Stranded on Vampire Island: Higanjima live-action

It looks like the vampire movie craze has finally infected Japan. Higanjima, the latest film from director Kim Tae Kyun, has Japan, and Hollywood, buzzing with interest.

Based on the best-selling manga by Koji Matsumoto, Kyun brings vampiric monsters to life on a remote island set far out in a dangerous sea. Once teenager Akira hears word of his missing brother being seen on the island he brings a troupe of friends to investigate. The friends, many of whom serve as better fatalities than fighters, are your classic set of personalities from aggressive to bubbly and everything in between.

This live action adaptation of the famous horror manga is filled with adrenaline and blood, as one might expect. There is more than just mindless butchering, though, as the story has twist after twist that I won’t reveal here. Coupled with intense and sometimes bizarre emotion, Higanjima definitely delivers a top-notch thrill ride for the horror enthusiast.

Higanjima premiered at the Pusan Film Festival in October and is set to be released by Warner Japan in January.

With Hollywood’s apparent blood-sucking preoccupation (5 films with vampiric characters), Japan’s contribution is right on par, if not better than the rest.

Trailer: