Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a powerful witch named Agatha. She was known throughout the land for her dark magic and mystical powers. Agatha was feared and revered by the villagers, who believed that she could control the elements and shape the future. Agatha was a solitary figure who lived deep in the heart of the forest. Her home was a mysterious cottage shrouded in the thick foliage. Rumors and legends surrounded her, painting her as a terrifying and vengeful figure.
The Witch Part 1, The Subversion: …and the Girl who bridged two South Korea’s (Review)
The Witch Part 1: the Subversion is the latest directorial effort from the man behind New World and I saw the Devil writer, Park Hoon-Jung, and it is unlike either of those high profile movies. New World is a prominent gangster epic (of comparable stature to A Dirty Carnival), I Saw The Devil is a grim satire of the Korean Revenge narrative that saw Korea garner global recognition and the Witch? Honestly… it’s a little anime.
The movie opens with a nasty scene in which some adults are attempting to kill some children who are part of their illicit underground school, one girl escapes and is saved by collapsing exhausted in the grounds of a well-to-do couple who end up taking her in as their daughter. Fast forward ten years and that little girl now goes by Ja-Yoon (Kim Da-Mi), and best friend to the flighty Myung-Hee (Go Min-Si). Together the two girls have a relatively normal life in the Korean countryside, they talk about boys and are fully committed to Ja-Yoon doing well on a TV talent show. Together they are adorable, there’s nothing complicated about either of them but their friendship is a joy to just be around. In the second half, tone and direction completely change. Throughout that first hour, Ja-Yoon is shown to be suffering from violent headaches, twin that with the nasty violence of the first scene and we know that this tension is building towards a violent release.
Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, watch any of their film output and the one consistent will be their inconsistency. Western cinema, rather dully if you ask me, establishes one tone and sticks to it like a toy car to its electronic track. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, however, there are more ways to tell a story than by slavishly adhering to a singular tone. I bring this up, as, like any other Korean film, The Witch subverts the slice of life tone about as dramatically as possible. Throughout the first half, Ja-Yoon is seemingly stalked by a character credited as “Young Man” (Choi Woo-Sik), he looks like a K-pop star but underneath his look, something insidious lurks. Eventually, Young Man and his cohorts catch up with our heroine and take her to their HQ for a profound 180.
Whether or Park Hoon-Jung is being satirical is not for me to say – however, just like she is bridging a divide between twee and violent she is also bridging a divide between two very different faces of Korean pop culture.
THE WITCH PART 1: THE SUBVERSION
In that second hour, the film basically becomes a superpowered fight – think last years Psychokinesis (Netflix) or Volcano High (from peak-era Cine Asia). It includes slickly produced superpowers, super speed, flashbacks, clockwork orange setups while the big bad explain their plan, people being punched through walls, regenerating from gunshots and a very convoluted conspiracy. As I said previously, very “anime”.
Now, if you are inexperienced with cinema from this part of the world, it doesn’t change a thing – you either think of The Witch as typical for films from that part of the world or two hour-long movies glued back to back. The result is the same either way, this is an entertaining movie – albeit two different styles of entertainment. Hour one is sweet and charming as you spend time zigzagging between the contemplative quiet of country life and dreams of pop-star fame. And the second half is full of beefy, nihilistic violence. Logically and logistically this is at odds with itself as unfortunately fans of the first half may not be fans of the second, and frankly carving up the audience in such a bold way isn’t the wisest of creative decision; especially here in the West, hell, the severity of the change may be slightly alienating in the East too.
Whether you like sweet characters or blood-soaked beef, Kim Da-Mi carries all the weight with surprising ease. I won’t describe how her role changes, needless to say, hers is a breakout performance. From meek and charming to the Korean ideal of an action star, she rolls with all the punches. She can sing too.
Whether or not the writer/director, Park Hoon-Jung, is being satirical is not for me to say – however, just like she is bridging a divide between twee and violent she is also bridging a divide between two very different faces of Korean pop culture. There’s the Korean cinema that is exported internationally, and bubble gum Korea – which are as mutually exclusive as they come. As good as Korea is at making stars, they fall into either one group or the other, very rarely do they fit into both. Kim Da-Mi is the exception to that role, and it’s because of her that we can’t wait to see The Witch Part 2.
THE WITCH (PART 1: THE SUBVERSION) IS AVAILABLE TO WATCH NOW ON DIGITAL COURTESY OF SIGNATURE ENTERTAINMENT
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Rumors and legends surrounded her, painting her as a terrifying and vengeful figure. Many believed that she could cast spells to curse those who crossed her path. Despite the fear that she inspired, Agatha had a deep understanding and connection with nature.
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She spent her days communing with the spirits of the forest and harnessing their powers. She could whisper to the wind, command the storms, and summon creatures of darkness. One day, a young girl named Emily stumbled upon Agatha's cottage while exploring the depths of the forest. Intrigued by the legends and stories surrounding the witch, Emily was both fearful and curious. She cautiously approached the cottage, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. To her surprise, Agatha greeted her with a warm smile and welcomed her inside. The cottage was filled with potions, spellbooks, and mystical artifacts. Emily's eyes widened in awe as she took in the wonders that surrounded her. Agatha sensed Emily's interest in the magical world and offered to teach her the ways of witchcraft. She saw potential in the young girl and believed that she could carry on the ancient traditions and knowledge of her craft. Emily hesitated at first but was drawn to the powerful aura of the witch and the secrets of magic that she held. And so, Emily became Agatha's apprentice, dedicating herself to the study of witchcraft. Under Agatha's guidance, she learned to control her powers and harness the energies of the universe. She discovered the beauty and complexity of magic, realizing that it was not an instrument of darkness but a tool to bring balance and harmony. As days turned into months, and months turned into years, Emily grew to become a formidable witch in her own right. She embraced her role as Agatha's successor and swore to use her powers for good. Together, they became a force to be reckoned with, using their magic to protect the village from evil and restore peace wherever they went. The tale of the witch and her apprentice spread far and wide, becoming a legend that inspired others to seek the path of magic. And so, the legacy of Agatha and Emily carried on, transforming fear and mistrust into awe and respect for the power of the witches..
Reviews for "The Witch's Crystal Ball: Divination and Fortune-Telling"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Witch Part 1". The storyline was confusing and the pacing was too slow for my liking. I was expecting more action and intensity, but instead, it was mostly filled with dialogue and character development. The ending was also very abrupt and left me feeling unsatisfied. I don't think I'll be watching the second part.
- Sarah - 1 star - I found "The Witch Part 1" to be incredibly boring. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, and it didn't hold my attention at all. The characters were uninteresting and lacked depth. I kept waiting for something exciting or thrilling to happen, but it never did. Overall, I regret wasting my time watching this movie.
- Michael - 2 stars - "The Witch Part 1" was supposed to be a horror film, but it failed to scare me at all. The scares were predictable and cliché, and there was nothing original about them. The acting was mediocre, and the special effects were underwhelming. The movie seemed to drag on forever, and I was just waiting for it to be over. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a good horror experience.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Witch Part 1" based on the trailers and promotional material, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The story was confusing and hard to follow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The characters were unlikable and lacked depth, and I didn't feel invested in their journey. The film had potential, but it fell flat in execution. I won't be continuing with the series.