Having opened at number 1 in the South Korean box office, A Werewolf Boy has become the most watched melodramatic movie of all time in the country, according to JoongAng Daily.

Not another rip-off from the Twilight werewolf craze, this is a heartwarming romantic tale of the unlikely but deep relationship between a young Suni (Park Bo-young) and a werewolf boy – a seemingly ordinary looking boy who turns into a werewolf, much like Jacob from the Twillight series – called Chul-soo (Song Joong-ki).

Directed by Jo Sung-hee, A Werewolf Boy brings you 47 years back and tells the story of Suni, a young social recluse who doesn’t go to school or mix around due to her illness. It develops on her relationship with a the boy in his 20s who only knows how to growl, eat barbarically, and transforms not into The Hulk but a bloodthirsty werewolf when angered. Even his physical characteristics like his high body temperature and steel-like bones are not quite human.

Instead of being afraid of him (as you’d expect anyone to be), Suni is intrigued by him and grateful that he has a kind heart when he protects her from her arrogant and selfish landlord Ji-tae [Yoo Yeon-seok] who tries to force a kiss on her.

With the help of a long forgotten dog trainer’s manual, Suni takes it upon herself to teach Chul-soo some basic hygiene. The time spent together naturally develops into a special bond between the 2 that’s sweet and endearing, much like a bond between an owner and a dog rather than that of 2 lovers. But will this unique love story work out?

One of the biggest draw to the movie is probably the star of the show – Song Joong-ki. Having recently showed his remarkable skills as an actor and a singer in the drama Nice Guy, the multi-talented actor is a scene-stealer even without being able to fall back on his swoonsome looks.

If you’re skeptical about his ability to pull off such a scruffy role with no speech, the “flowerboy” of Running Man proves you wrong by fully utilising his facial expressions (especially his eyes) and body movements to get into the character of a boy with wolf-like tendencies. The result’s a very convincing performance that more than makes up for the lack of words and proves that a pretty boy like him can pull off such a challenging role.

Park Bo-Young’s acting also compliments Song by bringing innocence into the character. Her full immersion and commitment to Suni can be felt when you watch her take care of Chul-soo through her sincere gestures and expressions. It convinces the viewers to understand and sympathise with her character.

The first-time commercial film director, has given us movies like the arthouse flick, End of Animal  and a short film, Don’t Step Out of the House. He successfully draws the viewers into this by integrating humour in the way the family interacts with Chul-soo through deliberately exaggerated reactions like defending their bowl of rice at the dinner table from the hungry boy.

Delighted fans will cheer as they get to see the humanised Chul-soo cross-dressing in a hanbok (Korean traditional clothing for women) with dramatic make up like that of a Chinese opera when Suni decides to have some fun and play dress up with him.

The selling point of the movie, other than the fabulous cast, lies in the easy to grasp, touching plot that builds up gradually. Despite being a pretty long movie, it progressively reveals a deeper plot that will either bring Suni closer to Chul-soo, or tear them apart.

A Werewolf Boy is a touching and captivating tale of 2 people neglected by society who find company and comfort in each other leaving the audience touched by the storyline. The movie also subtly leads the viewers to decide who the real monster is: Chul-soo, or society.

 

  • Movie name: A Werewolf Boy
  • Rating: 4/5
  • Release Date: Dec 13
  • Runtime: 125 mins
  • Censorship rating: PG13
  • Genre: Fantasy/Romance
  • Director: Jo Sung-hee
  • Cast: Song Joong-ki, Park Bo-young