2018"MICROHABITAT","BURNING","DRUGKING","LITTLEFOREST"THEFIRSTFEWMONTHSOF2018WEREMARKEDBYANUMBEROFBIG-BUDGETDISAPPOINTMENTS,ANDPLEASANTSURPRISESFORSOMEMEDIUM-BUDGETFILMS.PSYCHOKINESIS,GOLDENSLUMBERANDSEVENYEARSOFNIGHTWEREEXPENSIVEFILMSTHATSTRUGGLEDTOFINDANAUDIENCE,WHILETHELIKESOFLITTLEFOREST,MELODRAMABEWITHYOUANDLOW-BUDGETHORRORGONJIAM:HAUNTEDASYLUMALLSIGNIFICANTLYOUTPERFORMEDEXPECTATIONS.THISMAYBEASIGNTHATAUDIENCESAREINTHEMOODFORSOMETHINGNEW.NONETHELESS,AHIGHER-THAN-USUALNUMBEROFMEGA-BUDGETPRODUCTIONSARELINEDUPFOR2018,RANGINGFROMNORTH-KOREATHEMEDTHRILLERSLIKETHESPYGONENORTHANDPMCTOTWOBIG-BUDGETFILMSABOUTDRUGDEALING:BELIEVER(AREMAKEOFJOHNNIETO'SDRUGWAR)ANDTHEDRUGKING,STARRINGSONGKANG-HO.THESECONDHALFOFTHEULTRA-HIT,TWO-PARTFILMALONGWITHTHEGODSALSOLOOKSLIKEAGUARANTEEDHITINTHESUMMER.TWOOFKOREA'SBEST-KNOWNARTHOUSEAUTEURSWILLHAVENEWWORKFORUSTHISYEAR.LEECHANG-DONGMAKESHISLONG-AWAITEDRETURNWITHBURNING,WHILEHONGSANGSOOCONTINUESATHISRECENTPACEOFTWOFEATURESPERYEAR.MEANWHILE,INDEPENDENTFILMSARESTILLINRECOVERYMODEFROM10YEARSOFGOVERNMENTBLACKLISTSANDCUTBACKSINPUBLICSUPPORT.WITHNEWLEADERSHIPINTHEKOREANFILMCOUNCIL,INDEPENDENTFILMSAREFORECASTTOGETAMAJORBOOST,BUTTHERESULTSMAYNOTBESEENUNTIL2019.(WRITTENONAPRIL11)REVIEWEDBELOW:PSYCHOKINESIS(JAN13)-LITTLEFOREST(FEB28)-THEVANISHED(MAR7)-BEWITHYOU(MAR14)-SEVENYEARSOFNIGHT(MAR28)-GONJIAM:HAUNTEDASYLUM(MAR28)-TRUEFICTION(APR25)-BELIEVER(MAY22)-ILLANG:THEWOLFBRIGADE(JUL25)-THESPYGONENORTH(AUG8)-LASTCHILD(AUG30)-MONSTRUM(SEP12)-INTIMATESTRANGERS(OCT31)-DOORLOCK(DEC5)-SWINGKIDS(DEC19).THEBESTSELLINGFILMSOF2018KOREANFILMSNATIONWIDERELEASEREVENUE1ALONGWITHTHEGODS:THELAST49DAYS12,275,843AUG1102.7BN2THEGREATBATTLE5,441,020SEP1946.3BN3INTIMATESTRANGERS5,294,119OCT3144.4BN4BELIEVER5,063,684MAY2243.5BN4THESPYGONENORTH4,974,520AUG842.8BN5DARKFIGUREOFCRIME3,789,321OCT333.0BN6DEFAULT3,754,732NOV2830.9BN7KEYSTOTHEHEART3,419,753JAN1727.5BN8THEWITCH:PART1.THESUBVERSION3,189,091JUN2727.2BN9THEACCIDENTALDETECTIVE2:INACTION3,152,872JUN1326.9BN10ONYOURWEDDINGDAY2,820,969AUG2223.7BNALLFILMSNATIONWIDERELEASEREVENUE1ALONGWITHTHEGODS:THELAST49DAYS(KOREA)12,275,843AUG1102.7BN2AVENGERS:INFINITYWAR(US)11,212,710APR2599.9BN3BOHEMIANRHAPSODY(US)9,923,791*OCT3186.1BN4MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE-FALLOUT(US)6,584,915JUL2555.9BN5JURASSICWORLD:FALLENKINGDOM(US)5,661,128JUN649.8BN6ANT-MANANDTHEWASP(US)5,448,134JUL447.5BN7THEGREATBATTLE(KOREA)5,441,020SEP1946.3BN8BLACKPANTHER(US)5,399,227FEB1445.9BN9INTIMATESTRANGERS(KOREA)5,294,119OCT3144.0BN10BELIEVER(KOREA)5,063,684MAY2243.5BN*INCLUDESADMISSIONSFROM2019.REVENUEISINKOREANCURRENCY(US$1=~1200WON).SOURCE:KOREANFILMCOUNCIL(WWW.KOBIS.OR.KR).SEOULPOPULATION:9.8MILLIONNATIONWIDEPOPULATION:51.8MILLIONPSYCHOKINESISSEOK-HEON(RYUSEUNG-RYONG,SEVENYEARSOFNIGHT)WORKSASASECURITYOFFICERATASMALLBANKBRANCHOFFICE.NOTEXACTLYTHEMOSTRELIABLEPERSONINTHENEIGHBORHOOD,HEONEDAYDRINKSSTREAMWATERATAMOUNTAINPARK,ANDIMBIBESTHEFLUORESCENT-BLUESUBSTANCETHATHADJUSTLANDEDINAMETEORFROMOUTERSPACE.PRONTO,SEOK-HEONBECOMESIMBUEDWITHPSYCHOKINETICPOWERS,ABLETOFIRSTLIFTALIGHTERANDABOXOFMATCHESWITHOUTTOUCHINGTHEM,THENTOFLYTHROUGHTHEAIRANDCRUSHANAUTOMOBILELIKEAGIGANTICVISE.CRASSANDINCONSIDERATE,HEINSTANTLYHATCHESASCHEMETOHAULBUCKET-LOADSOFDOUGHASKOREA'SNEWDAVIDCOPPERFIELD,UNTILHELEARNSTHATHISDIVORCEDWIFEDIEDINASUSPICIOUSCIRCUMSTANCE.SHESUFFEREDAFRACTUREDSKULLFIGHTINGOFFCORPORATE-EMPLOYEDTHUGSTRYINGTOEVICTHISDAUGHTERRUMI'S(SHIMEUN-GYEONG,MISSGRANNY)SUCCESSFULFRIEDCHICKENRESTAURANTFROMABUILDINGPURCHASEDFORREDEVELOPMENT.SEOK-HEONRELUCTANTLYBECOMESAHUMANWEAPONAGAINSTTHECOMPANYTHUGSTOHELPHISSTRAIGHT-LACEDDAUGHTER,BUTNEITHERTHELAWNORTHEMEDIAISWILLINGTOBUYHISSTORYTHATHEISSOMEKINDOFAHOMESPUNSUPERHERO.YEONSANG-HO,AFTERDOMINATINGTHE2016SUMMERBOXOFFICEWITHTHEZOMBIEBLOCKBUSTERSTRAINTOBUSANANDSEOULSTATION,HASRETURNEDTOASFFANTASYSUBJECTMATTER.HEALSOSWITCHEDTHETONETOEMPHASIZECOMEDYANDSLAPSTICK,EVENTHOUGHACERTAINLEVELOFANTI-SOCIALIMPULSEFROMHISPREVIOUSFILMSISRETAINED.THEMOTIONPICTURE,DISTRIBUTEDOUTSIDEOFKOREABYNETFLIX,WASPANNEDBYCRITICSANDINTERNETWAGSBUTMANAGEDTOCOLLECTAPPROXIMATELY980THOUSANDTICKETS,AMIDDLINGSCOREFORADOMESTICGENREFILM.TAKINGINTOACCOUNTTHEFACTTHATSOUTHKOREANFILMINDUSTRYISNOTPARTICULARLYADEPTATANYKINDOFSCIENCEFICTION-INFLECTEDNARRATIVE,PSYCHOKINESISISNOTBADLYMADE.OFCOURSE,THOSEEXPECTINGSOMETHINGONTHEORDEROFSPIDER-MAN:HOMECOMINGORTHOR:RAGNAROKSHOULDSCALEDOWNTHEIREXPECTATIONS.YEONISNOTPARTICULARLYGOODWITHHOLLYWOOD-STYLECGIEFFECTS(THEFLYINGSEQUENCESAREEMBARRASSINGLYCUT-RATE),BUTTHEREARESCENESINWHICHTHEPHYSICALEFFECTSCOMBINEDWITHELABORATESTUNTACTION(SUPERVISEDBYHEOMYUNG-HAENGANDJEONGJIN-GEUNOFTHESEOULACTIONSCHOOL)GENERATETHEDESIREDEMOTIONALREACTIONFROMTHEVIEWERS.RYUSEUNG-RYONGHASBEENACCUSEDOFBEINGTOOGOOFYINHISSCENESOFEXERTINGHIMSELFTODREDGEUPHISPSYCHOKINETICPOWERS(HELOOKSREADYTOPOOINHISPANTS),BUTIDIDNOTFINDTHEMPARTICULARLYANNOYING:THOSETHINGSINMANYWAYSCOMEWITHTHETERRITORY.ANDTHEREAREPLENTYOFDUMBSTUFFGOINGONINMULTI-HUNDRED-MILLION-DOLLARHOLLYWOODPROJECTSLIKEGUARDIANSOFTHEGALAXYORGREENLANTERN,TOO.THINKOFITASACONTEMPORARY,FASTER-PACED,EASTASIANTAKEONTHEGREATESTAMERICANHEROTVSERIES(THEYSHARETHESCENESOFTHEPROTAGONISTPAWINGTHEAIRTRYINGTOFLYEXPERTLYLIKE,YOUKNOW,SUPERMAN)THENYOUGOTTHERIGHTGROOVE.ACTUALLY,THEBIGGESTPROBLEMIHADWITHPSYCHOKINESISWASNEITHERTHEMOVIE'SOPENLYPLAYFULTONE,YEON'SDIRECTION(WHICHISREASSURINGLYCOMPETENT,IFNOTALWAYSCREATIVEASINHISBETTERWORKS)NORTHELEVELOFTECHNICALEXPERTISE,BUTHISINSISTENCETHATTHISFILMSHOULDBEYETANOTHER(GROANˇ)"REDEMPTIONNARRATIVE"FORABUMDAD.FORME,THEMOVIEWOULDHAVEWORKEDMANYTIMESBETTER(ANDPROBABLYREACHEDOUTTOALARGERSHAREOFDOMESTICVIEWERS)IFSHIMEUN-GYEONG'SRUMI(ORATTHEVERYLEAST,HERFUSSY-NICELAWYERFRIENDJEONG-HYUN[PARKJEONG-MIN,DONGJU:THEPORTRAITOFAPOET])WASTHEONEENDOWEDWITHSUPERPOWERS.WHYDOESHERFATHER,WHOHADNOTDISPLAYEDASHREDOFCONCERNFORHERLIFEBEFORETHEMOVIEBEGINS,HAVETOBETHEONEWITHTHESEABILITIES?SOTHATTHEVIEWERSCOULDTEARUPSEEINGHIMLEARNINGTHEHARDSHIPHISCHILDHADTOPUTUPWITH,ANDULTIMATELYTRANSFORMINGHIMSELFINTOAPOLITICALLYCONSCIOUSANTI-CHAEBOLACTIVIST?EVENTHOUGHTHIS"PATERNALREDEMPTION"STORYISESSENTIALLYTHESAMENARRATIVEENGINETHATPROPELLEDTRAINTOBUSAN,THATFILMHADABUNCHOFTRULYINTERESTINGSUPPORTINGCHARACTERSANDLAYERSOFSTORYELEMENTSBRILLIANTLYORCHESTRATEDBYTHEDIRECTOR.PSYCHOKINESIS,MUCHSIMPLERANDLINEARINPLOT,ISDEPRIVEDOFTHISSUPPORTSTRUCTURE.CASTINGRYUSEUNG-RYONGINTHEROLEOFTHEFATHERONLYCOMPOUNDSTHEPROBLEM.AGAIN,IHAVELITTLEPROBLEMWITHTHEACTOR,WHOISCERTAINLYONEOFTHEMOREEARNESTCHARACTERACTOR-STARSWORKINGINKOREATODAY(ANDSUPERBINSUCHSUBTLERROLESASTHEMINISTERINMASQUERADE[2011]ANDTHECONFLICTEDDETECTIVEINPOSSESSED[2009]).BUTTHECHARACTEROFSEOK-HEONISFRANKLYACALLOUSSCOUNDREL,ANDRYU,LOOKINGLIKEABULL-HOUNDWITHABADSTOMACHPROBLEM,CANNOTPROJECTANYCHARMORSOCIABLEQUALITIES.HEMERELYACTSVERYHARD,(HISCOMICACTING,IREITERATE,ISNOTASTERRIBLEASINTERNETCRITICSAREBLASTINGABOUT)BUTISULTIMATELYDEFEATEDBYTHESHALLOWCHARACTERIZATION.INDEED,ITISASIGNOFATALENTEDFILMMAKERSTUCKWITHASTALECONCEPTIONOFTHE"GOODGUYS"INASTORYOFGOOD-TRIUMPHS-OVER-EVIL,WHENTHEVILLAINSOFTHEPIECE--"PRESIDENT"MIN(KIMMIN-JAE,THETRUTHBENEATH),THEBOSSOFTHESERVICECOMPANY(READ:THUGS)HIREDBYTHEBIGBUSINESSEXECUTIVEDEPUTYHONG(JEONGYOO-MI,OURSUNHI)--COMEACROSSASMOREATTRACTIVE,EVENMORECHARMING,THANTHEPROTAGONISTS.MS.HONG,THEHEADVILLAIN,ISACTUALLYTHEMOSTINTERESTING,IFNOTTHEMOSTCOMPLEX,CHARACTERINTHEWHOLEMOVIE.QUITEPRETTYANDMADASAHATTER,SHEISANINTRIGUINGCOMBINATIONOFAGANGNAM-STYLE,CHI-CHISUPERFICIALITYANDADEEPLYSOCIOPATHICEGO,ASORTOFMERRILYCHATTYFEMALEVERSIONOFERNSTSTAVROBLOFELD.ITWASANINSPIRINGMOVEONYEON'SPARTTOCASTTHEBEAUTIFULBUTOFF-KILTERJEONGASDEPUTYHONG.HERREACTIONTOSEOK-HEONSMASHINGHERBMWANDFLYINGOUTOFTHEPOLICESTATIONISPRICELESS:ITWOULDHAVEBEENGREATIFTHEMOVIECONTAINEDMORECHARACTER-DRIVENFUNNYSCENESLIKETHAT.PSYCHOKINESISISNOTATERRIBLEFILM:ICANTHINKANUMBEROFWAYSINWHICHITCOULDHAVEGONEMUCHWORSE(INSISTINGONBEINGDOURLY"SERIOUS"WOULDCERTAINLYHAVEBEENONEOFTHEM).ONTHEOTHERHAND,ITISDEMONSTRABLYLESSPOWERFULORCREATIVETHANYEON'SPREVIOUSWORKS.IHAVEENJOYEDTHEMOVIEFORWHATITIS,AMIDDLINGSFFANTASYWITHALIGHTTONE(MOSTCLEARLYEXEMPLIFIEDBYASILLYTV-COMMERCIAL-STYLEDENOUEMENT).ISTRONGLYSUGGESTTOYEONTHAT,HOWEVER,HESHOULDWRITEHISNEXTMOVIEAROUNDTHENON-VICTIMIZEDCHARACTERSPLAYABLEBYSHIMEUN-GYEONGOR,FORTHATMATTER,JEONGYOO-MI(ICERTAINLYWOULDN'TMINDSEEINGDEPUTYHONGCOMEBACKASASUPERVILLAIN!).NOMOREREDEMPTIONNARRATIVESFORBUMFATHERS,PLEASE.