I’m thirty-plus entries into Revenge of the Remakes and have finally reached an original/remake pair where neither is American. Vincenzo Natali’s Cube (1997) is a maple-scented product of Canada’s independent filmmaking scene, while Yasuhiko Shimizu’s 2021 remake hails from Japan. You’re free of rants about stale Americanizations and Hollywood’s sometimes shortsighted approach to horror remakes. Welcome to a wholly international edition of my column that’s, in comparison, outside the box. I’m honestly surprised Japan beat us to a Cube remake in a post-Platinum Dunes world — although Bloody Disgusting’s Brad Miska reported Lionsgate was taking new Cube pitches as of May 2022. Don’t be surprised if a domestic project surfaces soon.
It’s a tale of two geometrical prisons influenced by cultural horror norms. Natali aligns with genre-bending Canadian minds like David Cronenberg, whereas Shimizu leans toward more operatic and soapy Japanese storytelling.
It’s a tale of two geometrical prisons influenced by cultural horror norms. Natali aligns with genre-bending Canadian minds like David Cronenberg, whereas Shimizu leans toward more operatic and soapy Japanese storytelling.
- 1/16/2024
- by Matt Donato
- bloody-disgusting.com
With the Japanese remake of Cube now available on Screambox, I had an opportunity to catch up with director Yasuhiko Shimizu, who spoke about his approach to the remake, collaborting with Vincenzo Natali, and the on-set experience:
What was your familiarity with the original Cube and why was it a film you wanted to remake for modern audiences?
Cube had developed a cult following at that time. As a 16-year-old living in the countryside, it was a legendary work that even I, who had no interest in movies at that time, knew of its existence. It was a movie that truly transcended movies, having an impact not only on movie fans but also on the culture of various genres. I was thrilled to be involved and given the opportunity to remake such a masterpiece.
In terms of changes from the original work, the rules of Cube have remained almost unchanged,...
What was your familiarity with the original Cube and why was it a film you wanted to remake for modern audiences?
Cube had developed a cult following at that time. As a 16-year-old living in the countryside, it was a legendary work that even I, who had no interest in movies at that time, knew of its existence. It was a movie that truly transcended movies, having an impact not only on movie fans but also on the culture of various genres. I was thrilled to be involved and given the opportunity to remake such a masterpiece.
In terms of changes from the original work, the rules of Cube have remained almost unchanged,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
"The numbers have a pattern." Back into the Cube we go. Screambox has launched a trailer for their official streaming release of the new Cube remake from Japan. We posted trailers for this back in 2021 when it was opening in Japan at first, now it's finally getting a US debut. Yes, this is a direct remake of Vincenzo Natali's iconic 1997 cult classic Cube sci-fi horror film. A group of strangers wake up in mysterious room inscribed with an unfamiliar code. Looking for ways to escape, they discover the room is riddled with lethal traps. As fear and distrust swirl around them, the group must try to work together to survive & escape. The Japanese cast includes Masaki Suda, Anne Watanabe, Masaki Okada, Hikaru Tashiro, Takumi Saito, and Kotaro Yoshida. Natali praised the film in 2021, saying "Shimizu-san did a great job with his version. It is needless-to-say uniquely Japanese." If you've...
- 4/15/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Cinema Today in Japan has released the full official trailer for the Japanese remake of the classic indie sci-fi horror film Cube, with the same name again. We featured a teaser trailer earlier this year, but there's even more freaky footage in this full trailer. The official website contains this cryptic message: "No one can resist the overwhelming order that Cube brings... Is it hope or despair that lurks in the abyss of myself? Soon, you too are in Cube. No, it may already be inside." Well that's scary. The cast includes Masaki Suda, Takumi Saitoh, Masaki Okada, Kôtarô Yoshida, and Hikaru Tashiro. This remake is also executive produced by Vincenzo Natali, who made the original in 1997. He says on Twitter: "Shimizu-san did a great job with his version. It is needless-to-say uniquely Japanese. I hope you enjoy it." I'm looking forward to watching! There's no subtitles, but we...
- 8/10/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"Perhaps you will be trapped next." Shochiku has released a fun teaser trailer for the new Japanese remake of the classic indie sci-fi horror film Cube, using the exact same name all over again. This new Cube is also executive produced by Vincenzo Natali, who made the original in 1997. The Japanese website contains all kinds of cryptic text that connects with the concept of "people wake up in a mysterious cube room and have no idea what it is or does." For example: "No one can resist the overwhelming order that Cube brings. We who made this work were like entering Cube. (Because I shot it in the same place all the time) And I will face myself. Is it hope or despair that lurks in the abyss of myself? Soon, you too are in Cube. No, it may already be inside." The film's cast includes Masaki Suda, Takumi Saitoh,...
- 2/16/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
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