Hope is a 2016 South Korean sci-fi monster movie about mysterious discoveries made on the outskirts of a remote harbour town. The residents soon find themselves in a desperate fight for survival
The movie was written and directed by Na Hong-jin (The Chaser; The Medium; The Yellow Sea; The Wailing). It is his first feature in ten years.
The production stars Hwang Jung-min, Hoyeon, Zo In-sung, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton.
Plot [includes spoilers]:
The story takes place in the remote South Korean community of Hope Harbor, near the country’s border. The residents’ quiet existence is shattered when a group of hunters discovers the horribly mutilated carcass of a farm animal in the surrounding wilderness — the first indication that an extraordinarily dangerous creature is roaming the area.
Police chief Beom-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and rookie officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are sent to investigate. At the same time, a group of armed local hunters, led by Sung-ki (Zo In-sung), venture into the forest to track down whatever is responsible.
Their hunting expedition quickly turns into a fight for survival when they discover that they are not the hunters — they are the prey. The mysterious creature is vastly more dangerous than anyone anticipated, and encounters with it become increasingly violent.
However, Hope gradually becomes much more than a conventional monster hunt. The nature of the creature and its origins are connected to something far larger and more mysterious. Characters begin interpreting the threat through fear, suspicion and hostility, while conflicts between the humans themselves become almost as dangerous as the creature.
The film ultimately expands into a large-scale extraterrestrial confrontation, with Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander playing alien characters. What initially appears to be a straightforward monster attacking a rural community develops into a story about misunderstanding between humans and an entirely alien form of life.
One of the more interesting aspects is that the monster isn’t simply presented as an evil beast. The film appears interested in the idea that fear and misunderstanding can turn two groups into enemies, with human aggression helping to escalate the situation into something catastrophic.
Release date:
Hope premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it attracted considerable attention for its unusually ambitious mixture of monster movie, alien invasion, action thriller and dark social commentary.
The movie was released theatrically in South Korea on July 15, 2026.
Hope is due to open in US cinemas on September 9, 2026.
Original Korean title:
호프 aka Hopeu aka Hop’ŭ
Trailer:
Also by director Na Hong-jin:
THE MEDIUM (2021) Reviews of a Thai-Korean possession pic – now with trailer
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