“Gyeongseong Creature” is one of Netflix's most expensive Korean series with a revealed budget of 70 billion won ($53 million).
The film initially garnered attention for its high-profile cast and innovative portrayal of the Japanese colonial period, in which Koreans were subjected to brutal experiments that turned them into monstrous creatures.
However, “Gyeongseong Creature” faced much criticism when it premiered in December 2023.
According to the Korea Herald, experts have criticized the film's slow and sloppy plot. Along with that, there have been many controversies related to the negative depiction of Korean independence fighters.
In response to mixed opinions, director Chung Dong Yoon revealed that he decided to re-edit part 2 after listening to audience feedback.
It is worth mentioning that although the pace of "Gyeongseong Creature 2" is faster, going straight into the plot with eye-catching action scenes, or the appearance of half-human, half-animal creatures, the film still has too many shortcomings.
Accordingly, not only does it leave open the question of Chae Ok's (Han So Hee) monster's whereabouts and the nature of the relationship between Seung Jo and Ho Jae (Park Seo Joon plays 2 roles), creating an incomplete feeling, the film also makes a big mistake in conveying the main message.
The media emphasized that the film aims to explore the lingering horrors of the Japanese colonial period and its impact on contemporary Korea. However, these themes are expressed too directly through the characters' dialogue, resulting in uncomfortable dialogue that does not fit the plot.
“Although season 2 tries to address audience concerns by improving the sluggish pace of the previous season, it also loses essential details by emphasizing action and fast-paced developments, while the core message is crammed instead of being expressed naturally in the story” - Korea Herald wrote.
