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A popular streaming series has a horde of zombies threatening to overtake a medieval kingdom in the midst of murderous royal intrigue and an unforgiving winter. Though this matches the broader premise of the prominent Winterfell storyline in "Game of Thrones," it's also a concise description of the South Korean series "Kingdom." The Netflix original show is set within Korea's historical Joseon period in the 17th century, albeit with a paranormal twist. This unique setup not only breathes new life into the tried-and-true zombie genre, but it also appeals to "Game of Thrones" fans whether they're familiar with K-dramas or not.

"Kingdom" picks up several years after the Koreans repel invading Japanese forces in the 17th century, at which point the Joseon Dynasty Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) discovers a mysterious contagion is spreading throughout the countryside. This disease transforms the infected into ravenous dead who threaten to overwhelm the kingdom,...

Utilizing violence and gore tastefully but effectively in sci-fi TV shows can be difficult, as there needs to be a balance between the intense action scenes and the character-driven breaks in the tension. However, one of the most fun parts of contemporary television is how much can be achieved in creating graphic violence through both practical and CGI effects. While blood-soaked thrillers aren't for all audiences, they're extraordinarily fun, and these TV shows hit home for viewers who love seeing a story's beats expressed through visceral chills. Understanding that gore is for both serious and comedic effects is crucial.

There are recent sci-fi shows that didn't deserve to be canceled that provided plenty of graphic action sequences that kept viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the episodes. When introducing intense violence, a series usually takes one of two routes. Either the sudden gore is shocking and punctuates a particularly devastating scene,...

The opening night of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (Biff) saw a starry audience of more than 4,500 guests in fits of laughter as well as reduced to tears at a ceremony tonight (October 3).

Staged under the illuminated roof of the Busan Cinema Center in South Korea, directors, actors and producers from more than 70 films in Biff’s official selection walked the red carpet, including Thai star Billkin from blockbuster How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, India’s Banita Das from Village Rockstars 2 and Filipino director Brillante Mendoza. Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae was also in attendance as well as Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes,...

Busan International Film Festival has announced a Special Program in Focus, ‘In Memory of Lee Sun-kyun’, honoring the Korean actor who died in December 2023.

The program will screen six of the actor’s works including Parasite, four other films and an episode of TV series My Mister, as well as feature Special Talk events.

The late actor has also been selected to receive this year’s Korea Cinema Award, given to filmmakers who have contributed to promoting Korean cinema globally.

“Through the program, the festival aims to reflect on and commemorate the achievements of the late actor, whose diversified and profound performances have represented the Korean film scene,” the festival said.

Lee died in December 2023 in an apparent suicide at the age of 48, after which industry figures, including Parasite director Bong Joon Ho, called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Three of the films in the Busan...

Late South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun will be the subject of a special programme at the upcoming Busan International Film Festival, which will also posthumously honour the Parasite star with the Korean Cinema Award.

The festival will present a special focus titled In Memory of Lee Sun-kyun, which will include six of the actor’s most well-known films and TV series: Park Chan-ok’s Paju; Hong Sangsoo’s Our Sunhi; Kim Seong-hun’s A Hard Day; Kim Wonsuk’s TV series My Mister; Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite; and Choo Chang-min’s Land Of Happiness.

Special talk events will be scheduled alongside the films,...

A scene from the Korean action drama-adventure Ransomed. Courtesy of Well Go USA.

South Korea has exported a slew of first-rate action flicks in the past few years, and Ransomed counts as another. Most have been based on cops vs. bad guys within the country. This one, supposedly based on real events, takes us to Lebanon in the 1980s. It also plies the waters of plot complexities and suspense more, without sacrificing the action component.

As factional wars rage within Lebanon, one group kidnaps a Korean diplomat, holding him for over a year before finally demanding a $5 million ransom. A foreign-service colleague, Min-joon (Ha Jung-woo), volunteers for the risky task of delivering the cash and returning with the hostage, even though he’s been a desk jockey without any military that would prepare him for the likely difficulties in achieving the rescue. Corrupt police are swarming the airport, waiting to...

The South Korean star was facing an investigating into alleged drug use.

