Short Sale vs. Foreclosure: What Are the Differences?

Did you know that foreclosures have increased by 67% last October?

This can be quite the opportunity for home buyers. Finding a suitable home sale bargain in today’s fast-paced and competitive industry might be difficult.

A distressed property may be right for you if you’re searching for a new house at or below market value and you’re persistent and patient. However, before you narrow your search, you’ll need to have a solid understanding of short sale vs. foreclosure.

Read on for our breakdown of the differences between a short sale and a foreclosure. We’ll explain them one concept at a time.

Short Sale vs. Foreclosure: What Is a Short Sale?

In the simplest of terms, both parties must have a written agreement to proceed with a short sale before it can commence. A short sale will need documents from the lender, generally a bank. This is because the lending institution stands to lose a substantial amount of money.

If your lender authorizes a short sale, the buyer first negotiates with the homeowner before going to the bank for permission on a purchase. You can’t finalize a short sale without the consent of the lender.

The lender gets the selling funds after the short sale has been authorized and completed. On the other hand, the homeowner is still liable for the deficit, which is the balance of the loan.

The Benefits of Short Sales

Foreclosures are often in worse condition than short sales. Many folks are attempting to recover as much of their credit as possible. There is a good chance they have taken care of the utilities and other routine maintenance.

Short-sale properties have less competition. You may have a fantastic deal on a short-sale house, which can sell for less than the market value. There are a lot of homebuyers who are afraid of the procedure and don’t want to deal with a bank.

The Drawbacks of Short Sales

You’ll find that short sales are set up “as is,” there is a higher chance of losing money when purchasing one. After paying the outstanding debt, the existing owner might retain the house. The buyer would have to forfeit any inspection or due diligence fees paid.

Because several lienholders are involved in a short sale, the process might take longer than a regular house sale. If the property has additional liens, such concerns will need to be resolved and authorized by the bank before the sale may go through.

There may be a lot of extra paperwork, fact-checking, and follow-up with the bank, realtors, and others involved in a short sale purchase. There may be a lot of neglected maintenance concerns that need to be handled promptly by homeowners who are in a short sale scenario.

What Is a Foreclosure?

Foreclosures are started solely by lenders, unlike short sales. If a borrower is three to six months or more late on their payments, their lender has the right to foreclose on the property.

Foreclosure processes differ from state to state regarding the notices lenders must issue and homeowners’ choices to bring the debt current. There are certain limits imposed by law on how quickly a bank must sell a property.

But, if you’re on the other end of the spectrum as the homeowner, you might want to learn more here about avoiding foreclosure on your house.

Here’s how the process works. First, the lender initiates legal proceedings to seize ownership of the property and compel the sale of the residence. The lender hopes to recoup its original investment in the mortgage by taking this action against delinquent borrowers.

In contrast to short sales, many foreclosures occur after the homeowner has left the property and can no longer pay the mortgage. If they haven’t already done so, the lender evicts the residents in the foreclosure process.

To complete the property sale, the lender must have access to the property. Because the lender is anxious about getting rid of the asset as soon as possible, foreclosures often go through faster than short sales.

Foreclosed properties may also be sold through trustee sales when purchasers compete for the property in a public auction.

The Advantages of Foreclosures

Real estate that has been foreclosed on is often sold below the market value.
Sale timelines are shorter for foreclosures than for short sales since most of them are sold as-is for cash.

When a homeowner is short for cash, the property may be subject to tax liens or delinquent taxes. In the event of a bank foreclosure, all liens and encumbrances against the property are removed from the title.

The Disadvantages of Foreclosures

When buying a foreclosed house, the most significant obstacle you may face is finding a buyer willing to pay cash. Buyers will probably require a substantial amount of money to buy the house and to cover the price of renovations.

Homeowners who reach the point of foreclosure on their property have generally run into serious financial difficulties and have either ignored or abandoned their property’s upkeep.

What About Preforeclosure?

