O Dominador

HAUNTERS is an original take on the superhero movie. No capes, daft aerials, or superman latex costumes (why do superheroes always look and sound a bit gay?) Instead we have two young kids from the streets of South Korea. Both have a limp and both have the strange power to control other people's minds on sight. Cho-in is the bad guy, polishing his powers to live a comfortable lifestyle. Kyu-nam is the good guy, championing honesty and friendship in the face of Cho-in's merciless killing and avarice. From this simple idea, writer-director Min-suk Kim builds an intelligent, fast-paced thriller that keeps the audience wondering where it will go next. Although I wasn't entirely won over, I enjoyed it much more than the high budget but rather predicable niche into which Marvel comic super-heroes have fallen. With its fine South Korean pedigree, Haunters makes sure than people suffer realistically when they die and that blood never looks like strawberry jam.

Not a bad film at all. Very interesting ride that kept to a nice pace. I enjoyed the story and I liked the actors. It felt a bit like anime so I wouldn't be surprised if it was based off of an anime story. I enjoyed it.

Despite the action and pacing feeling a bit lacklustre at times, I found it intriguing enough to carry my interest on from the premise. I'd say it has established itself as refreshingly different from the typical korean movies that I have so far encountered under the thriller/suspense genre. There's some charm to the grunge and isolation that they show through this film and left me curious enough to abandon my usual bent of trying to predict the ending and basing my satisfaction off of that.

Also, I usually would also refrain from mentioning but it's quite nice to see non-native actors playing actual characters this time instead of nameless filler roles. Hollywood with its self-congratulatory pride on filling out diversity quotas could take note.

Haunters is a film for people who love offbeat characters and stories. One part M. Nights Unbreakable, a dash of Zebraman, yet unique enough to be its own take on the superhero genre.

Look elsewhere for a summery of story and characters, but know that nothing can prepare you for the cerebral conveyance of mood and style. Its goofy, tragic, meaningful, and absurd.

Haunters stacks several memorable scenes together, and while characters backgrounds are not fully developed, I could not help but care for them, their motives and fates. All but the antagonist reminded me of friends. The villain's motives are not without merit, but his crimes can not be rationalized or redeemed.

A couple themes revolve over and over - Why does one chase fate (?), and are others responsible for our own actions? Do we convince ourselves that others make us act and feel a certain way?

Advice I got long ago when painting is always make the corners interesting, and acknowledge the outside edges. Haunters' opening and closing are both memorable, and bookend nicely (something about emergence from restraint?). Presentation, design, look, and feel - this film is well considered with emotional and sensory depth.

Way above average 8/10

The description of this movie alone convinced me to watch it, and the cover said it was better than any superhero film, and I'd say they weren't far off.

It reflects a very Korean style; kind of unsure about what genre it wants to be, switching between drama and comedy, but having just enough character development to have you care about the important characters but not explaining anything you don't need to know, held up by great actors.

There's some very memorable scenes in this film, and some very memorable performances, along side a great story, similar in some ways to American films like Unbreakable and Chronicle. The score to the film was also good, and quite fitting, while not necessarily memorable.

Overall I give the movie 8/10 and recommend it to anyone wanting to see a semi-dramatic movie with many entertaining, exciting, superheroesque themes.