Just in time for Halloween, Vietnam’s latest whodunit, Karaoke Murder (Án Mạng Karaoke), is setting a record before the first mic drops. The film becomes the first Vietnamese film on record to open theatrically on the same weekend across four continents: North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Karaoke Murder opens nationwide in Vietnam on October 30. That same weekend, specialty distributor 3388 Films releases it in the U.S., Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. 3388 Films is the film’s exclusive international distributor in North America, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan.
The story unfolds at a remote mountain retreat. A detested tycoon with an obsessive love of karaoke is silenced forever in the dark of night. Stranded with nothing but paranoia, everyone becomes a prime suspect.
Karaoke Murder is the directorial debut of Hoang Le, from 89s Group and F35 Studio. Director/producer Vo Thanh Hoa serves as creative director, and Mai Bao Ngoc produces. The ensemble cast includes Doan Thien An, Thanh Son, Dai Nghia, Van Dung, Phuong Dung, Tieu Bao Ngoc, Tuyen Map, Quynh Ly, Ta Lam, and Trinh Thao.
A panicked man in a blue shirt raises a cleaver toward another figure in Karaoke Murder.
“A detested tycoon with an obsessive love of karaoke is silenced forever in the dark of night. Stranded with nothing but paranoia, everyone becomes a prime suspect.”
“Karaoke Murder is a special cinematic treat this Halloween because Vietnamese murder mystery films are rarely produced and most importantly, it’s extremely difficult to sync domestic and international release dates for foreign and independent films,” said Thien A. Pham, founder of 3388 Films.
Vo Thanh Hoa sees the film’s premise as universal. “Every city has a karaoke-obsessed neighbor. Every audience has a neighbor they’ve secretly wished would stop singing,” he said. “From New South Wales to Paris to London to Los Angeles, this is a local story that needs no translation.”
The producers chose karaoke because it is woven into everyday Vietnamese life, from weddings and birthdays to Lunar New Year and lazy Sunday afternoons. That love of singing has a dark side. Vietnam fines noise after 10 p.m., karaoke remains one of the most common causes of neighbor disputes, and the news carries stories every year of karaoke quarrels that end in tragedy.
Karaoke Murder is in theaters starting October 30. For showtimes and more information, visit 3388Films.com/KaraokeMurder.
