Parents' Guide to Concrete Utopia

Korea's official 2023 Academy Awards submission follows in the footsteps of its predecessors—most recently Parasite—by combining bloody, dark subject matter with social satire. Concrete Utopia moves from 0-100 pretty quickly as the characters scrabble in the aftermath of an apocalyptic earthquake, appointing leaders, forming factions, and violently enforcing the rules of the new order. Soon those who don't own property in the building are labeled "cockroaches" and forcefully removed during a process of "internal cleansing," residents turning their faces away from the fact eviction means a death sentence in the freezing conditions beyond. The landscapes themselves are awe-inspiringly rendered, and director Um Tae-hwa adds plenty of stylish touches—such as shadows dancing on the building's exterior that reflect the kind of tribalism that's taken hold amongst its residents.

Lee (Squid Game) is fittingly powerful in the role of building leader Yeong-tak, while Park Bo-young's Myung-hwa adds much-needed sympathy, and Park Seo-joon's Min-sung shows how easy it is for the seemingly good to be corrupted by survival instincts. There are moments of dark humor amid what descends into Lord of the Flies-style chaos, and Lost vibes emerge from the various mysteries and backstories that surface. While there are action and sci-fi elements amid the dystopian drama, the movie isn't about the disaster itself, but the way characters start to lose their humanity, bringing up themes around power, equality, control, greed, survival, and self-preservation. There are no black and white morals here and human nature itself is laid bare at its best, but mostly its worst.