The Lumiere Grand Theatre in Cannes, France, was filled with the cheers of 2,300 spectators. Director Yeon Sang-ho’s new zombie film ‘Swarm’ made its world premiere through the Midnight Screening at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, sparking an explosive reaction.
According to Yonhap News, the atmosphere turned into a festival as the ‘Swarm’ team stepped onto the red carpet around midnight on the 16th (local time). Notably, Director Park Chan-wook, the President of the Cannes Film Festival Competition Jury, along with General Delegate Thierry Frémaux, personally welcomed the lead stars including Director Yeon Sang-ho, Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, and Shin Hyun-bin. After the breathtaking 122-minute screening ended at 2:53 AM, the audience erupted in a non-stop standing ovation and cheers for a full five minutes.
“Forget zombies that only bite”… “Evolutionary Zombies” sharing intelligence
‘Swarm’ is Director Yeon’s third zombie project, following ‘Train to Busan’ and ‘Peninsula’. When a mass infection breaks out in a large city shopping mall, biotechnologist Kwon Se-jung (Jun Ji-hyun), security guard Hyun-seok (Ji Chang-wook), and his sister Hyun-hee (Kim Shin-rok) fight a desperate battle to secure a vaccine.
The most thrilling highlight of the film is the zombies’ “collective intelligence.” Unlike previous zombies that simply lunged like monsters, these zombies share intelligence and evolve in real-time. The eerie scene where the zombies open their mouths wide and stare at the sky as if “updating” data provides the audience with a whole new level of tension and horror.
At the center of the zombie crisis is a unique villain, biology professor Seo Young-cheol (Koo Kyo-hwan). Firmly believing that the transformation into zombies is an “evolution into collective intelligence,” he conducts the zombies like a conductor, humming as if playing a game amidst the bloody chaos. His twisted belief that “all human tragedies stem from the imperfection of communication” contrasts with the relationship between Kwon Se-jung and Seol-hee (Shin Hyun-bin), who communicate perfectly with few words, leaving a heavy message that “individualism is the essence of humanity.”
“Zombie Update” relay takes over the streets of Cannes
The intense lingering feeling of the movie extended beyond the theater. Excited fans from around the world created a unique sight by playfully imitating the zombies’ signature “update” motion in the streets of Cannes. London May, a spectator from the United States, gave high praise to Koo Kyo-hwan, stating, “The villain’s expressions and gestures were so intense that I don’t think I’ll ever forget them.”
Immediately after the screening, Director Yeon Sang-ho shared his overwhelming emotions, saying, “It is an honor to present my work again in Cannes, a place I’ve dreamed of.” After seeing the zombie performances by the audience in the streets, he couldn’t hide his excitement, adding, “That is exactly the sight I wanted to see the most.” The return of the “Yeon Sang-ho-style zombie” is once again making the hearts of movie fans worldwide race.
