Director Joon-Hwan Jang (''Save the Green Planet '') is characterized by two things: Excellent filmmaking and graphic violence. Hway is a drama/thriller , revolving about a boy raised by a gang of kidnappers/thieves/killers-in short: Not the most moral people of society. But it's not so simple- there is no black/white -only shades of grey. This is the cornerstone and what carries the film -complex characters and their relationship between each other. Brutality ,compassion , hate ,love , avengement, an so on. I won't go into detail here-see for yourself. All I can say is that this is korean filmmaking at its best- I almost shed a manly tear-isn't that proof enough-And I remind you: This is not some stereotypical sissy drama. Cinematography , acting , sound , action , plot- no shortcomings at all. Looking forward to more works of such an talented director 8/10 Would watch again
28 Reviews
A monster who eats his fathers
Misss255 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is excellently executed and scripted. I am speechless how the story flows. It surprises me the whole time starting from having five fathers to a child becoming monster. Most surprising thing is these five people actually kidnapped him and raised him. The boy also called them father though he was different from them. To make sure, he becomes like them they asked the boy to killed a man quite forcefully. Later he finds out that man was actually his biological father. So, he killed all of them and finally became a true monster. This revelation makes this movie quite interesting and thrilling. It was beyond my expectation. What surprises me the most is he was only 15 years old then and did a outstanding job. The actions scenes are too good for a 15 years old boy. Overall it's a worth watching movie.
A boy is about to find out who he is.
Reno-Rangan24 April 2014
From the director who gave 'Save the Green Planet' was carved this action-thriller. It was a good comeback for the director to give such a great movie after a decade of the gap. Also worth waiting for us all these years to get a movie like this. It was the story of a teenager who begin to look for his true identity from what he was known as.
I was so curious after reading synopsis which denoted a boy with the five fathers. Yeah, it is something I did not get at that point, once I began to watch it was convinced me. A boy was raised by the five criminals, later goes in search for the truth after he's forced to step into a killing spree. The more he goes deeper to find the truth the more he risks himself with the dangers ahead. One after another the truth come into the lights which shocks him as well as the audience.
I thought it was another Korean gore movie with gangsters in it. I thought that way all the first half till the twist come into the play. But the real twist was in the last portion which totally blew me. It was attached to a flashback scene, that scene was the best turning point which flipped the movie from its originality into the new perspective.
I am seeing possibly Hollywood remake here. Definitely other industries around the world will show interest in this. Because the story was very nice with excellent characters and twists. One of the best Korean action movie of the year. The cast was good and so the direction with strong scenes everywhere. A sequel could be possible, which may concentrate more on the romance side. You should have this if you love the Korean movies where men are seen with the guns.
I was so curious after reading synopsis which denoted a boy with the five fathers. Yeah, it is something I did not get at that point, once I began to watch it was convinced me. A boy was raised by the five criminals, later goes in search for the truth after he's forced to step into a killing spree. The more he goes deeper to find the truth the more he risks himself with the dangers ahead. One after another the truth come into the lights which shocks him as well as the audience.
I thought it was another Korean gore movie with gangsters in it. I thought that way all the first half till the twist come into the play. But the real twist was in the last portion which totally blew me. It was attached to a flashback scene, that scene was the best turning point which flipped the movie from its originality into the new perspective.
I am seeing possibly Hollywood remake here. Definitely other industries around the world will show interest in this. Because the story was very nice with excellent characters and twists. One of the best Korean action movie of the year. The cast was good and so the direction with strong scenes everywhere. A sequel could be possible, which may concentrate more on the romance side. You should have this if you love the Korean movies where men are seen with the guns.
How did I feel about this movie !
komatanii13 June 2015
Well last night I finally watched this movie ..I was so excited for it really . well first of all , I RECOMMEND this movie to everyone who wants to have a thriller filled ,dramatic,emotional movie ..so try this great movie . well in order for me not to spoil the movie for you ..I will just say little !! everything was epic and specially the fight scenes and cars races ..the Directer was a real GENIUS in drawing the best in the actors and specially "Yeo Jin gu" ,despite his young age but he was like possessed by the character to the point that you will not be able to tell if he is acting or he is the real Hwayi ,SERIOUSLY . well for me just few things stood out and remained mysterious even when the movie was finished ..I needed more answers for few things but they never made them clear ,specially some past events , but i think the need of the movie directer or even maybe the writer to show us things more than the others was the reason ! all the 5 "fathers" presented a unique character for each one of them ..with "Kim Yun seok" character I got the most chills cuz he was like super scary .. anyways ! If You are OK with BLOOD in movies ..cuz seriously you will see a great deal of blood and scary scenes but it all worth watching really ..so enjoy ^^
totally original and adrenaline pumping(maybe some spoilers)
bcheng9312 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
one of the best movies i've seen in a while, even though the story is kind of preposterous. do Koreans ever make a bad movie? totally original idea for a movie and it really gets the blood pumping.
