Seobok – Fantasia Review (3/5)

SEOBOK is a Sci-Fi Thriller from South Korea about a human clone that holds the secret to eternal life. Full of action and thoughts on humanity. The title character is pure heartbreak. Screened at Fantasia. Read our full Seobok movie review here!

SEOBOK is a new South Korean Sci-Fi Thriller that is currently playing at film festivals. We just caught a screening via Fantasia 2021 and it’s the kind of movie that sticks with you for a while.

While the movie is both character-driven and has slow-burn moments, it’s also full of action. The title character of Seo Bok is portrayed heartbreakingly well. Also, the main protagonist meant to protect him is portrayed by the star of Train to Busan. In other words, a familiar face to many horror fans.

YOU MIGHT LIKE

Our review of the South Korean zombie mega-hit Train to Busan here >

Continue reading our Seobok movie review below.

The tragic fate of Seo bok

Seobok is essentially the story of “Seo bok” who is a human clone created with quite a few enhancements. So much so, that he now holds the secret to eternal life. Obviously, this makes him both valuable and dangerous. If humans can live forever then that will throw everything off balance.

ANOTHER STORY ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE

Check out Altered Carbon which offers the chance at eternal life in a different way >

Of course, the actual clone is considered a “specimen” and must endure all kinds of pain in the name of science. For this reason alone, watching Seo bok venture out into the real world (having only been in a lab so far) is a heartbreaking experience.

While being “just a specimen”, he has been brought up to read and think, which obviously means he’s painfully aware of his fate. This is truly heartbreaking and works as a wonderful anchor to the action elements of the story.

Also, Seo bok turns out to have amazing skills that make him sort of superhero or mutant from the X-Men.

Make sure you check out Seobok when you can!

Lee Yong-ju is the writer and director of Seobok and this is the first movie I’ve watched by this filmmaker. However, this movie does have everything I love about South Korean film productions. Both in terms of production quality and storyline.

WANT TO WATCH MORE SOUTH KOREAN PRODUCTIONS

Click this link to check out our “Korean” tag here on Heaven of Horror >

While we “only” give this movie a solid 3 out of 5, it would have been more accurate with a strong 3½. The movie does become a bit too long, which I both like (because I enjoy the character-driven stories that take time), but also get a bit impatient with.

Still, the story is solid, the effects are strong, and the acting is amazing. In conclusion: Make sure you check it out whenever you can!

Seobok is screening at Fantasia 2021 which is where we watched it.

Details

DIRECTOR: Lee Yong-ju
WRITERS: Yeom Gyu-hun, Lee Jae-min, Jeo Min-suk, Lee Yong-ju
CAST: Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum, Jo Woo-jin, Park Byung-eun, Jang Young-nam