{{Short description|2014 Chinese-South Korean film by Yijan Tong}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox film | name = Haunted Road | image = Haunted Road poster.jpg | alt = | caption = | native_name = | director = Yijian Tong | producer = | writer = Hong Niangzi | screenplay = | story = | based_on = <!-- {{based on |[title of the original work] |[writer of the original work]}} --> | starring = Hong Soo-ah<br>Jiang Chao<br>Gao Taiyu<br>Renata Tan<br>Xu Yue | narrator = | music = | cinematography = | editing = | studio = Xiaoxiang Film Group<br>Zhejiang Hewen Entertainment Co., Ltd<br>Dongyang Futian Entertainment Co., Ltd<br>Bale Hudong （Beijing）Media Co., Ltd<br>Beijing Jiale Chuangxin Entertainment Co., Ltd <!-- or: | production_companies = --> | distributor = | released = {{film date|2014|11|13|China & South Korea|df=y}} | runtime = 90 minutes | country = China<br>South Korea | language = Mandarin | budget = | gross = {{CNY|20 million}} (China)<!-- Please use condensed and rounded values, e.g. "£11.6 million" not "£11,586,221" --> }} '''''Haunted Road''''' ({{lang-zh|s=怨灵|t=怨靈|p=Yuànlíng}}) is a 2014 horror film directed by Yijan Tong and co-written by Hong Niangzi. The film is a co-production between China and South Korea, and stars Hong Soo-ah and Jiang Chao. The film revolves around a group of teenagers who went on a roadtrip being trapped by enchantment on a misty highway after witnessing a fatal car accident.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20150707/72340712/2 |script-title=ko:홍수아 출연작 '원령' 8월 6일 개봉…원어민 수준 중국어 연기 기대 |date=7 July 2015 |website=Sports Donga |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ajunews.com/view/20150730080931513 |script-title=ko:[스타 in 중국] 홍수아, 한국 여배우 최초 중국 공포영화 원 톱 여주인공 |date=30 July 2015 |website=Aju Business Daily |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref>
The film was theatrically released in China and South Korea on 14 November 2014.
==Plot== Seven friends: Xuelian, Zengliang, Huazi, Haojian, Ningmeng, Xiaotian, and Dudu, are on their way to attend a friend's wedding when they see the aftermath of a car accident on a highway. Instead of helping the victim, they move about their business until their car breaks down, forcing them to take shelter at a road stop. Throughout the film, Xuelian gives monologues about her friends: how unsympathetic they are to the victim, how they only view love through sex, and how they only reveal their inner feelings when they are in conflict. Seeing that nobody is at the stop, the seven decide to camp out for the night. Dudu, who is single and loves to eat, is dared to take a selfie across the road. When the lights turn off one by one, Dudu escapes to the service store as the ghost chases her. Xiaotian is bribed by Zengliang to take food and drinks, in the process stealing money at the counter as well as the savings of the car accident victim. While celebrating his findings, he is chased and killed by the ghost.
Xuelian and Haojian decide to search for Dudu after a while. When Haojian professes his love for her, Xuelian ignores it so they can continue the search uninterrupted. They are joined by the lovestruck Ningmeng, who is in love with Haojian, while Zengliang and Huazi have sex in the garage. Xuelian, Haojian, and Ningmeng find Dudu's body at the cafeteria. Panicking, Ningmeng is left behind and killed when the ghost wraps tight cloths and clothesline wires around her. Zengliang and Huazi regroup with the other two after they discover Xiaotian's body in the restroom. Blaming Huazi for making the group not check the accident victim, Haojian tries to kill all of them and is able to injure Zengliang's knee, but is knocked out by Xuelian and left to die at the hands of the ghost.
The remaining trio realize that the deaths are foreshadowed by photos sent to the survivors (Dudu's being sent Xiaotian's, Xiaotian's being sent to Zengliang, Ningmeng's being sent to Huazi, and Haojian's being sent to Xuelian). They futilely try to start a stray car at the garage. Jealous at seeing Xuelian tending to Zengliang's wound, Huazi fakes the cursed photo and strikes Xuelian with an ratchet spanner, apparently killing her. The couple leave the compound until Huazi breaks her leg in a bush. Left at her own fate by Zengliang, Huazi is then killed by the ghost. After briefly seeing an illusion of a crowded road stop, Zengliang reunites with Xuelian, who has survived her injuries. However, he leaves her behind on the road only for him to be killed by the ghost.
Left alone on the road, Xuelian is confronted by the ghost and learns the truth: Xuelian is the car accident victim. Abused and tormented since childhood, Xuelian took the final straw when her boyfriend dumped her in favor of another woman. She tried to commit suicide by swerving her car on the highway, but survived; all of the previous events are her near-death experiences. Her six "friends" are really strangers who chose to stop and help her after witnessing the accident; her previous monologues are her reflections about her trauma. The film closes with Xuelian stating that the six strangers have helped her escape from the darkness and her negative views about the world.
