"Karaoke Murder": A Vietnamese Thriller Set to Release Globally

The Vietnamese movie "Karaoke Murder" is set to premiere concurrently in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. This is a groundbreaking event for the Vietnamese film industry, as noted by the movie's supporters. The film, locally known as “Án Mạng Karaoke” will be aired domestically on Oct. 30. The U.S.-based specialty distributor, 3388 Films, will launch the film in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Norway, Australia and New Zealand at the same time. Hoang Le, the director of "Karaoke Murder," is taking his directorial debut with this film. Vo Thanh Hoa of 89s Group serves as the creative director, with Mai Bao Ngoc producing. The movie is being produced by 89s Group and F35 Studio. Set amidst a mountain pilgrimage undertaken by a group of neighbors, the plot orbits around a former journalist who rediscovers her old investigation skills when a disliked, karaoke-loving tycoon is mysteriously killed. As the group descends into isolation, everyone becomes a suspect.

Thien A. Pham of 3388 Films stated that such a simultaneous release was a huge breakthrough and could bring a greater momentum to international movies by aligning local and international launch dates. According to the production team, karaoke was chosen as a central theme of the film due to its cultural significance in Vietnamese society. Featured in weddings, birthdays, Lunar New Year to casual Sunday afternoons, it is more than just a fun pastime. Acknowledging this, Vo, the creative director reflected on how the group's belief in making films for the local Vietnamese audiences first has allowed them the confidence to step onto the world stage with their unique voice. 3388 Films, with over 20 years of experience in Asian content, has recently generated substantial buzz with "Mai", the first Vietnamese movie to cross $2 million at the North American and European box office.