The first phase in a foreclosure action is a preforeclosure, initiated when a homeowner fails to make three to six months of mortgage payments.

There are many choices available to borrowers in preforeclosure. Several options are available to those who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments, including making a lump-sum payment, working with their lender to modify their loan, or simply selling their property to avoid foreclosure.

The owner or a real estate agent conducts the transaction in both preforeclosures and short sales. Short sales might be more complex because the bank is involved and has the authority to reject bids that the owner has accepted.

Short Sale Tips: Simple and Sweet

If you’re new to the world of real estate, then trying to figure out the nuances between short sales and foreclosures on distressed properties can be overwhelming.

Hopefully, our guide has broken down the differences between short sale vs. foreclosure. This way, you can decide with a solid foundation of research. And, if you are hungry for more advice, you can head to our real estate section for our additional strategies and explainers.

Posted in News |

5 Pro Tips You Should Know for Sports Betting

Are you looking for a way to capitalize on your passion for sports? Do you wish there was a way to crank up the competition, even more, when you watch professional sports? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about sports betting.

This can add a fun element to your love of professional sports. You and your friends can add a whole new layer of fun when you watch the games together for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and so on.

See below for an in-depth guide on the 5 pro tips you should know for sports betting that can help you enjoy yourself and stay responsible.

1. Look Beyond the Records

When David went up against Goliath, he had only a few pebbles and a slingshot. Professional teams—even the underdogs—can beat the favorites with even less!

Many people use the records to indicate which team they’ll place a bet on. However, the margin of talent is minimal in any professional sport. This means that any great team can be beaten under the right circumstances.

So how will you know who’s going to come out on top? How can you pinpoint the major upsets that are most likely to happen? By looking beyond the team’s records. We encourage you to look at things like:

  • The weather report for the day
  • The home team’s record at home, and vice versa
  • How each team’s superstar performs against the other team (EX: Miami was always a problem for Tom Brady)
  • Each team’s record the last three games

Some of these factors will play bigger roles than you’d think. For example, if the Los Angeles Chargers have to play in 10-degree weather in New England, which do you think will win?

If you want to pull off the big upsets, then you have to take initiative and look into the finer details of the matchup.

2. Create a Bankroll

It’s well documented that gambling, when done irresponsibly, can lead to money loss. This has some people thinking that you have to micromanage your spending to ensure you don’t hit the red. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

There is an easy way to enjoy sports betting without having to manage your money at every turn: start a bankroll.

This concept allows you to allocate a certain amount of money to be used only for sports betting while making sure that you never spend more than you intend to.

First, determine a set amount of money that you’ll apply to sports betting each paycheck. No amount is too small, just make sure you’re comfortable with it.

For example, let’s say you decide that $20 from each paycheck will go into your bankroll. After two paychecks, you have $40 in your bankroll. Let’s say you place $10 on a bet and, after winning, receive $20. That means you now have $50 in your bankroll to use.

However, if you were to ever hit $0 in your bankroll, you can’t place any more bets until $20 is deposited from your next paycheck.

As a side note, experts recommend that you should never place more than 5-percent of your bankroll on any given bet. This minimizes the risk and allows you to place several bets to increase your winnings.

3. Always Check the Injury Report

The Golden State Warriors are always a tough team to beat. On paper, if they were to match up against the last-place Houston Rockets, they should win pretty easily. However, what if Steph Curry was out with an ankle injury that night? That certainly changes the complexion of the game.

It’s always important to look at player injury reports before you place a bet. Whether you’re betting on a point spread or money lines, an injured superstar can significantly shift the competition level.

Injury reports are made quote public these days, so you can find this information with ease. Use whichever sporting news platform you trust the most!

4. The Team’s Schedule Matters

Is the favored team coming off of a huge upset? If so, then they will be inspired to make a statement in the next game, meaning they might cover the spread easily.

Do they have a big matchup coming up in their schedule relatively soon? If that’s the case, then they might be looking ahead to that one and, if they aren’t careful, fall victim to an upset!

