The Darkest Days of South Korea: A Frenetic Political Blockbuster
Hwang Jung-min gives a ferocious performance as one of the most notorious villains in Korean history in Kim Sung-su’s political blockbuster, 12.12: The Day. The film dramatizes one of the darkest days in South Korea’s recent past, detailing the apocalyptic events that followed the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in October 1979.
Hwang Jung-min as the tyrant
Instead of ushering in a “Seoul Spring” of hopeful change, a stand-off between senior politicians and military leaders culminated in the coup d’état of December 12, as Major General Chun Doo-hwan seized power and steered the country into its darkest chapter to date.
A Whistle-Stop Account of Chun’s Vicious Power Grab
Films until now have tended to skirt around the coup d’état itself, but Kim’s frenetic re-enactment presents a whistle-stop account of Chun’s vicious power grab, barely pausing long enough for those unfamiliar with the facts to keep up.
Jung Woo-sung as the stoic commander
Standing in Chun’s path is Jung Woo-sung’s stoic, unwavering commander of the Capital Garrison Command Lee Tae-shin (based on Jang Tae-wan). As overseer of Seoul’s military security, Lee sees his authority and workforce evaporate as Chun strong-arms the nation’s leadership to fall in line behind him.
A Witch Hunt Spearheaded by Chun’s Military Police Force
What started out as an investigation into President Park’s murder swiftly turns into a witch hunt spearheaded by Chun’s military police force, who remove potential opponents from office and coerce those that remain into supporting his push for total control of the military, and by extension, the country.
A Surprisingly Ambitious Horror Film
In a surprising turn of events, The First Omen, a debut horror film from Arkasha Stevenson, has proven to be a great surprise. It’s ambitious, striking, and thematically rich. This was a really fun conversation.
Nell Tiger Free in The First Omen
A Poignant but Flawed Film
Sasquatch Sunset, a film about a Sasquatch family coming to terms with the world around them, has its poignant moments, but ultimately feels like a one-note movie, hitting that note repeatedly, then punctuating that ponderousness with some toilet humor, violence, or just plain death.
Jesse Eisenberg in Sasquatch Sunset
A Film That Feels Far Longer Than Its 89-Minute Run Time
Ultimately, it’s a movie that feels far longer than its 89-minute run time, and it had me checking my watch wondering when it was going to get on with it or just end. The point of that day-to-day mundane living is well-taken, but it’s an interesting idea with an underwhelming execution.
