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GHOST KILLER Scares Up A Killer New Teaser For Kensuke Sonomura’s Latest!

Back to remind us of how cool Akari Takaishi and Masanori Mimoto are is the latest official teaser for supernatural action thriller, Ghost Killer. This one goes a little bit beyond for me in terms of my adoration for the film’s director, Kensuke Sonomura whose work quickly gained traction here in the states upon the release of his feature debut, Hydra, in 2019. Imaginably, if you’re curious about Sonomura’s back catalog of stunt work, there should be plenty to dive into. I can’t remember the last time I saw Yuichi Mori’s animated spectacle, Tekken: Bloodline, which Sonomura did the action for. I loved it then, and of course there’s Mamoru Oshii’s Nowhere Girl, Sabu’s crime comedy Hold Up Down, and Kenta Fukasaku’s Black Rat to name a few, and of course, Yugo Sakamoto’s Baby Assassins franchise. Alas, Takaishi, Mimoto, and Sonomura are additionally joined on Ghost Killer by Sakamoto who penned […]

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THE SHADOW’S EDGE: Poster Revealed As ‘Ride On’ Star And Director Reteam For New Police Thriller

The wee hours of Friday saw a new poster for The Shadow’s Edge, marked for a 2025 release to be announced and starring Jackie Chan and Tony Leung Ka-Fai. The film reteams Chan with Ride On helmer Larry Yang, as well as actor and martial artist Zac Wang who made his Western debut opposite Jaden Smith in The Karate Kid (2010). The Shadow’s Edge follows the efforts of Macau’s Judiciary Police and its Criminal Investigation Department to catch a band of criminals with the help of a tracking expert pulled out of retirement. Also starring are Ci Sha, Zhang Zi Feng, Lang Yu Ting, and Wang Zi Yi, along with recording artist, Jun, of SEVENTEEN. Check out the poster below. Hat tip to Jackie Chan expert Thorsten Boose for the details.

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JFF THEATER: UNDER THE OPEN SKY Review: Inspiring tale about the importance of a second chance.

After 13 years of imprisonment for murder, Misao Mikami, a middle-aged former yakuza, is released from jail, finding himself in a hostile society that treats him like a left-over, however, Misao will gather all his determination to put in good use this new opportunity that he has been granted in order to reach his redemption. “Under the Open Sky“, is an inspiring tale about the importance of second chances and the good use we put on them. The director and writer, Miwa Nishiwaka, lures the audience into the story of a conflicted man aware that the wasting time will never be retribuited, but who has been graced with a second chance to make the most of the time he has left. The film navigates into the dark instincts of someone who has been cursed by a past of violence, who this new opportunity will teach to be blessed by the […]

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JADE Trailer: Martial Arts Thriller Starring Shaina West Arrives On Digital In February From Well Go USA!

Well Go USA is proudly releasing Jade, the new action thriller starring actress and martial artist Shaina West (The Woman King, Marvel’s Black Widow) and Mark Dacascos (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum). Stunt multi-hyphenate and filmmaker James Bamford (Man With No Past, The CW’s “Arrow”) directs from a script he co-wrote with screenwriters Lynn Colliar and Glenn Ennis. After her brother’s untimely and accidental death at her own hands, Jade swore she’d never pick up another gun. But when she unknowingly comes between powerful businessman “Tork” and her former gang leader in their urgent search for a valuable hard drive that could single-handedly take down Interpol, she may not have a choice. With the guidance of Reese, an old friend at Interpol, Jade must come to terms with all she’s faced in the past and present to safeguard her growing family’s future. This is a pretty big one for […]

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DEATH CYCLE Fuels Up With Fresh New Key Art + Stills From Gabriel Carrer’s New Motorcycle Revenge Slasher

It’s a new year, kids. That means new film festival editions in the coming months and, undoubtedly, scores of potential audiences for Gabriel Carrer’s newest giallo-inspired motorcycle revenge slasher, Death Cycle. A new round of images is now circulating courtesy of Latefox Pictures who are now in post-production on the upcoming thriller starring Matthew Ninaber (Psycho Goreman), Justin Bott (Hyperborean), Kristen Kaster (Death Valley), James Fler (For the Sake of Vicious), Sasha Ormond (A Knights War) and Wes Hill. After the death of her sister, a woman is visited by a man looking to solve a series of murders by a motorcycle riding maniac. As their shared fear escalates, the killer’s rampage continues in the city, leaving them both questioning who the real monster is. ‘DEATH CYCLE’ revisits a mix of classic giallo themes with the modern slasher genre. Carrer directs from a script by Dave McLeod. Death Cycle hails […]

