The 2023 South Korean film ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman ” has received positive reviews and is worth watching. I personally think it’s quite good, as it successfully creates a captivating atmosphere and provides entertainment value. （IMDb:6.0）
Despite containing horror elements, the incorporation of comedy does not diminish its effectiveness as a horror film; on the contrary, it surprisingly adds to its appeal. The story cleverly combines elements of psychology and the supernatural, making it a rich horror movie experience.
This film is an adaptation of a highly popular WEBTOON comic in Taiwan that has been viewed over 4 million times and received an impressive rating of 9.8 from Taiwanese comic enthusiasts. It serves as director Kim Seong-jik’s debut commercial film and stars Gang Dong-Won, Heo Jun-Ho, and Esom.
Korean Movie “Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” Plot
“Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” tells the story of Dr. Cheon (played by Gang Dong-Won), who, although not believing in ghosts and gods, uses his god-like insight to solve various mysterious events involving fake exorcisms. He accepts a commission for an intense event that he has never experienced before, which is also connected to the past experiences of his grandfather and younger brother.
Dr. Cheon must confront his own trauma head-on. The cast of this film includes Gang Dong-Won as Dr. Cheon, Heo Jun-Ho as Beom-Cheon, Esom as Yoo-Kyung, Lee Dong-hwi as In-Bae, and special guest appearance by BLACKPINK’s Jisoo as “Fairy”.
“Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” Trailer
Korean Movie “Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” Review
In the beginning of the movie ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman ” there is an interesting argument. Dr. Cheon performs “fake exorcisms” to deal with people’s emotions. The film explores the distinction between real ghosts and fake ones, which provides a thought-provoking perspective.
I particularly like when Dr. Cheon says, “The ultimate ghost we face is our own thoughts.” He views exorcism as a form of psychological therapy, connecting it to inner guilt, insecurity, and emotional blockages. If these unresolved attachments can be resolved, it can truly bring about a sense of enlightenment similar to psychological therapy. This is why Dr. Cheon asks, “If I say there are no ghosts in their homes, will they believe me?”
At the beginning of ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman,” instead of presenting supernatural phenomena in a superstitious manner, the film cleverly offers scientific explanations to avoid preconceived notions about paranormal activities among viewers.
This creates suspense and conflict before delving into the main storyline. For example, although Dr.Cheon himself does not believe in spirits or gods initially; his transformation upon encountering real evil spirits becomes an excellent focal point for the story.
Therefore, this is where the director begins portraying Dr.Cheon’s character – he behaves as if he already knows that evil spirits exist but remains stubbornly attached to his disbelief at first.The screenwriter uses flashbacks to depict Dr.Cheon’s past experiences while also illustrating how he avoids confronting trauma.Furthermore,the events involving his grandfather and younger brother completely change Dr.Cheon’s perspective on life.
” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman ” intertwine trauma and supernatural elements in a captivating way within the fields of psychology and occult studies. I believe this has always been a remarkable aspect of Korean cinema, depicting these two elements.
A previous film I watched, “Ghostly Dreams,” also explored the rationality behind the supernatural and human psychology, presenting various arguments. Similarly, Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman follows this same principle. Although it predominantly focuses on spiritual studies, it closely delves into the portrayal of psychology and human nature as well.
In ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman “, Dr. Cheon’s inner trauma is a kind of “various doubts” that are stuck in his throat. When CEO Hwang believes that even the head elder cannot accomplish certain things, it is natural for Dr. Cheon to also be unable to do so.
I like how Dr. Cheon approaches his trauma with a mindset of wanting to unravel the doubts, rather than carrying sadness and resentment. This strongly connects Dr. Cheon with his grandfather and younger brother emotionally, as well as facing his inherited divine power – the “gift of reciting scriptures.” Despite not having divine power himself, Dr. Cheon possesses the power of a sword.
Although this mission he undertakes continues what his grandfather left unfinished, Dr. Cheon maintains his own rationality and does not seek revenge; instead, he helps others solve their problems while also resolving his own doubts and internal conflicts.
The experiences of Yoo-Kyung and Yo-Min are like a reenactment of traumatic events, which indeed echoes Dr.Cheon’s belief that “ultimately we face ghosts because they originate from human thoughts.” Although there are supernatural elements throughout the process, human thoughts and obsessions ultimately need to be resolved.
Looking at Dr. Cheon himself, he also needs psychological therapy for himself.In the last half hour of the film ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman “, Dr.Cheonis trapped in an illusion inside Beom-Cheong Shrine where past memories haunt him about the deaths of his grand father and younger brother. Dr. Cheon tears fully severs ties with past traumas and sorrows.
