"Black House" Will Screen In Japan

"Black House" (Geomeun Jib) is currently a hit in Korean cinemas and will next attempt to woe Japanese audiences. The horror film will open in October in 250 Japanese cinemas, a number equaling Bong Joon-ho's The Host' Japanese release.

Monster and horror films take an important place in the Japanese film culture and they are worldwide considered as masters of those genres. The wide-releases and the great anticipation of the horror film "Black House" and the monster film The Host in Japan is regarded as a significant feat.

"Black House" is directed by SIN Te-ra ("Brainwave") and profits from the structure of the original Japanese novel by Yûsuke Kishi. The CJ Entertainment film was co-produced with the Japanese Kadokawa Pictures. Hwang Jeong-min ("You are my Sunshine") has been praised for his performance in "Black House".

Director SIN Te-ra's horror film "Black House" ended an eight week drought for Korean cinema by opening in the number one spot at the end of June. The last Korean film to top the box office was Kim Han-min's thriller "Paradise Murdered", back in April. Korean films have so far a disappointing 47.7% domestic market share in the first half of 2007.

The CJ Entertainment production's revenue was US$ 3.6 million and was screened on 353 screens in its opening weekend. Korean cinema has been somewhat struggling after the booming last few years, culminating in a record-breaking 2006. The slump encompasses domestic box office performances and international sales.

However, when looking further than defining success in financial terms, Korean cinema gained further international acclaim and recognition, including a prestigious Best Actress Award for Jeon Do-yeon at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Lee Chang-dong's "Secret Sunshine"; and enjoys continuing international anticipation towards Korean films, exemplified in European record deals for Kim Ji-woon's unfinished "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" and "Black House"' upcoming wide-release in Japan.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)