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JFF THEATER: KEY OF LIFE: A touching trip of laughs and emotions

Since August 1, 2024, Japanese film fans are in luck as the Japan Foundation has launched a new streaming website, “JFF Theater,” through which they distribute Japanese films and other works worldwide, with multilingual subtitles and free of charge, with the intention of promoting Japanese culture and language learning. “Key of Life” is one of the films included in the platform, which will be available until February 1, 2025 and is part of a new collection on the platform that´s been called: “The twist and turns of life” that includes other films such as “Under the Open sky”, or “Her love boils water”, in a collection that according to the site, explores the unpredictable journey of human existence marked by moments of joy, sorrow, struggle and acceptance. The film, released in 2012, and directed by Kenji Uchida, with a cast made up of Masato Sakai, Teruyuki Kagawa and Ryoko Hirosue, […]

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WE KILL THEM ALL: Catch The Trailer For The New Survival Thriller Arriving On Friday

Jeremy Drummond’s newest thriller, We Kill Them All, is set to arrive on digital on Friday, January 17 in North America. Drummond directs from a script by Nicole Field, with Chloe McClay, Emma Newton, Leo Fafard, Michasha Armstrong, Ivy Sava, Kent Allen, Daniel Ford Beavis, Thomas Perras, and Clare Middleton starring. A young woman drives to a remote resort where her estranged and criminal father hopes to rekindle their relationship. When she arrives, she and the girlfriend she brings are met with the dangerous men from her father’s past and must fight for their lives to escape them. Watch the trailer below:

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KIDNAPPING INC. Trailer: Bruno Mourral’s Award-Winning Crime Romp Comes To The U.S. In February From Dark Sky

Director Bruno Mourral’s career has been a slow brew since 2006. After finally making headway with the 2017 award-winning feature drama, Kafou, Mourral came back with a vengeance to hand festivals his latest crowdpleaser, Kidnapping Inc., garnering critical acclaim after Sundance, as well as the Gold Audience Award for Best Quebec Feature the 28th edition of Fantasia last year. As of Wednesday, Kidnapping Inc. is poised for release in the U.S. on February 7 from Dark Star Pictures. The film stars Jasmuel Andri, Rolaphton Mercure, Anabel Lopez, Ashley Laraque, Gessica Geneus, Patrick Joseph, Manfred Marcelin, and Marcus Boerean. Mourral directs from a script he wrote with Andri, and Gilbert Jr. Mirambeau, and also produces alongside Mirambeau, as well as Samuel Chauvin, Yanick Letourneau, and Gaëthan Chancy. Tasked with what appears to be a simple abduction for hire, two hapless kidnappers find out that it’s anything but and end up in […]

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KINGDOM: RETURN OF THE GREAT GENERAL Review: Shinsuke Sato’s Latest Rages On In An Extant Tale Of High Drama And Heroic Bloodshed

Kingdom: Return Of The Great General is now streaming on Netflix in the U.S. Imaginably, if the rest of us outside of Japan got to see Shinsuke Sato’s Kingdom: Return Of The Great General, the film would have easily listed for many of us somewhere in our top favorite action titles of 2024. Interest be damned, however, the obligatory window still applies for titles like these, and now the film is finally streaming on Netflix as of Wednesday. Sato’s continued adaptation of Yasuhisa Hara’s celebrated manga-cum-anime fave re-establishes the cast of the franchise thusfar, led by Kento Yamazaki, Ryo Yoshizawa, Kanna Hashimoto, and Takao Osawa, as well as Nana Seino. Additionally, the film also brings back actors Koji Kikkawa and Oguri Shun whose characters are introduced in the outro sequences of the previous chapter, Kingdom: The Flame Of Destiny. As Ohki (Osawa) prepares to lead the Qin army into its […]

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DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Official Trailer Returns Old Foes Back To Hellish Ground

It has been nearly six years since Marvel Television’s Netflix era of comic book superhero thrills, followed by Disney+’s acquisition of all present shows and subsequent phase-interwoven production thereafter. At long last, we now have Daredevil: Born Again, featuring Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returning in fine fashion following their respective cameos in “Hawkeye,” “She-Hulk,” and “Echo.” The official trailer is now here as well, which also includes appearances by returning actors Jon Bernthal and Wilson Bethel in the respective roles/alter-egos of Frank Castle/The Punisher, and Benjamin Pointdexter/Bullseye. Rounding out the cast are a mix of new and reuniting names including Elden Henson as Foggy, and Deborah Ann Woll as Karen, and actors Margarita Levieva Zabryna Guevara, Nikki James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, and Ayelet Zurer. In Marvel Television’s “Daredevil: Born Again,” Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities is fighting for justice […]

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PANDA PLAN Plans Disc And Digital Releases Next Month From Well Go USA!

