The “Rom-Com Queen” we know is gone! Actress Shin Min-ah is shedding her signature lovely image for a bold transformation into a “Thriller Queen.” From a challenging double role to depicting the complex emotions and physical struggles of losing her sight, she is all set to bring a chill to theaters this summer.
A production report for the movie ‘Eye’ was held on the 26th at CGV Yongsan IPark Mall in Seoul. Director Yeom Ji-ho and actors Shin Min-ah, Kim Nam-hee, Lee Seung-ryong, and Kim Young-ah attended the event.
‘Eye’ is a suspense thriller where Seojin, who is gradually losing her sight due to a genetic disease, uncovers the truth while investigating the suspicious death of her twin sister. Director Yeom Ji-ho, who debuted with the film ‘The Neighbor,’ brings his signature sensory direction to capture the tension of the thriller.
Director Yeom explained, “It is a movie about obsession and gaze. I wanted to make that clear in the opening sequence. I worked hard to ensure viewers would understand the nature of the film just by watching the opening.” He added, “Since it is a movie, I also needed a medical perspective, so I consulted with ophthalmologists. To avoid making the audience too uncomfortable, I tried to express the vision loss in three stages, such as making things look blurry like nearsightedness or appearing dark.”
Shin Min-ah, who has shown her versatile acting skills in works like ‘3 Days of Vacation,’ ‘Diva,’ the drama ‘Bad Relationship,’ and ‘Our Blues,’ takes on a double role. She plays Seojin, a photographer losing her sight to hereditary optic neuropathy who investigates her twin’s death, and Seoin, the twin sister who overcame visual impairment to become a successful potter but met a mysterious end.
Shin Min-ah shared, “After reading the script, I felt this would be a thriller that evokes a wide range of emotions. While it is a double role, the fear of gradually losing sight while digging into her sister’s death felt intriguing. I was curious about how I would act that out. I can say it was a completely new experience during filming.”
Since she played two roles, she likely differentiated the characters. Shin Min-ah revealed, “Seojin and Seoin have the same face, but their personalities are different. While they both share the experience of losing their sight, Seojin has complex feelings toward Seoin. She cares for her, but also feels an inferiority complex. She realizes things as her sister disappears, all while losing her own sight. I tried to express those subtle nuances.”
Regarding her acting as someone losing their sight, she noted, “To play a role where I cannot see, I tried to focus my gaze elsewhere. I wanted to bring out the fear and frustration of not being able to see.” She added, “It was not easy, but there was a joy in trying something new and expressing it in a fresh way. I worried if it was expressed well despite my efforts. I really tried to make it look real.”
She continued, “Actually, it was very difficult. There were character-driven devices, and I had many conversations with the director about how it should be captured and expressed. There was the frustration of not being able to see because of the bandages, and it was physically demanding because there were many scenes of running away under the pressure of threat and the need to find something. Emotionally, the relationship between the twins was also tough. I thought a lot about how to make them different and how to increase the tension.”
She added, “I practiced so hard that I sometimes wondered if my eyes were actually in a different place. This even led to headaches. While acting as someone who cannot see, my sense of hearing became incredibly sensitive. I noticed while filming that the sound of moving lights or people’s footsteps sounded very sharp. I had a different experience, realizing that when one sense fades, others awaken.”
Her choice of a thriller genre, a twist from her usual lovely image, has drawn significant attention. Shin Min-ah stated, “I have wanted to do this for a long time. I want to keep participating in such roles whenever the opportunity arises.”
Kim Nam-hee, who has left a strong impression in works like ‘Reborn Rich’ and ‘Sweet Home,’ plays Detective Dohyuk, who is wary of Seojin’s obsession but becomes her ‘eyes’ to track Seoin’s death. On his first commercial film challenge, Kim Nam-hee said, “I enjoyed it because the director cast me. The role was very attractive, and the timing was right for me to do a movie.”
He added with a laugh, “I am actually not good at watching scary things. ‘Legendary Hometown’ was manageable, but I cannot watch things like ‘Saturday Mystery.’ However, it was fine during filming because everyone was looking out for me.”
Lee Seung-ryong, known for ‘Dear My Thief’ and ‘Our Beloved Summer,’ makes his screen debut playing Hyunmin, a model obsessed with Seojin with a persistent madness, adding to the thriller’s appeal. Lee Seung-ryong shared, “I focused on why he became obsessed with Seojin and how he viewed her. The director gave me a lot of freedom on set. Whenever he felt the energy was lacking, he asked me to show a more manic side.”
He continued, “Since I am a different kind of person from Hyunmin, I tried to find reasons for his actions while preparing for the role. There were moments when I felt mentally exhausted.” When MC Park Kyung-rim asked if he kept a photo of Shin Min-ah at home, Lee Seung-ryong laughed and replied, “I did not go that far.”
Shin Min-ah teased, “I was the one who was actually scared. We were in a situation where we were being threatened, and since the madness stood out from the moment I could not see, it was truly terrifying. I think viewers will be surprised by Lee Seung-ryong’s outbursts. You will be able to tell that my screaming was very real.”
Kim Young-ah, who has delivered eye-catching performances in ‘Juvenile Justice’ and ‘Business Proposal,’ joins as Detective Mikyung, the officer protecting Seojin from a stalker. Together, they create a sensory and immersive suspense thriller. Kim Young-ah explained her role, “Among detective roles, I am a protection officer. I had to be the person the victim could trust the most. I tried to be someone Seojin could rely on and feel safe with.”
Finally, they expressed why ‘Eye’ must be seen in theaters in five characters. Director Yeom said “Audio-visual experience,” Kim Young-ah said “I am curious,” Lee Seung-ryong said “It is summer,” and Kim Nam-hee said “It will be fun.”
Shin Min-ah added, “Because it is ‘Eye,'” explaining that “you need to look closely at the eyes. I think the fear of being chased by someone while unable to see will set this thriller apart. I believe the details can only be fully captured in a theater, so I would be grateful if you watched it there.”
The movie ‘Eye’ opens on June 24.
