Spiritwalker (film)

Spiritwalker (Korean: 유체이탈자; Hanja: 遺體離脫者; RR: Yucheitalja) is a 2021 South Korean mystery action fantasy film, written and directed by Yoon Jae-geun. Starring Yoon Kye-sang, Park Yong-woo and Lim Ji-yeon, the film revolves around an amnesiac man who subsequently wakes up in a new body every twelve hours. It had its premiere at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival on August 22, 2021, and was released theatrically on November 24, 2021, in South Korea.

Spiritwalker
Official release poster
Hangul
유체이탈자
Hanja
遺體離脫者
Literal meaningOut of Body
Revised RomanizationYucheitalja
Directed byYoon Jae-geun
Written byYoon Jae-geun
Produced by
  • Jang Won-seok
  • Lee So-young
Starring
Edited by
  • Hwang Eun-ju
  • Choe Seul-mi
Music byKang Nene
Production
companies
Saram Entertainment
BA Entertainment
Distributed byAvio Entertainment
Megabox JoongAng PlusM
Release dates
  • August 22, 2021 (2021-08-22) (NYAFF)
  • November 24, 2021 (2021-11-24) (South Korea)
Running time
108 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$6.6 million[1]

The film topped the Korean box office for consecutive 2 weeks after its release. As of December 31, 2021 it is in 7th place among all the Korean films released in 2021 with 810,673 admission and US$6.62 million gross.[1]

Premise

After waking up from a car crash unable to remember anything about his life, a secret agent named Kang I-an begins regaining consciousness in a new body every 12 hours. He must piece together his identity, all while evading attacks from pursuing agents and dangerous criminals alike, but with no memory and allies.

Cast

Production

On January 21, 2019, it was reported that Lim Ji-yeon has joined Yoon Kye-sang as female lead for the film tentatively titled as 'Fluid Renegades'.[4] Yoon Kye-sang has acted as a mirror in 7 roles as he wakes in a different body after every 12 hours.[5]

Filming began on January 15, 2019, after completion of casting line up.[6]

Release

Spiritwalker had its premiere at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival on August 22, 2021.[7] It was also invited to the 53rd Sitges Film Festival in the 'Fantastic Panorama' section held from October 8 to 18, 2020.[8] Apart from these festivals the film was invited to 5 other major film festivals as 17th British Mayham Film Festival, the 35th German Fantasy Filmfest, The 6th London East Asian Film Festival, the 21st Trieste Science Fiction Film Festival, and the 41st Hawaii International Film Festival.[5]

It has been sold to 107 countries before its theatrical release on November 24, 2021, in South Korea.[9]

Home media

The film was made available for streaming on IPTV (KT Olleh TV, SK Btv, LG U+ TV), Home Choice (cable TV VOD), KT SkyLife TV, TVING, Naver TV, Wavve, Google Play, Cinefox, and KakaoPage from December 21, 2021.[10]

Reception

Box office

The film was released on November 24, 2021, on 1213 screens.[11] As per Korean Film Council (Kofic) integrated computer network, the film ranked first on the Korean box office on the opening weekend with 362,424 admissions.[1][12] It kept its first place at the end of 2nd week with 679,919 admissions.[13]

As of December 31, 2021 it is at 7th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with a gross of US$6.62 million and 810,673 admissions.[1]

Critical response

Kim Mi-hwa from Star News reviewed that she praised the performance of the actors and wrote, "If you expect solid acting and action from the actors, you will be able to feel the joy at the cinema after a long time since [onset of] Corona."[14] Kang Hyo-jin from SPOTV News, referring to the 2015 film Beauty Inside and 2002 film The Bourne Identity stated, "[it is the work] that gives the feeling of 'Beauty Inside' wearing the mask of 'Bon'". She concluded writing, "It contains interesting materials, cool and stylish action, and even a storyline that unravels the mystery. However, as the overall texture is good, even a small hole is a big disappointment."[15] Kim Bo-ra from Yonhap News Agency referring to 1997 film Face/Off, 2000 film Memento, 2016 Japanese animated romantic fantasy film Your Name and Bourne Series stated, "Spritwalker combines the two subgenres in a more complicated way, placing the memory-impaired hero in a predicament by having his spirit transfer to another body every 12 hours." Kim concluded, "the film features Ian's mysterious situations and journey for personal identity from the beginning and catches the eyes of viewers with high-speed car chases, gun shootouts and hand-to-hand fight scenes."[16]

Remake

Spiritwalker will be remade for United States audiences by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who has produced G.I. Joe and Transformers film series.[17][18]

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Recipient Result Ref.
2021 20th New York Asian Film FestivalDaniel Craft Award for Excellence in Action CinemaSpiritwalkerWon[19]
2022 58th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor Park Yong-woo Nominated [20]
58th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress Lim Ji-yeon Nominated [21][22]