the story is about a young boy about 4-5 years old who gets kidnapped for ransom by a gang of 5 men who police have dubbed "the day breakers", because they are so brazen. the whole gang is evil and the worst is the leader. so, they kidnap the boy from a really kind and rich couple, demanding money in return for the boy. they wind up keeping the boy, and he basically winds up with 5 unsavory father figures and he calls all five father.
sound original enough..., sounds like a good premise for a really good comedy? not! fast forward 12 years and hes a teen now, but during all the time that has gone by, they teach and make him do a lot of bad things, with the final lesson being the act of killing somebody. during all this time they commit a lot of crimes and kill a lot of people. the cops are hot on their heels, but there is a mole in the department helping them out and they always never get caught.
on their latest job they have to rub out a couple who refuse to move out of their house and make way for that whole stretch of area to be modernized by crooked developers. as a last ditch effort they hire the gang to rub out the couple and thats all i'm writing about the movie, because it gets really juicy from there on out, practically leaving me breathless.
i would consider this a action drama thriller on speed, the movie takes you and wraps you around its story and you are just engrossed and can't wait to find out what happens next. production values are as good or better then Hollywood, and the action was top-notch with some MMA moves thrown in besides the gun-play and the explosions and car chases.
the pace of the movie is excellent, it was neither to fast or to slow, plus there never was a dull moment. it is hard to explain, but this genre of movie when it is done right gives you such a feeling of satisfaction after taking the journey to the end. went in to the movie not knowing what to expect and watched a really really solid all-around movie. i would give this movie at least a 7.
the title of the movie is "monster boy", because he literally in the dark thinks he sees this monster that is beside him waiting to do harm to him. i can't figure it out yet, but the title is somehow perfectly related to the movie and has a deeper meaning.
great watch and definitely a first option movie. go and watch this movie, its really well done even though the story is kinda far-out, you will wind up rooting for the boy.
the story is about a young boy about 4-5 years old who gets kidnapped for ransom by a gang of 5 men who police have dubbed "the day breakers", because they are so brazen. the whole gang is evil and the worst is the leader. so, they kidnap the boy from a really kind and rich couple, demanding money in return for the boy. they wind up keeping the boy, and he basically winds up with 5 unsavory father figures and he calls all five father.
sound original enough..., sounds like a good premise for a really good comedy? not! fast forward 12 years and hes a teen now, but during all the time that has gone by, they teach and make him do a lot of bad things, with the final lesson being the act of killing somebody. during all this time they commit a lot of crimes and kill a lot of people. the cops are hot on their heels, but there is a mole in the department helping them out and they always never get caught.
on their latest job they have to rub out a couple who refuse to move out of their house and make way for that whole stretch of area to be modernized by crooked developers. as a last ditch effort they hire the gang to rub out the couple and thats all i'm writing about the movie, because it gets really juicy from there on out, practically leaving me breathless.
i would consider this a action drama thriller on speed, the movie takes you and wraps you around its story and you are just engrossed and can't wait to find out what happens next. production values are as good or better then Hollywood, and the action was top-notch with some MMA moves thrown in besides the gun-play and the explosions and car chases.
the pace of the movie is excellent, it was neither to fast or to slow, plus there never was a dull moment. it is hard to explain, but this genre of movie when it is done right gives you such a feeling of satisfaction after taking the journey to the end. went in to the movie not knowing what to expect and watched a really really solid all-around movie. i would give this movie at least a 7.
the title of the movie is "monster boy", because he literally in the dark thinks he sees this monster that is beside him waiting to do harm to him. i can't figure it out yet, but the title is somehow perfectly related to the movie and has a deeper meaning.
great watch and definitely a first option movie. go and watch this movie, its really well done even though the story is kinda far-out, you will wind up rooting for the boy.
