Circle Line (film)

Circle Line
Pre-release Circle Line Movie Poster
Traditional Chinese生死環線
Simplified Chinese生死环线
Directed byJD Chua
Produced by
  • Juan Foo
  • Toong Soo Wei
  • Kent Chan
Starring
Production
companies
  • Taipan Films
  • mm2 Entertainment
Distributed bymm2 Film Distribution
Release date
  • 5 January 2023 (2023-01-05) (Singapore)
Running time
80 Minutes
CountrySingapore
LanguageMandarin

Circle Line (Chinese: simplified Chinese: 生死环线; traditional Chinese: 生死環線; pinyin: Shēngsǐ huánxiàn) is a 2023 Singaporean film. It is billed as Singapore's first modern-day creature feature, produced by Taipan Films and mm2 Entertainment,[1] directed by JD Chua[2] and stars Jesseca Liu, Peter Yu, Andie Chen and Patrick Lee.

Synopsis

In a Southeast Asian city, an error in the subway's automated systems causes the last train for the night to veer off-course into a series of old, abandoned tunnels. Among the passengers are a single mother traumatized by the death of her husband in an accident, her young son and the estranged teenaged daughter of the subway's chief engineer. Discovering that the train's signal has completely disappeared, the night shift of the train system's central command mounts a rescue operation as a mysterious creature that made its home within the abandoned tunnels begins attacking the passengers.

Cast

Production

The film is a Singaporean project developed by Taipan Films and jointly produced with mm2 Entertainment.[4] Featuring a mainly Singaporean ensemble cast led by Jesseca Liu, Peter Yu and Andie Chen,[1] where production had access to actual trains, train stations and the train depot operated by Rapid KL. A number of film sets were also built specially for the film, including train tunnels, control rooms, caverns and sewers, at sound stages at Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.[5] Lead designs, pre-visualization and visual effects were undertaken by Omens Studios in Singapore,[4] while final post-production was done at Kantana Post in Bangkok, Thailand.

Principal photography took place in 2018, with completion of visual effects in late 2019.[1] The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local and worldwide film market led to the delay of the intended release of the movie in 2020.[6] The producers used the lull in the market to re-edit the film for a final release cut in late 2022.[6]

Release

The film released to cinemas in Singapore and Malaysia on 5 January 2023.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Douglas, Tseng (10 December 2021). "First Look: Jesseca Liu, Peter Yu Battle Train Trouble In Circle Line, Singapore's First Monster Movie". 8 Days. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  2. ^ Abrams, Bryan (16 June 2020). "Writer/Director JD Chua & Producer Juan Foo on Singapore's First Creature Feature Circle Line". Motion Picture Association. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Tan, Phoebe Rae (15 January 2020). "Circle Line: The Monster in Our Midst". phoebe-rae. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b "ShoutOUT! JD Chua makes Singapore's 1st monster flick 'Circle Line'". SINdie. 6 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  5. ^ Scott, Mathew (6 December 2019). "First Look: The Uniquely Singaporean Monster Movie 'Circle Line'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b c 惊悚片《生死环线》苦等5年见天日 刘子绚地铁‘真打’怪兽 [Thriller film Circle Line long awaited release after 5 years]. Shin Min Daily News. 30 November 2022. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 – via Sin Chew Daily.