It took 10 years from the world-shocking The Wailing to making the next film — who would have thought. The director himself probably didn't know. Released amid expectations and pressure accumulated over that time, the new film Hope does not hide its ambition to reach a level Korean science fiction has never attained. It is astonishing that a film like this now comes from Korea.
Hope (written and directed by Na Hong-jin, produced by Pojed Films, co-produced by Plus M Entertainment and Westworld Co., distributed by Plus M Entertainment) begins when Beom-seok (Hwang Jung-min), the branch office chief at Hopohang located in the Demilitarized Zone, hears from local youths that a tiger has appeared and, with the whole village on alert, encounters an unbelievable reality. It was invited to the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival and is the new work of director Na Hong-jin, who rose to master status with The Chaser, The Yellow Sea and The Wailing. Many movie fans had been eagerly awaiting the film.
Hwang Jung-min delivers a spirited performance as Beom-seok, the arrogant but responsible branch office chief of Hopohang; Zo In-sung plays Seong-gi, a village youth who passes the time hunting and fishing; and Jung Ho-yeon gives a strong performance as Seong-ae, a Hopohang police officer who does her duty in any situation. The cast lineup, including Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton, drew attention even before the release.
A bull torn apart is found in the peaceful rural village of Hopohang in the Demilitarized Zone, and Beom-seok and Seong-gi's group are swept by an unexplained fear. They suspect a tiger attack and try to prepare, but signs of attacks are found throughout the village, and they even find a human corpse. At that moment, Beom-seok confronts an unknown monstrous life form that is bombing the entire village and, with a single gun in hand, fights against "that thing."
At the same time, Seong-gi's group, driven by greed for money, heads into the woods to find traces of the monster and encounters a huge spaceship deeply settled there. The creature they thought would be "money" brings the terror of death, and when humans invade its territory it unleashes indiscriminate attacks. Even the quiet forest becomes a scene of hell with the sound of human gunfire.
From the moment Hope begins, it raises tension to the maximum by showing aliens attacking Hopohang, and gun-action explodes within five minutes. For about 40 minutes, Beom-seok's bloody fight chasing the aliens and the aliens' rampage that turns the village into a wasteland unfold, yet in this period the aliens do not appear in a single shot. Only the visual direction, music and editing make viewers sweat.
Once the aliens fully appear on screen, it runs even more recklessly. Alien invaders in an 80s rural village versus the Korean police may feel unfamiliar, but you adapt in five minutes. Director Na Hong-jin leaves no time for stray thoughts and delivers extreme, blood-spattering action by the second. That does not mean it is only serious. His trademark wordplay and black comedy produce a fair number of laughs.
The stories of Beom-seok and Seong-ae fighting for their lives and Seong-gi exploring the forest proceed separately and then converge in the latter half, and the tension from moving between the two is a viewing highlight. It even feels like riding a roller coaster. Also, the final action scene in which Beom-seok, Seong-gi and Seong-ae perform between a police car and horses is unquestionably a masterpiece, a perfect slapstick set piece.
However, there are shortcomings. The somewhat unfriendly story and ending leave questions. If you want clear causes and reasons from Hope, it is hard to expect them. The very open ending may be disappointing in terms of completeness.
Judging by the ending and the post-credits scene, it looks like an ending that keeps season 2 in mind. Director Na Hong-jin said he told every story he wanted to in this film, but we cannot help but look forward to a sequel.
Opens on the 15th, rating: 15 and older, 156 minutes.
[Photo] Plus M Entertainment
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