[Dispatch=Kim Ji-ho] ※ This review contains spoilers for the film 'Pupil'.

Classical suspense thrillers share certain conditions. The protagonist's isolation, extreme crisis, false clues, struggle between protagonist and perpetrator, shocking twists, and so on. Director Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rear Window' can be called the textbook for these.

In this regard, the film 'Pupil' (director Yom Ji-ho) has quite compelling premises. Since it is a remake of the Spanish film 'Julia's Eyes' (2011), if made well, audiences would likely fall into the charm of a classic thriller.

However, upon opening the lid, the twist itself—the most important element—feels awkward and deflates the tension. After 105 minutes of breathless viewing, what remains in memory is not the plot but the passionate performances of Shin Min-a and Kim Nam-hee.

'Pupil' depicts the process of the protagonist Seo Jin (played by Shin Min-a) tracking down the perpetrator in the death of her twin sister Seo In (played by Shin Min-a). Seo In lost her sight due to a genetic disorder, and Seo Jin is losing her sight (from the same disease).

The restriction and blockade of vision is both the identity and kick of this film. Moreover, stalking victimization (of Seo Jin)—not present in the original—was woven in to fit Korean society's reality. These are good strategies to maximize the audience's anxiety and fear.

Given that the film came out 15 years after the original, there are areas of development. While 'Julia's Eyes' completely cut out the process of the perpetrator becoming a serial killer, 'Pupil' sketches in the perpetrator's narrative at the ending.

However, the manner of case resolution was bewildering. It is natural to collect foreshadowing in sequence and reveal the perpetrator's identity in the finale. But the item the film used as the medium to expose the perpetrator was problematic. (In a negative sense) I was left speechless.

The narrative and setting given to the perpetrator were also a double-edged sword. The actor playing the perpetrator had no choice but to deliver a one-man show. Could the actor's overwhelming performance skill overcome this? The scattered laughter from audiences here and there is evidence that opinions are divided.

Unfortunately, 'Pupil' also carries an inherent dilemma in its promotion. It cannot even mention the theatricality and exaggeration of the perpetrator character as a selling point from the outset. To draw audiences by praising the actor's performance becomes an irony—it becomes a spoiler.

Fortunately, the leading actors delivered 200% of their roles. Shin Min-a, true to her reputation as an actor capable of nuanced performances, convincingly handled the dual role. She perfected the pupil acting of focusing each eye differently without relying on CGI. Her scene of fleeing with her eyes covered was also excellent.

Kim Nam-hee (playing Lee Do-hyeok) likewise delivered record-breaking work in her filmography. Appearing as a detective who helps Seo Jin, she becomes her eyes and expresses a dramatic emotional spectrum. With distinctive acting, she carries an intensity of presence as powerful as Shin Min-a.

What if the juvenile foreshadowing in the middle section had been removed, and the weight given to the tense psychological battle between Shin Min-a and the perpetrator increased? Or what if the perpetrator's occupational setting had been changed? There remains a sense of regret. A thriller with clear strengths and weaknesses, propelled forward by the hard carry of the actors.

<Photo source: 'Pupil' stills>