Vietnamese found-footage horror film “Lầu Chú Hoả: The Deadliest Mansion” is making its way to North American theaters. The movie, which became a massive box office success in Vietnam after its June debut, will open across the United States and Canada on September 4, 2026. Mockingbird Pictures is handling the North American release, placing the film in major theater chains including AMC, Regal, and Cinemark locations.
The film marks a significant milestone as Vietnam’s first theatrical found-footage horror release. Directed by Hùng Trần, the movie has already proven its appeal with domestic audiences, drawing more than one million admissions and earning over VND78 billion (approximately $3 million) at the Vietnamese box office.
A Modern Take on a Classic Vietnamese Urban Legend
“Lau Chu Hoa: The Deadliest Mansion” draws its story from a well-known Vietnamese urban legend surrounding the Hứa family estate. The plot follows a group of young streamers who break into the notoriously haunted mansion, hoping the risky stunt will bring them fame and money.
Instead of internet fame, their live broadcast captures something far more terrifying. A dormant, malevolent force awakens, pulling the group into the century-old tale of the “Ghost of the Hứa Family”. The entire movie is shot in found-footage style, giving viewers the feeling of watching real, terrifying events unfold through the eyes of the characters.
The legend behind the film tells the story of a wealthy businessman’s daughter who allegedly contracted leprosy and was locked away in her room until she passed away. Her body was reportedly buried on the estate grounds. The tale was previously adapted in 1973 as the horror film “The Ghost of the Hui Family,” which has since become almost completely lost.
Production Backed by Korean Studio Hive Media Corp
The film is a collaboration between Vietnamese production company Runup Vietnam and South Korea’s Hive Media Corp. This partnership marks Hive Media Corp’s first production investment outside its home market. The Korean studio has backed several major recent releases, including “12.12: The Day,” “Inside Men,” “The Man Standing Next,” and “Harbin”.
Hive Media Corp also produced the found-footage horror hit “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum,” which attracted more than 2.6 million admissions in South Korea. Producer Lee Jin Sung explained the appeal of the found-footage format:
“Found footage has the power to make audiences feel as though they are experiencing the horror themselves. Working with Hive Media Corp allowed us to bring that experience to a uniquely Vietnamese legend while preserving the identity and atmosphere that make the story distinctive.”
Mockingbird Pictures Brings Vietnamese Cinema to North America
Mockingbird Pictures is leading the North American theatrical rollout as part of its larger effort to introduce Vietnamese commercial films to international audiences. The company’s distribution network covers more than 60 new theatrical releases each year in Vietnam and over 100 titles across post-theatrical platforms.
Phong Duong, business director of Mockingbird Pictures and executive producer at sister company Bluebells Studios, expressed confidence in the film’s international appeal:
“’Lầu Chú Hoả: The Deadliest Mansion’ delivers one of the most intense Vietnamese horror experiences in recent years. We believe this is a film that can travel, and we want audiences around the world to experience that fear for themselves.”
Cast and Crew
The film features a Vietnamese cast including Nguyen Minh Thoi, Ngoc Chi Bao, Tran Ky Anh, Dung Ha, Nguyen Cong Nuong, and Phung Hoang. Hung Tran serves as both director and writer, with Lee Jin Sung producing. The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Related:
What to Expect from the Found-Footage Horror
Found-footage horror has a dedicated following among fans who enjoy the immersive, realistic style of filmmaking. The format creates a sense of immediacy and authenticity that traditional horror movies sometimes lack. By placing viewers directly in the middle of the action through the characters’ cameras, the genre makes scary moments feel more personal and intense.
“Lau Chu Hoa: The Deadliest Mansion” combines this popular style with a culturally rich Vietnamese legend, offering North American audiences something fresh and different from typical Hollywood horror fare. The film’s success in Vietnam suggests it has the kind of scares and storytelling that can translate across cultures.
The movie arrives in North American theaters on September 4, 2026, through Mockingbird Pictures at AMC, Regal, and Cinemark locations. Horror fans looking for a new kind of scare should mark their calendars for this Vietnamese found-footage phenomenon.
Also Read: Actor Lee Yi-kyung’s Close Moment With Vietnamese Co-star Draws Media Attention
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