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In 2002, the hype for Japanese horror films was declining rapidly, as the sequels to series like “Ring” or “The Grudge” were commercially and critically unsuccessful. Even though directors such as Hideo Nakata and Takashi Shimizu came to Hollywood to helm the remakes to their films or their sequels, Hollywood had already adapted J-horror tropes to its own productions. As Jerry White points out, one of the perhaps most disappointing entries in the J-horror remakes was Jim Sonzero’s version of Kiyoshi Kurosawa‘s “Pulse” (2001). Perhaps it was this particular experience which made Kurosawa change genres with his next project “Bright Future”.

Bright Future is screening at Black Movie

In general, Kurosawa is best known for his unique horror films such as “Pulse” or “Cure”, films which years after their release now unfold their true impact. At the same time, the director has also repeatedly explored the gap between youth and adults,...

Cursed was a very fitting title for the 2005 werewolf movie that reteamed Scream director Wes Craven with screenwriter Kevin Williamson, because studio meddling ensured that the project – which had a promising start – ended up being a mess that bombed at the box office. The journey to the screen began in the year 2000, when Williamson wrote a script about a New York-based serial killer who discovers he’s a werewolf. Dimension decided to have Sean Hood and Tony Gayton do rewrites, turning Cursed into the story of a late night TV associate producer who gets attacked by a werewolf after a car crash on Mulholland Drive. Days before Craven was set to go into production on Pulse, a remake of the Japanese horror film Kairo, Dimension pulled him off that project (it ended up being the feature directorial debut of music video director Jim Sonzero) and threw him onto Cursed, which...

Hollywood and the West in general have been remaking some of the greatest Asian movies since the 60s, picking the most commercially successful and the most adaptable productions to bring to both American and worldwide audiences. A number of them were of equal or at least similar quality, with John Sturges’s “The Magnificent Seven” (based on “Seven Samurai”) and Sergio Leone’s “A Fistful of Dollars” (based on Yojimbo”) being some of the most prominent samples. At the same time, however, and particularly after the 90s, the quality of remakes decreased significantly, resulting in a series of remakes that can only be described as truly awful, even though, on occasion, they were directed by the same filmmakers who shot the originals. Here, we have included 15 of the worst ones, in random order.

1. Ju-On: The Grudge Remake: The Grudge

Takashi Shimizu, who was also the screenwriter, puts the events in a non-chronological order,...

“I’ve always had lots of dreams when I sleep. The dreams have always been about the future.”

In 2002, the hype for Japanese horror films was declining rapidly, as the sequels to series like “Ring” or “The Grudge” were commercially and critically unsuccessful. Even though directors such as Hideo Nakata and Takashi Shimizu came to Hollywood to helm the remakes to their films or their sequels, Hollywood had already adapted J-horror tropes to its own productions. As Jerry White points out, one of the perhaps most disappointing entries in the J-horror remakes was Jim Sonzero’s version of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Pulse” (2001). Perhaps it was this particular experience which made Kurosawa change genres with his next project “Bright Future”.

In general, Kurosawa is best known for his unique horror films such as “Pulse” or “Cure”, films which years after their release now unfold their true impact. At the same time,...

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has countless fans around the globe and hardly any ardent fans of Ash is as lucky as director Jim Sonzero. Jim kissed the actress on set for her new L'Oreal commercial. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is the brand ambassador of L’Oreal Paris in India. The former beauty queen and actress posted the image of being kissed by Jim on twitter. Ash looked quite ease as she was kissed by Sonzero on cheeks. Aishwarya is currently on break. After the birth of her daughter Aaradhya in 2011, she did not sign any movies. Through off late many reports came up about her comeback movies but there was not any confirmation as what she has si...

Ian Somerhalder and Luke Hemsworth topline the cast of The Anomaly, a highly original action thriller exploring the issue of global terriorism. Noel Clarke's UK production company Unstoppable Entertainment announced that principal photography commenced on new sci-fi thriller last week.

The Anomaly's original screenplay was written by Simon Lewis and will be directed by Noel Clarke (4.3.2.1., Adulthood). Lewis' screenplay follows the travails of a traumatized ex-soldier who wakes up in the back of a van, alongside a kidnapped boy, to find that he only has only nine minutes and 37 seconds of consciousness to work out why and how he got there. The film is produced by James Harris and Mark Lane of The Tea Shop & Film Company (Cockneys Vs. Zombies, Tower Block). The film will be shooting on location across London. Ian Somerhalder and Luke Hemsworth join Noel Clarke, Brian Cox (The Bourne Ultimatum, Rise of the Planet of the Apes...

Another week in October, another bounty crop of horror DVDs and Blu-rays. This week we have home entertainment from recent theatrical releases of nightmares of the mind as well as re-releases of classic and campy horror, all with boatloads of extras.

Then there are other horror titles that are being re-released on Blu-ray or in packs for double dipping. On top of that, horror offerings from Asia, past seasons of TV shows, manga, novels, and even video games are all vying for our pocketbooks. And we still have four more weeks of October to go.

Next year October needs to begin in August.

Human Centipede: First Sequence

Directed by Tom Six

Human Centipede: First Sequence (review) was a sensation ever since its first mention. Stephen Colbert even talked about it at the 2010 Emmys Awards broadcast! The premise cannot be simpler. Two pretty American girls are on a road trip through Europe.

Pulse Blu-Ray ArtPulse was originally released in 2006 starring Ian Somerhalder and Kirsten Bell. The film was an adaptation of the original Japanese version from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa entitled Kairo. Now, four years later this film will make its way to Blu-Ray formats September 7th. The film has been described as a "technophobic horror flick" (La Times) and as "the spirits in Pulse don't kill you...they drain you of your life-giving energy first" (Village Voice). This reviewer has seen this film and centrally Pulse is a cautionary tale on the overuse of technology e.g. LCDs, wireless internet. The material is gripping and so is the love story between Mattie (Bell) and Dexter (Somerhalder). Fans can decide for themselves, with Vivendi Home Entertainment releasing this product in just a couple days. All the details on the release are below.

The synopsis for Pulse here:

"Pulse takes fear into new territory...

Ian Somerhalder is in negotiations to star in Pulse, a horror movie that Jim Sonzero is directing for the Weinsteins' Dimension Films. Based on the Japanese horror movie Kairo and written by Ray Wright, Pulse centers on a group of college students who discover that a computer hacker friend of theirs unwittingly pirated a strange wireless signal that opened a doorway for a terrifying evil to cross over into the world. As it spreads, everyone in its path is consumed, and the students must race to find a way to stop it. Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) and Steve Talley also star.

Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell and newcomer Steve Talley will star in Pulse. The project is one of the films on the initial release slate of the new company that Harvey and Bob Weinstein plan to set up once their contract with the Walt Disney Co. and Miramax expires in September. Commercial helmer Jim Sonzero is making his feature directorial debut on the horror film, which is being produced by Mike Leahy and Joel Soisson of Neo Art & Logic. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Harvey Weinstein cited the film as part of the slate that his new company, currently named the Weinstein Co., will launch itself with. Comparing it to The Ring, he said, "We hope it will be a new franchise."...