Director Lee Sang-geun's highly anticipated second feature film 'Pretty Crazy' has hit theaters, but the ambitious multi-genre project struggles to live up to the success of his 2019 breakout hit 'Exit.' The new romantic comedy-drama-mystery hybrid follows an unemployed man who becomes entangled with his mysterious neighbor, but despite strong performances from its leads, the film fails to balance its various genre elements effectively.
The story centers on Gil-gu, played by Ahn Bo-hyun, a jobless man who spends his aimless days playing crane machine games and hanging around convenience stores during late-night hours. His monotonous routine takes an unexpected turn when Seon-ji, portrayed by Im Yoon-ah, moves into the apartment directly below his. Gil-gu becomes immediately infatuated with his new neighbor, but soon realizes that she harbors dark secrets beneath her pleasant exterior.
Seon-ji leads a double life that becomes increasingly apparent to Gil-gu as he observes her behavior. During daylight hours, she works as a polite and well-mannered baker, presenting herself as a model citizen. However, when darkness falls, she undergoes a dramatic transformation, adopting heavy makeup, brightly colored nails, and exhibiting bizarre, unpredictable behavior that suggests something supernatural may be at work.
The mystery deepens when Gil-gu encounters Seon-ji's father, Jang-su, played by veteran actor Sung Dong-il. Jang-su appears to be keeping watch over his daughter during her nightly episodes, following her movements and monitoring her strange behavior. After earning Jang-su's trust through their interactions, Gil-gu receives an unusual request to help watch over Seon-ji for several hours each day. Without fully understanding what he's getting himself into, Gil-gu eagerly accepts the arrangement.
This decision launches Gil-gu on an unpredictable journey that gradually reveals the truth behind the mysterious 'demon' that seems to possess Seon-ji each night. As he becomes more deeply involved in her supernatural struggles, Gil-gu must confront forces beyond his comprehension while trying to protect the woman he's fallen for.
Director Lee Sang-geun's follow-up to 'Exit,' which attracted over 9.4 million moviegoers and became a major box office success, represents an ambitious attempt to blend multiple genres including romance, drama, comedy, mystery, and occult elements. However, this genre-mixing approach proves to be a double-edged sword that may disappoint audiences who had high expectations following his debut success.
The film's most significant weakness lies in its romantic foundation, which fails to provide convincing motivation for Gil-gu's extreme dedication to protecting Seon-ji. The emotional connection between the two characters lacks the depth and development necessary to make Gil-gu's actions believable and compelling. Without this crucial romantic anchor, the entire narrative structure feels unstable and unconvincing.
While Im Yoon-ah delivers a noteworthy performance as she navigates the challenging dual aspects of Seon-ji's personality, her efforts are ultimately undermined by the script's shallow approach to the character's transformation. Rather than exploring the psychological and supernatural depths of her condition, the film reduces her metamorphosis to superficial changes in appearance and behavior. The transformation relies too heavily on obvious visual cues like makeup and clothing changes, missing opportunities to develop the demon's backstory or personality from its past life, which could have added meaningful complexity to the character.
Despite the narrative shortcomings that plague the film, 'Pretty Crazy' does succeed in showcasing Ahn Bo-hyun's potential as a leading man in his first major starring role. The actor, known for his supporting work in 'Itaewon Class' and 'My Name,' demonstrates considerable charm and screen presence that marks him as a promising romantic lead for future projects. His natural charisma manages to elevate the material even when working with a character that suffers from the same thin writing that affects the rest of the cast.
'Pretty Crazy' opened in South Korean theaters on Wednesday, offering audiences a chance to see whether Lee Sang-geun's ambitious genre-blending experiment can find its audience despite its structural flaws. While the film may not satisfy viewers seeking a focused genre experience, it provides a stepping stone for Ahn Bo-hyun's evolution as a leading actor and demonstrates the challenges of following up a major commercial success with an equally ambitious sophomore effort.
