[TF Prism] From Thrillers to Comedies... A Diverse October Movie Scene

Four Korean Films to Premiere on the 21st Alone'The Secret of the College Entrance Exam,' which delves into the behind-the-scenes story of the college entrance exam, is also set to be released.The films 'The Fallen Paradise,' 'Still Brilliant,' 'The Secret of the College Entrance Exam,' and 'Killing Time' (clockwise from top left) will be released in October. /Film Poster[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] The fervor of the Chuseok and National Foundation Day holidays, followed by the 31st Busan International Film Festival, has all passed. Now, in October, as the theaters return to a calm daily life, Korean films of various genres are ready to be released one by one.On the 21st alone, a total of four Korean films, including 'The Fallen Paradise' (Director Yeon Sang-ho), 'Still Brilliant' (Director Song Il-gon), 'Nowhere to Hide' (Director Hong Sang-soo), and 'Killing Time' (Director Jang Joon-yeop), were screened side by side, and on the 28th, 'The Secret of the College Entrance Exam' (Director Lee Yong-jae) will be unveiled.Earlier, 'The Assassins' (Director Hur Jin-ho) was released during the Chuseok holiday and enjoyed box office success, but it became the center of various controversies with some audiences raising suspicions of historical distortion and Chinese capital involvement. Subsequently, protests occurred in front of the homes of actors involved in the film, and related issues continued to be mentioned, such as the cancellation of film stage greetings and official events of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, leading to a situation where the repercussions of the controversy extended beyond the screen.Amidst this, with Korean films of different genres and charms, from thrillers to horror, comedy, and dramas that will touch the hearts of the audience, preparing to meet viewers, attention is focused on whether they can inject new vitality into the somewhat chaotic atmosphere of the theaters.Director Yeon Sang-ho's new film 'The Fallen Paradise' is a psychological thriller that begins when Ryu Seon-woo, who was thought to be dead, miraculously returns to his mother, Ryu So-young, who lost her son in a camping school bus disappearance incident nine years ago. /CJ ENM◆ 'The Fallen Paradise,' the Fourth Collaboration Between Director Yeon Sang-ho and Kim Hyun-jooThe film is a psychological thriller that begins when Ryu Seon-woo (Bae Hyun-sung), who was thought to be dead, miraculously returns to his mother, Ryu So-young (Kim Hyun-joo), who lost her son in a camping school bus disappearance incident nine years ago.As 'The Fallen Paradise' is the fourth project Kim Hyun-joo and director Yeon Sang-ho have worked on together after the Netflix series 'Hellbound,' 'JUNG_E,' and 'The Bequeathed,' there are valid expectations for their trusted chemistry and director Yeon's ability to bring out a new side of Kim Hyun-joo. Furthermore, Bae Hyun-sung, who makes his screen debut, exudes a chilling aura with a restrained demeanor, revealing a new face he has never shown before.Director Yeon expanded the story by purchasing a three-page manuscript written by his mother and completed 'The Fallen Paradise' as his second low-budget project with an investment of approximately 500 million won. Attention is focused on whether he can continue his box office success, similar to 'The Face,' which captivated 1.08 million viewers with a production cost of about 200 million won.Actress Kim Hye-ja returns to the screen after 9 years with 'Still Brilliant.' The photo shows actors Moon Sung-hyun, Choi Ju-eun, Kim Hye-ja, Park Seo-kyung, and director Song Il-gon (from left) walking the red carpet at the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) at the Busan Cinema Center on September 6. /Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol◆ 'Still Brilliant,' Kim Hye-ja's Meaningful Return to the ScreenKim Hye-ja, celebrating her 65th year in acting, will grace the screen for the first time in nine years since 'The Road' (2017).'Still Brilliant,' led by her, is a story about Sun-ok (Kim Hye-ja), who reunites with her best friend after 60 years, with whom she shared the most brilliant moment of her life. Director Song Il-gon, who received the Grand Prix for Short Films at the Cannes Film Festival for 'Picnic' and the Young Critics Award at the Venice International Film Festival for 'Flower Island,' directed the film.This is the film that changed Kim Hye-ja's mind after she temporarily put her career on hold after the drama 'Beautiful Beyond Heaven,' which aired in 2025, wanting to live like an unnamed flower, like a wildflower in front of her house. Despite refusing six times, she changed her mind after hearing the story of director Song's intention to convey the film's resonance to the audience. The point of observation is how the brilliant moments of the character, which only Kim Hye-ja can express, will blossom on screen.Kim Min-hee is credited as the lead actress and production manager in director Hong Sang-soo's 35th feature film, 'Nowhere to Hide.' /Movie Production Jeonwon Co.