Estimable South-Korean director Park Chan-Wook’s “Thirst” next film is an over-the-top, absurdist vampire horror/romantic comedy that sort of defies categorization. The muddled and overlong film is not entirely successful (we saw it at Cannes and didn’t love it), but it’s a least incredibly idiosyncratic, relatively original and does sparkle a few times with bits of genius. The red-band trailer is now out and you should give it a look. Even if the film is unsuccessful as a whole, it’s probably 100x more interesting than anything at your regular megaplex.
Here’s the synopsis:
A priest becomes a vampire…another man’s wife is coveted…a deadly seduction triggers murder. Sang-hyun (Korean star Song Kang-ho, of “The Host” and “Sympathy For Lady Vengeance”) is a priest who cherishes life; so much so, that he selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project meant to eradicate a deadly virus. But the virus takes the priest, and a blood transfusion is urgently ordered up for him. The blood he receives is infected, so Sang-hyun lives – but now exists as a vampire. Struggling with his newfound carnal desire for blood, Sang-hyun’s faith is further strained when a childhood friend’s wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin) comes to him asking for his help in escaping her life. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins.
It’s R-Rated, so not entirely safe for work. Chan-Wook directed an immensely engrossing revenge trilogy (which comprises the films, “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance,” “Oldboy,” “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”) that you should know by now front to back. “Thirst” has a July 31 limited release theatrical date via Focus Features. One other criticism Focus: “Thirst” pops with color and dynamic style (maybe too much so, but…), so why such a drab poster?
