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"Phantom Detective", S. Korean Action Crime Thriller Makes N. American Debut on May 13 in LA, and Wide on May 20

From the Director of ""A Werewolf Boy"", "End of Animal" and "Don't Step Out of the House" (Part of "Nice Shorts")

"Phantom Detective", a South Korean action crime thriller makes its debut on May 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, followed by a wider North American release on May 20, 2016 in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, DC, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.

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"Phantom Detective" follows Hong Gil-dong (Lee Je-hoon), a private detective with one goal in life - to find the killer who murdered his mother so that he can exact revenge on him. Gil-dong must team up with the unlikeliest of sidekicks to track down the murderer, all while uncovering secrets about a dark organization that has deep roots within South Korea.
 
"Phantom Detective" is directed by Jo Sung-hee, who has previously directed the films "A Werewolf Boy", "End of Animal" and "Don't Step Out of the House" (Part of "Nice Shorts"). Director Jo's most recent film, "A Werewolf Boy", went on to win Best New Director at the 2013 PaekSang Arts Awards, as well as the Discovery Award at the 2012 KOFRA Film Awards Ceremony. His film "Don't Step Out of the House" (Part of "Nice Shorts") won third prize at Cinéfondation, Festival de Cannes.
 
For more information, please visit: www.cj-entertainment.com.

Theatres

Los Angeles CGV Cinemas 5/13/2016621 S.Western Ave #304, Los Angeles CA 90010
Fullerton Regal La Habra 5/20/20161351 West Imperial Highway La Habra, CA 90631
DC Regal Fairfax Towne 5/20/2016Fairfax Towne Center, 4110 West Ox Rd Suite 12110, Fairfax, VA 22033
New Jersey NA Edgewater 5/20/2016339 River Road, Edgewater, NJ 07020
Dallas Cine Oasis 5/20/20161130 W. Trinity Mills Rd, Carrollton Tx 75006
Dallas AMC Grapevine Mills 5/20/20163150 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine, TX 76051
San Francisco AMC Cupertino 5/20/201610123 N Wolfe Rd #3000, Cupertino, CA 95014
New York AMC Empire 5/20/2016234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
Philadelphia AMC 309 5/20/20161210 Bethlehem Pike-suite B13, North Wales, PA 19454
Seattle AMC Alderwood 5/20/201618733-33rd Ave. West Lynnwood, WA 98037
Chicago AMC Showplace Niles 5/20/2016301 Golf Mill Center Niles, IL 60714
Atlanta AMC Sugarloaf Mills 5/20/20165900 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Honolulu Consolidated Pearlri 5/20/201698-1005 Moanalua Road, Aiea, HI 96701
Vancouver Cineplex S. C. Coqui 5/20/2016170 Schoolhouse Street, Coquitlam, BC V3K 4X9, Canada
Toronto Cineplex Odeon Yonge 5/20/201610 Dundas St E #402, Toronto, ON M5B 2G9, Canada

 

Synopsis

After witnessing the murder of his mother as a child, private detective Hong Gil-dong has been on the trail of the killer for 2 decades. But when he's about to uncover the identity of the killer, the man is taken away by a shadowy organization. Little did he know that this is the same group that created both him and his nemesis…

Private detective Hong Gil-dong has one goal in life: find the killer who murdered his mother and exact revenge on him. It's been 20 years since he witnessed the murder and he finally has a name – Kim Byeong-deok. But when he tracks down Kim to a hut in the country, several men already came by earlier and took him away, leaving behind 2 young granddaughters. The girls become Hong's unlikeliest sidekicks as they once again close in on Kim and the shadowy organization that took him. In order to get his revenge, Hong must uncover the truth behind this organization that has very deep connections to every facet of the country. Little did he know that this is the same group that created both him and his nemesis… 

 

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Jo Sung-hee

Date of Birth: February 1979 / Place of Birth: Seoul, Korea

Director Jo Sung-hee's groundbreaking short film "Don't Step Out of the House" (Part of "Nice Shorts") made a huge splash after it was invited to Cannes Film Festival. He made his feature length directorial debut with "A Werewolf Boy", which was incredibly well received and loved by Korean audiences. His ability to tell creative stories with inventive style will refresh the tale of Hong Gil-dong, a folk Korean fable, to the modern audiences. After 4 years of silence, director Jo is bringing to the screen a version of Hong Gil-dong no one has ever seen. "Among Korean folk stories, I wanted to modernize The Story of Hong Gil-dong. Also, I wanted to incorporate classic Hollywood film noir genre but also add elements of Korean culture in a fresh new way", says director Jo.

