Pulgasari is an epic monster film directed and produced by Shin Sang-ok, the film stars Chang Sŏnhŭi, Ham Kisŏp, Ri Chongguk, Ri Ingwŏn, and Yu Kyŏngae, with Kenpachiro Satsuma. The film follows a blacksmiths daughter who brings a metal eating monster to life that was created by her father to defeat the monarchy. Pulgasari is a mediocre monster film where the backstory is far more interesting than the film.
The direction in the film is decent. The film is an old-fashioned historical fantasy film with clearly a low budget that hurts the production but also adds a sense of charm. The film feels very traditional in a historical sense as well as clearly showcases iron being a part of the film. The main guy practises with a samurai sword as him and the princess meet showcasing the themes of romance in the film. The government in the film oversees the supply storage a which gives them supplies and steals supplies from the villages criticising capitalist regimes and promoting communism, as the film then has a fight scene between the villagers and the soldiers. The film shows the themes of communism with the villagers being part of the book, also in the film Pulgasari is a known mythical creature. The doll the blacksmith makes comes alive showing the themes of eastern mysticism the film also shows a mini Pulgasari moving around. The film has an interesting idea as when Pulgasari eats metal he grows showing different costume changes the film is both light-hearted and serious at the same time being funny and showing a serious situation.
The film is an interesting monster movie with the film starting with a mini monster, the film has decent action scenes with logs and rocks falling on soldiers. With the actions scenes then shows the people meeting the monster and making success with is interesting as they use the giant monster as a good guy. The humans ultimately trick the giant monster as they use Pulgasari in battle to defeat the enemy. Pulgasari destroys the enemy and buildings like a Godzilla movie, the film shows the themes of eastern mysticism in the film and how it defeats Pulgasari. The blacksmiths daughter seriously cuts herself to wake Pulgasari up as Pulgasari and the villagers battle against the evil emperor and his cannons. Pulgasari destroys the castle and kills the emperor, however Pulgasari needs to continue eating metal to survive as the villagers run out of iron so they can’t farm. The film ends with them realising that they need to kill Pulgasari to allow the people to survive. To kill Pulgasari and save everyone the sister hides inside a bell that is eaten by Pulgasari who dies via explosion as its soul is seemingly transferred to the dead sister who sheds a tear.
The acting in the film is decent. Chang Sŏnhŭi does a good job as Ami the blacksmiths daughter. Ham Kisŏp does a good job as InDe Ami’s boyfriend. Ri Chongguk does a good job as Ana Ami’s brother. Ri Ingwŏn does a good job as Takse the blacksmith. Pak Yŏnghak does a good job as the King. Ri Ryongun does a good job as General Hwang, the King’s disciplinary. Pak Pongik the Governor. Yu Kyŏngae does a good job as InDe’s mother. Ro Hyech’ŏl does a good job as InDe’s brother. Tae Sanghun does a good job as the member of the rebellion. Kim Kich’ŏn does a good job as the member of the rebellion. Ri Ŏnchŏl does a good job as the member of the rebellion. Kenpachiro Satsuma does a good job as Pulgasari. Masao Fukazawa does a good job as the infant Pulgasari.
The writing in the film is decent. The film centres around a struggling village family as the film is told in a very traditional way. The villagers end up finding iron weapons hidden as the film shows the protagonist the blacksmiths apprentice who is to marry the blacksmiths daughter and take over. The characters Ami and Indie have a decent romance in the film as goes into the mountains with his crew as they must hide from the government as they are petty criminals. This shows that the film shows north Korea’s idea of traditional government for a communist system. The government oversees the supply shortage as the government gives them supplies and steals supplies of villagers as they are trampled as one is killed and Indie is kidnapped. This shows the dangers of big government in exchange for a communist system. The villagers steal and hide farm tools as the village guy believes Pulgasari did it, but the king has none of it beating him and throwing him in prison. The family find out the uncle has been thrown in prison as he makes a doll and prays to it which comes alive. The daughter cuts herself and bleeds onto Pulgasari making it come to life, as it eats metal grows. A guy is almost killed but Pulgasari attacks them and frees the villager by eating metal and he continues to grow. They can’t kill Pulgasari so they drive it from the town, however then then use it go help the kidnapped people. Pulgasari is shown like a child growing into an adult as the villagers break into the fortress the rescue the mother and brother.
The king hires people to crush the rebellion as the rebel farmers fight back. Pulgasari finds the villagers and protects them as it eats all the enemies’ weapons and grows into a giant. The king’s soldiers end up kidnaping the blacksmiths daughter to control Pulgasari, Pulgasari gets in the cage to save the lives of the daughter as they then set fire to the cage to kill the monster. Pulgasari rises again as the villagers use it to defeat the evil king. The two armies clash in a battle with Pulgasari who destroys the enemy and building like a Godzilla movie. The people exorcise the spirit of the blacksmith’s daughter our of Pulgasari and defeat him by coving him with stones as the army then attacks them. The leader of the villagers the main guy’s father dies by the hand of the evil king, as the sister tricks the soldiers by giving them tainted wine as she wakes up Pulgasari. Pulgasari and the villagers battle against the evil emperor and his cannons as Pulgasari destroys the castle and kills the emperor. However, the film takes a very interesting and unique twist for a monster movie. Pulgasaeri needs to continue eating metal to survive, however the villagers have run out of iron and can’t farm. To kill Pulgasari and allow the people to survive the sister hides inside a bell and is eaten by Pulgasari who dies via explosion as its soul is seemingly transferred to the dead sister who sheds a tear.
The cinematography in the film is decent despite the low budget. The special effects in the film aren’t necessary good but they are charming. The film has an interesting Pulgasari costume being a mini human size costume and a Pulgasari doll. There is also a cool looking giant Pulgasari Godzilla like costume and well as a good used of fire effects. The film has a good use of fire effects and rockets firing. The film has a good use of blood effects and building being destroyed. There is a good cool effect as Pulgasari moves from the ground and ground explodes, the film also has good set design with the destruction of the giant cannon. The is good explosion effects as the cannon explodes as well as the castle getting destroyed by Pulgasari, there is also good explosions as Pulgasari blows up with blue light.
Pulgasari is a mediocre monster movie however the insane uniqueness of the film makes it a film that should be viewed at least once.