The schedule of the favored team always plays a factor in your bets. On-field production is as mental as it is physical, which could give you an edge when betting on sports.

5. Know the Designations

If you’re just starting or getting a feel for sports betting, then you’re probably confused by looking at a betting line.

Just know this: if a team is favored to win, then they will have a minus sign next to their name, along with the odds. If a team is labeled as the underdog in that matchup, they will have a plus next to their name, with the odds to the side.

When betting for the favored team, make sure you understand how much you’d have to pay to get a fair amount of winnings. Make sure it’s worth it before you take the bet.

Use These Sports Betting Tips to Your Advantage

Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on all of the pro tips that you should know for sports betting, be sure to use this information wisely.

Take the time to browse our website for more articles on sports betting, as well as many other topics that you will find helpful.

Posted in News |

Feast your eyes on a New Illustrated Poster for Matthew Vaughn’s ‘The King’s Man’

"The King’s Man" Theatrical Poster

“The King’s Man” Theatrical Poster

Director Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) is back with more super spy action with The King’s Man, the prequel to 2015’s Kingsman: The Secret Service and 2017’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle. 

As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in The King’s Man. This ongoing film series is based on the The Secret Service comic books created by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons.

The King’s Man stars Ralph Fiennes, Harris Dickinson, Rhys Ifans, Tom Hollander, Daniel Bruhl, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode and Charles Dance.

The King’s Man is currently Continue reading

Posted in News |

A Writer’s Odyssey | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

A Writer's Odyssey | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

A Writer’s Odyssey | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: March 8, 2022

On March 8, 2022, Shout! Factory is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for Lu Yang’s A Writer’s Odyssey (read our review), an action-fantasy from the director of Brotherhood of Blades.

Also known as Assassin in Red, the film stars Lei Jia-Yin (Wandering Earth, Cliff Walker), Yang Mi (Reset, The Bullet Vanishes), Dong Zi-Jian (The Founding of an Army, Ash is Purest White) and Yu He-Wei (Mr. Six, The Island).

Read the official details below:

Enter a mystical world unlike any other with this action-adventure fantasy! After the disappearance of his daughter, Guan Ning has descended into despair. With nothing left to lose in his life, he is approached by a powerful corporation who hires him Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles, News |

Dragon Blood | aka John Liu In Mexico (1982) Review

"Dragon Blood" Theatrical Poster

“Dragon Blood” Theatrical Poster

Director: John Liu
Cast: John Liu, Phillip Ko Fei, Roger Paschy, Cyrielle Claire, Guy Ignace, Godfrey Ho, Lucien Michaud
Running Time: 91 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Dragon Blood can be considered to be superkicker John Liu’s last hurrah, both in front of the camera and behind it, pulling star and director duties for a third time after Zen Kwun Do Strikes in Paris and Ninja In the Claws of the CIA. It wasn’t necessarily meant to be that way, with Liu looking to take on star and director roles again for 1984’s New York Ninja, a project that started filming but was never completed (until of course the Vinegar Syndrome release in 2021, which was constructed without Liu’s involvement). Liu would return to screens one last time in 1998 after a 16-year absence to take on a supporting role in Robert Tai’s Trinity Goes East, but other than that his life is largely shrouded in mystery.

As a swansong though to his brief career as a kung fu thespian, having broke out just 6 years earlier in Secret Rivals, Dragon Blood is a worthy one. The plot is somewhat bewildering, but essentially it involves Liu as a Chinese immigrant in Mexico (and depending on which source you read, it was either filmed on location or in Tenerife, Spain). The year is 1886, and being in possession of a pair of gold dragons sees all kinds of unsavoury gringos after him, looking to get their hands on the valuable treasures, including an “assassin from the Chinese courts” played by the legendary Phillip Ko Fei (who clocked in 14 roles in 1982, including classics like Legend of a Fighter and Brothers from the Walled City). When Liu’s ambushed by a group of sombrero wearing gun slingers, after having his face pushed into a fire he’s blinded, and becomes a kind of kung fu Zatoichi – just replace the katana Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Ninja in the Claws of the CIA | aka Kung Fu Emanuelle (1981) Review

"Ninja in the Claws of the CIA" Theatrical Poster

“Ninja in the Claws of the CIA” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Made in China
Director: John Liu
Cast: John Liu, Casanova Wong, Danny Lee, John Ladalski, Roger Paschy, Mirta Miller, Cheng Bik-Lin, Gam Biu, Raquel Evans, Jose Maria Blanco
Running Time: 77 min.

