An attractive nightmare, "Killer Report" unveils its secrets.
On the 12th, a production report meeting for the film "Killer Report" was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by actors Cho Yeo-jeong, Jung Sung-il, and director Jo Young-jun.
The film "Killer Report" (directed by Jo Young-jun, distributed by A2Z Entertainment and Sony Pictures International Productions, produced by With A Studio, MIK Studio, and Pluto Story Group, distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment Korea and A2Z Entertainment) follows a veteran journalist Sun-joo (played by Cho Yeo-jeong) who is hungry for an exclusive story as psychiatrist Young-hoon (Jung Sung-il) requests an interview to confess his serial murders.
On that day, director Jo Young-jun explained about the work, saying, "The journalist, desperate for an exclusive, receives a phone call from a serial killer who wants to confess his case. As the interview progresses, the reasons and purposes of the interview and the truths hidden in the background are revealed."
He continued, "From the very beginning, I created the characteristics of the journalist and the serial killer and started to imagine. It's a personal experience; one day at the zoo, I saw a child looking at a tiger. It seemed very peaceful, but suddenly I thought, what if the bars that separate them were to move? It would be very different. Although no incident occurred, I felt that tension would exist. So, I wanted to create a story where only these two are in one space to generate that tension."
He also shared about the casting. Director Jo said, "In casting the two characters, I didn't want to give a flat impression that one is evil and the other is good. They are both human; one has more good qualities, but it's just a matter of proportion. I wanted them to have human aspects. Ultimately, I hope they express the multidimensionality of their characters well. So, I believe the two actors matched almost perfectly. As you'll see in the film, while it discusses good and evil, the final decision of who is good and who is evil is left to the audience."
Additionally, Director Jo said, "When I was thinking about what kind of character to set, I wanted to create a verbal duel with knives. Nowadays, isn't it often said that words can 'scratch'? The impact of words can be much stronger, and I think the effect is significant. I wanted to create a conflict based not on physical collisions but on logic. So, I wanted to craft a situation where two people, who can't lose in verbal battles like in the thrilling 100-minute debates, confront each other and draw out deep wounds." He added, "I have many journalist friends around me, and they have been hurt a lot. So I thought it would be interesting to set up a character with intellectual abilities challenging a journalist."
Moreover, he expressed his satisfaction with the actors, saying, "I am more than 100% satisfied. It's not something you can quantify. We had internal screenings, and I watched it so many times that I could sing along. Every time, I realized the same thing. 'Killer Report' is indeed about feeling drained. After watching, most people feel exhausted. It's not because it's boring; it's about having to handle the spark that continues between the two characters. The emotional weight given at the end is something the audience has to bear. After watching, I think it would be nice if the audience could enjoy some samgyetang."
Cho Yeo-jeong plays Baek Sun-joo, a veteran reporter desperate for an exclusive story who participates in a dangerous interview after being offered a one-on-one meeting with the serial killer Young-hoon. Regarding her involvement in the project, Cho Yeo-jeong confessed, "It was a movie format I've never seen before. It's amazing that a film could be made entirely from a 1:1 interview and that it could be filled with sufficient tension for two hours. The script itself was incredibly immersive, which was frightening for me. Could I really pull this off? It felt like there was nowhere to hide."
She continued, "So I pondered quite a bit. Ultimately, when the book was presented to me as the actor, I wondered what they saw and what they believed in when giving it to me. I wanted to trust in that belief." She also mentioned, "I had a brief experience working with Jung Sung-il in a drama, and I remembered it fondly. I thought if Sung-il was there, I could trust and rely on him, which turned out to be true. While filming, I relied on him a lot, and I felt it was a good challenge to take on."
Regarding the behind-the-scenes of her character, she said, "It had been a long time since I played a character like a journalist in a professional field, and it was very challenging. When thinking about what kind of boldness a journalist who confronts a serial killer would have, I always feel like there are many ways to articulate as a person. So I thought about how a journalist's articulation would be. I paid attention to that articulation. I'm not an anchor with excellent diction, so I focused on trying to portray a 'journalist-like' performance within that boundary."
Jung Sung-il, who plays psychiatrist and serial killer Lee Young-hoon, said, "The first time I received the script was during a performance rehearsal. When I opened it during a break, I ended up taking the entire break. I couldn't put it down because I was curious about what happened next. I read it all at once, and as soon as I finished, I was scared it might go to someone else before me. I was worried if I could do this, so I immediately called. I said I absolutely wanted to do it. It was a story like I had never seen before." He added, "My first impression felt like the tension I felt watching an old movie called 'Phone Booth.' The script was that well-crafted, and I had no doubt that I wanted to be involved."
He also shared about the set. He said, "The set was great. Since it takes place in one space, I felt it was similar to what I do in performances or musicals, where I play the same role in one location. Here, there's progress and changes in the same space, so there was no time to be bored. It was a special experience, acting differently in the same space. I not only had fun but also made a lot of memories playing around on the monitor, creating a refreshing atmosphere, especially when I felt like I would die from tension. So, even after filming finished, we often met and shared relaxing time together. It helped deepen our relationships."
Especially for Jung Sung-il, who is making his commercial film debut, he remarked, "Honestly, I never imagined this would happen. I think being the lead in a commercial film is a family honor. Now I have no regrets," he joked. "Of course, I want to be the lead. But at the same time, it's also a significant burden for me. I have to carry the film along with my fellow actors, which entails clear risks. But rather than that, I think I was more focused on doing my best without regrets. It felt like a memorable experience being able to work with these colleagues without worrying too much about being a lead or supporting role."
Finally, Director Jo shared, "Sometimes people have nightmares, and when they wake up, they think, 'It was a nightmare, but it was fascinating.' I think our film has that kind of allure. While watching, you may feel anxious, tense, and threatened, yet there's also a desire to see more." Jung Sung-il added, "I trust that Yeo-jeong will handle the box office success. Following the momentum of 'Zombie Daughter,'" he said with a smile, "I'm confident not because it's a work I participated in, but I truly believe in it. I won't say 'please watch,' but rather 'please save me' in asking for audiences to come out."
[Photo] OSEN DB
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