Kim Seo-hyung aims to become 'scream queen' through 'Whispering Corridors 6' Actors Kim Seo-hyung, left, and Kim Hyeon-soo pose during a press conference for the film “Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming” held in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of kthBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Kim Seo-hyung, known for playing charismatic roles including the cold-blooded tutor in JTBC's drama “Sky Castle,” said she wants to become known as a “scream queen” through the upcoming horror film “Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming.”“Honestly, I can't watch scary movies. I screamed while watching this one. The scenes in the latter half of the film were especially challenging because I had to walk into a room covered in blood. Although I was aware it was fake, it scared the hell out of me,” she said during a press conference for the film, Wednesday. “Although I can't handle horror films, I really want to become a scream queen.”The upcoming film centers on Eun-hee (Kim Seo-hyung), who has no memory of her high school years due to a traumatic event, returning to her alma mater as vice principal.One day, a student named Ha-yJun 9, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Horror film 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' tops Korean box office Actors Patrick Wilson, right, and Vera Farmiga in a scene from “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea By Kwak Yeon-sooThe American horror film “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is soaring in local box offices, topping charts for three consecutive days since its release, data showed Sunday.Released on Thursday, the third installment in “The Conjuring” franchise garnered a total of 233,620 tickets from Thursday to Saturday, grossing over 2.35 billion won ($2.1 million), according to the data by the Korean Film Council.Directed by Michael Chaves and inspired by the 1981 murder trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, “The Conjuring 3” revolves around a detective couple Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) who investigate a murder that may be linked to a demonic possession.Disney's “Cruella,” which premiered on May 26, attracted 109,592 moviegoers on Saturday, adding to a total gross of 5.35 billion won. The film is tJun 6, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Third 'Quiet Place' movie set for release in 2023 A scene from the movie A Quiet Place 2 / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentParamount Pictures has announced it will release a third A Quiet Place thriller on March 31, 2023.The second film is currently No. 1 at the North American box office after earning $48.4 million in receipts last weekend.This is the highest box office take in the United States and Canada since the coronavirus pandemic shut down most cinemas and caused the cancellation of film releases more than a year ago.The third movie will be helmed by Midnight Special, Mud, Take Shelter and Loving filmmaker Jeff Nichols.Nichols will take over from John Krasinski, who directed and acted alongside his wife, Emily Blunt, in the first two pictures about sound-sensitive monsters wreaking havoc on a small town in upstate New York.Krasinski's character was killed at the end of the first movie, but is seen via flashback in the sequel.Nichols wrote the screenplay for the next installment, based on an idea from Krasinski. (UPI)Jun 6, 2021
Hong Sang-soo's 'In Front of Your Face' marks his 11th entry to Cannes Film director Hong Sang-soo, left, and actress Kim Min-hee / Korea Times file Renowned South Korean director Hong Sang-soo will participate in the Cannes Film Festival again with his 26th feature, "In Front of Your Face." According to the festival's 2021 official lineup announced June 3, "In Front of Your Face" was listed in Cannes Premieres, a new section dedicated to works from well-established filmmakers.Hong was invited with nine other filmmakers, including Arnaud Desplechin for "Deception," Mathieu Amalric for "Hold Me Tight," Andrea Arnold with "Cow" and Charlotte Gainsbourg for "Jane Par Charlotte.""Hong Sang-soo is one of the most prolific moviemakers of today's cinema," artistic director Thierry Fremaux said during the announcement. "His selections are very minimalist and personal movies. They are creative, inspiring and crystallizing something that shaped today's cinema.""In Front of Your Face," in which Hong played the roles of director, screenwriter, cinJun 5, 2021
'Emergency Declaration,' 'In Front of Your Face' invited to Cannes' non-competition A poster of "Emergency Declaration" / Courtesy of ShowboxSouth Korean films "Emergency Declaration," directed by Han Jae-rim, and "In Front of Your Face" by Hong Sang-soo were invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival.In the official selection for the 74th Cannes Film Festival announced on Thursday, "Emergency Declaration" was listed in the Out of Competition category along with five other films, including "The Velvet Underground" by Todd Haynes, "Stillwater" by Tom McCarthy and "De Son Vivant" by Emmanuelle Bercot.Celebrated South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo's "In Front of Your Face" was named in the Cannes Premieres section.The announcement marked the first time in five years in which a Korean film failed to make an entry to Cannes' main competition, excluding last year when the festival was canceled.Since Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden" in 2016, Bong Joon-ho's "Okja" (2017), Hong's "The Day After" (2017), Lee Chang-dong's "Burning" and Bong's "Parasite" (2019) were selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. "Parasite" won the top prize at that year.The Cannes festival, Jun 3, 2021