Entertaining Korean flick for the most part
KineticSeoul13 April 2014
I would have probably enjoyed this movie when I was in my early teens over now. Despite all the blood and gore in this. The acting is good, but couldn't really get immersed into the characters or the story. I guess they did the best they could with 2 hours and multiple different characters. The rising star Yeo Jin-goo is still rough around the edges but still good for such a young actor. I think his acting chops will continue to grow, plus he already beats out other Korean actors that are older when it comes to acting. Another actor that stood out is Kim Sung-Kyun but that is because he seemed to be impersonating the Joker. The plot is similar to something from a graphic novel which I thought was cool. Unfortunately most of the areas in the movie just seemed so darn underdeveloped and rushed at times. Making certain situations not as gripping or even to the point of not making much sense. The situations could have been more tense if there was more development in the story and characters. It's a good movie to boost Yeo Jin-goo as a rising star, but it's not a thriller that sticks with you like "The Chaser" 2008. The plot is passable and the action for the most part is realistic and good to great acting to go along with it. I give it a 6.5/10.
6.5/10
6.5/10
More Action Than Suspense
Foutainoflife2 November 2018
This was not what I was expecting but it is a decent film. My opinion is that it was more action than suspense. It moves at a decent pace, acting is good and the plot is different. There is a lot emotion in it and the main character really did a great job conveying his conflictions. I'm not exactly sure what it is but it was missing a little something. Not a bad movie at all though. Just be prepared for some highly dramatic action if you choose to sit down and watch it.
(One of) The best Korean movie I've ever seen!
asamuhammet8 March 2014
Since nobody has reviewed the movie yet, I thought I could share my impressions about this EXCELLENT movie.
First of all, I must admit that it had been quite a long time since I hadn't seen a good Korean movie, thus I was a bit skeptical at first. Fortunately, I immediately got absorbed in the movie. The actors are perfectly chosen, especially Jin-gu Yeo (Hwayi) who makes me think of Byung hun lee.
Now one of the few things I was afraid of was pointless conversations that don't add anything to the story except making it boring. But I'm glad to say there weren't any, and I enjoyed every single minutes of the movie from the beginning to the end. Moreover, I found the fighting scenes really well performed, it was so realistic that I jumped with fright a few times. As far as the story is concerned, it is thrilling, credible and touching.
In short, if you haven't view it yet, I strongly advise you to watch it, you won't be disappointed! 10/10
First of all, I must admit that it had been quite a long time since I hadn't seen a good Korean movie, thus I was a bit skeptical at first. Fortunately, I immediately got absorbed in the movie. The actors are perfectly chosen, especially Jin-gu Yeo (Hwayi) who makes me think of Byung hun lee.
Now one of the few things I was afraid of was pointless conversations that don't add anything to the story except making it boring. But I'm glad to say there weren't any, and I enjoyed every single minutes of the movie from the beginning to the end. Moreover, I found the fighting scenes really well performed, it was so realistic that I jumped with fright a few times. As far as the story is concerned, it is thrilling, credible and touching.
In short, if you haven't view it yet, I strongly advise you to watch it, you won't be disappointed! 10/10
The shootout at the end saved this for me
mediumllama28 September 2015
The shootout at the end saved this for me.
It's pretty good, with some some real flair.
The build up to it, as SK cinema standards and practices dictate I GUESS, takes way too long and none of the melodrama, mystery or monster stuff works.
With some swift editing, you could have a lean and mean 90 minute revenge movie with teeth but this just winds up being a too long distraction.
But that shootout, that was really well done. I would probably watch that one bit on Youtube again sometime.
It's pretty good, with some some real flair.
The build up to it, as SK cinema standards and practices dictate I GUESS, takes way too long and none of the melodrama, mystery or monster stuff works.
With some swift editing, you could have a lean and mean 90 minute revenge movie with teeth but this just winds up being a too long distraction.
But that shootout, that was really well done. I would probably watch that one bit on Youtube again sometime.
Hwayi : A boy raised by his five criminal fathers
forlornnesssickness14 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Hawyi(Yeo Jin-goo) looks like a normal high school student on the surface, but he has a dark secret shared with his five 'fathers' in a nice house located in some country area outside Seoul, and the tense opening sequence shows us how his life got involved with these people when he was very young. I will not describe it in details, but let's say this taut moment has some good surprises under its suspenseful mood including where young Hawyi is kept by Seok-tae(Kim Yoon-Seok) and his gangs.
They could kill young Hwayi after their plan to collect the ransom was botched in the end, but he was instead taken under their wings, and that was the beginning of a strange alternative family. 14 years have passed, and Hwayi is now their loving son, and all of them are his dads while Yeong-joo(Lim Ji-eun), Seok-tae's wife who was a captive just like Hwayi at that time, is like a caring mom to him. Although he has never gone through any proper education in their isolated world, Seok-tae and his gangs have taught Hwayi lots of things including driving and sharpshooting, and, as revealed later in the movie, he is a very good apprentice to make his criminal fathers proud.
