japanese fighting legends Hidekazu Akai and Akira Maeda, Miike Takashi’s “The Way to Fight” is...
Based on Seijun Ninomiya’s novel of the same name (adapted by Masa Nakamura) which was inspired by the true Japanese fighting legends Hidekazu Akai and Akira Maeda, Miike Takashi’s “The Way to Fight” is...
- 8/9/2019
- by Marina D. Richter
- AsianMoviePulse
“So….What’s your favorite Takashi Miike movie?” Since Miike is one of the most prolific modern directors the world has ever seen as well as the fact he’s worked in and at different junctures of his career focused on different genres and even different mediums, one is very unlikely to find any smooth consensus for that question. But there are popular choices among different film demographics: the closest thing to a universal critical favorite is “Audition” though it still thoroughly turns more than a few off, or more recently “13 Assassins“. Even more acquired tastes are exploitation audience favorites “Ichi the Killer” and “Dead or Alive”. Mainstream audiences in Japan actually best remember mega-hit movies that capitalized on (then) big trends like the cell phone horror movie “One Missed Call” or the idol-fueled “Andromedia” marking the Digital Age. But art film and major festival audiences showed a preference...
- 8/3/2019
- by Wally Adams
- AsianMoviePulse
Well Go USA has taken North American rights to Takashi Miike’s “First Love,” which had its world premiere in Cannes as part of the Directors’ Fortnight lineup. Well Go said the picture will be released in select theaters later this year, with a digital and home entertainment release scheduled for early 2020. The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA with HanWay Films and ICM Partners.
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” Pfardrescher said. “His new film, ‘First Love,’ continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
HanWay boarded sales on the film ahead of Cannes and reps worldwide rights, excluding Asia and Australasia, where they are with Toei Films. It has closed several other deals, including with Haut et Court in France; Eurovideo in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; and Nonstop in Scandinavia.
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” Pfardrescher said. “His new film, ‘First Love,’ continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
HanWay boarded sales on the film ahead of Cannes and reps worldwide rights, excluding Asia and Australasia, where they are with Toei Films. It has closed several other deals, including with Haut et Court in France; Eurovideo in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; and Nonstop in Scandinavia.
- 6/6/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Well Go USA Entertainment has picked up North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.
The noir-tinged yakuza film follows the story of a young boxer and a call girl who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. Starring are Masataka Kubota (13 Assassins), Nao Omori (Ichi The Killer), Shota Sometani (Samurai Marathon) and newcomer Sakurako Konishi.
The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA and HanWay Films with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. Pic is due to be released in select theaters later this year, with the digital and home entertainment release scheduled for first quarter 2020.
HanWay has also closed deals with Haut et Court (France), Eurovideo, Nonstop (Scandinavia), Odeon (Greece), Mars (Turkey), Discovery (Former-Yugoslavia), Paradise and Frontrow (Middle East).
First Love marks the fourth collaboration between producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) and cult director Miike (Blade Of The Immortal).
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President & CEO of Well Go USA. “His new film, First Love, continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
Pic was written by Masaru Nakamura (Sukiyaki Western Django) and produced by Muneyuki Kii, Jeremy Thomas and Misako Saka and executive produced by Shigeji Maeda, Hidehiro Itoh and Takara Kosugi. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales and distribution, alongside Toei Films which handles Asia & Australasia.
The noir-tinged yakuza film follows the story of a young boxer and a call girl who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. Starring are Masataka Kubota (13 Assassins), Nao Omori (Ichi The Killer), Shota Sometani (Samurai Marathon) and newcomer Sakurako Konishi.
The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA and HanWay Films with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. Pic is due to be released in select theaters later this year, with the digital and home entertainment release scheduled for first quarter 2020.
HanWay has also closed deals with Haut et Court (France), Eurovideo, Nonstop (Scandinavia), Odeon (Greece), Mars (Turkey), Discovery (Former-Yugoslavia), Paradise and Frontrow (Middle East).
First Love marks the fourth collaboration between producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) and cult director Miike (Blade Of The Immortal).
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President & CEO of Well Go USA. “His new film, First Love, continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
Pic was written by Masaru Nakamura (Sukiyaki Western Django) and produced by Muneyuki Kii, Jeremy Thomas and Misako Saka and executive produced by Shigeji Maeda, Hidehiro Itoh and Takara Kosugi. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales and distribution, alongside Toei Films which handles Asia & Australasia.
- 6/6/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Yakuza tale marks fourth collaboration between Japanese auteur and Jeremy Thomas.
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales.
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales.
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
- 6/5/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Yakuza tale marks fourth collaboration between Japanese auteur and Jeremy Thomas.
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
- 6/5/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The tongue-in-cheek apology with which mega-prolific Japanese mischief maker Takashi Miike introduced the premiere of his latest madcap mashup in Cannes — “I want to apologize for making such a sweet love story with no violence and no decapitations” — was proved almost instantly to be a joke, as within the first few minutes of “First Love,” a surprised head is summarily and gorily sundered from its owner’s body. Though the irrepressible Miike, whose 2017 “Blade of the Immortal” is canonically accepted as his 100th film, does loosely build movie No. 103 around a sweet little love story, he spares no mayhem in the process. “First Love” may be a fluffier, more eager-to-please bauble than Miike’s more challengingly outré titles, but like the cutesy mechanical toy puppy that turns up yapping in the middle of the film, it is wired to explode, and it is a blast.
Shuffling their deck of genre archetypes,...
Shuffling their deck of genre archetypes,...
