Barunson E&A Boards Indonesian Horror Film Zona Merah: Dead City

Korean production and sales company Barunson E&A has boarded the Indonesian horror feature film Zona Merah: Dead City. The company, known for producing the film Parasite directed by Bong Joon Ho, will handle international sales for the project. It will launch the film at the Cannes Marché du Film next month, alongside another horror feature titled Inherit from Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun.

The film adapts the Indonesian horror series Zona Merah, produced by Screenplay Films. The original series aired on the streaming platform Vidio, owned by Emtek Group. It follows a character named Maya searching for her missing brother Adi during a zombie outbreak in the fictional town of Rimbalaya, as authorities prepare to seal the area as a red zone.

The series recorded over 34 million views on Vidio and led to an increase in subscribers, according to the platform. Screenplay Films CEO Wicky V. Olindo stated that expanding the story into a feature film was a natural progression both commercially and creatively.

The feature film expands the scope to include another city affected by the outbreak and a new red zone. Sidharta Tata and Fajar Martha Santosa, who worked on the original series, are co-directing the film. Tata is also the screenwriter, and Santosa is overseeing story development.

Returning cast members include Aghniny Haque, Andri Mashadi, Maria Theodore, Devano, and Lukman Sardi, with new additions Luna Maya, Bryan Domani, Shindy Huang, Myesha Lin, and Derby Romero. Principal photography began on April 7 and is scheduled to continue through May.

Choi stated that Indonesia's genre film market is seeing increased audience interest and global resonance. The company has been active in Southeast Asia, including a two-year exclusive sales partnership with Come and See Pictures, founded by Joko Anwar.

Anwar's recent film Ghost in the Cell premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival this year and has achieved nearly two million admissions in Indonesia. Barunson E&A has acquired international remake rights to titles from Imajinari and is collaborating with Indonesian production houses such as Visinema Pictures, Base Entertainment, and Rapi Films.

From Thailand, the company is handling sales for Inherit, Banjong Pisanthanakun's first feature in five years, following his earlier films Shutter and Pee Mak.