Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to live-action 3D thriller The Shock Labyrinth, directed by Takashi Shimizu and produced by Japan’s Asmik Ace.
The acquisition marks Fortissimo’s first foray into the world of 3D cinema and follows its recent acquisition of another director-driven horror-thriller title – Pang Ho Cheung’s Dream Home.
The Shock Labyrinth, which is Japan’s first live-action 3D film, is currently in post-production for a late autumn release by Asmik Ace.
Set in an attraction at the Fuji-Q High Land amusement park, known as the Senritsu Meiyu (literal translation: The Shock Labyrinth), the film follows a group of teenagers dealing with the surprise return of a friend who had disappeared more than a decade earlier.
Shimizu previously directed Japanese horror films Juon and Juon 2, along with their US remakes The Grudge and The Grudge 2.
The deal was brokered by Fortissimo chairman Michael J. Werner and Asmik Ace manager, international production and marketing, Joe Ikeda. Fortissimo is also handling two other titles from Asmik Ace – Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Air Doll, which screened at this year’s Cannes in Un Certain Regard, and Tran Anh Hung’s adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood.
“3-D cinema is capturing the imagination of filmmakers and audiences around the globe,” said Werner on making the announcement. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to join our friends at Asmik in working with this world renowned director to bring his immense talents to the forefront of this emerging filmmaking universe.”
Shimizu said: “This is my first feature film in several years and the production represented a great challenge in creating a brand new way of expressing fear and telling a dramatic story via the medium of 3D film. I am very pleased to be teaming with Fortissimo to bring this film to a worldwide audience.”
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