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, star of Oscar-winning film Parasite, has died aged 48.

Lee was found dead in car at a park in central Seoul on Wednesday morning, according to news agency Yonhap and the Associated Press. Police had been searching for the actor after his family reported that he had left home after writing what appeared to be a suicide note.

He had been under investigation by the police since October over allegations over illegal drug use. Lee himself had reportedly brought details to authorities, claiming he...

Comedy drama sold to North America and a raft of Asian territories.

South Korean distributor Showbox has closed pre-sales deals in North America and Asia on Men Of Plastic, an upcoming comedy drama starring Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok).

The film has sold to North America (Capelight), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Japan (At Entertainment), Hong Kong and Macau (Edko Films), Thailand (Cj Enm Hk), the Philippines (Viva Communications), Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Vietnam (Purple Plan), and in-flight (Eagle International).

Directed by Im Jin-soon (Ordinary People), it stars Lee – whose credits include Marvel’s Eternals and Korean box office hit The Roundup...

Manta Comics is to release a webcomic adaptation of “A Hard Day,” a Korean action thriller film from 2014 originally directed by Kim Seong-hun.

In Manta’s adaptation, the protagonist Ko Gunsoo has been recreated as a female detective, and the story begins when she accidentally hits a homeless person with her car shortly after her mother’s death. Unwilling to catch a manslaughter charge, Gunsoo hides the body in her mother’s casket. A mysterious stranger soon arrives, claiming knowledge of the hit-and-run, and Gunsoo finds herself embroiled in a shady police corruption scandal.

The 2014 movie was produced by AD406 and distributed internationally by Showbox / Mediaplex.

“While we are currently known mostly for our romance content, ‘A Hard Day’ is part of our expansion into the action and thriller category. We are excited for our fans to experience the story and the amazing artwork,” said Jeon Moonseok, head of content at Manta Comics.

The major South Korean investor-distributor got a 108.4m investment from Maum Capital Group in April.

In South Korea, major investor-distributor Showbox has announced plans to increase its global competitiveness with a new infusion of capital and a creator-centred business model for K-contents.

At a media event in Seoul on June 15, Showbox CEO Do Soo Kim revealed the company had received an investment of 108.4m (KW140bn) from Silicon Valley-based Maum Capital Group (McG) in April and plans to use it to expand its platform value chains to metaverse and NFTs.

Kim said the company is focusing on partnering with creators...

Tapping into Morocco’s recently launched tax rebate, Karim Debbagh’s leading Tangier-based line producer Kasbah Films already has three major international productions in the pipeline for 2020. These include “Cherry” with Tom Holland, “The Forgiven” with Ralph Fiennes, a big-budget South Korean film “Kidnapped.”

“Cherry” is an American crime drama film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and is based on Nico Walker’s novel. The film stars Tom Holland as an Iraq war veteran who returns home suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder and starts robbing banks. “Cherry” will begin shooting later this month across Moroccan locations such as Ouarzazate and the Erfoud desert for scenes set in Iraq.

“The Forgiven” is a British movie that will be directed by John Michael McDonagh and is an adaptation of the novel by Lawrence Osborne about the impact of a tragic accident on the lives of an English couple attending a lavish...

Hundreds of years ago in Korea, citizens rise from the dead with appetites for human flesh in the latest trailer for Netflix's new series Kingdom.

Variety previously reported that Netflix has already green-lit a second season of Kingdom, as revealed last year by CEO Reed Hastings at the streaming service's "See What’s Next: Asia" presentation in Singapore.

According to Variety, Kingdom takes place around "600 years ago in Chosun Dynasty-era Korea," where a mysterious plague "turns people into something akin to zombies." The series is directed by Seong-hun Kim and written by Kim Eun-hee.

"In a kingdom defeated by corruption and famine, a mysterious plague spreads to turn the infected into monsters. The crown prince, framed for treason and desperate to save his people, sets out on a journey to unveil what evil lurks in the dark. Kingdom coming to Netflix worldwide January 25."



Previous trailers:

The post Monstrous Hunger...

