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Movie Review: ‘Deranged’ (‘Yeongasi’)

Korea’s latest sci-fi thriller ‘Deranged‘ (Korean title: ‘Yeongasi’) has been holding strong in the Korean box office despite the release of billion-dollar blockbuster ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘. ‘Deranged’ headed into select North American theaters last Friday.

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Plot Synopsis

A mutated version of the horsehair worm (yeongasi) has spread across South Korea. Horsehair worms are parasites that live inside insects and eventually cause the host insects to jump into water and drown. The mutated horsehair worm infection has proven to have a 100% fatality rate, bringing about a national state of emergency. People across the nation are showing the three main symptoms of infection. First, sudden increase in appetite. Second, no change in weight or appearance although food consumption has increased significantly. Lastly, extreme thirst for a few days prior to death. ‘Deranged’ focuses in on one particular family and how they are involved and affected by this epidemic.

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Actor Kim Myung Min (‘Closer to Heaven‘, ‘Beethoven Virus‘) stars as Jae Hyuk, a former professor who lost all of his fortune in failed stock investments. Jae Hyuk is now a pharmaceutical company salesman who spends most of his time sucking up to rich and arrogant clients. After realizing that his wife and children have been infected, Jae Hyuk lays everything on the line to save his family while they are put into quarantine. Actress Moon Jung Hee (‘Only You‘, ‘A Thousand Days Promise‘) plays the role of Jae Hyuk’s wife, Kyung Soon. The infection causes Kyung Soon to start losing her sanity, but she remains hopeful as she stays strong for her children.

Shinhwa‘s Kim Dongwan (‘The Peak‘, ‘The Person I Love‘) stars as Jae Hyuk’s younger brother, detective Jae Pil. Jae Pil does all that he can to uncover the dirty details behind the cause of the epidemic. Former Miss Korea Lee Honey (‘Hit‘, ‘Pasta‘) plays Yeon Joo, Jae Pil’s fiancee and Jae Hyuk’s school junior. Yeon Joo is a researcher at the National Institute of Health and works at the heart of the emergency task force in which all major decisions are being made.

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