The Death Curse - Fun-filled Terror!

October 2005 – Press Release
THE DEATH CURSE
Fun-filled Terror!

Manila, 14 October 2005 – You would think a horror film would be dark, scary and very very serious. Well, think again. Cult director Soi Cheang has thrown away the rulebook with THE DEATH CURSE, a family murder mystery that happily combines goofy hijinks with creepy Asian horror to great effect. Add to this unique recipe the popular Canto-pop duos, Twins (Charlene Choi Cheuk-yin and Gillian Chung Yan-tung), and their male counterparts Boy’z (Kenny Kwan Chi-bun and Steven Cheung Chi-hang), and there’ll be plenty of entertainment for all viewers. Premiering Saturday, 29 October at 21:00 on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.

The movie is set in a historical Mainland Chinese house that lives up to the movie's Chinese title: "Jitters in the Ancient Mansion." Eight siblings gather at the ancestral house to settle their deceased father's estate, but after the complicated will is revealed, it becomes clear that none of them will live to see the fortune.

Having built a name for himself with serious and increasingly complex horror filmmaking that peaked with NEW BLOOD, young director Soi Cheang is working with teen idols as lead actors for the first time, AND trying his hand at a whole new style of horror:

“I liked watching horror movies since I was a kid. Thinking that the films weren’t creepy enough, I decided to make spine-chilling movies myself when I grew up. My previous films, although petrifying, were cold and the characters have no emotions within the whole 90 minutes. A director told me that it’s arduous to watch my movies and said I can’t keep shooting unsentimental films. I also felt that it’s meaningless to keep making movies this way and wanted to try new things. Therefore, I’ve added feelings and comedy in THE DEATH CURSE.”

He also told the press the trick of creating a terrifying atmosphere is to never show the audience the real thing that’s been haunting them, for imagination instils the most fear.

As for the bona fide stars, Twins, what worried them the most wasn’t the gloomy mansion – it was the antiques surrounding them in the house. Gillian Chung recalled:

“Once we arrived on the set, we were stunned by the magnificent scene. Each and every one of the antiques was really nice, and the hall looks like a museum. What an eye-opening experience! I heard that they’re from the Qing Dynasty…We would get in big trouble if we’ve broken anything!”

Well, trouble or not, all these different elements in one film only makes it more interesting to watch. Director Cheang has successfully created a suspenseful atmosphere despite the comedic elements in the plot, and the eye candy presented by his choice of stars doesn’t hurt as well. So be sure to check out THE DEATH CURSE, premiering Saturday, 29 October at 21:00 on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.

###

STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Sky Cable (channel 45), Dream Satellite TV (channel 29) and Home Cable (channel 77) in the Philippines.