Because Hwayi is approaching to adulthood, Jin-seong(Jang Hyeon-seong), the thoughtful and sophisticated member of the bunch who manages their dirty business, thinks Hwayi deserves to have a life better than theirs. While he can lead a fairly good criminal career with his learned skills, Hwayi also has a considerable artistic talent(we see several good sketches in his notebook at one point), and Jin-seong is willing to help him in any possible ways.
However, it seems that Seok-tae, the leader of the bunch(while casually calling other fathers 'dad', Hwayi always calls him 'father'), has the other idea. Hwayi was frequently terrorized by the monster in the basement where he was locked in, and, though it is apparently a pigment of his imagination possibly fueled by his horrible situation, the monster keeps haunting him, and Seok-tae takes a drastic measure to solve Hwayi's problem once for all; he is going to push Hwayi more deeply into the dark, ruthless criminal world of him and others.
The movie gets darker and bloodier after Hwayi directly participates in his dads' works and then accidentally(or fatefully) learns about himself more than he imagined, and the movie drives its story to the destined point with a vengeance through its volatile mix of family melodrama and crime drama. Some of its surprises can be easily predicted in advance, but they strike us hard with emotional impacts, and that accordingly pushes its main characters to their inevitable conflict calling for blood and revenge.
The director Jang Joon-hwan, who made a long-awaited comeback with this film, shows here that the potential shown in his exceptional debut film "Save the Green Planet!"(2003) is not eroded at all. While it does not have that loony raw power of his debut film, "Hwayi" is a compelling genre piece packed with good action/suspense scenes and accompanying gray ambiance. There is always a foreboding sense of fatalism at every corner of the screen, and it is effectively manifested through its gloomy spaces including the certain crucial characters' lone residence surrounded by demolished houses.
Things get complicated as the police and other underworld figures come into the picture, but the movie stays focused on the love/hate relationship between Hwayi and Seok-tae, and the performances by Kim Yoon-seok and Yeo Jin-goo ably carry the movie even when the plot become shaky at times. As shown in "The Yellow Sea"(2010), another dark South Korean crime thriller drama driven by the darkness of human heart, Kim Yoon-seok is good at conveying the steely brutality behind his plain but commanding appearance, and young actor Yeo Jin-goo does more than holding his own place amid the adult co-actors. The movie is essentially his character's coming-of-age drama, and Yeo Jin-goo is believable in every step as his character is transformed from a boy fearing his own monster to a man finally engulfing it. In that aspect, the movie reminds me a lot of David Michôd's "Animal Kingdom"(2010), which was also about the sad loss of innocence in the criminal world.
While it loses its steam around the ending, "Hwayi" is a gripping noir drama supported by its skillful direction and convincing performances. Like several notable South Korean films, the movie also reflects the dark sides of modern South Korean society through its gritty tale, and there is an interesting aspect associated with social class issues when hidden motives and connections are revealed during a chilling encounter between two contrasting characters. Its view on the modern South Korean society, which is still dominated by Confucian patriarchal ideas and haunted by the history of violence during the 20th Century, is ultimately pessimistic, but its somber ending comes with a small glimmer of hope none the less(There is a tiny but crucial scene after the end credit, so don't leave the screening room too early).
They could kill young Hwayi after their plan to collect the ransom was botched in the end, but he was instead taken under their wings, and that was the beginning of a strange alternative family. 14 years have passed, and Hwayi is now their loving son, and all of them are his dads while Yeong-joo(Lim Ji-eun), Seok-tae's wife who was a captive just like Hwayi at that time, is like a caring mom to him. Although he has never gone through any proper education in their isolated world, Seok-tae and his gangs have taught Hwayi lots of things including driving and sharpshooting, and, as revealed later in the movie, he is a very good apprentice to make his criminal fathers proud.
Because Hwayi is approaching to adulthood, Jin-seong(Jang Hyeon-seong), the thoughtful and sophisticated member of the bunch who manages their dirty business, thinks Hwayi deserves to have a life better than theirs. While he can lead a fairly good criminal career with his learned skills, Hwayi also has a considerable artistic talent(we see several good sketches in his notebook at one point), and Jin-seong is willing to help him in any possible ways.
However, it seems that Seok-tae, the leader of the bunch(while casually calling other fathers 'dad', Hwayi always calls him 'father'), has the other idea. Hwayi was frequently terrorized by the monster in the basement where he was locked in, and, though it is apparently a pigment of his imagination possibly fueled by his horrible situation, the monster keeps haunting him, and Seok-tae takes a drastic measure to solve Hwayi's problem once for all; he is going to push Hwayi more deeply into the dark, ruthless criminal world of him and others.
