[TF Cinema Review] 'Killing Time,' Ryu Hye-young's Presence Amidst Genre Limitations

The meeting of sensational internet broadcasts and time-attack thrillers"Killing Time," released on the 21st, is a time-attack thriller about an internet broadcast crew called 'Killing Time,' who lost everything in a momentary accident, being attacked by a mysterious entity in an abandoned hospital they visited to make a comeback, and their struggle to survive the relentless assault. /The Title Pictures[Reporter Park Ji-yoon] While the genre's appeal as a time-attack thriller is clear, the repeated two twists in a somewhat predictable development actually diminish the tension. Nevertheless, Ryu Hye-young firmly anchors the film by broadly handling everything from complex emotional acting to rough, raw action. Amidst its various strengths and weaknesses, 'Killing Time' shines brightly with Ryu Hye-young's presence.The movie "Killing Time" (directed by Jang Jun-hyeop), which was released on the 21st, is a time-attack thriller about an internet broadcast crew called 'Killing Time,' who lost everything in a momentary accident, being attacked by a mysterious entity in an abandoned hospital they visited to make a comeback, and their struggle to survive the relentless assault.'Killing Time' is a prank crew with many subscribers who conduct live internet broadcasts with sensational content featuring ghosts. These successful broadcasters fall into despair when an unexpected fatal accident occurs during a live broadcast, and streamer Yeon-woo (played by Ryu Hye-young) is plagued by guilt for not being able to save her team members, leading her to halt broadcasts and go into self-imposed exile.Ryu Hye-young, who plays the role of streamer Yeon-woo, delicately portrays the character's complex emotions and perfectly executes action scenes, showcasing a wide range of her abilities. /The Title PicturesMeanwhile, the court sentences those involved in the 'Killing Time' death case to suspended sentences under the 'New Media Act,' enraging the public. Ironically, sensational content similar to 'Killing Time' continues to be produced.In response, Joo-won (played by Nam Yoon-soo) rallies the team members, and Yeon-woo is persuaded to make a comeback. While filming content with new guests in an abandoned hospital, they are threatened by an unknown entity and get caught up in an unexpected time-attack mission where they must survive within 60 minutes. With nowhere else to retreat, the crew must fight desperately for survival, not for sensational content.The work is a time-attack thriller that combines the theme of internet broadcasting with the setting of surviving in an abandoned hospital within a limited time. While they recruit guests for a comeback and film content, it turns out that the guests are the targets of a prank, and 'Killing Time' is also attacked by unexpected beings, with twists and turns packed into its short runtime.Furthermore, the abandoned hospital, which creates a chilling atmosphere just by its space, instills a sense of unease and fear, making it impossible to let go of the tension, as one never knows when, where, or what might suddenly appear.In addition, as sensational content that makes it difficult to distinguish between real and fake is constantly pouring out through various social media in our reality, the horror in the movie feels even more real. It makes us reflect on today's media environment, where sensational content is consumed indiscriminately and its authenticity is hard to gauge, and it also raises awareness about dangers we may have known but ignored."Killing Time" is a time-attack thriller that combines the theme of internet broadcasting with the setting of surviving in an abandoned hospital within a limited time, and it is expected to captivate audiences with its plot full of twists and turns. /The Title PicturesHowever, while the movie presents two major twists, the impact of the early part is so strong that the later twists feel relatively weak and blurry. In particular, the foreshadowing is revealed enough for observant viewers to predict, making it impossible to find the same freshness or shock as the earlier twists. Ultimately, as the twists become less impactful towards the end, the film's tension and immersion are not fully maintained.Furthermore, the screen life technique, which unfolds the narrative through social media windows, webcams, and YouTube videos via PC, mobile devices, and CCTV screens, has now become a familiar directorial method, so the screen composition utilizing it no longer feels new.Amidst these clear genre charms and shortcomings, Ryu Hye-young's passionate performance fills the gaps. Having met audiences again with "Killing Time" after "The Intern" and "Night Fight" released in September, she leads the film stably by showcasing a diverse range of performances as the protagonist.Ryu Hye-young intensely portrays the character's withered face after losing everything in an instant due to the death of a team member, as well as the desperation and urgency of being thrust into a fight for survival. In addition, she perfectly executes action scenes where she cleverly uses various tools and surrounding objects, including a crowbar, to overcome crises, taking responsibility for the definite visual spectacle. However, Nam Yoon-soo, who acts alongside her, hinders immersion with consistently excessive expressions and an awkward acting tone. It is rated for ages 15 and up and has a running time of 83 minutes.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]