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The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion
마녀
2018 126 min Hong Kong, South Korea 16+
★7.4
Action, Science Fiction
Director: Park Hoon-jung
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Ja-yoon is a high school student who struggles with memory loss after she endured some unknown trauma during her childhood. While trying to uncover the truth, she is unwittingly dragged into a world of crime and finds herself on a journey that will awaken many secrets hidden deep within.
Budget:
$5.5M
Worldwide:
$24.34M
Starring
Kim Da-mi
Actor
Jo Min-soo
Actor
Choi Woo-sik
Actor
Awards
7 wins & 9 nominations total
Key opinion
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion is a stylishly executed sci-fi action film that blends a slow-burn, melodramatic first half with a hyper-violent, spectacle-driven conclusion. While fans of the genre appreciate its slick combat and grounded atmosphere, detractors criticize its derivative plot, hollow characters, and status as a transparent setup for future installments.
| Direction | The fight sequences feature visceral, well-choreographed action that effectively showcases the characters' superhuman abilities. | |
| Production | The film is visually polished and features a cohesive, high-quality aesthetic throughout. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the structural transition are divided: some appreciate the slow-burn, character-focused first half, while others find the heavy melodrama and lengthy exposition tedious and flat. | |
| Originality | The plot relies on unoriginal sci-fi tropes and predictable story beats that mimic better-known genre works. | |
| Ending | The ending is highly polarizing, functioning more as a teaser for a sequel than a satisfying, self-contained conclusion. | |
| Screenplay | Character development is criticized as being thin and transparent, with many viewers finding the protagonists and antagonists to be one-dimensional. |