Review | A new ‘Hope’ for international blockbusters
Illustration by Matias Pacheco-Ramirez, Photographer
“Hope” is the most exhilarating mile-a-minute rollercoaster of an action movie you’ve ever seen, and then it’s that movie’s batshit insane mile-a-second facemelter sequel, both rolled into one long march towards Valhalla.
Reader, if you value the sanctity of the cinematic surprise, I urge you to stop reading now and go book your tickets immediately. Half the fun of “Hope” is figuring out its blend of genres as it evolves in real time. I will go into as little detail as possible, because the less you know the better.
Where “Hope” starts, at least, is as a monster movie. It’s a classic setup: something has been killing livestock, and it’s bigger than a bear. Bigger, perhaps, than even a tiger. Police chief Beom-seok (Hwang Jung-min) is alerted to the danger by local hunter Sung Ki (Zo In-sung), and the two split up to track the beast. Beom-seok sets out to search and protect their city of Hope Harbor, while Sung Ki rallies his hunting buddies to track the creature in the surrounding woods.
After this brisk setup, the shit (or more accurately blood and viscera) hits the fan. The first act is, to be frank, a thing of beauty. Beom-seok arrives on the scene in the middle of a rampage, and it becomes immediately clear that the beast they’re tracking is no mere tiger. Tension devilishly ratchets up with each turn of the corner until that monster is revealed — and boy howdy, what a reveal it is. If you asked everyone in your theater to predict what the monster would look like, I can guarantee you that everyone would get it wrong.
This is a creature feature like no other, and it is filled to the brim with suspense and nasty little twists that will keep you glued to the screen. Once that monster finally shows up, the action kicks into eleventh gear and refuses to let up. It’s a delirious soundscape of gunfire and explosions, a nauseating kaleidoscope of carnage as the monster and its pursuers flip back and forth between predator and prey, a rip-roaring barrage on the senses that will leave your heart exploding through your chest.
You may get to this point and start to wonder, “Wait, how long is this movie anyway?” Well, it clocks in at a tight two-and-a-half hours. The first act is an entire cat and mouse thrillride in its own right, but once it wraps, where is there possibly left to go?
Herein lies the genius of “Hope”’s structure, the masterstroke that leaves this movie destined to be replayed for late night burgers-and-beers movie nights for eternity. Once you’re through that dazzling first act, a long moment of reprieve presents itself. Sung Ki and his hunting buddies sit down to snack, the perfect moment for you and your movie night buddies to indulge alongside them. It’s a perfect built-in break where characters on multiple fronts learn more about the beast and why it has wrought destruction upon their hometown.
And then, just when you think you have a handle on the extremity of the situation, “Hope” flips the script once again and reminds you that you have no idea what’s coming next. It thrusts you right back into the action while refusing to repeat itself, building exponentially on the world and the rules laid out on the table. You think you’ve seen the worst of it, but you’re just getting started. It plays out like the gonzo sequel to your favorite action movie, but it’s only the second hour.
As all great action movies are, this is one anchored in performances of, for lack of a better word, pure badassery. Hwang Jung-min plays the in-over-his-head police chief perfectly, bringing a tinge of comedy to his reluctant bravery in pressing on, and watching his confidence cyclically rise and fall as the scope of the situation at hand is a delight. Zo In-sung, on the other hand, exudes cool, the toughest motherfucker alive — only outdone by “Squid Game” star Hoyeon’s doggedly committed police officer Sung Ae, who’s often screaming at the top of her lungs towards and in response to the aforementioned creatures. There is nothing more satisfying than watching trained professionals realize they’re in way over their heads and give it their all anyway, which director Na Hong-jin understands perfectly.
This may all seem like a simple movie; it is about monsters and people who shoot at them with lots of loud guns. But there’s so much going on under the hood that makes “Hope” truly special. Director Na sets this against the backdrop of South Korean infiltration paranoia, with plenty of signage around Hope Harbor warning inhabitants to be vigilant and report possible spies. It’s played for laughs, but everyone in this town owns high-powered weaponry. Like the best monster movies of yore, there’s so much more here than meets the eye — though what meets the eye is a spectacle that will shatter the senses, worthy of accolades in its own right. There are turns in this script that I dare not spoil, but rest assured that they will stick in your mind long after the credits roll.
It is, by all counts, crafted with honed precision. Every sweep of the camera, every cut from bullet to target, every piece of debris in Hope Harbor’s battered landscape (one of the most believably blown-up setpieces of the year) feels like it has been determined with intention and care. Each sequence builds on the adrenaline of the last to the nth degree, a fist-pumping feast of raw thrills, all brought to life with an exhilarating score from Michael Abels.
One last note: go see it in 4DX if it is at all within your means. It damn near threw me out of my seat. The moving seats make it the most enthralling movie rollercoaster you’ve ever been on, and your socks might just literally get knocked off. For a film presenting arguably the most exciting car chases since 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the most impressive horse chase since 1939’s “Stagecoach,” feeling the wind in your hair will lift you to another plane of existence.
Seriously, I cannot emphasize enough how much I want you — yes, you — to go see “Hope.” It’s a hell of a time, a blistering action epic for the ages. If you appreciate the simple things in life, like a big, loud gun fighting a bigger, louder monster, then walk, drive or ride your trusty steed to the theater as fast as you can.
