Asian Home Cinema: The Evil Twin transition in the DVD

"Evil Twin" which set in the period of Joseon dynasty was pointed as the return of Korean horror film in a historical setting. Historic Korean horror movies – best represented by "A Public Cemetery of Wolha" – disappeared after the 1986 movie "Woman`s Wail". Modern ghost movie era such as "Phone" and "A Tale of Two Sisters", replaced them. The debuting director Kim Ji-hwan that helmed “Evil Twin” stated his aspiration of returning to the true roots of Korean horror movies. Although this movie is Kim’s directorial debut, he is already a renowned horror film expert among Korean filmmakers. Kim has displayed his genuine affection towards the so-called "cursed genre" while writing horror film columns in "FILM 2.0" magazine, based on his experience from watching several thousand horror movies. The teenaged television star Park Shin Hye (Palace S, Love Phobia) was recruited to takes on her first leading film role on this movie, and must adapting with the polar personalities of two characters which she must portraying here. Another co-stars are Jae Hee (3 iron) and Yang Geum Seok.

The story was started ten years before when Seo-rae village is enshrouded by a thick fog coming from the river. While running from a group of village kids, twin sisters Hyo-jin and So-yeon (Park Shin Hye) both fell into the river. Their mother tries hard to save them, both but manages only to save So-yeon, who is alive but comatose. Ten years later, someone named CHOI is murdered mysteriously as he was heading home from a friends assembly. And at that particular time, So-yeon wakes up from her coma, without any memories of her childhood or even of her sister Hyo-jin. Though she has lost her memory, she is troubled by what she can't remember, and often shows characteristics similar to her dead sister. When So-yeon's mother (Yang Geum-seok) and soon to be husband, Hyun-sik (Jae Hee), are often baffled by So-yeon identity crisis, there’s more and more former friends are killed in a series of mysterious murders. They’re assumed that Hyo-jin who was unable to rest in peace has return as a vengeful spirit that full of jealous rivalry on So-yeon, and her curse befalls the village.

The movie whose main motif is Kongjwi Patjwi, a Korean version of the Cinderella story, revolves around So-yeon's identity crisis and the mystery surrounding her personality keeps the audience engaged and guessing until the twisting climax of the movie. Park Sin-hye brilliantly plays both So-yeon and Hyo-jin odd personalities, representing her prospective as a rising star of Korean cinema.
However, the director's lack of directing experience is evident in the movie. The characters are busy screaming throughout the movie even before the audience feels a chill. This is like repeatedly asking the audience, "That scene was scary, wasn't it?" Taking away from the excitement somewhat. Awkward scenes like a ghost in white mourning clothes hitting her head on a beam because she is too tall or a German shepherd, which obviously did not exist during the Joseon period, fiercely barking on So-yeon, make us wonder if it is a comedy.

Product Details:

Product Title: The Evil Twin (Jeon-seol-eui Go-hyang) DVD (Limited Korea Version Edition)
Actors: Park Shin Hye, Jae Hee, Yang Geum Suk
Directors: Kim Ji-hwan
Format: Widescreen 1.85:1 (Anamorphic) , Color, NTSC
Language: Korean
Subtitle: English, Korean
Audio Specs: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Region: Region 3
Number of discs: 1
Country Made: South Korea
Distributor: HB Entertainment Korea
Release Date: August 30, 2007 (South Korea)