• Netflix's ‘Parasyte: The Grey’ earns global acclaim and a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes

    International media outlets are singing praises for director Yeon Sang Ho's latest work, 'Parasyte: The Grey'.

    The original comic 'Parasyte' is a thrilling narrative about mysterious parasitic creatures that descend upon Earth, invade human brains, take over their bodies, and prey on other humans. 'Parasyte: The Grey' is a spin-off that retains the original setting but introduces new characters, all set against the backdrop of Korea.

    The story unfolds as parasitic creatures take control of human bodies. The cast includes Jeon So Ni, who portrays a mutant with only part of his body controlled by a Parasyte, Koo Kyohwan, who plays Seol Kang Woo, a fierce gang member who assists him, and Lee Jung Hyun, who takes on the role of Choi Jun Kyung, the leader of The Grey team that embarks on a Parasyte eradication mission.

    MovieWeb, on April 13th, acknowledged that the underappreciated sub-genre of body horror, which intentionally showcases grotesque alterations of the human body, has yet to fully penetrate the mainstream. However, it lauded 'Parasyte: The Grey' for its exceptional portrayal of body horror.

    The review continued, stating that the film, which uses the grotesque faces of aliens to deliver breathtaking action and horror, pushes the boundaries of body horror.

    Moreover, it highlighted that 'Parasyte: The Grey', in particular, discards some of the characteristics of comics and animations to make the plot more emotional and less horrifying, delivering top-notch body horror. It expressed hope that more movies and TV programs will follow in the footsteps of 'Parasyte: The Grey', showering it with high praise.

    On the global movie review site Rotten Tomatoes, 'Parasyte: The Grey' boasts an impressive freshness index of 100%.

    With the worldwide acclaim, anticipation for Season 2 is also mounting. Director Yeon Sang Ho recently hinted at plans for Season 2 in a media interview.

    Source[1]

  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

    Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

    The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

    Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

    Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

    Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

    The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

    On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

    Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

    The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

    Source (1)