The Witch: Part 2. The Other One review
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One dials up the effects and action but takes a step back in story. Expanding the world of The Witch: Part 1: Subversion was a good idea…The Other One simply leaves too much undeveloped. Opting to go full super-hero movie over the quieter build of its predecessor.
Classic movie reviews will contain spoilers.
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One
Directed by Park Hoon-jung
Written by Park Hoon-jung
Starring Shin Si-ah, Park Eun-bin, Seo Eun-soo, Jin Goo and Sung Yoo-bin
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One Review
When I think about The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion I’m immediately drawn to its story. Not just the main story itself, but the amount of world building that accompanied the patient build of its main character Ja-yoon. When I think about The Witch: Part 2: The Other One I’m immediately reminded of its over the top action pieces. How it turns into a superpowered comic book showdown for its entire climax. While there is story here…it is a far cry from the depth the original provided.
An unnamed girl (Shin Si-ah) escapes a secret laboratory only to be abducted by gang members. She dispatches them in an instant and is taken in by a woman they had previously captured Kyung-hee (Park Eun-bin) and her brother Dae-gil (Sung Yoo-bin). The gang, armed agents sent by the head of the laboratory and an over powered kill squad are all coming for the girl.
Obviously, The Witch: Part 2: The Other One came in with the intention of upping the action from its predecessor. In that way, it is largely a success. There are some wildly entertaining fight sequences to enjoy here. It dials up the amount of conflicts as well as the size of them. By the time we reach the third act, The Other One turns into a full on comic book movie. Complete with epic super powered showdowns and larger than life effects.
While The Witch: Part 2: The Other One builds on the world of the original…it doesn’t retain what made it truly great. The story here never feels as interesting or as vital. Another girl with gifts is being hunted. This time she isn’t hiding her abilities and she isn’t laying an elaborate trap. She’s new to the outside world and is more interested in tasting food and having human interaction than thinking about retribution or even survival.
Si-ah does a terrific job in a mostly wordless performance. She conveys how lost her character feels and how every new experience is taken in with her expression. The special effects do most of the work as she unleashes her powers…but Si-ah packs an imposing look into her small frame. The character is interesting because of how calm she remains while at the center of multiple storms. When the time comes to let her power loose…it’s easy to see why she is so unimpressed by the noise that surrounds her.
There are some other entertaining aspects to The Witch: Part 2: The Other One…but, again, never as interesting as the first film’s world building. There’s fun dynamics at play between the different factions on the same mission. The street gang is so far over its head and that leads to some memorably violent scenes. The agents fair slightly better…but are still out of their depths against the super powered kill squad. Kyung-hee and Dae-gil provide some needed stakes as the innocent people caught in the middle.
The biggest thing keeping The Witch: Part 2: The Other One from attaining the heights of The Subversion is simply intent. It doesn’t try to reinvent anything. The Other One exists to add to what already is, not to capture you the same way as a sprawling narrative. A little less action and a little more story may have benefited this movie…but it was never its purpose.
Those looking for an update on Ja-yoon following the ending of The Subversion will have to wait a while, but it does eventually come. Her appearance connects The Witch: Part 2: The Other One to the overall story. That’s when you feel the real letdown of The Other One. It feels like the entire journey was taken just to advertise a third movie in the franchise. One that will feature both main characters and dive into the lore in new ways. Ways that The Other One doesn’t concern itself with.
Despite The Witch: Part 2: The Other One coming off like a filler episode of a larger story, there is enough fun here to make a good movie on its own. More of a commitment to creating a fresh experience would have elevated the action and retread ideas into something even better. It appears that’s what the third part of this series will do. When the credits roll…I was more excited for that movie than the one I just finished. I guess that means it was a success.
Scare Value
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One plays in the sandbox of the original instead of building a new one. More imaginative but less original. The movie is gorgeous, and the action is a riot…it just feels far less substantial than the sprawling narrative of the first one. It sets up a third film, of course. With one great movie and one good one behind it…bring it on.
3/5
The Witch: Part 2. The Other One Links
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The Witch: Part 2. The Other One Trailer
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