For those who ventured into South Korean cinema years ago, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite was no surprise, as the country has one of the most prolific and vibrant movie scenes in the world. If so, and despite not being the genre of choice for Korean filmmakers, there are plenty of impressive sci-fi productions out there.
South Korean sci-fi movies put a different spin on the genre, without many of the tropes present in their Western counterparts. It’s exactly what led to the creation of the widely successful dystopian nightmare that is squid gameas well as the Netflix sci-fi series Silent sea. For fans of this culture’s take on the popular genre, what else is there to see?
The Host (2006)
This one isn’t totally underrated, but it’s very easy for The host flying past your radar given the nature of Bong Joon-ho’s other films. The host leans towards the more simplistic side of sci-fi. It focuses on early failed experiments that would lead to a giant monster terrorizing a certain population, just like godzilla.
What makes The host What is special is the intricate mix of political satire and social commentary, which is a staple of Bong’s work. Here it is seen through the eyes of a Korean version of Little Miss Sunshine’s dysfunctional family, led by one of Bong’s favorite actors more recognizable to a wider audience, Song Kang-ho. The host features mad scientists, political cover-ups, the hilarious interactions of the Park family, and a river monster that still looks good in 2022. It pretty much checks all the boxes.
Save the green planet! (2003)
Ironically, Jang Joon-hwan’s masterpiece doesn’t define itself as hard sci-fi. Instead, it blurs the lines between that genre, horror, comedy, and action, presenting itself to viewers as “something they’ve never seen before.” It’s safe to say the film lives up to that premise. The movie stars Shin Ha-kyun (Joint safety zone), another well-known South Korean actor, as Byeong-gu, a troubled man who kidnaps a pharmaceutical director who is completely convinced that he is the leader of Andromedan aliens seeking to conquer Earth.
For that, he enlists the help of his mentally challenged circus performer girlfriend to embark on an adventure that challenges viewers and keeps viewers on their toes to determine what’s real and what isn’t. Save the green planet! absolutely bombed when it came out in South Korea, but the film’s unique style and many twists and turns have made it a cult classic for anyone who appreciates Korean cinema.
Young Gun in Time (2012)
While missing the big names commonly associated with many South Korean film exports, Young gun in time is a valiant effort by Oh Young-do to produce a remarkable film that you can easily love, despite its miniscule $30,000 budget. One-armed Hawaiian private detective Young Gun, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, turns down a case of a woman named Choi Song Hyun. Nevertheless, he is struck by her beauty and follows her only to witness her death.
The sci-fi twist comes when Song Hyun from three days in the future appears and asks Young Gun to save her life by finding a mysterious watch that doubles as a time machine. Young Gun has three days to rescue Song Hyun. His adventure turns out to be quite a ride, but unfortunately this is Oh Young-do’s last film yet.
alien (2022)
Choi Dong-hoon’s seventh film, who lined up this year to become South Korea’s big summer blockbuster, became a rare blockbuster for the Tazza: The High Rollers director, although that was largely due to the large production budget. alien lives up to its title with plenty of aliens, robots, and time travel, all of which add up to a rare modern sci-fi adventure.
alien opened to mixed reception in South Korea, but it remains a film well worth watching once it becomes available to Western audiences, if only because it is so unique among other Korean films thanks to its world-building. In each case, Alienoid part 2 is already green-lit, meaning Choi will have a chance to fine-tune his formula.
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion (2018) and Part 2. The Other (2022)
South Korean cinema seems to be somewhat immune to producing endless sequels, even some of its biggest hits. However, Park Hoon-jung’s The witch certainly deserved the chance for a second entry for this riveting horror sci-fi. The film opens with a mysterious girl who escapes from a lab, only to collapse on the ranch of the Goo, her new adoptive parents.
The girl, Ja-yoon, develops psychic powers, as well as superhero levels of strength and speed. These powers, once revealed, quickly attract the attention of the media and her former captors, leading to a chase that parallels her own quest to save her family. The sequel, Part 2. The Othermanages to capture the charm of the original, albeit with a mostly different set of characters.
Honorable Mentions: Seo Bok, Doomsday Bookand Nabi.
0 Comments