Having been on a Korean film bender lately, I went into Dead Again (Dedeu eogein) expecting something in line with the layered storytelling and inventive genre blending that’s made South Korean cinema so exciting in recent years. What surprised me right off the bat, however, was discovering that this supposed Korean mystery-thriller was in fact written and directed by an American, Dave Silberman, who had only a handful of shorts under his belt before jumping into this feature project. That’s not a flaw in itself—cinema is global, after all—but unfortunately, the film doesn’t quite measure up to the high bar set by its Korean contemporaries.
The premise has a certain B-movie charm: a cursed diary disrupts the lives of two couples, unraveling their romances in frightening and tragic ways. On paper, that sounds like a solid hook for a moody supernatural thriller. But in execution, the film falters. Silberman struggles to balance tone, and scenes meant to evoke tension or dread often fall flat. Even the climax—laden with blood, ritualistic imagery, and confrontations with death—lands without much impact. The low budget is obvious, and while resourcefulness often compensates in indie horror, here the special effects feel unconvincing, especially when a few practical touches might have sold the scares more effectively.
That said, Dead Again isn’t without merit. The Korean cast—Kim Dong-jun, Kim Seong-yoon, Joo Ah-reum, and Ha Seung-ri—do admirable work, elevating thin material with earnest performances. While no one performance jumps out as career-defining, the ensemble brings a sincerity that prevents the film from collapsing entirely. It’s easy to imagine that with stronger writing and direction, the same actors could have delivered something memorable.
Visually, the film keeps things straightforward. The cinematography is serviceable, never inventive, but it avoids the amateurishness that sometimes plagues low-budget thrillers. The pacing, while uneven, at least makes the film watchable, if never thrilling. Silberman flirts with surreal touches—moments that suggest he’s aiming for David Lynch territory—but they come off more as imitation than inspiration.
Where Dead Again does score points is in its sheer ambition. It picked up a handful of awards on the festival circuit, including recognition at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, and it’s easy to see why: even if the execution is lacking, the film’s earnest mix of romance, mystery, and horror makes it a curiosity for fans of offbeat international genre films.
Still, the comparison to late-night cable B-movies feels apt. Those films may have been cheap and uneven, but they often carried a sense of fun or campy energy. Dead Again takes itself too seriously to fall into that “so bad it’s good” category, leaving it stranded in the middle—watchable, but forgettable.
Verdict: Dead Again is not the worst way to kill 92 minutes if you’re curious about obscure thrillers, but it’s hardly essential viewing. The story has potential, and the cast shows flashes of what could have been, but the lack of scares, uneven direction, and underwhelming visuals make it difficult to recommend. At best, it’s a festival oddity; at worst, it’s a missed opportunity. Unless you’re a die-hard completist for Korean genre cinema—or stumble upon it for free on streaming—this is one you can safely skip.
Jessie Hobson