Hands Down The 5 Best Korean Movies Of 2018 So Far
1. Psychokinesis
This superhero film opened in the number one spot on January 31, and collected $6.98 million US in admissions during its 10-week long theatrical run. Yeon Sang-ho (director of Train to Busan) directed it while Ryu Seung-ryong, Shim Eun-kyung, Park Jung-min, Kim Min-jae, and Jung Yu-mi starred in the film’s leading roles.
Psychokinesis is about a bank security guard who gains telekinetic superpowers after drinking water from a mountain spring that has been affected by a meteor. He decides to use his newfound power to save his estranged daughter, and her neighbourhood, from a diabolical construction company.
2. Believer (2018)
This action-crime film is a remake of the popular Johnnie To film Drug War (2015). It earned $28.4 million US in admissions and is one of the most popular films of 2018 so far. Believer was directed by Lee Hae-young, who also directed the highly successful myster-thriller, The Silenced (2015). It stars Cho Jin-woong, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Sung-ryung, Park Hae-joon, and was Kim Joo-hyuk‘s last film role.
The story follows an investigator who joins forces with a low-level drug dealer in order to bring down the psychotic leader of Asia’s biggest drug cartel. They each have their own motives and secrets but must work together to succeed.
4. Keys to the Heart (2018)
This lovable comedy-drama film, comes from the creators of The Himalayas (2015) and stars Lee Byung-hun, Youn Yuh-jung, and Park Jung-min. It is one of the most commercially successful comedies of 2018, having made $25.6 million US in admissions alone.
This heartwarming family movie is about two estranged brothers who couldn’t be more different. One is a washed-up boxer (Lee Byung-hun) who uses his fists to get what he wants. The other is a pianist with savant syndrome (Park Jung-min). Their lives are forever changed once they are reunited and learn what it means to be family.
4. Be with You (2018)
This heart-breaking romance film is a remake of the popular 2004 Japanese film Believer, which is based on Takuji Ichikawa‘s best-selling novel. This wildly successful Korean remake was directed by Lee Jang-hoon and features So Ji-sub and Son Ye-jin (nominated for ‘Best Actress) in the lead roles. Be With You was a box-office success, earning $19.4 million US in admissions, and winning the hearts of thousands.
Before passing away, Soo-ah (Son Ye-jin) promised her husband Woo-jin (So Ji-sub) that she would return to him one year after her death, on a rainy day. Although she miraculously kept her promise, she returned without any memories of her past. This is a film that can only end in tears, so get your tissues ready before you press ‘play’!
5. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum
This horror film’s use of found footage makes the film seem more real than fiction and has terrified millions of viewers since its release. This financially successful horror show, directed by Jung Bum-shik, earned an impressive $20.0 million in domestic admissions and is considered one of the best horror films of 2018 so far. It stars relatively unknown actors, Wi Ha-joon, Park Ji-hyun, Oh A-yeon, Moon Ye-won, Park Sung-hoon, Yoo Je-yoon, and Lee Seung-wook, as characters based on themselves. The film was especially popular in theatres due to its immersive experience. Viewers were made to feel as if the entire, terrifying adventure was really being live-streamed at the time.
In this bone-chilling film, the crew of a horror web series chose to live-stream their show in an abandoned asylum but things soon go horrible wrong. The film thrives on tension and psychological horror rather than gore as the crew delves deeper and deeper into the nightmarish psychiatric hospital.
