Psychokinesis (2018) [Film Review]

Psychokinesis; or, IronDad
     I just want to have the ability to be a father. However, the heavens gave me something different.
After the success of his theatrical debut, Train to Busan (2016), it seems that director Yeon Sang Ho is determined to deliver visually stunning spectacles. Psychokinesis is no exception as the film is a fresh take on the overused superhero concept wrapped in a unique Korean style.

Release Info

Directed by: Yeon Sang Ho Starring: Ryu Seung Ryong, Shim Eun Kyung, Jung Yu Mi

Language: Korean Original Title: 念力 Runtime: 101 min

Synopsis
Shin Roo Mi (Shim Eun Kyung) runs a successful fried chicken diner together with her mother. However, the district where their business is located is taken over by a mob-run construction company which wants to raze everything to the ground. Both women oppose the construction workers, but Roo Mi’s mom dies in one of the street fights. Enter Shin Seok Heon (Ryu Seung Ryong), Roo Mi’s estranged father who left the family home ten years ago. He leads an uneventful life as a security guard, but everything changes when he drinks water from a spring that has been hit by a meteor. Seok Heon develops unnatural powers. He can influence physical objects around just with the power of his mind. The man wants to help his daughter in battle against real-estate gangsters.

Parenting Lvl Hard
Psychokinesis kinda passed me by during its original release, mainly because I was worn out after non-stop action of Train To Busan. Having seen the director’s style of mixing pathos with buckets of blood, I was afraid Psychokinesis may repeat exactly the same tropes. Thankfully, I was wrong. It is a light-hearted action comedy without overt violence.

That being said, I can understand the disappointment of some viewers who were looking forward to the film since the first trailer hit the internet. For most of the time, Psychokinesis is not about spellbinding special effects, but rather, it focuses on a delicate relationship between a father and his daughter. The bombastic stuff is saved until the third act of the picture.

Having seen Psychokinesis, completely blind and without any expectations, I greatly enjoyed the story. In fact, I dare to think that Yeon Sang Ho’s movie excels in aspects which were not entirely delivered by another superhero flick, Inuyashiki (also released in 2018). Meaning that there may be not a lot of action in Psychokinesis, bu it gets the family theme right to a T. Indeed, Psychokinesis is an enclosed story about an average guy who wants to be a decent dad, not a hero, but I see the potential for a follow-up. Special effects and action sequences are totally awesome.

With regard to performances, this is an acting masterclass. I love the chemistry between Ryu Seung Ryong and Shim Eun Kyung. In addition, Jung Yu Mi plays a villainess (of sorts) called Managing Director Hong. She is basically a female version of Joker. Totally did not expect to see her in such a role after her performances in The Crucible (2011) and Train to Busan (2016).

Other aspects I greatly enjoyed were the epic music score by Jang Young Gyu and the editing by Byun Bong Sun. In spite of things flying around, each shot of the scene was clear and perfectly understandable. The F/X team also left their hearts in the studio.

Recommendations
I recommend Psychokinesis if you look for an interesting, yet toned down superhero tale outside of the MCU/DCU shenanigans. Ryu Seung Ryong is crazy awesome as an average everyman who makes things right. Psychokinesis is indeed a floating experience.Overall score: 8/10

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