The movie gets darker and bloodier after Hwayi directly participates in his dads' works and then accidentally(or fatefully) learns about himself more than he imagined, and the movie drives its story to the destined point with a vengeance through its volatile mix of family melodrama and crime drama. Some of its surprises can be easily predicted in advance, but they strike us hard with emotional impacts, and that accordingly pushes its main characters to their inevitable conflict calling for blood and revenge.
The director Jang Joon-hwan, who made a long-awaited comeback with this film, shows here that the potential shown in his exceptional debut film "Save the Green Planet!"(2003) is not eroded at all. While it does not have that loony raw power of his debut film, "Hwayi" is a compelling genre piece packed with good action/suspense scenes and accompanying gray ambiance. There is always a foreboding sense of fatalism at every corner of the screen, and it is effectively manifested through its gloomy spaces including the certain crucial characters' lone residence surrounded by demolished houses.
Things get complicated as the police and other underworld figures come into the picture, but the movie stays focused on the love/hate relationship between Hwayi and Seok-tae, and the performances by Kim Yoon-seok and Yeo Jin-goo ably carry the movie even when the plot become shaky at times. As shown in "The Yellow Sea"(2010), another dark South Korean crime thriller drama driven by the darkness of human heart, Kim Yoon-seok is good at conveying the steely brutality behind his plain but commanding appearance, and young actor Yeo Jin-goo does more than holding his own place amid the adult co-actors. The movie is essentially his character's coming-of-age drama, and Yeo Jin-goo is believable in every step as his character is transformed from a boy fearing his own monster to a man finally engulfing it. In that aspect, the movie reminds me a lot of David Michôd's "Animal Kingdom"(2010), which was also about the sad loss of innocence in the criminal world.
While it loses its steam around the ending, "Hwayi" is a gripping noir drama supported by its skillful direction and convincing performances. Like several notable South Korean films, the movie also reflects the dark sides of modern South Korean society through its gritty tale, and there is an interesting aspect associated with social class issues when hidden motives and connections are revealed during a chilling encounter between two contrasting characters. Its view on the modern South Korean society, which is still dominated by Confucian patriarchal ideas and haunted by the history of violence during the 20th Century, is ultimately pessimistic, but its somber ending comes with a small glimmer of hope none the less(There is a tiny but crucial scene after the end credit, so don't leave the screening room too early).
Better than we thought
cbbess29 November 2020
The movie gets better the 2nd time
accordchiang8 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Despite a teenager being the main character, the movie should be rated 18+ for its bloody scenes, and slightly disturbing storyline.
When I watched this movie for the first time, it was a bit too confusing for me, as there were many different characters.
I was very impressed with young Yeo Jin Goo's acting as the titular Hwa Yi, and how he got his "revenge" over his "fathers" after learning some truth about himself.
My 2nd time watching this movie, Kim Yoon Seok's fine acting as Seok Tae captured my attention. Giving cold treatment to his son, he wants to help his son to stop seeing the monsters, and be a criminal like him, using his reprehensive methods of doing so. The fiendish Seok Tae shows no mercy to his victims from start til' end, however has a soft spot for his son, at seen in the final scene at the house, when the cop shot Hwayi & Seok Tae immediately reacted.
It's a pity that Kim Yoon Seok wasn't nominated for any top acting award for executing such a complex role well.
In a nutshell, this film has great actors & actresses playing their respective roles well and a solid plotline that keeps its focus on Hwayi's story.
When I watched this movie for the first time, it was a bit too confusing for me, as there were many different characters.
I was very impressed with young Yeo Jin Goo's acting as the titular Hwa Yi, and how he got his "revenge" over his "fathers" after learning some truth about himself.
My 2nd time watching this movie, Kim Yoon Seok's fine acting as Seok Tae captured my attention. Giving cold treatment to his son, he wants to help his son to stop seeing the monsters, and be a criminal like him, using his reprehensive methods of doing so. The fiendish Seok Tae shows no mercy to his victims from start til' end, however has a soft spot for his son, at seen in the final scene at the house, when the cop shot Hwayi & Seok Tae immediately reacted.
It's a pity that Kim Yoon Seok wasn't nominated for any top acting award for executing such a complex role well.
In a nutshell, this film has great actors & actresses playing their respective roles well and a solid plotline that keeps its focus on Hwayi's story.