(KYUHYUNKIM)LITTLEFORESTWHENHYE-WONDECIDESTOABANDONTHECITY,ITMAYSEEMATFIRSTLIKESHE'SRUNNINGAWAY.SHE'SCERTAINLYGOINGTOAREMOTEPLACE-HERCHILDHOODHOMEISINATINYFARMINGVILLAGE,COMPLETELYCUTOFFFROMTHEFAST-PACED,URBANLIFESTYLETHATEPITOMIZESSOUTHKOREA.THEHOUSEITSELFISEMPTY.ANDFORAWOMANINHERTWENTIES,THEREDOESN'TSEEMTOBEMUCHTODOTHERE,EXCEPTGROWFOODONTHELANDSURROUNDINGTHEHOUSE,ANDCOOKWITHWHATEVERINGREDIENTSCANBEHARVESTED.IT'SSUBSISTENCELIVING,DICTATEDBYNOTHINGMORETHANTHECHANGINGOFTHESEASONS.SHE'SNOTCOMPLETELYALONETHERE.THERE'SHERELDERLYAUNT,WHOLIVESINANOTHERPARTOFTHEVILLAGE.THERE'SADOGNAMEDOGU,ADOPTEDBYHAE-WON(ORVICEVERSA).ANDTHEREARETWOCHILDHOODFRIENDS-JAE-HAWHOGROWSFRUITSANDVEGETABLES,ANDEUN-SOOKWHOCOMMUTESTOANEARBYTOWNTOWORKASABANKTELLER.THETHREEREKINDLETHEIROLDCAMARADERIE,FILLEDWITHINTIMACYANDTENSION,MADESTRONGERBYTHEFACTTHATINTHISREMOTEPLACE,THEYONLYHAVEEACHOTHER.HYE-WONOFTENINVITESTHEMTOHERHOMETOSHAREINTHEMEALSSHEPREPARES.SHEISANIMAGINATIVEANDPROFICIENTCOOK,HAVINGLEARNEDFROMHERMOTHER.INDEED,COOKINGBECAMEMOREOFANECESSITYFORHERWHEN,DURINGHERLASTYEARINHIGHSCHOOL,HERMOTHERABRUPTLYLEFTHOME.YEARSLATER,HAE-WONISSTILLRECOVERINGFROMTHISABANDONMENT,EVENAFTERGROWINGUPANDBECOMINGINDEPENDENT.ANDTHECOOKINGSHEDOES,SUFFUSEDWITHOLDMEMORIES,ISINPARTAWAYTOWORKTHROUGHHERCOMPLICATEDFEELINGSABOUTHERMOTHER.LITTLEFORESTISNOTATYPICALFILM.HONESTLY,IT'SJUSTAWISPOFASTORY,WITHMUCHOFITSRUNNINGTIMEDEVOTEDTOCOOKINGANDCONVERSATION.NONETHELESS,ITLEAVESITSAUDIENCEFEELINGFULL.PARTLYTHISISDUETOITBEINGSOWELLMADE:DIRECTORYIMSOON-RYE(WAIKIKIBROTHERS,FOREVERTHEMOMENT)HASOVERTWODECADESOFFILMMAKINGEXPERIENCE,ANDSHE'SMORETHANCAPABLEOFINSTILLINGORDINARYMOMENTSWITHLIFEANDMEANING.ASFORTHEACTING,KIMTAE-RI(WHOBECAMEANINSTANTSTARINPARKCHAN-WOOK'STHEHANDMAIDEN)PERFECTLYEMBODIESTHEBLENDOFINDEPENDENCEANDUNPREDICTABILITYTHATDEFINESHYE-WON'SCHARACTER.SHE'SJOINEDBYRYUJUN-YEOL(ATAXIDRIVER),ONEOFKOREA'SMOSTEXCITINGUP-AND-COMINGMALEACTORS;THEACCLAIMEDMOONSO-RI(THERUNNINGACTRESS),WHOBRINGSANENIGMATICQUALITYTOTHEFLASHBACKSCENESWITHHYE-WON'SMOTHER;ANDTALENTEDNEWCOMERJINKI-JOOASTHETEMPERAMENTAL,FLIRTATIOUSEUN-SOOK.LITTLEFORESTISBASEDONAJAPANESEMANGABYIGARASHIDAISUKE,ANDSOMEVIEWERSMAYKNOWAFOUR-HOURJAPANESEADAPTATIONOFTHISBOOK,WHICHBEGINSINTHESUMMER,ANDHASANHOURDEVOTEDTOEACHSEASON.THAT2014WORKISINSOMEWAYSEVENMOREMINIMAL,WITHITSSTORYSTRUCTUREDETERMINEDNOTBYPLOTTWISTS,BUTBYTHESEASONALRIPENINGOFFRUITSANDVEGETABLES.IMYSELFAMACOMMITTED,RABIDFANOFTHATJAPANESEMOVIE,ANDSOASMUCHASIWASLOOKINGFORWARDTOTHISKOREANADAPTATION,IWASALSOBRACINGMYSELFFORDISAPPOINTMENT.BUTULTIMATELYITWASAPLEASURETODISCOVERTHATYIMSOON-RYE'SVERSIONHASITSOWNPARTICULARSTRENGTHSANDCONCERNS,ANDTHERE'SNOREALNEEDTOCOMPARETHETWOFILMS.RELEASEDINFEBRUARY,LITTLEFORESTHADASURPRISINGLYSTRONGRUNATTHEBOXOFFICE,ANDCAPTUREDTHEIMAGINATIONOFYOUNGERVIEWERSINPARTICULAR.NONETHELESS,ITHINKIFITHADBEENRELEASEDADECADEEARLIER,ITMIGHTHAVESTRUGGLEDTOFINDANAUDIENCE.ONESENSESASHIFTOFATTITUDEAMONGYOUNGKOREANSTHESEDAYS.FACEDWITHANEVERMORECOMPETITIVEANDSTRESS-FILLEDLIFESTYLE,INCROWDEDCITIESWITHPOLLUTEDAIR,ANDWITHCAREERGOALSTHATOFTENLEADTOFRUSTRATINGDEADENDS,THEEMERGENCEOFAFILMWITHVALUESSOFUNDAMENTALLYOPPOSEDTOTHENORMBROUGHTABREATHOFFRESHAIR.INAWORD,THISISTHEKINDOFFILMTOMAKEYOUCONSIDERQUITTINGYOURJOB,ANDLEAVINGTHECITYBEHIND.(DARCYPAQUET)THEVANISHEDDR.PARKJIN-HAN(KIMKANG-WOO,TABLOIDTRUTH),ARESEARCHSCIENTISTWORKINGFORABIGPHARMACOMPANY,HASRECENTLYLOSTHISOLDERWIFESEOR-HEE(THEVETERANTVACTRESSKIMHEE-AE)TOAHEARTFAILURE.HOWEVER,THELATTER'SBODYDISAPPEARSFROMTHEMORGUEINTHENATIONALFORENSICSERVICEBUILDING,UNDERASTRANGE,POSSIBLYSUPERNATURALCIRCUMSTANCE.DR.PARK,SUMMONEDTOTHEMORGUE,ISDETAINED,TOHISCONSTERNATION,BYTHEDISHEVELEDDETECTIVEJOONG-SIK(KIMSANG-GYUNG,THEWORLDOFSILENCE)ANDHISTEAM,DESPITELACKOFANYPHYSICALEVIDENCETHATTHEFORMERWASINVOLVEDINSTEALINGORHIDINGTHEBODY.ITTURNSOUTTHATOURGOODDOCTORHADBEENCARRYINGONANAFFAIRWITHACOLLEGESTUDENTHYE-JIN(HANJI-AN)ANDUSEDHISNEWLYDEVELOPEDMEDICATIONTHATSUPPRESSESACTIVITIESOFTHECENTRALNERVOUSSYSTEM,MIXEDINTOAGLASSOFWINE,TOMURDERHISWIFE.ASTHENIGHTPROGRESSES,DR.PARKBEGINSTOSUSPECTTHATSEOR-HEEHASSOMEHOWSURVIVEDTHEASSASSINATIONATTEMPT,ANDISNOWSEEKINGREVENGEBYFRAMINGHIMFORHEROWNMURDER,ORWORSE.THEVANISHEDISAREMAKEOFTHESPANISHMYSTERYTHRILLERTHEBODY(2012),DIRECTEDBYORIOLPAULO,THEHANDBEHINDTHESUPERB,CLASSICALLY-INFLECTEDWHODUNITTHEINVISIBLEGUEST(2017).THENEWCOMERCO-WRITER-DIRECTORLEECHANG-HEE(THEOTHERSCREENWRITERISLEEHEE-CHAN,RUN-OFF)ISOBVIOUSLYAFANOFTHEGENRE.HEFOLLOWSTHEORIGINAL'SPLOTRATHERCLOSELY,KEEPINGTHECLUESADDUPWITHOUTLADLINGTHEKOREAN-STYLEMELODRAMATICCONVENTIONS(UNTILTHECLIMAX,THATIS,TOWHICHIWILLCOMEBACKSHORTLY)ONTHEM.THEMOVIEINITIALLYDOESNOTINSPIREMUCHCONFIDENCEWHENITSTARTSOUTLIKEANANTISEPTICVARIANTOFJU-ON,BUTONCELATCHEDONTOTHEGROOVEOFTHECENTRALMYSTERY,ITMAKESFORAREASONABLYCOMPELLINGVIEWING.DIRECTORLEEDEPLOYSTHEPRODUCTIONTEAM,SPEARHEADEDBYTHEDPLEEJONG-YEOLANDLIGHTINGSUPERVISORJANGTAE-HYUN,TOKEEPTHEVISUALSCLEAN-CUT,DEVOIDOFMEANINGLESSCLUTTER,ANDEMPHASIZINGMETALLICANXIETYCREEPINGUPONTHEMAINCHARACTERSASWELLASTHEIRCOLDCALCULATION.THEDIALOGUEISPEPPEREDWITHTECHNICALTERMS(FORENSIC,PHARMACEUTICALANDOTHERWISE)NOTALWAYSEXPLAINED.OVERALL,THEAURAOFATECHNICALLYAUTHENTICMYSTERYISCAREFULLYMAINTAINED,ALTHOUGHSOMESURREALISTICVISUALSINDICATINGSUBJECTIVEEXPERIENCESANDEMOTIONSOFTHECHARACTERSAREFURTIVELYINSERTEDINAFEWSECTIONS.THEPERFORMANCESAREOKAYTOGOOD.KIMKANG-WOOISPRETTYWELLCASTASANELITEINTELLECTUALWHO,DESPITETHEPRACTICEDAIROFARROGANCEANDNONCHALANCE,SOONFINDSHIMSELFOUTOFHISDEPTH.KIMSANG-GYUNG,ONTHEOTHERHAND,PRESENTEDASANAKECHIKOGORO-LIEUTENANTCOLUMBOTYPE,ISCLOSERTOATYPICALKOREANDETECTIVECHARACTERINTHESENSETHATTHEREISLITTLEHINTTHATHISUNCOUTHCOUNTENANCEANDVULGARBEHAVIORAREMASKINGASHARPINTELLIGENCEORASUPERIORPOWEROFOBSERVATION.ATLEASTHISSOB-STORYBACKGROUND,ATERRIBLECLICHÉOFITSOWN,ISORGANICALLYTIEDTOTHEFILM'SCENTRALMYSTERYOFTHEMISSINGBODY.ITISTOOBADLEECOULDNOTHAVERECONCEIVEDTHEWHOLESTORYWITHSEOR-HEEANDHYE-JINATTHEFOREFRONTRATHERTHANTHESETWOMALELEADS:KIMHEE-AEINPARTICULARHASAFEWDECENTSETPIECESINWHICHSHEGETSTOSHOWOFFTHEICYAUTHORITYOFAWOMANWHOCANNOTIMAGINEHAVINGHEROPINIONSQUESTIONED.IENJOYEDWATCHINGTHEVANISHED,ITSHACKNEYEDCHARACTERIZATIONANDOTHERPROBLEMSNOTWITHSTANDING,UPTOTHEBIGCLIMAX.ATTHATPOINT,THEMOVIEUNFORTUNATELYGOESINTOANAUTOMATICDRIVEAND1)BEGINSTOSHOWATIRESOMEMONTAGEOF"THISISREALLYWHATHAPPENED,"WITHTHAT"POIGNANT"UM-CHA-CHAUM-CHA-CHAWALTZMUSICCOPIEDFROMTHEOLDBOYSCORE(THEVARIANTSOFWHICHSHOULDBEPERMANENTLYBANNEDFROMALLKOREANCRIME-MYSTERY-HORROR-THRILLERSHENCEFORTH)INTHEBACKGROUND,2)THATINVOLVESYETANOTHERHIT-AND-RUNCARACCIDENTASTHECRUCIALPLOTPOINT(WHICHALSOSHOULDBEBANNEDFROMALLKOREANCRIME-MYSTERY-HORROR-THRILLERS.DOTHEKOREANDRIVERSINMOVIESEVERPUTONBRAKESWHENPEOPLEWALKINTOTHEIRPATHS?ONTHESECONDTHOUGHT,CONSIDERINGTHEI'D-RATHER-DIE-IN-A-HORRIBLE-CRASH-THAN-BE-FIVE-MINUTES-LATEWAYTHEYDRIVEINREALLIFE,PERHAPSTHISISREALISM),AND3)ENDSWITHANOTHER"POIGNANT"SHOTOFANECKLACE(ORAPENDANT,ORARING,ORAFOUNTAINPEN,ORAHANDKERCHIEFˇSOONANDON)SHAKILYHELDBYACHARACTER.THEPLOTOFTHEVANISHEDCRIESOUTFORTHEKINDOFDRY,THOUGHTFULRESOLUTIONTHATTESTSOURACKNOWLEDGEMENTOFTHELIMITSOFTHERATIONALJUSTICESYSTEM:KNOWINGTHATTHISISASOUTHKOREANFILM,YOUCOULDBERESTASSUREDTHATSUCHANENDINGDOESNOTMATERIALIZE.IAMNOTEVENGOINGTOTALKABOUTTHELOOSETHREADSLEFTHANGINGATTHEEND,WHICH,ASIRECOLLECT,THEBODY,THEORIGINAL,WASNOTEXACTLYFREEFROMEITHER.THEVANISHEDISONEOFTHOSERECENTSOUTHKOREANMYSTERYTHRILLERS,COMPETENTLYMADEANDATTRACTIVELYLENSED,THATNONETHELESSNEVERREALLYPUSHTHEENVELOPE,MUCHLESSBREAKTHROUGHIT.INTHEEARLYPARTOFTHEMOVIE,APSYCHIATRISTTELLSJOONG-SHIK,"YOUAREJUSTWORKINGOUTYOURRESENTMENTOFTHE'HAVES.'"TURNSOUTITISALLTHATTHEMOVIEHASTOSAY,TOO,THATTHE'HAVES'WILLGETAWAYWITHANYTHING(ANDWEARESUPPOSEDTOBEHOPPINGMADABOUTIT).LIKEHORROR,AGOODMYSTERYTHRILLEROUGHTTOBEABLETOSPEAKABOUTTHETHINGS-INCLUDINGTHETRUTHSTHATCHALLENGESOCIALCONVENTIONSANDPOLITICALDESIGNSMASQUERADINGASSELF-EVIDENTMORALITY-THATAHECTORINGCONSPIRACYTHRILLERORACOP-BUSTS-PSYCHO-KILLERKINDOFEXPLOITATIONNONSENSECANNOT.EVERYONCEINABLUEMOONWEGETAFILM,LIKE,SAY,THETRUTHBENEATH,THATACTUALLYDOESTHATORATLEASTASPIRESTODOSO.ITISHOPEDTHATDIRECTORLEE'SNEXTFILMWOULDJUMPTHEHURDLEANDSPRINTTOWARDTHATDIRECTION.(KYUHYUNKIM)BEWITHYOUWOO-JINISASINGLEFATHERLIVINGWITHHISELEMENTARYSCHOOL-AGEDSONINASMALLTOWN,WORKINGASAJANITORATTHETOWNSWIMMINGPOOL.EACHMORNINGASTHEYLEAVETHEIRHOME,THEYPLANTAKISSONAPHOTOTHATHANGSBYTHEDOOR,SHOWINGTHETWOOFTHEMWITHTHEBOY'SDECEASEDMOTHER,SOO-AH.BOTHWOO-JINANDHISSONDESPERATELYMISSSOO-AH,WHOPASSEDAWAYTHEPREVIOUSYEAR.BUTJUSTASTHERAINYSEASONSTARTS,AMIRACLEHAPPENS.FROMANABANDONEDTRAINTUNNEL,SOO-AHRE-APPEARS,LOOKINGJUSTASSHEDIDBEFOREHERUNTIMELYDEATH.SHESEEMSTORECOGNIZEWOO-JIN,BUTSHEHASNOMEMORYOFHERLIFESPENTWITHTHETWOOFTHEM.CONFUSEDBUTOVERJOYED,THEYTAKEHERHOMEANDTHETHREEOFTHEMSTARTTOLIVETOGETHERONCEMORE.FORSOO-AH,ITISASIFGETTINGTOKNOWTHEMFORTHEFIRSTTIME.FORTHEBOYANDHISFATHER,ITISADEEP,HEALINGJOYTHATWASHESAWAYTHEIRGRIEF,BUTTHEYBOTHSUSPECTTHATHERTIMEWITHTHEMMAYBETEMPORARY.BEWITHYOUISBASEDONAJAPANESENOVELBYICHIKAWATAKUJI,WHICHINTURNWASMADEINTOA2004FILMBYDOINOBUHIRO.BOTHTHENOVELANDTHEFILMWONOVERMANYFANSINKOREA,SOITWASASMARTMOVETORE-ADAPTTHISSTORYFORANEWGENERATIONOFKOREANVIEWERS.DEBUTDIRECTORLEEJANG-HOONPROVEDFORTUNATEINHISCASTINGASWELL,LANDINGNOTONLYTHEPOPULARFILMANDTVSTARSOJI-SUB(SHOWINGAVERYDIFFERENTSIDEOFHIMSELFTHANHEDIDINRYOOSEUNG-WAN'STHEBATTLESHIPISLAND),BUTALSOTHEQUEENOFMELODRAMAHERSELF,SONYE-JIN.SONYE-JINISANABSOLUTEPRO,ANDIT'SNOCRITICISMOFTHEOTHERACTORSTOSAYTHATSOO-AHOUTSHINESEVERYONEELSEINTHEFILM.DESPITEBEINGCURIOUSLYPASSIVEFORMUCHOFTHERUNNINGTIME(FORREASONSTHATBECOMECLEARINTHESURPRISINGREVEALSTHATEMERGEINTHESECONDHALF),SONCARRIESTHEROLEWITHHERPRESENCE,NEVEREXPRESSINGMORETHANSHENEEDSTO.THEOTHERACTORSTUNETHEIRPERFORMANCESTOHERS,MAKINGTHESCENESWITHHERFEELNATURALANDGENUINE.THEGENREOFMELODRAMAUSEDTOBEAPILLAROFKOREANCINEMA,SOMUCHSOTHATITWASAKEYPARTOFTHEINDUSTRY'SIDENTITY.BUTOVERTHEYEARS,ASINVESTORSANDSTUDIOSSWITCHEDTHEIRALLEGIANCETOTHRILLERSANDSOCIALDRAMAS,MELODRAMASHAVEFALLENBYTHEWAYSIDE.SIMULTANEOUSLY,THEEXPLOSIVEGROWTHOFTHEKOREANTVDRAMASECTOR,WHEREMELODRAMAISKING,HASLEFTFILMMELODRAMALOOKINGDISPLACED.ONEMIGHTFAULTFILMMAKERSFORNOTDEVELOPINGTHEIROWN,DISTINCTSTYLETODISTINGUISHFILMFROMTVMELODRAMA.BUTCLEARLY,THEREISSTILLINTERESTINSUCHWORKSAMONGTHETHEATERGOINGAUDIENCE.SUREENOUGH,BEWITHYOUOPENEDAT#1ATTHEBOXOFFICEANDSHOWEDUNUSUALSTAYINGPOWER,RESULTINGINAPROFITABLERUN.BEWITHYOUISNOTWITHOUTITSWEAKPOINTS(I'MNOTSUREIWILLEVERFINDITINMYHEARTTOFORGIVEWOO-JIN'SPINKJACKET...THOSEWHOSEETHEFILMWILLKNOWWHATI'MTALKINGABOUT).BUTINITSINTRICATEWEBOFFLASHBACKS,REUNIONS,TEARSANDREVELATIONS,ITBUILDSTOWARDSANEMOTIONALANDSATISFYINGCONCLUSION.ITWILLCERTAINLYNOTAPPEALTOVIEWERSWHOACTIVELYDISLIKEMELODRAMA,ORTOCYNICS.BUTFORTHOSEMOREOPENTOTHEGENRE'SCHARMS,ITISASAFERECOMMENDATION.