The Witch: Subversion is a Korean action thriller film directed by Park Hoon-jung. It was released in 2018 and gained popularity once it became available for streaming on Netflix. The film follows the story of Ja-yoon, a young girl with no memory of her past, who discovers she possesses extraordinary powers. Ja-yoon is taken in by a family who exploit her abilities in order to gain money and power. However, as she starts to unravel the truth about her past, she must confront her powers and those who wish to control her. The Witch: Subversion has been praised for its unique take on the superhero genre, blending elements of mystery, suspense, and action.
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We are also creating East Asian pop culture inspired designs for fellow fans, Visit our Redbubble store if you have a chance you get cool gear, and it helps support the blog. As a banded team, they were almost like anime characters complete with quickly recognizable physical traits the curly haired boy, the boy with the pony tail, the girl with straight cut bangs, and so on.
The Witch: Subversion has been praised for its unique take on the superhero genre, blending elements of mystery, suspense, and action. The film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its fast-paced plot and unpredictable twists. The fight scenes are expertly choreographed and showcase Ja-yoon's impressive abilities.
Is The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion Worth Watching?
Is The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion worth watching? Starring Itaewon Class Actress Kim Da Mi, this electrifying Korean revenge thriller might surprise you!
I’ve heard good things about this film.
A general buzz, and I’d been anticipating the opportunity to finally legally stream it one night. Then of course, as fate would happen, that night was the 4 th of July.
I’m not sure where you live in the world (I receive a lot of South Asian and European traffic) but major cities across the U.S. have been a literal powder keg leading up to the independence day celebration.
(There’s a great post on the NYC subreddit if you’d like to learn more about it.)
So on that fateful night, to a myriad of actual gunshots tinged with illegal fireworks outside my window, I stumbled upon The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion on Netflix.
And, I was surprised to say the least by what I saw…
Kim Da Mi is a great up and coming actress.
In Itaewon Class, she played the sociopathic Jo Yi Seo who never reformed, but learned to deal with her mental illness and cruel tendencies for the better. I. E., using that ruthlessness to aid I.C.’s business acumen in lieu of simply filling vanity.
So when the film opened to her playing a simple farm girl going by the name Koo Ja Yoon, I didn’t give it a second thought. I usually don’t talk about the abilities of an actual actress to portray a character much in my reviews, rather choosing to focus on the base story but – everything Koo Ja Yoon is as a character is because of Kim Da Mi’s portrayal of her.
Ja Yoon is an ordinary girl who frequently tires easily. She has a best friend named Myung Hee who eats too many snacks, speaks too loudly, and has a certain naivety when it comes to reading the air.
Myung Hee consoles Ja Yoon from a scary train encounter with the Nobleman. From The Witch Part 1 The Subversion Korean film.
Myung Hee steals the attention from Ja Yoon in each scene they are in together, and I don’t think the young witch would have it any other way.
Because of this fact, we can almost write off the farming supply owner’s son hypnotically giving Ja Yoon everything she wants without paying.
We can write off his father nonchalantly asking (to paraphrase) ‘what spell has that girl cast upon you?’
We can write off in his next breath, the same man sticking up for Ja Yoon driving without a license to the local sheriff – Myung Hee’s father.
Kim Da Mi has a certain quality where innocence shines through her face. It’s a weird way to explain it, but she just exudes unsuspecting. This is not even to typecast the actress, just a commentary on her natural onscreen aura.
It was this quality that made her portrayal of Jo Yi Seo so raw and authentic. And, it was this quality that lead me to believe the plot twist towards the end of the film so wholeheartedly.
Set in a secret government facility in the countryside, children are bred and engineered to become assassins. Super soldiers, or Manchurian Candidates if you will.
They have a physical mother playing the role of handler and caretaker in Dr. Baek.
Scientist and surrogate mother figure/handler for the experimental assassin children Dr. Baek. From The Witch Part 1: The Subversion
It is her job to nurture the children just enough that they won’t become unruly, but also to play her role as scientist and authoritarian over her ‘works’.
If you’ve seen The Promised Neverland anime, you should be familiar with this concept.
In The Promised Neverland, ‘Mama’ Isabella serves as the children’s handler to nurture them and subdue them into loyalty until the time comes to sell them. Isabella even births one of her child prisoners, Ray.
