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Hope (2026)


Hope is directed by Na Hong-jin, the same director who brought us The Wailing, and it has a similarly interesting approach to suspense. The story itself is intriguing, but the editing desperately needed some work. The pacing can be all over the place, which makes some sections feel much longer than they need to be. The comedy also comes completely out of nowhere, considering most of the movie is built around suspense and action. Some of it works, but the tonal shifts can be pretty jarring.

Hwang Jung-min's character has the best arc in the movie. His character actually changes throughout the story, and watching that progression is one of the film's strongest elements. Ho-yeon's character, she was in Squid Game, on the other hand, is great from the beginning and doesn't really have much growth. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it makes the contrast between the two characters' arcs pretty noticeable.

Zo In-sung, known from Netflix show It's Okay, That's Love, is also in the film and has some awesome moments. Unfortunately, the CGI is a mixed bag. There are times when it looks pretty good, but other moments where the effects are noticeably weaker and take you out of the movie. With a film that relies this heavily on action and suspense, those inconsistencies stand out.

Overall, Hope has an intriguing story and some strong performances, particularly from Hwang Jung-min, but the pacing and editing keep it from reaching its full potential. The action works, the suspense is effective for the most part, and there are some genuinely great moments, but the strange comedy and inconsistent CGI make the experience more uneven than it should be. Result: B-

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