'My Best, Your Least,' '4PM,' 'Longlegs' and other films to check out in Korea

A high school teacher's world unravels when she faces her own personal challenges and a student deals with an unexpected pregnancy. The situations force her to choose between her best intentions and what she can do.

A still from ″My Best, Your Least″ [STUDIO DHL]

My Best, Your Least (12)Drama / 110 min. / Korean / Oct. 30

A high school teacher's world unravels when she faces her own personal challenges and a student deals with an unexpected pregnancy. The situations force her to choose between her best intentions and what she can do.

High school teacher Hee-yeon is grappling with personal challenges, including home construction issues. To compound her troubles, her student Yu-mi becomes pregnant and seeks financial assistance after deciding on an abortion. Despite promising to keep it a secret, Hee-yeon informs Yu-mi's father, leading to the girl's physical punishment and subsequent disappearance from school for over a week. This absence puts Yu-mi at risk of expulsion.

Initially, Hee-yeon attempts to distance herself from the situation, eager to avoid further complications. However, her own unexpected pregnancy forces her to reevaluate her stance. Moved by empathy, Hee-yeon extends a helping hand to Yu-mi, recognizing it as the least she can do for her troubled student.

Model and actress Jang Yoon-joo, known for her roles in "I, the Executioner" and "Citizen of a Kind," portrays the complex character of Hee-yeon. Choi Soo-in takes on the role of the pregnant student, Yu-mi.

Director Kim Hyun-jung, whose previous works include "Eunha Video" (2015) and short films like "Letters Unreeling" and "Ghost Play" (2023), helms the film.

A still from ″4PM″ [HOLLY GARDEN]

4PM (12) Thriller / 111 min. / Korean / Oct. 23

A retired couple's tranquil retirement is disrupted by a mysterious neighbor who visits daily without a word, leaving them puzzled and increasingly frustrated.

A retired professor, Jeong-in, and his wife, Hyeon-sook, relocate to a quiet rural area to enjoy their post-retirement life. One afternoon at 4 p.m., their neighbor, Yook-nam, unexpectedly knocks on their door. They warmly welcome him in and engage in casual conversation. However, the visitor remains unusually silent for an extended period, making the couple uncomfortable.

To their bewilderment, Yook-nam becomes a daily visitor, arriving at 4 p.m. without fail, yet offering no explanation for his frequent visits. Jeong-in attempts to break the ice by asking casual questions, but his efforts are consistently met with awkward silence. Despite their hospitality, the couple's growing frustration reaches a boiling point.

Oh Dal-su, known for his previous roles in “Old Boy” (2003) and “Veteran” (2015), portrays the retired professor, Jeong-in, while Jang Young-nam, renowned for her role in “Project Wolf Hunting” (2022), plays his wife, Hyeon-sook. Kim Hong-pa, known for the two seasons of Disney+ series “Casino” (2022-23) takes on the enigmatic character of Yook-nam.

The film is directed by Jay Song, also known for his previous works “Stellar” (2022) and “Tomb of the River” (2021).

A still from ″Lucky, Apartment″ [INDIE STORY]

Lucky, Apartment (15)Drama / 95 min. / Korean / Oct. 30

A lesbian couple's dream of domestic bliss turns into a nightmare when job loss, injury and a haunting mystery push their relationship to the brink.

Seon-woo and Hee-seo dream of a stable living environment. They invest everything they have into a small apartment. However, when Seon-woo loses her job and suffers a leg injury during a recession, their relationship begins to strain. Hee-seo, solely responsible for the mortgage and interest payments, faces increasing financial pressure.

While staying at home, Seon-woo grapples with unemployment, her stress mounting with each passing day. Their situation takes a distressing turn when a foul odor seeps up from the apartment below. The couple is horrified to learn that a woman has passed away alone.

Even after the body is removed, the lingering stench exacerbates Hee-seo's growing anxiety. Determined to resolve the issue, Hee-seo takes matters into her own hands, inadvertently drawing unwanted attention from her neighbors. Seon-woo, eager to avoid the spotlight, implores Hee-seo to cease their efforts, leading to further tension and conflict between the couple.

Son Soo-hyun, known for "An Ordinary Day" (2023) and "Puck!" (2016), portrays Sun-woo. Park Ga-young, recognized for "And There was Light" (2020), plays Hee-seo. Kangyu Ga-ram, known for "Itaewon" (2016) and "Us, Day by Day" (2019), directs the film. The director focuses on documenting the evolving lives and spaces of women.

A still from ″Venom: The Last Dance″ [SONY PICTURES]

Venom: The Last Dance (15)Action / 109 min. / English / Oct. 23

Eddie Brock and Venom, hunted by all, must fight for their lives against an alien invasion while also clearing their names.

Eddie Brock and Venom remain on the run, pursued by both the military and the law. Venom's creator, Knull, has unleashed a horde of alien creatures upon Earth in search of the "codex," the only key that could set him free. To make matters worse, Eddie is framed for the murder of Detective Mulligan.

Cornered and desperate, Eddie and Venom decide to make a daring escape to New York City, hoping to turn the tide in their favor.

Tom Hardy reprises his roles as Eddie Brock and Venom in this final installment of the trilogy, with Chiwetel Ejiofor joining the cast as Rex Strickland, who leads the military force on Eddie’s trail.

Screenwriter Kelly Marcel, who penned the previous two films of the franchise, returns to helm this latest chapter. The film opened to a strong box office performance, drawing nearly 120,000 viewers on its opening day, according to the Korean Film Council.

A still from ″Longlegs″ [GREEN NARAE MEDIA]

Longlegs (15)Thriller / 101 min. / English / Oct. 30 A gritty 90s thriller follows an FBI agent's hunt for a sinister serial killer, Longlegs, which rises in intensity when a chilling personal connection between the agent and the killer is revealed.

Set in the 1990s, the story follows FBI agent Lee Harker who is tasked with tracking down a mysterious occultist serial killer known as Longlegs. This elusive figure is responsible for a series of gruesome murders across Oregon. In each case, the father systematically murders his family members before taking his own life, leaving behind an indecipherable note that agent Harker attempts to decode.

As Harker delves deeper into the investigation, a disturbing pattern emerges: the daughters of the victims were all born on the 14th day of the month, and the murders occur within six days of their birthdays.

Harker learns that on her ninth birthday, her mother reported an incident related to an invader. Upon seeing a photo, a childhood memory of Longlegs surfaces.

Maika Monroe, known for “The Guest” (2014) and “The 5th Wave” (2016), portrays Agent Lee Harker, while Nicolas Cage takes on the role of the enigmatic serial killer, Longlegs. Writer and director Osgood Perkins, known for “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” (2015), “I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House” (2016) and “Legally Blonde” (2001), helms the project.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]