Plot: Yun-ju is trying to become a full-time teacher, but he is running into some trouble sealing the deal. When alone at home, a barking dog drives him mad. He finds the dog, but can't get himself to kill the animal, so he locks it up in the basement. This sets in motion a series of mysterious events.
Watches
September 10, 2025
Bong Joon Ho's first feature film is pretty amusing. It's not the craziest or most eyecatching film he has made, but it's tonally consistent, regularly funny, and properly paced. Most Korean films of that era are the opposite, and not in a good way, so it's nice to see Ho built his legacy on a solid foundation.
The lead character is a bit of a chump, but that's what drives the comedy. The mystery is fine, the comedy has a slightly darker edge, and the pacing is solid, though I feel the film could've been a tiny bit shorter. It's a solid opener from Ho and a film that fans of his work should definitely seek out.