Internalised shame leads to tragic, unforeseen consequences in Kim Tae-yong & Min Kyu-dong landmark South Korean horror
May 18, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this
Herstory (허스토리, Min Kyu-dong, 2018)
A female business owner ensures now elderly victims of wartime sexual slavery will have their voices heard in Min Kyu-dong’s empathetic drama.
The Prayer (간호중, Min Kyu-dong, 2020)
A caregiving android’s awakening spirituality and poor grasp of human empathy present a series of ethical questions in Min’s existential sci-fi drama
Memento Mori
365 days after we started, it’s time to say goodbye.
S2E9 - Whispering Corridors/Memento Mori
Hi everyone, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss the first two entries in the South Korean Whispering Corridors horror franchise: Whispering Corridors (1998) and Memento…
S2E9 - Whispering Corridors/Memento Mori
Hi everyone, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss the first two entries in the South Korean Whispering Corridors horror franchise: Whispering Corridors (1998) and Memento…
S2E9 - Whispering Corridors/Memento Mori
Hi everyone, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss the first two entries in the South Korean Whispering Corridors horror franchise: Whispering Corridors (1998) and Memento…
Soulmate (소울메이트, Min Yong-keun, 2023)
The close friendship between two young women is disrupted by the onset of adolescence in Min Yong-keun’s remake of Derek Tsang’s friendship drama.
Mimang (미망, Kim Tae-yang, 2023)
A man and woman wander without direction in a confusing city in Kim Tae-yang’s meandering drama.
Leiko Ikemura’s ‘Memento Mori’ – Analysing Modern Art
For todays post I would like to do something a little different and touch upon the topic of modern art. Art, I have to admit, is not my…
A Look At – Azrael (426) – Memento Mori
“This is the story of a boy who can see Death”By a twist of luck, he was saved from death by the Grim Reaper, and in return, is…
The Moon (더 문, Kim Yong-hwa, 2023)
Geopolitical tensions are sparked when a Korean astronaut is marooned in space in Kim Yong-hwa’s futuristic science drama.
A Hometown in Heart (마음의 고향, Yoon Yong-Kyu, 1949)
A lonely boy longing for his mother bonds with a grieving widow in Yoon Yong-Kyu’s tale of oppressive religiosity and the necessity of love
Director’s Intention (영화의 거리, Kim Min-geun, 2021)
A location scout is forced to confront her romantic past on realising the director of her latest film is an old flame in Kim Min-geun’s indie drama.
The 8th Night (제8일의 밤, Kim Tae-hyoung, 2021)
Hell is a place on Earth in Kim Tae-hyoung’s eerie supernatural thriller.
A Bloodthirsty Killer (殺人魔 / 살인마, Lee Yong-min, 1965)
A hapless middle-aged man finds himself haunted by the spectre of wronged femininity in Lee Yong-min’s eerie gothic chiller.
Hansan: Rising Dragon (한산: 용의 출현, Kim Han-min, 2022)
Admiral Yi runs rings around a vain and complacent Japanese general intent on conquering the peninsula in Kim Han-min’s prequel to The Admiral: Roaring Currents.
Noryang: Deadly Sea (노량: 죽음의 바다, Kim Han-min, 2023)
Third and final instalment in the historical trilogy revolving around legendary admiral, Yi Sun-sin.
Memento Mori and Musashi stay 5 Seconds Ahead of the game.
5秒さき/Go-Byou Saki (5 Seconds Ahead) finds Memento Mori and Musashi flowing to a catchy, chilled out beat. It’s a J-hip pop track that’s easy to vibe to while…
A Letter from Kyoto (교토에서 온 편지, Kim Min-ju, 2022)
A disillusioned young woman returns to her hometown in search of healing but finds it in a state of disrepair in Kim Min-ju’s poignant debut feature/
Refreshing Noodles: Min Min in Smash Bros. Ultimate
A lot has happened in the Smash Bros. community over the past two weeks, with multiple instances of sexual abuse and assault among its competitive scene coming to…
Reverse: 1999
Reverse: 1999 is a Chinese gacha game developed by Bluepoch. It boasts a gorgeous anime style and a compelling story, but before delving into any of these, let’s…
Kim Min-young of the Report Card (성적표의 김민영, Lee Jae-eun & Lim Ji-sun, 2021)
Former high school friends find themselves at odds over their contradictory life choices in Lee & Lim’s quirky dramedy
Er Dong (China, 2008)
Karen Ma reviews Yang Jin's independent feature Er Dong.
Mori: The Artist’s Habitat (Mori no iru basho)
There are actors who have to do very little to be captivating on screen, who are a joy to watch even when they’re simply sitting silently and staring…
On the Line (보이스, Kim Gok & Kim Sun, 2021)
A former policeman gets back on the case when his wife is targeted by telephone scammers in Kim Gok & Kim Sun’s steely action thriller.
