I have been waiting for this movie for sometime now,and my expectations were high.They were almost satisfied.This is another one of the movies that everything happens in a small room/location and the film rarely leaves out of that.Still the suspense is enough to keep you going.Yeong-hwa Yoon, played beautifully by Jung-woo Ha, is a radio producer demoted(in lack of a better word) from national news anchorman.During his early show in radio he receives a call from a man , that claims he will bomb a nearby bridge.When the bridge explodes and everyone understands there was no prank call the wheels get in motion and what follows is a nice thriller.Whereas the above plot is good,I would call for some changes during the middle of the film where you might get slightly bored.But the end will definitely make up for it.I promise you that! The acting is very good and made me feel it was all happening in reality.You will see few CG generated animations but this movie needs no more.An excellent film overall,and I rated this so high due to the ending which I loved.If you like this genre then definitely watch this.Even if you don't, watch it,and you might get surprised.

The movie has some serious potential, it is shot in one room (radio station) and I like those kinds of movies (Buried, Man from earth, Phone booth, even Pontypool ) because they are focused on the story rather than showing giant CGI robots fighting each other while the audience doesn't care about any of them, this one is prime example of how it is done.This one starts with a bang, it quickly sucks you in and it doesn't get boring even for a minute. Through interesting story it critiques media and government showing what happens behind the curtains in one media house, and displays other side of the story that public is usually deprived of. There are only a few characters but they seem awfully real, throughout the movie you learn more about the anti-hero protagonist, who is really the highlight of the movie and of course he should be, might I add that Jung-woo Ha rose to the occasion. Though there are couple of cameras (in-movie cameras) in the room they are rarely used especially when the things get dramatic, thus creating more drama with the shaky cameras, good thing they didn't go for the trendy "found footage" nuisance. Sound editing, which is naturally important in movie based in radio station is good, music isn't over used, isn't cheesy and is it's great, gave me goose bumps. Unfortunately after one moment it becomes comically ridiculous, I really wish I could have just shut my brain and enjoy the rest. Movie goes overboard and all I could think is that it would never happen in real life, it is like the script writer just didn't have time to work out the realistic aspect. I get that it is difficult to put a good idea in real life situation but that is what separates great movies from average ones. It starts good, ends good, but messes up somewhere in the middle.

The Terror Live is a very tight thriller in the best Korean tradition. It follows a former successful TV news anchor Yoon who has been demoted to a radio host. One day an upset caller threatens to blow up a bridge only to be dismissed, needless to say it was no mere idle threat and in a matter of seconds after the call is over a bridge does did explode.Thus begins a tense back and forth between Yoon and the terrorist while the nation watches in growing horror.There are many good things going for this movie. The real time format never gives the viewer a break and the tension builds up to such a pitch as to be almost palpable. This comes across through the main's superb acting, the actor's voice and demeanor carry his distress as he scrambles for self-mastery in facing the cameras installed in his radio studio. What at first seemed like the chance of a lifetime as Yoon puts it, the perfect opportunity for going back to his television stardom, degenerates into a veritable nightmare on all fronts. Yoon pays greatly for his choice of exploiting the terrorist attack for his career.It is interesting how The Terror Live focuses exclusively on domestic terror. The highly contentious neighbor country of North Korea is not even mentioned, the movie is firmly steeped in a South Korean reality through and through. The very premise of the media having such a swaying control fits well with South Korean society.Strangely enough social media plays no part in this movie but it does feel very modern. The shooting style, with well thought out closeups to heighten intensity and almost exclusively centered on the studio, creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia.This is a very Korean movie so one should expect a great blurring of the line between terrorism and highly corrupt authorities, there are no heroes here to speak of but the human element comes across through the haze of panic.A few minor plot points keep this from reaching perfection but it is a remarkably well crafted movie and well worth watching. And it could happen in real life. Almost.

AS all movie reviews should begin, I would like to describe what the technical details of this movie. This film is clipped in such a way that the pace is suffocating, crisp with constant camera angle tilts. The seldom use of 'on air' footage brings the immersion it needs to carry the audience away such that it brings about a spectacular effect. Special effects are reminiscence of the recent Korean special effects, which meant top quality Hollywood style full of explosions. In a way, this movie is the paradigm of Korea movies that involves minimal background...And then . . . Well, after you watch this movie, you will know that what I just said is complete nonsense . . .Terror Live is so much more than that. In a way, this movie is a cult film, though I always thought that cult movies' shooting style involves massive amount of makeup, black humor, but never thought of a backroom that ended up dealing with terrorist activities. No, this is a cult, but not a typical one. So the movie, to its genre, is a movie that is impeccable. It reveals how mass media works , talks openly about social problems, caring not to cover the most corrupted part of human nature. I can't help but think if Hollywood was to shoot a movie like this, it would be about the anchor soloing the terrorist, which would be hilarious of course (and ridiculous).But thank God Hollywood did not shoot this film, but rather, Korea. Spoiler ALERT: Let's talk about the plot. Starts off really simple, with a 'terrorist' calling a depressed anchor. This anchor is laidened with scandal and had recently divorced, but he had ambition still. When the terrorist detonated the bridge, he immediately took action, turning his tiny room into a live news room and went live with it. The terrorist breaks out a tale of poor workmen who died years earlier, and demanded the president of Korea to appear on stage to apologise. Anchor tried to negotiate, but found that his earpiece was also live...in the sense that a bomb is installed inside, of which he was force to stay and broadcast (as he wanted to back out). Negotiation continued, but both the president and the terrorist refuse to give up what each other wanted, and the anchor was stuck. And as we all know that the longer stalemates continues, the worse it gets, the terrorist detonated places one by one, ending up with his possible lair, ending up with...it is a tragedy, one that ends with a ka-boom that felt more like a punch to the heart than a joyous bang. Indeed, short story short, the movie ambitiously takes up a front against the problem with the modern society, about who is in charge. Is it the people? The government? Or is it the media? an anchor obsessed with taking bribes is demoted to take advantage of this opportunity to make a turnaround ; one because they were kicked and retaliation directed radio report leaked to the opponent ; leading a snc television ratings can be sacrificed for hostages and his own subordinates anchor ; Director of a headstrong police did not result in the eye of the terrorists were killed ; there is a frame of terrorism offenses and a director of the Office of Cheong Wa Dae refused to apologize, only to hear the sound of the last president, staged a safeguard their own interests in their respective positions on the play . No good nor bad is exactly labeled, but in the end, all who watched the movie will grimace at how humanity was presented. There is the government, but it only showed its arrogant and darkness. There are good folks, but ultimately they are, all of them, flawed. Indifferent president, ambitious anchor, greedy boss, arrogant police chief, the flaccid director against terrorism, and the terrorist. Finally I have to commend Jung-woo Ha. His performance one of the most amazing I have seen in recent Korean film industry. In the first 10 minutes you will witness some of the most subtle yet stunning image change from a rather sloppy radio personality to a believable anchor man. Then, next hour you will spend gnawing your finger as the you witness his face turning from anticipation to fear to anger to regret, yet manage to keep his show alive. Then...you have the end. Well, that was surely a boss way to end the movie. Bravo, well done.It is highly recommended for those thrill seekers who are sick of pure action. It is highly recommended for those who are sick of the government (no it is not promoting anarchy, but rather the helplessness of the general public, but it does make the gov look horrible). It is highly recommended for those who want to see some highly intelligent conversations. It is highly recommended for those who loves ending with a blast. It is a 'terrible'movie beautifully done for it encompass a nation within a simple TV room, and the movie itself is one of the best in recent Korea.