Category Archives: Korean

Midnight (2021) Review

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
"Midnight" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwon Oh-Seung Cast: Jin Ki-Joo, Wi Ha-Joon, Park Hoon, Gil Hae-Yeon, Kim Hye-Yoon, Na Eun-Saem, Kim Yoo-Ri, Kang Sang-Won, Lee Sang-Eun, Lim Seung-Min Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall When looking at landmark movies that came to define Korean cinema in the 21st century, it shouldn’t take too long before Na Hong-jin’s 2008 serial killer thriller The Chaser is brought into the discussion. Sure there had been serial killer … Continue reading →

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Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (2022) Review

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Nah Hyeon Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Park Hae-Soo, Yang Dong-Geun, Lee El, Song Jae-Rim, Jin Young, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi  Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall Taking its title from a type of spirit that exists in Hindu and Buddhist culture responsible for looking after hidden treasures, Yaksha: Ruthless Operations is also the name of the latest Korean offering from Netflix. Far from being a supernatural outing, here the reference is … Continue reading →

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Hard Hit (2021) Review

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Kim Chang-Ju Cast: Jo Woo-Jin, Lee Jae-In, Jin Kyung, Kim Ji-Ho, Jun Suk-Ho, Ji Chang-Wook, Haerry Kim Running Time: 94 min. By Henry McKeand The best Korean thrillers are successful because they push traditional genre elements to new extremes, creating violent psychodramas that value intensity above all else. These films often have runtimes of at least two hours, but there’s almost zero room for Hollywood sentimentality or warmed-over narrative … Continue reading →

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Real (2017) Review

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Sa-Rang Cast: Kim Soo-Hyun, Sung Dong-Il, Sung-Min, Sulli, Jo Woo-Jin, Lee Kyoung-Young, Han Ji-Eun, Kim Hong-Fa, Jung In-Gyeom, Choi Kwon, IU, Ahn So-Hee Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall Once in a while a production comes along whose reputation for being a complete train wreck precedes it. Who can forget Andy Lau apologising for appearing in the 007-inspired spy caper Switch, or Jackie Chan battling an Australian … Continue reading →

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Spiritwalker (2021) Review

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
Spiritwalker | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Director: Yoon Jae-Keun Cast: Park Yong-Woo, Lim Ji-Yeon, Park Ji-Hwan, Yoo Seung-Mok, Lee Sung-Wook, Seo Hyun-Woo, Baek Do-Gyum, Woo Kang-Min Running Time: 110 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say the body-swap plot device has been a recurring theme in cinema over the years. While more often than not the gimmick has been used for comedic purposes, thankfully there are filmmakers out there who have been willing to apply … Continue reading →

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Dynamite Shaolin Heroes, The (1977) Review

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Lee Hyeok-Su Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Lo Lieh, Kim Young-In, Choi Sung-Kyu, Kim Ki-Bum, Choe Bong, Kwan Yung-Moon, Roman Lee Kang-Jo, Kwon Il-Soo, Kim Wang-Kuk, Kim Min-Jeong Running Time: 77 min.  By Henry McKeand It’s not always easy to find behind-the-scenes information on the more obscure martial arts flicks from the 70s, but it’s almost impossible when Godfrey Ho is involved. Ho is perhaps best known for his low-budget … Continue reading →

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Beast, The (2019) Review

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
"The Beast" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Jung-Ho Cast: Lee Sung-Min, Yoo Jae-Myung, Jeon Hye-Jin, Daniel Choi, Kim Ho-Jung, An Si-Ha, Lee Sang-Hee, Kim Byung-Choon, Kim Hong-Fa, Kim Young-Sung Running Time: 130 min.  By Paul Bramhall While the Korean film industry has produced a number of remakes from its Asian neighbours like Japan and China over the years, more recently its increasingly found itself turning to European cinema to offer up a distinctly Korean spin … Continue reading →

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Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, The (2022) Review

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Kim Jung-Hoon Cast: Kang Ha-Neul, Han Hyo-Joo, Lee Kwang-Soo, Kwon Sang-Woo, Chae Soo-Bin, Sehun, Kim Sung-Oh,  Park Ji-Hwan, Kim Ki-Doo, Maeng Sang-Yul, Kim Dae-Han, Park Hoon, Lee Jung-Hyun, Han Jae-Young Running Time: 125 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s debatable if anyone was clamouring for a sequel to 2014’s slight but entertaining high seas adventure The Pirates, made in the wake of Hollywood’s successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which … Continue reading →

