Well here’s something we haven’t seen for a while. It seems we’ve got another J-horror remake heading our way! Wait a minute… I thought that trend was dead?
It was dead! Apparently James Wong is planning on reviving that shite! According to The Hollywood Reporter, the FINAL DESTINATION creator/director is planning on remaking Japanese horror flick THE NEIGHBOR NUMBER 13 here in the US! And here we thought we were finally away from all of that… But alas, maybe THE NEIGHBOR NUMBER 13 has something new to offer?
Now I’ve never even heard of this flick, nevermind actually checking it out, but from the synopsis we’re given it seems like this is a different type of genre flick than we’re used to seeing from the Japanese. By that I mean this one doesn’t look like it dabbles in the supernatural at all! I know, shocking. Scope out the synopsis for yourself and see if you get the same assumption:
The original Japanese film, “Rinjin 13-go,” tells the story of a young boy who witnesses an extreme case of schoolyard bullying. The psychological effects are so disturbingly profound that 10 years later, as a young man, he is still obsessed with righting the wrong — even if doing so takes him onto questionable moral ground.
See what I mean? I don’t sense any crazy ghost stuff in there at all. And that’s a very good thing in this schmuck’s eyes! It actually sounds like THE NEIGHBOR NUMBER 13 follows more along the lines of violent international flicks like OLDBOY and ICHI THE KILLER. If that’s the case, you can sign me up! Has anyone out there actually seen RINJIN 13-GO? Am I pretty close with my theories or am I way off? Hit us with your thoughts below and let us know!
Distant Horizon snatched up the remake rights for RINJIN 13-GO and have Anant Singh and Brian Cox producing. Richard Guardian of Lightning Entertainment will executive produce. Producer Anant Singh had the following to say regarding the project:
“Our hope is that ‘The Neighbor Number 13’ will be a commercial success like ‘Final Destination’ was and also generate the same kind of franchise with James Wong at the helm.”
Director James Wong adds: “I was seized by the concept after one viewing of Yasuo Inoue’s movie, and it hasn’t left me for a moment since. I think we have found a very unique way to frame the story and bring a heroic twist to it that is fresh and surprising and will take audiences on a very thrilling journey”
Let’s hope so Mr. Wong. THE NEIGHBOR NUMBER 13 is set to start production late this year with a Fall 2011 release date being eyed. We’ll be on the lookout for more on this bad boy so be sure to keep it here for updates as we hear them!
The ass of FINAL DESTINATION star Ali Larter
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