South Korean science-fiction horror film "Hope" will arrive in Brazilian cinemas on October 8, adding another major title to the 2026 horror slate following successful features like "Obsession" and "Backrooms". The alien invasion thriller comes to cinemas following a record-breaking domestic release and is one of the most expensive films in the history of South Korean cinema.
Directed by Na Hong-jin, the film centres on a small Korean town that is invaded by monstrous alien beings. Na is a prominent South Korean filmmaker known for his meticulous and atmospheric style, blending genres in thrillers such as his gritty 2008 debut "The Chaser" and the acclaimed 2016 supernatural horror "The Wailing".
The international cast includes South Korean actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon. Hwang is a veteran of South Korean cinema who has starred in massive domestic hits, while Zo is known for his leading roles in both television series and blockbuster action films. Jung gained global recognition and won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her breakout role in the Netflix survival drama "Squid Game". They are joined by Hollywood stars Alicia Vikander, who won an Academy Award for "The Danish Girl", and Michael Fassbender, known for his work in the "X-Men" franchise and "12 Years a Slave".
"Hope" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where it competed for the Palme d'Or. The festival is considered one of the most prestigious in the world, and earning a spot in the main competition is a rare achievement for a high-budget science-fiction and horror film.
Following its festival debut, the movie became the highest-grossing South Korean film of all time in its home country. South Korea has a robust domestic film industry, and the production sold 16.8 million tickets during its opening run alone, representing a massive cultural event for a country with a population of around 51 million.
North American reception
The film recently premiered in North American cinemas and has received strong reactions from film critics.
Gene Park of The Washington Post called the film the weirdest blockbuster he had seen in a long time. Park described the nearly three-hour production as an epic monster adventure that combines horror, science-fiction and slapstick comedy.
He said the film unites grand sequences reminiscent of those by American filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who helped invent the modern blockbuster, with scenes that evoke George Miller's high-octane post-apocalyptic action film "Mad Max: Fury Road". Park added that the film was thrilling, ridiculous and surprisingly funny, noting that he initially left disappointed but then could not stop thinking about the movie.
Focus on alien threat
Writing for Deadline, Pete Hammond noted that the production does not focus on character development or deepening the overarching story. Instead, he said, everything revolves around the characters trying to rid themselves of the alien threat.
Hammond said the two-hour and forty-minute mix of science-fiction and monsters gives no quarter at any time and surpasses any Hollywood production in the genre. He also compared the motion capture work used to create the aliens to "Avatar", noting that James Cameron's science-fiction franchise frequently wins Academy Awards for that type of technique.
Fable and monster movie
Alissa Wilkinson of The New York Times said the plot was as much a fable as a monster movie due to its political implications, despite the lack of deep characterisation.
Wilkinson noted that Na and cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo transform the high-speed action sequences into a graceful ballet. Hong is a highly regarded cinematographer whose previous work includes the South Korean thriller "Parasite", which became the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020.
She added that while the plot might seem familiar, the technique on display was frequently gorgeous. Wilkinson said watching the film felt like playing a post-apocalyptic shooter video game. She said this aspect prompts reflection on the sensitivity audiences have when watching films, series and games in the horror and action genres.
