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How entertaining? ★★★★☆
Thought provoking? ★☆☆☆☆ 4 November 2012
This article is a review of WOOCHI: THE DEMON SLAYER. |
“A wizard’s duty is to help the helpless,” Woochi
At a packed screening, peeps on cushions on the floor, we were treated to director Dong-Hoon Choi’s 2009 offering as part of his retrospective at the London Korean Film Festival 2012. Also present to enlighten us on his filmmaking process for a Q&A after.
Unfortunately the first 30 seconds of voice over exposition were not in English. It might’ve made a difference; it might not. The audience is barraged with mythology: goblins, a magic pipe, Taoist gods, an archgod, something about evil, the messing up of some sort of 3000 day prophecy. I get that “The Pipe” controls these goblin things, powerful forces of destruction in the shape of humanoid mammals. The person who plays the mystical musical instrument also has the ability to control the actions of others. I’m not selling this so far I know. But the film’s extremely oddball opening is worth enduring. We are in a time of wizards and wushu, mixing magic and martial arts to exciting effect. It’s the CROUCHING TIGER realm of flying about and kicking butts, and not taking names.
At a packed screening, peeps on cushions on the floor, we were treated to director Dong-Hoon Choi’s 2009 offering as part of his retrospective at the London Korean Film Festival 2012. Also present to enlighten us on his filmmaking process for a Q&A after.
Unfortunately the first 30 seconds of voice over exposition were not in English. It might’ve made a difference; it might not. The audience is barraged with mythology: goblins, a magic pipe, Taoist gods, an archgod, something about evil, the messing up of some sort of 3000 day prophecy. I get that “The Pipe” controls these goblin things, powerful forces of destruction in the shape of humanoid mammals. The person who plays the mystical musical instrument also has the ability to control the actions of others. I’m not selling this so far I know. But the film’s extremely oddball opening is worth enduring. We are in a time of wizards and wushu, mixing magic and martial arts to exciting effect. It’s the CROUCHING TIGER realm of flying about and kicking butts, and not taking names.
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The Pipe is missing and being hunted across the land. In a brief altercation, a hugely skilled wizard, Master Hwadam, fells a goblin and amazingly catches an arrow in mid-flight. The story then cuts to a different plot. We’re not sure how it’s all linked, until proceedings lead to the titular Woochi releasing said arrow. He is a rebellious and precocious wizard, believing both in justice and being the best. Hwadam reveals himself to be less than scrupulous and ends up besting Woochi, when they eventually confront one another over The Pipe. Our hero is trapped in a painting, and we join him 500 years later in the present day. So far so nuts. I’m giving a brief overview. There is pleasure in trying to follow what’s going on, as well as gawking at the top-notch fights.
Props have to be given to writer-director Choi for his imagination. WOOCHI: THE DEMON SLAYER is an original screenplay. The filmmaker reminds me of the Luc Besson of THE FIFTH ELEMENT. The audience is handed an energetic genre mash-up. The fantasy stuff should’ve been better thought out and relayed to us though. The characters seem to be just reacting to that moment’s crises, while there’s a vague notion of a heinous master plan meant to be thwarted. The frenetic pace keeps major analysis mostly at arm’s length throughout the runtime. Instead colourful characters are hurled into the maelstrom. Woochi’s comedy sidekick, Chorangyi, is a horse/dog that his master turns into an adroit human fighter when required. (I sh*t you not.) Then there is the mysterious and strikingly attractive Seo In-kyeong, who crops up twice: Latterly as a dogsbody to a spoilt and talentless film star, but has aspirations of being an actress herself. Is she our way into the melee? After awhile I stopped hoping anyone would help, and just rode the wave.
WOOCHI: THE DEMON SLAYER is a winsome and bonkers hotchpotch of martial arts, THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE and HELLBOY. And it somehow works.
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