This one is a special review mainly because I didn’t expect to be so bewildered by an action, with amped up music and great actors because it all seemed like a classic recipe for a commercial extravaganza. Nevertheless, I think I watched it because Prime categorized into ‘World Cinema’.
With stories that set their premise around revenge, there’s thrill, sure but hardly hope for any new twist or suspense, let alone plot twists because it essentially asks the audience to stay hooked just because there’s some action promised. BUT The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion kept on presenting me with new and better twists none of which seemed unnecessary and it almost felt like it challenged me into believing that I absolutely cannot foresee what lies the next moment. All this, with tones of genuinely unique actions sequences and impressive camerawork!
It’s quite safe to say that my weekend began on an amazing note. The film helms the story of Ja-Yoon, a genetically mutated human being who managed to escape the institution that tried to kill her, at the age of 8 and found solace in the arms of a childless couple. The only problem is she doesn’t remember anything that happened to her and her genetically engineered brain can’t go on for long. 30 minutes into the film, she takes part in a singing reality show and almost like a South Korean drama, meets a handsome boy on the train. I almost gave up that instant unable to believe how can all these undertones possibly fit in this story, let alone justify it. But it was a good decision to keep going because the film doesn’t keep lose ends at bay. It all made sense in the climax and how!
A visible and cinematic treat to the eyes was Choi Woo-Shik as the American English speaking witch. You might remember him from Parasite or Train to Busan. His versatility has no bounds and this film is proof. Unlike what I initially inferred there aren’t any unnecessary romantic or sexual tensions in the frame and even in the most commercially viable settings, like that of the outsides of the reality show shooting studio, cinematographer Kim Young Ho speaks of his love for the camera and greets us with amazing one-take and dolly shots.
The only problem I had the film was its villain Dr. Baek (Jo Min Soo) and her poor choice of casting. Her character is the most poorly written and her portrayal makes it even worse because someone who anchored the pilot scene in the film, is shown in tatters by the end (performance wise) .
The film is obviously not complete because it’s just one part, so I won’t regret not understanding the very end. You can watch this film over the weekend for a good time and to be blown over quite a lot.
The F Word 