By Paul Bramhall

It’s always interesting when kung fu stars decide to step into the director’s chair and helm their own starring vehicles, from the globe-trotting adventures of Bruce Le in the likes of Challenge of the Tiger and Bruce Strikes Back, to the self-proclaimed cool of Donnie Yen’s Legend of the Wolf and Ballistic Kiss. One kung fu star who decided to start taking control of his career in a relatively short period of time was super kicker John Liu. After his breakthrough role in 1976’s Secret Rivals, just 3 years later he’d created his own martial art – called Zen Kwun Do – and decided to showcase it by directing, writing, producing, choreographing, and starring in Zen Kwun Do Strikes in Paris. Playing a Hong Kong movie star who heads to Paris to rescue his kidnapped father, a “well known American aerospace scientist”, Liu’s directorial debut is every bit as baffling as it sounds.

Liu would go on to direct 2 more productions which saw him similarly covering a multitude of roles, and in 1981 his sophomore feature arrived in the form of Ninja in the Claws of the CIA. Involving a truly mind-bending plot that sees Liu in dual roles playing twins – one a former military man now wheelchair bound, and the other a martial arts teacher (playing himself, John Liu) – proceedings only get more bizarre as they go. Taking place in the U.S., we learn that Russia has created a deadly new martial arts technique, and the CIA want to recruit Liu to teach the military his unique style of Zen Kwun Do. Liu’s style involves a form of self-hypnosis that can supress sexual desire and pain, however he wants nothing to do with it, declaring that he “can’t teach self-hypnosis to westerners.” However when he falls for a CIA trap involving the rescue of a lady being harassed while she’s buying Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Ninja, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

‘The Night Comes for Us’ director Timo Tjahjanto’s ‘Train to Busan’ remake to be titled ‘The Last Train to New York’

"Last Train to New York" Teaser Poster

“Last Train to New York” Teaser Poster

Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us) of the “Mo Brothers” directing duo (Killers, Headshot, Macabre), will helm Warner’s The Last Train to New York, a U.S. remake of Yeon Sang-Ho’s 2016 South Korean blockbuster hit, Train to Busan.

The original Train to Busan, which starred Gong Yoo (The Age of Shadows), Jung Yu-Mi (A Bittersweet Life) and Ma Dong-Seok (Champion), was actually a sequel itself to Sang Ho’s animated film, Seoul Station. Train to Busan was followed up with 2020’s Peninsula, which was also directed by Sang Ho.

Deadline reports that Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Michael Clear and Gaumont’s Nicolas Atlan and Terry Kalagian will produce alongside Coin Operated’s Gary Dauberman, who is adapting the Continue reading

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To Sleep So as to Dream | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

To Sleep So as to Dream | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

To Sleep So as to Dream | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2022

On March 22, 2022, Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray for To Sleep So as to Dream, the 1986 debut of Kaizo Hayashi (Circus Boys, Zipang). The film stars Morio Agata (Hakodate Coffee), Kenji Endo (The Whispering Star) and Fujiko Fukamizu (Singing Lovebirds).

Read on for the details:

Two private detectives hunt for an actress trapped within the reel of a silent ninja film in the dreamlike debut of Kaizo Hayashi , a magical double-handed cinephilic homage to the movie worlds of the 1910s and 1950s.

