The Night Owl (Korean: 올빼미; RR: Olbbaemi; lit. Owl) is a 2022 South Korean historical dramathriller film directed by Ahn Tae-jin, starring Ryu Jun-yeol and Yoo Hae-jin. Set in the Joseon era, it is based on the mystery surrounding the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon, who returned from the Qing Dynasty in the Joseon Injo period. It was released on November 23, 2022.[3]
Plot
Kyung-soo is blind but has excellent acupuncture skills. He enters the palace after being recognized for his talent by Lee Hyung-ik. Around that time, Crown Prince Sohyeon, who was taken hostage by the Qing Dynasty, returned to Korea after 8 years. Injo, while happy for his son, is overcome with unknown anxiety for a while. Then one night, Kyung-soo, who can see faintly in the dark, witnesses the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon. As he tries to tell the truth, bigger secrets and conspiracies are revealed, putting his life at risk. After the death of his son, Injo's anxiety turns into madness and begins to run rampant, and Kyung-soo, who witnessed the death of the crown prince, attempts to reveal the truth behind the crown prince’s death.
Kim Do-won as Chun Kyung-jae, Kyung-soo's younger brother.[5]
Reception
Box office
As of 16 January 2023[update], it is the fifth highest-grossing Korean film of 2022, with a gross of US$26,395,809, and 3,317,510 admissions.[2] On December 23, 2022, The Night Owl surpassed 3 million cumulative audiences on this afternoon. An additional 900,000 people were mobilized in two weeks after exceeding the break-even point of 2.1 million on the 8th, which led the box office for three consecutive weeks.[6]
The film was in competition at FFCP 2023, the festival dedicated to Korean film in Paris.[7]
^Kim, Da-eun (October 4, 2022). "유해진X류준열 사극 스릴러 '올빼미' 11월 23일 개봉확정" [Yoo Hae-jin X Ryu Jun-yeol's historical thriller 'Owl' confirmed for release on November 23rd] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Bo-ra (December 11, 2022). "올빼미' 이주원 "캐스팅 돼 엄마랑 울었다…유해진 닮고 싶어"(종합)[인터뷰]" [Owl' Lee Joo-won "I cried with my mom after being cast... I want to be like Hae-jin Yoo" (Comprehensive)[Interview]] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang, Min-kyung (December 12, 2022). "류준열과 아역 배우들의 훈훈 케미…250만 돌파 '올빼미' 인기 비결" [Ryu Jun-yeol and child actors' warm chemistry... The secret to the popularity of 'Owl' that surpassed 2.5 million] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved March 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kang, Min-kyung (December 23, 2022). "[공식] '올빼미', 300만 돌파…유해진→류준열·김성철 감사 인사" [[Official] 'Owl' surpasses 3 million views... Yoo Hae-jin → Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Seong-cheol’s thanks] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved December 23, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Soo-in (April 29, 2023). "'헤어질 결심' 대상→더 글로리' 3관왕, 이변 없는 수상[백상예술대상①]" ['Decision to break up' Daesang→The Glory' 3 crowns, no surprises [Baeksang Arts Awards ①]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Ki-baek (February 24, 2023). "박찬욱 '헤어질 결심', 디렉터스컷 어워즈 5관왕" [Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Break Up' wins 5 Director's Cut Awards] (in Korean). E-daily. Retrieved February 24, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Bo-young (February 9, 2023). "제21회 '디렉터스컷 어워즈', 3년 만에 오프라인 개최 [공식]" [The 21st 'Director's Cut Awards' held offline for the first time in 3 years [Official]] (in Korean). E-Daily. Retrieved February 17, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yang, So-young (September 4, 2023). "김서형 류준열, 영평상 주연상 받는다...작품상은 '다음 소희" [Kim Seo-hyung Ryu Jun-yeol, Youngpyeong Award for Best Actor... 'Next Sohee' for Best Picture] (in Korean). Star Today. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via Naver.
^Nam, Yoo-jung; Lee, Woo-young (2023-08-27). "누가 받아도 될 정도로 훌륭한 후보들, 그중 최고는 누구?" [Great candidates to anyone can accept, who is the best of them?]. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-27.
^Yang, So-young (October 20, 2023). "류준열 김서형 황금촬영상 주연상...'올빼미' 6관왕" [Ryu Jun-yeol Kim Seo-hyung Golden Cinematography Award for Leading Actor...'Owl' wins 6 awards]. Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Naver.