Amazon Video brings the blood with ‘Exiled: The Chosen Ones’ starring ‘Headshot’ martial arts star Sunny Pang

"Exiled: The Chosen Ones" Theatrical Poster

“Exiled: The Chosen Ones” Theatrical Poster

Audiences are finally be able to catch Exiled: The Chosen Ones, the latest action-thriller from writer/director Ranjeet S. Marwa (Godforsaken).

This Silent D/Rocket Sky High Production is headlined by Headshot breakout star, Sunny Pang (The Night Comes for Us) who shares the screen with Hannah Al-Rashid, Oka Antara and Nisaro Karim.

Here’s what you can expect from the plot: After a man-made virus failed to reduce the world’s overpopulated areas, global leaders would start a new program that would legitimize a new venture in a game show. The game would be broadcast live, where random contestants would be exiled into a concrete jungle, forced to kill each other for their freedom. Viewers would place their bets on who had a chance at Continue reading

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Jackie Chan-produced Yemen thriller ‘Home Operation’ filming in Syria from ‘Who Am I?’ remake director Song Yinxi

"Home Operation" Teaser Poster

“Home Operation” Teaser Poster

As with many high profile stars in the movie business, Jackie Chan is no stranger to producing many films he doesn’t appear in. Some of these titles include 1986’s Naughty Boys, 1987’s Rouge, 1991’s Angry Ranger, 1991’s Center Stage, 2011’s Legendary Amazons, 2015’s Amnesia, 2017’s Reset and 2018’s Golden Job.

The latest film Jackie Chan is backing is Home Operation, which is currently in production in Hajar al-Aswad, a city located in Syria, which was once the stomping grounds for members of ISIS.

Home Operation is directed by Song Yinxi, who directed the aforementioned 2015 film, Amnesia, which was essentially a remake of the late Benny Continue reading

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Heads will roll in 88 Films’ release for Ching Gong’s 1978 Shaw film ‘Flying Guillotines Part II’ in August

The Flying Guillotines Part II | Blu-ray (88 Films)

The Flying Guillotines Part II | Blu-ray (88 Films)

On August 9, 2022, 88 Films is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A) for The Flying Guillotines Part II (aka Palace Carnage). Directed by both Ching Gong (12 Gold Medallions) and Hua Shan (To Kill A Jaguar), this 1978 kung fu film stars Ti Lung (Young Lovers on Flying Wheels), Shih Szu (The Thunderbolt Fist), Lo Lieh (The Dynamite Shaolin Heroes), Ku Feng (Shaolin Intruders) and Wong Chung (Police Force).

The heroic Ma Teng (Ti Lung) has developed a counter to the “Flying Guillotines” attack, and when word reaches The Emperor, who is more bloodthirsty than ever, he creates a new deadlier version and trains a squad of female assassins to use it. Now Ma must help the gang of rebels trying to overthrow the evil tyrant and create a new counter-weapon to defeat the improved Guillotine.

This title will soon be available Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! A Prayer Before Dawn | Blu-ray | Only $9.99 – Expires soon!

A Prayer Before Dawn | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

A Prayer Before Dawn | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s (Johnny Mad Dog) Thai boxing thriller A Prayer Before Dawn (read our review).

Based on the international best-sellerA Prayer Before Dawn is the true story of Billy Moore (Joe Cole of Peaky Blinders, and Gareth Evans’ upcoming series, Gangs of London), a troubled young British boxer sent to one of Thailand’s most notorious jails. Refusing to die inside prison, Billy becomes a student of the lethal art of Muay Thai boxing, and in the process, finds a brotherhood that will guide him on an incredible journey to redemption.

A Prayer Before Dawn also stars Vithaya Pansringarm (Lupin the Third), Panya Continue reading

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Have plans halted for ‘Chaser’ director Na Hong-Jin to tackle real-life Korean mass murderer Woo Bum-kon?

"Chaser" Theatrical Poster

“Chaser” Theatrical Poster

They call him Na Hong-Jin. If you’re not familiar with his name, maybe you’re familiar with his work. In 2008, the South Korean filmmaker shook the world with his debut feature film, The Chaser. In 2010, he showed us that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder with The Yellow Sea. Then in 2016 came The Wailing, where Na proved his cinematic prowess while tackling the occult subgenre.

