Aarva

The Bulwark ·Smart escape

‘Hope’ Review

by Sonny Bunch

Published 2026-09-09 07:51:49+00:00

If the chase scenes are perfect, does it matter if the monsters look cheap?

0:00 / 6:28 · Narrator Rasalgethi

Context

A South Korean police chief finds a shredded cow carcass, and suddenly a small town is fighting off a full-scale monster invasion. Writing on 9 September 2026, The Bulwark captures the sheer whiplash of Na Hong-jin's new film, Hope. The real question is how the production holds together. How does a director balance breathtaking, practical car chases and genuine horror with goofy computer-generated creatures and unexpected comedy? It adds up to a big, silly B-movie that refuses to play by the usual rules, right down to a final twist that completely upends the story.

Show notes

A review of Na Hong-jin's monster thriller Hope, examining the film's blend of high-stakes action and B-movie comedy. Outlines the movie's structure around two massive chase sequences, contrasting the practical stunt work with the weaker computer-generated creatures. Concludes by analyzing the abrupt point-of-view reversal at the end and its setup for a potential sequel.

Read on The Bulwark →