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10. Train to Busan (2016)
Set amidst a devastating zombie outbreak in South Korea, ‘Train to Busan‘ revolves around hedge fund manager, Seok-woo, and his daughter, Soo-an, as they travel from Seoul to the coastal city of Busan. Meanwhile, a chemical spill in a different part of the city starts a horrifying zombie outbreak and has citizens scurrying to find a way out of the massacre. However, when an infected person manages to get on the train Seok-woo and Soo-an are traveling on, every passenger is thrust into a fight for survival against time as the virus spreads like wildfire from one carriage to the next.
9. The Man from Nowhere (2010)
‘The Man from Nowhere’ revolves around Cha Tae-Sik, a pawnshop owner who comes across as a loner but shares an incredible bond with a little girl named So-mi. The trouble starts when So-mi’s mother, Hyo-Jeong, steals a bag of opium from crime lord Oh Myung-Gyu on the advice of her lover. While Myung-Gyu is initially unable to get the opium back as Tae-Sik beats his men up, the crime lord soon realizes that the pawnshop owner is pretty fond of So-mi. Hence, in a last-ditch attempt, he kidnaps the little girl, forcing Tae-Sik to face all kinds of odds to save his friend.
8. Burning (2018)
Burning revolves around aspiring novelist Lee Jong-Su, who comes across his old classmate, Hae-mi, and strikes up a romantic relationship with her. However, with Hae-mi about to embark on a trip to Africa, she instructs Jong-Su to take care of her house and her cat, Boil, while she is away. Like a dutiful partner, Jong-Su completes all his chores but is dismayed when Hae-mi returns with another man whom she introduces as Ben. Surprisingly, Ben appears quite mysterious initially, but he soon reveals his hobby of burning an abandoned greenhouse every two months, which naturally shocks Jong-Su. Moreover, with Hae-mi suddenly disappearing after a mysterious phone call, Jong-Su wonders if Ben is behind the whole tragedy.
7. The Wailing (2016)
Revolving around the mountain village of Goksung, the narrative portrays how a sudden outbreak of horrifying murders and an unexplainable viral disease completely wrecks the once-peaceful region. With the state of affairs seeming more like a demonic curse, even the police sergeant’s daughter, Hyo-jin, falls ill with the deadly disease. However, the village people soon realize that the destruction started after a mysterious, reclusive stranger arrived to live high in the mountains. Even with the community hell-bent on having their way with the stranger, police sergeant Jong-goo shoulders the responsibility of clearing out the fog and revealing the truth in a thrilling narrative that grips the audience until the last scene.
6. A Taxi Driver (2017)
Based on actual events and set in 1980, ‘A Taxi Driver’ follows Man-seob, a taxi driver in Seoul. A father of one, Man-soeb struggles to survive and passes his days living hand to mouth. However, fate seems to smile on him when he learns of a foreign national who is willing to pay good money for a ride to Gwangju city. Unknown to the taxi driver, the foreigner in question is a German reporter with a hidden agenda. As they travel into the city, they get entangled in a tussle between the government and citizens during a student protest, leaving Man-seob’s fate in the balance.
5. The Swordsman (2020)
‘The Swordsman’ revolves around Tae-Yul, whom the natives believe to be the best soldier in Joseon. However, when Tae-Yul refuses to revolt against the king, the rebel leader challenges him to a duel, and he is partially blinded when shards from his shattered sword enter his eyes. The narrative then jumps a year ahead, and we see Tae-Yul and his teenage daughter, Tae-ok, living together while working as hunters. However, when his daughter is attacked and captured by a wealthy slave trader, the renowned swordsman brushes all worries aside and takes up his sword for a fight to the death.
4. No Tears for the Dead (2014)
‘No Tears for The Dead’ follows professional hitman Gon, who accidentally shoots and kills a little girl while carrying out a hit in the United States. Although Gon tries to get drunk and forget the incident, his boss soon orders him to South Korea and murder the girl’s mother in order to tie up all loose ends. Wracked with guilt, Gon makes his way over to South Korea but is unable to deliver the killing blow. However, his act forces the boss to send another assassin behind the woman, and once Gon comes to know of it, he readies himself to fight for the mother of the girl he killed.
3. Tunnel (2016)
‘Tunnel’ revolves around car salesman Lee Jung-soo, who is in a hurry to reach home and celebrate his daughter’s birthday. However, when passing through a mountain tunnel, the structure collapses on his vehicle, trapping the car salesman inside. Although Jung-soo is able to call home and ask for help, he soon realizes that he might not be rescued for a while, and with just two bottles of water and a birthday cake in the car, survival might not be the easiest. Nevertheless, he clings on to dear life and communicates with his loved ones while the authorities mount a rescue operation. However, with the rescue operation halting work on a second tunnel, citizens begin debating on whether saving a single life is worth the effort and money.
2. The Last Princess (2016)
‘The Last Princess’ follows Deok-hye, the last princess of the Joseon Dynasty, as she is forced to leave a Japan-occupied South Korea and move to Japan. Life in the foreign country is pretty harsh, and although Deok-hye struggles to maintain her dignity, the life of luxury she was accustomed to seems a far cry from her present state. The princess tries her best to return home plenty of times, but her efforts are always in vain. However, with Deok-hye coming across her childhood sweetheart, Jang-han, the pair decide to take one last chance at returning to the place they used to call home.
1. The Tiger (2015)
Set in the year 1925, ‘The Tiger’ follows legendary hunter Chun Man-duk, who takes an oath not to hunt anymore after his obsession with killing a tiger leads to the tragic death of his wife. Hence, he builds a small cottage in the mountains and takes to herb gathering as a way of living. However, Man-duk seems to miss his hunting days and often wonders if years of abstinence reduced his skills. Around this time, a tiger attacks the village he lives in, and Man-duk recognizes it as the cub of the tigress he hunted years ago. Besides, once the ferocious animal attacks and mortally wounds Man-duk’s son, the legendary hunter decides to keep his oath aside and take up his weapon in defense of his people.
