Shimizu to direct Japan’s first live-action 3D feature

Yuya Yagira, who won best actor at Cannes 2004 for Nobody Knows, heads the cast of hot young Japanese actors which also includes Misako Renbutsu (The Inugamis), Ryo Katsuji (Hana), Ai Maeda (Battle Royale), Erina Mizuno and Suzuki Matsuo.

Based on an original screenplay by Daisuke Hosaka, the horror-thriller follows a group of teenagers dealing with the sudden return of a friend who went missing a decade ago. When the friend falls ill, they take her to a hospital but end up trapped in a labyrinthine haunted house.

The film’s central setting is inspired by the Labyrinth of Horrors attraction at Fuji-Q High Land amusement park, near the base of Mount Fuji. The attraction set the Guinness world record for the largest haunted house in the world. Much of the film is being shot on location during the park’s off hours.

The Shock Labyrinth is produced by Satoru Ogura of production house Ogura Jimusyo and Asmik Ace’s Masayuki Tanishima and Dai Miyazaki. 

Shimizu previously directed J-horror titles Ju-on and Ju-on 2 and their US remakes The Grudge and The Grudge 2.

“I am extremely thrilled to be working with the horror giant Shimizu on his first 3D project. This project is inspired by amusement park attractions, like Pirates Of The Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion, but it is not only that. We are literally shooting the film inside the actual horror house and it will be delivered earlier than James Cameron’s Avatar,” said Tanishima.

Asmik Ace will distribute the film in Japan this October and is also handling international sales.

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