The Night Owl
Seen it?2022 | 118 min | Thriller, Mystery, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It drew serious awards attention, though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 58 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Korean, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Korea, 1645 - Joseon Dynasty: a partially blind and gifted acupuncturist, Gyeong-su, is invited to work alongside the royal physician in the palace of King Injo, just before the crown prince Sohyeon returns after having been held captive by the Qing Dynasty. Prince Sohyeon and his father begin to differ in opinion on the future direction of their dynasty, leading King Injo to suffer from severe anxiety and paranoia. One night, Gyeong-su witnesses prince Sohyeon's death. Disbelieved as a witness on account of his blindness, Gyeong-su must struggle to reveal the truth while not falling prey to the power-hungry conspirators of the palace.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsStrong
18 wins and 28 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$27 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 36K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by An Tae-jin
- Ryu Jun-yeolCheon Gyeong-su
- Yoo Hai-jinKing Injo
- Choi Mu-sungLee Hyeong-ik
- Cho Seong-haLord Choi
- Park Myung-hoonMan-sik
- Kim Sung-cheolCrown Prince Sohyeon
- Ahn Eun-jinConsort Jo
- Jo Yoon-seoCrown Princess Kang
- Lee Joo-wonSeok-cheol
- Kim Yae-eunCourt Lady Seo