'Antarctic Journal' is a chilling trek through the darker aspects of the human psyche. The film shows how reason and perception break down in extremely adverse conditions, and there can be few conditions more adverse than a polar expedition to reach Antarctica's centre. It certainly made me think that if I was going to do something like that, I'd want to know my fellow team-members really, really well. But even then, how well do we know anybody until certain circumstances bring out their true character? Headliner Song Kang-Ho provides a truly memorable performance, showing again why he is without doubt my favourite Korean actor - the kind of person who can save even the lamest of films like 'YMCA Baseball Team', and help the viewer overlook flawed films, like 'Joint Security Area'.
'Antarctic Journal' is the latter, for although it delivers well in scares and dread, not to mention breathtaking scenery and good acting, it stands before the two paths of psychological thriller and horror, not knowing which one to take. Thus you are presented with situations that either really happen or are products of mental stress and/or decay. I chose the second option most of the time, and the way characters transform as the oppressive and increasingly bleak nature of their plight overwhelms them grips you more than any paranormal device the film tries to suggest.
Nonetheless, you can't set things up for no adequately explored reason, and that forces the plot to wade through murky waters at times. The ending could have been clearer too, but since the writers didn't quite know what story they were telling, it's probably inevitable. Nonetheless, the disparate parts do not seriously ruin the whole, and there's plenty to enjoy. Think of it as a really good 2nd draft that just needed some more work, but still shows lots of promise.
'Antarctic Journal' is the latter, for although it delivers well in scares and dread, not to mention breathtaking scenery and good acting, it stands before the two paths of psychological thriller and horror, not knowing which one to take. Thus you are presented with situations that either really happen or are products of mental stress and/or decay. I chose the second option most of the time, and the way characters transform as the oppressive and increasingly bleak nature of their plight overwhelms them grips you more than any paranormal device the film tries to suggest.
Nonetheless, you can't set things up for no adequately explored reason, and that forces the plot to wade through murky waters at times. The ending could have been clearer too, but since the writers didn't quite know what story they were telling, it's probably inevitable. Nonetheless, the disparate parts do not seriously ruin the whole, and there's plenty to enjoy. Think of it as a really good 2nd draft that just needed some more work, but still shows lots of promise.