A Disturbing Secret Hidden Behind the Face: A Striking Apex 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 the nature of the self and distorted desire, this film represents one of the most condensed 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 mystery thriller based on a graphic novel conceived visually and narratively 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 “a pure distillation of Yeon Sang-ho’s worldview”, leaving a deeply uncomfortable aftertaste.
2. Director and a Notable Cast Lineup
One point that deserves early clarification 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 sharp 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 highly cohesive 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 remnants 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 mercilessly exposes the moral decay hidden beneath everyday human relationships.
Within the film, “얼굴” functions as both a constructed persona and an indelible scar of here the past. Across its 103-minute runtime, the audience is repeatedly confronted with a inescapable 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 refinement.
Particular attention was paid to location selection in order to preserve the eerie atmosphere of the original graphic novel. The spaces feel simultaneously grounded yet surreal, 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 suffocating sense of tension and a mysteriously unfolding narrative flow.
Powerful performances: Park Jung-min’s intense outburst 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 affirmative, stating that “the chilling essence of the original work has been successfully transplanted onto the screen.” While some criticize the film for being excessively dark, 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 highly recommended choice for viewers who value psychological depth over easy entertainment.