The Vietnamese found-footage horror film Lầu Chú Hoả: The Deadliest Mansion took theaters by storm upon its release. Now, thanks to Mockingbird Pictures, the film will be hitting select AMC, Regal, and Cinemark locations in North America. Directed by Hùng Trần, the story is based on an urban legend about the alleged haunting of the Hứa family mansion.
A group of young streamers forces their way into the notorious Hứa family estate, obviously looking to rake in views. However, they get more than they bargained for when a malevolent force decides to awaken.
Legend has it that the estate is haunted by the ghost of wealthy businessman Hui Bon Hoa’s daughter. After contracting leprosy, she was allegedly locked away in her room until she passed away. It’s believed her body was buried there, at least briefly. The tale was previously adapted in 1973 with the horror film The Ghost of the Hui Family. Despite it being the country’s first horror film, it has been almost completely lost.
Lầu Chú Hỏa’s Success
“‘Lầu Chú Hoả: The Deadliest Mansion’ delivers one of the most intense Vietnamese horror experiences in recent years,” said Phong Duong, business director of Mockingbird Pictures and executive producer via sister company Bluebells Studios. “We believe this is a film that can travel, and we want audiences around the world to experience that fear for themselves.”
This is Vietnam’s first theatrically released found-footage horror film, and it pulled in around VND 78 billion ($3 million). Lầu Chú Hoả is backed by Runup Vietnam and South Korea’s Hive Media Corp. This is Hive Media’s first venture outside of its native country.
“Found footage has the power to make audiences feel as though they are experiencing the horror themselves,” said producer Lee Jin Sung. “Working with Hive Media Corp allowed us to bring that experience to a uniquely Vietnamese legend while preserving the identity and atmosphere that make the story distinctive.”
Lầu Chú Hoả: The Deadliest Mansion hits North American theaters on September 4th.
