A man who has faked being an exorcist for years, swindling people out of money while not actually doing much beyond providing a placebo for their issues finds himself faced with a real possession case and must rise to the occasion or move on from his career.
Directed by Kim Seong-sik, Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman is a fun supernatural film that takes a story that could easily have been all about a scam artist tricking people out of their money with simple visual tricks, but the film goes with the supernatural elements, and it goes from fun to really fun. The story here is well written and well directed, it’s one of those films that is easy to watch and easy to get into. The story is a little bit predictable once the premise is known, but it’s not badly predictable and what may be guessed doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of it. The film has a good pace and develops its story in a way that makes the film a fun watch.
The cast here is solid, each giving great performances, especially Gang Dong-won as Dr. Cheon, our lead, and So-yi Park, and Esom. The cast overall is one that works well together, and they make for a team that is easy to keep up with. There is something here in the way the characters interact with each other that show that while some of the content is serious, the humor of it is definitely something that the cast really sunk their teeth into the comedy elements here and there and how some of it is a bit dark. This cast is what the story needed, and they are a large part of what makes the film entertaining.
The film here also looks really good. There are some fun lighting effects here and there, especially near the end and the set designs at the end are fantastic. The film’s cinematography makes some of the scenes truly beautiful and the editing allows the viewer to really see It all. The special effects and visual effects work well within that framework, helping the film sell its supernatural aspect.
Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman is a fun supernatural jaunt that doesn’t take itself too seriously and could easily lead to a few sequels. This is one of those film you put on and end up watching intently throughout because the characters and cast really grab you. The story is good, there are enough bits and pieces here and there making you wonder what will happen next to keep you really glued to it. This is a fun movie.