Peninsula largely fulfils the requisites for a blockbuster action/horror in a basic sense, but more depth to the narrative and more fully fledged characters rather than caricatures could have allowed it to step so much further towards the genre busting originality that drew so many of us to classic Korean cinema in the first place. [Read More]
People: Lee Re
Seven Years of Night (7년의밤, 2018) review: guilt, inherited sin and uneasy revenge
As a hard-hitting, brutal revenge thriller balanced with emotion and pathos detailing guilt and regret, Seven Years of Night stands up well to scrutiny. However director Choo Chang-min’s decision to repeatedly leave supposedly supernatural elements open to question brings with it a feeling of missed opportunities. [Read More]
Hope (aka Wish) (소원, 2013) review: finding humanity and healing in the aftermath of unthinkable trauma
A devastating yet profoundly humane drama, Hope focuses on a young girl’s journey towards physical and emotional recovery after unimaginable trauma. Director Lee Joon-ik balances heartbreak with compassion, crafting a deeply moving film anchored by an astonishing, career-defining performance from child actress Lee Re. [Read More]