This Review Originally Published As Part of Our Coverage of Fantasia 2021
An ex-intelligence agent is tasked with transporting the world's first human clone in Seobok. Min Ki-Hun (Gong Yoo) is a former intelligence agent currently suffering from a terminal brain tumor. Ki-Hun is tracked down by his old boss Chief Ahn (Jo Woo-jin), who wants Ki-Hun to do one last job for “the company.” Sent to a lab aboard a ship, Ki-Hun is introduced to Seobok (Park Bo-Gum), an immortal clone created by Dr. Lim (Jang Young-Nam), whose stem cells can cure Ki-Hun's cancer. However, while traveling with Seobok to a top-secret location, Ki-Hun's transport is attacked by mercenaries and he has to protect Seobok and get the clone to safety.
Seobok is a Korean sci-fi/action film written and directed by Lee Yong-ju. The film stars Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) as Min Ki-Hun, a former intelligence agent with only six months to live, who is regretting the decisions he made in the past. In one final mission, Ki-Hun is tasked with protecting the first human clone Seobok, who is not only immortal but also sports telekinetic abilities. However, with a group of mercenaries wanting Seobok dead, it is up to Ki-Hun to protect him, if only so Seobok's stem cells could be used to cure Ki-Hun of his brain cancer.
The plot of Seobok includes the ethical questions that arise from both human cloning and the consequences of immortality, with the titular Seobok described at many points of the film as not being truly human. However, the film is ultimately about building up to its climactic action sequence, which includes Seobok going “full Carrie” and using his telekinetic abilities to fight back. While the climax is somewhat enjoyable, it comes at the end of a film that is perhaps a bit too long for what it is.
Seobok is streaming beginning on October 16th, 2021 as part of the virtual 2021 Toronto After Dark Film Festival
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