When private eye Uotsuka (Shiro Sano, Violent Cop, Shin Godzilla) and his sidekick Kobayashi are approached by an aged former actress, Madame Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, News |

Gardener | DVD (Lionsgate)

Gardener | DVD (Lionsgate)

Gardener | DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: December 28, 2021

On December 28th, 2021, martial arts star Gary Daniels (City HunterBloodmoon, The Expendables) is teaming up with Charles Bronson lookalike, Robert Bronzi (Once Upon a Time in Deadwood), for Lionsgate’s DVD release for The Gardener.

The quiet of the English countryside is shattered one brutal night in this intense home-invasion thriller. A troubled wealthy family gathers in a quaint manor home for the holidays, never suspecting that bloodthirsty, sadistic Volker (Daniels) and his crew linger at the gates, ready to attack, rob, and maim them at nightfall. But they didn’t count on the estate’s quiet gardener Juhasz (Bronzi), who must return to the savage ways he learned as a soldier to save the family.

The Gardner is directed by Scott Jeffrey (Dragon Fury) and Rebecca Continue reading

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles, News, Other Notable Titles |

Challenge of the Tiger (1982) Review

"Challenge of the Tiger" Theatrical Poster

“Challenge of the Tiger” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Gymkata Killer
Director: Bruce Le
Starring: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Richard Harrison, Nadiuska, Hwang Jang-lee, Kong Do, Bolo Yeung Sze, Brad Harris, Dick Randall, Pei Ju-Hua
Running Time: 86 min.

By Ian Whittle

(Note: Every online source I’ve seen says this film is from 1980, which is contradicted by 1982 being mentioned in the dialogue, and a sequence taking place at an event that took place in that year!)

Although it features no martial arts, the opening sequence of Challenge of the Tiger must rank as one of my favourite martial art movies intros ever. Two scientists discover the secret of making men infertile, declare that it must not be used for the wrong purposes, then embrace passionately. Seconds later, masked men burst in and shoot them.

Genius. I defy any film to top that!

Challenge of the Tiger is the third of three films Bruce Le made in Europe for producer Dick Randall; the others being Le starring in Ninja Strikes Back, and Le’s bizarre cameo in the bizarre slasher Pieces, which is, let me assure you, very bizarre. Le also wrote and directed Challenge, so you know exactly who to thank/blame. Le plays agent Huang Lung, assigned to track down the missing formula. Because this is an international movie, he can’t do it without a white guy, so we have Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

10 Tips to help choose the best digital marketing company 

Digital marketing is not an easy platform for your company, even if you feel that any company is best then you are wrong here. 

To make a decision of hiring a digital marketing company is easy but to choose out of the many agencies is where you are going to work for. 

Every other person today can create a website and start offering their services, it’s quite common these days because of the access to internet connection. There are no barriers of entry qualification that they are asked for making it easy for them to start their business. 

This makes it really difficult to choose the right digital marketing company for us. We do not have to worry about this anymore as there are some tricks and tips that you can apply to make this decision easy and simple. This article covers all that you would need to know about how to decide on one digital marketing agency . 

Let’s begin: 

Knowing one’s goals

Before starting anything we have to make decisions and one decision that makes us go through the process easily is to set a goal. Every business is different and to find the best business support you do need an agency who knows about your business well. Most marketing agencies specialize in two areas. The work is full time but any marketing agency would work with someone when they know about their business well. 

Our first step is to work with someone who knows about our company and matches with the outcomes we are looking for. So it’s quite necessary to decide on the goals and what you want to achieve through it. 

Goal keeping helps in breaking things down and making it easier to communicate with your agency. The goals and the outcomes you need can be easily deliverable like this. Making goals helps you to get what you wish for with the project you are working on. 

Setting goals will let the agencies decide whether they can work in the field you want them to or not. For example if you need a company to work with you for the social media marketing of your company so you need the agencies for content writing. You can convey this to the agencies and ask them to provide content on a daily basis focusing on the different needs of the customers. If the agency feels that they can do it then it’s a go but if they don’t work in this field and never have then obviously it’s a big no. 

