The movie opens on a city in the wee hours of the morning. An old woman is primping herself for the day. The hours fast forward and everyone in the household is awake. They start talking about the old woman's grand daughter who was in Korea for college. Suddenly, the phone rings and a man on the other line is looking for a Ms. Kim Suni. The old woman answers the call and becomes very quiet afterwards. Her family asks her what was wrong and she told them that she needed to go back to Korea.
Upon her arrival to the airport, Suni was met by her grand daughter and they both went to the old house where she grew up. When they arrived, her grand daughter tells her that maybe the house is now haunted because it looks very creepy. She reassured her grand daughter that the house has always looked that way - "fit for a monster to live in".
Flashback to 47 years ago, in the midst of a raging storm, a hooded man entered a wooden storage house. He descended into a narrow hallway crowded by caged vicious dogs. He staggered as he walked. Then he stopped in front of a heavily padlocked metal door. The door jerked violently upon his presence, the locks rattled and there was a low growl echoing from the inside. The hooded man tried to pacify what seemed to be a beast by banging the metal door with a metal pipe but upon doing so, his heart failed and he fell on the floor. And the light fade out and the door was left ajar.
A young and ill Suni coughs as she opens the door to the storage house. Outside, everyone, including their neighbors, are helping Suni's family move-in. Suni wasn't allowed to lift anything heavy as it may worsen her health. But she still tried to help out. After all their things have been moved-in, Suni and her family (her mom and younger sister) together with the neighbors had some dinner. Suni did not like their new neighbors because they were sloppy when they ate. When she got up to get more soup, the neighbors started talking about the previous owner of the house. They said that he had died of a heart attack and was found 2 days after. Also, that the previous owner kept dogs and coyotes in the storage house and did studies on them. The neighbors then started prying about where the girls are going for school. Suni excuses herself to go outside to get something. As soon as she got out, her mother explained that only Sunja, her little sister, was going to school because Suni can't go due to her weak lungs.
Suni then goes to bed. But before she goes to sleep, she writes in her journal. She was in the middle of her writing (and crying) when she heard something strange outside. She tried to wake Sun-ja up but Sunja dismissed her. Suni went to her mother's room and found her mother fast asleep. Suni was left with no choice. She took a shovel and went to the storage house herself. In the darkness, she saw something hairy and large that jumped her and then ran off. Her cry was heard all the way to the house and her mother and sister brought her back in.
The next morning Suni's mother told the neighbors about the incident. As soon as the neighbors left, Suni sees something rather odd by the storage house. Her mother tries to shoo it away thinking that it was a dog. When it approached, they realized it was a young man who was enticed by the potatoes that their neighbors have brought them.
Suni's mother brings the feral young man inside the house and calls the police to investigate. The police tells her to consult the local social services and they agreed to help her provided that she gave them a large amount of money.
When they got back home, Suni's mother gave the young man a bath (with his pants on) and prepared dinner. No one was able to enjoy dinner since the young man launched himself at the dinner table and started grabbing any food that he could find. Suni hated him immediately.
The next day two incidents occurred where Suni was saved by the feral young man: one was with her books which were trapped under heavy boxes and two when the arrogant young landlord was making a pass at her. From then on, Suni became warmer towards the feral young man that she even decided to train him (just like any other dog).
Events quickly unraveled as the young man now called Cheol-su, the name Suni's mother wanted if ever she had a boy, went on a trip to the market with Suni's family. It was there when Cheol-su was hit by a large metal plank that Suni realizes that he was not normal. There was a momentary time of peace when Suni resumes teaching Cheol-su. During this time, Suni's feelings deepen for Cheol-su. She even sings him a song which she originally wrote.
Another incident with the young landlord occured later that night when the young landlord came to the house and started harrassing Suni. Seeing Suni's struggle made Cheol-su changed into a werewolf and attack the young landlord and his croonies. He was about to kill the landlord when Suni made him stop.
The police came to the house right after and the landlord was demanding to have Cheol-su taken away but Suni would not let them. Suni protected Cheol-su by going after the landlord saying that the landlord stole money from the company that her Father built and that the money that he was spending on Suni's family and the house was actually Suni's money. The landlord was furious that he broke Suni's guitar but did not press anymore charges. Instead, he wanted Cheol-su out of the house and so, Cheol-su was detained (the same as a house arrest) to the storage house, to the room with the metal door.
One day, Suni was bored and asked Cheol-su to come out to play. They went out and ran around the field. Everything was fine at first when suddenly Suni felt a pain in her chest. Cheol-su, not knowing what to do, decided to bring her to the forest. It was already night time when the police found them there. Suni was in bad condition. They took Suni back to the house and chained Cheol-su in his room.
