Review:

The film ‘Monster’ is second feature film of director Hwang In-ho. More recently, in an interview, director Hwang said “I don’t want to make the same old story.” The film was produced as director’s original intent. However, the film is very terrible.

Surely ‘To Catch a Virgin Ghost(2004)’, which is first screenplay written by him, is entirely new film. Even back then, it is not that storyline is new. He made new emotion through mixing genre comic and horror, or comic and thriller. There are unblendable emotions each other. In director’s later screenplay, which are’ Love Phobia (2006)’ and ‘Spellbound(2011)’, his merit seem clear. He made moviegoers cry and laugh through mixed genre. Quite frankly, it was not so bad. The moviegoers had a very strange experience that they felt sad and funny (or scary and funny). In addition, his comedy seems to be authentic because it involved tragedy.

By the way, why would director make such a lousy film? We can understand in our minds but can not accept in our hearts. We did not dare to laugh the comic relief, which appeared fool Bok-soon was robbed of young sister by a serial killer. And we do not have the heart to laugh even though humor of cold-hearted stepmother and stepbrother in restaurant, where will be murder scene with blood all over. It seems that code of tragedy, which customarily used by director, was all too predictable. Unless the audience are psychopath, they can not laugh at intended scenes.

A certain way is considered you have been there before, but nevertheless you have never been to the place. On the contrary, a certain way is considered to be strange, although you use day after day. Which one do you think is novelty? I hope that director Hwang In-ho reconsider what it means to be new.

Cinematic Quality:
Entertainment Value :

Writing By Audrey park (audrey@moviescramble.com)