He always maintains rationality when confronting personal pain.The screenwriter-director portrayshis longing for family through the inheritance of the”gift of reciting scriptures”,which shows love for his grandfather and younger brother.
I think this way of dealing with trauma is great. Beom-Cheon thought he could let guilt sink into the abyss, but the screenwriter-director also teaches the audience that facing trauma ultimately requires letting go of the past, finding self-resolution, and continuing to grow with love from the past. Therefore, the screenwriter-director gives Dr. Cheon the most mature way of dealing with his traumas.
Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman is a movie that doesn’t make the supernatural ghost mystery too terrifying. It has its own characteristics and impressive design in the sea of horror films. The screenwriter and director have balanced humor and horror very well, making the movie serious when it needs to be serious, and memorable when it needs to be funny.
Especially the interactions between characters, as well as the character In-Bae. The screenwriter and director present a humorous perspective on how an iron-willed person reacts when they see ghosts with their own eyes. Throughout the film, In-Bae remains in a comedic frequency. As part of the technical team, he is like Doraemon who can produce amazing gadgets at any time XD
Especially in the plot where almost everything relies on In-Bae’s exploration of Dr. Cheon’s past story, his interactions with CEO Hwang fill in all aspects of Dr.Cheon’s grandfather, younger brother Dong-U, and Dr.Cheon’s personality~
And because of Dr.Cheon’s personal character which is sometimes cute and humorous – like swearing during ghost fights or expressing helplessness when chasing ghosts until exhausted – there are many funny moments throughout the film; for example, the scene at the beginning where they perform rituals in a luxurious mansion is full of laughter points; Dr.Cheon’s way of chanting scriptures also resembles rapping.
Additionally, when that fairy descends upon Wizard with such contrast it becomes adorable; however, Dr.Cheon possesses serious power that can instantly reverse into a solemn atmosphere. This movie relies on these light-hearted but not excessive small scenes along with lively dialogue design to make their ghost-catching journey richly enjoyable
Of course, ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman ” belongs to the horror action genre. The director brings many exciting action scenes. Although the overall action scenes may not be as flashy as we imagine, they lack tension and are slightly smaller in scale compared to typical action movies.
However, personally I think it is acceptable because the overall entertainment value is still decent. Especially when Beom-Cheon can remotely control people’s bodies and willpower to attack Dr. Cheon, this continuous physical attack brings great entertainment! It’s like an endless stream of ghosts, highlighting Beom-Cheon’s cruelty and tenacity. Moreover, the visual effects are not exaggerated but can simply present the witchcraft of Beom-Cheon remotely controlling people’s bodies.
The climax of this film is in the last twenty minutes during the formal showdown with Beom-Cheon. The screenwriter-director also does not forget to credit supporting roles CEO Hwang and In-Bae, especially that explosion scene which truly makes In-Bae a versatile character. Personally, I quite like how the action scenes are accompanied by music.
The director packages each action scene in a way that matches Dr.Cheon’s passionate nature – modern yet not too rigid; exorcism mixed with a bit of rock music; sudden appearance of modern technology elements such as CEO Hwang playing “that drum” (ancient tradition) combined with In-Bae holding a flashlight gun (modern technology) + explosives bomb; and finally, the opening shot of expanding field during chanting at end has a strong sense of technology while perfectly combining ancient and modern conflicts – showcasing contemporary trends!!
Korean Movie “Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman” Ending
In the ending of ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman “, we ultimately confront the idea that ghosts and monsters are manifestations of human thoughts. I believe that the movie’s conclusion closely follows this concept, as the antagonist Beom-Cheon is a sorcerer himself but harms others due to his personal greed. This aligns with what Dr. Cheon mentioned, that ultimately we face ‘human thoughts’. What Dr. Cheon eliminates are ‘human greed and desires’.
The reason why rookie wizard Dr. Cheon is able to stand up against Beom-Cheon is perhaps because he possesses unwavering determination, which allows him to defeat Beom-Cheon. Alternatively, it could be said that he inherits the love given by his grandfather and his longing for his younger brother, which gives him a stronger belief in his own destiny.
Therefore, in ” Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman “, Dr. Cheon also undergoes a sort of psychological healing process where he can let go of his longing for his grandfather and brother, and finally embrace inheriting his grandfather’s divine power without doubting himself anymore.In summary, the movie ‘Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman’ offers many rich elements that present supernatural horror films in a different way~ It is definitely worth watching!”