Click here and you’ll be able to get a few reads of our own Joe Hallett’s review of the Jackie Chan action comedy, Panda Plan. The film is getting a release in the UK on January 17 from CineAsia UK, while the current plan stateside will be the film’s debut on Digital, Blu-Ray, and DVD on February 18 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Zhang Luan directs the film with action choreography by Lü Shijia (Police Story, The Foreigner), and a cast that also lists Wei Xiang (Too Cool To Kill), Shi Ce (Ash, A Cool Fish), and Han Yambo (Give Me Five). Check out the trailer below and peep at the artwork and casing just beneath. Soon after legendary kung fu star Jackie Chan is invited to adopt a beloved zoo panda named Hu Hu, a notorious international crime syndicate sets its sights on the bear and offers a massive […]

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DARK DEAL: First Look Clip Deals In A Fistful Of Action From David Ferguson’s New Indie Action Crime Pic

An extensive new first look is online for Dark Deal, the new action crime thriller from TKO Productions. The clip features lead actor Braden D. White who leads a cast that also lists Lilly Sunshine, Mattea White, Carl Rhonin, and Rodney Smith. White plays an ex-spec ops soldier forced back into action when an old foe threatens his family. The clip showcases White in character as he takes out several henchmen following a raw deal involving fake drugs and a duplicitious cohort. Dark Deal reteams White with director David Ferguson on the pic following their previous collaboration on crime thriller, Double Cross. Post-production is currently underway with a release date to be announced for the summer. Check out the clip below:

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THE MARTIAL ARTIST: Don’t Miss The Latest Teaser And Trailer For Shaz Khan’s New Epic Martial Arts Drama

Shaz Khan’s new action drama, The Martial Artist, is currently set for select theatrical release on January 31. A fresh new teaser went online earlier this month following a campaign that kicked off late last year marking the latest milestone for Khan’s long-awaited feature film since its development and making over a period of five years. When MMA rising star Ibby “The Prince” Bakran shines in a local fight, the world’s largest promotion company offers him a deal he can’t refuse. Now aligned with the sport’s top developing athletes, Ibby has a clear path to becoming great. Consumed with the limelight and all it has to offer, Ibby burns the candle at both ends and soon his fighting takes its own hit. As his star begins to fade, he points the finger at everyone but himself, becoming withdrawn and puling away from his family who never wanted him to fight. […]

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Jackie Chan’s Last Dance At Action Comedy With PANDA PLAN Review

On 17th January the Martial Arts action legend Jackie Chan’s final outing in an action comedy film “Panda Plan” hits cinemas in the UK. I was honoured to be invited to the UK Premiere at the Vue West End and here is what I thought of JC’s last dance in action comedy. The film starts out with a bang indulging us with  high tempo action sequences which leave you with hopeful thoughts for the remainder of the film. However, your bubble is burst when it is revealed this is just a movie set and Jackie is playing another re- incarnation of himself in the film. The plot is quickly explained in that he is adopting a social media famous Panda, however a rich Arab has other plans and enlists a group of mercenaries to capture the Panda for his own gains. Jackie arrives at the Zoo and has the opportunity to […]

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ABSOLUTE DOMINION: Giant Takes Dystopian Martial Arts Thriller For U.S. Release And World Sales Ahead Of Berlin

Nearly three years since the announcement of Lexi Alexander’s new dystopian martial arts thriller, Absolute Dominion, we now have word from Deadline’s Andreas Wiseman on its acquisition on Monday by Giant Pictures. The company will also handle its international sales when the EFM launches in Berlin in February. Absolute Dominion takes place In the year 2063 AD, when the world faces catastrophe as zealots and extremists wage a global holy war in the name of spiritual superiority. In a desperate attempt to save humanity from itself, the world’s governing bodies vote to establish ‘The Battle of Absolute Dominion,’ a fierce martial-arts tournament that will determine a champion whose faith will govern humanity and restore peace for the future. Désiré Mia stars in the film along with Alex Winter and Patton Oswalt. Rounding out the cast are Alok Vaid-Menon, Andy Allo, Jennifer Jajeh, Juliana Joel, Julie Ann Emery, June Carryl, Junes […]

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100 YARDS Reaches Home Next Month On Blu-Ray And DVD From Well Go USA!

