By Han Sang-hee, Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporters
Local broadcasters and the movie industry are preparing to help viewers kill the summer heat with horror programs and movies this month. Here is some of what's being offered.
Small Screen
MBC, which has had a successful history of horror dramas, including "M - Drama", starring popular actress
Shim Eun-ha in 1994, hopes to reprise that success with the drama " Possessed".
"'Possessed' ('
HON - Soul') is not based on `Korean Ghost Stories' nor is it a part of the movie series `Whispering Corridors'. We used the film `Let the Right One In', which is about a relationship between a vampire girl and young boy, as a model, and started working from there",
Kim Sang-ho, the producer, said at a press conference held at MBC, Ilsan, Monday.
`'Possessed' ('
HON - Soul')' revolves around a high school student, Ha-na (newcomer Lim Ju-eun), who can see dead people, and a profiler named Shin Ryu, played by
Lee Seo-jin ("
Yi San", 2008). When Shin meets Ha-na and discovers her ability, he uses her to pay back his enemy, only to find himself becoming the devil.
"If the story is too distant, viewers will feel lost, but if it's too much of a cliche, viewers will easily get bored. We wanted to show viewers that in the end, it's people who are scary, not the special effects, the makeup or sounds. In our drama, the ghosts mostly appear during the daytime", he said. Nevertheless, the drama is for viewers 19 years or older.
Lee, who will be appearing in ...
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By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Imagine, being perched above a vertigo-inducing height, swishing down a roller coaster-like slope and then freewheeling through the air ― with only a pair of skis to safeguard the landing.
Ski jumping is a minority within the sports scene here, but onscreen the icy game provides for the hottest summer movie experience. Packed with adrenaline rush, tastefully crafted drama and a rocking soundtrack,
"Take Off" ("Ski Jump") lifts viewers onto a pulsating flight in this story about ski jumpers that dared to dream ― and fly.
Director
Kim Yong-hwa didn't need to adopt the standard formula for sports films. Sure, the movie features conventional elements ― setting hurdles to overcome, overturning team dynamics and lots of sweating ― but truth is sometimes more interesting than fiction, and the filmmaker simply had to tell the amazing story, which he does with finesse.
Inspired by true events, the movie takes viewers to 1997 Muju, North Jeolla Province, which is bidding to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. A national ski jumping team needs to be whipped together...
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By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
One day, two characters, lots of dialogue and hushed emotions ― only
Jeon Do-yeon and
Ha Jeong-woo could pull it off. South Korea's most in-demand actors get together as former lovers in the post-break up road movie "
My Dear Enemy". Of course none other than director
Lee Yoon-ki ("
This Charming Girl") orchestrated this enchanting story about spending an abnormal day with an ex.
Jeon chose a rather mundane character to emerge from her immortalized Cannes Best Actress-winning role in "
Secret Sunshine". But the actress shines through more than ever as sh...
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South Korean director
Gina Kim's third feature, the New York set "
Never Forever " (2007), will receive a limited release in select cities across the US this Spring. The US-Korean co-production had its world premiere in the competition section of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. After a release in Korea last June and various festival appearances, the film won the Jury Prize at the 33rd Deauville Americ...
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Internationally recognised actor
Ha Jeong-woo, explores the dark side of humanity through his take on a serial murderer in "Choogyeokja" (
"The Chaser", English translation: "pursuer"). He is tracked down by a shady former detective played by
Kim Yoon-seok. First-time feature film director
Na Hong-jin was in charge.
The dark thriller examines society and politics through a story that sees a confessed killer released unpunished while touching upon issues as prostitution and corruption. ...
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