==Cast== *Hong Soo-ah as Xuelian<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cnnews.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?nNewsNumb=20141118749&cate=C04&mcate= |title=洪秀儿姜潮亲密合照似情侣 |date=6 December 2024 |website=The Chosun Ilbo |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> *Jiang Chao as Huazi<ref name="163Cast">{{Cite web |url=https://163.com/ent/article/ABE039G3000300B1.html?spss=adap_pc |title=电影《怨灵》热映 揭秘中韩恐怖片的惊悚密码 |date=19 November 2014 |website=163.com |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> *{{ill|Gao Taiyu|zh|高泰宇}} as Xiaotian<ref name="163Cast" /> *{{ill|Renata Tan|zh|谈莉娜}} as Ningmeng<ref name="163Cast" /> *{{ill|Xu Yue (actor)|lt=Xu Yue|zh|徐悦}} as Dudu<ref name="163Cast" />
== Production == ''Haunted Road'' is loosely adapted from Chinese web novelist Hong Niangzi's novel of the same title,<ref name="1905November2014">{{Cite web |url=https://www.1905.com/news/20141112/819941.shtml#p1 |title=《怨灵》11月14日上映 姜潮洪秀儿体验百鬼夜行 |date=12 November 2014 |website=1905.com |author=李超 |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> with Hong also serving as the screenwriter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ent.ifeng.com/a/detail_2014_10/29/39234923_0.shtml |title=《怨灵》花絮曝光 姜潮倪慕斯激情戏亮眼 |date=29 October 2014 |website=Beijing Youth Daily |publisher=Ifeng |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=5 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205091236/https://ent.ifeng.com/a/detail_2014_10/29/39234923_0.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Director Yijan Tong incorporated elements of Asian urban legends into the film, including ghosts building a wall and hotel residents going missing during the Ghost Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.1905.com/news/20150811/921288.shtml |title=《怨灵》韩国将映 洪秀儿、姜潮陷离奇"怪圈" |date=11 August 2015 |website=1905.com |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=9 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309094224/http://www.1905.com/news/20150811/921288.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Tong cited Korean horror films ''Three'' and ''Killer Toon'' as major influences on the film.<ref name="Sohu17October2014" /> The film is a co-production between China and South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.1905.com/news/20150811/921128.shtml#p1 |title=《怨灵》即将于韩国上映 洪秀儿白旗袍亮相首尔 |date=11 August 2015 |website=1905.com |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> with the shoot taking place entirely in China and the production crew composed of both Chinese and South Koreans.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tvdaily.co.kr/read.php3?aid=1438162057951683008 |title='원령' 홍수아 "중국서 작업한 첫 작품, 의미 남달라"|date=29 July 2015 |website=TV Daily |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref><ref name="1905November2014" /> The film features South Korean actress Hong Soo-ah in the lead role, marking her debut in a Chinese feature film,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hankyung.com/article/2014111299855 |script-title=ko:홍수아, 中영화 `원령`시사회 유창한 중국어… `시선집중` |date=12 November 2014 |website=The Korea Economic Daily |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ilyo.co.kr/?ac=article_view&entry_id=100048 |title=홍수아 中영화 '원령' 시사회 포착, 여신급 미모…"제일 예쁘네" |date=12 November 2014 |website=Sunday Sisa |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref> and also stars Jiang Chao and {{ill|Gao Taiyu|zh|高泰宇}}.<ref name="1905November2014" />
Principal photography took place in 2014 and spanned less than a year,<ref name="EDailyJuly2014">{{Cite web |url=https://www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?newsId=01151286606152224&mediaCodeNo=258 |script-title=ko:홍수아, 中영화 '원령지로' 포스터 공개..'오싹한 호러퀸' |date=7 July 2014 |website=EDaily |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201508121722379610 |title=홍수아 "중국진출? 일부 韓배우 돈 밝혀 문제"(인터뷰) |date=12 August 2015 |website=Newsen |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref> with Hong completing her scenes in July.<ref name="EDailyJuly2014" /> Hong, who speaks Mandarin fluently, performed in the language during filming, but her character's voice was ultimately dubbed by a voice actress in post-production.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/ |script-title=ko:<새영화> 홍수아 주연 한중 합작 공포물 '원령' |date=30 July 2015 |website=Yonhap News Agency |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko |archive-date=5 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205043454/https://www.yna.co.kr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In September, the Korean production company Joy N Contents Group acquired the distribution rights for South Korea.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.1905.com/news/20140929/806190.shtml |title=中韩合作灵异恐怖片公布 《怨灵》定档11月14日 |date=29 September 2014 |website=1905.com |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> On 15 October, the film's theme song "Ghost Love", performed by Chinese singer {{ill|Cui Tianqi|zh|崔天琪}}, was released online, marking her first contribution to a film score.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.163.com/ent/article/A8MRF1Q3000300B1.html |title=《怨灵》发布主题曲 "好声音"歌手崔天琪献声 |date=16 October 2014 |website=163.com |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> Starting 17 October, the film launched a promotional campaign featuring a haunted house created by a Taiwanese crew, which mimicked the film's setting and went on a national exhibition tour prior to the film's release.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ent.ifeng.com/a/detail_2014_10/11/39039105_0.shtml |title=电影《怨灵》未映先火 同名主题鬼屋带热影片 |date=11 October 2014 |website=Beijing Youth Daily |publisher=Ifeng |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> On 30 October, the film released its promotional poster, notable for being the first 3D film poster in China.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.163.com/ent/article/A9SOF0T0000300B1.html |title=《怨灵》推3D恐怖海报 "怨灵"与万圣节同欢 |date=31 October 2014 |website=163.com |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> Hong Niangzi's novel was published on 1 November before the film was released.<ref name="Sohu17October2014">{{Cite web |url=https://yule.sohu.com/20141017/n405214046.shtml |title=《怨灵》11月14日中韩同步映 同名小说即将上市 |date=17 October 2014 |website=Sohu Entertainment |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref>
