Heracin

This movie is relatively classic and predictable as it follows the journey of a new teacher in a high school where she fight against toxic environment with heavy bullying. Despite the classic trope and context, it manages to remain all along very entertaining and griping with an effective storytelling. There is no real surprise and it tends to be a bit too unrealistic for the action sequences in a Webtoon / Anime way, but it is an enjoyable overall story. The production value was good, there are some strikingly horrifying and atrocious bullying scenes. The OST is alright but not memorable.

The acting was certainly the strongest point of the film. The ensemble cast did a very good job. I had some trouble to reconcile the image I had of Lee Jun Young as the main villain here. It was such an unexpected contrast with the only role I had previously seen him (in Love & Leashes) that it kinda blow my mind. He was impressively frightening as this monstruous student thirsty for blood and inflicting deep suffering on his fellow peers.

The stand out performance for me is Park Jung Woo playing the main victim : he has some ultra memorable and painful scenes that truly amped the stakes. To be honest, both Lee Jun Young and Park Jung Woo are difficult to picture and find believable as highschoolers, but I'm not complaining of their casting in the roles given the quality of their performances. Next to them, Shin Hye Sun does an honorable job but she pales a bit in comparison and feel not as credible in the fight sequences.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a vigilante story, featuring some teaching moments and action akin to webtoon/anime style fighting scenes. The overall story is classic but very entertaining, supported by strong performances. Be mindful of the tags if you have any triggers, as it is pretty graphic in the violence showcased.