Yeon Sang-ho's 'The Ugly' Review: How a $140K Film Topped the Box Office
Director Yeon Sang-ho terrified us with zombies and made us question our morality with 'Hellbound.' Now, he returns to his roots with 'The Ugly' (얼굴), a slow-burn mystery that's less about monsters and more about the ghosts of the past. But what's truly shocking isn't just the story—it's how this masterpiece was made. Key Takeaways Story Over Spectacle: Made on an astonishingly low budget of around ₩200 million (approx. $140,000 USD), 'The Ugly' proves a powerful story is all you need. Box Office Triumph: The film debuted at #1 at the Korean box office, drawing over 317,000 viewers in its first weekend. Global Acclaim: Even before its release, the film was pre-sold to 157 countries and earned a coveted invitation to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Global Buzz: The Little Film That Could The success story of 'The Ugly' is phenomenal. It shot to number one at the Korean b...