PiFan 2013: Preview Part I - Puchon Choice (Main Competition)

Pierce Conran, Contributor; Seoul, South Korea (@pierceconran)

July 10 2013, 5:30 AM

The 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival kicks off next Thursday and it's high time that James and I combed through the program to pick the highlights of this year's festival. Here's is the first part of the preview, for Puchon Choice, the international competition section. A pretty eclectic bunch as always and, unlike last year, there's one local film in the mix.

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Countdown (Thailand, 2012)

This NY-set Thai thriller was a big hit back home and has been riding a wave of positive feedback since it debuted. Sounds like a genre film with brains, and that's what I like to see.

Joshua's review of Countdown

Hentai Kamen (Japan, 2013)

A man who turns into a superhero by wearing little more than a pair of panties on his head, Hentai Kamen is probably not a masterpiece. But it sounds like too much fun to miss out on.

Christopher's review of Hentai Kamen

On the Job (Philippines, 2013)

It's probably not the first time you've read about On the Job on ScreenAnarchy as many of us are chomping at the bit to see this. Following its strong reception as part of Cannes' Director's Fortnight, there's few more exciting films hitting the festival circuit this summer.

Painless (Spain/France/Portugal, 2012)

A Spanish Civil War-set psychological horror, Painless looks to have a different spin of wave of period-set Spanish chillers. Looks like a promising debut.

Todd's review of Painless

Secretly Greatly (Korea, 2013)

Jang Cheol-soo follows up his excellent Bedevilled with this webcomic adaptation that is more preoccupied with attracting teenage girls to theaters with K-drama abs and fresh faces than a satisfying genre story. A huge hit in Korea.

Sightseers (UK, 2012)

Ben Wheatley made quite the splash with Kill List a few years back and last year he returned with Sightseers which has been taking it's sweet time to get to Korea! You may have seen it, but I haven't.

Todd's review of Sightseers

The Paperboy (US, 2012)

Many were unkind to Lee Daniel's Precious follow-up, but enough people love it to have me intrigued and given Matthew McConaugey's current renaissance, I'm happy to give this one a shot.

Christopher's review of The Paperboy

Ugly (India, 2013)

Anurag Kashyap's first film since his epic Gangs of Wasseypur, the gritty Indian genre film Ugly debut to great reviews at Cannes. Frankly, until very recently I would have written off any genre film coming out of India, but recent works like Kahaani have quickly turned me around.

Brian's review of Ugly