Run to the West – South Korea’s first AI film tests the soul of cinema

South Korea’s first AI-powered feature film, Run to the West, blends human actors with machine-made effects, sparking debate over whether artificial intelligence will rescue the nation’s struggling film industry or strip it of its cinematic soul.

I don’t know how much Korean cinema you have seen. For myself, personally, it isn’t a boatload, but the 2020 film Parasite is a splendor in itself, whether watched in color or black and white.

A discussion about Parasite was always about cinematic conversation. Would it have the pedigree to win an Oscar? Did it deserve it, etc.?

Swivel into 2025, and the chase-action movie Run to the West has gone big on AI effects. The conversation in and outside Korea is of a broad nature. Buffs are debating whether this is a bold technological leap or an experiment done too early.

Released October 15th, it has slumped in the box office so far, but this could partially be down to the Chuseok holiday, which occurred in early October.

The movie follows humans and grim reapers, with AI constructing elaborate battle scenes featuring collapsing temples and extensive explosions. The resulting discussion centers on whether Run to the West will revive the struggling film industry or further erode its credibility.

An industry on edge

Since the pre-pandemic release of Parasite (May 2019), there hasn’t been a film that hit those lofty heights. That’s not to say that Korean cinema has bottomed out, as there have been some notable successes, like 2022’s Decision to Leave, which earned Park Chan-wook best director at Cannes that year.

Lots of output is being streamed however, as consumption habits are changing, especially with the success of Squid Games, funded by Netflix.

But with soaring production costs, AI is able to lend a helping hand to Run to the West and take the reputation of Korean cinema to the precipice as a result.

Efficiency first

Like with many businesses, AI is intended to streamline the process and cut costs. Looking beneath the bonnet, big chunks of VFX and post-production were spared through the use of AI. A car explosion was able to be completed overnight, as opposed to a week. Also, editing took three months instead of taking a year.

“What’s important is finding ways to make the workflow more efficient and reduce much of the burden of those costs, and I believe AI is one way to do that,” said director Kang Yun‑sung.

AI integration across various art forms remains controversial, as writers, for example, worry that they might be rendered obsolete one day.

Music too has been affected by AI bands like The Velvet Sundown making an impact on platforms like Spotify.

Where generative AI leaves cinema is unclear, despite its parasitic influence.

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