Alienoid

A fractured narrative links two worlds, one set in the late Goryeo dynasty where occultists and power brokers pursue a legendary holy sword, the other in 2022 where authorities hunt an alien locked inside a human host. When a mysterious portal opens, fighters, guardians, and strangers from both eras collide, alliances form and rivalries flare as each side tries to control the alien technology and the sword's promise. The film moves between swordplay and high-tech action, juggling historical intrigue, speculative science fiction, and emotional confrontations without giving away its final turns.

Directed and co-created by Choi Dong-hoon with Lee Ki-cheol credited among the creators, Alienoid premiered in 2022 featuring an ensemble cast that includes Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Tae-ri, So Ji-sub, and Yum Jung-ah. The production mixes elaborate period sets with extensive visual effects and stunt sequences.

Alienoid opened theatrically in 2022, playing widely in South Korea and reaching several international markets. Its release was positioned as a high-profile Korean genre picture, marketed on its blend of historical spectacle and sci-fi spectacle.

Critical reaction leaned toward admiration for the film's scale and imagination, though some reviewers found its plotting dense and its tonal shifts uneven. Audience ratings sit in the middling-to-positive range, the title earning a roughly 6.8/10 average from viewers, who tended to praise performances and action choreography while pointing out pacing issues and an ambitious but sometimes cluttered narrative. Major themes include questions of identity, the cost of power, and the collision between past traditions and futuristic forces.

The film sparked conversation about genre mixing in Korean cinema, with several striking sequences and creature designs circulating online. Its audacious fusion of eras and visual effects encouraged fan art, discussion about practical versus digital effects, and interest in more Korean films that push mainstream genre boundaries.