영화 '하이파이브' 개봉일, 줄거리, 등장인물, 유아인, 관람포인트 총정리 (강형철 감독 신작)

🎥 Digging into the Dark Side of Modern Society: An In-Depth Analysis of the Movie 'The Devil You Know'

Released on June 20, 2025, the sociopathic thriller 'The Devil You Know' is drawing attention as actress Han Chae-young's first screen comeback in eight years and a successful directorial debut for Hyun Woo-sung. This film aims to be more than mere entertainment, positioning itself as a "crime prevention film" that unflinchingly sheds light on the realistic crimes and the abyss of human nature lurking around us, thereby raising profound social awareness. What powerful message is 'The Devil You Know' trying to convey to its audience? Let's take a detailed look at the key information about the movie.

1. 'The Devil You Know': Basic Information and Overview

'The Devil You Know' captivates audiences with an unpredictable psychological battle over its 103-minute runtime. With a 15+ rating, it realistically addresses the uncomfortable truths of modern society.

Movie Profile

• Title: The Devil You Know (악의 도시)
• Genre: Thriller, Sociopathic Thriller
• Release Date: June 20, 2025
• Running Time: 103 minutes
• Rating: Rated 15+
• Director: Hyun Woo-sung
• Starring: Hyun Woo-sung (as Seon-hee), Han Chae-young (as Yoo-jung), Jang Eui-soo (as Kang-soo)
• Cast: Kim Hye-eun (as Grace), Bae Jae-won (as Jeong-ho), Lee Kyung-min (as Gamer 2), Moon Jeong-gi (as Car Loan Man), Kim Won-woo, and others.
• Production Company: SFDREAM, DIO STUDIO (co-production)
• Distributor: Movie Special City SMC

2. Plot: A Clash of Good and Evil, and the Descent into Ruin

'The Devil You Know' begins its tragic narrative when Yoo-jung (Han Chae-young), a star lecturer who firmly believes in the goodness of people, meets Seon-hee (Hyun Woo-sung), a sociable businessman. Yoo-jung finds herself increasingly drawn to Seon-hee's charming and kind exterior, but her sense of responsibility to protect her family makes her try to keep her distance.

However, one night, an unexpected incident occurs, and Seon-hee's attitude completely transforms, plunging Yoo-jung into a deep trap. Yoo-jung is a complex character who unknowingly begins to break down psychologically. Actress Han Chae-young has been praised for her realistic portrayal of a woman's inner world collapsing due to stalking and gaslighting.

Kang-soo (Jang Eui-soo), Yoo-jung's close younger friend who is cynical and slow to trust others, senses the ominous atmosphere between the two and keeps a close watch. He confronts the gradually revealed sociopathic nature and true evil of Seon-hee, determined to uncover the truth.

From its trailers, the film emphasizes the dark side of human nature and tense relationships with taglines like "A swamp that pulls you in deeper the more you struggle" and the powerful line, "The devil is human, and humans are the devil." It realistically deals with frequent modern crimes like stalking, dating violence, and gaslighting, focusing on the psychological turmoil of characters spiraling into a catastrophic relationship that "can only end when one kills or is killed."

3. Key Character Analysis and the Overwhelming Acting Ensemble

'The Devil You Know' is praised for the detailed psychological portrayals and intense acting ensemble created by its three lead actors. Each character symbolizes different facets of human nature and psychological conflict, enhancing the film's immersion.

• Yoo-jung (Han Chae-young):

  • Role: A star lecturer who believes in human goodness. She is a complex character who experiences internal conflict and psychological collapse while trying to protect her family.
  • Features: Actress Han Chae-young delicately expresses Yoo-jung's emotional shifts, realistically portraying her inner world crumbling under stalking and gaslighting. As her first film role in eight years, her acting transformation generated significant buzz even before the release. In an interview, she stated, "Through the role of Yoo-jung, I focused on expressing the complex emotions of the human psyche," and "Because it's a work that deals with realistic horror, I felt a lot of emotions while acting." She also mentioned that this was her first dark thriller in nearly 20 years, which can be interpreted as a conscious effort to move beyond her "Barbie doll" image.

• Seon-hee (Hyun Woo-sung):

  • Role: A sociable businessman who appears charming but has a dual, threatening, and sociopathic nature. He is the film's main villain who traps Yoo-jung, embodying the essence of evil hidden behind a mask of kindness.
  • Features: Taking on the roles of director and lead actor, Hyun Woo-sung delivered a powerful performance, capturing Seon-hee's incomprehensible charm and chilling nature. By personally playing the villain he sought to critique, he revealed a deep immersion in the character, stating, "No words are needed. It wouldn't be strange to describe him as a thug, trash, or a psychopath." His performance is seen as an extension of the weighty villain roles he played in previous dramas like Yellow Boots, Graceful Family, and Again My Life.

• Kang-soo (Jang Eui-soo):

  • Role: Yoo-jung's close younger friend, a cynical character who is slow to trust. He watches over Seon-hee and Yoo-jung's relationship, seeking to uncover the truth and balancing the psychological tension.
  • Features: Actor Jang Eui-soo grounds the film by expressing the dual nature of Kang-soo, who is both cynical and warm. He said, "Kang-soo is tough and hard on the outside, but he's a character who moves unwaveringly towards the truth," revealing his challenge in taking on a more serious role. He joined the project to support director Hyun Woo-sung, with whom he has a close friendship, on his directorial debut, affectionately describing the director as a "tsundere" (cold on the outside but warm on the inside).

