Tag: South Korea

Is The Seoul Guardians a Shocking Thriller or a History Lesson?

Three broadcast journalists turned directors revisit the December 2024 night South Korea’s lawmakers raced to lift martial law. In The Seoul Guardians, here’s how the footage holds up as a thriller, and why it brings Tiananmen Square to mind.

The Seoul Guardians Movie PosterUnless viewers are already in the know, what The Seoul Guardians does is look back at a crisis that took place in South Korea on December 3, 2024, when then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law and attempted a self-coup. He accused the political opposition of collaborating with North Korea, and in order to prevent lawmakers from entering and voting to lift martial law, he ordered police and military forces to seal off the National Assembly.

To an outsider, this was a moment that changed how the world looked at this nation. Whether outsiders reacted with xenophobia or something much worse, there are insights to be had. Broadcast journalists turned directors Kim Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wan, and Cho Chul-young documented everything, cinéma vérité style, and what’s presented is bold. The people with the power to lift martial law were scaling walls and roofs. A quorum must be made in order to get anywhere, and when push comes to shove, that’s when this work starts to earn its wings.

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Aachi and Ssipak Turns 20! Host a Streaming Watch Party?

Aachi and Ssipak is a gloriously collision of dystopian science fiction, black comedy and manic animation. Its crisp 2K restoration gives this bizarre South Korean cult film another chance to find its audience.

Aachi and Ssipak Title CardAvailable to stream on Darkroom

Aachi and Ssipak is one of those strange, animated works that needs to be seen to be believed. If it’s even remotely possible to say this movie is a product born from visual tropes popularized by other works, like Ren and Stimpy meets South Park, then that’s this bizarre South Korean work in a nutshell. It won’t be for everyone either, due to its very adult content; but it’s available to screen on Darkroom, a streaming platform that’s building a solid reputation as a place for the bizarre and underappreciated.

For a film that’s totally whacked out, the concept is actually quite novel. Whether there’s any truth to turning methane into fuel has been the subject of speculation for some time. What’s explored here is less about the science and more about how dystopian things can become if governments and private industries get their way. In a localized part of the world where human excrement is the city’s only source of energy, the keepers reward citizens with addictive “Hard” popsicles for keeping the supply flowing.

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Aachi and Ssipak, Now Playing on Darkroom! Don’t Let This Punk Rock Epic Slide Away

In a dystopian city where human waste is the only remaining energy source, Aachi and Ssipak are two street-smart thugs get caught in a chaotic, ultra-violent turf war between the government, mutated addicts, and a girl with a new-found power everyone wants

Aachi and Ssipak Title Card
Also available to stream on Crunchyroll and Apple TV+

Now playing on the streaming platform Darkroom is Aachi and Ssipak, and this action film is sure to cause some waves. Directed by Jo Beom-jin and originally released in 2006, what’s special about it is its cult status and that this release arrives just in time to honour its 20th anniversary! Since it’s highly regarded for its punk rock roots and over-the-top action sequences, yes, it’s on the must see list for the weekend! Just be warned, this work is not made for kids to watch.

And best of all, this service is affordable. Memberships are only $2.99.

Synopsis:

In a dystopian future where all natural resources have been depleted, human waste has become the city’s sole source of energy. To maximize energy production, the government incentivizes defecation by rewarding citizens with “Hard” – which are highly addictive, hallucinogenic popsicles. Before long, a group of mutated outcasts known as the “Bojagi Gang” emerges. Having lost their ability to defecate due to severe “Hard” addiction, they are brutally exiled from the city for being “unproductive.”

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The Secret Storylines K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 Needs

It’s official: K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 is happening, but fans may wait years. If the sequel leans into folklore, side stories and stronger character arcs, it could become a rare animated follow-up that truly matures with its audience.

K-Pop Demon Hunters movie posterIt’s official—K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 is a go. Fans, however, will have to wait perhaps four years before it arrives. That’s a tough pill to swallow for anyone hoping to see Rumi, Mira, Su-Min, and the rest of the team back in action. What made the debut spectacular was its blend of folklore and modern Korean pop culture—especially Rumi’s reluctant connection to the demon world, which now puts her at a crossroads between fame, duty, and peace.

Although the wait will be long, hopefully it’ll all be worth it. Fans have expectations—especially in seeing what’s next for the lead, and whether her demon boyfriend will come back. That forbidden attraction is what drew me into the tale. The trope is a variation on the Legend of the White Snake, a classic story where a goddess falls for a mortal man. Here, the roles are reversed, giving the story a fresh emotional dynamic. The beliefs about what happens to the soul are also distinct from other cultural takes, which makes this story feel uniquely Korean.

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From Comic Book to Live-Action, Holy Night Demon Hunters Delivers Style Over Substance

When there’s a web comic tie-in prequel to Holy Night Demon Hunters, the transition is fairly solid, and worth reading for those who love the lore behind this work.

Holy Night Demon Hunters Movie PosterAfter watching Holy Night Demon Hunters, I found myself reflecting on the increasing number of South Korean films tackling the subject of exorcism. Over the past four years, interest in this theme has surged. With titles like Exuma and Dark Nuns (review links), it’s worth considering how they might be thematically connected—and where Holy Night Demon Hunters fits into that larger picture.

Written and directed by Lim Dae-hee, this film marks an ambitious directorial debut and may well be the start of a new franchise. There are elements that work, and a few questions that linger. What I didn’t realize going in is that the movie is based on the web comic Holy Night: The Zero, which helps clarify the backstory for some of the characters—especially Ba-Woo (Ma Dong-seok, who also served as executive producer) and Joseph. Both are orphans, but while Ba-Woo becomes a detective (imagine a mix of Blade and Batman), Joseph enters the priesthood. Although Joseph doesn’t appear in the live-action film, his influence is deeply felt.

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A Nerd’s Guide to the 2025 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

Although the number of genre films seems small in this year’s Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, the number of drama are always high as the 2025 event is ready to rumble starting tomorrow!

Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival LOGORuns: May 1st to 7th, 2025

When I have a fondness for films made in Asia, I’m always excited to see what the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will screen. This event kicks off tomorrow, and I’m always curious about who may become the next Bong Joon Ho. Or rather, wonder if this event will premiere the next exciting genre flick! My coverage over the years always considers this side of the show before extending the list to other movies that pique my interest.

And while some years offer more fantastical works than others in the short film category, there’s still some good drama to find! This top picks in what to see also considers this category too.

Chinatown Cha-Cha
China, Directed by Luka Yuanyuan Yang

CHINATOWN CHA-CHAThe 92-year-old previous nightclub dancer Coby Yee decides to get back on stage again after joining the senior dance troupe Grant Avenue Follies. Together they go on a tour for the last time, bridging once isolated Chinese communities in the US, Cuba, and China.

From Okinawa With Love
Japan & USA, Directed by Hiroshi Sunairi

In the 1970s, Okinawan photographer Mao Ishikawa worked as a barmaid for African American GIs and published an impressive photography book.

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