Tue. Dec 10th, 2024

WTK REVIEW: New Historical Zombie Flick “Rampant” Is A Must For Zombie Fans

Are you an avid fan of zombie flicks and scary, gory scenes? Well, ”Rampant” is the right film for you!

Another popular zombie film has been released and distributed by Next Entertainment World, the production that brought fans the mega-smash film ”Train To Busan.” The movie premiered on October 25th in Korea before debuting internationally on November 2nd. The movie is currently showing in 19 countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Philippines, Germany, and more.

”Rampant” is a historical zombie film directed by Kim Sung Hoon. It tells the story of horrifying creatures known as ”night demons” who overrun the people of Joseon. They have a deep thirst for blood and meat. Meanwhile, Prince Lee Chung (Hyun Bin) returns to Joseon after being held captive as a political offering to the Qing Dynasty. He is a womanizer but a skilled swordsman and was sent back by his brother Crown Prince Lee Young (Kim Tae Woo) to fulfill his last wish. He has no desire for the throne, but he soon sees how the people of Joseon suffer from the flesh-eating monsters. As a result, the palace is also in political chaos. As such, he decides to put a stop to the rampant demons that plague the nation and fight the evil desire of Minister of War Kim Ja Joon (Jang Dong Gun) who seeks to make a new Joseon country by making use of the night demons.

Started last September 1, 2017, filming for the movie took about five months total. With its star-studded cast, movie fans have been eagerly awaiting the premiere of the film.

As such, ”Rampant” had a remarkable premiere with 156,644 tickets sold on opening day in Korea, taking over the box office lead with approximately 1.1 million U.S. dollars in sales.

Although ”Rampant” is entertaining, it does has a predictable plot— an irresponsible prince turns into a Joseon hero. The production may have had the desire to outshine ”Train To Busan,” but it only achieved a slight success in comparison. However, the massive number of zombies surrounding the palace and dressed in traditional hanbok makes for cool visuals, as well as provide an additional scare factor for the audience. The zombies are quick, strong, and creepy enough to satisfy your thrill cravings— especially with their bone-cracking sounds as they twist their bodies.

The production also ramped things up with flying and jumping zombies, while the cast also succeeded in giving the viewers amazing sword fighting scenes. With the film’s star-studded cast of Hyun Bin, Jang Dong Gun, Lee Sun Bin, Jo Woo Jin, Kim Eui Sung, Seo Ji Hye and special appearance of Kim Tae Woo, the movie might not reach the heights of “Train to Busan,” but it definitely delivers a solid performance that is sure to entertain fans.

The action scenes are definitely the highlight of the movie. Hyun Bin’s impressive performance in fight scenes is something that truly shines in the film. Director Kim Sung Hoon, Screen Writer Hwang Jo Yoon, and Hyun Bin previously worked together in the 2017 box office hit film ”Confidential Assignment,” As such, it’s no wonder there are many action sword-fight scenes that bring out the best of the actor’s abilities and draw the attention of viewers.

The theme of sympathy, patriotism, and the duties and responsibilities of a true King also provide a heartwarming touch to the film. While the movie doesn’t deliver as much of an impact with its counterpart “Train to Busan,” the unique setting and time period of the Joseon period make for an interesting concept for a zombie film.

Overall, based on action, the zombie roles and graphics, and the stellar performance of the seasoned cast, I give this film a rating of 8 out of 10. It is a fun movie that is a thrill to watch. I highly recommend that all fans of zombie films check out this interesting and entertaining movie.

Check out the trailer below!

ging1030 is a multi-fandom fan of Kpop since 2010. She enjoys watching Asian dramas and variety shows like “Running Man”. She is an avid fan of Song triplets and Song Joong Ki.  For her, Kdrama is life. They are her inspirations in life so she can live on and do what her heart desires!

MEDIA: Next Entertainment World