Hwayi: A Monster Boy

Hwayi: A Monster Boy (Korean: 화이: 괴물을 삼킨 아이; RR: Hwa-i: Goemureul Samkin Ai) is a 2013 South Korean action film about a 16-year-old boy of the same name (played by Yeo Jin-goo[5]) who is raised by five criminal fathers to become the perfect assassin. It takes pulling the trigger to discover his true identity after he realizes the mystery surrounding his past and his fate.[6][7] It was the highly anticipated second feature film by director Jang Joon-hwan, a decade after his 2003 cult favorite sci-fi comedy/thriller Save the Green Planet!.[8][9][10][11]

Hwayi: A Monster Boy
Hangul
Hanja
화이:怪物을 삼킨 아이
Revised RomanizationHwa-i: Goemureul samkin ai
McCune–ReischauerHwai: Koemurŭl samk'in ai
Directed byJang Joon-hwan
Written byPark Ju-seok
Produced byLee Jun-dong
Lee Dong-ha
Lee Dae-hee
StarringKim Yoon-seok
Yeo Jin-goo
CinematographyKim Ji-young
Edited byKim Sang-bum
Kim Jae-bum
Music byMowg
Distributed byShowbox[1][2]
Release date
  • October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09)[3]
Running time
126 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$16.4 million[4]

Plot

In the middle of a forest, a notorious five-member crime organization lives together on a deserted farm. One day, following a plan that didn't go as expected, an infant whom they had kidnapped in a blackmailing scheme is left with them. 14 years later, this boy, who is now named Hwa-yi, lives as the son of his five criminal fathers: Seok-tae, the cold but charismatic leader, Ki-tae, a stammering driving expert, Jin-seong, an ideal planner, Beom-soo, a guns expert, and Dong-beom a cold martial artist. Hwa-yi has been brought up in a unique way, learning skills from his five fathers instead of going to school. Though he has adapted to this life, sometimes he longs for the ordinary life of other boys, which seems impossible for him.

The gang plans another crime, which will see Hwa-yi participate for the first time. During a fight, Hwa-yi fires a gun to kill someone. At first, his fingers tremble and the gun shakes but after one shot, he keeps pulling the trigger as though possessed. He finds a picture of a child on the man he shot and soon Hwa-yi starts to uncover a huge secret and his tragic destiny. His life is turned upside down when he learns that the man he killed was his real father. From that moment on, Hwa-yi vows revenge on his gangster fathers, using the devious skills he picked up from a life in crime.[12]

Hwa-yi begins by killing one of five fathers. The rest of them go after him but lose him. Hwa-yi calls them all to Sungji Cement Factory. He also writes a letter to the rival gang and they show up an hour before. Both groups get into a feud. Hwa-yi positions himself at a high vantage point and snipes the men. Soon, everyone is dead except for Seok-tae and Hwa-yi. Seok-tae heads to the hospital where Hwa-yi's mother is admitted, Hwa-yi follows.

To Hwa-yi's mother at the hospital, Seok-tae reveals the story all the way from the orphanage to the kidnapping to raising her child. After this, he kills her and goes back home. Hwa-yi reaches the hospital too late, he goes home to confront Seok-tae. The detective who's been after the notorious gang is also there. The three of them have a standoff. Seok-tae kills the detective and Hwa-yi kills Seok-tae. He dies with a smile because his “son” is now the monster he always wanted him to become. The film ends with Hwayi sniping the CEO of the rival gang and disappearing into the crowds.[13]

Cast

Box office

Released on October 9, 2013, known as Hangul Day, a national holiday in South Korea, Hwayi: A Monster Boy opened strong at the box office, reaching 1.2 million admissions over its first five days.[14][15] At the end of its run, it had sold a total of 2,394,418 tickets, with a gross of ₩17,695,189,795.

Remake

Lee Jun-dong, head of Hwayi's production company Now Film, will co-produce an English-language remake with U.S.-based Spanish producer Frida Torresblanco (Pan's Labyrinth). Lee said, "We have decided to take part in the production as a collaborator in order to ensure the quality of the remake, rather than simply handing over the storyline."[16]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2013 21st Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Best New Actor Yeo Jin-goo Won
33rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Won
34th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actor
Cho Jin-woong
 Nominated
Best New Actor
Yeo Jin-goo
 Won
Best New Actress
Nam Ji-hyun
 Nominated
Best Screenplay
Park Joo-seok
 Nominated
Best Music
Mowg
 Won
2014 5th KOFRA Film Awards Best New Actor Yeo Jin-goo Won
50th Paeksang Arts Awards Nominated
14th Director's Cut Awards Won
23rd Buil Film Awards Nominated
51st Grand Bell Awards Nominated

References
  1. "Showbox takes on Jang Joon-hwan's Hwayi". Screen International. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  2. Shackleton, Liz (15 May 2013). "Showbox clinches French deal on Hwayi". Screen International. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  3. Lee, Eun-ah (14 August 2013). "Yeo Jin-goo's Thriller Pic to Open in October". TenAsia. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  4. "Hwayi (2013)" Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  5. Lee, Seung-mi (24 February 2014). "Yeo Jin-goo a veteran at just 16". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  6. Baek, Jong-hyun (18 January 2013). "Meet the Monster in HWAYI". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  7. Conran, Pierce (27 September 2013). "In Focus: Hwayi: A Monster Boy". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  8. Frater, Patrick (12 December 2012). "Hwayi marks return for Kim, Jang". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 2012-12-17. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  9. Lee, Hye-ji (3 May 2013). "Yeo Jin-goo's New Film Cranks Up". TenAsia. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  10. Tae, Sang-joon (4 September 2013). "JANG Joon-hwan Returns with HWAYI". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
  11. Hwang, Hei-rim (30 September 2013). "JANG Joon-hwan Returns". Korean Cinema Today. Archived from the original on 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  12. "Raging Boy, Hwai". Asian Project Market. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  13. "Hwayi: A Monster Boy". Hwayi: A Monster Boy Plot. Archived from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  14. Conran, Pierce (14 October 2013). "JANG Joon-hwan's Comeback Opens Strong: HWAYI Cracks 1 Million Admissions in 5 Days". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  15. Lee, Sun-min (15 October 2013). "Revenge-thriller Hwayi leads box office". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  16. Lee, Hyo-won (19 May 2014). "Cannes: South Korean Crime Drama Hwayi to Get U.S. Remake". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
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