References
  1. "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2021". KOFIC. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. Im Lim-jeong (October 26, 2021). "유체이탈자' 윤계상, 격렬한 싸움을 벌이는 티저 포스터&예고편 공개..11월 24일 개봉 확정" ['Fluid Fugitive' Yoon Kye-sang reveals teaser poster & trailer in a fierce fight.. Release confirmed on November 24]. Herald POP (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  3. Kim Bo-ra (November 10, 2021). "'유체이탈자' 윤계상x박용우x임지연x박지환, 4인 4색" ['Fluid Fugitive' Yoon Kye-sang x Park Yong-woo x Lim Ji-yeon x Park Ji-hwan, 4 people, 4 colors]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  4. Pierce Conran (January 21, 2019). "Lim Ji-yeon Joins Yoon Kye-sang in FLUID RENEGADES". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  5. Kim Nara (November 15, 2021). ""1인 7역, 목숨 걸었다"…'유체이탈자' 윤계상, 결혼 후 강렬 스크린 컴백 [종합]" ["Seven stations per person, risking your life"... 'Fluid Fugitive' Yoon Kye-sang, intense screen comeback after marriage [General]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  6. "윤계상X 용우X임지연 '유체이탈자', 이색 소재로 기대↑ 출처" [Yoon Kye-sang X Park Yong-woo X Lim Ji-yeon's 'Fluid Fugitive' is expected with a unique material]. SBS (in Korean). January 16, 2019. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  7. MacDonald, Joan (July 20, 2021). "20th New York Asian Film Festival Screens Several South Korean Films". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  8. Nadilo, Sabastian (October 6, 2021). "Asian presence at the 53rd SITGES Film Festival". Asian Film Festivals. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  9. Park Jeong-seon (October 29, 2021). "윤계상 주연 영화 '유체이탈자', 전 세계 107개국에 팔렸다" [Yoon Kye-sang's movie 'Fluid Drifter' has been sold to 107 countries around the world]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  10. Yoon Jun-ho (December 21, 2021). "'유체이탈자', 극장에서 안방까지…VOD 서비스 오픈" [From the theater to the main room of 'Fluid Drifter'... VOD service open]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  11. "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Spiritwalker 2021". KOFIC. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  12. Jeong Hwa (November 29, 2021). "윤계상 '유체이탈자' 개봉 첫 주말 박스오피스 1위 [★무비차트]" [Yoon Kye-sang's 'Fluid Fugitive' topped the box office for the first weekend of release [Movie Chart]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  13. Kim Min-ji (December 9, 2021). "윤계상 '유체이탈자', 15일 연속 1위…누적 67만 돌파 [Nbox]" [Yoon Kye-sang's 'Fluid Deviator' takes first place for 15 days in a row... Accumulated over 670,000 [Nbox]]. News 1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021 – via Naver.
  14. Kim Mi-hwa (November 17, 2021). "[리뷰] '유체이탈자', 초반은 호기심이 끌고 후반은 액션이 밀고" [[Review] 'Fluid Drifter' attracts curiosity in the first half, and action pushes it in the second half]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  15. Kang Hyo-jin (November 17, 2021). "[Cine리뷰]'유체이탈자', '본'의 세계에서 '뷰티인사이드'가 벌어진다면" [[Cine review] If 'Beauty Inside' happens in the world of 'Fluid Deviator' and 'Bone']. SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  16. Kim Bo-ra (November 18, 2021). "(Movie Review) Fantastic body swapping combined with thrilling action scenes: 'Spiritwalker'". Yonhap News. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  17. "Korean fantasy film 'Spiritwalker' starring Yoon Kye-sang set for Hollywood remake by 'Transformers' team". Times of India. November 1, 2021. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  18. "Korean fantasy Spiritwalker to be remade in Hollywood". The New Indian Express. November 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  19. "윤계상 '유체이탈자', 제20회 뉴욕아시안영화제 액션시네마상 수상(공식)" [Yoon Kye-sang's 'Fluid Fugitive' won the Action Cinema Award at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival (official)]. Herald POP (in Korean). July 25, 2021. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  20. "제 58회 백상예술대상" [58 Nominees · Works]. Baeksang Arts Awards (in Korean). April 11, 2022. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  21. "새롭게 태어나는 '제58회 대종상영화제'…혁신안과 후보작 공개 …'헌트' 12개 부문 선정" ['The 58th Daejong Film Festival' is reborn... Innovative proposals and nominations revealed… Selected in 12 categories for 'The Hunt']. Handmaker (in Korean). October 12, 2022. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  22. Han Hyeon-jeong (December 9, 2022). "'대종상' 작품상은 '헤어질 결심'..박해일·염정아 주연상[종합]" ['Daejongsang' Best Picture is 'Decision to break up'..Park Hae-il · Yeom Jung-ah Best Actor]. Maeil Economy (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
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