Kickin' It Korean: A Look at Korean Films/Shows That Have Changed Motion Picture for the Better

Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee

For the longest time, American media set the standard for high-quality films and television shows. Without noticing, it fell into a cycle of regularity. The contents of each motion picture may not have been the exact same, however, the acting, worldbuilding, and buildup all felt the same. If you watch horror movies from the past ten years, you’ll begin to notice the similarities among them. For instance, Annabelle (2014) and The Boy (2016) are quite literally the same concepts. A doll is possessed and wreaks havoc on the individuals who unknowingly accept taking care of the demonic being. 

Image Courtesy: Studio Binder

Moreover, if you look at the cover art for the films, they are nearly identical. This is just a single example of many, but I think you get the point. As a film buff, there is nothing I dislike more than redundancy, so I looked into alternative options. By doing so, I stumbled upon Korean motion pictures and found cinematic masterpieces upon cinematic masterpieces. In the following article, I will discuss my personal favorites and how they cemented themselves a place on this list. (Disclaimer! These films and shows are not ranked in any particular order).

Image Courtesy: IMDb & Rotten Tomatoes

Train to Busan (2016)

To kick off, we’ll be taking a look at Train to Busan. For those who love a good old zombie movie, this is a film for you. When I tell you it is my favorite zombie movie made, I am not exaggerating. As somebody who has seen countless zombie movies such as World War Z, Army of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Zombieland, I promise they do not compare to the masterpiece that is Train to Busan in the slightest. Unlike most other zombie films, the director, Yeon Sang-Ho, made it a focal point to establish action and emotion in conjunction. As the film progresses, we, the audience, witness character development across multiple individuals. Witnessing this, we may find ourselves becoming attached to some characters more than others. Aside from the plot and characters, the film itself is a work of art. The aesthetics incorporated at moments throughout the film will have you in awe. I am not one to cry often during films, but the ending had me feeling as though I had just chopped some onions. It is for the aforementioned reasons that Train to Busan has established itself as THE zombie movie in my mind. 

Squid Game (2021)

I don’t think it comes as a surprise that Squid Game made it on this list. After all, everyone (and I mean everyone) watched this show. I don’t remember a time when people were so invested in a television series. From what I recall, this show was the first of its kind. It was more than just a show, it was also a statement on the dark side of society that people like to avoid thinking about. Being able to see the message of the throughline in Squid Game, and the harsh reality it is referencing allowed for it to garner widespread success. Many directors and producers attempt to avoid controversy by any means, but sometimes that is just what a show or film needs. Continuing on, the cast deserves a ton of credit. Viewers found a contestant in Squid Game for whom they were rooting, and, for most, that contestant was Kang Sae-Byok (HoYeon Jung). She did a fantastic job throughout this series, and much of the audience was taken aback by her natural beauty, which makes perfect sense. Lastly, the plot is simply flawless. There was not a single point in the show where you were not left wanting more. Even with the final episode of the season, you were left with a cliffhanger of sorts, wondering what Seong Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-Jae) would do next. For these reasons, Squid Game secured itself a place on this list. 

Parasite (2019)

This movie is yet another one of my favorites for a multitude of reasons. Immediately after finishing the film for the first time, I saw vast similarities in style between the directors' Bong Joon-Ho and Quentin Tarantino. The buildup gradually progresses, and with each second that passes, you find yourself more and more captivated by the film. Until, BOOM. The final minutes of the film is straight action, much like Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I make this comparison in a positive light, as everyone knows just how amazing of a director Quentin Tarantino is. For Bong Joon-Ho to draw that comparison from me stands as a representation of his talent, and just how well he directed this film. 

Hellbound (2021)

Yet another Korean TV series to garner otherworldly amounts of views, is none other than Hellbound. Hellbound was the world’s most watched Netflix series on November 20th, 2021, and became Netflix’s number one most watched foreign series within 24 hours. Yes, that means more people tuned into Hellbound than Squid Game post-release. Now, we won’t compare the two series as that would simply be an injustice to two fantastic shows, but Hellbound located astronomical levels of success for a reason. That being said, we will focus on the unique plot of Hellbound. Hellbound follows individuals who are prophesied to be dragged to hell, and subsequently are. It is quite interesting, as individuals race to figure out why these events are transpiring. This show is filled with twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. Moreover, this is yet another original idea that compares to no other series I have seen in the past. It does the horror television show genre justice and continues a string of consistency of amazing shows coming out of South Korea. 

The Wailing (2016)

Marking a great year in the film industry for South Korea, the 2016 mystery/thriller The Wailing takes place in a rural village suffering from a string of murders. Individuals within this village seemingly go off the deep end and kill their families for no apparent reason. The question is: Why? To find out, you’ll have to watch it… and I’m telling you, it’s a must-watch film. To put how good this movie is into perspective, it received a 99% on the Tomatometer. The only other Korean film to get a 99% on the Tomatometer is none other than Parasite. Squid Game received a 95% on the Tomatometer, and we all know how amazing it was. So, when I tell you this movie is that good, I mean it. The movie is about two and a half hours long, but you’ll enjoy every minute of it. Almost every horror trope you can imagine was implemented into this movie and done so well, earning itself a place on this list and in my heart.

Every motion picture on this list stands for how far Korean cinema has come. It has broken down barrier after barrier and done so in such a fashion that we, as Americans, have become enthralled with it over 6,000 miles away. So, now when you see a Korean film or show that is being raved about, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Strike out, 

Writer: Lucas Zaret

Editor: Jayna O

Graphic Designer: Katie Boucher

Tallahassee