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No Mercy (2019) Review

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Im Kyung-Taek Cast: Lee Si-Young, Park Se-Wan, Lee Joon-Hyuk, Choi Jin-Ho, Lee Hyeong-Cheol, Kim Won-Hae, Kwak Min-Suk, Kim Ki-Moo, Yoon Song-A, An Se-Ha Running Time: 92 min.  By Paul Bramhall Not to be confused with the 2010 movie of the same name starring Sol Kyung-gu and Ryoo Seong-bum, the 2019 No Mercy is a DTV action vehicle for amateur boxer turned actress Lee Si-young. The list of boxers who have … Continue reading →

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Ashfall (2019) Review

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Hae-Jun Co-director: Kim Byung-Seo Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Ha Jung-Woo, Ma Dong-Seok, Jeon Hye-Jin, Bae Suzy, Lee Sang-Won Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall Korean cinema went for the disaster movie double in 2019, with the low-key Exit offering up a brisk comedic take on the genre, one that saw the residents of Seoul looking to escape a steadily rising cloud of poisonous gas. On the other hand, … Continue reading →

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Seobok (2021) Review

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Yong-Joo Cast: Gong Yoo, Park Bo-Gum, Jo Woo-Jin, Yeon Je-Wook, Lee Un-Jung, Lee Sang-Kyung, Park Byung-Eun, Jang Young-Nam, Kim Jae-Gun Running Time: 114 min.  By Paul Bramhall Around the turn of the millennium the Korean film industry saw itself increasingly dabbling in the science fiction genre, with movies like 2001’s 2009 Lost Memories, 2002’s Yesterday, and 2003’s Natural City, and while they all had their moments of inspiration, … Continue reading →

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Therapist: Fist of Tae-baek, The (2020) Review

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Choi Sang-Hun Cast: Oh Ji-Ho, Shin So-Yul, Jung Eui-Wook, Dong Zhang, Kim Kyeol, Bae Min-Jung, Park No-Kyeong, Jeon Hyun-Soo, No Young-Ju, Oh Kyung-Min Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall Look past the A-list productions that make it onto the cinema screens of Korea (and increasingly overseas). Look past the many B-grade productions that look to emulate the success of the bigger budgeted counterparts that inspired them. Look past … Continue reading →

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Hunt, The (2016) Review

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Woo-Chul Cast: Ahn Sung-Ki, Cho Jin-Woong, Han Ye-Ri, Kwon Yool, Park Byung-Eun, Han Jae-Young, Kim Yoon-Sung, Jo Dae-Hee, Cha Soon-Bae, Shim Yi-Young Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall The Hunt opens with a scene of a frail elderly lady approaching a long-deserted mine entrance located up a secluded mountain, the torrential rain setting an ominous tone as she lays out a numbering of offerings to the dead. … Continue reading →

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Monstrum (2018) Review

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Huh Jong-Ho Cast: Kim Myung-Min, Kim In-Kwon, Hyeri, Choi Woo-Sik, Lee Kyoung-Young, Park Hee-Soon, Park Sung-Woong, Lee Kyu-Bok, Kim Joong-Hee, Lee Seo-An Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall Ever since the success of Bong Joon-ho’s The Host in 2006, Korea’s had an on-again off-again relationship with the creature feature. Putting the social commentary aside that Joon-ho’s Han River dwelling monstrosity represented, subsequent efforts have seen the likes of … Continue reading →

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Night of the Undead, The (2019) Review

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Shin Jeong-Won Cast: Lee Jung-Hyun, Kim Sung-Oh, Seo Young-Hee, Yang Dong-Geun, Lee Mi-Do, Kim Seo-Won, Joo Bo-Bi, Lee Iyan, Woo Yeong-Taek, Woo Yeong-Taek, Shin Min-Jae Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall Based on the title The Night of the Undead it’s a fair assumption to expect another entry in the popular Korean zombie genre, however director Sin Jeong-won has something very different in mind. Opening to the suitably … Continue reading →

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