New Vietnamese horror-comedy movie soon to be released abroad

HÀ NỘI – A new horror-comedy movie will be soon released in five Asian countries and territories.

Entitled Làm Giàu Với Ma (Betting with Ghost), the movie will be launched in cinema theatres nationwide on August 30, right before the National Day holiday, before being screened in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Brunei and Chinese Taipei.

From left: Actor Tuấn Trần (as Lanh), Diệp Bảo Ngọc (as the Ghost), and movie director Nguyễn Nhật Trung seen at the launch of the movie Làm Giàu Với Ma (Betting with Ghost) on August 7. Photos courtesy of Bluebells Studios

Produced by Bluebells Studios, the movie tells a humorous story of a wealth-making deal between a man and a ghost. Added to the narrative of actual deal, it reveals many secrets of a father-and-son relationship between Lanh (played by Tuấn Trần) and Mr. Đào (played by veteran actor Hoài Linh).

Creative producer Võ Nguyên Đán has revealed that the inspiration for the movie stemmed from the unique role of a coffin bearer. These individuals are responsible for caring for and decorating the deceased, ensuring they reach their final resting place with dignity, but they are also believed to possess the ability to connect with the underworld.

The film delves into these spiritual elements, exploring the quest for wealth through supernatural means. However, this journey comes with significant challenges and the protagonist, Lanh, faces a series of arduous trials, underscoring that every pursuit has its price.

Talking about the decision to choose Hoài Linh to the play the role of Mr. Đào, movie director Nguyễn Nhật Trung said that Linh was his top choice because of his dedication and immersive acting ability.

“Viewers will feel many meanings through the character of Mr. Đào,” Trung said.

The poster for the movie Làm Giàu Với Ma (Betting with Ghost) that will soon be on release.

To portray Lanh, a young man driven by a desire to gamble and become wealthy, actor Tuấn Trần watched online clips and spoke with individuals experienced in cockfighting to prepare for the role.

In the movie, his character Lanh strikes a deal with a ghost (portrayed by Diệp Bảo Ngọc) to limit his earnings to 30 million đồng per day and if the amount is exceeded, his family members suffer accidents.

Money can't be found and Lanh and his father, Mr. Đào, face numerous hardships. Lanh falls deeper into debt, is beaten and has his house seized by gangsters. His father was both angry and saddened by these events. Is there another secret behind Lanh’s transformation? Why does the ghost assist Lanh in making money? The unresolved mysteries and the relationship between Mr. Đào and his son promise to deliver fascinating and emotional twists in Betting with Ghost.

Veteran actor Hoài Linh as Mr. Đào.

Tuấn Trần hopes that the character Lanh will be even greater than his previous role of Wắn in Bố Già (The Father, 2021) and Út Lục Lâm in Đất Rừng Phương Nam (Song of the South, 2023).

Director Trung said that he wanted to create a ghost character that is relatable and emotionally compelling for the audience, rather than a typical supernatural entity. By imbuing the ghost character with human-like emotions and an authentic, natural performance, the filmmaker hopes to get the audience to see the ghost as a sympathetic figure.

The launch of the movie Làm Giàu Với Ma (Betting with Ghost) on August 7.

After the launch in Việt Nam, the movie will be released directly in five Asian countries and territories including Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The distributor of Betting with Ghost for international markets is Mockingbird Pictures – a HCM City-based film production and distribution company, which has had several Asian hit movies in Việt Nam, including the Thailand’s Death Whisperer (Tee Yod), the South Korea’s Concrete Utopia, Exhuma and Honey Sweet.