Dynastic historical drama, aliens, magic, robots, a time-traveling SUV, and martial arts, Oh My! This is Alienoid, the most highly anticipated Korean movie of the summer. A wet dream of hybrid, epic filmmaking, Alienoid's impressive world-building, quirky, humorous tone, and two storylines that collide messily into one big, bold gonzo action flick.
A warlock from the Goryeo dynasty tries to obtain a fabled, magical blade, while a cyborg in the present time hunts down an alien convict that escaped from the human body where it was imprisoned. The two cross paths when a time-travel portal opens, and chaos ensues, as they battle for the fate of the earth.
Writer-director Chio Dong-hoon admits that science fiction has had a hard time connecting with Korean audiences. There is no classic sci-fi in Korean literature, unlike in the West, where comic books and novels act as the bones of blockbuster movies. Choi spent two and a half years writing his own original script for Alienoid, and he confesses that he was influenced by childhood memories of watching Hollywood movies like Star Wars, The Terminator, and Alien. Pre-production took a year, and another 13 months went into filming, making it one of the most expensive Korean movies ever made.
At 142 minutes, the film’s unrelenting pace quickly jumps from a fight sequence to an emotional scene to a humorous one, deftly switching tone and genre, juggling multiple plot lines that masterfully integrate all the fantastic characters. Kim Woo-bin is Guard, the cyborg who manages the aliens imprisoned in unknowing humans Ryu Jun-yeal is Mureuk, the Taoist warlock chasing the divine blade, and Kim Tae-ri is Ean, whose story starts as an infant in the Goryeo dynasty, and flips multiple times through the portal that links the 14th and the 21st centuries. These actors are stars in Korea, now in this incredible ensemble cast. Perhaps more extraordinary was the perfect world-building in this film. The scenes in the Goryeo dynasty are reminiscent of Chinese Wuxia films. The kung fu wire work is superb. The CGI, courtesy of Dexter, in the modern scenes, is superb. I loved the alien ship crashing into the parking garage. The CGI was top-notch, especially in the scene when many people were impregnated with the prisoners. Against their will, and unknown to them. The art direction was spot on. They had two different people, one solely responsible for the Goryeo dynasty scenes, and another for the modern day.
This idea is so fresh and unique. It's very different, not just for Korean movies, but for all films. It may be a little confusing, but true cinephiles will enjoy it. It was a pleasure to watch and see all the pieces fall into place, it does end on a cliffhanger. The original movie will have a second part. The original title was Alien+Human Part 1, and the next episode is due in 2023. Let's hope Choi Dong-hoon can get his imagination back later in 2023.
Patricia Pirillo