(DARCYPAQUET)SEVENYEARSOFNIGHTHYDRAULICTECHNICIANCHOIHYUN-SOO(RYUSEUNG-RYONG,THEPIPER),SADDLEDWITHAGAMBLINGHABITANDESTRANGEDFROMHISHARD-WORKINGWIFEEUN-JOO(MOONJEONG-HEE,CART),DRIVESTOAREMOTEVILLAGECALLEDSERYEONG.HAVINGBEENAPPOINTEDASTHECHIEFOFTHERESERVOIRCONTROLSTATIONOVERLOOKINGTHEVILLAGE,HERELUCTANTLYTAKESUPANOFFERTOLOOKINTOANEWAPARTMENTINTHEMIDDLEOFTHENIGHT,BUTTHICKMISTBLOWINGOUTFROMTHEEERIELAKEHINDERSHISVIEW.ADDINGINSULTTOINJURY,HEISCONFRONTEDBYAROADHOG,ANEXPENSIVESUVDRIVENBYTHELOCALLANDLORDANDDENTISTOHYOUNG-JE(JANGDONG-GUN,NOTEARSFORTHEDEAD).YOUNG-JETURNSOUTTOBEAPSYCHOPATHICSADIST,ROUTINELYTORTURINGHISWIFEANDYOUNGDAUGHTERSE-RYEONG(LEERE,HOWTOSTEALADOG).ONTHATNIGHT,HEHAPPENEDTOBELOOKINGFORTHELATTER,WHODARINGLYESCAPEDFROMHERFATHER'SCLUTCHESDURINGAWHIPPINGSESSION.TRAGICALLY,HYUN-SOORUNSOVERSE-RYEONGWITHHISCAR.DISTRAUGHTANDFRIGHTENED,HETHENMAKESTHEWORSTDECISIONOFHISLIFE,DUMPINGHERBODYINTOTHELAKEANDPRETENDINGNOTHINGHADHAPPENED.SEVENYEARSLATER,HYUN-SOOISADEATH-ROWINMATE,ANDHISSONSEO-WON,NOWAYOUNGADULT(GOKYUNG-PYO,HORRORSTORIES2),ISAPROFESSIONALDIVER,TAKENUNDERTHEWINGOFAFAMILYFRIENDANDANACEUNDERWATERSALVAGEMANSEUNG-HWAN(SONGSAE-BYUK,AGIRLATMYDOOR).FINALLYVISITINGHISFATHERSOONTOBEEXECUTED,SEO-WONGRADUALLYPUTSTOGETHERTHEHORRIFYINGSTORYOFDENIAL,VENGEANCEANDCRUELTYINVOLVINGHISFATHERANDYOUNG-JE.SEVENYEARSOFNIGHTISBASEDONABEST-SELLINGMYSTERYNOVEL(2011)BYJEONGYOO-JEONG,AFORMERHOSPITALNURSE-TURNED-GENRESCRIBE,WELL-KNOWNFORASERIESOFHARD-BOILEDTHRILLERSVIVIDLYPORTRAYINGPSYCHOPATHICVILLAINS(MOSTNOTABLYORIGINSOFSPECIES[2016],ALSOSOONTOBEADAPTEDINTOAMOTIONPICTURE).THEFILMADAPTATION,COMPLETEDIN2016BUTUNABLETOSECUREARELEASEDATEUNTIL2018,ISWRITTENANDDIRECTEDBYCHOOCHANG-MIN,WHOHADPREVIOUSLYSCOREDACRITICALANDCOMMERCIALHITWITHTHELEEBYUNG-HEONVEHICLEMASQUERADE(2012).HEISCLEARLYACOMPETENTDIRECTOR,EXPERTLYTHRASHINGINTOSHAPETHEFILM'SCOMPLICATEDFLASHBACKSTRUCTURE,ANDCONSISTENTLYSUSTAININGTHETONEOFMOISTDREADANDCOILEDANGER.SOMEOFHISMISES-EN-SCENESAREVERYIMPRESSIVE,ABETTEDBYSUITABLYCREEPYUNDERWATERPHOTOGRAPHYOFASUBMERGEDHUMANHABITATANDFOG-ENSHROUDEDGREENLIGHTINGOFDPHAKYUNG-HOANDLDSHINTAE-SEOB.ASWASTHECASEWITHMASQUERADE,CHOOWORKSWELLWITHTHEACTORS,TOO,KEEPINGSONGSAE-BYUK,ANACTORPRONETOSCENE-STEALINGSHOW-OFFMOMENTS,SUBDUEDANDINCONTROL,ANDLETTINGTHERELIABLERYUSEUNG-RYONGRUNTHEGAMUTOFEXTREMEEMOTIONS,FROMIMPOTENTRAGETOUTTERDESPAIR,BUTNEVERALLOWINGHIMTOWADEINTOTHETERRITORYOFSELF-INDULGENCEORCAMP.ONEOFTHETHEMESOFJEONG'SORIGINALNOVELISINHERITANCEOF(MALE)VIOLENCETHROUGHINTERGENERATIONALRELATIONSHIPS(ALSODEALTWITHINAMUCHDRIER,MOREIRONICMANNERINTHESHORTSTORY"ANAGURA[ANEEL-CATCHER]"BYSUZUKIKOJIOFTHERINGFAME),ANDASFARASCHOOREMAINSFOCUSEDONHYUN-SOO'SGUILT-RIDDENCONSCIOUSNESS,THEFILMMANAGESTOCONVEYTHISWITHREASONABLECLARITY.UNFORTUNATELY,JANGDONG-GUNINTHEROLEOFYOUNG-JESERIOUSLYUNDERCUTSTHISTHEMATICTHREAD.IFEELBADABOUTHAVINGTOSAYTHIS,SINCEIAMPRETTYSUREJANGHADONLYGOODINTENTIONSINLANDINGTHISROLE,ANDOBJECTIVELYSPEAKING,NOTMUCHOFWHATHEDOESHEREISTECHNICALLYWRONGORRUINOUSLYEXCESSIVE.THEPROBLEMISTHATONCEJANGISCASTASTHEMAINVILLAIN,THESCREENPLAYBEGINSTOADDALLKINDSOFCOMPLETELYUNNECESSARYEXCUSESFORHISBEHAVIOR.JEONGINHERNOVELCOOLLYEXAMINEDTHEGEARSANDPULLEYSOFITSVILLAIN'SBEHAVIORALMACHINERY,OUTWARDLYGENTLEMANLYYETHIDEOUSLYMANIPULATIVE.JANGCONVEYSNONEOFTHESETRULYEVILQUALITIES.GOOD-LOOKINGASEVERINMID-FORTIES(BORNIN1972),HESEEMSSTUBBORNLYINCAPABLEOFDISCARDINGHISSTARPERSONA,THATOFUNBELHOMMEWHOINTHEENDMUSTBECODDLEDANDUNDERSTOODBYTHE(FEMALE)VIEWERS.ITHINKIFHEREALLYTOOKTHEIDEAOFPLAYINGASADISTICBADGUYSERIOUSLY,JANGSHOULDHAVEVOLUNTEEREDTOGETRIDOFALLTHOSESCENESPATENTLYCALCULATEDTODRAWSYMPATHY(INCLUDINGHISBIG,SLO-MOWAILINGUPONTHEDISCOVERYOFHISDAUGHTER'SBODY,ONEOFTHEUNINTENTIONALLYEMBARRASSINGMOMENTSINOTHERWISEANADMIRABLYTAUTTHRILLER),ORATLEASTPLAYEDTHEMINSUCHAWAYTOHIGHLIGHTYOUNG-JE'SSOCIALLYMANIPULATIVE,DEVIOUSFEATURES.AGAIN,IAMSORRYTOHAVETOMAKETHISUNKINDCOMPARISON,BUTJEONGWOO-SUNG'SPERFORMANCEINCOLDEYES(2013),OREVENTHECRACKPOTASURA:CITYOFMADNESS(2016),DEMONSTRATESWHATJANGISFAILINGTODOINTHISANDHISOTHERRECENTFILMS.INFACT,THEOVERPOWERINGPRESENCEOFJANGDONG-GUNASYOUNG-JEVEERSTHEENTIREMOVIEAWAYFROMCRITIQUEOFTHEPATRIARCHY'SPOISON(EXPLOREDINTHEORIGINALNOVEL)TOWARDANACKNOWLEDGEMENT,IFNOTCELEBRATION,OFPATRIARCHALVALUES.INTHECOURSEOFTHISTURN-AROUND,SEO-WONLOSESHISQUASI-PROTAGONISTSTATUS,ANDYOUNG-JE'SBATTEREDWIFESIMPLYDISAPPEARSFROMTHEMOVIEVERSION.INTHEEND,YOUNG-JEDEGENERATESINTOTHEKINDOFSELF-PITYINGMACHOBASTARDSOFAMILIARFROMCOUNTLESSKOREANMOVIES,THEDIRECTOR'SATTEMPTTOGIVEHIMSOMEKINDOFSELF-REFLECTIVEINTERIORLIFE,PERHAPSACAPACITYFORREGRET,ENTIRELYBACKFIRING.SEVENYEARSOFNIGHTHASALLTHERIGHTINGREDIENTSOFAHANDSOME-LOOKING,EFFECTIVEGOTHICMELODRAMA,BUTITNEVERGELSINTOSOMETHINGGENUINELYMOVINGORPROVOCATIVE.ALTHOUGHJEONGYOO-JEONGALLEGEDLYEXPRESSEDAPPROVALOVERTHEWAYTHEMOVIEHADCHANGEDHERCHARACTERIZATIONS,CHOO'SMISGUIDEDATTEMPTTOBRINGAFORMOFETHICAL"BALANCE"TOTHERELATIONSHIPBETWEENHYUN-SOOANDYOUNG-JEHASUNDERMINEDSOMEOFTHESOURCENOVEL'SOBVIOUSSTRENGTHSANDMUDDLEDITSEMOTIONALPOWER.DOMESTICBOXOFFICERECORDSECHOEDTHELUKEWARMREVIEWSTHEFILMRECEIVED,STALLINGATAPPROXIMATELY440THOUSANDTICKETSSOLDTHROUGHTHEMONTHSOFMARCHANDAPRIL2018,NOTENOUGHTOEARNBACKITSRATHERHIGHPRODUCTIONCOST.ITWILLPROBABLYPLAYSOMEWHATBETTERFORTHENON-KOREANVIEWERSUNFAMILIARWITHTHESOURCENOVEL,AND,OFCOURSE,FORLOYALINTERNATIONALFANSOFJANGDONG-GUN.(KYUHYUNKIM)GONJIAM:HAUNTEDASYLUMACRUDESMARTPHONEVIDEOSHOWSTWOGIGGLINGHIGHSCHOOLSTUDENTSTRESPASSINGINTOWHATAPPEARSTOBEARUNDOWNHOSPITALCORRIDOR.THEYTRYTOOPENTHEDOORNUMBERED402,ANDTHENTHEVIDEOABRUPTLYTERMINATES.THESCENESHIFTS,ANDHA-JOON(WIHA-JOON,COINLOCKERGIRL),AYOUTUBERRUNNINGAPOPULARPROGRAMENTITLEDHORRORTIMESWHOHASJUSTPLAYEDSMARTPHONEVIDEO,VOWSTOGETTOTHEBOTTOMOFTHEMYSTERYSURROUNDINGKOREA'SMOSTFAMOUSHAUNTEDMENTALASYLUM,NAMYANGMENTALHOSPITALATGONJIAM.ATEAMOFEAGERVOLUNTEERSISASSEMBLED:THEBRAVEGIRLJI-HYUN(PARKJI-HYUN,THECHASE),THECAMERAEXPERTSEONG-HOON(PARKSEONG-HOON,AFROZENFLOWER),SEUNG-WOOK(LEESEUNG-WOOK)THEOUTWARDLYCALMCOMMENTATORFORHORRORTIMES,THENICEGIRLAH-YEON(OHAH-YEON),THESCAREDY-CATJE-YOON(YOOJE-YOON),ANDTHEGLAMOURGIRLCHARLOTTE(MOONYE-WON).EQUIPPEDWITHSTATE-OF-THE-ARTVIDEOGADGETSTHATALLOWTHEMTOSIMULTANEOUSLYFILMTHEIROWNFACESANDTHEOBJECTSINFRONTOFTHEM,THEYSETUPTHECAMPNEARTHEDECREPIT,LONG-DESERTEDNAMYANGHOSPITALBUILDINGANDWAITUNTILTHECLOCKHITSMIDNIGHT.EVERYTHINGGOESFINE,ASTHEMEMBERSDIVVYTHEMSELVESUPTOEXPLOREDIFFERENTFLOORS,EACHWITHCREEPYFACILITIESSUCHASASHOWERROOMANDASTORAGEROOMINEXPLICABLYLINEDWITHCOFFIN-LIKEWOODENBOXES.THETEAM,FOLLOWINGTHESCRIPTWRITTENBYHA-JOONWITHANULTERIORMOTIVETOBOOSTYOUTUBECLICKSANDTHEREFOREHISAD-BASEDINCOME,PERFORMSASÉANCECALLINGFORTHEGHOSTS,ANDITSEEMSTOWORK.HOWEVER,SOMEMEMBERSBEGINTOSENSETHATSOMETHINGGENUINELYWEIRDISGOINGON,THATHASLITTLETODOWITHHA-JOON'SSCRIPT.GONJIAM(IKNOW,THETITLESOUNDSASDORKYINKOREANASITDOESINENGLISH)ISAMODESTLY-BUDGETEDFOUNDFOOTAGEHORRORFILM.THEPRIMARYPRHOOKFORITHASBEENTHATITSSETTING,NAMYANGMENTALHOSPITAL,ISAREALPLACEINGONJIAMCOUNTY,GWANGJUCITY,GYEONGGIPROVINCE,PREVIOUSLYPROFILEDBYCNNASONEOFTHESEVENCREEPIESTDESERTEDPLACESINTHEWORLD,ALONGWITHJAPAN'SHASHIMATHEBATTLESHIPISLAND,RUSSIA'SCHERNOBYLANDMEXICO'SISLADELASMUÑECAS.THEENSUINGPUBLICITYHASCLEARLYHELPEDTHEFILM'SBOXOFFICEPERFORMANCE(ANDREPORTEDLYSTOKEDIRRITATIONOFTHEOWNERSOFTHEESTATE,LONGSUFFERINGFROMTHRILL-SEEKINGHOOLIGANS:THEHOSPITALSITEINREALLIFEISAPPARENTLYENSCONCEDRIGHTINTHEMIDDLEOFAPEACEFULRESIDENTIALAREAANDDISAPPOINTINGLYMUNDANE),ASITSOLDROBUST1.73MILLIONTICKETSSINCEITSTHEATRICALRELEASEINTHESECONDWEEKOFMARCH,2018,ONEOFTHEBESTDOMESTICPERFORMANCESFORANOUT-AND-OUTHORRORFILMINRECENTYEARS.FORAJAUNDICEDFANOFHORRORCINEMALIKEMYSELF,ITISDIFFICULTNOTTOSUPPRESSAYAWNASSOONAS"FOUNDFOOTAGE"ISMENTIONED,ESPECIALLYCONSIDERINGTHATGONJIAM'SPREMISESEEMSTOBEDIRECTLYWORKINGOFFONTHEBLAIRWITCHPROJECT,THEMOVIETHATSTARTEDALLTHEFFCRAZEWAYBACKWHEN.YES,ITISALOW-BUDGETHORRORFILMNEITHERWITHANYTHINGPROFOUNDTOSAYABOUTTHEUNIVERSALHUMANCONDITION,NORPARTICULARLYINTERESTEDINDEVELOPINGNUANCEDCHARACTERIZATIONSORANINVOLVINGNARRATIVE,BUTONCEYOUTAKETHISBUILT-INLIMITATIONINTOACCOUNT,THEFILMDECLARESITSELFASURPRISINGLYDECENTNAIL-BITER.ITHELPSENORMOUSLYTHATTHEWRITERANDDIRECTORBEHINDTHEPROJECTISJEONGBEOM-SIK,WHOHASPROVENHISMOJOWITHTHENOW-CLASSICEPITAPHANDTHE"THEESCAPE"SEGMENTOFHORRORSTORIES2,STILLONEOFTHEWACKIESTANDWEIRDESTPIECESOFKOREANGENRECINEMAIHAVESEENINALONGTIME.JEONGCERTAINLYKNOWSHOWTOJUGGLEANDKEEPAFLOATDISPARATEANDPOTENTIALLYCONFUSINGVISUALELEMENTSOFTHEFILM,TOKEEPTHEFLOWOFSEQUENCESLOGICALANDLEGIBLEANDHISYOUNGCASTBELIEVABLEANDSYMPATHETIC.ADMITTEDLYSOMEIDEAS,SUCHASANOLDGRAFFITISPONTANEOUSLYSWITCHINGMEANINGFROM"LET'SLIVE"(SALJA)TO"SUICIDE"(JASAL),LIKELYAREFERENCETOTHE"REDRUM"SCENEINTHESHINING,AREBORDERLINESILLY,BUTMANYOFTHESCAREEFFECTS,ESPECIALLYTHOSEFOCUSEDONTHESPATIALDISPLACEMENTSUFFEREDBYTHECASTMEMBERS,ALAMARIOBAVA'SKILL...BABY,KILL!,AREGENUINELYEFFECTIVE.THESOUNDDESIGNANDALMOSTIMPERCEPTIBLEAMBIENTMUSICAREALSOFIRST-RATE.INTRIGUINGLY,GONJIAM,DESPITEITSSTREAMLINEDSTRUCTUREANDYOUTH-ORIENTEDPREMISE,SHARESAFEWTHEMATICCONCERNSWITHTHEMOREHISTORICALLY-MINDEDEPITAPH.THEREISANOD,INTHEFORMOFANACTUALGOVERNMENTNEWSREELFOOTAGE,TOTHEANTI-COMMUNISTPARANOIAUNDERTHEPARKCHUNGHEEREGIMEASONEOFTHEUNDERLYINGCAUSESOFTHEHOSPITAL'S"CURSE,"ANDONEOFTHEMOVIE'SJOLTINGSETPIECESDUPLICATESTHEDESERVEDLYNOTORIOUS,HIDEOUSLYSCARY"LULLABY"SCENEFROMTHE2007FILM.THEOVERARCHINGTHEMEOFGHOSTSASTHEINDIVIDUALSTEMPORALLYANDSPATIALLYTRAPPEDINMODERNKOREA'STRAUMATICANDUNSAVORYPAST,TRYINGTOENSNARETHEINNOCENTYOUNGERGENERATIONINTOTHEIR(ZOMBIE-FIED)WORLD-VIEW,MIGHTBESHAREDBYTHETWOFILMS,ANDPERHAPSSUPPLIESANADDITIONAL,SUBTLEUNDERCURRENTOFUNEASEFORTHEKOREANVIEWERS.INTHEENDNOTANEARTH-SHAKINGWORKOFART,GONJIAMNONETHELESSMORETHANFULFILLSTHEMODESTEXPECTATIONSGENERATEDBYITSMINIMALISTOUTLOOK,SUCCESSFULLYSHOWCASINGJEONG'SCONSIDERABLEPROWESSASAHORRORSPECIALIST.BASEDONTHEEVIDENCEDISPLAYEDHERE,NETFLIXORAMAZONSHOULDENDOWHIMWITHAFIVEMILLION-DOLLAR-PLUSBUDGET,SOTHATHISDEVIOUSIMAGINATIONCOULDBEFULLYINDULGED,WITHOUTHAVINGTOBECONSTRAINEDBYTHECOMMERCIALCALCULATIONSOFTHEKOREANTHEATER-CHAINOWNERS.