The Witch: Part 2. The Other One
A sequel expanding the witch universe with a new absolute.
Park Hoon-jung wrote and directed this 2022 South Korean science fiction action horror sequel to his 2018 film The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion. Featuring a mostly new cast, including Shin Si-ah, Park Eun-bin, and Jo Min-su, it follows Ark 1, the twin sister of the first film’s witch. Released on June 15, 2022, it became the seventh highest-grossing Korean film of the year, earning US$23.4 million with over 2.8 million viewers.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Park Hoon-jung
- Producer
- Park Hoon-jung; Shin Min-kyung
- Starring
- Shin Si-ah
- Park Eun-bin
- Seo Eun-soo
- Jin Goo
- Sung Yoo-bin
- Jo Min-su
- Cinematography
- Kim Young-ho; Kim Hong-mok
- Editing
- Jang Rae-won
- Music
- Mowg
- Studio
- Goldmoon; Peppermint&company, Inc.
- Distributor
- Next Entertainment World
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Years before the main events, a teenage girl on a bus with a friend finds the route changed. Gas is thrown inside, knocking everyone unconscious, and a team abducts the young woman, staging the incident as an accident. Dr. Baek and her twin reassure the pregnant woman that her fraternal twins will be mysteriously important. In the present, a girl called Ark 1 escapes a secret laboratory after killing all soldiers and scientists. Lost in a forest, she hears her mother's voice. Gangster Yong-doo's henchmen kidnap her from the road. Kyung-hee, another abductee who refuses to give up her house to Yong-doo, is also in the van. When a henchman touches the girl, she causes an accident. Kyung-hee takes the girl to her uncle, who surgically removes experimental devices from her skin. Kyung-hee then brings the girl to her home, where she lives with her brother Dae-gil. Meanwhile, Dr. Baek meets Jang, head of the secret institute, who deploys a tactical team to the Jeju Island coastal base. Yong-doo threatens Kyung-hee for her father's property deed, revealing he murdered him. The girl defeats most of the henchmen with brute strength, and Yong-doo flees. Agent Jo-hyeon and her assistant Tom receive a tracking device for Ark 1 from Baek. Yong-doo tortures Kyung-hee's uncle for information.
Production
At the 23rd Busan International Film Festival on October 5, 2018, director Park Hoon-jung and actor Kim Da-mi announced the sequel during stage greetings for The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion. Park stated the sequel would cover the story after the first film. Lee Jong-suk returned to acting after military duty in 2020 with a role in this film. Warner Bros. Korea signed a contract with Next Entertainment World for Park's next film, with NEW investing and distributing. The original crew from the first film returned, including cinematographer Kim Young-ho, art directors Hwa Seong and Choi Hyun-seok, and martial arts director Kim Jung-min. Park Eun-bin returned to the big screen after nine years, her last film being Secretly, Greatly (2013). Filming ran from late December 2020 to April 19, 2021, on Jeju Island, including at Jeju Stone Culture Park and the Glass House in Seopjikoji.
Release and promotion
Originally scheduled for April, the film's release was postponed due to COVID-19 and finally opened theatrically in South Korea on June 15, 2022. Promotional methods included a confidential information page on the official website from May 9, and a first-class confidential fan art contest running until June 6. From May 16, bus stops around Gangnam and along Gangnam-daero from Sinsa station to Yangjae station featured lenticular advertisements creating a 'Witch Road'. The film was sold to 124 countries and released simultaneously in 11 countries. It was invited to the 26th Fantasia International Film Festival for its Quebec premiere on July 29, 2022, and entered the international competition section of the 40th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival for its European premiere on September 5, 2022. Streaming availability began July 14, 2022, on IPTV platforms, Home Choice, Google Play, TVING, WAVVE, Naver TV, KT skylife, and Cinefox.
Reception
Released on 1,796 screens, the film opened in first place with 266,526 admissions, crossed 1 million admissions on its fourth day, 2 million in 11 days, and 2.5 million in 18 days. As of January 7, 2023, it ranked sixth among 2022 Korean films with a gross of US$22,954,356 and 2,806,501 admissions. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 75% approval rating from 12 reviews, with an average rating of 6.30/10. Kim Young-sik of Within News praised the appearance of a new absolute as completing the witch worldview, and highlighted performances by Seo Eun-soo and Jin Goo. He called the film a work that expands the worldview and builds anticipation for a third installment, noting simplified story structure but exceeding expectations for the girl's abilities. Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting rated it 3.5 out of 5, criticizing the weaker narrative but praising Park's strong visuals and staging, and the late-game revelations that open possibilities for a third chapter. Roger Moore gave 2 out of 5 stars, finding the film tardy and lengthy, describing it as a slow-moving witch-hunt story whose clutter prevents it from gaining speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in The Witch: Part 2. The Other One?
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One stars Shin Si-ah, Park Eun-bin, Seo Eun-soo, Jin Goo, Sung Yoo-bin and Jo Min-su.
Who composed the music for The Witch: Part 2. The Other One?
The music for The Witch: Part 2. The Other One was composed by Mowg.
How long is The Witch: Part 2. The Other One?
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One has a running time of 137 minutes.
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