German documentary 'Who We Are' opens 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival A scene from “Who We Are,” the opening film of the 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival / Courtesy of SEFFBy Kwak Yeon-sooThis year's Seoul International Eco Film Festival (SEFF), Asia's biggest environmental film fest, kicked off a seven-day run Thursday through June 9.Under the slogan “ECOvolution” ― a compound mix of “eco,” “revolution” and evolution” ― 64 films from 25 countries that feature environmental issues will be screened during the festival at Megabox Seongsu in Seoul. For those unable to attend, digital screenings are also available through the festival's website and broadcaster MBC. The 18th edition of SEFF will open with “Who We Are,” a documentary by German filmmaker Marc Bauder. It features contemporary thinkers and modern scientists who diagnose the current state of the world as they examine the relationship between climate change and the global economy.“The film was selected as the opening film because it looks at human history in the context of a massive crisis,” said Seo Do-eun, aJun 3, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Couple strives to fix broken relationship in 'Sweet & Sour' Actors Jang Ki-yong, left, and Chae Soo-bin, in a scene from “Sweet & Sour” / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-sooThe romantic comedy film, “Sweet & Sour,” depicts a bittersweet relationship filled with authentic dialogue and realistic situations, according to director Lee Gye-byok, who previously helmed quirky comedies such as, “Cheer up, Mr. Lee” (2019) and “Luck-key” (2016).At a press conference for the film, Tuesday, Lee explained that the relationship problems portrayed in the upcoming film are both cynical and realistic.“When dating someone, there aren't always joyous and loving moments. Sometimes, the feelings of a relationship turn sour or bitter. I wanted to tell a story that is authentic and realistic,” he said.He added that the upcoming film's title was named after a popular chewy candy in Korea.“When I was working on the script for 'Sour & Sweet,' I frequently enjoyed sour and sweet flavored chewy candies,” he said. “One of these candies will taste sour Jun 2, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Youn Yuh-jung's never-before-released film to be unveiled in July By Kwak Yeon-sooPoster for “An Experience to Die For” / Courtesy of Blue Film WorksLate legendary director Kim Ki-young's never-before-released film “An Experience to Die For,” starring Academy Award-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung, will meet audiences this summer.Film distributor Blue Film Works said on Monday that Kim's 1990 film will be remastered in 4K and showcased for moviegoers in July. The film was screened at the 3rd Busan International Film Festival in 1998 during a retrospective screening of Kim's films, but has never been released officially in theaters. It has been reported that Kim refused to release it in theaters after shooting had finished, saying he wasn't satisfied with the final product. “An Experience to Die For” is a suspense-revenge drama that revolves around two women ― Yuh-jung (Youn), who lost her son due to her husband's fault, and Myung-ja (Lee Tam-mi), who divorced her husband due to his infidelity. Feeling betrayed, the two women plan to murder each other's husbands. This marks Youn's third collaboration with director KiMay 31, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Much-anticipated animated films coming to theaters in June A scene from “Luca” / Courtesy of Walt Disney KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooEarly this year, two animated films from the United States and Japan became unexpected saviors for the virus-hit film industry. Disney-Pixar's “Soul” attracted more than 2 million moviegoers, becoming the first film in eight months to achieve the feat since “Deliver Us From Evil.” “Demon Slayer” from Japan also surpassed 2 million in ticket sales, becoming the sixth-most-viewed Japanese film of all time, following “Your Name” (2016), “Howl's Moving Castle” (2004), “Spirited Away” (2001), “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” (2008) and “Love Letter” (1995).With anticipated releases like Disney-Pixar's “Luca” and Studio Ghibli's “Earwig and the Witch,” June will likely be an interesting month for fantasy anime fans. “Luca,” a coming-of-age story set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, will release in theaters on June 17. It follows two young boys who form a strong friMay 28, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Veteran actress Go Doo-shim to play 'haenyeo' in upcoming film A scene from “Everglow” / Courtesy of Myung FilmsBy Kwak Yeon-sooVeteran actress Go Doo-shim, nicknamed “the nation's mother” because of her role in the drama series, “Fields of Home,” (1980-2002) is returning to the big screen after two years to play the role of a “haenyeo,” one of the UNESCO-recognized female divers of Jeju Island.In the upcoming film, “Everglow,” Go will be playing the hot-tempered haenyeo, Jin-ok, who makes a living by harvesting sea life from the ocean. One day, a documentary filmmaker, Kyung-hoon (Ji Hyun-woo), visits her and asks to document her life. Jin-ok, who stubbornly refuses to appear in a documentary, begins to open her mind to him.On taking the lead role, Go said it felt like fate, because it's a film about haenyeo, who are a key cultural icon of her home of Jeju Island. “I enjoyed a bright moment in my life while shooting this film,” she said. Director So Joon-moon said that he was motivated to make a film about haenyeo after meeting some of the brave diving women on Jeju Island.May 27, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
