What to Expect from Kim Seon-ho’s Next: ‘The Childe’

Originally titled Sad Tropics, Park Hoon-jung’s next, The Childe, will be released this June. The Korean action-noir thriller concerns a struggling boxer—with a Korean father and a Filipino mother—who is being watched and pursued by unknown, vile individuals while visiting Korea in search of his father.

Kim Seon-ho will star as the titular Gwigongja (Nobleman) in the movie, which marks his big-screen debut and his comeback to the scene after his last, the superhit romantic comedy slice-of-life cathartic K-drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021).

Kim’s significant stage experience contributes to his incredible authenticity; he is a rare actor who brings composure and polish to every situation. He seems natural and instinctual, even in a challenging role, and was rightfully named Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year for 2021. With The Childe, he certainly returns to the spotlight, ramping up his game.

Based on reports, Kim’s character in the picture has qualities that are the antithesis of what we’ve come to expect from him from his previous efforts. The poster has already piqued my interest. What else have we got to look forward to? Read on.

An All-New Kim Seon-ho

Kim has an extraordinary capacity to hold your attention, given that he portrays characters who are fascinating to learn about. Keeping in line with this, as the nobleman in The Childe, his presence is cloaked in mystery. Nothing is known about what motivates him to pursue Marco (the boxer, played by Kang Tae-joo).

The movie poster adds to Kim’s enigma with his silhouette, sporting a dapper gentleman’s appearance. He carries a marked swag while whistling and fixating on something against a dark blue skyline. The actor appears to be a dubious guy on the surface, and from what little is known about him, he will undoubtedly catch us off guard, though, just when we least expect it. I am most interested in the equation involving Marco, him, and whatever lies beneath.

A Distinctive Action-Noir Film

Filmmaker and screenwriter Park Hoon-jung supposedly have a soft spot for crime dramas and noir films. His creative talent is evident in his eye for quality, and his penchant for originality is unmistakable. Park, a revered name in Chungmuro, gained notoriety for penning the screenplays for Kim Jee-woon’s I Saw the Devil (2010) and Ryoo Seung-wan’s The Unjust (2010). He achieved both critical and commercial success with his first two films, the historical saga The Showdown from 2011 and the gangster epic New World from 2013. The 77th Venice International Film Festival hosted the global premiere of his most recent criminal drama, Night in Paradise (2020), which received plaudits for its use of unconventional characters in an impressively intricate plot.

To all intents and purposes, with The Childe, Park will demonstrate a meticulously constructed plot with his signature high-caliber production standards and fluid storytelling. The film’s primary characters, some of whom are more morally questionable and flawed than normal, could correspond to the Korean noir film genre, but Park’s distinctive approach to portraying them might make them more intriguing. And even though The Childe seems bleak, you might still wish to explore the soiled roads of darkness that the director is expected to create with originality and style.

An Interesting Cast

In equal measure, the movie’s cast is noteworthy. It heralds the gorgeous Go Ara’s return from a protracted absence. Together with Kim Kang-woo, who is most known for his appearances in the erotic thriller film The Taste of Money (2012) and the police procedural thriller mystery action television series, The Missing (2015). Kang Tae-joo in the pivotal role of Marco will certainly be a revelation. Considering it’s an action-noir, can I anticipate a glimmer of romance between Kim Seon-ho and Go Ara? Let’s wait and see.