Phantom (2023): Soldiers and Spies… whodunit?
2023 • Lee Hae-young • 2.39:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Directed by Lee Hae-young and adapted from Mai Jia’s novel The Message, Phantom is set in 1933 Korea and follows a group of Japanese occupation officials confined to a remote cliffside hotel. Intelligence suggests that one of them is a resistance spy known only as ‘Phantom’. As the interrogations intensify and suspicion spreads, each suspect tries to hide their true motives while discovering the infiltrator’s identity.
This espionage thriller takes the grim reality of the Japanese occupation of Korea and filters it through a highly theatrical, genre-bending lens. It begins with a mystery, a ‘whodunit‘, set against lavish décor, sumptuous costumes and stylish cinematography. Then, in the second half, it morphs into a bombastic action film with a pair of leading ladies who defy expectations, and a gallery of devilish enemies driven by hubris.
As part of South Korea’s cinematic exploration of its colonial past, which began in the last decade, Phantom is a patriotic fantasy of resistance that does not neglect the real horrors of the depicted era, while delivering high-octane entertainment.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: Five suspects are confined inside an isolated colonial-era hotel after being accused of harboring a resistance spy known only as “Phantom,” igniting a deadly game of deception, shifting loyalties, and survival under Japanese occupation.
- Actors: Sul Kyung-gu, Lee Hanee, Park So-dam, Park Hae-soo, Seo Hyun-woo, Kim Dong-hee, Kim Hye-ok, Kim Jong-soo, Esom.
- Director: Lee Hae-young
- Year: 2023
- Cinematographer: Ju Sung-lim
- Origin: Korean Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
- Genre: Historical Drama / Political Thrillers / Action
