Heading to theaters this week? The Korea Herald gives you a rundown of what’s playing on the big screen.
This weekend’s box office in Korea has a lot of thrills and chills to offer up, with Korean flicks “Circle of Atonement” and “The Advocate” both chasing down murder mysteries, and the American “Regression” adding a hint of supernatural horror.
For some more light-hearted fun, check out “The Martian,” which is going strong in Korea, or the romantic Chinese remake “Only You.”
Circle of Atonement (Korea)
Opened Oct. 15
Mystery. Directed by Park Eun-gyoung, Lee Dong-ha
After detective Sang-won (Sung Dong-il) arrests an elusive serial killer, he decides to adopt the killer’s young daughter and raise her as his own. Ten years later, his daughter meets a teacher named Cheol-woong (Son Ho-jun), who holds a dark secret about what happened 10 years ago.
Regression (U.S.)
Opened Oct. 15
Thriller. Directed by Alejandro Amenabar
A father is accused of sexually abusing his daughter (Emma Watson), but he has no recollection of the event. A detective (Ethan Hawke) and a psychoanalyst (David Thewllis), while investigating the crime, find clues that indicate the work of a satanic cult.
Only You (China)
Opened Oct. 15
Romance. Directed by Zhang Hao
In a remake of the 1984 romantic comedy starring Robert Downey, Jr., Tang Wei plays Fang Yuan, a woman in a loveless engagement. After consulting fortunetellers, she learns the name of the man who was destined to be her true love, and impulsively sets off to Milan, Italy, to find him.
The Advocate: A Missing Body (Korea)
Opened Oct. 8
Crime. Directed by Heo Jong-ho
Ace lawyer Byeon Ho-seong (Lee Sun-kyun) is irritated when the head of a powerful pharmaceutical company tasks him with defending his driver in a high-profile murder case with no dead body. Byeon tries to get the case out of the way quickly, but everything turns around when his defendant suddenly stands up in court and admits to the crime.
The Martian (U.S.)
Opened Oct. 8
Adventure. Directed by Ridley Scott
When a storm separates astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) from his crew during a manned mission to Mars, Watney is presumed dead by everyone. But he is still alive, with only minimal resources and his wits to sustain him until he can find a way to call for help.
By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)
