The opening takes us to Hope Harbour, a remote Korean village isolated from any possible aid or communication due to severe mountain wildfires in the surrounding areas – not ideal when it turns out a rampaging, murderous beast is on the loose. Police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and officer Sung-ae (Jung Ho-yeon, notably of Squid Game) are left to protect the population alone, alongside a group of local hunters who join the search. However, it quickly becomes clear that catching said creature may not be as easy as first thought.
Jung-min was, for me, a standout performer in what was actually a very star-studded cast. Among names including Taylor Russell and Michael Fassbender, albeit in reduced roles, he brought an intensity and authority to the screen that gave Bum-seok great presence. I found the strongest aspect of his performance to be its emotional depth. There is a real sense of responsibility and fear beneath his outward authority, which Jung-min makes increasingly apparent as the situation spirals out of control.
...As much as an extra-terrestrial creature is at the forefront, the undertones of what it means to be human often feel like the more central message.
The film as a whole thrives when it leans into this emotional side. Whilst certain scenes typical of the sci-fi and horror genres are undoubtedly captivating, Hong-jin crafts several tense and visually striking sequences (yes, I was quite scared). Yet Hope also explores empathy, fear and what people are capable of when placed in extreme circumstances. As much as an extra-terrestrial creature is at the forefront, the undertones of what it means to be human often feel like the more central message.
At a run-time of around two and a half hours, the film is definitely on the longer side. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half and honestly think this could have been the main plot in itself. The isolated setting, the uncertainty surrounding the creature and the attempts to protect the village create enough tension without continually expanding the story. Even so, there are some absorbing periods in the latter stages, particularly when the tension is heightened.
...by attempting to explain too much, the ending takes away some of that intrigue without replacing it with anything more satisfying...
The main issue for me was the ending. It attempts to provide answers to some of the film’s biggest mysteries, but instead raises more questions than before. I have no issue with ambiguity when it feels intentional, but here I could not help but feel that the old adage of ‘less is more’ would have applied better. Some of the mystery surrounding the creature and its origins was one of the film’s greatest strengths; by attempting to explain too much, the ending takes away some of that intrigue without replacing it with anything more satisfying. I finished the film more confused than intrigued.
Another major issue is the CGI. There are some genuinely impressive moments where it is used effectively and some of the cinematography is beautifully crafted. I remember one shot of Bum-seok by a car in particular which looked fantastic and perfectly captured the bleak atmosphere. However, when the CGI is bad, it is really bad. Without exaggeration, there are moments where it feels as though you are looking at a computer game from 2003. This artificiality becomes particularly distracting because the film is otherwise so committed to creating a believable, oppressive atmosphere. It pulls you out of the world when the creature at the centre of it looks so… naff.
Ultimately, Hope is frustrating because there is so much here that I genuinely loved. When it works, it really works: the atmosphere is oppressive, the tension can be relentless, and Hwang Jung-min is excellent. However, its excessive runtime, uneven CGI and increasingly convoluted story prevent it from reaching the heights its best moments suggest it could. I certainly would not say I regretted the two and a half hours, but I came away feeling that Hope would have been more effective had it trusted its characters and central mystery a little more, and tried to explain a little less. It is ambitious and often gripping, but ultimately left me unsatisfied.