Know if the digital marketing company is eminent

The other way to decide a company is to check if it is prominent or not. Every other person can come online and make a website but the ones who are substantial would always stand out. These are the characteristics that an appreciable business support agency would have. 

After knowing the desired goals that you want to fulfill you need to check these things in the digital marketing company that you feel is right. 

Past clients or portfolio

When a digital marketing company is already established and has enough work experience they would not shy away from showing it off. They also try to display their partnerships with other companies so that the world can see it. It’s not necessary to know about all their previous customers but if you can find some of them or the work that they had been offered and the outcome that would really be helpful. Some services like finance and accounting services or content writing services aren’t displayed easily and sometimes it can be difficult to find such agencies. If you are looking forward to a company that could develop your website or for some virtual assistance then https://ossisto.com/ is one of the best agencies to seek guidance from. Be it content marketing services or bookkeeping they do it all. 

Moving forward to other characteristics, try looking for:

Specialized team members

It’s often essential to make sure that the company you are hiring has the right team members so that the project you want to work on is a hit. For instance if you want to develop the logo of your website you wouldn’t choose a company who doesn’t have a graphic designer or graphic design services. It’s essential to know that the team members are worthy of the task.  How can you know about the team members, you ask? 

Any established company at least has a LinkedIn account

There you can check the team members easily and their speciality too. You do not need to worry about the freelancers as no company shows their freelancers as their team members. This way you can know all about their team and you can always consult with the company directly. 

Strong reputation

Always go for a company who has the skills and the name too. Look forward to searching for social proof and testimonials and also the reviews give by earlier clients. This is really important as it gives you an insight of the type of agency it is. The smart agencies would always know the importance of displaying social proof. So, if they haven’t mentioned any that means that they do not have much to show. Reviews can always be of great help, positive or negative both can help you to decide whether that company is for the job or not. You can also search for in depth reviews on Google. This will help you to see what their earlier team members or the clients have to say about them. 

Core values or company culture

It is crucial to work with someone who has values and operates in a similar way to what you want or how your company operates. If you check this you will know whether they can work with you or your team easily or there are chances of feuds. A business agency describes your company too, so their values and culture is just as important to note as yours. The last thing you would need is to work with someone who does not value your culture or is completely different to what you want. Look at how they work and what they do, if that doesn’t suit the type of environment you need you can just move on to another company. 

Well-designed website

The reason you need graphic designing services or content writing services is only to make your business look good. In the same way checking out on the quality of the website of the agency you are going to choose is crucial. Any agency who has worked for a long time will know the importance of a well-designed website. Everyone gets attracted to a website that is attractive and refined. This is especially necessary if they provide website developing services or even design services. So obviously if their website does not execute what they offer, well how can you expect them to offer services like that. 

Content writing services are the most crucial services as the words define a lot about a business. It’s necessary to find a digital marketing company who can help you with that. https://ossisto.com/ is one stop to all your problems, if you are looking for graphic design services or even for a website development company, this could be the one. 

Easy to get in touch 

Best digital marketing companies would be easily available and will surely make it easy to get in touch. Searching for their website would not be difficult and getting back at them for any services would be trouble free. They would provide you with a clear call to action so that you might know clearly about all the steps to be followed. These steps would be painfully clear and you can always schedule a consultation. Always try to consider only that agency which has simplified the process for you. 

The bottom line

Be it any project big or small, every industry needs someone who is the best. Choosing them might seem like a task but it will get easier with this article. Follow the steps and get in touch with the best agencies for your business. 

Posted in News |

‘Hell Hath No Fury’ starring Nina Bergman, Daniel Bernhardt and Louis Mandylor lands on Blu-ray & DVD on December 21

Well Go USA will be releasing Hell Hath No Fury, a war thriller from action director Jesse V. Johnson (Triple Threat, Avengement, The Debt Collector) – to Blu-ray & DVD on December 21, 2021. The film is also currently available now on all digital platforms.

