I’ve been a bit tardy with posting some of the latest releases from Terracotta and Third Window Films due to all of the festival coverage and reviews/anime so here’s a selection of their releases this month and one that is already released.
Japanese Title：東京 フィスト
Romaji: Tōkyō Fuisuto
UK Release Date: November 25th, 2013
Running Time: 87 mins.
Director: Shinya Tsukamoto
Writer: Shinya Tsukamoto
Starring: Shinya Tsukamoto, Kahori Fujii, Koji Tsukamoto, Naomasa, Musaka, Naoto Takenaka, Tomorowo Taguchi, Koichi Wajima, Nobu Kanaoka
Yeah, this is my release of the month. I reviewed it last year and I was blown away by the film and gave it 4.5/5. It was a powerful and tough watch, hyper-kinetic and with all of the visual It comes from Shinya Tsukamoto, a master filmmaker whose films I love so much I made a season of posts dedicated to him. I’m tempted to buy this film for a second time because Shinya Tsukamoto handled the digital restoration from original negatives and gave an interview. If this is anything like the Tetsuo transfer and extras, it’s going to be awesome. Here’s the trailer:
Tsuda (Shinya Tsukamoto) is an insurance salesman who spends his days selling policies to people and his nights sprawled out on a sofa watching films like The Third Man. He is counting down the days until he gets married to Hizuru (Fujii), a seemingly normal office worker. Then, when delivering an insurance policy to a boxing gym, he meets a former friend named Kojima (Koji Tsukamoto) who has taken up boxing and finds himself in the grip of a rage that has festered for years which is linked to a traumatic incident that left psychic scars on him but Tsuda has forgotten. Angry at Tsuda’s life, Kojima decides to destroy him.
DVD Specifications: Brand new digital restoration by Shinya Tsukamoto from his original negatives, 5.1 Surround Sound, Anamorphic Widescreen with removable English subtitles
DVD Bonus Features: New exclusive interview with Shinya Tsukamoto, Original Theatrical Trailer
God, I love the Tokyo Fist poster!!!
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 100 mins.
Release Date: November 25th, 2013
Director: Upi
Starring: Abimana Aryasatya, Avrilla, Imelda Therinne, Laudya Cynthia Bella, Jajang C. Noer
Here’s an Indonesian horror film (few of those if any get released in the UK) and it is directed by a woman but that’s not what makes this look special. Out of all the films that don’t have the words Tokyo and Fist in their title this one looks the best, very atmospheric and with that Silent Hill aesthetic (rotten apartment building) we all know and love. It looks really good.
Elang is haunted by images of bizarre murders involving a killer with a rabbit costume. His efforts to solve the mystery and save the lives of those he thinks are in danger have trapped him in a downward spiral and so he himself becomes a suspect. Elang believes the mysterious rabbit figure was the key to solving the murder mystery. Unfortunately, no one believes him. In proving his innocence, he will be forced to unveil a horrible and long-buried secret.
The Lady Assassin 
Running Time: 138 mins.
Release Date: N/A
Director: Nguyen Quang Dung
Starring: Kim Dzung, Tang Thanh Ha, Thanh Hang, Thai-Hoa Le, Diem My, Ngoc Quyen
Terracotta are releasing this Vietnamese film which is about four beautiful sword-wielding women who run a tavern and lure businessmen and corrupt officials to a bloody death. The girls take on a new recruit who want to avenge her family’s massacre!
Here’s some more info from Terracotta:
THE LADY ASSASSIN is a 3-D martial arts film in the vein of classic Shaw Brothers film. It broke local box office records for its domestic release and took $3m at the box-office on opening weekend in L.A. alone. Their will be a preview screenings at the Prince Charles Cinema, London November 27th.
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 90 mins.
Release Date: OUT NOW
Director: Danny Pang, Oxide Pang
Starring: Sean Lau, Wang Bao Qiang, Elanne Kwong, Suet Lam, Elana Kong, Joey Meng
I haven’t watched a Pang brothers’ film since The Eye but they have built up a reputation as solid thriller and action filmmakers. This is their latest title. To be honest the trailer gives way too much away so watch it at your own risk.
A disturbed man is set free by the police after falsely confessing to an imaginary murder.
Days later, the alleged victim turns up dead with his stomach cut open and stuffed with rocks.
Inspector Wong realises he has let a dangerous killer go free and becomes obsessed with tracking him down whilst covering up his mistake.
A game of cat and mouse ensues, with more and more bloody murders committed laying reference to Cinderella, The Red Shoes and Hansel & Gretel.
DVD Bonus Features: Introduction from Danny Pang, Interview with Sean Lau, Making Of