(KYUHYUNKIM)TRUEFICTIONGYEONG-SEOK(OMAN-SEOK,OURTOWN)ISANUP-AND-COMINGAID-DE-CAMPTOABIG-SHOTPOLITICIANYEOMJEONG-GIL(THETVDRAMAVETERANKIMHAK-CHEOL),BUTHISREALJOBISASAFE-KEEPERFORTHELATTER'SILLEGALSTASHOFFUNDS.MARRIEDTOYEOM'SHARPY-LIKEDAUGHTERANDMYSTERYWRITER(COMEAGAIN?THISISONLYONEOFTHEMANYWEIRDANDMURKYSET-UPSINTHEFILM)JI-EUN(CHOEUN-JI,ABIZARRELOVETRIANGLE),GYEONG-SEOKHIGHTAILSTOHISWIFE'SVILLA,WHERETHEMONEYISHIDDEN,WITHHISLOVERJI-YOUNG(LEEEUN-WOO,A.K.A.LEENA-RA,MOEBIUS)ANDABAGOFCASHINTOW.ONTHEWAYTOTHETRYST,THEADULTEROUSCOUPLERUNSOVERADOG.WHENTHEDEADMUTT'SSELF-PROCLAIMEDOWNER,SUN-TAE(THESINGER-DJJIHYUN-WOO,POPULARFORTHETVDRAMAAWL),SHOWSUP,THEYFEELGUILTY,ANNOYED,ANDSUSPICIOUSINTURN.ITSOONBECOMESCLEARTHATTHEPERPETUALLYGRINNINGSUN-TAE,WHOCLAIMSTOBEHOUSE-SITTINGFORANEIGHBORINGUNIT,MIGHTBENOTONLYPRIVYTOGYEONG-SEOK'SSECRETJOB,BUTALSOPLANNINGTOBRINGSOMESERIOUSHARMTOHIMANDHISLOVER.FORTHELONGSTRETCHESOFITSRUNTIME,TRUEFICTIONPLAYSLIKEASOPORIFIC,OVERLONGVERSIONOFWONSHIN-YEON'SABLOODYARIA(2006),WITHGRIMY,FOUL-MOUTHEDLOCALYOKELSUNDERTHE"LEADERSHIP"OFSUN-TAEGANGINGUPONGYEONG-SEOK.WRITER-DIRECTORKIMJIN-MUKFALLSHEADFIRSTINTOONEOFTHECOMMONTRAPSFORADEBUTANTFEATUREDIRECTOR,PUTTINGALLHISEGGSINTHEONEBASKETOFKEEPINGTHENARRATIVEASCONVOLUTEDANDFULLOF"SURPRISES"ASHEPOSSIBLYCOULD,ATTHEEXPENSEOFOTHERCONSIDERATIONSSUCHASBUILDINGSYMPATHETICANDCREDIBLECHARACTERS,PROPERMANAGEMENTOFTONALITIES,ANDLEGIBILITYOFACTIONANDMOTIVES.THERESULTISASTUTTERINGMIXTUREOFCRUSHINGLYBORING,UTTERLYUN-SUSPENSEFUL,YETSUPPOSEDLY"TENSE"EXCHANGESAMONGTHECHARACTERS,ONTHEONEHAND,ANDASERIESOFINCREASINGLYFRANTICBUTEMOTIONALLYUNINVOLVINGCONFRONTATIONSANDBACK-STABBINGSONTHEOTHER.ALLCHARACTERSARESOABJECTLYUNSYMPATHETICANDHATEFUL,TOTHEPOINTTHAT,SOMEWHEREALONGTHEWAY,IBEGANTOROOTFORGYEONG-SEOK,OBVIOUSLYMEANTTOBETHESOULLESSVILLAINOFTHEPIECE,TOJUSTTAKEOUTAGOLFCLUBANDBEATTHEBRAIN-SPRINGSOUTOFSUN-TAEANDHIS"HELPERS"(SOMETHINGLIKETHISEVENTUALLYDOESHAPPEN,ALAS,TOOLATEINMYOPINION).OMAN-SEOKANDJIHYUN-WOOARENEITHERCHARISMATICNORENTERTAINING,BUTITISUNLIKELYTHATTHEYCOULDHAVEDONEMUCHWITHTHEIRHALF-BAKEDROLES.SUN-TAEISANESPECIALLYCONFUSINGCHARACTER:ISHESOMEKINDOFANAVENGINGANGELGETTINGBACKATTHEYEOMFAMILY(WHATISHISREALCONNECTIONTOJI-YOUNGANYWAY?),ORJUSTANUNHINGEDPSYCHOWHOCANNOTTELLHISIMAGINARY"NOVEL"APARTFROMHISREAL-LIFECONGAME?THISASPECTISNEVERCLARIFIEDTOTHEVIEWER'SSATISFACTION,BECAUSESUN-TAEISATOTALCIPHER:HEMIGHTASWELLBEASMILEICONPLASTEREDATOPABULKYMOUNTAINEER'SGET-UP.MOREOVER,KIMSEEMSTOBELIEVETHATHEISBRINGINGINTOTHEMIXAGENUINESENSEOFIRONY(NOTACHANCE)ASWELLASDEEPLYFELTPOLITICALCRITIQUE(HISARGUMENTBEINGTHATALLPOLITICIANSAREEVILANDROTTENTOTHECORE:RIGHT,WHATAJOLTINGMESSAGEFORTHESOUTHKOREANS,SONAÏVELYTRUSTINGOFTHEPOT-BELLIEDHACKSTHEYREGULARLYVOTEINTOPOWER!SERIOUSLY,HOWCOULDTHEYLIVEWITHSOMETHINGASCORRUPTASANELECTORALDEMOCRACY?).IT'SALLVERYMACHO-ANGRY,PREDICTABLEANDDREARY.THEFEMALECHARACTERSINTHEFILMAREDIVIDEDINTOACHEESECAKE-FLASHING"LOVEINTEREST"SUBJECTTOEXPLOITATIONANDDISMISSAL,ANDAPOODLE-CARRYINGHYSTERICALB*TCH.NEITHERCHOEUN-JINORLEEEUN-WOODESERVESSUCHCLICHÉD(ANDFRANKLYMISOGYNISTIC)PARTS,AFTERTHEIRRICHANDVARIEGATEDCAREERS.FINALLY,TOCAPALLTHISOFF,TRUEFICTIONFEATURESSOMEOFTHEMOSTOFFENSIVEDOG-RELATEDVIGNETTESIHAVESEENINKOREANCINEMAINRECENTYEARS,ONEINVOLVINGASICKJOKEABOUTAPOOCHSTEW,ANDTHEOTHER,EVENINWORSETASTE,ABOUTA"MAN-BITES-DOG"SITUATION(THISASSESSMENTFROMME,AKOREANGUYWHOUSUALLYCAN'TSTANDTHEEURO-AMERICANBROUHAHAABOUTCANINEWELFAREINASIANSOCIETIES).IVENTURETOGUESSTHATTHESE"JOKES"WILLLIKELYPREVENTTHEPRESENTMOTIONPICTUREFROMBEINGADDEDTOTHEROSTEROFNETFLIXNEWRELEASESANYTIMESOON.TRUEFICTIONISPROBABLYNOTTHEWORSTKOREANFILMOF2018:FORALLIKNOW,SOMELOCALVIEWERSMIGHTHAVEFOUNDITSHACKNEYED,TWIST-LADENPLOTATLEASTAMUSING,IFNOTACTUALLYNAIL-BITING(ALTHOUGHITSBOXOFFICEFIGURESSTANDATTHETEPID49THOUSANDTICKETSSOLD,OUTDISTANCEDBYEVENPORORO'SDINOSAURISLANDADVENTURE).ASFORME,ONEORTWOMOREOFTHESE"POLITICALLYRELEVANT"PRETZEL-PLOTMYSTERYTHRILLERSFROMKOREA,ANDITHINKIWOULDNEEDSOMETYPEOFVACCINATION.(KYUHYUNKIM)BELIEVERDETECTIVEJOWON-HO(CHOJIN-WOONG,BLUEBEARD)ISANOVERWORKEDNARCOTICSDETECTIVEOBSESSEDWITHCAPTURINGTHEMYSTERIOUSMASTERCRIMINALKNOWNONLYASMR.LEE.THEMOVIEOPENSASDETECTIVEJO'SSNITCH,ATEENAGEDRUGMULE,ISBRUTALLYMURDEREDBYMR.LEE,ANDOYEON-OK(KIMSUNG-RYUNG,THEFATALENCOUNTER),ONEOFTHELATTER'SUNDERLINGS,THROWSHERSELFATTHEFEETOFJO,WHENHERCOLLEAGUESAREBLOWNUPSKYHIGHBYABOMB.MISSOISCONVINCEDTHATMR.LEEISGETTINGRIDOFHISMANAGEMENTTEAMTOREBOOTHISORGANIZATION.JOMANAGESTOFINDINTHERUBBLESOFTHEBUILDINGAWOUNDEDYOUNGMAN,SEOYOUNG-RAK(RYUJUN-YEOL,SOCIALPHOBIA),ALOW-RANKINGBUTIMPORTANTLIAISONOFFICERFORTHESYNDICATE.PERSUADINGHIMTHATMR.LEENEEDSTOBEPUNISHEDFORKILLINGHISSURROGATEMOTHER,ALSOANUNINTENDEDVICTIMOFTHEBLAST,THEDETECTIVEENLISTSYOUNG-RAK'SCOOPERATIONININTERJECTINGHIMSELFINTOTHEDEALBETWEENJINHA-RIM(THELATEKIMJOO-HYUK,THETOOTHANDTHENAIL),THEUNSTABLEKOREAN-CHINESESUPPLIEROFRAWMATERIALSFORTHEMERCHANDISE,ANDPARKSEON-CHANG(PARKHAE-JOON,HEARTBLACKENED),THETHUGGISHMIDDLE-RANKBOSS.THEMISSION:IMPOSSIBLE-LIKEPLOYSEEMSTOWORKWELL,ESPECIALLYWHENANELUSIVEFAUX-CHRISTIANMINISTERBRIANLEE(CHASEUNG-WON,MANONHIGHHEELS)COMESOUTOFTHEWOODWORKASTHEPOTENTIALCANDIDATEFORMR.LEE'STRUEIDENTITY.BUTJOISYETNOTAWAREOFTHEFRIGHTENINGEXTENTTOWHICHTHEMASTERCRIMINAL'SSPIDER-WEBOFSCHEMESHASENSNAREDEVERYONEAROUNDHIM.LEEHAE-YOUNG,AHIGH-PROFILESCREENWRITERWITHMANYDISTINCTIVEFILMPROJECTSUNDERTHEBELT,INCLUDINGCONDUCTZERO,LIKEAVIRGIN(WHICHHEALSODIRECTED,ONEOFKOREA'SFIRSTCOMMERCIALFILMSTOFEATUREATRANSGENDERPROTAGONIST)AND26YEARS,HADJUSTHELMEDTHESILENCED,ANINTERESTINGBUTNOTENTIRELYCONVINCINGGENREHYBRIDTHRILLERSETINTHECOLONIALPERIOD.HESEEMEDLIKEANODDCHOICEFORADAPTINGJOHNNYTO'SLACERATINGDRUGWAR(2013)INTOTHEKOREANCONTEXT.INDEED,GIVENTHELATTER'SJAW-DROPPINGLYWITHERINGVIEWOFTHECHINESELAWENFORCEMENTANDSOCIALORDER,ASIANMASCULINITY,ANDTHEVERYNOTIONOFJUSTICE(ALLNODOUBTIMMACULATELYDESIGNEDTOSTAYLEGITIMATEWITHINTHEBOUNDARIESSETBYTHECHINESECENSORSHIP),ASWELLASITSCUTTINGLYPRECISEFILMMAKINGSTYLETHATLITTLERESEMBLESTHECONTEMPORARYASIANCINEMAANDINSTEADRECALLSA'70SWILLIAMFRIEDKINORPAULSCHRADER,ONEMIGHTQUESTIONIFTHEREWASREALLYANYREASONTOREMAKEIT.ITMUSTHAVEBEENOBVIOUSTOEVERYONECONCERNED,FROMTHEVERYBEGINNING,THATALITERAL,FAITHFULREPLICATIONWOULDNOTHAVEWORKED.ASITTURNSOUT,BELIEVER,WHILENEITHERASPOWERFULNORASRUTHLESSASDRUGWAR,HASITSOWNGAUDY,GENRE-DRIVENSTRENGTHS.SURE,ITISNOTANEBSDOCUMENTARYEXPOSÉOFDRUGTRADEINSOUTHKOREA,BUT,HEY,IT'SNOFAULTOFYOURCHARCOALGRILLIFYOUMELTYOURRUBBERTIREONIT.BELIEVERRETAINSTHETENSEANDMORALLYAMBIVALENTRELATIONSHIPBETWEENTHEMAININVESTIGATINGOFFICERANDTHECRIMINAL-TURNED-RELUCTANT-PARTNERFROMDRUGWAR,BUTITSPLOTANDCHARACTERIZATIONINTHEENDSIGNIFICANTLYDEVIATEFROMTHEHONGKONGACTIONER.LEEUNFURLSHISPLOTALMOSTLANGUIDLY,SPENDINGLITTLEEFFORTTOMOUNTSUSPENSEINTHETRENDY,ATTENTION-DEFICITWAY,ANDINSTEADHEAVILYRELIESONTHEGREATCASTTOCARRYFORWARDTHEARIA-LIKESETPIECESTOWARDTHEFILM'SCHARACTER-ORIENTEDRESOLUTION.FORSTARTERS,KIMJOO-HYUKDOESACOMPELLINGJOBWITHWHATAPPEARSATTHEOUTSETTHEMOSTTHANKLESSANDCLICHÉ-RIDDENROLEINTHEFILM,ADRUGLORDHOPELESSLYADDICTEDTOHISOWNWARES,MAKINGJINATONCECONTEMPTIBLYHILARIOUSANDRATHERUNSETTLING,ATHUGWHOSESPEED-ADDLEDBRAINMIGHTATANYMOMENTSNAPTOATTENTIONANDSEETHROUGHDETECTIVEJO'SMASQUERADE.CHASEUNG-WONROLLSOUTHISDIALOGUEINTHESPEECHPATTERNOFATVEVANGELISTCROSSEDWITHASELF-HELPGURU,ABILLMURRAYDOINGIMPERSONATIONOFDEEPAKCHOPRA:HEBEAUTIFULLYCONVEYSNARCISSISTICROTTENNESSOFBRIANLEE,ASNAKE-OILSALESMANWHOBELIEVESINHISOWNCON,WITHASERPENTINETONGUETHATSPITSVENOM.AMONGTHECOLORFULVILLAINSTHATPOPULATETHEFILM,CHA'SCHARACTERIZATIONCOMESCLOSESTTOANOUTRIGHTPOLITICALSATIRE,BUTDIRECTORLEETHANKFULLYDOESNOTPUSHTHEPOINT,LIKEKIMSUNG-SOODIDWITHASLEDGEHAMMERINASURA:CITYOFMADNESS.ATTHEOTHERENDOFTHESPECTRUM,CHOJIN-WOONGFIRMLYANCHORSTHEFILM,WHOSEDETECTIVEJOGOESTHROUGHSOMEUNEXPECTED,NOTEXACTLYWELCOMEREALIZATIONSABOUTHIMSELF:THECHARACTERARCTHATITHOUGHTWASHANDLEDQUITEWELL.IFIWERETOPUSHTHEAMERICANCINEMAANALOGYFURTHER,CHOATTHISPOINTOFHISCAREERREMINDSMEABITOFJEFFBRIDGES,INTHEWAYTHATHEMAKESTHEVIEWERNOTEHISROBUSTPHYSICALPRESENCEINEVERYROLE,YETDOESNOTNECESSARILYRELYONLARGE"ACTING"TOMAKEHISPOINT.HOWEVER,THEMOVIEULTIMATELYBELONGSTORYUJUN-YEOL,WHOHASPERHAPSTHEMOSTDIFFICULTJOBINTHEWHOLESHEBANG,KEEPINGYOUNG-RAK'SMOTIVATIONSANDINTERNALCONFLICTSCAREFULLYUNDERTHEWRAPSBUTNOTTOTALLYOPAQUETOTHEVIEWERS.SOMEHAVEREGISTEREDCOMPLAINTSTHATTHEYOUNGHOODLUMMAKESLITTLESENSEASACHARACTER,BUTITHINKYOUNG-RAKASPORTRAYEDINACLEAR-EYED,FROSTYMANNERBYRYUISAGOODFOILFORTHEFILM'SMOREOPERATICVILLAINS.PLAYINGGREATLYOFFONEANOTHER,CHOANDRYUMOREORLESSMAKETHEFILM'SRISKYCLIMACTICSEQUENCEWORK,WHICHSURELYWOULDHAVERUINEDTHEMOVIEIFTILTEDEVERSOSLIGHTLYMORETOWARDASELF-CONSCIOUSLYMELODRAMATIC-CONFESSIONALDIRECTION.THEFILMALSODESERVESMENTIONFORCONTAININGSOMEINTERESTINGSUPPORTINGCHARACTERS,ONEOFTHELEEHAE-YOUNGSPECIALTIES,SUCHASTHEDEAF-MUTEBROTHER-AND-SISTERTEAMOFDRUGPROCESSORS(KIMDONG-YOUNGANDLEEJOO-YOUNG)WHOCLEARLYTREATYOUNG-RAKASMOREOFAFAMILYMEMBERTHANACO-CRIMINAL,ANDJO'SFEMALECOPTEAMMEMBERSO-YEON(PLAYEDBYTHEVERYTALLMODELKANGSEUNG-HYUN),WHOISREFRESHINGLYNOTUSEDASACOMICRELIEFANDHASTHEFILM'SBLOODIESTFIST-(ANDFOOT-)FIGHTSHOWDOWNWITHAGANGSTER.BELIEVERISNOTREALLYASLAM-BANGACTIONFILM,ALTHOUGHSOMEOFTHESETPIECES,AFEWINVOLVINGCLASSICSHOOT-'EM-UPSBETWEENCOPSANDGANGSTERS,AREPRETTYEXCITINGANDSUITABLYVIOLENT.DPKIMTAE-GYUNGANDLIGHTINGSUPERVISORHONGSEUNG-CHEOL(BROKEN)ASWELLASPRODUCTIONDESIGNERLEEHA-JOON(OKJA)ANDTHEARTTEAMDOEXCELLENTWORK,THEFORMERKEEPINGTHEPALETTEJUSTATOUCHEXCESSIVE,WITHOUTSLIDINGINTOFULL-BLOWNPSYCHEDELIA,YETRESOLUTELYDISTINCTFROMTHEBLUE-TINTEDART-GALLERYLOOKOFTHEUSUAL,POST-MICHAELMANNCRIMETHRILLERS,ANDTHELATTERPULLINGOFFSOMEBORDERLINE-KITSCHYASSIGNMENTSSUCHASSETTINGUPASTATE-OF-THE-ARTDRUGLABORATORYINSIDETHEYONGSANSTATION,OFALLPLACES.NODOUBTBUOYEDBYITSSTARPOWER--WITHMOSTOFITSIMPRESSIVECASTINTHEIRFULL-THROTTLEMODE--BELIEVERSCORED2018'SFIRSTBIGDOMESTICBOXOFFICESUCCESS,COLLECTING5.06MILLIONTICKETSINAPPROXIMATELYSIXWEEKSSINCEITSTHEATRICALRELEASEINMAY22,2018.ASISTATEDABOVE,FANSOFJOHNNYTOINHISPATENTEDECONOMICAL,PRECISION-SNIPERMODEMIGHTNOTSEEMUCHTOLIKEHERE,BUTFORME,THEKOREANNOT-QUITE-A-REMAKEWORKEDASASORTOFCINEMATICGRAPHICNOVEL(THISISNOTAPUT-DOWN,JUSTINCASEYOUAREWONDERING),OFF-KILTERANDPERHAPSEVENBORDERLINEDAFT,BUTWITHSOMEUNEXPECTEDRESONANTCHARACTERCONFLICTSTHATPAYOFFATTHEEND.IAMHAPPYTOCHECKSCOREONEFORLEEHAE-YOUNG,ATALENTEDSCREENWRITERWHOSEDIRECTORIALEFFORTHADTROUBLEESCAPINGTHEALLEGED"MINOR"OR"QUIRKY"SENSIBILITY,WHETHERSUCHDESIGNATIONWASFAIRORNOT,UNTILNOW.