Serial murder pic "The Chaser" is
kicking up a storm at the South Korean box office, rising 23% in its
second weekend to take the No.1 slot with $4.7 million. The
modestly budgeted debut film by Na Hong-jin has won broad support from
local critics, and local auds have started to follow suit. Pic has now
grossed $11.8 million in ten days and has widened its release to 505
screens, almost a quarter of the nation's total.
The unexpected
success of the film, which features no big-name stars, has helped to
re-inject some life into the Korean film industry after a moribund 2007. Another
unexpected hit from January, handball drama "Forever the Moment",
recently passed the $27 million mark. The two films have helped Korean
cinema to maintain a 60% market share in the year to date.
The Chaser
