Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds
2017 · Directed by Kim Yong-hwa
Original language: Korean
- action
- adventure
- drama
- fantasy
- thriller
The story
Having died unexpectedly, firefighter Ja-hong is taken to the afterlife by 3 afterlife guardians. Only when he passes 7 trials over 49 days and proves he was innocent in human life, he’s able to reincarnate, and his 3 afterlife guardians are by his side to defend him in trial.
What it’s like
Big, saturated spectacle with a cool, watery palette: the afterlife is rendered in lacquered blues, smoky greys and fire-orange, with sweeping crane shots over mountain temples, rain-soaked Seoul streets, and hellscapes of molten rivers and towering pagodas. Action is glossy digital CGI, large-scale and kinetic, with slow-motion beats around swords, flames and bodies in flight. The score swells with orchestral percussion and Korean traditional instruments during set pieces, then drops back to hushed strings for the quieter scenes of memory and grief. Vibe: epic, emotional and sometimes absurdly playful, with warm comic bickering between the guardians undercutting the solemn tone. Pacing is brisk and episodic, a fresh trial every few scenes, and the emotional arc follows a stubborn, decent man learning to trust the people beside him. Intensity is moderate: frequent fantasy combat and fiery peril, some bloody wounds and a few tragic deaths, but no sexual content and little gore; the darkness is more about grief and cruelty than shock. Suited to viewers who want a sprawling, tearful blockbuster for a weekend night, especially fans of myth, comic-book spectacle and buddy dynamics.
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