Barunson, the Seoul-based company tied to Parasite, has stepped into Indonesian horror with Zona Merah: Dead City, setting up a high-profile launch at next month’s Cannes Marché du Film.
The move puts fresh attention on a zombie thriller that now arrives with one of the strongest international calling cards in Asian cinema. Reports indicate Barunson will handle the film as both a sales and production force, a combination that can shape how aggressively a project travels beyond its home market. That matters in Cannes, where genre films often live or die on early buyer interest.
Barunson’s backing gives Zona Merah: Dead City more than prestige — it gives the project a direct route into one of the world’s most important film marketplaces.
The deal also highlights a broader shift in the entertainment business. Horror keeps proving it can cross borders faster than many prestige dramas, and zombie stories remain a durable export when producers pair local texture with a clean commercial hook. Sources suggest Barunson sees that opportunity in Indonesia, a market that has drawn rising international notice for bold genre filmmaking.
Key Facts
- Barunson has boarded the Indonesian horror feature Zona Merah: Dead City.
- The company is based in Seoul and is known for producing Parasite.
- The film is described as a zombie thriller.
- Barunson plans to launch the project at next month’s Cannes Marché du Film.
For Barunson, the announcement looks like both a business play and a statement about where international genre cinema goes next. For Indonesian filmmakers, it signals another opening to reach buyers, streamers, and distributors on a much larger stage. The next test comes at Cannes: whether market buzz turns into real deals, and whether Zona Merah: Dead City can convert industry curiosity into global momentum.