"How many dead bodies do you think are there at the bottom of this pond?" A king's reign of fear continues past the constraints of mortality when he rises from the dead in Netflix's new Korean series Kingdom, and before the series is released on the streaming service this January, an official trailer has been revealed for the latest project from director Seong-hun Kim.

Variety previously reported that Netflix has already green-lit a second season of Kingdom, as revealed by CEO Reed Hastings at the streaming service's "See What’s Next: Asia" presentation in Singapore.

According to Variety, Kingdom takes place around "600 years ago in Chosun Dynasty-era Korea," where a mysterious plague "turns people into something akin to zombies." The series is directed by Seong-hun Kim and written by Kim Eun-hee.

"In a kingdom defeated by corruption and famine, a mysterious plague spreads to turn the infected into monsters.

Kingdom Trailer Netflix‘s Kingdom (2019) teaser trailer stars Ji-hoon Ju, Doona Bae, Seung-ryong Ryu, Sang-ho Kim, and Joon-ho Heo. Kingdom‘s plot synopsis: “The deceased king rises and a mysterious plague begins to spread. The prince must face a new breed of enemies to unveil the evil and save his people.” Seong-hun Kim‘s Kingdom also stars Seok-ho Jeon [...]

Continue reading: Kingdom (2019) Teaser Trailer: Chosun Dynasty Crown Prince Ji-hoon Ju Battles a Zombie Outbreak [Netflix]...

A king's reign continues past the constraints of mortality when he rises from the dead in Netflix's upcoming Korean series Kingdom, and ahead of the series' premiere this January, Netflix revealed the first teaser trailer for the latest project from director Seong-hun Kim.

Ahead of the first season's premiere, Variety reports that Netflix has already green-lit a second season of Kingdom, as revealed by CEO Reed Hastings at the streaming service's "See What’s Next: Asia" presentation in Singapore, where many other exciting announcements were made, including a new Pacific Rim anime series.

According to Variety, Kingdom takes place around "600 years ago in Chosun Dynasty-era Korea," where a mysterious plague "turns people into something akin to zombies." The series is directed by Seong-hun Kim and written by Kim Eun-hee.

Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates on Kingdom, and check out the images and teaser trailer below.

"The...

“Kingdom,” one of Netflix’s first original series in South Korea, has been renewed for a second season even before the first season’s shows are completed.

“Kim Eun-hee, the writer of the series, is currently working on the new season, aiming to go into production in February, 2019. The plan is to renew the series annually,” said Kim Seong-hun, director of hit film “Tunnel.” “As director of the first season, I might have an advisory role, but will not direct it myself.” Kim was speaking at the Bucheon International Film Festival’s industry program on Sunday.

The series is set in Korea’s medieval Joseon dynasty, where a crown prince is sent on a suicide mission to investigate an outbreak caused by a zombie virus. Comprising six 50-minute episodes, the series’ first season recently entered post-production and is due to premiere in December.

“Netflix had contacted Kim [Eun-hee] first, as Netflix...

Top brass at the 16th annual California festival have announced the Irish, Chinese and Korean Spotlights.

The Irish Spotlight on Sunday features a screening of the comedy Gold starring Maisie Williams from Game Of Thrones followed by a programme of short films.

The Chinese Spotlight on Monday stages a screening of Johnnie To’s Don’t Go Breaking My Heart 2 (pictured).

The Korean Spotlight runs on the same day and will screen A Hard Day by Seong-hoon Kim. Both screenings precede the Pacific Rim Gala.

The festival runs through April 30. For further programme details click here.

A homicide detective is having a very bad day. Internal affairs are ransacking his desk, his daughter is demanding chocolate cake, he’s been pulled over for a DUI and he’s got a body stashed in his boot. And he’s on his way to his mother’s funeral! And his damn phone won’t stop ringing! And his shoelaces have snapped!

No wonder he’s frazzled.

Detective Ko Gun-soo’s (Lee Sun Gyun) litany of disaster begins with a hit and run. To his credit, his first instinct is to report it, but just as he’s dialling the emergency services his his daughter calls with demands for cake. He’s in shock and mildly freaked out by the sight of a cop car heading his way. Then he makes the first of several bad decisions; dragging the bloody body off the road, wrapping it in a sleeping...