(KYUHYUNKIM)ILLANG:THEWOLFBRIGADETHEKOREANPENINSULA,2029C.E.:THENORTHANDSOUTHKOREANGOVERNMENTSHAVESETUPAFIVE-YEARPLANFORREUNIFICATION,AGAINSTOBJECTIONSOFSURROUNDINGNATIONS,PLUNGINGTHESOUTHKOREANSOCIETYINTOANECONOMICANDPOLITICALCHAOS.IMJOONG-KYUNG(KANGDONG-WON,VANISHINGTIME),AMEMBEROFTHEELITESPECIALWEAPONSUNITCREATEDWITHINTHEPOLICEFORCE,MIREDINCONTROVERSYDUETOTHEIRACCIDENTALMASSACREOFFEMALEHIGHSCHOOLSTUDENTS.TRAUMATIZEDBYTHEEXPERIENCE,IMHESITATESBEFOREDISPATCHINGATEENAGECOURIERWORKINGFORTHEARMEDREBELGROUPKNOWNASTHESECT.THEGIRLCOMMITSSUICIDEBYTRIGGERINGABOMB,BUTIMISGIVENAMEMENTOOFTHEDEADGIRLBYHISMETROPOLITANPOLICESECURITYDIVISIONFRIENDHANSANG-WOO(KIMMU-YEOL,FORGOTTEN),TOBEDELIVEREDTOTHEGIRL'SSISTERLEEYOON-HEE(HANHYO-JOO,COLDEYES).HOWEVER,THISWASAPLOYTOSETIMUPASAFALLGUY.HEANDLEEBECOMEEMBROILEDINAPOLITICALSTRUGGLEAMONGTHESPECIALWEAPONSUNIT,SPEARHEADEDBYTHEBATTLE-SCARREDJANGJIN-TAE(JUNGWOO-SUNG,ASURA:THECITYOFMADNESS),THESECURITYPOLICEANDTHESECT,ALLOFWHOMAREREADYTORESORTTOBACK-STABBINGDECEPTIONSANDCOLD-BLOODEDMURDERSTOGETWHATTHEYWANT.FINANCEDBYWARNERBROTHERSKOREAWITHALARGEBUDGET(AROUNDTWENTYMILLIONDOLLARS),ILLANG:THEWOLFBRIGADE,ADAPTEDFROMTHEJAPANESEANIMATIONAUTEUROSHIIMAMORU'SMULTIMEDIA"KERBEROSPANZERCOP"SERIES,ESPECIALLYTHEANIMATEDPREQUELJIN-ROH:THEWOLFBRIGADE(2009,DIRECTEDBYOKIURAHIROYUKIBASEDONOSHII'SSCREENPLAY),HASBEENONEOFTHEMOSTHIGHLYANTICIPATEDKOREANFILMSOFTHEYEAR.THEDESIGNATEDHELMER,KIMJEE-WOON(THEAGEOFSHADOWS),ISWELLKNOWNFORHISDEEPLOVEFORJAPANESEANIMATION,ANDHISEYEFORVISUALSPLENDORANDPROPENSITYFORELABORATESETPIECESWERECONSIDEREDSTRONGASSETSINTRANSPORTINGTHEUNIQUETEXTUREOFTHEHIGH-ENDJAPANESEANIMATIONINTOLIVE-ACTIONCINEMA,THETASKATWHICHJAPANESEFILMMAKERSHAVENOTEXCELLEDOVERTHEYEARS,TOSAYTHELEAST.FOREVERYSERVICEABLEADAPTATIONLIKEMIIKETAKASHI'SYATTERMANORANNOHIDEAKI'SCUTEYHONEY,THEREAREHALFADOZENUNMITIGATEDDISASTERSLIKEGATCHMAN,DEVILMANANDIRONGIANTNO.28,SOITISNOTSURPRISINGTHATOSHIIANDHISPRODUCTIONCOMPANYWEREWILLINGTOPLACEABETONANINTERNATIONALLYRECOGNIZEDKOREANCINEASTE.ONTHEOTHERHAND,THEREWERELEGITIMATECONCERNSABOUTWHETHEROSHII'SHIGHLYIDIOSYNCRATIC,INTELLECTUALLYSOPHISTICATED,SOMEMIGHTCALLPRETENTIOUS,APPROACHTOTHEMEDIUMOFANIMECOULDBETURNEDINTOTHEKINDOFCROWD-PLEASINGSUMMERBLOCKBUSTERTHATWARNERSKOREAWASOBVIOUSLYHOPINGFOR.JIN-ROHISWELLKNOWNFORITSDEEP-DISHCRITIQUEOFTHECOMPLACENCYOFPOSTWARJAPANESEDEMOCRACY(OSHIISETHISMANGA/ANIMATION/LIVE-ACTIONFILMSERIESINANALTERNATIVEUNIVERSEINWHICHJAPANHADBEENAPARTOFALLIEDPOWERSANDBECAMEOCCUPIEDBYTHEVICTORIOUSNAZIGERMANYINSTEADOFTHEU.S.AFTER1945)ASWELLASITSNOTORIOUSLYDOWNBEATRESOLUTION,ITSMESSAGEBEINGDEHUMANIZATIONOFADECENTPERSONINAMILITARIZEDSOCIETYCONSTANTLYBESETBYBAROQUEPOLITICALSTRUGGLES.TOMAKETHINGSWORSE,THEHOLLYWOODREMAKEOFOSHII'SMAGNUMOPUS,GHOSTINTHESHELL(2017),DIDNOTEXACTLYINSPIRECONFIDENCEINTHEILLANGPROJECT.THEU.S.VERSIONJETTISONSTHEENTIREPHILOSOPHICALCONTENTSOFTHEORIGINALANIMATIONFILMANDREPLACESITWITHATURGID,"HUMANISTIC"STORYLINETHATCOULDBEREADASABIZARREQUASI-APOLOGIAFORCORPORATEWHITEWASHINGOFTHEJAPANESEANIMATIONINTHEFORMOFCASTINGSCARLETTJOHANSSONINTHELEAD.PERSONALLY,THENEEDLEINMY"UH-OH"METERSWERVEDINTOTHEREDAREAWHENIFOUNDOUTTHATILLANGWOULDBESETINKOREAOFTHENEARFUTURE,SURETOBRINGINTHEENTIRELYUNWELCOMENATIONALISTIC-JINGOISTICMINDSET,ACLICHÉFORAPOST-COLDWARKOREANACTIONTHRILLERBUTUTTERLYINAPPROPRIATEFORTHECEREBRALLYSULLENWELTANSCHAUUNGOFANOSHIIMAMORUSIGNATUREPIECE.IWASBEGINNINGTODREADTHEPOSSIBILITYOFILLANGENDINGUPASPOINTLESSASAJERRYBRUCKHEIMERACTIONBLOCKBUSTER"BASEDON"JOSEPHHELLER'SCATCH22.WHILETHEENDPRODUCTISNOTQUITEANIGHTMAREONSUCHASCALE,ITNONETHELESSAPPEARSTOME--PERHAPSANEXTENDEDDIRECTOR'SCUTMIGHTCHANGEMYOPINIONLATER--,KIMANDHISCO-SCREENWRITERJEONCHEOL-HONGNEVERTRULYUNDERSTOODTHEPOINT,POLITICALOROTHERWISE,OFJIN-ROH.NORDIDTHEYSEEMTOHAVEHADTHECONVICTIONTOTAKETHENECESSARYLEAPSOFIMAGINATIONINTRANSPLANTINGTHEORIGINAL'SPREMISEINTHEKOREANSOIL.INSTEAD,WEHAVEYETANOTHERTIRESOMEGLUTOF"VICTIMNATIONALIST"(THENOTEDHISTORIANIMJIE-HYUN'STERM)NARRATIONTHATBLAMESALLSOCIALILLSOFAFUTUREKOREAONFOREIGNPOWERS,ANDHALF-BAKEDREFERENCESTO"UNIFICATION,"ASIFIMANDLEEWERETRAGICLOVERSREPRESENTINGTHENORTHANDSOUTHUNDERTHECOLDWARREGIMES(THEYARENOT.INFACTNORTHERNERSANDOTHERFOREIGNERSDONOTFIGUREATALLINTHEFILM,EVENASCARDBOARDBADGUYS).WHATILLANGNEEDEDWASAGENUINELYCHALLENGINGSETOF(SF)VISIONS,SUCHAS,FORINSTANCE,SETTINGITSSTORYINANALTERNATIVETIMELINEINWHICHKOREAHADBEENCOLONIZEDBYAWHITESUPREMACISTUNITEDSTATESORACZARISTRUSSIAINSTEADOFTHEIMPERIALISTJAPAN.ASITSTANDS,FIDELITYTOTHEORIGINAL'SPREDOMINANTLYGERMANLITERARYREFERENCE--THEDISTURBING"FOLKTALE"ENDINGOFTHELITTLEREDRIDINGHOODSERVESASANALLEGORYOFTHECOMPLETIONOFTHEDEHUMANIZATIONPROCESSFORTHEKERBEROSPANZERCOPS--MAKESLITTLESENSEEXCEPTASCALLINGCARDSTOWARDTHEJAPANESEORIGINAL,RENDERINGHANHYO-JU'STEARFULRENDERINGOFTHERIDINGHOODSTORYINTHECLIMAXFAINTLYRIDICULOUS.THISISTOOBAD,SINCE,ASALIVE-ACTIONRECONSTRUCTIONOFJIN-ROH,ILLANGACTUALLYDOESASUPERBJOB.THEKERBEROSFORCES(NEVERREFERREDTOASSUCHINTHEKOREANVERSION,DESPITEFLEETINGGLIMPSESOFTHETHREE-HEADEDHOUNDEMBLEM)AREROBUSTLYMATERIALIZEDHEREASFUTURISTIC,CYBERNETICBEINGSWITHTHEJUSTRIGHTHINTOFORWELLIANDECADENCE.ANEARLYSEQUENCEINWHICHAPHALANXOFTHESEARMOREDWARRIORSANNIHILATINGTHERAGTAGGUERRILLASOFTHESECTINASEWERCORRIDOREXUDESAPOWERFULSENSEOFFASCISTFOREBODINGANDMENACE,THECOPSSPITTINGOUTLETHALBULLETSLIKESPURTSOFWHITEFLAMEFROMTHEIRDARK,CONJOINEDMETALBODIESTHATSEEMTOMELTINTOTHEUNDERGROUNDDARKNESS.AFEWSCENES,SUCHASADIRECT-OVERHEADSHOTINWHICHTHESWUAGENTSZEROINONLEEWHILEWINDSPERCOLATEAROUNDTHEMINTOASMALLTORNADO,ORTHEJOLTINGDRONEATTACKINSIDETHENAMSANTOWER'SVIEWINGROOM,ARESTRIKINGINTHEIRERUPTIONSOFLYRICISMANDBEAUTYAMIDSTSUSPENSEANDKINETICEXCITEMENT.PRODUCTIONVALUESAREMOSTLYEXCELLENT,WITHTHEMULTIPLE-AWARDWINNINGVETERANSPRODUCTIONDESIGNERCHOHWA-SUNG(THEAGEOFSHADOWS,VANISHINGTIME)ANDDPLEEMO-GAE(THEBATTLESHIPISLAND)LEADINGTHEFRAYINMETICULOUSLYREALIZINGACREDIBLEDYSTOPIANNEAR-FUTUREKOREA.EVENMOWG(BURNING)'SMUSICISUNCOMMONLYEFFECTIVEFORABIG-BUDGETKOREANFILM,MAKINGAGREATUSEOUTOFTHEINDUSTRIALNOISE-LIKEELECTRONICMUSICTOADDALAYEROFANXIETYANDSUSPENSETOTHEPROCEEDINGS.THETALENTEDCAST,ONTHEOTHERHAND,ISBYANDLARGEUNDERUSED,STUCKWITHINADEQUATELYDEVELOPEDORMISCONCEIVEDCHARACTERS.KIMMU-YEOL'SHANSTARTSOUTOKAYBUTQUICKLYDEGENERATESINTOATYPICALKOREANTHRILLERVILLAINWHOSEONLYRESPONSESTOTHEUNFOLDINGEVENTSAREEXASPERATION,ANGERANDSOMEMOREEXASPERATION,ACCOMPANIEDBYTHREATSANDACTSOFPHYSICALHARMTOWARDHISVICTIMS,ANDWHENTHEYAREINSHORTSUPPLY,HISUNDERLINGS.HANHYO-JU'SCHARACTERUNCOMFORTABLYOSCILLATESBETWEENTHEORIGINAL'SLITTLEREDRIDINGHOODSTAND-INANDTHEHOLLYWOODIZEDARCHETYPEOFAFEMALEPROTAGONIST,ANDISGIVENCRINGE-WORTHYROMANTICOUTBURSTSTHATREMINDVIEWERSOFONEOFKIMJEE-WOON'SWEAKESTTRAITS,NAMELY,NOTKNOWINGWHENTOTURNOFFTHEFAUCET.JUNGWOO-SUNGMANAGESTOMAINTAINHISDIGNITY,BUTJANGHASBEEN"SOFTENED"FROMHISEQUIVALENTINJIN-ROHFORNODISCERNIBLEREASON:MAYBEKIMWANTEDTOPLAYUPABROMANCEANGLEBETWEENJUNGANDKANGDONG-WON.ASFORKANG'SPERFORMANCEASIM,THISSTOICSOLDIERWHOINTERNALIZESMOSTOFHISPSYCHOLOGICALCONFLICTSISNOTTHEKINDOFROLETHESUPER-HANDSOMESTARCOULDREALLYSINKHISTEETHIN.MOREOVER,THEREISLITTLECHEMISTRYBETWEENHIMANDHANHYO-JU,ONEOFTHEFILM'SMOSTGLARINGDEFECTS.FRANKLY,IFIMHADBEENWRITTENASGAY,ANDINAROMANTICRELATIONSHIPWITHJANG,THEMORALDILEMMAHEFACESATTHEENDMIGHTHAVECOMEOFFASCOMPELLING,ASHEWOULDHAVETOCHOOSEHISHUMANITYOVERHIS"LOVE,"INSTEADOFWHATWEACTUALLYHAVEINTHEFILM,WHEREINHEISFORCEDTOCHOOSEBETWEENHIS"LOVE"ANDˇWHAT?HISLOYALTYTOTHENATION?HISIDENTITYASANELITECOP?ITISNOWONDERTHATKANG'SPERFORMANCEINTHESESCENESISLESSTHANGRIPPING.ILLANGPULLEDIN895,500TICKETSINAPPROXIMATELYTWOWEEKS,ADISAPPOINTINGRECORDFORSUCHABIG-BUDGETEDFILM,BESETBYAWAVEOFNEGATIVEWORDS-OF-MOUTHTHATPROMPTEDONECASTMEMBERTOPUBLICLYACCUSESOMEVIEWERSOFENGAGINGINMALICIOUSINTERNETCAMPAIGNTOKILLTHEFILM'SBOXOFFICEPROSPECTS.THEAUDIENCESOUTSIDESOUTHKOREAWILLHAVEACHANCETOJUDGEITSMERITSFORTHEMSELVESASANETFLIXPRESENTATION.FRANKLY,THOSENON-KOREANVIEWERSINDIFFERENTTOKOREAN/JAPANESEHISTORIESAND/ORTHEIRCONVOLUTEDPOSTWARPOLITICSMIGHTBEABLETOENJOYTHEFILMMORE,ASASHEERSENSUALEXPERIENCE(THEHARD-COREFANSOFJIN-ROH,ONTHEOTHERHAND,SHOULDCOMEWITHTHEIREXPECTATIONSLOWERED,ALTHOUGHIREITERATETHATILLANGCOMESOFFASASUPERIORPRODUCTIONCOMPAREDTOMOSTJAPANESE-LANGUAGELIVE-ACTIONADAPTATIONSOFTHECLASSICMANGA/ANIMEAVAILABLEOUTTHERE).MANNERED,SUPERFICIAL,OVER-EMOTIVE,DERIVATIVEOFOTHERGREATCLASSICFILMS,ORWHATNOT,KIMJEE-WOON,WHENRIDINGHIGHINTHEWIND,HASALWAYSOFFEREDSOMETHINGINTENSELYPLEASURABLEFORTHECONNOISSEURSOFCONTEMPORARYCINEMA.SOMEVIEWERSHAVECRITICIZEDTHEFRAMINGDEVICEFORHISABITTERSWEETLIFE(2005)ASARCHANDSELF-INDULGENT,BUTIHAVEALWAYSFELTTHATTHECHARACTERARCOFLEEBYUNG-HEON'SSUN-WOOINTHATFILMMAKESGOODSENSE,EVENCOMESACROSSASGENUINELYTOUCHING.ISURMISETHATHEWANTEDTOTRYSOMETHINGSIMILARWITHKANGDONG-WON'SIMJOONG-KYUNGHERE,BUTITSIMPLYFALLSFLATTHISTIME,PARTLYBECAUSEJIN-ROH/ILLANGWASJUSTTOOTOP-HEAVYASAMATERIALTOSTARTWITH,ANDPARTLYBECAUSEHE(ANDHISPRODUCERS,MOSTLIKELY)HASNOTTHOUGHTTHROUGHHOWBOLDORPRUDENTHESHOULDHAVEBEENINADAPTINGTHEJAPANESESOURCE.ITISNOTAHAPPYSITUATIONTHATKIM,ONEOFNEWKOREANCINEMA'SPREMIERSTYLISTS,ISSTILLSTRUGGLINGTOFINDAPROJECTTHATALLOWSHISCREATIVEJUICESTOFLOWANDYETALSOENSURESHISSURVIVALINTHESOCIALDARWINISTBLOCKBUSTER-AS-APEX-PREDATORINDUSTRIALENVIRONMENTOFTODAY.GRANTED,IHAVESOMESERIOUSPROBLEMSWITHHISATTITUDESTOWARDKOREAN"HISTORY"AND"POLITICS,"BUTTHISISNOTANISSUECONFINEDTOJUSTHIM.ICANONLYWISHTHATHECOULDFINDANEWVENTURESOONERTHANLATER,THATPLAYSTOHISSTRENGTHSINSTEADOFPUTTINGHIMINABOX,ASILLANGREGRETTABLYENDEDUPDOINGINTHEEND.