- Director : Kim Seong-Sik
- Actors : Gang Dong-Won, Huh Joon-Ho, Esom, Lee Dong-Hwi, Kim Jong-Soo
- Language : Korean (DTS 5.1)
- Studio : Well Go Usa
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Number of discs : 1
- Media Format : Widescreen
- Run time : 1 hour and 38 minutes
- Release date : February 27, 2024
Although the plot
of Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman borrows heavily from the horror
genre, dealing with an exorcist who is cynical about the existence of evil
spirits until finally encountering something that can’t be explained, the
execution feels more influenced by the superhero genre. The spectacle is absurd
and leans heavily on computer generated effects, while the horror elements all
take the backseat to action and humor. While some of the MCU films like Dr.
Strange and the Multiverse of Madness have leaned into horror elements,
this horror film has adopted the tone of most superhero films, with equally disappointing
results.
The title
character, Dr. Cheon (Gang Dong-won), is
the grandson of a shaman who spends his time performing
exorcisms, despite no experience encountering actual supernatural activity. Although
he has a sincere interest in hunting down a dangerous evil spirit responsible
for the death of his grandfather, Dr. Cheon mostly just scams people with the
help of his tech expert and the film’s comedic relief, In-bae (Lee Dong-hwi). When
they encounter a young woman named Yoo-gyeong (Esom) who has the ability to see
the spirit realm, Dr. Cheon takes the opportunity to make a real difference by
using his grandfather’s broken sword which has the capability to take on the spiritual
threat.
Dr. Cheon and
the Lost Talisman doesn’t appear to be aiming for high-brow cinema, but
instead takes on the laziest formula used by most Hollywood blockbusters these days.
While this may be a nice diversion for some, it is also unlikely to leave much
of an impact. Making matters even worse, the execution of this spectacle is
often less than believable. Though there are certainly worse examples of CGI,
there are also far better. This can make some of the more exciting sequences
less effective, and this often results in the entire endeavor feeling more than
a little silly.
The Blu-ray release
for Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman doesn’t have much in terms of
special features, but it does include character bios and a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4.5/10
Historical
Significance: 2/10
Special Features: 1/10
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