EXCLUSIVE: Bluebells Studios latest horror film, Phi Phong: The Blood Demon, which brings together talent from Vietnam and Thailand, has sold to more than ten territories ahead of a wide theatrical rollout across Vietnam and the region.
The ambitious supernatural chiller, rooted in folklore from Vietnam’s northern highlands, is scheduled for release in Vietnam on April 24 to coincide with the major Reunification Day holiday period.
Sold by Bluebells Studios affiliate Mockingbird Pictures, the film will then be rolled out across the region starting with Indonesia on May 13, where distribution will be handled by PT Omega, followed Malaysia and Brunei (Golden Screen Cinemas) and Hong Kong (Sil-Metropole Organisation) on May 14.
Additional theatrical releases across North America, where the film will be handled by Mockingbird Pictures, as well as Taiwan (MovieCloud) and Cambodia and Laos (M Pictures) are currently being finalized for a summer rollout.
Directed by Do Quoc Trung, the film stars Vietnamese actors Kieu Minh Tuan, Diep Bao Ngoc and Doan Minh Anh, alongside Thai child star Nina Nutthacha Padovan, who appeared in Thai horror series Death Whisperer.
Set in a remote mountain village, the story draws inspiration from the legend of the ‘Phí Phông’ – a terrifying supernatural entity said to live among humans by day while secretly feeding on the blood and life force of its victims at night. Passed down through generations in the spiritual traditions of northern highland communities, the myth has long been regarded as one of the region’s most chilling supernatural tales.
Mockingbird describes the films as a “large-scale horror production that blends regional mythology with visceral cinematic terror. Combining intense horror sequences, ancient rituals, and the eerie atmosphere of Vietnam’s deep forests, Phi Phong: The Blood Demon has been positioned as one of the most ambitious Vietnamese horror films to date.”
Bluebells Studios and Mockingbird Pictures CEO Trang Doan said the film was produced with the intention of elevating Vietnamese horror cinema to the global stage: “With Phi Phong, we wanted to create a bold Vietnamese horror film that fully embraces the terrifying mythology of our region.
“The legend of the Phi Phong has haunted generations in Vietnam’s highland folklore, and we believe its dark mystique will resonate strongly with international audiences who are increasingly drawn to Southeast Asian horror.”
Mockingbird Pictures Business Director Phong Duong added: “Southeast Asian horror has been gaining tremendous global attention in recent years as audiences discover the region’s rich and terrifying supernatural mythology. Phi Phong: The Blood Demon is a striking example of the scale and ambition that Vietnamese horror cinema can achieve, and we are excited to introduce this chilling story to audiences worldwide.”
