'Devil Came to Me' aspires to be a genre-bending film, mixing comedy, occult mystery, and romance, yet ultimately struggles to do justice to any. The movie follows Gil-gu, a young unemployed man played by Ahn Bo-hyun, who stumbles into a bizarre part-time job: monitoring Sun-ji (Im Yoon-ah), a woman who transforms into a demon at the strike of dawn.

Director Lee Sang-geun, who dazzled audiences with his debut 'Exit' in 2019—drawing 9.42 million moviegoers thanks to his inventive setup, zippy direction, and cheerful characters—returns with his latest effort. However, the strengths that made his debut remarkable seem muted here.

While 'Devil Came to Me' attempts to embrace several genres, it ends up in an awkward in-between. Though there are elements of occult mystery as the characters try to exorcise the demon within Sun-ji, romance between Sun-ji and Gil-gu, and some attempts at comedy, none of them fully connect or complement each other.

Much of the comic relief leans on the wit of Seong Dong-il, who plays Sun-ji’s father, with his sharp delivery occasionally provoking laughter. Beyond this, most comedic situations and dialogue feel forced and rarely hit the mark, resulting in jokes that often fall flat.

The romantic subplot between Gil-gu and Sun-ji is lukewarm at best, losing what little spark it has as the story shifts focus to the identity of the demon in the film's latter half. There is drama in the occult storyline, but the familiar tropes mean there's little novelty or emotional resonance to be found.

The film’s overall narrative structure also leaves much to be desired, coming off as a collection of disjointed episodes loosely strung together to fill the runtime, rather than a cohesive story. Immersion and tension are minimal, making it difficult for audiences to stay engaged.

There is a positive message about Gil-gu finding his sense of self-worth—a theme seasoned with a dash of familial love. Still, the film's lack of narrative strength prevents these themes from truly resonating.

What remains most noteworthy are the fresh images projected by Im Yoon-ah and Ahn Bo-hyun in their respective roles.

Im Yoon-ah tackles the unusual challenge of playing Sun-ji, who is graceful and gentle by day as a bakery employee and turns into an unruly demon by night—effectively taking on a dual role. Her skillful transformation, not just in looks but speech and mannerism, stands out. Though the character’s setup may at times lead to exaggerated acting, Im Yoon-ah’s willingness to let go of her image in favor of committed performance deserves applause.

Ahn Bo-hyun’s portrayal of Gil-gu is an impressive departure from his usual charismatic roles, as he embodies a timid and innocent young man with endearing charm—though the weak narrative doesn’t allow his character’s potential to fully shine.

'Devil Came to Me' is set for release on August 13, with a runtime of 113 minutes and a 12+ age rating.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=CJ ENM