Involving but confusing
phd_travel29 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
More violent than average this is a unusual story with an initially involving premise. A kidnapped boy raised
by mentally off gangsters. There is some confusion most viewers will feel. It would have been better if the story was explained from the beginning. But there is an emotional element about the boy and who he is trying to protect. Better if the plot had been kept simpler. The shootout is quite clever getting 2 birds with one stone. But it would have been nice if he could have saved someone. Yeo Jin Goo acts well - he is better than the story deserves. In such a movie
a feel good ending would have been better.
No winners here
jasminn_tan13 March 2022
The unluckiest one is Hwayi himself, my goodness. The thing about him seeing monsters seemed pretty irrelevant overall, instead the real monsters were his five 'fathers'. Amazing acting by the cast but I felt like there was something lacking about the story.
10+ NOT TO BE MISSED!
lindashook-487697 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This film was made in 2013 and still holds a punch. I have watched this 5 times in a few days. The other reviews give the story details so I won't. This film is so well written, acted & produced that each time I see it I see more details ie. Like the artwork in the real parents home & Hwayi's(Yeo Jin-gu) drawings of his family of 5 fathers etched by his bed to the computer screen that reveals the gangster(CEO Jim) who wants this family killed to tear down their home so he can develop commercial property. They are the last holdout & won't leave thinking that their precious child who was kidnapped 7 years ago at age 2 will return any day. This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is the first movie I have seen that portrays family dysfunction so well. The young child Hwayi(Yeo Jin-gu) received many deserved awards for new actor & he with a great cast does this movie justice. The action starts immediately and continues to the very end. I highly recommend this film to anyone. Please watch Past the Credits for a nice closure to this film. I did not do it till my 5th time watching. There is a sweet song in this movie, "Alice in Weird Land" by YOZOH. Can't get the song off my mind. Actor Cho Jin-Wong(Kit Tae) was in The Handmaiden(2016) & The Believer(2018) which Park Hae-Joon(Beom Soo) was in too. Great movies as well. Also, Park Ji Won(Yoo Yeon-Seok) the young lead gangster can be seen in "Mr Sunshine"(2018) as the bad guy you love.
Hwayi - Truly Monster !!
navendu_krishnan22 March 2016
Hwayi - Truly Monster !!
Just jaw dropping ! The story is so brilliant that i didn't even moved from my seat while watching this. The main spine in this movie is the story it self. Park ju seok created a masterpiece out of this. Its thrilling, Engaging, mysterious. I praise Jang Joon Hwan for his excellent take on the debut. Acting by Kim Yoon Seok, Cho Jin Woong, Jan gung sun, Park jae joon , makes this flick into some heights. Yeo jin goo's hero role became alive cos of Kim yoon seok's acting with him. Mowg's music is beautiful, like the Kim ji young's cinematography. For any thriller movie lover, this wont disappoint you for sure !
8 out of 10
Just jaw dropping ! The story is so brilliant that i didn't even moved from my seat while watching this. The main spine in this movie is the story it self. Park ju seok created a masterpiece out of this. Its thrilling, Engaging, mysterious. I praise Jang Joon Hwan for his excellent take on the debut. Acting by Kim Yoon Seok, Cho Jin Woong, Jan gung sun, Park jae joon , makes this flick into some heights. Yeo jin goo's hero role became alive cos of Kim yoon seok's acting with him. Mowg's music is beautiful, like the Kim ji young's cinematography. For any thriller movie lover, this wont disappoint you for sure !
8 out of 10
I AM AT A LOSS OF WORDS
bamiogundir28 January 2022
I really don't know what to say, it disturbing but at the same time you can't help to feel sad while watching it, for a 15 year the lead actor did an OUTSTANDING job, I mean he embodied the character. The movie has everything in it, from greed to court politics and cops and gangsters I mean it's get bloody and ppl die but what movie doesn't have that, the story is tied up well and they string you along very well I mean dang I literally sat in the same spot staring at my tv for ten plus minutes after it ended. Even the credits comic was nice with the way they tied it up in art. Really was not what I thought it would turn out to be but definitely did not absolutely disappoint me a fantastic movie and Yeo Jin-goo is a wonderful actor he really wears and embodies his character it's crazy I have a lot of fun watching him and he shows his emotions really really well throughout the whole thing you'll think you're going through them with him. It was just a really good movie omg.
Great Acting, Great Movie
azerjaban17 May 2016
I'm so glad I finally watched this. This movie was F****** AWESOME. Yes the language is warranted. The acting was spectacular from every character- especially Yeo Jin Goo,I was already impressed with this child actor since The Moon Embraces the Sun and I Miss You, but he literally BLEW ME AWAY here. He covered every single emotional beat, every scene with the veteran actors (who themselves were freaking amazing) perfectly. I can't rave enough about the acting here.
