Midnight FM Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: On the her last night on the job, a radio host is tormented by an obsessed serial killer.

Review: This started off intriguing enough, with a cool idea behind the story, but drifted off into the realm of Hollywood cliches somehow. Come on, I thought Korea was known for its edge--this is by the books. I understand that the plot themes borrowed heavily from Hollywood thrillers and vigilante characters, but they should have added that Korean flair to spice it up rather than remaining complacent. Now, I'm not saying this was a bad movie, because it was surprisingly decent, but it needed that extra layer of oomph to make it stand out. Essentially, it's a fantastic first act that builds the tension well, followed by a moderate second act, and ending super corny and predictable; hell, there was even a final one-liner! I think what was missing the most was a big twist or shocking revelation in regard to the killer's identity or connection to the main girl, Sun-young.

The story opens with endless potential as we meet Sun-young on her last night as the host of a show called Midnight FM. They establish a few red herrings early on as not everyone is happy to see Sun-young go...especially a particular serial killer that likes to kill to the sound of her voice. There are a ton of contrivances introduced here and there that are really annoying and certainly hinder the film. For example, Sun-young's daughter can't speak, at the moment, for whatever bullshit reason. I can accept most of the early flaws, because the premise is set up very well and engages you to the situation. Once Sun-young begins the last broadcast, we see the serial killer break into her home and take her sister hostage. Sun-young's daughter, Eun-soo, miraculously hides, but Sun-young's niece is also held hostage while being the world's sleepiest kid as she doesn't even wake when being tied up; does this kid have narcolepsy or something?

The killer calls Sun-young who quickly realizes this situation is more than a joke. The killer proceeds to up the stakes as he wants Sun-young to play certain songs that speak to his perceived connection with her. As various obstacles screw up this process, the killer hurts and, later, kills Sun-young's sister. This is when things start to shift into shenanigans territory. Zany antics lead to the killer finding Eun-soo, Sun-young's crew figures out what's happening, and the police get involved in the classic, inept way they always do. The thriller aspect is played up during this portion of the film, but it's by the numbers action you've seen a hundred times; you know, like, car chases, running on foot, close calls, etc. I feel as though the film toyed with my expectations that there would be a genuine connection between the killer and Sun-young or that this would all come full circle somehow, but it doesn't. The biggest red herrings seriously should have been in on it--give me something...anything! The closest thing to a revelation is that, in the beginning of the movie, Sun-young was in a taxi talking trash and the driver happened to be the killer. Weak and implausible. Gradually, we come to the final scheme which is to put Sun-young in a position where she must kill a guy or else her daughter and niece will be killed. Again, contrivances save the day as Sun-young manages to turn the tables on the killer and ends up killing him in an over the top way. The film oddly lingers on a bit with a weird wrap up, but, hey, at least there was no final zinger.

Don't get me wrong, there are way more positive things about this film than there are negative. It's simply that cookie-cutter action that makes it feel like a letdown. The acting is commendable, the setup is creative, and you do become immersed in the situation. On the other hand, there are a ton of contrivances, red herrings are dumb if they distract from nothing, and there was not a single plot element that hadn't been done before. I guess this is a mixed bag overall, but it's still worth a view. You just need to keep your expectations in check and understand that this feels more Hollywood than Korean, and, yes, there is a noticeable distinction between the two. I don't necessarily mind this, but I know others might.

Notable Moment: When Sun-young slips about there being more than one kid at the exact moment Eun-soo knocks a soccer ball down the stairs. Oh come on. Ahh, the sweet aroma of contrivances.

Final Rating: 6/10