Psychokinesis
Netflix
It may come as a shock, but there are awesome superhero movies that exist outside of the canon of Marvel and DC. In “Psychokinesis,” the very first superhero movie ever made in South Korea, a bank security guard gains telekinetic superpowers after drinking water from a mountain spring affected by a meteor, and chooses to use his new powers to save his estranged daughter and her neighborhood from an evil construction company. There’s plenty of explosive superhero spectacle to enjoy, but in typical Sang-ho fashion, the film is full of heart and gives plenty of character to root for. This is one that deserved so much more attention than it was given, and proves that there shouldn’t be a monopoly on super-stories.
“Psychokinesis” is available exclusively to stream on Netflix.
Peninsula
Shudder
In the not-a-sequel-but-totally-a-sequel to “Train to Busan,” Yeon Sang-ho swung for the fences of extreme action, and completely knocked it out of the park with the absolutely batsh*t “Peninsula.” A stark contrast from the claustrophobia of the original, “Peninsula” is loud and large. The film follows a former soldier who is sent with a team to retrieve a truck full of money from the destroyed lands of the Korean peninsula now overrun by zombies, rogue militia, and a family stranded and surrounded by danger. The film is cartoonishly bombastic in a way that feels more in line with “Mad Max” than the zombie films Sang-ho is known for, but proves that he’s not a one-trick pony, and has the ability to direct films on a varying spectrum of mayhem.
“Peninsula” is a Shudder exclusive.
Netflix
With the success of shows like “Squid Game” and “Hellbound,” 2021 has been a huge year for South Korean horror on Netflix. Based on “The Hell,” a digital comic written by Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Kyu-seok, “Hellbound” is about a nation learning to cope with a new phenomenon of unearthly beings showing up and dishing out bloody condemnation to those deemed sinners, leading to the rise of a religious sect led by Jung Jin-soo (Yoo Ah-in) founded on divine justice. From the official synopsis:
Investigating the phenomenon of “proclamations” and ritualistic murders is police detective Jin Kyung-hoon (Yang Ik-june). Examining the mysterious sect are broadcast journalist Bae Young-jae (Park Jeong-min) and lawyer of the accused sinners Min Hey-jin (Kim Hyun-joo). Together, these three investigators search for answers in this wildly original commentary on the growing anxieties of a nation.
“Hellbound” debuted this week on Netflix, and should hopefully fill the void left behind by “Squid Game” — as long as people can look past the gigantic ads for “Tiger King” season 2. While Yeon Sang-ho may not be a household name in America yet, he is responsible for one of the most talked-about horror films of the decade, “Train to Busan.” If you enjoyed “Hellbound” and want to see more from the same creator, or just want to watch some of the best South Korean genre films in general, here are all the movies by Yeon Sang-ho that you can stream right now.
“Hellbound” debuted this week on Netflix, and should hopefully fill the void left behind by “Squid Game” — as long as people can look past the gigantic ads for “Tiger King” season 2. While Yeon Sang-ho may not be a household name in America yet, he is responsible for one of the most talked-about horror films of the decade, “Train to Busan.” If you enjoyed “Hellbound” and want to see more from the same creator, or just want to watch some of the best South Korean genre films in general, here are all the movies by Yeon Sang-ho that you can stream right now.
Investigating the phenomenon of “proclamations” and ritualistic murders is police detective Jin Kyung-hoon (Yang Ik-june). Examining the mysterious sect are broadcast journalist Bae Young-jae (Park Jeong-min) and lawyer of the accused sinners Min Hey-jin (Kim Hyun-joo). Together, these three investigators search for answers in this wildly original commentary on the growing anxieties of a nation.
Train to Busan
Shudder
Seoul Station
Psychokinesis
It may come as a shock, but there are awesome superhero movies that exist outside of the canon of Marvel and DC. In “Psychokinesis,” the very first superhero movie ever made in South Korea, a bank security guard gains telekinetic superpowers after drinking water from a mountain spring affected by a meteor, and chooses to use his new powers to save his estranged daughter and her neighborhood from an evil construction company. There’s plenty of explosive superhero spectacle to enjoy, but in typical Sang-ho fashion, the film is full of heart and gives plenty of character to root for. This is one that deserved so much more attention than it was given, and proves that there shouldn’t be a monopoly on super-stories.
“Psychokinesis” is available exclusively to stream on Netflix.
“Psychokinesis” is available exclusively to stream on Netflix.
Peninsula
In the not-a-sequel-but-totally-a-sequel to “Train to Busan,” Yeon Sang-ho swung for the fences of extreme action, and completely knocked it out of the park with the absolutely batsh*t “Peninsula.” A stark contrast from the claustrophobia of the original, “Peninsula” is loud and large. The film follows a former soldier who is sent with a team to retrieve a truck full of money from the destroyed lands of the Korean peninsula now overrun by zombies, rogue militia, and a family stranded and surrounded by danger. The film is cartoonishly bombastic in a way that feels more in line with “Mad Max” than the zombie films Sang-ho is known for, but proves that he’s not a one-trick pony, and has the ability to direct films on a varying spectrum of mayhem.
“Peninsula” is a Shudder exclusive.
“Peninsula” is a Shudder exclusive.
