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Hwayi: A Monster Boy

Original title: Hwai: Goimooleul samkin ai
  • 2013
  • Not Rated
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013)
ActionThriller

A boy with five fathers who is attached to the criminal underworld. A sinister past is about to be revealed as he is forced to join the killing spree.A boy with five fathers who is attached to the criminal underworld. A sinister past is about to be revealed as he is forced to join the killing spree.A boy with five fathers who is attached to the criminal underworld. A sinister past is about to be revealed as he is forced to join the killing spree.

  • Director
    • Jang Joon-hwan
  • Writers
    • Park Joo-suk
    • Jang Joon-hwan
  • Stars
    • Kim Yoon-seok
    • Yeo Jin-goo
    • Cho Jin-woong
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    5.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jang Joon-hwan
    • Writers
      • Park Joo-suk
      • Jang Joon-hwan
    • Stars
      • Kim Yoon-seok
      • Yeo Jin-goo
      • Cho Jin-woong
    • 27User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 5 nominations total

    Photos31

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    Top cast29

    Edit
    Kim Yoon-seok
    Kim Yoon-seok
    • Seok Tae
    Yeo Jin-goo
    Yeo Jin-goo
    • Hwayi
    Cho Jin-woong
    Cho Jin-woong
    • Ki Tae
    Jang Hyun-sung
    Jang Hyun-sung
    • Jin Seong
    Kim Sung Kyun
    Kim Sung Kyun
    • Dong-beom
    Park Hae-joon
    Park Hae-joon
    • Beom Soo
    Nam Ji-hyun
    Nam Ji-hyun
    • Yoo-kyung
    Lim Ji-eun
    • Yeong-joo
    Yoo Yeon-seok
    Yoo Yeon-seok
    • Park Ji Won
    Moon Sung-keun
    Moon Sung-keun
    • CEO Jin
    Lee Kyoung-young
    Lee Kyoung-young
    • Im Hyung Taek
    Min Bok-gi
    Min Bok-gi
    • Middle Aged Ex-Prosecutor
    Han Cheol-woo
    • Detective Kim
    Sung Do-hyun
    • Lime factory supporter
    Eom Ji-man
    • Detective
    Jang In-sub
    • Detective Chang-ho
    Han Joo-wan
    • President Jeon's Attendant
    Woo Jung-kook
    • Blind Masseur
    • (as Jung-kook Woo)
    • Director
      • Jang Joon-hwan
    • Writers
      • Park Joo-suk
      • Jang Joon-hwan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    7.05.6K
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    Featured reviews

    6KineticSeoul

    Entertaining Korean flick for the most part

    I would have probably enjoyed this movie when I was in my early teens over now. Despite all the blood and gore in this. The acting is good, but couldn't really get immersed into the characters or the story. I guess they did the best they could with 2 hours and multiple different characters. The rising star Yeo Jin-goo is still rough around the edges but still good for such a young actor. I think his acting chops will continue to grow, plus he already beats out other Korean actors that are older when it comes to acting. Another actor that stood out is Kim Sung-Kyun but that is because he seemed to be impersonating the Joker. The plot is similar to something from a graphic novel which I thought was cool. Unfortunately most of the areas in the movie just seemed so darn underdeveloped and rushed at times. Making certain situations not as gripping or even to the point of not making much sense. The situations could have been more tense if there was more development in the story and characters. It's a good movie to boost Yeo Jin-goo as a rising star, but it's not a thriller that sticks with you like "The Chaser" 2008. The plot is passable and the action for the most part is realistic and good to great acting to go along with it. I give it a 6.5/10.

    6.5/10
    komatanii

    How did I feel about this movie !

    Well last night I finally watched this movie ..I was so excited for it really . well first of all , I RECOMMEND this movie to everyone who wants to have a thriller filled ,dramatic,emotional movie ..so try this great movie . well in order for me not to spoil the movie for you ..I will just say little !! everything was epic and specially the fight scenes and cars races ..the Directer was a real GENIUS in drawing the best in the actors and specially "Yeo Jin gu" ,despite his young age but he was like possessed by the character to the point that you will not be able to tell if he is acting or he is the real Hwayi ,SERIOUSLY . well for me just few things stood out and remained mysterious even when the movie was finished ..I needed more answers for few things but they never made them clear ,specially some past events , but i think the need of the movie directer or even maybe the writer to show us things more than the others was the reason ! all the 5 "fathers" presented a unique character for each one of them ..with "Kim Yun seok" character I got the most chills cuz he was like super scary .. anyways ! If You are OK with BLOOD in movies ..cuz seriously you will see a great deal of blood and scary scenes but it all worth watching really ..so enjoy ^^
    8Reno-Rangan

    A boy is about to find out who he is.

    From the director who gave 'Save the Green Planet' was carved this action-thriller. It was a good comeback for the director to give such a great movie after a decade of the gap. Also worth waiting for us all these years to get a movie like this. It was the story of a teenager who begin to look for his true identity from what he was known as.

    I was so curious after reading synopsis which denoted a boy with the five fathers. Yeah, it is something I did not get at that point, once I began to watch it was convinced me. A boy was raised by the five criminals, later goes in search for the truth after he's forced to step into a killing spree. The more he goes deeper to find the truth the more he risks himself with the dangers ahead. One after another the truth come into the lights which shocks him as well as the audience.

    I thought it was another Korean gore movie with gangsters in it. I thought that way all the first half till the twist come into the play. But the real twist was in the last portion which totally blew me. It was attached to a flashback scene, that scene was the best turning point which flipped the movie from its originality into the new perspective.

    I am seeing possibly Hollywood remake here. Definitely other industries around the world will show interest in this. Because the story was very nice with excellent characters and twists. One of the best Korean action movie of the year. The cast was good and so the direction with strong scenes everywhere. A sequel could be possible, which may concentrate more on the romance side. You should have this if you love the Korean movies where men are seen with the guns.
    7jasminn_tan

    No winners here

    The unluckiest one is Hwayi himself, my goodness. The thing about him seeing monsters seemed pretty irrelevant overall, instead the real monsters were his five 'fathers'. Amazing acting by the cast but I felt like there was something lacking about the story.
    7Foutainoflife

    More Action Than Suspense

    This was not what I was expecting but it is a decent film. My opinion is that it was more action than suspense. It moves at a decent pace, acting is good and the plot is different. There is a lot emotion in it and the main character really did a great job conveying his conflictions. I'm not exactly sure what it is but it was missing a little something. Not a bad movie at all though. Just be prepared for some highly dramatic action if you choose to sit down and watch it.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Joon-Hwan Jang's first feature directorial movie since 2003 film Jigureul Jikyeora.

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2013 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Hwayi: Cậu Bé Quái Vật
    • Production companies
      • Now Films
      • Pine House Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,437,802
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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