Hell Hath No Fury stars Nina Bergman (Doom: Annihilation), Daniel Bernhardt (Atomic Blonde), Louis Mandylor (The Debt Collector), Timothy V. Murphy (Sons of Anarchy), and Continue reading

Posted in News |

Cinedigm takes on Japanese horror film ‘Suicide Forest Village’ from ‘Ju-On’ and ‘Grudge’ director Takashi Shimizu

"Suicide Forest Village" Theatrical Poster

“Suicide Forest Village” Theatrical Poster

U.S. label Cinedigm will be releasing the Japanese horror film, Suicide Forest Village, the latest from collaboration from director Takashi Shimizu (Ju-On, The Grudge) and writer Daisuke Hosaka (Howling VillageThe Shock Labyrinth 3D).

Suicide Forest Village stars Jun Kunimura (Kate, The Wailing), Yumi Adachi (Usuke Boys). Asuka Kurosawa (Cold Fish), Yumi Adachi (Mother Game) and Hideko Hara (Rage).

The film follows a group who come across a mysterious box with a deadly secret: the item holds a curse that quickly spreads to those around them. The source of the box is the ‘Jukai Village,’ a rumored location deep within the Jukai Forest (via Deadline).

Look for Suicide Forest Village on demand and digital in early 2022 from Continue reading

Posted in News |

Schemes in Antiques (2021) Review

"Schemes in Antiques" Theatrical Poster

“Schemes in Antiques” Theatrical Poster

Director: Derek Kwok
Cast: Lei Jiayin, Li Xian, Xin Zhilei, Ge You, Qin Yan, Qingxiang Wang, Yong Mei, Tao Guo
Running Time: 123 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Movies about antiques may not necessarily sound like the most exciting proposition on paper, but if there’s one thing that 2003’s Ong Bak taught us, it’s that if the antique in question is a buddha’s head, then prepare for your expectations to be subverted. 18 years later, and China has released Schemes in Antiques, which focuses on the quest to retrieve a, you guessed it, buddha’s head. Uninspired title aside, this particular outing is based on Ma Boyong’s novel of the same name, and involves the mission to repatriate the national treasure in question from Japan, whom it was gifted to by a traitor in World War II. It’s now 1992, and Japan want to give it back, a significant gesture which will be televised with the full bells and whistles. There’s just one catch – the Japanese wish to handover the head to a descendent of the traitor that originally gifted it to them.

Enter Lei Jia-Yin (Cliff Walkers, A Writer’s Odyssey) who plays the traitors grandson, a gifted antiques expert with an eye for telling the real from the fake, but who spends most of his time in a drunken stupor while half heartedly running a dilapidated electronics repair shop. Jia-Yin’s shoddy state is explained by the fact his family have been treated as “the pariahs of the antique world” ever since his grandfathers’ betrayal, his interest in antiques now limited to running scams at local auctions, where he uses his skills to cast doubt over items authenticity and pick them up for cheap. Now finding himself thrust back into the spotlight as the intended recipient of the head, upon having the opportunity to witness it for the first time, Jia-Yin suspects a fake. What’s the deal – are the Japanese Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, Reviews | Tagged |

Shaolin Mantis | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Shaolin Mantis | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Shaolin Mantis | Blu-ray (88 Films)

RELEASE DATE: March 21, 2022

On March 22, 2022, 88 Films will be releasing the Blu-ray for Lau Kar-Leung’s Shaw Brothers classic, Shaolin Mantis. A UK (Region B) version of the film will also be available on March 21, 2022.

Otherwise known as Deadly Mantis in the states, the irrepressible talents of David Chiang (Vengeance) are put to the test both characteristically and physically in a role often regarded as his second finest (Vengeance, naturally being the first). Here he was allowed a little more vulnerability than his general typecasting of grinning rogues or flighty swordsmen as Wei Feng – a Ching (Manchu) official ordered to investigate a wealthy family suspected of having pro ‘Han’ revolutionary connections. Posing Continue reading

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