One of the unique aspects of the horror films produced by Val Lewton at Rko in the 1940s is the seriousness with which they discuss matters of mental illness. Even today, mental health issues are often tiptoed around, but in the forties, they were practically taboo. As discussed in previous entries in this column, Cat People (1942) is largely about repression and The Body Snatcher (1945) deals with guilt, paranoia, and psychopathy. The Seventh Victim (1943), one of the lesser-seen entries in the Lewton cycle, is about loneliness, the depression that stems from it, and suicidal ideation. It externalizes the inner struggles between the light and darkness that use the mind as a battlefield and demand a choice between life and death. Because of the unflinching way The Seventh Victim approaches the subject of suicide, this should be a considered a content warning for the discussion to come later. But first, some background on the film itself.
- 8/7/2023
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Further winners included Paul B. Preciado’s French documentary ‘Orlando, My Political Biography’.
There Is A Stone by Japanese filmmaker Tatsunari Ota and From You by Korea’s Shin Dongmin were awarded the top prizes at South Korea’s Jeonju International Film Festival on Wednesday (May 3).
There Is A Stone took the grand prize in the international competition, which included an award of KW20m. The meditative drama, which premiered at Tokyo Filmex before screening at the Berlinale in February, follows a woman and man who meet by a river and pass the time together before twilight.
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There Is A Stone by Japanese filmmaker Tatsunari Ota and From You by Korea’s Shin Dongmin were awarded the top prizes at South Korea’s Jeonju International Film Festival on Wednesday (May 3).
There Is A Stone took the grand prize in the international competition, which included an award of KW20m. The meditative drama, which premiered at Tokyo Filmex before screening at the Berlinale in February, follows a woman and man who meet by a river and pass the time together before twilight.
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- 5/3/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
‘Bad Kids’ Are As Good As ‘Gold’
“The Bad Kids,” a hit series from Chinese streamer iQiyi, is to be remade as a Japanese feature film “Gold Boy.” The 12-episode gritty crime thriller depicts the troubles that arise after three children accidentally film a murder. The series was previously licensed to Japanese pay-tv group Wowow.
The film is to be directed by Kaneko Shusuke, director of two of the hit “Death Note” franchise films, with screenwriter Minato Takehiko, producer Yoshida Takio (Venice Silver Lion winner with “Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman”), and lead actor Okada Masaki (“Drive My Car”) on board.
Variety previously shortlisted the original series as being among the 15 best international TV series of 2020. The series was adapted from the novel of the same name by Chinese suspense writer Chen Zijin and presented by iQIYI and co-produced by Eternity Pictures, with Han Sanping, former head of China Film Group,...
“The Bad Kids,” a hit series from Chinese streamer iQiyi, is to be remade as a Japanese feature film “Gold Boy.” The 12-episode gritty crime thriller depicts the troubles that arise after three children accidentally film a murder. The series was previously licensed to Japanese pay-tv group Wowow.
The film is to be directed by Kaneko Shusuke, director of two of the hit “Death Note” franchise films, with screenwriter Minato Takehiko, producer Yoshida Takio (Venice Silver Lion winner with “Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman”), and lead actor Okada Masaki (“Drive My Car”) on board.
Variety previously shortlisted the original series as being among the 15 best international TV series of 2020. The series was adapted from the novel of the same name by Chinese suspense writer Chen Zijin and presented by iQIYI and co-produced by Eternity Pictures, with Han Sanping, former head of China Film Group,...
- 3/29/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Sohn Koo-yong once again takes us on a journey into the Korean countryside after ‘A Walk’ (2017), Winter in Seoul (2018) and ‘Afternoon Landscape’ (2020). The Hankuk University of Foreign Studies graduate’s experimental film series explores an alternative ground for movie consumption- to aid in mindfulness and mental health well-being. And his latest effort is yet another stellar genre-defying addition to his previous lineup.
Night Walk is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
The production is silent and monochrome. Shot over the director’s many hikes throughout the neighbourhood of Segeomjeong, it explores empty alleyways, glossy lakes, high-rise bungalows, and the jet-black forests surrounding the city, amongst others, offering up a marriage of urban and natural landscape scenes that transition from one to another with pregnant pauses in between. The flurry of images is accompanied by Koo-yong’s abstract line drawings and arresting poetry taken directly from the Seonbi of the Joseon dynasty.
