This has been a wild year for the genre. We’ve had so many polarizing titles as we watched horror continue to dominate the box office. However, it still felt like something was missing for many of us. Perhaps a South Korean disaster movie is what we need to close out our 2023 watchlists. So, it’s perfect timing that, after making a name for itself on the festival circuit and on Netflix in Korea, Concrete Utopia (original title Konkeuriteu yutopia) is finally wreaking havoc in theaters near you. Let’s get to know this earthshaking entry better, shall we?
In the film,
“After a massive earthquake, Seoul has swiftly been reduced to rubble. Everything in the city has collapsed, except for one building. Hwang Gung Apartments remains standing, as it was before that day. When survivors from the outside hear of this, they begin to gather at Hwang Gung Apartments. However, the original residents of the building start to feel threatened.
Banding together for the sake of their survival, they elect ‘Young-tak’ as their Resident Delegate. Under his leadership, they strictly ban entry by outsiders and draw up a new set of Resident Regulations. Thanks to this, in contrast to the hellish nightmare outside, Hwang Gung Apartments stands as a safe and peaceful utopia for its residents. But amidst the continual threats to their survival, unexpected conflicts begin to arise among them…”
Concrete Utopia is directed by Um Tae-hwa. This epic script was written by Lee Shin-ji and Um Tae-hwa. The movie is based on Kim Soong-Nyung’s webtoon Cheerful Outcast Part II, Cheerful Neighbor. The film stars Lee Byung-han, Park Seo-jun, Park Bo-young, Kim Sun-young, Park Ji-hu, Kim Do-yoon.
The movie premiered in South Korea on August 9, 2023. However, it only recently had a limited release in America on December 8. So, we’re excited that it is expanding into more U.S. theaters on December 15. After all, what more could we ask for this holiday season?
Concrete Utopia dazzled audiences at the Sitges Film Festival, TIFF, and Fantastic Fest. It is also South Korea’s official Oscar submission. This means we’re in for an even bigger treat than we expected.
Did the sound of a new South Korean disaster movie on the horizon give you newfound hope? Or are you one of the lucky souls who have already seen Concrete Utopia? Either way, we should discuss it at @misssharai.
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