Korean writer and director Na Hong-jin made a name for himself crafting disturbing supernatural tales of folk horror with The Wailing and The Medium. Now, he’s returned with a brand new film, this time taking a stab at the sci-fi genre. Hope tells the story of a small harbor town experiencing bizarre cattle mutilations. When the creature responsible for those mutilations reaches the town, the townspeople will have to do whatever it takes to survive.

Fans of Na Hong-jin’s films know he’s a filmmaker who can create a horrifying tale with fascinating, unique lore. While this is true of Hope, he takes a very different approach to crafting this plot. As with his past films, this story takes place in a rural part of South Korea known as Hope Harbor. It’s a small fishing village with mostly elderly residents and a minuscule police force. The day the chief of police is alerted to strange cattle mutilations just outside town, all hell breaks loose. Some kind of large, fast, deadly creature wreaks havoc all over town, killing the town’s residents in its wake. The audience watches as two main groups, one led by the chief of police and one led by the chief’s distant cousin, as they hunt the creatures and learn more about them. It’s a simple concept that grows into something far more intricate and ambitious as the film goes. The blend of small-town sensibilities with epic sci-fi action allows for fascinating commentary, especially as we learn more about what is terrorizing the village. It allows for the film to touch on themes of invaders and hostility towards the unknown, which takes on a different meaning when the town is plastered with signs saying things like “report spies” and “protect from infiltration.” It’s a political story wrapped in an alien epic.

Hope is 2 hours and 40 minutes long, but there is so much going on that most audiences likely won’t feel the runtime. Na Hong-jin is very intentional with the story, allowing the audience to really get to know the core group of human characters. It endears the audience to these people and makes it easy to root for them as they use some intense artillery to try and kill the creatures. In fact, it takes a very long time for the creatures to even be shown in full view on screen. This helps the anticipation and suspense build and build until the explosive reveal. What is especially surprising about Hope is how funny it is. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments sprinkled in with the action and gore. There’s a little something for everyone in this film, but there is also one major factor that is sure to polarize audiences. In the final moments of the film, the focus shifts from the human characters to the alien beings. There are clear building blocks set to begin creating the lore specific to these creatures, but then the film abruptly ends. While it’s quite jarring to have such an open-ended finale, especially for a film that’s practically 3 hours long, there is good news. Na Hong-jin has already written a sequel and has confirmed it’s in pre-production, which was likely the plan before filming even began on Hope. Some will no doubt be annoyed at the incomplete story, while others will be chomping at the bit to see the sequel.

One of the reasons Hope is such a wildly entertaining film is thanks to the phenomenal cast. Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing, New World) stars as the chief of police, Bum-seok. While Bum-seok is clearly doing what he can to keep the residents of his small town safe, he also tends to be the butt of the joke. Whether always two seconds behind the carnage or struggling to keep up as he sprints through town, Hwang Jung-min makes sure the audience knows this character is well-meaning, but woefully underprepared for what’s coming. Hoyeon (Squid Game, Disclaimer) plays Bum-seok’s right hand woman on the force, Sung-ae. From the moment she appears on screen, there’s no denying Sung-ae is a total badass. Hoyeon is fantastic in this role, easily balancing her character’s action-packed moments with more hilarious ones. Zo In-sung (A Frozen Flower, The King) plays Sung-ki, the chief’s second cousin. Unlike Bum-seok, Sung-ki is smart, capable, and ready for whatever comes his way. He’s also incredibly resilient, which turns into a running joke amidst all the action. Fans are sure to fall in love with Zo In-sung in this role. While the film also features Michael Fassbender (Alien: Covenant), Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), and Taylor Russell (Bones and All), they’re roles are so small many will wonder why such big names were cast. I believe it’s safe to say they were chose because they will be much more heavily featured in the sequel.

From the very first frame of Hope, it’s obvious it is one of the most beautifully shot films of the year. The remote locations are gorgeous and the production design really helps to showcase the mayhem inflicted upon the town. It’s all brought to the screen with striking cinematography that makes almost every frame look like a work of art. Audiences, especially horror fans, will adore the effects throughout the film. This is especially true of the practical effects. From gory injuries to mutilated cattle to aliens, the practically created elements look truly incredible. When it comes to the otherworldly aspects, the alien design is pretty great, especially in the practical moments. That being said, there are times when the CGI can look a bit dated. The sound design is important in this film as well, immersing the audience in the sounds of chaos and destruction. And, of course, the film wouldn’t be complete without the brilliant score composed by Michael Abels (Get Out, Nope). Abels crafts a soundscape that enhances the Korean traditions, action-packed chase sequences, and even the more emotionally charged moments.

Hope is a thrilling, sci-fi adventure for the ages that delivers laughs, scares, and plenty of gory action. Na Hong-jin has created the beginnings of an epic adventure that will no doubt have international audiences eager for more. It features great creature design, mesmerizing music, and striking cinematography to bring all the sights and sounds to the big screen. It also has an outstanding cast, from the three main characters to the actors in the briefest roles. While there will surely be some audiences turned off by the length of the film and annoyed by the abrupt, open-ended conclusion to the film, the mastery of the film and the emotions it invokes are undeniable. It’s a film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible, and be sure to stick around for a quick mid-credit scene. You can witness Hope exclusively in theaters beginning Wednesday, September 9th.

OVERALL RATING: 8/10