Night Walk is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
The production is silent and monochrome. Shot over the director’s many hikes throughout the neighbourhood of Segeomjeong, it explores empty alleyways, glossy lakes, high-rise bungalows, and the jet-black forests surrounding the city, amongst others, offering up a marriage of urban and natural landscape scenes that transition from one to another with pregnant pauses in between. The flurry of images is accompanied by Koo-yong’s abstract line drawings and arresting poetry taken directly from the Seonbi of the Joseon dynasty.
- 2/4/2023
- by Leon Overee
- AsianMoviePulse
Moroccan director Aziz Tazi’s thriller “Night Walk,” featuring a turn by Mickey Rourke, has scored a slew of international sales prior to its U.S. launch this month via Lionsgate/Grindstone Entertainment Group.
The English-language pic, for which Rourke won a supporting actor nod at the 2019 Moscow Film Festival, turns on an American named Frank, played by Sean Stone, who is imprisoned in an Arab country after being wrongly accused of killing his Arab girlfriend after a tragic incident.
Behind bars, under guidance from the prison’s most influential inmate (Rourke) and with protection of his Muslim cellmate, Frank unravels a maze of political corruption that leads to top government ranks. Eric Roberts, Sarah Alami and Patrick Kilpatrick also star in the indie pic alongside several Moroccan stars, including veteran actor Abdellah Chicha (“Deep State”) and Ahlam Zaimi (“Razzia”).
“Night Walk,” which marks the directorial debut of L.A.
The English-language pic, for which Rourke won a supporting actor nod at the 2019 Moscow Film Festival, turns on an American named Frank, played by Sean Stone, who is imprisoned in an Arab country after being wrongly accused of killing his Arab girlfriend after a tragic incident.
Behind bars, under guidance from the prison’s most influential inmate (Rourke) and with protection of his Muslim cellmate, Frank unravels a maze of political corruption that leads to top government ranks. Eric Roberts, Sarah Alami and Patrick Kilpatrick also star in the indie pic alongside several Moroccan stars, including veteran actor Abdellah Chicha (“Deep State”) and Ahlam Zaimi (“Razzia”).
“Night Walk,” which marks the directorial debut of L.A.
- 6/7/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: We hear that The Wrestler Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke has boarded the independent feature The Commando which will shoot in New Mexico next month.
The pic, directed by Asif Akbar, follows a DEA agent with Ptsd who returns home after a botched mission and must now protect his family from a newly released prison criminal, played by Rourke, and his henchmen who’ve come after a stash of millions inside the agent’s house.
Koji Steven Sakai wrote the original screenplay from a story by Al Bravo, Akbar and Sakai as well. Elias Axume of Premiere Entertainment Group will be handling all world-wide sales and serving as producer. The Commando is a co-production with Al Bravo Films, Little Nalu Pictures and Avail Entertainment. Kimberly Hines will serve as EP. Recently, the Rourke crime movie Night Walk landed domestic theatrical distribution via Grindstone Entertainment. A 2021 release is planned. Grindstone has a multi-year agreement with Lionsgate.
The pic, directed by Asif Akbar, follows a DEA agent with Ptsd who returns home after a botched mission and must now protect his family from a newly released prison criminal, played by Rourke, and his henchmen who’ve come after a stash of millions inside the agent’s house.
Koji Steven Sakai wrote the original screenplay from a story by Al Bravo, Akbar and Sakai as well. Elias Axume of Premiere Entertainment Group will be handling all world-wide sales and serving as producer. The Commando is a co-production with Al Bravo Films, Little Nalu Pictures and Avail Entertainment. Kimberly Hines will serve as EP. Recently, the Rourke crime movie Night Walk landed domestic theatrical distribution via Grindstone Entertainment. A 2021 release is planned. Grindstone has a multi-year agreement with Lionsgate.
- 9/23/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired the North American rights to the Brian A. Metcalf-directed Adverse which will debut in theaters January 23, 2021, followed by a release on media platforms through Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Adverse stars Thomas Nicolas as a rideshare driver who discovers his younger sister (Kelly Arjen) has become entangled with an underworld boss (Mickey Rourke) in drugs and debt. The neo-noir crime thriller also stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Penelope Ann Miller and Sean Astin.