== Release == ''Haunted Road'' premiered in Beijing on 11 November 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ajunews.com/view/20141113082850286 |script-title=ko:영화 '원령' 시사회 등장한 홍수아, 중국어도 술술~ 취재진 '깜짝' |date=13 November 2014 |website=Aju Business Daily |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=6 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706021800/http://www.ajunews.com/view/20141113082850286 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/culture/6402310 |script-title=ko:중국 영화 진출한 홍수아, 시사회서 입고온 드레스가 "대박!" |date=12 November 2014 |website=Maeil Business Newspaper |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=ko}}</ref> followed by theatrical releases in both China and South Korea on 14 November.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://yule.sohu.com/20140929/n404755467.shtml |title=《怨灵》定档11月14日 中韩班底共同打造 |date=29 September 2014 |website=Sohu Entertainment |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref>
==Reception== ===Box office=== The film grossed approximately RMB$10 million in its first week, ranking fifth at the national box office.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.163.com/ent/article/AB8FJHCH000300B1.html |title=电影《怨灵》首周票房将破千万 口碑上座率飙升 |date=17 November 2014 |website=163.com |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> It reached RMB$18 million after half a month,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://yule.sohu.com/20141205/n406689554.shtml |title=专访明秋成：《怨灵》只是下一个大动作的开始 |date=5 December 2014 |website=Sohu Entertainment |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref> and concluded its theatrical run with over RMB$20 million in revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2017-10-13/doc-ifymviyp0777833.shtml |title=《怨灵2》首日上映上座率高 票房突破200万 |date=13 October 2017 |website=Sina Entertainment |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718115023/http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2017-10-13/doc-ifymviyp0777833.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> ''{{ill|Wenzhou Daily|zh|溫州日報}}'' described the film as "a dark horse at the box office" due to its release coinciding with three Hollywood blockbusters, crediting its commercial success to the film's marketing campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.66wz.com/system/2014/11/21/104279585.shtml |title=从《怨灵》看恐怖片如何在好莱坞夹击下生存？ |date=21 November 2014 |website={{ill|Wenzhou Daily|zh|溫州日報}} |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=zh}}</ref>
=== Critical reception === A review at HorrorNews.net was very critical of the production and called the film "plain bad".<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 December 2018 |title=Film Review: Haunted Road (Yuàn líng) (2014) |url=https://horrornews.net/138200/film-review-haunted-road-yuan-ling-2014/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=Horror News {{!}} HNN |language=en-US |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817071938/https://horrornews.net/138200/film-review-haunted-road-yuan-ling-2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Home media == A DVD version was released in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YESASIA: Haunted Road (2014) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) DVD - Hong Soo Ah, Peng Ling, Kam & Ronson Enterprises Co Ltd - Mainland China Movies & Videos - Free Shipping - North America Site |url=https://www.yesasia.com/us/haunted-road-2014-dvd-english-subtitled-hong-kong-version/1045549760-0-0-0-en/info.html |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=www.yesasia.com |archive-date=6 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106154332/http://www.yesasia.com/us/haunted-road-2014-dvd-english-subtitled-hong-kong-version/1045549760-0-0-0-en/info.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Sequel == A sequel, ''Haunted Road 2'', was released in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MANIA |first=MOVIES and |date=1 November 2020 |title=HAUNTED ROAD (2014) Reviews of Chinese revenge horror |url=https://moviesandmania.com/2020/11/01/haunted-road-reviews-movie-film-horror-chinese-2014-overview/#google_vignette |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=MOVIES and MANIA |language=en-US |archive-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204013210/https://moviesandmania.com/2020/11/01/haunted-road-reviews-movie-film-horror-chinese-2014-overview/#google_vignette |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elley |first=Derek |author-link=Derek Elley |website=Sino-Cinema |date=3 July 2018 |title=Review: Haunted Road II (2017) |url=https://sino-cinema.com/2018/07/03/review-haunted-road-ii-2017/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908115059/http://sino-cinema.com/2018/07/03/review-haunted-road-ii-2017/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|1719032}}
Category:2014 horror films Category:2014 horror thriller films Category:Chinese horror thriller films Category:South Korean horror thriller films Category:2014 films Category:Chinese zombie films Category:South Korean zombie films Category:2014 Mandarin-language films Category:2014 Chinese films Category:Mandarin-language horror thriller films