◆ Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee's 'Nowhere to Hide,' Confident Only AbroadHong Sang-soo's 35th feature film, 'Nowhere to Hide,' tells the story of Sang-hee (Kim Min-hee), who was raised by her grandparents after her parents' conflict, heading to Jeju Island with her younger brother to find her mother. Kim Min-hee is credited as the lead actress and production manager, and Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Seok-ho, Park Mi-so, and Choi Myung-gil also appear.Previously, 'Nowhere to Hide' proved its artistic merit by winning the Best Director Award, Best Actress Award (Kim Min-hee), and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 79th Locarno International Film Festival.However, public perception of them remains unfavorable. Director Hong and Kim Min-hee, who met in 2015 for 'Right Now, Wrong Then,' admitted in 2017 to being "honestly in love." The two, who continued their relationship while divorcing his wife and maintaining their marriage, welcomed a son last year.Thus, while they attend international film festivals together, they never appear in official domestic events, showing a bold attitude towards their love only abroad. Therefore, regardless of the personal issues surrounding the two, questions remain about whether the work itself can be fully conveyed to the audience, and curiosity is growing about how the audience will perceive the film after its release.Ryu Hye-young (top photo, left) plays Yeon-woo, a streamer in 'Killing Time' who loses everything in an instant due to the death of a team member, revealing a new side of herself. /The Title Co.◆ 'Killing Time' Following 'The Intern' and 'The Assassins'... Ryu Hye-young's Busy ScheduleActress Ryu Hye-young is bringing her new film 'Killing Time' following 'The Intern,' released on the 16th of last month, and 'The Assassins.' The film is a time-attack thriller about an internet broadcast crew called 'Killing Time,' who lose everything in an instant due to an accident, being attacked by a mysterious entity in an abandoned hospital they visit to make a comeback, and their desperate struggle to survive the ruthless attack.Ryu Hye-young plays Yeon-woo, a streamer in 'Killing Time' who loses everything in an instant due to the death of a team member, portraying the desperation of a character driven into a life-or-death struggle with intensity. Nam Yoon-soo, who co-stars with her, plays Joo-won, the leader, transforming into a PD who is determined to create hit content even in a bloody abandoned hospital to make a comeback.The film completes extreme tension by adding the element of survival within a limited time in a closed space to the subject of internet broadcasting. In addition, Ryu Hye-young and Nam Yoon-soo realistically portray the fear and desperation of characters pushed to the extreme, and the unique setting that combines live broadcasting and a survival game is expected to provide differentiated genre fun through a breathless and unpredictable struggle.The film 'The Secret of the College Entrance Exam,' starring Lee Sun-bin (top) and Yoo Jae-myung, is a mission comedy about Maeng Bo-ram (Lee Sun-bin), a Korean language teacher from a small provincial town who unexpectedly joins the exam preparation headquarters, which is sealed off for 40 days for the college entrance exam, a Class 2 national secret of South Korea, and her chaotic efforts to create 'problem-free problems' without typos or controversies. /(주)By4m Studio◆ 'The Secret of the College Entrance Exam,' Comic Synergy Between Lee Sun-bin and Yoo Jae-myung'The Secret of the College Entrance Exam' is the only comedy among the October film lineup. The film is a mission comedy about Maeng Bo-ram (Lee Sun-bin), a Korean language teacher from a small provincial town who unexpectedly joins the exam preparation headquarters, which is sealed off for 40 days for the college entrance exam, a Class 2 national secret of South Korea, and her chaotic efforts to create 'problem-free problems' without typos or controversies.Lee Sun-bin plays Maeng Bo-ram, a Korean language teacher who enters the exam camp due to an administrative error, and Yoo Jae-myung plays Moon Joo-yeol, the head of the Korean language exam committee, leading the drama. In addition, Kim Young-min plays Park Kyung-tae, the chief reviewer, and Jeon Seok-ho plays Gijun-su, an employee of the evaluation institute who must complete the college entrance exam preparation project, showcasing a fantastic ensemble.'The Secret of the College Entrance Exam,' which is being released about three years after filming began, vividly and humorously unfolds the behind-the-scenes story of the college entrance exam that everyone is curious about but no one knows. It is expected to provide fresh and delightful laughter through a chaotic exam drama presented with the excellent chemistry of the actors who are trusted.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]