(KYUHYUNKIM)THESPYGONENORTHTHEYEARIS1993,RIGHTBEFORESOUTHKOREAISTOEMBARKONAFATEFULTRANSITIONTOACIVILIANDEMOCRATICGOVERNMENTUNDERPRESIDENTKIMYOUNG-SAM.ACRACKMILITARYINTELLIGENCEOFFICER,PARKSEOK-YOUNG(HWANGJEONG-MIN,THEWAILING),ISRECRUITEDBYAKCIAHONCHOCHOEHAK-SEONG(JOJIN-WOONG,BELIEVER),WHOHASLEARNEDFROMTHEAMERICANSTHATNORTHKOREAISSECRETLYDEVELOPINGANUCLEARPOWERPROGRAM.PARK,CODE-NAMDEDBLACKVENUS,BECOMESADEEPCOVERAGENTTASKEDWITHFINDINGOUTTHETRUTHABOUTTHEREGIME'SNUCLEARDEVELOPMENT,ASSUMINGTHEIDENTITYOFANAMORALINTERNATIONALBUSINESSMANWILLINGTOCONDUCTBUSINESSWITHNORTHERNERSVIAHISCONTACTSINBEIJING.WITHPRACTICEDDISPLAYSOFBOTHCAPITALISTCALLOUSNESSANDCOMPANIONABLESINCERITY(NOTENTIRELYFAKEONHISPART),HEBECOMESCLOSETORIMYONG-UN(LEESEONG-MIN,SORI:VOICEFROMTHEHEART),ANORTHERNGOVERNMENTOFFICIALINCHARGEOFFOREIGNECONOMICOUTREACH,INOTHERWORDS,LAUNDERING,RAKINGANDSCOOPINGSTACKSOFDOLLARBILLSINTONORTHKOREAWITHWHATEVERMEANSATHISDISPOSALFROMBEYONDTHECOUNTRY'SBARBED-WIRECURTAIN.PARKISHARASSEDBYASUSPICIOUSNORTHERNSECURITYOFFICER(JOOJI-HOON,ALONGWITHTHEGODS:THETWOWORLDS)ANDGOESTHROUGHAFEWHARROWINGCRUNCHES,BUTEVENTUALLYMANAGESTOWINTHETRUSTOFTHEHIGHER-UPSINNORTHKOREA,INCLUDINGTHESUPREMELEADERKIMJONG-ILHIMSELF(AMUSINGLYPLAYEDBYTHEVIRTUALLYUNRECOGNIZABLEKIJOO-BONG).HOWEVER,TOHISCONSTERNATION,PARKUNCOVERSACLANDESTINEDEALBEINGWORKEDOUTBYTHENORTHERNANDSOUTHERNSECURITYFORCES,THATSEEKSTOUNDERMINEDEMOCRATICPROCESSINTHEUPCOMING1997ELECTIONINTHESOUTH.THESPYGONENORTHISTHEFIFTHFEATUREFILMDIRECTEDBYYOONJONG-BIN,WHOSEEARLYWORKS,THEUNFORGIVEN,BEASTIEBOYSANDNAMELESSGANGSTER:RULESOFTHETIME,AREUNITEDINTHEIRUNFLINCHINGEXPOSITIONANDSHARPCRITIQUEOFTHEMASCULINEPATHOLOGIESANDHYPOCRISIESOFSOUTHKOREANSOCIETY.WATCHINGHISFILMS,ITISIMPOSSIBLEFORMOSTKOREANMENTOEVADETHOSEMOMENTSTHATGENERATEBITTERSMILESORUNCOMFORTABLECOUGHSOFRECOGNITION.ONLYHISLATESTWORK,KUNDO:THEAGEOFRAMPANT(2014),AKINDOFSOUTH-OF-THE-BORDERBANDIDOSWESTERNTRANSPLANTEDTOANEARLYMODERNKOREANSETTING,FELTSOMEWHATANONYMOUSANDPOLITICALLYTIMID,MUTINGDOWNHISOWNINDIVIDUALISTICPERSPECTIVEINFAVOROFTHE(UNIMAGINATIVE)CONVENTIONSOFAPERIODACTIONPIECE.THANKFULLY,HISLATESTEFFORT,AROBUSTCOMMERCIALHITWITH4.9MILLIONTICKETSSOLDASOFOCTOBER2018,HASHIMONTOPFORMAGAIN,CONFIDENTLYWRANGLINGANUNUSUALLYCOMPLEXPLOTANDEXTRACTINGGREAT,NON-SHOW-OFF-YPERFORMANCESOUTOFHISTALENTEDCAST(HISPERENNIALCOLLABORATORHAJUNG-WOOISNOTABLYMISSINGTHISTIME).YOON,WORKINGFROMASCREENPLAYHECO-AUTHOREDWITHKWONSEONG-HWI(GHOSTSWEEPERS)ADAPTINGTHEREAL-LIFEBLACKVENUSPARKCHAE-SEO'SJAW-DROPPINGMEMOIRS,MAINTAINSADELIBERATEPACEINUNSPOOLINGTHEINCREASINGLYAMAZINGSTORYOFPARK'SDOUBLELIFE,REFRAININGFROMTHECOMMONMISTAKEOFRADICALLYCOMPRESSINGNARRATIVEDETAILSFORFEAROFINDUCINGBOREDOMONTHEPARTOFVIEWERS.THEMOVIEISPRETTYLONGAT2HOURSAND17MINUTES,AND,TOBEFAIR,ITSHOULDNOTBEMISTAKENFORAROUSINGTOMCRUISEVEHICLE-TYPEACTIONEXTRAVAGANZA.THEREISASTRONG'70SSIDNEYLUMET-ALANJ.PAKULAVIBETOTHEPROCEEDINGS,BUTYOONREFUSESTOHERDHISVIEWERSTOWARDEASYEMOTIONALIDENTIFICATIONWITHTHEBELEAGUEREDPROTAGONISTPARKANDHISNORTHERNPARTNER-IN-CLOAK-AND-DAGGER,RI,ALLOWINGTHESECHARACTERSTOGRADUALLYEARNTHEVIEWER'SADMIRATIONANDSYMPATHY.YOON'SPATIENTAPPROACHBRINGSTHEBESTOUTOFBOTHHWANGANDLEEASPERFORMERS.HWANGISCOMPLETELYBELIEVABLEASANIDEALISTIC,INTELLIGENTAGENTWITHTHEOUTWARDSHELLOFAGREEDY,CRAVENLOUDMOUTH,BUTTHEMOVIE'SMORALCOMPASSREALLYBELONGSTOLEE.THELATTERGIVESARESTRAINEDYETPOWERFULPERFORMANCE,ONEOFTHEBESTINHISDISTINGUISHEDSUPPORTING-ACTORCAREER,SUBTLYCONVEYINGTHESEASONEDNORTHERNOFFICIAL'SESSENTIALDECENCY,NONETHELESSCALLUSEDBYYEARSOFLIVINGUNDERANOPPRESSIVECONDITIONINTOANALMOSTINSTINCTUALFORMOFHARDBOILEDSKEPTICISM.THESPYGONENORTHISALSONOTEWORTHYFORITSTHOUGHTFUL,HISTORICALLYASTUTEAPPROACHTONORTH-SOUTHRELATIONS,ALLTHEMOREEVIDENTWHENCOMPAREDTOOTHERFANCIERANDSLICKERESPIONAGETHRILLERSSUCHASTHEBERLINFILEANDSTEELRAIN.WHEREASTHESEFILMSENDUPUSINGNORTH-SOUTHRELATIONSASBASICALLYALOCALSETTINGORELEMENTSOFAPLOTTOFOREGROUNDORTHREADTOGETHERESTABLISHEDGENRECONVENTIONS,YOONDOESTHEOPPOSITE.HESTARTSWITHALLTHEINGREDIENTSOFANORDINARYSPYTHRILLERANDGRADUALLYCHIPSAWAYATTHEM,UNTIL,BYTHECLIMAX,THESPYENDSUPPERSUASIVELYSHOWINGJUSTHOWSTRANGEANDUNFAMILIARNORTH-SOUTHRELATIONSINFACTARE.FORSURE,HESHOWSLITTLEHESITATIONINPRESENTINGNORTHKOREAASARACKETEER-CAPITALISTREGIME(ROLEXWATCHES,BOTHREALANDFAKE,SERVEASTOTEMSOFFINANCIALVOODOO)THATITHASBECOME,WITHLUDICROUSLYIRRELEVANTVESTIGESOFCOMMUNISTIDEALSBANDIEDABOUTBYTHEPOWERS-THAT-BE,WHILETHEPOPULATIONISREDUCEDINTOLIVINGSKELETONSBYTHEMASSIVEFAMINESOFTHE'90S.INSTEADOFCULMINATINGINA"PROGRESSIVE"POSITIONSPEECHREITERATINGTHATSOUTHERNERSSHOULDBENICERANDKINDERTOTHENORTH,THESPYMOUNTSATOTALLYPERSUASIVEPORTRAYALOFAPARTNERSHIP,THATGROWSINTOAGENUINEFRIENDSHIP,BETWEENPARKANDRI,BASEDINNOSMALLPARTONTHEIRHEALTHYDISTRUSTOFTHEPOWERSTHEYOSTENSIBLYSERVE,ASWELLASTHEIRRESPECTFOREACHOTHER'SPROFESSIONALISMANDCOMMITMENTTOMAKINGTHINGSJUSTPLAINWORK.THEHOLLERINGANDSCREECHING"WEAREBROTHERS"(MACHO)ETHNICNATIONALISMHASLITTLEPLACEINTHISPICTURE:ITISADELICIOUS,ANDIFYOUTHINKABOUTIT,PROVOCATIVE,IRONYTHATTHISSPYFILMENDSWITHAPRESSJUNKETABOUTAPHONECOMMERCIALWITHTHESUPERSTARLEEHYO-RIREPLICATINGHERREAL-LIFE2005APPEARANCEFORTHEFILM.THESPY'STECHNICALACCOMPLISHMENTSANDPRODUCTIONQUALITYDONOTLOUDLYDECLARETHEMSELVESBUTARENONETHELESSTOP-NOTCH.DPCHOECHAN-MIN'S(PRIVATEEYE,KUNDO)CINEMATOGRAPHYANDYOOSEOK-MUN'SLIGHTINGCANNILYRECREATETHELUGUBRIOUSSHADOWSOF'90SCHINESEHOTELCORRIDORSANDDRABKOREANOFFICEROOMS.PARKIL-HYUN'S(AVIOLENTPROSECUTOR)PRODUCTIONDESIGNISPARTICULARLYREMARKABLE,RECREATING'90SSOUTHKOREANAMBIENCEWITHOVERWHELMINGLYCONVINCINGDETAIL.THEREARESEVERALSETPIECESTHATSTANDOUT,SHOWCASINGYOON'SSTUNNINGORCHESTRATIONOFTHEOVERACHIEVINGCONTRIBUTIONSOFTHESTAFF,INCLUDINGPARK'S"AUDIENCE"WITHKIMJONG-IL,PRESENTEDASANABSURDMIXTUREOFCALIGULA,NAPOLEONBONAPARTEANDCRUELLADEVILLE,ANDSCOREDTOTHESEPULCHRALTUNESOFDIESIRAEBYCOMPOSERJOYOUNG-WOOK.THESPYGONENORTHPERHAPSDOESNOTBREAKNEWCINEMATICGROUND,BUTIS,INITSLIMBERBUTPERSISTENTWAY,DETERMINEDTOAVOIDACTION-MOVIEORTHRILLERCLICHÉSABOUTNORTH-SOUTHRELATIONSANDTOMAKESENSEOFTHEGENUINEHUMANTOLLTHATTHESURREALIDEOLOGICAL-POLITICALCHESSGAMESTHEPOWERHOLDERSPLAYWITHONEANOTHERHASTAKENTHROUGHOUTTHEPOSTWARHISTORYOFTHEPENINSULA(ANDTHEREBYDEMONSTRATINGASOPHISTICATEDLEVELOFHISTORICALCONSCIOUSNESS,MILESREMOVEDFROMTHEWARNERBROTHERSCARTOONPERSPECTIVESOFKOREANHISTORYDISPLAYEDBYSUCHDOMESTICHITSASSTEELRAIN).QUIETLYWITTY,WELLAWAREOFTHEBANALABSURDITYOFTHEPENINSULA'SPOLITICS,BUTNEITHERSELF-SATISFIEDNORCONDESCENDING,THEFILMISASATISFYINGRETURNTOFORMFORYOONJONG-BIN.(KYUHYUNKIM)LASTCHILDASLASTCHILDOPENS,MARRIEDCOUPLESUNG-CHULANDMI-SOOKARELOSTINGRIEF.SIXMONTHSEARLIER,THEIRONLYSONDIEDWHILEJUMPINGINTOARIVERTRYINGTOSAVEAFRIEND.THEBOYHASBEENPOSTHUMOUSLYRECOGNIZEDASAHERO,ANDHISPARENTSHAVEDECIDEDTOESTABLISHASCHOLARSHIPINHISNAME.BUTTHEEMPTINESSLEFTINHISWAKEOVERWHELMSTHEM.ONEDAYSUNG-CHULSTARTSTOASKAFTERGIL-HYUN,THEBOYWHOWASSAVEDBYHISSON.(THEKOREANTITLEOFTHISFILMCANBETRANSLATEDAS,"THEBOYWHOWASLEFTALIVE".)GIL-HYUNHASAPPARENTLYDROPPEDOUTOFHIGHSCHOOLANDVANISHED.BUTSUNG-CHULMANAGESTOTRACKHIMDOWNATARESTAURANTWHEREHEWORKSMAKINGDELIVERIES.THEIRCONVERSATIONISALMOSTUNBEARABLYAWKWARD.GIL-HYUNCANHARDLYEVENLOOKINTOTHEEYESOFTHEFATHERWHOSESONDIEDONHISBEHALF.BUTWEALSOSEETHATGIL-HYUNISDESPERATEANDCOMPLETELYALONEINTHEWORLD,LIVINGWITHOUTHISPARENTS,WITHONLYAMINIMUM-WAGEJOBTOSUPPORTHIMSELF.SUNG-CHULGIVESHIMHISPHONENUMBERANDTELLSHIMTOCALLIFHEEVERNEEDSHELP,THOUGHTHEBOYJUSTLOOKSANXIOUSTOGETAWAY.SOMEDAYSLATER,HOWEVER,SUNG-CHUL'SPHONERINGSINTHEMIDDLEOFTHENIGHT.GIL-HYUNISATTHEPOLICESTATION,ACCUSEDBYHISBOSSOFSTEALINGTHERESTAURANT'SMOTORBIKE.HEINSISTSHEISINNOCENT.SUNG-CHULPAYSFORTHEBIKEANDBUYSTHEBOYSOMEDINNER,THENONIMPULSE-ORPERHAPSTHISWASALREADYRUNNINGTHROUGHHISMIND?-HEOFFERSGIL-HYUNAJOBATHISSMALLINTERIORDECORATINGCOMPANY.THENEXTDAY,WITHOUTTELLINGHISWIFE,HESTARTSTEACHINGGIL-HYUNHOWTOAPPLYWALLPAPER.LASTCHILDISAFILMYOUWATCHWITHYOURHEARTINYOURMOUTH,PRETTYMUCHALLTHEWAYTHROUGH.THETHREEPROTAGONISTSAREALLFRAGILEANDHURTINGINDIFFERENTWAYS,EACHOFTHEMDRIVENFORWARDBYANUNBEARABLEPAINANDEMPTINESSINSIDETHEM.THEQUESTIONIS,WILLBEINGINEACHOTHER'SPRESENCEHELPTHEMTOHEAL,ORWILLITONLYINTENSIFYTHEPAIN?DIRECTORSHINDONG-SEOKHASRIGHTLYRECEIVEDALOTOFATTENTIONFORTHIS,HISDEBUTFEATURE,WHICHPREMIEREDATTHE2017BUSANINTERNATIONALFILMFESTIVAL.HISDIRECTORIALSTYLEISNEVERFLASHY,ANDNEVERDISTRACTSFROMTHENARRATIVE,BUTHEKNOWSHOWTOPROPELTHESTORYFORWARDANDMAINTAINTENSIONBETWEENTHECHARACTERS.THEFINALSCENESEEMSTODIVIDEVIEWERS,WITHSOMECALLINGITTHEPERFECTENDING,ANDOTHERSCONSIDERINGITTHEMOVIE'SBIGGESTWEAKPOINT(IAM,IHAVETOSAY,INTHELATTERCATEGORY).BUTEVENTHOSEWHODISLIKETHEENDINGHAVEVOICEDPRAISEFORTHEWORKOVERALL.CHOIMOO-SEONG,WHOPLAYSTHEFATHERSUNG-CHUL,HASAPPEAREDINCLOSETO30FILMSSINCEMAKINGHISDEBUTIN2005,BUTTHISISARARECASEWHEREHEISGIVENTHEOPPORTUNITYTOTAKEALEADINGROLE.HECANBEASOMEWHATINTIMIDATINGSCREENPRESENCE,BUTHEISALSOJUSTASEFFECTIVEATSHOWINGCOMPASSION,ANDWESEEBOTHSIDESOFHIMINTHISROLE.KIMYEO-JIN,WHOPLAYSTHEMOTHERMI-SOOK,FIRSTESTABLISHEDHERSELFWITHROLESINGIRLS'NIGHTOUT(1998)ANDPEPPERMINTCANDY(1999),ANDHERYEARSOFEXPERIENCETRANSLATEINTOANUNUSUALLYRAWANDTOUCHINGPERFORMANCE.BUTTHEYOUNGESTAMONGTHELEADINGACTORSISNOLESSIMPRESSIVE.SEONGYU-BIN,HAVINGSTARTEDHISCAREERASACHILDACTOR,HASAFAIRAMOUNTOFACTINGEXPERIENCEHIMSELF,ANDIT'STHECOMBINATIONOFHISVULNERABILITYANDOURINABILITYTOREADHISTHOUGHTS,THATMOSTEFFECTIVELYPULLSTHEAUDIENCEINTOTHEFILM.INTHEEND,LASTCHILDISNOTSOMUCHABOUTTHEPROCESSOFRECOVERINGFROMTRAUMAORFAMILYTRAGEDY,ASITISAPORTRAYALOFHOWCOMPLICATEDANDINTENSEHUMANRELATIONSHIPSCANBEUNDEREXTREMECIRCUMSTANCES.YOUFEELTHATTHEDIRECTORISMAKINGAREALEFFORTTOTELLTHISSTORYINANHONESTWAY,ANDTHAT'SWHATGIVESTHEFILMITSCONSIDERABLEIMPACT.