Apparently, his long-awaited next mystery project is The Mink, a Thai/South Korean collaboration (via HC), following his work with Banjong Pisanthanakun’s 2021 horror film, The Medium.

But back in 2017, it was reported that his next project would once again be based on horrifying factual incidents (The Chaser was loosely based on serial killer Yoo Young-chul) – this time – a film about Woo Bum-kon, a South Continue reading

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Fatal Raid, The (2019) Review

"The Fatal Raid" Japanese DVD Cover

“The Fatal Raid” Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Jacky Lee
Cast: Patrick Tam Yiu-Man, Michael Tong Man-Lung, Jade Leung Ching, Sharon Luk, Lin Min-Chen, Jadie Lin, Jeana Ho, Hidy Yu, Chiu Sin-Hang, Yona Fong
Running Time: 91 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

The Fatal Raid originally started out as a sequel to 2016’s Special Female Force, but somewhere along the way it was decided to scrap the sequel angle and make it a standalone story with different characters. I have a couple of theories around why this decision was made – first off is that the producers perhaps realised that Special Female Force was a pretty lacklustre attempt at a movie, so making a sequel to it was hardly going to be a thrilling box office prospect. Secondly is that the plot of The Fatal Raid is so remarkably similar to Special Female Force that it feels more like a remake than a continuation, so it was decided that having people think it was a rip-off rather than a remake was the lesser of two evils. Either way, it ended up being made, and apparently in 2019 incorporating the word ‘Raid’ into a movies title was still considered a bankable thing to do.

To demonstrate the similarities, it’s worth giving a quick plot recap of Special Female Force. Opening in Thailand, a sting goes horribly wrong which results in a unit being almost completely wiped out. 20 years later, the only surviving member (played by Jade Leung of Black Cat and Satin Steel fame) is now a trainer for new recruits in Hong Kong, one of whom turns out to be the daughter of one of the fallen comrades from the botched operation in Thailand all those years ago. Now let’s take a look at The Fatal Raid. Opening in Macau, a sting goes horribly wrong that results in several unintended fatalities. 20 years later, one of the surviving members (played by Jade Leung of Black Cat and Satin Steel fame) is still on the force, and a new recruit she ends up working with turns Continue reading

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Predator is back in the New TV Spot for Hulu’s ‘Prey’ from Dan Trachtenberg the director of ’10 Cloverfield Lane’

"Prey" Theatrical Poster

“Prey” Theatrical Poster

Director Dan Trachtenberg – who is perhaps best known for directing 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane, as well as episodes of Amazon’s The Boys series – is prepping Prey, the latest addition in the Predator film franchise.

The upcoming film stars Amber Midthunder (Roswell, New Mexico), Dane DiLiegro (American Horror Stories), Stefany Mathias (Longmire), Stormee Kipp (Sooyii) and Dakota Beavers.

Prey is the origin story of the Predator in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. Naru (Midthunder), a skilled female warrior, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth.

The film will be released on the Hulu streaming service on August 5, 2022. Don’t miss the film’s New TV Spot, followed by the Full Trailer Continue reading

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Don’t miss the New Trailer for Netflix’ South Korean action thriller ‘Carter’ from ‘The Villainess’ helmer starring Joo Won

"Carter" Netflix Poster

“Carter” Netflix Poster

The latest from writer/director Jung Byung-gil – known for his films Confession of Murder and fan favorite The Villainess – is arriving on Netflix in the form of Carter (read our review), an upcoming action thriller starring Joo Won (Fashion King) and Kim Won-Jung (The Pirates).

Thrown straight into a dangerous mission with none of his memories intact, a man (Joo Won) must escape death while trying to figure out who he is, how he ended up here, and most importantly—who is the mysterious voice in his ear calling him “Carter”?

In addition to this Carter, director Jung Byung-gil is also working on his Hollywood film debut, titled Havoc, a military thriller inspired byactual events (read about it here).

Carter arrives on Netflix Continue reading

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Special Delivery (2022) Review

"Special Delivery" Theatrical Poster

“Special Delivery” Theatrical Poster

Director: Park Dae-Min
Cast: Park So-Dam, Song Sae-Byeok, Kim Eui-Sung, Jeong Hyun-Jun, Yum Hye-Ran, Han Hyun-Min, Heo Dong-Won, Yeon Woo-Jin, Baek Do-Gyum
Running Time: 108 min.

By Paul Bramhall 

Following in the footsteps of Jason Statham in The Transporter series, in Special Delivery Park So-dam continues the fine cinematic tradition of playing a character who transports “anything that regular post carriers can’t.” Like its predecessors, Special Delivery frames itself as a gritty action flick, this time from Korea with the action playing out on the streets of Busan.

The third outing for director and script writer Park Dae-min following 2009’s Private Eye and 2016’s Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River, Special Delivery marks the first time for Dae-min to use the present day as the setting for the narrative. Opening to a pulsating 80’s influenced synthesiser soundtrack, we’re quickly introduced to So-dam’s particular line of work as she picks up a gangster who needs to be delivered to the port. Frazzled at the fact that the driver is a woman, whatever concerns he has are soon thrust to the back of his mind when it turns out the police have been lying in wait, and proceed to give chase through the alley Continue reading

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The wild west just got wilder with Alexander Nevsky’s ‘Taken from Rio Bravo’ featuring Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock

"Gunfight At Rio Bravo" Poster

“Gunfight At Rio Bravo” Poster

Writer/director Joe Cornet, who is known for his output of low budget Western thrillers that include 2018’s A Prayer for the Damned and 2020’s Incident at Guilt Ridge, recently wrapped production on Taken from Rio Bravo, the sequel to the soon-to-be-released Gunfight At Rio Bravo.

Taken from Rio Bravo stars returning leading man Alexander Nevsky (Showdown in Manila, Maximum Impact), as the mysterious Russian gunslinger who, in the first film, aids a marshal (Olivier Gruner) and a sheriff (Joe Cornet) in a standoff with a bloodthirsty outlaw gang known as The Hellhounds.

For Taken from Rio Bravo, the Russian cowboy (Nevsky) is back, and this time he’s up against a group of sadistic human traffickers who plan to market their Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Dragons Forever SteelBook | Blu-ray | Only $19.99 – Expires soon!

Today’s Deal on Fire is for 88 Films Blu-ray for Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao’s 1988 classic Dragons Forever, in a special Limited Edition 2-Disc Steelbook.

Attention U.S. buyers: Please note that this is a Region B (UK) release, so a multi-region Blu-ray player or multi-region UHD Blu-ray player is required to play this movie (standard U.S. players will not play the discs). 

Hotshot lawyer Jackie Lung (Jackie Chan) is hired to defend the owner of a factory which, unbeknownst to him, is the centre of a clandestine narcotics syndicate. He enlists resourceful acquaintances Wong Fei-Hung (Sammo Hung) and Dung Dak-Biu (Yuen Biao) to assist in the case, but loyalties begin to falter when romance blossoms between Continue reading

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Watch the action packed Trailer for the Jamie Foxx vampire thriller ‘Day Shift’ with Snoop Dogg and featuring Scott Adkins

"Day Shift" Poster

“Day Shift” Poster

On August 12, Netflix is releasing Day Shift, the directorial debut of J.J. Perry (Bloodsport III), who is best known for his second-unit director and stunt coordinator for The ShepherdBullet to the Head and the John Wick franchise.

In the film, Jamie Foxx (Sleepless) plays a hard-working, blue-collar dad who just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted daughter, but his mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income, hunting and killing vampires as part of an international union of vampire hunters (via THR).