It is nothing new in media by a long shot, and despite the repeated repetition possibly being a ‘lesser magic’ cast in the form of consented disclosure, many people don’t seem to recognize the patterns.
Or, repeatedly ignore them due to ignorance or wistfully thinking its “just tv”.
The children at the facility are given numbers instead of names. They are genetically engineered to use a high percentage of their brains, as in the American film Limitless.
One day however, an inevitable mutiny erupts and the children try to escape. Many are killed, but one makes it through the forest and successfully walks into a new life.
Since we’re talking about parallel’s here, I would like to remind you all that the masterpiece Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance) shares the same plot. Twelve being the only successful subject of the experiment who suffered no side effects.
In The Witch’s case, the perfect subject being Ja Yoon.
High school assassin and resident super genius Koo Ja Yoon. The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion.As with how these stories go, the ones who were left behind are sent to find (and possibly eliminate) the one who found freedom.
Ja Yoon’s peaceful life is turned upside down, as strange men in cars appear outside her TV show performances. A strange boy named Gui Gong Ja (the Nobleman) keeps showing up and seemingly warning Ja Yoon of the impending doom.
In the beginning of the film, it was shown that he wanted to go after her during the escape attempt. The film heavily implies that he may have feelings for her, much to the dismay of his other comrades.
Although explicitly unstated, it is also implied that after the failed escape attempt the remaining children were shipped off to a sister facility in America. The Korean facility was then closed, or dormant for many years. This may be why the others speak fluent English and have been tamed to do as they are told.
There is a lot more to unpack concerning this series, but I think I’ll leave this review here for now. Or at least, until next year when The Witch: Part 2 sequel is slated to come out.
I will however, be covering a more in-depth analysis of the mind-control techniques used on the children in this film along with others in popular media. Look out for that article to drop sometime this week.
Anyway, The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion is a great film and well worth the watch. If you’ve already seen the film, tell me what you think! Did you enjoy the part 1 ending?
Leave your thoughts down in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more The Witch coverage coming soon!
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The film also explores deeper themes of identity, power, and manipulation. **One of the main strengths of The Witch: Subversion is its cast. Kim Da-mi delivers a standout performance as Ja-yoon, capturing the character's vulnerability and strength. The supporting actors also give exceptional performances, particularly Jo Min-soo as Ja-yoon's adoptive mother and Choi Woo-shik as her friend.** The cinematography and visual effects in the film are also noteworthy. The sleek and stylish visuals add to the overall intensity of the storyline. The CGI is well-executed, enhancing the action sequences and supernatural elements of the film. The director's attention to detail is evident in every shot, creating a visually stunning film. The Witch: Subversion has also been praised for its thought-provoking story. It raises questions about the ethics of using someone's powers for personal gain, and the effects of manipulation and control. The film keeps audiences guessing until the end, making it an engaging and satisfying watch. In conclusion, The Witch: Subversion is a captivating and thrilling film that offers a fresh take on the superhero genre. With its strong performances, impressive visuals, and thought-provoking story, it is definitely worth a watch. Whether you're a fan of action films or simply looking for something new to watch on Netflix, The Witch: Subversion is a must-see..
Reviews for "Exploring the Depths: Analyzing 'The Witch Subversion' on Netflix"
1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "The Witch Subversion" on Netflix. The movie had a promising concept, but it failed to deliver. The story took too long to develop, and the pacing was incredibly slow. I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout the movie. Additionally, the acting was mediocre at best, with little character development or depth. The action scenes were few and far between, and when they did happen, they were underwhelming. Overall, "The Witch Subversion" fell flat and didn't live up to its potential.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I regret wasting my time watching "The Witch Subversion" on Netflix. The movie was confusing and poorly executed. The plot was convoluted, and the character motivations were often unclear. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, as they lacked depth and were poorly developed. The CGI effects were also unimpressive, making the action sequences feel unrealistic and cartoonish. Overall, "The Witch Subversion" was a forgettable and frustrating experience.
3. Mike - 2/5
"The Witch Subversion" on Netflix was a letdown for me. The movie started off with an intriguing premise, but it quickly became predictable and cliché. The story lacked originality, and the twists were easy to anticipate. The pacing was also off, with slow exposition and rushed resolutions. The production quality was mediocre, with subpar special effects and unimpressive action scenes. While the lead actress showed some potential, the rest of the cast was forgettable. In the end, "The Witch Subversion" failed to captivate me and left me disappointed.