THE STORY – Five ordinary people, who developed their superpowers after receiving organ transplants from a previously superpowered being, fight against another psychic, who also gained the power through transplant and covets their powers.
THE CAST – Lee Jae-in, Ahn Jae-hong, Ra Mi-ran, Kim Hee-won, Yoo Ah-in, Oh Jung-se & Park Jin-young
THE TEAM – Kang Hyeong-cheol (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 119 Minutes
South Korean filmmaker Kang Hyung-chul delivers a superpowered crowd-pleaser with “Hi-Five.” Screening at the Fantasia International Film Festival, it’s a high-energy, genre-twisting comedy-action hybrid, opening with a stylistic bang: a slick bird’s-eye shot of an ambulance slicing through city traffic, transitioning seamlessly through tight, clever editing into a hospital hallway where a mysterious patient is being wheeled in.
The focus tightens on a glowing, circular tattoo on the patient’s wrist. Suddenly, just as his organs are prepped for transplant, he inexplicably disintegrates into ash – a sequence not unlike Marvel’s infamous Thanos snap, but with a more mystical undertone. And from there, his organs begin to find new hosts, setting off a wildly entertaining chain of events that combine superhero spectacle with humour and a generous dose of heart.
What follows is a delightfully offbeat origin story. Five ordinary people, all recipients of the mysterious donor’s organs, begin to discover their bodies are changing. Each organ corresponds to a power and leaves a strange mark behind. A teen girl and Taekwondo athlete, Wan-seo (Lee Jae-in), who received the donor’s heart, suddenly finds herself with super strength and speed. Ji-sung (Ahn Jae-hong), a washed-up screenwriter and internet troll, receives a lung and can now blow hurricane-force gusts with his breath. The ever-smooth Ki-dong (Yoo Ah-in), with a cornea transplant, develops the ability to manipulate electronics. A gruff factory worker, Yak-seon (Kim Hee-won), with a transplanted liver, discovers he can heal others with a touch.
The fifth transplant recipient, Seon-nyeo (Ra Mi-ran), is a yogurt-cart vendor with a kidney transplant and seemingly no powers at all. She roams the streets selling drinkable yogurt, clinging to optimism even as she struggles to understand where she fits into this team of accidental superheroes. Her role as the “powerless” actually makes their unit even stronger.
They’re not the only ones who’ve been changed by the mysterious donor. A cult leader (Shin Goo), going by the grandiose title “Eternal Young-chun, New God Resurrected,” received the donor’s pancreas and gained a chilling power: the ability to absorb life energy from others with a touch. Drunk on power and convinced of his divine right, he rallies his cronies and sets out to track down and steal the powers of the other recipients. With his apocalyptic plans underway, the five reluctant heroes must put aside their differences and unite to stop him before it’s too late.
This isn’t the first time Korean cinema has put its unique spin on superhero tropes. Films like “Psychokinesis” and “Sparkman” have already hinted at Korea’s ability to inject fresh life into the genre. Although Korean cinema hasn’t dabbled in superhero films as much as it did in the ’80s and ’90s, “Hi-Five” feels like a revitalization. Ridiculously hilarious and action-packed, this is pure summer blockbuster fun, with sharp editing, genre-savvy storytelling, and just enough emotional depth to keep things grounded.
The film thrives on the chemistry of its ensemble cast. Wan-seo, our emotional anchor, is dealing with isolation after her heart transplant and a well-meaning but suffocatingly protective father (Oh Jung-se) who forbids her from any strenuous activity. Her transformation from fragile daughter to superheroic leader is one of the film’s most satisfying arcs. The group’s dynamic – a classic case of clashing personalities forced to cooperate – is infectious and consistently entertaining. Ki-dong and Ji-sung, in particular, share a combative rapport, often arguing over ethics and privacy (especially once Ji-sung realizes Ki-dong can access anyone’s online history). And although their arguments can hamper the film’s pacing, when it counts, their teamwork shines.
The action hits fast and often. From a brawl to save Ki-dong, where he is caught hacking slot machines, to an exhilarating chase sequence involving Seon-nyeo’s tiny yogurt cart being pushed through traffic at supersonic speed by Wan-seo, it’s hard not to grin. That scene, with its hilariously high-stakes chaos, could give “Mission: Impossible “‘s little yellow Fiat a run for its money. Bonus points for Ji-sung using his wind breath to shoot yogurt bottles like bullets – an image you didn’t know you needed.
As expected in a superhero ensemble, the group’s growing pains lead to friction. They must learn not just how to use their abilities, but how to trust one another. The moment they finally band together in response to a factory explosion where lives are at stake feels earned and uplifting – a classic turning point in their journey from misfits to teammates.
Even in its most fantastical moments, “Hi-Five” doesn’t lose sight of its emotional core. The scene where Wan-seo subtly helps her father in a fight, allowing him to believe he’s a superhero himself, is both funny and heartwarming. The film explores themes of loneliness, second chances, and the dangers of blind faith, especially as Eternal Young-chun’s manipulative cult tactics take center stage.
The martial arts sequences are tight, well-staged, and peppered with personality. The soundtrack, curated by Ki-dong himself with a snap of his fingers before every showdown, is a mixtape of throwback hits and high-octane bangers that keep the tone light even when stakes escalate.
“Hi-Five” isn’t here to redefine superheroes – it’s here to remind us why we loved them in the first place. It’s loud, silly, heartfelt, and at a time when Hollywood superhero fatigue is at an all-time high, this South Korean gem bursts through the noise with style and sincerity. It’s a found-family tale that’s the ultimate oddball blockbuster.