Mikazuki: Mori Eto
Did you know I translated a sprawling historical saga this one time? Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas by Sakuraba Kazuki. The story spans the immediate post-war…
Dive!!: Mori Eto
I translate a lot of books. A. Lot. This is partly because I love my job—I literally get paid to read books all day! As a child who…
S3E6 - The Mission (1999)
Hey folks, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory: An Asian Cinema Podcast, John and Jason discuss Johnnie To's 1999 film, The Mission. They talk about the film's style, characters,…
Episode 5 -- Audition (1999)
Hello everyone, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason celebrate the spooky month of October by discussing Takashi Miike's seminal 1999 film, Audition. They talk about the…
![Featured image for Gundress (1999) [Anime Review]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210817/1629201799.19566.45275.jpg)
Gundress (1999) [Anime Review]
Gundress; or, Mecha Charlie’s Angels I lived according to your word. You were everything to me.Your eyes were like those of… a stray ...
Black Magic M-66, Dominion Tank Police, Ghost in the Shell, Gundress
Audition (1999) [Film Review]
Audition; or, Love, Unconditionally Only pain and suffering will make you realise who you are. Takashi Miike’s Audition is one of thos...
![Featured image for Hikaru no Go [1999]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220613/1655135577.37747.66940.jpg)
Hikaru no Go [1999]
This is so far the only series that has successfully focused on the Go game.
S3E6 - The Mission (1999)
Hey folks, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory: An Asian Cinema Podcast, John and Jason discuss Johnnie To's 1999 film, The Mission. They talk about the film's style, characters,…
S3E6 - The Mission (1999)
Hey folks, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory: An Asian Cinema Podcast, John and Jason discuss Johnnie To's 1999 film, The Mission. They talk about the film's style, characters,…
Scholars Kim Hanjae and Kim Jongik on sharing manhwa globally
2023 was the first year Otakon invited guests who create and study manhwa, and the two guests were eager to discuss the process of bringing awareness to manhwa…
Dear Pyongyang (Yang Yong-hi, 2006)
Raised in Japan director Yang Yong-hi finds herself struggling to accept her parents’ commitment to North Korean ideology in her moving personal doc Dear Pyongyang
Drive (드라이브, Park Dong-hee, 2023)
Forced to livestream her own kidnapping, an influencer must confront her authentic self in Park Dong-hee’s tense kidnap thriller.
Halmoni (Daniel Kim, 2017)
Documentarian Daniel Kim explores his family’s relationship to landscape and culture as Korean farmers in Argentina.
Kim Jong-boon of Wangshimni (왕십리 김종분, Kim Jin-yeol, 2021)
A portrait of a truly extraordinary woman living an ostensibly very ordinary life, Kim’s quietly moving documentary is testament both to the hidden stories of those all around…
Tune of the Week(ish) ReZero’s Memento
For a show that barely shows it’s opening or ending theme, ReZero has always had a few bangers. It’s latest ending is no exception. The tune of the…
In Defense Of... The LEGENDARY Tae Yamada
Throughout the story of Zombieland Saga, one member of Franchouchou stands as a beacon of self-confidence, passion and power. Let's talk about how Mappa portrayed disability in the…
Mori Calliope – UnAlive review
Let’s do this!I have done a little bit of lyrical analysis in this review but I’m not going to be firm on any theories. Mainly because I either…
Hotarubi no Mori e
To the Forest of Firefly Lights This short 45min anime movie was sweet. I had wanted to watch it for quite some time but kept putting it off.…
A2 (Tatsuya Mori, 2001)
Tatsuya Mori returns to the subject of Aum following A to examine the ongoing effects of the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
Little Cheung (1999) [Film Review]
Little Cheung; or, The Age of Innocence I thought Little Cheung came to say goodbye. But he was chasing the ambulance. That was the en...
1999: Towards A New Era
In middle school, Naru appreciated anime, fanfiction, and pretty guys just as much as the next internet-surfing pre-teen, but it was actua...
Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal, Black Cat, Get Backers, Mononoke, Needless
Episode 275 - Teekyu... and technically Ro-Kyu-Bu!?
This week, Shaun thinks he has found the perfect way to get Remington to enjoy a sports anime; by having it be a short-form comedy instead! Will 12…
Anime Herald Talks With Johnny Yong Bosch
Anime Herald: As someone who's been in the industry for plus-20 years at this point, what would you say is the biggest change to occur within the anime
Rolling (말아, Kwak Min-seung, 2021)
An apathetic young woman begins to find a new sense of purpose in the midst of a global pandemic in Kwan Min-seung’s charmingly quirky indie dramedy
Hard Love (“炼”爱, Tracy Dong, 2021)
A series of single women in their 30s reflect on love and marriage in Tracy Dong’s probing social documentary