Supporting actors like Kim Hye-eun (as Grace) also decided to join based on their deep connection with the director and their trust in the script, further enhancing the film's quality.

4. Director's Vision and Behind-the-Scenes: A Dedication to a 'Crime Prevention Film'

Despite 'The Devil You Know' being his directorial debut, Hyun Woo-sung had complete creative control, handling three roles as director, screenwriter, and lead actor. In interviews, he revealed that his primary motivation was to create a "crime prevention film." His intention to "instill a sense of caution in people who live good-naturedly" serves as the core message that permeates the entire movie.

On set, the director's "hungry spirit" shone through. The cast recalled him personally handling everything from directing, writing, and acting to props and location scouting. They said this environment fostered a deep sense of camaraderie and respect. Han Chae-young demonstrated her professionalism by filming a staggering 28 scenes on the first day, and the director actively incorporated improvisation with the actors. To prepare for Yoo-jung's emotional scenes, Han Chae-young reportedly studied psychological counseling materials and researched real victim cases to immerse herself in the role.

The film was primarily shot in and around downtown Seoul, with the urban backdrop used to amplify the psychological tension. A dark lighting tone and high-contrast color palette create a thriller atmosphere, while the score, composed of dissonant sounds and tense strings, maximizes the sense of horror. The sound design is also noteworthy, exaggerating everyday noises (a closing door, footsteps) to provoke anxiety in the audience.

5. The Film's Main Message and Social Context: 'The Devil Approaches with Kindness'

'The Devil You Know' goes beyond simply depicting crime to deeply explore the anxieties of modern people, for whom the line between good and evil has become blurred. As its tagline "The Devil approaches with kindness" suggests, the film warns of the true nature of evil hidden in plain sight and its destructive power. This aligns with the director's clear intention to raise social awareness about "villains who exist in the blind spots of the law," such as those who commit stalking, gaslighting, and dating violence—all serious issues in modern society.

The film shows that good people can easily become victims of evil and that evil can always approach with an ordinary face, urging the audience to reflect on their own relationships and emphasizing the need for self-defense. This also connects to the recent heightened interest in the #MeToo movement and domestic violence issues in South Korean society, building empathy by delicately portraying psychological oppression from the victim's perspective.

Reflecting a modern perspective on human nature, the film suggests that rather than being dichotomously good or evil, anyone can reveal both sides depending on the circumstances. Yoo-jung symbolizes good, but she confronts her own limits when faced with an extreme threat. Seon-hee hides evil behind a mask of kindness. Kang-soo oscillates between justice and revenge amidst his distrust and anger. In this way, the film emphasizes that good and evil are not clearly divided and can be reversed at any moment in daily life, revealing the duality and ambiguous boundaries of human nature.

6. Reception and Box Office Performance: Between Praise and Disappointment

'The Devil You Know' garnered high expectations before and after its release, but it received somewhat polarized reactions from audiences and critics.

Positive responses included high praise for the acting ensemble of Han Chae-young, Hyun Woo-sung, and Jang Eui-soo. Many reviews noted that the detailed psychological portrayal and realistic crime subject matter left a strong impression on audiences, with comments like "The acting is masterful" and "A realistic thriller."

However, there were also negative reactions. The Cine21 expert rating was a low 3.00 out of 10, with critic Kim Kyung-soo criticizing that "it deals with heavy topics like sexual violence but concludes with an abstract argument of misanthropy, which is disappointing." The audience rating was also very low at 1.00, and some posts on X (formerly Twitter) had negative reactions like, "Don't watch it, don't recommend it." This may be linked to the disappointment that the film failed to offer a clear solution or hope to the audience.

In terms of box office performance, as of June 12, 2025, it recorded a cumulative audience of 1,264, which is rather underwhelming. After its opening week, its box office ranking declined, and its overall success has been minimal. Nevertheless, the distributor, Movie Special City SMC, has been actively promoting the film to create a positive atmosphere.

7. Avoid Confusion! Know the Right 'The Devil You Know'

When searching online, there are other works that can be easily confused with the 2025 film 'The Devil You Know.'

• 2017 drama 'Bad Guys: City of Evil' (OCN): This is a completely separate drama with a different cast, crew, and plot.
• 2015 film 'Septembers of Shiraz' (Korean title: 악의 도시): This is also an international film unrelated to the 2025 release.

It is important to clearly recognize that this film is the South Korean sociopathic thriller released on June 20, 2025, starring Han Chae-young and Hyun Woo-sung.

8. Conclusion: 'The Devil You Know,' An Uncomfortable but Necessary Mirror

The movie 'The Devil You Know' is a work born from the clear intentions of its director and the passionate dedication of its actors. Although it has faced challenges in its box office and initial critical reception, its effort to deliver a social message as a "crime prevention film" by realistically portraying the dark sides of modern society—such as stalking, gaslighting, and dating violence—is certainly commendable. The film delves deep into the abyss of human nature where the line between good and evil is blurred, serving as an uncomfortable but necessary mirror that asks us difficult questions. Ultimately, how the message of 'The Devil You Know' will reach the audience is now left to each individual who faces the screen.

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