The last few years of cinema has seen Hollywood continuing its trend of investing lots of money into pointless reimaginings of recognised films especially in the case of recent productions like Total Recall and Carrie.

But one particular new take that has intrigued me for a while has been the American remake of the gritty Korean masterpiece Oldboy (a film ranked on my all-time Top 100 list).

Directed by the controversial Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X), the upcoming vengeance-thriller has finally released a red-band trailer.

Based on the stunning 2003 gem from director Chan Wook Park (Stoker), the film stars Oscar-nominee Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men, Milk) as a man who is kidnapped and locked in a chamber for twenty years without being given any explanation. Upon his eventual release, he vows to find his captor and take vengeance but his search for answers results in him unearthing some harrowing revelations.

Sharlto Copley (District 9, The A-Team), Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene, Silent House), Lance Reddick (The Wire), Michael Imperioli (Goodfellas, The Sopranos) and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, The Avengers) all star in the twistful thriller which is bound to shock audiences who aren’t familiar with the original film.

The Oldboy remake is scheduled for release in the UK on December 6th.