Choi Dong-Hoon’s fascinating new release, Alienoid, kicks off this year’s London Korean Film Festival in style, showing us all what can be achieved with ambition and creativity.
Part science fiction, part historical fiction, all action, Alienoid is certainly a statement piece to open with and undoubtedly sets the tone for the rest of the festival, advertising the level of creativity, ambition and excellence that we can expect over the next two weeks. Exhibiting not only the talent coming out of Korea, but also the surprising openness to all things weird and wacky, it is an explosion of genres, storylines, characters and settings. Nothing quite makes sense, nor flows entirely as one would expect. Throw in Dong-Hoon’s star-studded cast and you have a movie that will certainly make a splash!
Trying to appeal to the widest audience possible, this film is a little bit of everything. There are epic fight scenes for action fans, terminator-style cyborgs for sci-fi fans and that ol’ feel-good factor for families. Magical powers, sorcery and time travel beckon fantasy enthusiasts, while Goryeo Dynasty sets and costumes seek to entice historians. The result is an ambitious, slightly confusing yet undeniably entertaining production that unashamedly embraces its weirdness.
Most likely, purists of any of these genres will be driven mad by Dong-Hoon’s latest concoction, but anyone who can come with an open mind and a curious spirit will no doubt find something to please them in this no holds barred cinematic adventure. Consider yourself warned.
Out of the insanity that is Alienoid, two main storylines slowly appear, weaving their threads through time and space before eventually meeting in one of the oddest yet most intriguing combinations to ever be seen. The first follows Guard (Kim Woo-bin), a human-looking cyborg living in the modern day whose mission on Earth entails working with a mini robot – named Thunder (Dae-Myung Kim) – to keep alien prisoners trapped in human bodies. Imprisoned within their human cells, they are unable to break free and cause the same misfortune they unleashed on other, faraway planets in the past. This job becomes more difficult when Guard finds himself in charge of a young human girl intent on exposing his unique identity to the world.
Our second storyline returns us to the past, more specifically the Goryeo Dynasty, where we meet the bumbling but brilliant Mureuk (Ryu Jun-Yeol), whose superpowers could challenge even the greatest dosas of the land, if only he had the brains to pair them with. Alas, he remains as simple-minded and trusting as ever, dashing headfirst into trouble at every turn as he tries to make a name for himself in a land of big bad wolves. Partnered with his equally magical friends, who shapeshift between men and cats throughout the film, he soon finds himself tangled up in a superhuman murder spree, battling sorcery and tentacles with only his underdeveloped powers at his aid. The appearance of a mysterious, gun-wielding young woman soon lands him in yet more trouble, as he races to restore his memory and connect the dots to these bizarre crimes before time runs out for good.
Despite the centuries between them, our heroes each battle the same enemy, allowing these storylines to eventually converge. The result is a heart-pounding battle for the ages, with every weapon imaginable at hand. In the end, can their combined teams defeat The Controller (So Ji-seob) and his army of prisoners? Or will world order be plunged into chaos across space and time? You’ll get no spoilers from me.
Alienoid is certainly not your typical film. It does not flow naturally, nor does it have a clear storyline or group of ‘main’ characters. Moreover, time and setting appear to mean little to the plot and the genre-busting madness of it all will leave you repeatedly overwhelmed. Yet all these issues seem small when you let go of your preconceived notions and embrace the film for the ambitious project it is. Freed from any sense of structure or rules, it is a film that wants to be its weirdest self. Something I, for one, can’t help but enjoy!
Catch Alienoid at the London Korean Film Festival on 3rd November.
The 17th London Korean Film Festival 2022 runs from 3rd November – 17th November in cinemas across London. For more info: https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/