The Unrighteous
Pseudoreligious cults are prevalent in some Asian countries. Shin’ichirô Ueda took a humorous approach at exposing the ways that such cults can sway people into their fold with his 2019 Japanese comedy Special Actors, and now Korean writer/director Kim Seon-kuk takes a more serious thriller/horror approach about such tactics with his engrossing The Unrighteous. Revolving around the residents of an aging apartment complex named Villa Wonjung and their desire to eventually profit from rising property values to move into fancier, more modern apartments, the story finds young head of household Joo-hyun (Lee Hyun-woo) pitted against neighbor Shin-hye (Moon Jeong-hee) whose sudden devoted involvement in a cult begins the recruitment of the other residents, including his mother. Aided by a young woman (Bang Min-ah) looking to expose the cult, Joo-hyun tries to use reason to stop the cult’s powerful influence while the residents’ fervor grows, and the cult’s underhanded ambitions grow increasingly dangerous. The committed performances by the three leads are reason enough to seek out The Unrighteous, with each actor nailing the desperation of their characters and the variety of emotions through which each goes. Kim paces the suspense wonderfully while also showing step-by-step measures of how cults can find ways to gain influence over people. Although a third-act twist is rather predictable and the film opens with a pet peeve of mine, a cold open that gives away what will happen in the third act, overall The Unrighteous is a fascinating work that boasts a fair amount of insidious actions and threat of peril. — Joseph Perry
The Last Stop in Yuma County
Francis Galluppi’s The Last Stop in Yuma County is a tense, suspenseful thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as a seemingly simple premise unfolds into a chaotic and unpredictable situation. The film centers on a charming yet bumbling knife salesman, played by indie darling Jim Cummings, who finds himself stranded in the middle of nowhere at a gas station with no fuel. To kill time while more fuel arrives, he is told to wait in a nearby, greasy spoon diner where he strikes up a casual conversation with its friendly waitress Charlotte (Joceline Donahue). However, the atmosphere quickly becomes charged when the two are joined by a pair of travelers with sinister intentions, and as more stranded travelers seek refuge in the diner, the tension continues to build. With everyone in this forgotten corner of the United States seemingly packing a gun and with “Chekhov’s knives” in the salesman’s briefcase, it’s only a matter of time before this sleepy, roadside diner erupts into violence. Galluppi directs from a stylish, tight script that makes the most of the story’s limited, rural location. The film’s opening shot, a long, meticulously framed take, sets the tone for a slow burn, suspenseful story that gradually unfolds. The Last Stop in Yuma County’s clever use of dramatic irony adds an extra layer of tension, als well as entertaining frustration, as setups and payoffs keep viewers guessing until the very end. The cast delivers a collection of exceptional performances, skillfully balancing relatable characters with exaggerated American archetypes. Richard Brake shines as Beau, the menacing yet eerily rational antagonist, while Cummings masterfully portrays the knife salesman’s transformation from nervous traveler to desperate survivor. The Last Stop in Yuma County is a thrilling and entertaining watch that rewards patient viewers. While some may find the pacing deliberately slow and the characters bordering on caricature, the film’s powder-keg storyline delivers with a satisfying explosion. — Chris Weatherspoon
The Unrighteous, The Last Stop in Yuma County, The Cursed Land, and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In screened as part of South Korea’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), which ran July 4–14, 2024. For more info, check out their website at https://www.bifan.kr/eng/.
A man of the world, guest reviewer Chris Weatherspoon has lived in South Korea for “quite a bit.” A huge fan of all cinema, Chris also works locally in the entertainment industry, and knows what he is talking about . . . alright!?
