A Disturbing Secret Hidden Behind the Face: A Defining High Point of the Yeon Sang-ho Universe
The 영화 <얼굴>, in which director Yeon Sang-ho adapts his own graphic novel of the same name for the screen, deeply unsettled theaters in September 2025. By employing the motif of the “face” to explore human identity and twisted longing, this film represents one of the most intense expressions of Yeon Sang-ho’s thematic worldview. Below, we take a comprehensive look at the core aspects of the film.
1. What Kind of Film Is <얼굴>?
This 영화 is a dark suspense film based on a graphic novel conceived visually and narratively by Yeon Sang-ho himself. Going beyond a standard genre piece, it is deeply imbued with the director’s website signature exploration of the dark underbelly of human nature. Since its release on September 11, 2025, audiences have described it as “a pure distillation of Yeon Sang-ho’s worldview”, leaving a unsettling aftertaste.
2. Director and a Notable Cast Lineup
One point that deserves to be addressed first concerns the director’s filmography.
Director Yeon Sang-ho: A singular auteur who has built a unique cinematic universe through works such as Train to Busan, Hellbound, and Gaspard. (For reference, Be With You was directed by Lee Jang-hoon, not Yeon Sang-ho.)
Park Jung-min (as Im Young-gyu): He portrays a son who discovers mysterious photographs among his dying mother’s belongings and begins reconstructing her past. Park Jung-min’s characteristically intense and driven energy serves as a key engine of the film’s tension.
Kwon Hae-hyo & Shin Hyun-been: Veteran actors often associated with the so-called recurring cast of Yeon Sang-ho’s works join the cast. Kwon Hae-hyo portrays a mysterious figure who blocks the path to the truth, while Shin Hyun-been plays a character who holds the essential key of the 사건, together forming a well-balanced acting ensemble.
3. Narrative Depth and the Thematic Meaning of “얼굴”
The 영화 focuses on the multiple facets of humanity that the protagonist Young-gyu encounters while following the fragmented clues of his mother’s past. At first glance, it may appear to be a nostalgic memory piece about recovering lost memories, but in reality, it brutally reveals the latent hypocrisy hidden beneath everyday human relationships.
Within the film, “얼굴” functions as both a social mask and an indelible scar of the past. Across its 103-minute runtime, the audience is repeatedly confronted with a uncomfortable question: “Is the face we see of others ever truly the truth?”
4. Behind the Scenes: Mise-en-scène Beyond the Limits of a Modest Budget
There is also a point to clarify regarding the production scale. While Yeon Sang-ho has previously worked with extremely limited resources during his independent animation days, this 영화 <얼굴> presents visuals of far greater cinematic polish.
Particular attention was paid to location selection in order to preserve the eerie atmosphere of the original graphic novel. The spaces feel simultaneously realistic and uncanny, producing a visual experience that makes the audience feel as though they are walking through the characters’ nightmares.
5. Key Viewing Points and Audience Reception
Immersive storytelling: Suitable for its age-restricted audience, the film maintains a unrelenting sense of tension and a mysteriously unfolding narrative flow.
Powerful performances: Park Jung-min’s psychological breakdown in the latter half has been widely praised, with many viewers noting that the characters’ faces linger like afterimages long after the screening ends.
Critical response: Reviews are largely positive, stating that “the chilling essence of the original work has been successfully transplanted onto the screen.” While some criticize the film for being emotionally heavy, genre enthusiasts have shown overwhelming support.
6. In Closing: A Unsettling Consolation from Yeon Sang-ho
The 영화 <얼굴> transcends the mystery genre to speak about the masks that all of us wear while navigating modern society. Forged through Yeon Sang-ho’s distinctive vision and the cast’s fully embodied performances, this work stands as a highly recommended choice for viewers who value psychological depth over easy entertainment.