The story was a lot more than I expected. I thought this would be like Coin Locker Girl when it turned vengeful and just become a bloodbath but damn- Hwayi was way smarter than I thought. Some twists I saw coming, others made me pause and rewind.
The monster analogy was very well done, the part where he just stared it down gave me chills.
The cops really got the short end of the stick here but aside from that I loved the ending. Amazing movie all around. Seriously in my top 10 K thrillers.
The story was a lot more than I expected. I thought this would be like Coin Locker Girl when it turned vengeful and just become a bloodbath but damn- Hwayi was way smarter than I thought. Some twists I saw coming, others made me pause and rewind.
The monster analogy was very well done, the part where he just stared it down gave me chills.
The cops really got the short end of the stick here but aside from that I loved the ending. Amazing movie all around. Seriously in my top 10 K thrillers.
Hwayi Review: Another outstanding and creative film from South Korea.
Achyut_Prashast_Singh26 August 2017
Movie: Hwayi (18)
Rating: 4.5/5
South Korean Cinema is getting creative with stories day-by-day. This film HWAYI, too is one such action thriller packed with powerhouse performances, electrifying action sequences, touching emotions, and of course, a very new and creative story.
I was excited since long to watch HWAYI as the trailer and its synopsis impressed me highly. I decided to check out the film. I couldn't do it earlier but when I watched it, I was left totally spellbound by the excellence of the film.
I've never seen a film like HWAYI before. The story's quite new, unique and different, due to which it turns out to be highly impressive.
Performances are a major plus of the film, as are the emotions and the action sequences. The visual effects too are impressive. One emotional sequence in the second hour had me feeling too much for the characters involved in it. I felt very sad and I felt that even after the film ended.
If this happens, then it means the director has succeeded in his attempt. No doubt he did!
Kim Yoon-seok...I have no words for his performance. He's the most natural actor I've ever seen. He never acts. He lives every character he plays. Here he proves why he's one of the best South Korean actors. Yeo Jin-goo is impressive in his first attempt, and his performance shows he has a long way to go.
The screenplay is wonderfully written and presented on screen. The film grips from the very first scene and entertains you throughout the enrtire duration, and heading towards a climax which is excellent and makes you feel emotional.
No doubt that HWAYI lives up to every single expectation one can have from it.
Rating: 4.5/5
South Korean Cinema is getting creative with stories day-by-day. This film HWAYI, too is one such action thriller packed with powerhouse performances, electrifying action sequences, touching emotions, and of course, a very new and creative story.
I was excited since long to watch HWAYI as the trailer and its synopsis impressed me highly. I decided to check out the film. I couldn't do it earlier but when I watched it, I was left totally spellbound by the excellence of the film.
I've never seen a film like HWAYI before. The story's quite new, unique and different, due to which it turns out to be highly impressive.
Performances are a major plus of the film, as are the emotions and the action sequences. The visual effects too are impressive. One emotional sequence in the second hour had me feeling too much for the characters involved in it. I felt very sad and I felt that even after the film ended.
If this happens, then it means the director has succeeded in his attempt. No doubt he did!
Kim Yoon-seok...I have no words for his performance. He's the most natural actor I've ever seen. He never acts. He lives every character he plays. Here he proves why he's one of the best South Korean actors. Yeo Jin-goo is impressive in his first attempt, and his performance shows he has a long way to go.
The screenplay is wonderfully written and presented on screen. The film grips from the very first scene and entertains you throughout the enrtire duration, and heading towards a climax which is excellent and makes you feel emotional.
No doubt that HWAYI lives up to every single expectation one can have from it.
WOWWWW
temiogundir28 January 2022
What a good movie. A disturbing, sad, scary yet touching (in a way) movie. The story line was well written and the lead role played his part so darn well, almost made me forget it was fiction. I felt like I was going the through the emotions with him, constantly intriguing with every turn the movie took. Looking for a good bad love, gangster, corrupt politician, action movie, this is it. I've watched a lot of action and Korean movies BUT this takes this wholeeee cake. This movie touched my heart in a way I still don't understand, it's that good. Ahhhhh 10/10 a fantastic movie, it WILL have you at the edge of your seat. Watch it.
Anti-hero for the win!
urthpainter20 May 2020
This is one of those gems for people who think they have seen every movie, every storyline and every character. You haven't seen this movie! And this protagonist is about as complex as they get. Not a hero. Not a villain. Technically would classify in anti-hero, but a very unique one at that.
