Remakes of Japanese movies, particularly horror movies, are nothing new in Hollywood, but it’s rare to see the opposite happen. This is why we are intrigued to see Vincenzo Natali back the upcoming Japanese remake of his cult sci-fi/horror film “Cube” by executive producing it.
Released in 1997, the original “Cube” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews, and went on to become a commercial success with a strong cult following. The film spawned a franchise, with a sequel released in 2002 and a prequel released in 2004 — unsurprisingly, both were negatively received. The success of the franchise has long prompted talks of a remake, which have come and gone over the years. While Lionsgate‘s current draft for a remake continues to remain on hold, it seems Shochiku, a major Japanese film producer and distributor, has beat Hollywood to the punch, and just released the first teaser for the “Cube” remake.
According to Variety, the remake stars Suda Masaki, Okada Masaki, Tashiro Hikaru, Saito Takumi, and Anne. Shimizu Yasuhiko directed the film, and was shot late last year, even while the world was on lock-down, making this a pandemic movie we can definitely get behind. “No one can resist the powerful system of the Cube,” Shimizu said in a statement. “In making this film, it was as though we entered the Cube itself. (That was because we shot the entire film in one place.) We then had to confront ourselves. What lurks in the abyss of the self – hope or despair? You will soon be in the Cube with us. In fact, you may already be in it.”
The original 1997 film was a Kafkaesque thriller with a puzzling mystery that needs to be solved by a group of unknown characters or else they’ll be killed by the many death traps in the giant cube that gives the film its title.
The remake’s official website describes the plot as “A mysterious cube. 6 men and women are suddenly trapped in Cube. It’s unclear where this is, why they are trapped, whether there is an exit, whether they can survive, or what the room even is.”
“Cube” is set for release in Japan on October 22. You can watch the teaser trailer below.