- 5/30/2019
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
What’s black and red all over? A noir-tinged yakuza film by Japanese iconoclast Takashi Miike, of course. With Miike, you never quite know what you’re going to get, both in terms of the movies’ unpredictable content and the wild range in quality. The director’s recent highlights have been the result of a productive collaboration with celebrated British producer Jeremy Thomas: “13 Assassins,” “Hara-kiri: Death of a Samurai” and “Blade of the Immortal.” It’s no surprise then that Miike’s latest Thomas production “First Love“—a selection of the Directors’ Fortnight program at Cannes—finds the filmmaker at his most engaged, playful and coherent.
Continue reading ‘First Love’: Takashi Miike Delivers A Classic Shaggy Noir-Tinged Yakuza Film [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘First Love’: Takashi Miike Delivers A Classic Shaggy Noir-Tinged Yakuza Film [Cannes Review] at The Playlist.
- 5/23/2019
- by Bradley Warren
- The Playlist
Ken Watanabe and Koichi Sato star in the film.
Japanese studio Kadokawa Corp is arriving in Cannes with a busy slate headed by action drama Fukushima 50, starring Ken Watanabe and Koichi Sato, and also including new titles from Takahisa Zeze, Koji Fukada and Michihito Fujii.
Directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu (The Unbroken), Fukushima 50 tells the story of the courageous group of workers who remained on site to stabilise the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant during its meltdown following the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Based on Ryusho Kadota’s book On The Brink: The Inside Story of Fukushima Daiichi, the...
Japanese studio Kadokawa Corp is arriving in Cannes with a busy slate headed by action drama Fukushima 50, starring Ken Watanabe and Koichi Sato, and also including new titles from Takahisa Zeze, Koji Fukada and Michihito Fujii.
Directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu (The Unbroken), Fukushima 50 tells the story of the courageous group of workers who remained on site to stabilise the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant during its meltdown following the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.
Based on Ryusho Kadota’s book On The Brink: The Inside Story of Fukushima Daiichi, the...
- 5/14/2019
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
The film was co-produced by HanWay founder Jeremy Thomas.
London-based sales company HanWay Films has added Takashi Miike’s First Love to its Cannes slate ahead of the film’s premiere in the festival’s Directors’ Fortnight programme.
HanWay will handle worldwide sales on the project excluding Asia, where rights are held by an undisclosed company.
The film is a co-production between Japan’s Muneyuki Kii and Misako Saka, with the UK’s Jeremy Thomas of Recorded Picture Company.
Thomas and director Miike have previously collaborated on Blade Of The Immortal and Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai, both of which played in Cannes,...
London-based sales company HanWay Films has added Takashi Miike’s First Love to its Cannes slate ahead of the film’s premiere in the festival’s Directors’ Fortnight programme.
HanWay will handle worldwide sales on the project excluding Asia, where rights are held by an undisclosed company.
The film is a co-production between Japan’s Muneyuki Kii and Misako Saka, with the UK’s Jeremy Thomas of Recorded Picture Company.
Thomas and director Miike have previously collaborated on Blade Of The Immortal and Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai, both of which played in Cannes,...
- 4/24/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Details have been released today about Takashi Miike’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight-bound action-thriller First Love.
Set over one night in Tokyo, the film will follow Leo, a young boxer down on his luck as he meets his ‘first love’ Monica, a call girl and an addict but still an innocent. Little does Leo know, Monica is unwittingly caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the two are pursued through the night by a corrupt cop, a yakuza, his nemesis, and a female assassin sent by the Chinese Triads. According to the production, all their fates intertwine in “spectacular Miike style, at his most and fun and anarchic.”
The film reunites Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas’ (The Last Emperor) Recorded Picture Company with cult director Miike for the fourth time after their collaborations on Blade of the Immortal, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai and 13 Assassins. HanWay Films will handle worldwide sales...
Set over one night in Tokyo, the film will follow Leo, a young boxer down on his luck as he meets his ‘first love’ Monica, a call girl and an addict but still an innocent. Little does Leo know, Monica is unwittingly caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the two are pursued through the night by a corrupt cop, a yakuza, his nemesis, and a female assassin sent by the Chinese Triads. According to the production, all their fates intertwine in “spectacular Miike style, at his most and fun and anarchic.”
The film reunites Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas’ (The Last Emperor) Recorded Picture Company with cult director Miike for the fourth time after their collaborations on Blade of the Immortal, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai and 13 Assassins. HanWay Films will handle worldwide sales...
- 4/24/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
HanWay Films has boarded sales on Takashi Miike’s “First Love,” which has been selected for Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. HanWay has worldwide rights excluding Asia.
Jeremy Thomas’ Recorded Picture Company is re-teaming with Miike on the picture, which will have its world premiere in Cannes. The film marks the fourth collaboration between the prolific Japanese director and Thomas after they worked closely together on “Blade of the Immortal,” “Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai” and “13 Assassins.”
“First Love” was announced in the Directors’ Fortnight lineup, but with little plot information available. The producers said Wednesday that the film is set during one night in Tokyo and follows Leo, a down-on-his-luck young boxer who meets his first love, Monica, a call girl and an addict but still an innocent. Monica unwittingly gets caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the two are pursued through the night by a corrupt cop,...
Jeremy Thomas’ Recorded Picture Company is re-teaming with Miike on the picture, which will have its world premiere in Cannes. The film marks the fourth collaboration between the prolific Japanese director and Thomas after they worked closely together on “Blade of the Immortal,” “Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai” and “13 Assassins.”
“First Love” was announced in the Directors’ Fortnight lineup, but with little plot information available. The producers said Wednesday that the film is set during one night in Tokyo and follows Leo, a down-on-his-luck young boxer who meets his first love, Monica, a call girl and an addict but still an innocent. Monica unwittingly gets caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the two are pursued through the night by a corrupt cop,...
- 4/24/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
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