(DARCYPAQUET)MONSTRUMEARLY16THCENTURY,JOSEONDYNASTYKOREA:FOLLOWINGTHECOUPTHATUNSEATEDTHENOTORIOUSTYRANTYEONSANGUN,THENEWKINGJUNGJONG(AREAL-LIFEJOSEONKING,REIGNYEARSFROM1506TO1544,PLAYEDHEREBYPARKHEE-SOON,THEAGEOFSHADOWS)HASTROUBLEHOLDINGONTOHISPOWER,BESETBYSOCIALUNRESTANDAPLAGUE,WHICHHESUSPECTSISAPARTOFATREASONOUSSENIORMINISTER'S(LEEGYEUNG-YOUNG,THEBATTLESHIPISLAND)SCHEMETOUSURPTHETHRONE.INADDITION,HENOWHASTOCONTENDWITHTHEREPORTSOFAVICIOUSMONSTER,LEAVINGGRUESOME,GORYAFTERMATHSOFTORNANDHALF-EATENBODIESFORTHEPERPLEXEDOFFICIALS.THEKING,STILLUNSURETHATTHEMONSTERREALLYEXISTS,ENLISTSTHEHELPOFYUN-GYEOM(KIMMYUNG-MIN,PANDORA),THEFORMERCAPTAINOFTHEELITEROYALGUARD,NOWEXILEDANDLEADINGANANONYMOUSLIFEASAGAMEHUNTER,TOINVESTIGATETHEMATTER.THELATTERISJOINEDBYHISPARTNERSEONG-HAN(KIMIN-KWON,THEHIMALAYAS),HISADOPTEDDAUGHTERYUN-MYEONG(LEEHYE-RIOFK-POPGROUPGIRL'SDAY)ANDTHEYOUNGROYALGUARDMEMBERHEO(CHOIWOO-SIK,SETMEFREE)SENTBYTHEKINGASALIAISONOFFICER.YUN-GYEOM'SINITIALCONCLUSIONISTHATTHEMONSTERISLIKELYAFABRICATIONINORDERTOSTIRUPDISCONTENTAMONGTHEMASSESAGAINSTTHEREIGNINGMONARCH.HOWEVER,HEANDHISBRAVECOMPANYSOONLEARNINAHARDWAYTHATNOTONLYDOESTHEMONSTEREXISTFORREAL,ITISALSOVERYMUCHAPRODUCTOFTHEPASTSINSOFJOSEON'SRULINGCLASSES.MONSTRUM,BASEDONADISCONTINUEDWEBTOONSERIESBYTHESCREENWRITERHEODAM,WASORIGINALLYATTACHEDTODIRECTORSHINJEONG-WON(CHAW,THEGHOSTSWEEPERS)WITHJUNGWOO-SUNGINTHEROLEOFYUN-GYEOM,BUTEVENTUALLYHANDEDDOWNTOHUHJONG-HO(COUNTDOWN,THEADVOCATE:AMISSINGBODY)ANDKIMMYUNG-MINSLIPPINGINTOTHESTARSEAT.THEFILM'SPREMISEISDERIVEDFROMANACTUALLINEINCOURTCHRONICLESOFTHEJUNGJONGERA,WHEREINA"STRANGEBEASTTHATLOOKSLIKEAHAIRYDOGABOUTTHESIZEOFAPONY"WASSEENASRUNNINGAROUNDROARINGLOUDLY,SUPPOSEDLYWITNESSEDBYAMULTITUDEOFSUBJECTS,INCLUDINGSOLDIERS.COSTINGUPWARDOF11MILLIONDOLLARSTOPRODUCE,THISTAEWONENTERTAINMENT(OPERATIONCHROMITE)PRODUCTIONHADTHESTRONGBACKINGOFLOTTEBUTMANAGEDTOCOLLECTAPPROXIMATELY720THOUSANDTICKETS,NOTENOUGHTOBREAKEVEN.THEFILMRECEIVEDMOSTLYTERRIBLEREVIEWS,BUT,WHILEULTIMATELYDISAPPOINTED,IDIDNOTFINDITSUCHANABJECTFAILURE.DIRECTORHUHDOESAWORKMAN'SJOBOFKEEPINGTHEKETTLEBOILING,NOTREVEALINGTHEMONSTERINFULLUNTILMORETHANHALFWAYPOINTOFTHEFILM,AIDEDBYTHEDPKIMDONG-YOUNG(HELPLESS)ANDLDKIMHYEONG-YONG(MINORITYOPINION)'SDARKLYMOODYCINEMATOGRAPHYTHATFAVORSNATURALLIGHTINGANDMOWG'SJITTERY,NERVE-WRACKINGSCORE.THEVISUALSCHEMEEMPHASIZESPRECARIOUSLYSLOPINGTERRAINSANDDEEPPOOLSOFDARKNESSINTHERAVINESANDUNDERGROUNDCAVERNS,PAINTINGINBROADBRUSHSTROKESASOCIETYCONSUMEDFROMINSIDEBYUNSPOKENANXIETIESANDSECRETHOSTILITIES.THEMONSTERITSELF,RESEMBLINGASOUPED-UP,ZOMBIFIEDVERSIONOFHAETAE(ASUPERNATURALLION-LIKEBEASTTHATGUARDSTHEKYONGBOKPALACE),REALIZEDBYAHOSTOFSPECIALEFFECTSTEAMLEDBYHONGJANG-PYO(STEELRAIN),MOFACSTUDIO(MEMORIESOFTHESWORD)ANDCELL(OKJA),ISACTUALLYNOTBAD,IMBUEDWITHAPPROPRIATELEVELSOFFEROCITYANDMENACE,ANDBYTHEENDOFMOVIE,ACERTAINDEGREEOFPATHOS.UNLIKEASIZABLENUMBEROFKOREANVIEWERS,ITHOUGHTITSORIGINSTORYANDBEHAVIORALTRAITSWEREFAIRLYWELLREALIZED.ITAIN'TGODZILLA,FORSURE,BUTLET'SFACEIT:THEMAJORITYOFMONSTERSINTHEDEDICATEDCREATUREFEATURESCHURNEDOUTINNORTHAMERICA(ORTHEWORLD)AREPRETTYAWFUL.ICERTAINLYPREFERTHISOVERGROWNLION-PUPPYOVERTHEWOMAN-EATINGOVERSIZEDGORILLAINRAMPAGE,FORINSTANCE.THEREALPROBLEMSWITHMONSTRUMLIE,AGAIN,INITSSCREENPLAY.FORONE,ITISTOOREMINISCENTOFTHESOUTHKOREA'STOPMONSTERPIC,THEHOST(2006),ALLTHEWAYUPTOAPRETTYHEROINEWHOFIGHTSBOTHHUMANENEMIESANDTHEEPONYMOUSBEASTIEWITHBOWSANDARROWS.ANEVENBIGGERISSUEISTHEFILM'SUNIMAGINATIVEENGAGEMENTWITHTHECONVENTIONSOFTHEKOREANPERIODPIECESSETINTHEJOSEONDYNASTY.THEREDHERRINGSABOUTTHEREALITYOFTHEMONSTERARELESSTHANINTRIGUING,ANDTHEPALACECONSPIRACYANGLEHASBEENDONETODEATH.THECASTCOULDHAVEBEENENLIVENED,TOO,IFTHESCREENPLAYHADGIVENTHEMLESSARCHETYPALCHARACTERS.NEITHERKIMMYUNG-MINNORLEEGYEONG-YOUNGMANAGESTOLEAVEASTRONGIMPRESSION,THEIRROLESSUCHCLICHÉSTHATTHESEVETERANSCOULDHAVEPLAYEDTHEMHALFASLEEP.HOWEVER,DIRECTORHUHDESERVESSOMECREDITFORREIGNINGINLUDICROUS"COMICRELIEFS"(ALLOWINGKIMIN-KWONTOACTLIKEANORMALHUMANBEINGRATHERTHANACARTOONFIGURE,FORONE).WITHAPOLOGIESTODIRECTORHUH,ICANNOTHELPBUTSPECULATEWHATMONSTRUMCOULDHAVEBEENHADSHINJEONG-WON,ONEOFTHERAREKOREANDIRECTORSWITHTHEWACKY-CRAZYSENSIBILITYTAILOR-MADEFORAGENREHYBRIDLIKETHISPROJECT,BEENALLOWEDTORUNWITHIT.TECHNICALLY,ITMIGHTSTILLNOTHAVEBEENMUCHSUPERIORTOWHATWEHAVE,BUTTHESTULTIFYINGPERIODPIECECLICHÉSTHATENDUPSAPPINGTHEMOVIE'SSTRENGTHSMIGHTHAVEALSOBEENJETTISONED.ASITSTANDS,MONSTRUMDOESMEETTHEBASELINEEXPECTATIONSOFAGOODOL'CREATUREFEATURE,BUTUNFORTUNATELYTHATISPRETTYMUCHALLITISGOODFOR.(KYUHYUNKIM)INTIMATESTRANGERSAGROUPOFFRIENDSMEETUPONENIGHTFORADINNERPARTY.THEHOSTS--APSYCHIATRISTPLAYEDBYKIMJI-SOO(THISCHARMINGGIRL)ANDHERPLASTICSURGEONHUSBAND(CHOJIN-WOONG,BELIEVER)--HAVERECENTLYMOVEDINTOALAVISHAPARTMENT.WHENTHEOTHERGUESTSARRIVEATTHEIRHOME,AFAMILIARSORTOFMOODISESTABLISHED:RELAXEDANDFRIENDLY,SINCEMANYOFTHEMHAVEKNOWNEACHOTHERFROMCHILDHOOD,ANDYETWITHTENSIONBENEATHTHESURFACE,ASTHEIRLIVESHAVEDIVERGEDINUNCOMFORTABLEWAYSINMIDDLEAGE.INONESENSE,THEYKNOWEACHOTHERINTIMATELY.BUT--ASWITHALLFRIENDSHIPS,OREVENMARRIAGES--THEREARESIDESOFTHEMSELVESTHATTHEYWOULDNEVERTHINKOFSHOWINGEACHOTHER.WHATMIGHTHAVEBEENJUSTANOTHERORDINARYEVENINGISGIVENAJOLTWHENTHEPSYCHIATRISTPROPOSESASORTOFGAME.EACHOFTHEMARETOPUTTHEIRMOBILEPHONESUPONTOTHETABLE,ANDWHENEVERAMESSAGEORCALLARRIVES,THEYARETOSHAREITWITHTHERESTOFTHEGROUP.MESSAGESARETOBEREADALOUD,ANDCALLSPUTONSPEAKERPHONE.IT'SMOREOFADARETHANAGAME,REALLY,BUTEACHGUESTFINDSITHARDTOOBJECTTOOSTRONGLYWITHOUTLOOKINGLIKEAPERSONWHOHARBORSGUILTYSECRETS.SOTHEYALLAGREETOITOUTLOUD,WHILEATTHESAMETIMEPRIVATELYHOPINGTHATNOTHINGTOOEMBARRASSINGCOMESOUTATDINNER.AREMAKEOFTHEVERYPOPULARITALIANFILMPERFECTSTRANGERS(2016),INTIMATESTRANGERSHASBEENDESCRIBEDJOKINGLYBYMANYKOREANVIEWERSASAKINDOFHORRORMOVIE.AFTERALL,FEWTHINGSAREMOREFRIGHTENINGTHANHAVINGYOURINNERSECRETSEXPOSED.AWELL-STRUCTUREDSCRIPT(THATSTICKSCLOSETOTHEORIGINAL),SHARPEXECUTIONBYDIRECTORLEEJAE-KYOO(FATALENCOUNTER,TVDRAMABEETHOVENVIRUS)ANDAKNOCKOUTCASTMAKEFORAFILMTHATISBURSTINGWITHTENSIONANDCONSISTENTLYINTRIGUING.RELEASEDATTHEENDOFOCTOBER,THEMODESTLY-BUDGETEDMOVIEBENEFITTEDFROMSTRONGWORDOFMOUTHANDSOLDMORETHAN5MILLIONTICKETS.THERE'SNOQUESTIONTHATTHISENSEMBLEWORKBENEFITSFROMSTRONGACTINGACROSSTHEBOARD,WITHANEXPERIENCEDCASTTHATINCLUDESYEOMJEONG-AH(ATALEOFTWOSISTERS),LEESEO-JIN(DAMO),SONGHA-YOON(DANGEROUSLYEXCITED),ANDYOONGYEONG-HO(OKJA).BUTSOMEHOWITISYOOHAE-JIN(ATAXIDRIVER)INTHEROLEOFANUPTIGHTHUSBANDINATENSION-FILLEDMARRIAGEWHOHASMADETHEBIGGESTIMPRESSIONONVIEWERS.THISISNOTBECAUSEHISACTINGOUTSHINESTHEOTHERS--HEKNOWSBETTERTHANTOATTEMPTTHATSORTOFTHING.BUTIT'STRUETHATWHENTHINKINGBACKONTHISFILM,IT'SHISNATURAL,HEARTFELTPERFORMANCETHATJUMPSMOSTIMMEDIATELYTOMIND.PROBABLYTHEAVERAGEKOREANVIEWERWOULDTELLYOUTHATTHESITUATIONSPORTRAYEDINTHISSTORYFEELVERYSPECIFICTOKOREA,GIVENITSREPUTATIONASONEOFTHEMOSTWIREDNATIONSONEARTH.BUTINTRUTH,THISISPROBABLYMOREATESTAMENTTOTHESTORY'SUNIVERSALITY.INJUSTTWOYEARS,REMAKESOFPERFECTSTRANGERSHAVEBEENRELEASEDORANNOUNCEDINSPAIN(BYALEXDELAIGLESIA!),FRANCE,TURKEY,MEXICO,INDIA,GERMANY,SWEDENANDQATAR.(ENGLISH-LANGUAGEREMAKERIGHTS,PURCHASEDBYTHENOW-DEFUNCTWEINSTEINCOMPANY,ARECURRENTLYINLIMBO.)CLEARLYTHECENTRALCONCEPTOFTHISFILMHITSANERVEFORCONTEMPORARYAUDIENCES.ITILLUSTRATESHOWTECHNOLOGY,ANDMOBILEPHONESINPARTICULAR,HAVENESTLEDINTOOURLIVESTOTHEPOINTTHATTHEYHOLDOURMOSTINTIMATESECRETS.(THEFACTTHATLARGECORPORATIONSHAVEACCESSTOTHESESECRETSISSOMETHINGTHATTHEPLOTLEAVESUNEXPLORED).ONTHEOTHERHAND,THEFILMMAKERS'OBSERVATIONTHATANYPERSONISCOMPOSEDOFTHREESEPARATESELVES-PUBLIC,PRIVATEANDSECRET-HASBEENTRUETOTHEHUMANCONDITIONFORMILLENNIA.SOINTIMATE/PERFECTSTRANGERSHASFOUNDSUCCESSWITHANEFFECTIVEBLENDOFTHETIMELYANDTHEUNIVERSAL.CERTAINLYIT'SBEENEXCITINGTOSEESUCHANIDEA-DRIVEN,MODESTLYPRODUCEDFILMCONNECTSOSTRONGLYWITHAUDIENCES,ANDTOGETHERWITHBOHEMIANRHAPSODYITRANKSASTHEEVENTFILMOFTHESEASON.(DARCYPAQUET)DOORLOCKKYUNG-MIN(GONGHYO-JIN,MISSING)ISANATTRACTIVE,TWENTY-SOMETHINGBANKTELLERLIVINGINASMALLSTUDIOAPARTMENTBYHERSELF.ATEMPWORKERUPFORATRANSFERTOAFULL-TIMEPOSITION,SHESUFFERSFROMOVERWORKANDCHRONICFATIGUE,GUILTILYSNATCHINGCAT-NAPSDURINGWORKHOURS.SHYANDCONSIDERATE,SHEISGOODFRIENDSWITHAMORERAMBUNCTIOUSCO-WORKERHYO-JOO(MUSICALACTRESSKIMYE-WON)BUTISCONSTANTLYSUBJECTTOBELITTLINGTREATMENTBYHERSUPERIORSASWELLASHARASSMENTBYASUPER-CREEPYCUSTOMERKI-JUNG(JOBOK-NAE,ROARINGCURRENTS).SHEEXPERIENCESVAGUEFEELINGSTHATSHEISBEINGWATCHEDOVER,TOO,BUTBRUSHESTHEMOFFASJUSTNERVES.HOWEVER,BEGINNINGWITHAPANICKYEPISODEINVOLVINGHERSECTIONCHIEFANDACUPOFCOFFEE,THESITUATIONRAPIDLYMUTATESINTOAMURDERCASE,WITHTHEPOLICEDETECTIVE(KIMSEONG-O,THEMERCILESS)EYEINGHERASAPOSSIBLESUSPECT.AFRAIDFORHERLIFE,KYUNG-MINENLISTSHYO-JOO'SHELPTOSTARTHEROWNINVESTIGATION.THETRAILOFCLUESSEEMSTOLEADTOAMISSINGCO-WORKERSEUNG-HYE(HANJEE-EUN,RAMPANT),WHOHAPPENSTOBERENTINGAROOMINTHESAMEAPARTMENTASKYUNG-MIN'S.HOWEVER,SHEISNOTPREPAREDFORTHEDEVASTATINGTRUTHBEHINDALLTHISMAYHEM,INCLUDINGTHEREALREASONSBEHINDHERFATIGUE.DOORLOCK,ANOTHERSOUTHKOREANADAPTATIONOFACONTEMPORARYSPANISH-LANGUAGETHRILLER,THISTIMEJAUMEBALAGUERO'SSLEEPTIGHT(2011),PRODUCEDFORAPPROXIMATELYTHREEMILLIONDOLLARSBYANEWBIEPRODUCTIONCOMPANYPIEONA,WASONEOFTHEMORECOMMERCIALLYSUCCESSFULGENREFILMSOFTHELASTQUARTEROF2018,RAKINGINMORETHAN1.5MILLIONTICKETS(THUSBREAKINGEVENINTHEBOXOFFICE)ANDSTRONGLYSUPPORTEDBYTHETARGETDEMOGRAPHICOFYOUNGTOMIDDLE-AGEDFEMALEVIEWERS.GONGHYO-JIN,FOLLOWINGHERACCLAIMEDPERFORMANCEASAKOREAN-CHINESENANNYWITHADARKPASTINMISSING,PROVEDAGAINHERABILITYTOCOMMERCIALLYCARRYAFILM.NOTEXACTLYCOINCIDENTALLY,THISFILMHAPPENSTOBEDIRECTEDBYLEEKWON(MYORDINARYLOVESTORY),THEHUSBANDOFMISSING'SDIRECTORLEEEON-HEE(THEACCIDENTALDETECTIVE),WHOHADREPORTEDLYSUGGESTEDTHATTHELEADROLEBEOFFEREDTOGONG.APPARENTLYITREQUIREDSOMEEFFORTTOCONVINCEGONGTOTAKEONTHECHARACTEROFKYUNG-MIN,SUPERSYMPATHETICBUTMODERATEINTERMSOFBOTHOUTLOOKANDSOCIALATTITUDE,SINCETHEACTRESS'SPREVIOUSCHOICESFORCINEMATICROLES(ASOPPOSEDTOHERTVDRAMAROLES)HAVELEANEDTOWARDINDIESENSIBILITIESANDQUIRKY,COMMERCIALLYRISKYCHARACTERS(BESTREPRESENTEDBYHERLEADROLEINLEEKYOUNG-MEE'SCRUSHANDBLUSH).HOWEVER,GONG,DESPITEHERLANKYFRAMEANDMODEL-LIKEPOISE,HASLITTLEDIFFICULTYPROJECTINGVULNERABILITYANDANXIETYTOVIEWERS.ITISLARGELYDUETOHERSENSITIVEPERFORMANCETHATKYUNG-MINCOMESOFFNEITHERASAPASSIVEDAMSELINDISTRESSNORACARTOONISHLYPLUCKYWORKINGGIRLVERSIONOFNANCYDREW.SHEISQUITEHEARTBREAKINGWHENTEARFULLYAPOLOGIZINGTOHERFRIENDFOREMBROILINGHERINTHENIGHTMARISHSITUATION,ANDEXTREMELYBELIEVABLEINHEREXPRESSIONSOFBEWILDERMENT,FRUSTRATIONANDULTIMATELYRESIGNATIONATTHEMEN--BANKSUPERIORS,CUSTOMERS,POLICEDETECTIVES--WHOCONTINUETOBLAMEHERFORTHEVERYTROUBLESCAUSEDANDABETTEDBYTHEIRAGGRESSION,PREJUDICEANDINDIFFERENCE.LIKEBEDEVILLED(2010),DOORLOCKISALMOSTSURREPTITIOUSLYFEMINISTWITHOUTDEVIATINGTOOMUCHFROMITSGENRE-BOUNDQUALITIES.ITSCONSIDERABLESUSPENSEISGENERATEDBYSITUATIONSTAILOR-MADETOREMINDMANYUNMARRIEDSOUTHKOREANWORKINGWOMENOFTHEREAL-LIFEDANGERSTOWHICHTHEYAREUNIQUELYVULNERABLE:THEANONYMOUSSTALKING,THERANDY,SUPPOSEDLY"TRIVIAL"INTRUSIONINTOONE'SPRIVATESPACEBYMALECO-WORKERSANDCLIENTELE,THESUDDENSHAKINGOFASTUDIOAPARTMENTDOORINTHEMIDDLEOFTHENIGHT.ANOTHERADMIRABLEASPECTOFLEE'SDIRECTORIALAPPROACHISITSRESTRAINT:EVENTHOUGHTHEFILMEVENTUALLYSLIPSINHORRIFICPLOTDETAILSINVOLVINGACTSOFGRANDGUIGNOL-LIKECORPOREALMUTILATION,HEREFUSESTOSALACIOUSLYDWELLONTHESEELEMENTS,INSTEADFOCUSINGONGONGANDTHEOTHERACTORS'REACTIONSTOUNDERSCORETHEIRFULL-BLOWNHORROR.ASWASTHECASEWITH,SAY,OFFICE(2015)ORBLUEBEARD(2017),THEFILMFEATURESA"COLD,"BLUISHCOLORPALETTETOGENERATEASENSEOFISOLATIONANDURBANANXIETY,EXPERTLYREALIZEDBYDPPARKJUNG-HOON(THEVILLAINESS)ANDDLLEEJE-WOO(MYORDINARYLOVESTORY).DALPARAN'SEFFECTIVESCORERANGESFROMAVANT-GARDEPERCUSSIONTOVARIATIONSONERIKSATIE,AGAINUNDERSCORINGTHEFRAGMENTATIONOFTHECOMMUNALBONDSANDNEUROSESOFTHEHAUNTEDCHARACTERS.THEFILM'SMAINWEAKNESSISITSSOMEWHATRUDIMENTARYWHODUNITMYSTERY(ITISNOTDIFFICULTTOFIGUREOUTWHOTHEREALCULPRITIS,IFYOUHAVESEENYOURSHAREOFCLASSICMYSTERYMOVIES),ALTHOUGHITSCLIMAX,THATEVOKESBOTHTHESHININGANDTHESILENCEOFTHELAMBSWITHOUTLADLINGTHEHOMMAGEGRAVYONTOOTHICK,WORKSPRETTYWELL,AGAINFOCUSINGONKYUNG-MIN'SSTRUGGLETOOVERCOMETHECLUTCHESOFTHEPERPETRATORRATHERTHANONTHELATTER'SSUPERHUMANVILLAINY,ASINAGARDEN-VARIETYSLASHERHORROR.DOORLOCKISAWELCOMESURPRISE,INTHATTHEPROJECTDESCRIPTIONLEADSONETOEXPECTARATHERGENERICTHRILLERINTHEMODEOFAN'80SSLASHERPICWITHWOMENASRANDOMVICTIMSOFACREATIVELYINSANESERIALKILLER.THOSEELEMENTSAREINFACTDUTIFULLYPRESENTINTHEFINISHEDFILM,BUTTHEYARESUBORDINATETOACOOL,LEVEL-HEADEDRUMINATIONONTHEKEYMOMENTOFSOCIALANXIETYFORFEMALESOUTHKOREANVIEWERS,WHICHGOESALONGWAYTOEXPLAINWHYITWASSOWELLRECEIVEDBYTHELATTER.AGENRETHRILLERWITHABRAINANDAPAIROFKEENLYOBSERVANTEYES,DOORLOCKINTHEENDISANEXCELLENTSHOWCASEFORGONG'SVERSATILITYANDPROWESSASABANKABLEFEMALESTAR,ASWELLASAVINDICATIONOFDIRECTORLEE'SFAITHINHISOWN"COLDLYRATIONAL"PROCLIVITIES.(KYUHYUNKIM)SWINGKIDSTHEMOVIEOPENSWITHAMOCKNEWSREELDESCRIBINGTHEGEOJE[KOJE]POWCAMPCIRCA1951,WHEREAPPROXIMATELY150,000NORTHKOREANPRISONERSOFTHEKOREANWAR(ALONGWITH20,000PRCSOLDIERS)WEREINCARCERATED.THEPRISONCAMPBECAMENOTORIOUSLYDANGEROUSWHENTHEPRO-SOUTHKOREAN"CONVERTED"AMONGTHEDPRKPRISONERS,EGGEDONBYTHEFIERCELYANTI-COMMUNISTSYNGMANRHEEREGIME,ANDTHOSESTILLLOYALTOTHENORTHERNREGIMESTARTEDFIGHTINGAMONGTHEMSELVES,LEADINGTOHORRIDBLOODSHED.ATONEPOINTTHEUNFORCESCAMPCOMMANDERGENERALFRANCISDODDWASHELDHOSTAGEBYABANDOFINSURRECTIONARYPRISONERS,ONEOFTHEMOREEMBARRASSINGPROPAGANDABLUNDERSFORTHESOUTHDURINGTHEGRUELINGPENINSULAWAR.FOLLOWINGTHESE(REAL-LIFE)AGITATIONS,THE(FICTIONAL)NEWCAMPCOMMANDERROBERTS(ROSSKETTLE)DECIDESTOTRYASOFTSELL,DISCOVERINGAFORMERBROADWAYTAPDANCERJACKSON(JAREDGRIMES)AMONGTHEGUARDSANDTWISTINGHISARMTOORGANIZEADANCETEAMCONSISTINGOFNORTHERNPRISONERS.NOTABADIDEAFORCOUNTER-PROPAGANDA,SHOWINGTHEKOREANCOMMIESSUCCUMBINGTOTHEFUNANDJOYOFAMERICANCAPITALISTENTERTAINMENT:EXCEPT,HOWCOULDJACKSONREALISTICALLYFINDANYONEAMONGNORTHKOREANPOWSWHOCOULDTAPTO'50SAMERICANTUNES?AFTERASERIESOFSHENANIGANS,HEMANAGESTOENLISTBYUNG-SAM(OHJUNG-SE,FABRICATEDCITY),ANEXPERTINTRADITIONALKOREANFESTIVEDANCE;THECHINESESOLDIERXIAOFANG(THECOMEDIANKIMMIN-HO);ANDYANGPAN-RAE(PARKHYE-SU,WILLYOUBETHERE?),ANOVICE"YANKEEPRINCESS"WHOALSOLANDSTHEJOBASANINTERPRETER.HOWEVER,THEBIGGESTPRIZEFORJACKSONMAYBEROKI-SOO(DOKYUNG-SOO,BESTKNOWNASD.O.OFTHEK-POPGROUPEXO),AYOUNGNORTHKOREANSOLDIERWHOSEBROTHERKI-JINISWORSHIPPEDBYTHECAMPPRISONERSASAWARHERO.IHADPERHAPSUNREALISTICALLYHIGHEXPECTATIONSFORSWINGKIDSGOINGIN,BECAUSEIHAVELONGCHAMPIONEDTHEMUSICALASAGENRETHATNEWKOREANCINEMACOULDDOSOMETHINGGREATWITH.EVENBEFORETHEGLOBALMEGA-SUCCESSOFK-POP,ITHASBEENOBVIOUSTHATSINGINGANDDANCINGHAVEALWAYSBEENSOMETHINGSOUTHKOREANSLOVETODEATH:BUTFORSOMEREASON,THEYHAVENEVERBEENADEQUATELYREPRESENTEDINMOTIONPICTURES.THISISADDITIONALLYFRUSTRATINGCONSIDERINGTHATMUSICALTHEATERHASINFACTBECOMEAFLOURISHINGPLATFORMFORSONG-AND-DANCE-BASEDENTERTAINMENTSINCETHELATE'90S,WITHMUSICALTHEATERSTARSSUCHASKAIANDKANGHA-NEULCROSSINGOVERINTOTHETVANDCINEMAINDUSTRIES.FORSOMEREASON,KOREANFILMMAKERSNEVERSEEMTOBEABLETOJUSTLETGO,HAVEFUNANDLETTHESHEERJOYOFSINGINGANDDANCINGTAKEOVER.THEYSEEMOBLIGATEDTOSHACKLETHEGENRETOTHEFATSTEELBALLSOFTEAR-JERKINGMELODRAMAORLUGUBRIOUSNATIONALISMTHATSOLEMNLYDECREESTHATTHEKOREAN(MALE)PROTAGONISTSREMAINMARTYRSOFTHE"TRAGEDYOFTHENATION."ISOFERVENTLYHOPEDTHATSWINGKIDSWOULDFINALLYBETHATMOVIETHATDEMOLISHESTHESESHACKLES.REGRETTABLY,ITISNOT:INTHEEND,THEIMPRESARIOBEHINDTHEPROJECT,KANGHYUNG-CHUL(TAZZA:THEHIDDENCARD),DESPITEALLHISSAVVINESSANDADROITJUDGEMENT,SUCCUMBSTOTHEBURDENOFIDEOLOGICALCORRECTNESS,NOTWITHSTANDINGHISPROTESTATIONSTOTHECONTRARYINTHEBODYOFTHEFILM.THEREISALOTTOLIKEOREVENLOVEINSWINGKIDS.THEFILMNEVERLOSESTHESIGHTOFITSRHYTHMANDBEATASAMUSICAL-COMEDY,UNDULATINGANDFLOWINGFROMONESETPIECETOANOTHER.EVENWHENSOMETHINGUGLY--ANACTOFVIOLENCEAGAINSTWOMAN,SAY--THREATENSTOTAKEPLACE,KANGKEEPSTHEFILMVIBRATINGWITHINFECTIOUSENERGY.THEMUSICBYKIMJOON-SEOK(SCANDALMAKERS)ANDTHECHOREOGRAPHYBYTHEMUSICALTHEATERVETERANLEERAN-YOUNGAREGOOD,IFNOTSTARTLINGLYMEMORABLE,WITHAFEWANACHRONISTICPOPHITS(SUCHASDAVIDBOWIE'S"MODERNLOVE")ANDDANCESTYLESTHROWNIN,WHICHPROBABLYWOULDNOTBOTHERANYONEOTHERTHANPERIOD-MUSICPURISTS.KANG'SIMPECCABLECOMMANDOFVISUALLANGUAGE,ANDHISIMPRESSIVEABILITYTOSQUEEZEEARTHYBUTHUMANEHUMOROUTOFCONVENTIONALSETUPS,SHOWCASEDINHISPOPULARCOMEDIESSUNNYANDSCANDALMAKERS,AREVERYMUCHINEVIDENCEHEREASWELL.WITHTHEEXPERTISEOFASEASONEDCONDUCTOR,HEORCHESTRATESCOMICSEQUENCESLIKETHEONEINWHICHRO,UTTERLYINFATUATEDWITHJACKSON'SDANCEMOVES,KEEPSHEARINGTAPBEATSEVERYWHEREHEGOES,EVENINTHESNORESOFHISBUNKER-MATES.ATHISBEST,HESUCCESSFULLYINVOKESTHEKINDOFLAID-BACK,SOPHISTICATEDWITDISPLAYEDBYTHEGREATCOMEDIANKOOBONG-SEOINLEEMAN-HEE'SCLASSICTHEMARINESWHONEVERRETURNED(1962).ITHELPS,TOO,THATKANG,UNLIKESOMEOTHERMALEKOREANFILMMAKERS,RESPECTSANDLISTENSTOHISFEMALECHARACTERS.PARKHYE-SU'SYANG(WITHASURNAMETHATDEFIANTLYACKNOWLEDGESHER"YANKEEPRINCESS"STATUS)IS,ALONGWITHJACKSON,THEFILM'SMOSTINTERESTINGFIGURE,AYOUNGSURVIVORWHOKNOWSHOWANDWHENTOEVADEORCONFRONTLIFE'SADVERSITIES.THESCENEINWHICHYANGANDJACKSONCOMPARENOTESABOUTWHETHERKOREANFEMALESORAMERICANBLACKSHAVEITHARDER,HAS,NOTSURPRISINGLY,BEENCITEDBYMANYCRITICSANDVIEWERSASONEOFTHEMOSTAFFECTINGINTHEFILM.NOWTHATWEAREATIT,ITISWORTHPOINTINGOUTTHATTHEAMERICANCHARACTERSINSWINGKIDS,WHILESTILLVERYMUCHGENRE-BASEDARCHETYPES,AREMOREFLESHEDOUTTHANTHOSEINUSUALSOUTHKOREANFILMS.JAREDGRIMESHASOBVIOUSLYBEENCHOSENFORHISTAPSKILLS,BUTTHEUNDERSTATED,PRE-CIVILRIGHTSTONALITYOFHISPERFORMANCEWORKSWELLASASTABLEANCHORFORTHEMOREHIGH-PITCHEDDELIVERIESOFTHEKOREANACTORS.ASFORDOKYUNG-SOO,HEDOESAFINEJOB(ALTHOUGHHISSTAND-INSEEMSTOBEDOINGTHEMORESTRENUOUSLYCOMPLEXTAPMOVES)WITHWHATWASGIVENTOHIM,BUTIWISHHISCHARACTERWASEITHERMOREFULLYTHREE-DIMENSIONALTHANHEISINTHEFILM,ORCONVERSELY,"LIGHTER,"PURELYENAMOREDWITHDANCINGANDMUSICWITHOUTTHESYMBOLICBURDEN.ITISINKANG'STREATMENTOFTHEYOUNGMALEPROTAGONISTANDHISULTIMATEFATETHATTHEFILMDEVIATESFROMTHEMUSICALVERSION,ENTITLEDROKI-SOO.IDONOTWISHTOSPOILTHEENDINGOFTHEFILM,BUTAPPARENTLYINTHEMUSICALROGETSTOFULFILLHISDREAMSOFBECOMINGADANCER(WHETHERSUCHANENDINGISSUPPOSEDTOBE"REALISTIC"ORANOUTRIGHTFANTASYISBESIDETHEPOINT).SWINGKIDS,HOWEVER,ENDSINAFAMILIARTRAGIC-MELODRAMATICWAY,INLINEWITHALMOSTALLWORKSOFNEWKOREANCINEMADEALINGWITHTHEKOREANWAR,WITHTHE"TRAGEDYOFKOREAN(ETHNIC)NATION"DUTIFULLYINSCRIBEDINTHEBODIESOFTHEMAINCHARACTERS.THEENDING,SIMPLYPUT,ISATERRIBLECLICHÉ,RUDELYDROPPINGADARKSHROUDOFACURTAINOVERWHATHASOVERALLBEENANENERGETICCELEBRATIONOFTHEARTSASAFORCETHATCANOVERCOMEPOLITICALLY-INCULCATEDHATRED.THISISDOUBLYREGRETTABLEBECAUSEKANGHYUNG-CHULDEVIATESFROMSTANDARDCINEMATICCONVENTIONSONTHENORTH-SOUTHRELATIONSHIPINSOMENOTABLEWAYS.FORINSTANCE,INSWINGKIDSBOTHNORTHERNERSANDSOUTHERNER-AMERICANSHAVETHEIR"MOLES"PLANTEDINTHEOTHERCAMPS,BUTWHENROANGRILYCONFRONTSONESUCHCHARACTER(LEEKYU-SEONG),THELATTERREMINDSHIMTHATBOTHOFTHEMHAVELONGSTOPPEDBELIEVINGTHATCOMMUNISMISWORTHSACRIFICINGTHELIVESOFTHEIRLOVEDONES(OREVENTOTALSTRANGERS,FORTHATMATTER),MOMENTARILYSHUTTINGDOWNTHEFORMER'SRIGHTEOUSTRAP.KANG'SREFUSALTOTREATTHESE"MOLES"ASEXPENDABLETRAITORSMORALLYJUSTIFIEDTOMEETTHEIRVIOLENTCOMEUPPANCE,COUPLEDWITHCLEARLYHARSHPORTRAYALSOFTHE"IDEOLOGICALLYCOMMITTED"--I.E.FANATICALLYMURDEROUS--NORTHERNPRISONERS,ISECHOEDBYJACKSON'SREJECTIONOFANTI-COMMUNISTPROPAGANDAASTHERAISOND'ETREFORTHEDANCETEAM.HEEVENMAKESTHELATTERCHRISTENTHECLIMACTICDANCENUMBER"F*CKIDEOLOGY."ALAS,KANGDOESNOTSEEMTOREALIZETHAT"IDEOLOGY"COULDMEANNOTJUSTCOMMUNISMORCAPITALISM,BUTALSOTHEVERYIDEATHATCINEMAMUSTSERVEUPCERTAINMESSAGESORAGENDAS,PRIORITIZINGTHEMOVEROTHEREQUALLYVALIDQUALITIES.HISCHOICETOMODIFYTHEMUSICAL'SENDINGTOFOREGROUNDTHE"TRAGEDYOFTHEKOREANNATION"NARRATIVEISITSELFACONVENTIONALLYIDEOLOGICALONETHATEFFECTIVELYNULLIFIESTHEANTI-IDEOLOGICALSTANCEHEPUTINTHEFILMWITHJACKSONASITSMOUTHPIECE.SWINGKIDSISATTHEVERYLEASTANINTERESTINGANDWORTHYATTEMPTTHATSEEKSTOEXTENDTHEPERIMETERSOFNEWKOREANCINEMABEYONDTHOSEDEFINEDBYITSSTUBBORNCLICHÉSANDSELF-RIGHTEOUSAGENDAS.THEFACTTHATITULTIMATELYCOULDNOTSUCCEEDINBREAKINGFREEOFTHESESELF-ERECTEDWALLSDOESNOTMAKEITANYLESSCHARMINGORFUN.HOWEVER,ITISSTILLNOTTHEGREATKOREANMUSICALFILMTHATIHAVEBEENFERVENTLYWAITINGFOROVERTHELASTTWODECADES,ONETHAT,TOFOLLOWKANGHYUNG-CHUL'SOWNLEAD,ISTRULYCAPABLEOFSAYING"F*CKYOU"TOALLIDEOLOGIESANDMEANSIT.(KYUHYUNKIM)
更多文章
友情链接
