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This review may contain spoilers
Kim Da-mi’s Breakout Carnage - The Witch’s Subversion: A Masterclass in Controlled Chaos
Some movies throw you straight into the action, but The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion does something different—it lulls you into a sense of normalcy before yanking the rug out from under you. At first, it feels like a touching story of an amnesiac girl, Ja-yoon, raised by kind farmers after a traumatic childhood incident. But then it flips the switch, transforming into an absolute bloodbath of a superpowered showdown. If you walked in expecting a slow-burn thriller, you’re in for a ride—because once this film kicks into high gear, it does not let up.
What makes The Witch so compelling is how it carefully builds Ja-yoon’s world before shattering it. There’s a quiet charm in watching her navigate normal life—worrying about money, caring for her ailing mother, and even auditioning for a talent show. But then there’s that creeping feeling that something’s off. When she casually levitates a microphone on live television, it’s a moment that shifts everything. And that’s what makes this story brilliant—it plays its cards slowly, keeping the audience in suspense about what Ja-yoon is truly capable of.
Then we get to the action—oh man, the action. If the first half of the movie was a ticking time bomb, the second half is the explosion. Kim Da-mi goes from soft-spoken farm girl to cold-blooded killing machine in a way that’s both terrifying and exhilarating. The moment she reveals she never lost her memory and was in control the entire time? Absolute chills. Her transformation is flawless—one second, she’s meek and frightened, the next, she’s delivering death stares that could freeze hell over. And when she finally unleashes her full abilities, it’s one of the most beautifully choreographed action sequences I’ve seen in a long time. The stop-motion filming technique during the fight with Nobleman was mind-blowing—something I didn’t expect but absolutely loved.
Kim Da-mi carries this film on her back, effortlessly selling both sides of Ja-yoon. The naive girl playing along in the first half and the ruthless warrior in the second half feel like two different people, yet it all fits seamlessly. Her performance is nothing short of mesmerizing, and the moment that switch flips, you realize she was never the prey—she was the apex predator all along. And that final grin? Haunting.
Visually, The Witch is a feast. The cinematography is sleek, the action sequences are intense without feeling chaotic, and the use of practical effects mixed with CGI is top-tier. There’s no shyness when it comes to gore—broken bones, flying body parts, and heads literally exploding. It’s brutal, but it fits the film’s tone perfectly. This isn’t some sanitized action flick; it’s raw, visceral, and unrelenting. The final battle in the lab is easily one of the most satisfying action climaxes I’ve seen in years.
That being said, the film isn’t perfect. Even with a two-hour runtime, some plot points feel rushed. The secret organization behind Ja-yoon’s creation is barely fleshed out, and we never really understand why the project was abandoned. A little more backstory would’ve helped anchor the stakes better. And while the final act delivers in spectacle, it does feel a bit backloaded. Spreading out some of the action sequences across the film could have made for a more balanced pacing. But honestly, these are minor nitpicks in an otherwise stellar film.
Gore-sensitive viewers might find some scenes a bit too much, but for those who love hard-hitting, well-executed action, this is pure cinematic bliss. And beyond all the fights and bloodshed, there’s something surprisingly touching about Ja-yoon’s story. Despite being engineered as a living weapon, she found humanity in her adoptive parents—a warmth that kept her from becoming just another monster. It’s almost like Superman being raised by the Kents, except instead of saving cats from trees, she’s tearing through armed soldiers like paper dolls.
The Witch: Part 1 is an absolute must-watch—not just for Korean movie lovers, but for anyone who appreciates an adrenaline-fueled, well-acted, visually stunning action thriller. Park Hoon-jung took a familiar premise and turned it into something uniquely gripping, and Kim Da-mi delivered one of the most unforgettable performances in modern action cinema. And with that ending? Yeah, I’m already strapping in for Part 2.
Score: 8.5/10 - Great, Worth Watching 🔥
Strong performances, engaging storytelling, and solid execution. Maybe a few flaws here and there, but overall, a drama that delivers and is worth the time.
What makes The Witch so compelling is how it carefully builds Ja-yoon’s world before shattering it. There’s a quiet charm in watching her navigate normal life—worrying about money, caring for her ailing mother, and even auditioning for a talent show. But then there’s that creeping feeling that something’s off. When she casually levitates a microphone on live television, it’s a moment that shifts everything. And that’s what makes this story brilliant—it plays its cards slowly, keeping the audience in suspense about what Ja-yoon is truly capable of.
Then we get to the action—oh man, the action. If the first half of the movie was a ticking time bomb, the second half is the explosion. Kim Da-mi goes from soft-spoken farm girl to cold-blooded killing machine in a way that’s both terrifying and exhilarating. The moment she reveals she never lost her memory and was in control the entire time? Absolute chills. Her transformation is flawless—one second, she’s meek and frightened, the next, she’s delivering death stares that could freeze hell over. And when she finally unleashes her full abilities, it’s one of the most beautifully choreographed action sequences I’ve seen in a long time. The stop-motion filming technique during the fight with Nobleman was mind-blowing—something I didn’t expect but absolutely loved.
Kim Da-mi carries this film on her back, effortlessly selling both sides of Ja-yoon. The naive girl playing along in the first half and the ruthless warrior in the second half feel like two different people, yet it all fits seamlessly. Her performance is nothing short of mesmerizing, and the moment that switch flips, you realize she was never the prey—she was the apex predator all along. And that final grin? Haunting.
Visually, The Witch is a feast. The cinematography is sleek, the action sequences are intense without feeling chaotic, and the use of practical effects mixed with CGI is top-tier. There’s no shyness when it comes to gore—broken bones, flying body parts, and heads literally exploding. It’s brutal, but it fits the film’s tone perfectly. This isn’t some sanitized action flick; it’s raw, visceral, and unrelenting. The final battle in the lab is easily one of the most satisfying action climaxes I’ve seen in years.
That being said, the film isn’t perfect. Even with a two-hour runtime, some plot points feel rushed. The secret organization behind Ja-yoon’s creation is barely fleshed out, and we never really understand why the project was abandoned. A little more backstory would’ve helped anchor the stakes better. And while the final act delivers in spectacle, it does feel a bit backloaded. Spreading out some of the action sequences across the film could have made for a more balanced pacing. But honestly, these are minor nitpicks in an otherwise stellar film.
Gore-sensitive viewers might find some scenes a bit too much, but for those who love hard-hitting, well-executed action, this is pure cinematic bliss. And beyond all the fights and bloodshed, there’s something surprisingly touching about Ja-yoon’s story. Despite being engineered as a living weapon, she found humanity in her adoptive parents—a warmth that kept her from becoming just another monster. It’s almost like Superman being raised by the Kents, except instead of saving cats from trees, she’s tearing through armed soldiers like paper dolls.
The Witch: Part 1 is an absolute must-watch—not just for Korean movie lovers, but for anyone who appreciates an adrenaline-fueled, well-acted, visually stunning action thriller. Park Hoon-jung took a familiar premise and turned it into something uniquely gripping, and Kim Da-mi delivered one of the most unforgettable performances in modern action cinema. And with that ending? Yeah, I’m already strapping in for Part 2.
Score: 8.5/10 - Great, Worth Watching 🔥
Strong performances, engaging storytelling, and solid execution. Maybe a few flaws here and there, but overall, a drama that delivers and is worth the time.
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