The last time I was quoted in a press mailer for a Well Go USA Entertainment release was in 2021 for Japanese actioner, Hydra. You can imagine my jubilation on Monday when the PR launched for the company’s most recent offering, the Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng-directed 100 Yards, which is coming to Blu-Ray and DVD beginning February 18. This film is some of the most fun I’ve ever had watching and reviewing and I can’t wait for more people to see it if they haven’t. The film is actually already available on digital as we speak, but if you’re all about that physical media life, then Well Go USA has you covered. Hit the text and trailer below! In volatile 1920s Tianjin, a clandestine martial arts circle arose to maintain peace between rival martial arts schools in the ultra-stylish old-school kung fu martial arts epic 100 YARDS, debuting on […]

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SLUG STREET SCRAPPERS: REGEN Bangs Out A Feature Film, Post-Production Underway As Crowdfunding Begins

Indie production label Whirlwind Action has been a bookmark for me long before I started writing this platform twelve years ago. I’ve proudly covered their work ever since with in-house director and performer Micah Brock then cranking out the finale to his hit weberies series, Slug Street Scrappers, in 2013, before releasing in the summer a year later. Brock had plans over the years for other projects as well, but only recently took to his latest endeavor, Slug Street Scrappers: Regen, initially billed as a new series continuing the original. That was in 2022, and Brock has since evolved his earlier vision into feature film fruition with post-production underway, as well as a new Indiegogo campaign to keep the movie afloat. The first several installments of Slug Street Scrappers headlined a bevy of then-burgeoning indie action and stunt talent under the stewardship of Brock and series cohort Shaun Charney. Such […]

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Shout! Nabs Golden Princess Library, Promising Asian Film Fans 100+ Titles Of Classics For Western Release

Variety’s Naman Ramachandran got the exclusive word on Monday that Shout! Studios has acquired the global rights to Golden Princess library of Hong Kong classic films. That’s a reported number of 156 titles that the boutique label will have on its catalogue for the foreseeable future. It also means that films by auteurs such as John Woo, Ringo Lam and Eric Tsang – included in the library – will finally get restorations with a number of features, in addition to bumping up the label’s own streaming stock. This is a total win for a plethora of reasons, especially for anyone who has been championing the collection of physical media as long as the next person with the ever-foreshadowing posterity of streaming becoming a factor. The acquisition’s crown jewels include Woo’s action masterpieces “Hard Boiled,” “The Killer,” the complete “Better Tomorrow” trilogy, “Bullet in the Head” and “Once a Thief.” The […]

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MAN WITH NO PAST Review: A Tale Of Cyclic Vengeance That Checks Some Boxes, But Not All

Man With No Past will be available to buy on digital on January 14 by Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures Label). With thirty years of stunt work in the rear view, James Bamford has already begun the staunch effort toward directing, having already etched in a number of television shows next to his extensive stunt resumé. On the film front, fans of his work have been keeping tabs of Bamford whose debut at the helm heretofore was Shaina West starrer, Jade, which got its day in the UK last June. As of this publication, that film is nowhere to be seen in the states, which is a little bewildering to say the least, although his latest, Man With No Past, is a clear and pretty cool indicator that the man newly at the helm these days is still going strong. The concept executed is something of a different story depending […]

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A WORKING MAN Trailer Pays Off With Jason Statham Bringing The Pain!

David Ayer sees you, kids! He knows you loved The Beekeeper, and whether or not we get a sequel to that remains to be seen. Nevertheless, we now have A Working Man to fawn over with Ayer reteaming with Jason Statham, and an official trailer tuned to a medley of all-you-can-eat Statham-flavored beat downs. Whee! Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction.  But when his boss’s daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined. A Working Man also stars Jason Flemyng, Merab Ninidze, Maximilian Osinski, Cokey Falkow, with Michael Peña and David Harbour, as well as Noemi Gonzalez, Arianna Rivas, Emmett J. Scanlan, and Eve Mauro. Ayer directs and produces from a script he co-wrote […]

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