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Phantom
유령
2023 132 min South Korea 18+
★6.7
Action, Thriller, Crime
Director: Lee Hae-young
🎭 Based on
«Message»
byMai Jia
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
In 1933, when Korea was under Japanese occupation, five people in Gyeongseong are suspected to be "Phantom" spies of the anti-Japanese organization.
Starring
Sul Kyung-gu
Actor
Lee Hanee
Actor
Park So-dam
Actor
Awards
1 win & 5 nominations total
Key opinion
Phantom is a visually stunning and stylish spy thriller that excels in its production design and high-octane action sequences. However, the film is frequently criticized for a thin, formulaic screenplay that fails to develop its characters beyond their charismatic performances.
| Production | The production design and period-accurate costumes create a gorgeous, immersive atmosphere that successfully evokes the 1930s setting. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography is visually striking, utilizing fluid camerawork and noir-inspired lighting to craft memorable set-pieces. | |
| Direction | The film leans heavily into stylistic, high-energy action, drawing clear homages to classic action cinema. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is widely viewed as thin and riddled with plot holes, relying on tropes rather than meaningful narrative development. | |
| Theme | Character development is shallow, leaving the cast to carry the weight of the film solely through their personal charisma. | |
| Pacing | The two-hour-plus runtime is divisive; while some appreciate the atmospheric build-up, others find the pacing slow and exhausting. |