Thriller

COBWEB (Geo-Mi-Jip) (2023)


It is the early 1970s in South Korea, film director Kim played by the incredible Song Kang-ho has just had a dream where it is revealed how to end his already-wrapped film in order to make it a classic, at least in his mind. He has to convince the studio head, the crew and the actors to return for just two more days to complete his magnus opus, all the while trying to appease the censors who were very strict in South Korea at the time.

He manages to get the band back together but the shoot is definitely not without its dramas with two of the lead actors having an affair, the state censor crashing the shoot, and the extra days being shot without the permission of the studio head amongst many other challenges.

Song Kang-ho and his film crew in Cobweb

Song Kang-ho as Director Kim and his film crew in Cobweb

We find out that director Kim Yeol (Song Kang-ho) had great critical and commercial success with his debut film which was released soon after the death of his mentor and legendary cinematic director Shin (Jung Woo-sung), since then all of his films have been poorly received and lacklustre and he has feelings of self-doubt that maybe he just isn’t that talented but if he just manages to pull this off it could elevate him to the place he has always yearned to be.
Maybe his dreams are greater than his skillset, Hack-cock rather than Hitchcock, peut-être?

Krystal Jung as Yu-Rim and Im Soo-jung as Lee Min-mi in Cobweb

Director Kim Jee-woon returns to comedy for his 11th feature after going on a journey from genre to genre, from comedy (The Quiet Family-1998) to horror (A Tale of Two Sisters-2003) to western (The Good the Bad The Weird-2008) to thriller (I Saw the Devil-2010) to an Arnie film made in America (The Last Stand-2013) to spy thriller (The Age of Shadows-2016) and is now back to delight his audience with this joyous, hilarious, frenetic tale of a director looking to achieve greatness by any means necessary.

I saw this in June at the Sydney Film Festival and had been looking forward to it and luckily, as a bonus, I managed to attend a Q&A with the director after the film.
He had said in the interview after the screening that he was influenced by Henri-Georges Clouzot and the black and white sections of the film showing the film itself have a beautifully striking look that is reminiscent of Diabolique (1955), of which the film within the film’s narrative shares DNA, as well as thrillers of the time from South Korea, The Housemaid especially comes to mind.
Nothing says drama, tension and danger like a rainstorm, especially through a window.

I can see you

Interestingly, Kim Ki Young who directed The Housemaid was rediscovered and celebrated in the mid to late 90s by the batch of young South Korean Directors including Park Chan Wook, Bong Joon Ho, Ryu Seung-wan and the director of this comedy, Kim Jee Woon. Cobweb shares DNA with The Housemaid on many levels, the narrative of the film in the film shares plot points (to a point), the black and white cinematography is similar, as is the style.

Production Still from Cobweb

The cast are uniformly excellent, all having a blast, led by example by the always excellent Song Kang-ho who has worked with Kim Jee-woon now 5 times and when talking about their first film together, The Quiet Family (1998) he said that Song Kang-ho is very naturalistic and instinctive as an actor. 
For me, Song Kang-ho is always an absolute joy to watch and is one of the very few actors whose work I actively seek out as and when they are released. He is an actor who can transition from comedy to tragedy with ease and conviction.

Song Kang-ho in Cobweb

Song Kang-ho in Cobweb

This is definitely one of my favourite films of the year. A riotous entertaining romp that leans into farce without ever losing the sense of urgency and tension that is on show. The black and white footage of the film within the film is sumptuous and looks amazing on the big screen.

See it now at the cinema and soon on a digital platform very near you.

135 Minutes
South Korea

TALK TO ME (2023)

Talk to Me-Australian Poster


As Philip Larkin once said:
“They fuck you up, your mum and dad…………

Sit down, let someone tie you to a chair, they light the candle, you say “Talk to Me” and the portal is opened, now you say “I let you in” and the connection is complete………but don’t forget let go of the hand and blow out the candle by 90 seconds…….or else.

The best horror film of 2023 so far. After the world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2023, a bidding war began and A24 acquired the U.S. distribution rights.
A24 are the tastemakers, facts. They know a good fit when they see it.
Here be shades of Hereditary, the last horror film that truly scared me (although Barbarian did a decent job as well). 
This is the point of horror films, right?

When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.

Zoe Terakes in Talk to Me
Zoe Terakes in Talk to Me

Twin brothers, Danny and Michael Philippou bring you a terrifying film that treads the line between convincing and the supernatural with deft and dexterity. They both direct and Danny writes alongside Bill Hinzman and Daley Pearson.
The twins started their career with the very successful youtube channel RackaRacka. They are already huge stars and the sky is seemingly the limit for these two Adeladians or Adelads or Adelarrikins (not sure if these are things but they sound good. Don’t @ me, people from Adelaide). They also crewed on the great 2014 Australian horror film, The Babadook. They seemingly love the craft and it shows.

Mark my words, this film will be in the mouths, pens and keyboards of critics as soon as it is released.
It will be in the top 3 horror films of 2023, if not number 1.

Joe Bird in Talk to Me-Pleased to meet you........
Joe Bird in Talk to Me-Pleased to meet you……..

I recently had a conversation with a friend who said he didn’t like horror films.
I hear this a lot.
People do like being scared though…..errrr rollercoasters anyone?????
I love the psychology of a well-put-together horror film, the deep diving into the unseen parts of the universal consciousness is always fascinating but not always cosy and definitely not for the faint of heart.
This is why I will always check in with the great horror films. Last year, we had the excellent X and Pearl, Barbarian, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Speak No Evil, Prey, Nope and Sissy, this year we have had M3gan, Evil Dead Rise and now to top it off we have Talk to Me.

Genre-ism is for the marketers who try and categorise so you know which rave to go to.
No matter which flavour it comes in, a well-told story is a well-told story.
There be no flavourism here.
Great films challenge you, to laugh, cry, take you on an adventure, make you metaphorically shit yourself, and in some way engage one or several of your emotions.
This is the point of art. To make you feel……something.

Talk to Me taps into your subconscious, grabs it, shakes it, and reminds you that you’re alive and It’s only a movie.
The fear of the unknown, the other side, the dead, here there be ghosts and they’re not all friendly.

The cast are uniformly all in, they deliver with so much conviction with the lioness’ share of convincingly emoting coming from the lead, Sophie Wilde. She plays Mia who is suffering from grief and the trauma of her Mother’s suicide and is brilliantly supported by Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Otis Dhanji, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Alexandria Steffensen, Marcus Johnson and Ari McCarthy along with Miranda Otto bringing the movie’s matriarch to life with gusto, motherly concern and, On God, humour.

These director brothers are for sure headed for big heights, at least the offers will be forthcoming, I just hope they carry on making interesting fare and avoid the big, potentially problematic, payday directing the next Marvel film or studio tentpole fare, not that I’m not wanting them getting paid but I would really like to see something innovative that capitalises on the promise of their debut horror film that is poised to be a smash hit. 
The youtubers make a film that sits well and comfortably next to other great horror films. 

Thanks to http://www.letterboxd.com for the preview invite.
Seeing it at the VMax on George St, Sydney was such a treat. Many thanks.

Do yourself a favour, go see it at the cinema with a crowd. It’s well worth it.

And please, whatever you do…………remember to let go of the hand.

The hand in Talk to Me

95 minutes

Australian release date July 27th 2023

U.S. Release date July 28th 2023