Movies
‘Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum’ Beat Out Steven Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’ In Korea
I always love when a horror movie can prevail against a huge studio blockbuster, which happened in Korea this past weekend.
Local horror thriller, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum landed on top of the South Korean box office, reported Variety. Since opening on Wednesday, the Showbox release earned $10.2 million from 1.37 million admissions, including $492,000 earned from previews. It accounted for 40% of the total weekend box office.
Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One could only manage second place. Also opening on Wednesday, the Warner Bros. release earned $8.09 million, accounting for 33% of the weekend box office revenue.
South Korean distributor Showbox pre-sold the horror film Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum to 47 countries, including to Well Go USA for North America, Screen Daily had previously reported.
The film takes place at the former Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, which was selected as one of CNN Travel’s ’7 freakiest places on the planet’.
According to local legend, the asylum was shut down after a series of mysterious patient deaths in the 90s. In the film, an internet broadcaster recruits a handful of people for a live-streaming, ‘experience the horror’ show at there and things spin out of control.
Directed by Jung Bum-shik (Horror Stories, Epitaph), it was produced by Hive Mediacorp. It features Wi Ha-jun, Park Ji-hyun, Oh Ah-yeon, Mun Ye-won, Park Sung-hun, Lee Seung-wook and Yoo Je-yoon.
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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