The next day Suni had to go to the hospital to get herself checked but before she went she came to visit Cheol-su in his room. She came in with his food and left Cheol-su coldly that Cheol-su jumped out of bed and tried to get out of the room but was stopped by his guards. Suni ordered Cheol-su to wait and that she would be back and Cheol-su decided to ease in back to his room and the guards shut his door. The head of the police threatened Suni that if Cheol-su tries to escape again that he will shoot him. But Suni snaps back, "Shoot him? Don't you touch a hair on his head!"
Cheol-su was under surveillance until Suni's return. He was devastated the entire time since he was not able to play outside and most importantly, Suni was not there. When Suni got back, she immediately visited Cheol-su and gave him a warm hug. The police saw this and they ruled out that Cheol-su may be part animal but he was capable of learning and that he has the will to learn. And since he did not have any display of violent tendencies the entire time that Suni was gone that the police are willing to set him free from detention. The landlord did not want to accept this and plotted a scheme. He told the police that Cheol-su have been hunting goats at night and brought in a false witness to support him when the truth was, the landlord was drunk driving that night and he hit the goat cage. It just so happened that Cheol-su was passing by and took the poor goat in his arms and gave it to the owner.
That night, after causing power outtage, the landlord set Cheol-su free for a hunt of the missing guitar. He told Cheol-su that a neighbor took it and that was the reason why Suni was sad and sick. When the power was back on, the police realized that Cheol-su has gone and went on a rampage looking for the guitar. The police finally found him and was a bout to shoot him when Suni steps forward and tells Cheol-su to stop it and that the guitar was not there. Cheol-su finally calms down but then the landlord interrupts. He then points a gun at Suni and tells her to get out of the way. Suni tries to pacify him but ends up getting beat up. Cheol-su suddenly changes, kills the landlord and takes Suni away back to the forest.
The next morning Suni decides that the only way to keep Cheol-su safe was to send him away. This task proved hard for her as Cheol-su did not want to live her side thus ensued a heart-wrenching separation. Suni then left a note at Cheol-su's room saying her last goodbye.
Back in the present, Grandma Suni decides to sleep one more night in the old house before she gives it up. She could barely sleep that night. When she has given up her plans on sleeping, she found something underneath the chair she was sitting on. Then she suddenly heard a distant noise. This led her to the storage house, to Cheol-su's room. To her surprise, she found Cheol-su who hasn't aged a day sitting there. Cheol-su showed her her old guitar which he pieced back together. She even discovers that Cheol-su could already speak. Suni felt so happy and overwhelmed that Cheol-su waited for her. She spent the night there with Cheol-su reading her her favorite book and then she finally fell asleep.
The next day she woke up to find Cheol-su gone. She then decides not to sell the house.
.jpg)
I have to say the story was quite impressive. It shied away from the traditional notion of werewolves -gruff, rugged and most definitely hot. Unlike most girls who flock over the standard imaged of a werewolf, I find a sincerity in Cheol-su's character. He appeared more human, more relatable compared to the werewolves we famously know (ie. Jacob from Twilight, Teen Wolf, Lycans from the Underworld and every other vampire movie). Cheol-su had a charisma that he did not take from having hardcore six pack abs or striking good looks although the actor who played Cheol-su, Song Joong-Ki, is definitely easy on the eyes. He gained it with the innocence and chivalry which let's face it people is not as palpable as back in the 18th century. I have never seen such mixed of attributes in a character expecially on a werewolve which are often icons of machismo.
On the story, I say the story is typical. Girl meets guy, they fall inlove, something hinders them, the other becomes distant to protect the other one, same old story to name a few Restless, Daisy, Spellbound, Crazy First Love and all the Korean drama movies. I wished they had formulated a new drama for this. Cheol-su is a very unique character although I cannot say the same for Suni as I have already seen a string of pale-yet-still-beautiful sick female protagonists from every Korean movie I have watched. Not the less, the story clicked. I think I have to hand it to the writers for this. Good script! Really got me going on with the crying at the end when Suni was leaving Cheol-su for good. Tears won't stop.
I just have to say that this movie really reminded me of Hachiko. That too was a tear jerker. And like Hachiko, Cheol-su stayed until his master came back. Fortunately for him, Suni came back and there was a sort of closer between them while as for Hachiko, he died in the blistering cold, all alone and only thinking about his master. I'm getting depressed again.
Moving on acting-wise, I say kudos to the actors Park Bo-young and Song Joong-ki. They're delivery was believable to the point that if ever I see Mr. Song, I might pat him on the head and say, "Good job Cheol-su!"
The movie all in all was good. It is not great but it is so much better that Twilight. I mean, it seriously kicked Twilight's butt. I would recommend it to the people who likes werewolf movies but are so tired of the stereotype. And if you're about to watch it, just a friendly and very important tip, pack tissues, rolls of them and buy some Eye-mo when you're at it.
Until next time...
