SARS Wars
2004 Thai film / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SARS Wars (Thai: ขุนกระบี่ผีระบาด or Khun krabi phirabat, also subtitled Bangkok Zombie Crisis) is a 2004 Thai action fantasy comedy horror film directed and co-written by Taweewat Wantha.
SARS Wars | |
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Directed by | Taweewat Wantha |
Written by | Sommai Lertulan Kuanchun Phemyad Taweewat Wantha Adirek Wattaleela Andrew Biggs |
Produced by | Akaradech Maneeploypech Pracha Maleenont Brian L. Marcar Adirek Wattaleela |
Starring | Suthep Po-ngam Supakorn Kitsuwon Phintusuda Tunphairao Lena Christensen Somlek Sakdikul |
Cinematography | Art Srithongkul |
Edited by | Doctor Head |
Distributed by | Chalermthai Studio |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | Thailand |
Language | Thai |
The story involves people who are infected with a fictional Type 4 strain of the SARS virus and turned into zombies. The outbreak is contained to one apartment building in Bangkok, and the Health Ministry is determined to keep it contained at all costs. But the building also happens to be the hideout for a gang that has kidnapped a teenage schoolgirl. She is to be rescued by a sword-wielding superhero crimefighter, who must not only contend with the criminals, but also the zombies in a race against the government's plan to blow the building up.
Though it starred popular comic actors Suthep Po-ngam and Somlek Sakdikul, the movie fared poorly in Thailand but went on to attain cult film status by playing at such film festivals as the Fantasia Festival and the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival and through a DVD release that included English subtitles. The movie is available on US region 1 DVD from Discotek Media.
Similar to Kill Bill, it contains animated sequences, including an animated opening-title sequence, establishing the film's leading zombie fighters as comic book superheroes. It also contains references to Star Wars, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix.