Only 40,000 viewers at the theater… Ma Dong-seok's produced 'Baeksu Apartment'
The movie 'Baeksu Apartment', which had only 40,000 theatergoers, has achieved a reverse climb, reaching 5th place in the domestic movie rankings after its release on Netflix.
'Baeksu Apartment' Lands in Netflix Top 5 After Theatrical Failure
The film 'Baeksu Apartment,' which failed to reach its break-even point of 150,000 viewers with only 43,369 admissions in theaters last February, is gaining renewed attention on OTT platforms a year later. Released on Netflix on the 5th, the work has begun a late surge, climbing to 5th place in the domestic film rankings.
The film is a mystery comedy thriller about Geoul (played by Kyung Soo-jin), an unemployed woman full of a sense of justice, who moves into Baeksu Apartment and begins tracking the mysterious inter-floor noise that occurs every day at 4 AM. From her first day of moving in, Geoul suffers from sleep deprivation due to the unidentified noise. As she meets neighbors such as Gyeongseok (Ko Kyu-phil), Ji-won (Kim Joo-ryoung), and Saet-byeol (Choi Yu-jeong), she digs into the source of the noise that has persisted every single day for six months.
Based on an award-winning script from the 2020 Korean Film Council scenario competition, the film weaves together twists, comedy, and human drama over 97 minutes. While it starts as a simple search for the culprit of the inter-floor noise, the story unfolds as the hidden stories and relationships of the residents are revealed. As of the 12th, it holds a Naver rating of 8.3. Audiences have highly praised the actors' performances, the direction of rookie director Lee Ru-da, and the subject matter of inter-floor noise.
Ma Dong-seok's Involvement in Production and Big Punch Pictures' Moves
At the center of this late surge is actor Ma Dong-seok's involvement in production. Instead of appearing in the film himself, Ma Dong-seok supported the overall project as a producer. He established the production company Big Punch Pictures in 2018. Since then, he has been involved in the planning and production of various works, including the 'The Roundup' series, 'Badland Hunters,' and 'Money.'
Regarding the production background, Ma Dong-seok stated, "There must be a good drama that the audience can immerse themselves in for the action, comedy, and actors' performances to truly shine." He further commented on the setting and meaning of the subject, saying, "While inter-floor noise is a familiar topic, I thought it was a story that could provide both fun and meaning." He added that he made the film with the hope that the audience would leave the theater feeling happy.
Kyung Soo-jin's First Commercial Film Lead and the Ensemble of Actors
Actor Kyung Soo-jin took on her first leading role in a commercial film with this work. Playing Geoul, who cannot stand injustice and actively intervenes in surrounding affairs, Kyung revealed that her real personality also struggles to tolerate injustice. She playfully expressed Geoul's strong sense of justice and warm familial love. Ma Dong-seok expressed his gratitude for her leading the project stably, stating, "I suggested the lead role because I believe she is an actress who both acts well and has an excellent character."
The supporting cast also makes a strong impression. Ko Kyu-phil, who played Chorong in 'The Roundup: No Way Out,' took on the role of Gyeongseok, an apartment resident, providing the comedy. Ma Dong-seok showed his trust in Ko, describing him as an actor capable of handling diverse roles. Kim Joo-ryoung, