The “disaster movie” is not quite as visible as it used to be in Hollywood, but thankfully for fans, South Korea has more than picked up the slack. In just the last two decades, Koreans have had to deal with a variety of catastrophes on screen, including a tsunami, a collapsed tunnel, an unstable power plant, and multiple zombie outbreaks. The latest offering in this genre, however, stands out from all the rest. Not because the disaster in question is unique; a bridge pile-up is only the beginning in Kim Tae-gon‘s Project Silence.
This movie doesn’t waste any time getting to its main attraction; after their cursory and brief introductions, the core characters all make their way to the ill-fated bridge where multiple dangers loom. When this looks to be another case of rag-tag strangers coming together for their collective survival — and it very much is one — the initial ordeal is topped off with a second helping of calamity. Straight out of left field, the story introduces a pack of killer dogs. These top secret and military trained mutts escape their masters, ignore commands, and then go berserk on the bridge survivors. The ensuing dog-on-human mayhem is less intense than you might have anticipated or desired, yet these encounters grow in number as the pared-down cast searches for help and explores the creatures’ origin.
Project Silence refreshingly comes in under 100 minutes, and its tights-as-braids pacing leaves virtually no time for collecting your breath or developing the characters. Apart from the hero, a single dad and sometimes unethical aide for a presidential candidate (Lee Sun-kyun, Parasite), everyone coasts on their meager characterizations rather than grows. Lee’s character can be especially difficult to get behind, due in large part to his compromised ethics, but his flaws also make him a tad more interesting than the usual key players in these kinds of movies. As for his character’s teenage daughter (Kim Su-an, Train to Busan), she eventually escapes her dual role as damsel-in-distress and her father’s moral compass. Directly supporting the central family dynamic is a wacky tow truck driver (Ju Ji-hoon) whose comic relief and pluckiness break up this situation’s direness.
Considering all the scenes of extensive dog action, Project Silence relies on digital effects. The stunts require much more than a real dog could or should pull off. The bleak and foggy environment helps to obscure the uncanny valley effect, although you are never at all convinced these are anything other than CGI dogs. Nonetheless, this is not a cheap movie, and the money is evident on screen. Even the four-legged antagonists — whose backstory will tug at animal lovers’ hearts, regardless of their artifice — are occasionally impressive. The disaster set-pieces, on the other hand, are consistently fun, if not fleeting; their immersive designs and thrilling executions get the blood pumping.
The late Lee Sun-kyun turned in a solid final performance, boosting the profile of an expensive “B” movie. The energetic, unflinching execution also compensates for any less innovative and more predictable parts. Without its random creature-feature aspect, though, Project Silence would likely go undetected or be soon forgotten. Fortunately, the dog element gives this movie a better chance of survival.
Project Silence is now playing in select U.S. theaters.
Image: Poster for Project Silence courtesy of Capelight Pictures.
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