The Terror Live (2013)

Well, this was fascinating! The film effectively demonstrates the power of the media - radio, in this instance. This was very realistic and suspenseful, and became more and more intriguing as it progressed. Some really good visuals as well, especially the awesome ending! Loved it!

Movie: The Terror Live (15)Rating: 4.75/5South Korean cinema is getting better day-by-day. The best example includes this stunning action thriller THE TERROR LIVE. With a watertight screenplay and top notch production values along with terrific action sequences and razor sharp editing, this is the South Korean cinema at its best. Ha Jung-woo, one of my favourite actors, too leaves no stone unturned to prove it as his best film till date.THE TERROR LIVE is a very gripping film since the very beginning. There are a lot of unexpected surprises that come on the way. The editing is very tight as there's not even a single second wasted in introducing or developing the characters. It doesn't take much of a time to connect to the film and the lead characters. At some portions, the thrills are so amazing that one might just not be able to move! The story and screenplay of THE TERROR LIVE seem to be something never attempted in the history of cinema before. The film is quite unpredictable and takes you by surprise every second it unfolds. The action sequences are executed brilliantly and realistically along with tension being well built.Ha Jung-woo is really excellent in his performance. Other supporting actors deliver good performances. The film has nothing that would disappoint you. The technical aspects and production values are top notch. The visuals and cinematography are impressive, and climax of the film is excellent.There's no doubt that THE TERROR LIVE is South Korean cinema at its best. Do nothing: just go and watch this amazing, gripping, engaging and mindblowing action thriller as soon as you can!

The movie has some serious potential, it is shot in one room (radio station) and I like those kinds of movies (Buried, Man from earth, Phone booth, even Pontypool ) because they are focused on the story rather than showing giant CGI robots fighting each other while the audience doesn't care about any of them, this one is prime example of how it is done.This one starts with a bang, it quickly sucks you in and it doesn't get boring even for a minute. Through interesting story it critiques media and government showing what happens behind the curtains in one media house, and displays other side of the story that public is usually deprived of. There are only a few characters but they seem awfully real, throughout the movie you learn more about the anti-hero protagonist, who is really the highlight of the movie and of course he should be, might I add that Jung-woo Ha rose to the occasion. Though there are couple of cameras (in-movie cameras) in the room they are rarely used especially when the things get dramatic, thus creating more drama with the shaky cameras, good thing they didn't go for the trendy "found footage" nuisance. Sound editing, which is naturally important in movie based in radio station is good, music isn't over used, isn't cheesy and is it's great, gave me goose bumps. Unfortunately after one moment it becomes comically ridiculous, I really wish I could have just shut my brain and enjoy the rest. Movie goes overboard and all I could think is that it would never happen in real life, it is like the script writer just didn't have time to work out the realistic aspect. I get that it is difficult to put a good idea in real life situation but that is what separates great movies from average ones. It starts good, ends good, but messes up somewhere in the middle.

The Terror Live is a very tight thriller in the best Korean tradition. It follows a former successful TV news anchor Yoon who has been demoted to a radio host. One day an upset caller threatens to blow up a bridge only to be dismissed, needless to say it was no mere idle threat and in a matter of seconds after the call is over a bridge does did explode.Thus begins a tense back and forth between Yoon and the terrorist while the nation watches in growing horror.There are many good things going for this movie. The real time format never gives the viewer a break and the tension builds up to such a pitch as to be almost palpable. This comes across through the main's superb acting, the actor's voice and demeanor carry his distress as he scrambles for self-mastery in facing the cameras installed in his radio studio. What at first seemed like the chance of a lifetime as Yoon puts it, the perfect opportunity for going back to his television stardom, degenerates into a veritable nightmare on all fronts. Yoon pays greatly for his choice of exploiting the terrorist attack for his career.It is interesting how The Terror Live focuses exclusively on domestic terror. The highly contentious neighbor country of North Korea is not even mentioned, the movie is firmly steeped in a South Korean reality through and through. The very premise of the media having such a swaying control fits well with South Korean society.Strangely enough social media plays no part in this movie but it does feel very modern. The shooting style, with well thought out closeups to heighten intensity and almost exclusively centered on the studio, creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia.This is a very Korean movie so one should expect a great blurring of the line between terrorism and highly corrupt authorities, there are no heroes here to speak of but the human element comes across through the haze of panic.A few minor plot points keep this from reaching perfection but it is a remarkably well crafted movie and well worth watching. And it could happen in real life. Almost.