Hwayi: A Monster Boy begins with the shambles of a botched kidnapping, where the victim/protagonist dodges death for the first time. The criminals raise the kidnaped child as their own, and shape him into a criminal with a wide skillset.
That sounds fine right? The problem? The patriarch of the criminal group is a truly twisted sociopath. Through his misguidance, the group discovers the true potential of the child they have raised.
But really? That storyline sounds slick and cool, but this movie is awkward, unbalanced and super gritty: Truly irredeemable characters - Truly tragic characters - Not that half assed variety.
The violence is super compelling in its depictions. The violence is always tied to a deep emotion, or further plot point to be revealed. It is also grounded, believable violence that unfolds in ways one might actually expect.
The filmmaking is solid. The editing really shines, especially in the kinetic car chases and violent action sequences.
The acting is on point with a colorful cast of characters. I'd also have to compliment the direction. Obviously everyone, cast and crew were on the same page.
My only actual critique would be some of the minutia of the plot points, which clearly are important, but at times are delivered with such subtlety, that when the plot point concludes... I'd forgotten the setup - but that is probably more on me, and my lack of focus.
Speaking of which... think I covered most of why I really liked this movie. I'd understand if someone just couldn't get into the violent nature of the movie - or maybe just not like any of the characters. That happens to me in some movies, but not this one. Even the worst characters in this movie had me rooting for them a little, because of their depth and texture. And - I loved the ending. One of the better movies I've seen in quite a while.
Excellent film but also sad
waitandhope11 January 2018
I really enjoyed this film up until a certain point, that's when I somewhat lost sympathy for the main character. It's easy to figure it out too without me spoiling it. However over-all I did feel it was a well made film and maybe I just disagreed with the direction it took for just that 1 part, well maybe a few more as well. Seems also they may have set it up for a sequel considering the conclusion. Worth seeing if you like crime dramas and thrillers.
whow
ops-5253513 August 2020
After watching a dusin of s korean movies the last year, i become more familiar to the faces of the different actor pools, that is a upperhand advantage as long as the spoken language are understandable, but wher the subtitling has become better for every month passing.
this is an ingenious flick made on the topic of gangsterism, political corrruption, money and greed, and a large numbber of fobic and pathic issues that i lost count of, but its all put together into a excellently told story.
if you cannot stand the sight of blood and cruel assassination like killings where there are no rermorse or any kind of norms a moral emotionally and personally, than skip it or at least watch till you cant take it anymore.
actors, filmography, settings, propping, editing and directing, along with hispeed car handling,and darn reallike special effects make this a well hung study of action movie entertainment. the only glitch is the is a open car hood after a long airy jump that are eventually closed in the next take as the chase continous.
the end part is at a sadistic level of revenge, and must be seen rather than read here. gutsickening it maight feel, exhausted youll feel anyway. a big recommend from the grumpy old man
this is an ingenious flick made on the topic of gangsterism, political corrruption, money and greed, and a large numbber of fobic and pathic issues that i lost count of, but its all put together into a excellently told story.
if you cannot stand the sight of blood and cruel assassination like killings where there are no rermorse or any kind of norms a moral emotionally and personally, than skip it or at least watch till you cant take it anymore.
actors, filmography, settings, propping, editing and directing, along with hispeed car handling,and darn reallike special effects make this a well hung study of action movie entertainment. the only glitch is the is a open car hood after a long airy jump that are eventually closed in the next take as the chase continous.
the end part is at a sadistic level of revenge, and must be seen rather than read here. gutsickening it maight feel, exhausted youll feel anyway. a big recommend from the grumpy old man
Another excellent K-thriller
tribaltelevision2 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Jin-gu Yeo gives the performance of a lifetime. This is another Korean masterpiece that keeps me coming back for more. Very clear structure, the actors are superb and the story is just so good! Even the bad guy has agency!
This is a story about identity and when he finds out who he is, it is just heartbreaking. He plays such a sympathetic character that when he accepts his identity as a monster, it is so clear that this is the way he has to go.
There is much blood and gore, but it is the acting that will grip your emotions and won't let go until the very end. Stay with it until after the credits roll. There is a small scene after that. So beautiful, well done.
He could not...
welambert0113 June 2020
If you are new to Korean cinema? Keep this in mind, they like their surprises. The movie starts of fast, then slows, all within 30 minutes. If you like psychological action thrillers, this is your movie. The drawback not dubbed in English and not a fan of subtitles, will be a minor drawback compared to what you about to witness. An excellent movie. No one escape, when you think you have it figured out; you haven't. It will take your breath away.
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