Filmography 

2012  "A Werewolf Boy"

Paeksang Arts Awards: Best New Director

2011 "End of Animal"

2010  "Nice Shorts"

2009 "Don't Step Out of the House" (Part of "Nice Shorts")

Cannes Film Festival: 3rd Prize, Cinefondation

 

ABOUT THE FILM

Without fear, without memories, without friends and without mercy

Birth of a new anti-hero!

The story of Hong Gil-dong originated in the 16th Century from the novel 'Hong Gil-dong Jeon' by author HEO Gyun. The main character robs the rich and corrupt aristocrats to provide for the poor, much like the English folk hero Robin Hood. It is believed that inspiration for this character was derived from early 16th Century Korean bandit and folk hero IM Kkeokjeong. "In the original novel, Hong Gil-dong did not conform to the corrupt Choseon society. In order to obtain justice, he utilized illegal means. I wanted to bring this character to the modern era", says director Jo, explaining why he decided to bring this fabled character to the screen. He justified characteristics of the new Hong Gil-dong as the aftermath of witnessing something so tragic as the death of a parent, thereby causing damage to his brain, rendering him emotionless and merciless. "Hong Gil-dong can't be described as 'heroic' or 'awesome'. He's not kind, or gentle, he has no creed and doesn't seek justice. He's a character without ideology. But I wanted to transform this extremely flawed character and win the audiences over", says director Jo.

Korean cinema's newest creator! 

Spotlight on director Jo Sung-hee's upgraded imagination and directorial style!

With every project he has helmed, director Jo approached it with a new perspective. One cannot immediately pinpoint "Phantom Detective"'s genre and period at first glance. But Jo's unique vision and style are more than evident on the screen. "To provide audiences with something new to look at, we approached everything from a radical new way. From lighting to camera angle, blocking, production design and direction, everything had to be different. In order to bring a new story to life, I opted out of direction that is based on realism but one that is expressionistic", says director Jo. 

Unlike other films that employ computer graphics for shots that are impossible to obtain in real life, director Jo chose to use CG for ordinary shots to make them feel out of this world – such as backdrop to the characters, or long shot of highway with vehicles. Although the film takes place in Korea, there is certain anonymity to the locales. This is to confuse the audience so that these locations feel real but can't quite pinpoint where, and to lead them into locations that exist only in the film. It was by design that the audience members had to use their imagination too in order to experience something new. 

 

CHARACTERS & CAST


A private detective with 99% case clearance rate! Hong Gil-dong

Everything in life is annoying to Hong Gil-dong. But when he takes on a case, his laser-like focus and deduction skills are to be marveled at. He has no recollection of his childhood due to a psychological trauma, but the only thing he does remember clearly is the face of the man who killed his mother. Now that man is within his reach. This time, it's personal. 

Lee Je-hoon | Leading the next generation of greatness 

After sweeping best new actor awards following the release of indie darling "Bleak Night", Lee Je-hoon is turning into a leading man. His acting chops were validated in a string of films including "The Front Line" and "Architecture 101". "Lee Je-hoon knew more about the character than I did and showed a great affection for his role. With every word, gesture and thought, he became his character", says director Jo. 

SELECTED FIMOGRAPHY

"Paparoti" (2013), "An Ethics Lesson" (2013), "Architecture 101" (2012), "Ghost Sweepers" (2012), "The Front Line" (2011), "Bleak Night" (2011)

 

The face of a mysterious syndicate | Kang Seong-il 

From head to toe, Kang does not show any sign of weakness. Behind reflection of his glasses, his eyes are cold and calculated. He shows no mercy to anyone who gets in his way and he'll do anything to achieve his goal. 

Kim Sung-kyun | Charismatic actor born to play the villain

Although he built his career by playing ruthless villains, actor Kim Sung-kyun showed his soft and innocent side by playing a naïve college student in mega popular TV series "Reply 1994" and "Reply 1988". "Kang Seong-il is different from traditional villain characters we've seen in the past. As a character with level-headed personality and stylish dressing habits, I had to look hard into coming up with a voice that fits the character. My focal point was to present a villain that Korean audiences have not seen before", says actor Kim. 

SELECTED FIMOGRAPHY

"The Chosen: Forbidden Cave" (2015), "Sorry, I Love You, Thank You" (2015), "The Deal" (2015), "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant" (2015), "We Are Brothers" (2014), "KUNDO : Age of the Rampant" (2014), "Secretly and Greatly" (2013), "Run to the South (2013), "The Suspect" (2013), "Man on the Edge" (2013), "Hwayi : A Monster Boy" (2013), "Fasten Your Seatbelt" (2013), "Neighbors" (2012), "Nameless Gangster" (2012)

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