“We’re excited to be working with the team at Grindstone and Lionsgate Home Entertainment – their success in this genre makes this company the perfect home for US distribution,” said Arjen, Metcalf, and Nicholas, who also serve as producers.
Stan Wertlieb, Grindstone Entertainment Group’s Head of Acquisitions, added, “Brian skillfully directs a cast of star performers and takes us on a thrilling and jarring ride into the underbelly of a violent...
Adverse stars Thomas Nicolas as a rideshare driver who discovers his younger sister (Kelly Arjen) has become entangled with an underworld boss (Mickey Rourke) in drugs and debt. The neo-noir crime thriller also stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Penelope Ann Miller and Sean Astin.
“We’re excited to be working with the team at Grindstone and Lionsgate Home Entertainment – their success in this genre makes this company the perfect home for US distribution,” said Arjen, Metcalf, and Nicholas, who also serve as producers.
Stan Wertlieb, Grindstone Entertainment Group’s Head of Acquisitions, added, “Brian skillfully directs a cast of star performers and takes us on a thrilling and jarring ride into the underbelly of a violent...
- 9/15/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Mickey Rourke, Sean Stone and Eric Roberts crime drama Night Walk has secured North American distribution via Grindstone Entertainment Group, with Scatena & Rosner Films taking global sales rights, Deadline can exclusively report.
Directed and produced by Moroccan-born filmmaker Aziz Tazi, Night Walk follows Frank, a Western traveler visiting the Middle East, where his girlfriend Sarah lives. After a tragic incident leading to Sarah’s death, Frank is wrongfully imprisoned by corrupt police, and under the guidance of the prison’s top shot-caller (Mickey Rourke) and the protection of his Muslim cellmate (French multi-platinum rap artist La Fouine), he unravels political corruption at the top seats of government in his quest for justice. Louis Mandylor and Patrick Kilpatrick also star.
Grindstone has a multi-year agreement with Lionsgate and plans a release for the pic next year.
Night Walk was shot in Los Angeles and Morocco.
Directed and produced by Moroccan-born filmmaker Aziz Tazi, Night Walk follows Frank, a Western traveler visiting the Middle East, where his girlfriend Sarah lives. After a tragic incident leading to Sarah’s death, Frank is wrongfully imprisoned by corrupt police, and under the guidance of the prison’s top shot-caller (Mickey Rourke) and the protection of his Muslim cellmate (French multi-platinum rap artist La Fouine), he unravels political corruption at the top seats of government in his quest for justice. Louis Mandylor and Patrick Kilpatrick also star.
Grindstone has a multi-year agreement with Lionsgate and plans a release for the pic next year.
Night Walk was shot in Los Angeles and Morocco.
- 6/26/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Update (4:00pm Et): According to “The Irishman” producers, Jane Rosenthal and Emma Tillinger Koskoff, and casting director Ellen Lewis, “Mickey Rourke was never asked to be in “The Irishman” nor was he ever even thought of, discussed or considered to be in the movie.”
Earlier: “The Irishman” starring Mickey Rourke? It could have happened, at least according to “The Wrestler” Oscar nominee. Rourke told the Italian television program “Live – Non è la D’Urso” (via The Independent) that he could have been considered for a role in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming gangster epic had leading actor Robert De Niro not refused to work with him. Rourke said the two actors had a falling out while working together on Alan Parker’s 1987 psychological horror movie “Angel Heart.”
“Marty Scorsese wanted to meet me for a movie with Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro,” Rourke said, referencing “The Irishman.
Earlier: “The Irishman” starring Mickey Rourke? It could have happened, at least according to “The Wrestler” Oscar nominee. Rourke told the Italian television program “Live – Non è la D’Urso” (via The Independent) that he could have been considered for a role in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming gangster epic had leading actor Robert De Niro not refused to work with him. Rourke said the two actors had a falling out while working together on Alan Parker’s 1987 psychological horror movie “Angel Heart.”
“Marty Scorsese wanted to meet me for a movie with Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro,” Rourke said, referencing “The Irishman.
- 9/18/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
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