Martial arts star Scott Adkins (Legacy of Lies, Dead Reckoning, Ip Man 4: The Finale) and hip-hop star Snoop Dogg are part of an ensemble cast that includes Meagan Good, Karla Souza, Eric Lange, Zion Broadnax, Dave Continue reading

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VR Fighter | aka One More Shot (2021) Review

"VR Fighter" Theatrical Poster

“VR Fighter” Theatrical Poster

Director: Tang Qiaojia
Cast: Fan Siu-Wong, Yiyi Jiang, Diego Dati, Jiang Yi-Yi, Wang Zhipeng, Song Ziqiao, Tang Hu
Running Time: 80 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The web movie has become something of a cultural phenomenon in China. While what can be considered the first official Chinese web movie is up for debate, it’s a trend which has continued to grow at a rapid rate since their inception in the mid-2010’s. Fuelled by the trifactor of a rapid uptake in smartphones, a successful 4G network rollout, and the boom of online payment systems like Alipay, the number of web movies being produced per year in China currently sits in the hundreds. While it’s easy to disregard such output – these are ultimately throwaway productions that don’t go beyond 80 minutes, likely to be watched on a smartphone during a commute to work – the Chinese web movie industry has also become a place that Hong Kong stars of yesteryear can continue to find work.

One such former star is Fan Siu-Wong. Known for his roles in the likes of cult classic Story of Ricky and Ip Man, after an embarrassing turn as a gay butler who lusts after Lee Min-ho in 2016’s horrendous Bounty Hunters, Siu-Wong threw himself into the world of web movies like they were going out of fashion. Since 2018 he’s headlined the likes of Wolves Action 2, Taoist Master, The Bravest Escort Group, The Bravest Escort Group 2: Howling Wind, Monster Undersea, Monster Undersea 2, Southern Shaolin, and Special Mission – it’s possible to go on. The nature of web movies needing to hold a viewer’s attention, and resist the temptation to tap into TikTok or Instagram, has seen the kung fu and monster genres come to the fore, with Siu-Wong frequently dabbling Continue reading

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Witch: Part 2. The Other One, The (2022) Review

"The Witch: Part 2. The Other One" Theatrical Poster

“The Witch: Part 2. The Other One” Theatrical Poster

Director: Park Hoon-Jung
Cast: Shin Shi-A, Park Eun-Bin, Seo Eun-Su, Jin Goo, Sung Yoo-Bin, Lee Jong-Suk, Jo Min-Soo
Running Time: 137 min.

By Paul Bramhall

At the end of my review for 2018’s The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, I finished up by saying “If we do get another round of witchery, here’s hoping Hoon-jung go’s for a less is more approach, with more focus on being lean and mean, and less on everything else.” The line was in reference to many of the superfluous plot threads that populated the 125 minutes runtime, and now in 2022 we finally have the follow-up in the form of The Witch: Part 2. The Other One (a completely non-ironic title, I should point out). The only assumption I can safely make is that director and scriptwriter Park Hoon-jung didn’t read my review, as the sequel clocks in at an even longer 137 minutes.

It’s been almost 10 years since Hoon-jung marked himself as a director to keep an eye on with the release of his sophomore feature The New World, and while arguably none of his subsequent efforts have matched the gritty gangster thriller, that hasn’t stopped him from becoming the busiest director in Korea. Never going longer than 2 years without having a new big budget production hitting local cinema screens, some of Hoon-jung’s trademarks have become a fondness for blood shed (seemingly the messier the better), and an apparent allergy to runtimes of less than 2 hours. Following the first instalment of The Witch in 2018, Hoon-jung returned Continue reading

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VR Fighter | DVD (4Digital Media)

"VR Fighter" Theatrical Poster

“VR Fighter” Theatrical Poster

RELEASE DATE: October 11, 2022

Hong Kong action star Fan Siu Wong (Attrition, Righting WrongsRiki-Oh: The Story of Ricky) is making his way into U.S. territory with Tang Qiaojia’s VR Fighter (aka One More Shot), a 2021 Chinese sci-fi action film arriving to DVD and VOD in October by way of 4Digital Media.

In a future city with highly developed technology, Special Forces Team leader Long Wei (Siu-Wong Fan) quits his job after a disastrous mission where none of his men survived. His family were also subject to a brutal attack where he loses his wife and his daughter is injured, so he decides to takes her to live in seclusion overseas. But after those traumatic experiences, he´s asked to enrol into a high-tech military program, testing virtual reality products – almost indestructible exoskeleton suits. At the same time this occurs, a group Continue reading

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