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]
Hangul Celluloid Korean film reviews
Young-ju (영주, 2018) review: a childhood cut short
Though Young-ju is her debut feature, Cha Sung-duk brings a directorial confidence to this hard-hitting yet gently poignant drama that ensures it wholly succeeds an emotive powerhouse from start to finish, helped yet further by a remarkable, stunningly nuanced performance from actress Kim Hyang-gi… [Read More]
Parasite (기생충, 2019) review: Bong Joon-ho’s masterful satire of class and capitalism
While one would routinely expect a film from a director as well thought of and respected as Bong Joon-ho to be exemplary, Parasite not only virtually redefines that description but also raises the bar for other films and directors to aspire to. In short, miss this wry, insightful and masterful social drama at your peril. [Read More]
1987: When the Day Comes (1987, 2018) review: a vital chronicle of Korea’s path to democracy
1987: When the Day Comes is an exquisitely realised, multi-layered true-life depiction of life and activism in 80s Korea, and the fact that the events portrayed are far less spoken about than the Gwangju massacre but were equally important to the ultimate democratisation of the country makes the film all the more required viewing. [Read More]
Okja (옥자, 2017) review: a topical and eccentric critique of corporate lunacy
Accomplished, quirky, eccentric and wholly memorable, Okja is not only a David & Goliath tale for the 21st century but also a hugely entertaining and insightful story of the ordinary pushed to extraordinary lengths by corporate lunacy, albeit with a couple of minor caveats. [Read More]
Will you be there? (당신거기있어줄래요, 2016) review: love, regret and the weight of time
Based on Guillaume Musso’s French novel Seras-tu là?, director Hong Ji-young’s gently engaging ‘Will You Be There?’ fits so well with a number of utterly classic Korean cinema tropes, genres and sub-genres that it wholly succeeds on both a specifically Korean and generally international level… [Read More]
The Wailing (곡성, 2016) review: a relentless descent into fear and paranoia
The Wailing takes director Na Hong-jin’s almost trademark intricate, pulse-pounding narrative intensity and ramps it up yet further with palpable character fear, paranoia and desperation. Thriller by name, utterly thrilling in nature, this darkly violent, three-pronged horror ‘whodunit’ is a worthy successor to The Chaser and The Yellow Sea. [Read More]
Train to Busan (부산행, 2016) review: zombies, corporate self-interest and a relentless ride
A father and daughter’s train journey becomes a fight for survival when a zombie outbreak erupts onboard. Combining ferocious, fast-moving undead with humour, emotional stakes and critiques of corporate selfishness, Train to Busan delivers white-knuckle intensity, crowd-pleasing thrills and a rare balance of spectacle and human drama. Miss it at your peril. [Read More]
The Truth Beneath (비밀은 없다, 2016) review: politics, betrayal and a mother’s descent into reckoning
Initially appearing to be a tale of politics and family, ‘The Truth Beneath’ ultimately shows itself to be a far more personal and poignant story of one woman’s efforts to uncover the truth of what happened to her daughter, and her discovery in the process of the lies and betrayal that permeate her entire life. [Read More]
Scarlet Innocence (마담 뺑덕, 2014) review: from illicit desire to ruthless revenge
While this present day reinterpretation of classic Korean folktale ‘Simcheongga’ deviates from the original story, the intricately twisted, deeply involved and emotional nature of Yim Pil-sung’s sexually charged thriller positively screams of its pansori origin. A cautionary tale perfectly wrapped within a story of revenge and retribution, Scarlet Innocence is as unpredictable as it is gripping. [Read More]
The Silenced (경성학교: 사라진 소녀들, 2015) review: atmosphere, mystery and unfulfilled promise
Initially accomplished and deftly realised, The Silenced sadly soon becomes a victim of its own early promise. While the mystery at the film’s core has worked well enough as a theme in ‘B’ action movies and sci-fi TV shows, the praiseworthy aspects of The Silenced ultimately deserve a far more original and unpredictable outcome… [Read More]
Miss Granny (수상한 그녀, 2014) review: youth reclaimed, manners forgotten
While ‘Miss Granny’ is light-hearted entertainment at its core, it nonetheless contains aspects inherent to classic Korean comedies over the years and elements that speak of a number of hugely influential films; all adding up to an intelligently written, genuinely funny film that stands as an example of quality Korean comedy at its very best. [Read More]
Mourning Grave (소녀괴담, 2014) review: classic Korean horror with heart, humour and romance
With ‘Mourning Grave’, director Oh In-chun extends his experience of blending horror and humour to include romance and melodrama; thereby not only fulfilling the almost requisite Korean cinema merging of love, loss and laughter elements in a single narrative but also resulting in the film feeling utterly classic, from the first frame to the last. [Read More]
Moebius (뫼비우스, 2013) review: fate, family, violence, and endless loops of desire
Originally given a Restricted rating by the Korean Media Ratings Board, Kim Ki-duk’s twisted tale of sex, religion, castration and incest subsequently underwent a number of cuts to gain a mainstream domestic cinema release. ‘Moebius’ is no less shocking as a result of those cuts. [Read More]
The Peach Tree (복숭아나무, 2012) review: a gentle, nuanced melodrama of conjoined brotherhood
Any Korean film detailing themes of acceptance within a narrative centred on disability cannot fail to bring with it mention of Lee Chang-dong’s masterful ‘Oasis’, but ‘The Peach Tree’ largely manages to hold its own fairly well in the face of such illustrious company; albeit with one or two minor caveats. [Read More]
Snowpiercer (설국열차, 2013) review: class revolt, power and survival at the end of the world
Based on the French graphic novel ‘Le Transperceneige’, ‘Snowpiercer’ can equally be viewed as an analogy to and critique of real world oppression; a hero’s journey in classic Monomyth style; or simply a gripping and exciting rollercoaster ride of entertainment. Snowpiercer will leave you both exhilarated and breathless. [Read More]