Hope: the first impact or how to look the monster in the eyes

Among the foundations of horror cinema, there is one that points out that more than what we see, what is truly scary is what we do not see. And yet there are many films that yield to the temptation to show everything, to reinforce the obvious, to make evident what should be suggestive. Those that opt for the opposite are still a minority, but they almost always do it well. And this is what "Hope: The First Impact" proposes, the South Korean film set in a fishing port where a strange and elusive presence has begun to wreak havoc and accumulate victims along the way. In front of this, the inhabitants join forces to stop them. There are a couple of police officers who assume leadership, but also a group of hunters who try to capture the enigmatic beast. During almost the first hour of the film we follow these characters in a dynamic of flight and pursuit of the monster that we do not see. We are shown its tracks, the catastrophe that leaves its trail, its fleeting movement among shadows, but no clear and concrete presence. These glimpses remind us a little of the superb "The Host" (2006) by Bong Joon-ho, which also presented the community effort to stop an elusive and overwhelming force. But there is also a key moment in "Hope" (and here begin the 'spoilers'): that in which the central protagonist, the police officer Ko Bum-seok (played by Hwang Jung-min) finally confronts the destructive being face-to-face and looks directly into its eyes. It is an almost epiphany moment, in which despite the distances and the struggle, a gesture of empathy and pity emerges. That fixed and frontal gaze alters the course of this film which skillfully mixes science fiction, terror, suspense, and adventure. Along the way, director Na Hong-jin's staging is formally impeccable. His wide shots allude to the classic western, while the use of tilted and counter-tilted angles disorients us and adds surprise to the framing. The tracking shots are also captivating and, when there are chases—on foot, by vehicle, and even on horseback—the rhythm is vertiginous. I cannot fail to mention his very original script, in which humor plays a fundamental role: some absurd and scatological dialogues are hilarious and, frankly, the best of the film. For all the highlights, also, disappointment can be deep. Towards the final part of the film, everything that was mysterious and coded blurs to give way to a didactic, crude discourse, which even gives the impression of having been filmed by an author completely different from the one responsible for everything before. The intention to lay the groundwork for a sequel (or even a franchise) feels crude, as if it were an imposition of production. But even despite those reservations, "Hope" is a pleasure. One must not stop watching it. "Hope: The First Impact" Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon. Director: Na Hong-jin. Country and year: South Korea, 2026.