Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy movie review – Korean fantasy is glossy but uninspired
Based on a hit Korean webtoon, director Kim Byung-woo's ambitious science fiction fantasy Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy stars Ahn Hyo-seop as a reclusive loner who discovers that his favourite online novel has become a reality.
Lee Min-ho and Chae Soo-bin also appear, as do K-pop starlets Nana and Blackpink's Jisoo, but they all take a back seat to the film's polished, if generic, spectacle.
It is impossible to conceive that a feature film like this would exist without the success of
Train to Busan and
Squid Game
Play
Both of these international hits opened the floodgates for high-concept genre fare within South Korea's risk-averse industry, and audiences have been inundated ever since, with their influence and aesthetic visible in every frame.
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