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 translates his own graphic novel of the same name for the screen, sent chills through theaters in September 2025. By employing the motif of the “face” to explore human identity and distorted desire, this film represents one of the most condensed expressions of Yeon Sang-ho’s thematic worldview. Below, we take a closer 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 created entirely by Yeon Sang-ho himself. Going beyond a typical narrative, it is deeply imbued with the director’s signature exploration of the grotesque side of human nature. Since its release on September 11, 2025, audiences have described it as “the most Yeon Sang-ho–like live-action film”, 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 visionary filmmaker 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 razor-edged and obsessive 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 opaque figure who blocks the path to the truth, while Shin Hyun-been plays a character who holds the central clue of the 사건, together forming a well-balanced acting ensemble.
3. Narrative Depth and the Thematic Meaning of “얼굴”
The 영화 focuses on the various faces of humanity that the protagonist Young-gyu encounters while following the traces of his mother’s past. At first glance, it may appear to be a tender human drama about recovering lost memories, but in reality, it brutally reveals the moral decay hidden beneath everyday human relationships.
Within the film, “얼굴” functions as both a constructed persona and an inescapable mark 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 Non-Blockbuster Budget
There is also a point to clarify regarding the production scale. While Yeon Sang-ho has previously worked with ultra-low budgets during his independent animation days, this 영화 <얼굴> presents visuals of far greater density.
Particular attention was paid to spatial composition 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 read more though they are wandering within the characters’ nightmares.
5. Key Viewing Points and Audience Reception
Immersive storytelling: Suitable for its mature audience classification, the film maintains a steady sense of tension and a deliberately paced narrative flow.
Powerful performances: Park Jung-min’s emotional eruption in the latter half has been widely praised, with many viewers noting that the characters’ faces linger like mental imprints long after the screening ends.
Critical response: Reviews are largely positive, stating that “the chilling essence of the original work has been faithfully transplanted onto the screen.” While some criticize the film for being emotionally heavy, genre enthusiasts have shown strong support.
6. In Closing: A Cold Consolation from Yeon Sang-ho
The 영화 <얼굴> transcends the mystery genre to speak about the false fronts that all of us wear while navigating modern society. Forged through Yeon Sang-ho’s austere storytelling and the cast’s committed performances, this work stands as a notable choice for viewers who value psychological depth over easy entertainment.