This is a Korean film by acclaimed director and writer Jang Jun-Hwan starring actor Shin Ha-Hyun in the lead role.

Produced by Tartan Films’ Asia Extreme line, I attended an advanced screening for Chinatown magazine.

Our protagonist, the self styled protector of the planet, Byung-Gu (Shin Ha-Hyun) starts off on a quest to save the Earth from invading aliens.

With the help of his alter ego, garbed in a very homemade costume, he is steadfastly resolute to complete his quest at all costs.

Running parallel to this is the study of one man’s mental breakdown and the factors leading up to it.

Byung-Gu’s actions are grotesquely comedic in places and torturingly macabre in others.

The supporting characters all add major weight in their respective roles and add great depth to the story.

There’s the hard boiled detective who walks straight out of a film noir setting and stumbles into a sticky situation on a hunch too many.

To the kidnapped businessman and suspected alien invader, who serves as Byung-Gu’s frustrated nemesis, providing some excellent portrayals of human endurance through adversity.

Their individual interactions with Byung-Gu provide some memorable moments and the actors deserve praise for the conviction in which they give life to their characters.

The director has crafted a clever tale and has to be commended for his originality.

Jang Jun-Hwan subtly blends both sci-fi and superhero genres into his magnum opus while not overwhelming the human story he wanted to tell.

A story, very moving but also very challenging, that is full of suspense.

Director Jang Jun-Hwan plays with our senses all the way through.

With a good sense of pacing he adds an ending that is most unexpected to say the least.