The Ugly (Yeon Sang-ho, 2025, Korean Movie) Film review - Yeon Sang-ho Delivers a Surprisingly Engaging Popcorn Thriller

 

Movie Review | The Ugly (Yeon Sang-ho, 2025) Yeon Sang-ho Delivers a Surprisingly Engaging Popcorn Thriller

Rating: ⬤⬤⬤◐◯ (3.5/5)

Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Cast: Park Jung-min, Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Hyun-been
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Runtime: 103m
OTT: Netflix
Release Year: 2025.09.11

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“A low-budget thriller that proves tension doesn’t need money.”

Director Yeon Sang-ho, best known for his socially driven and eerie storytelling (Train to Busan, Hellbound), returns with Face (2025) — a film that’s smaller in scale but surprisingly effective in tension.

Going in, I didn’t expect much. Yeon’s recent works haven’t been particularly thrilling, and the production clearly leaned on a low-budget setup.
But to my surprise, Face turned out to be an engaging popcorn thriller that holds your attention for most of its runtime.

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Story and Tone — Predictable Yet Engaging

The story builds its suspense steadily.
While the twist ending is somewhat predictable and the final moments feel a bit hollow, the journey there keeps you intrigued.
The pacing is tight, and the atmosphere carries that classic Yeon Sang-ho unease — the kind that creeps up rather than jumps out.

It’s not about reinventing the thriller genre, but rather executing the fundamentals well.
The sound design and camera work complement the film’s modest budget, emphasizing emotion and tension instead of visual spectacle.

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Direction and Style — Yeon Sang-ho’s Signature Simplicity

Yeon’s direction in Face shows restraint.
He avoids flashy editing or heavy CGI, instead focusing on psychological tension and grounded realism.
The camera often lingers on small details — flickering lights, nervous breathing, quiet spaces — amplifying unease through subtlety.

This approach makes Face feel intimate yet unnerving, proving that Yeon can craft atmosphere even without grand scale or spectacle.

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Park Jung-min’s Performance — The Core of the Film

Park Jung-min anchors Face with a solid and understated performance.
His expressions capture a believable mix of fear, doubt, and quiet determination, which elevates the film beyond its simple setup.
Even when the script falters, his grounded acting keeps the tension alive.

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Final Thoughts — A Modest Yet Rewarding Watch

Face (2025) won’t shock or amaze, but it doesn’t need to.
It’s a well-paced, quietly intense film that knows what it’s doing — a tight, efficient thriller that’s best enjoyed without huge expectations.

If you’re in the mood for something suspenseful yet easy to digest, this is the kind of movie you’ll enjoy with popcorn on a quiet night.

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Verdict: 3.5/5

“Face” proves that small-scale thrillers can still deliver big tension.
It may not redefine Yeon Sang-ho’s filmography, but it shows his ability to build suspense even within tight limits.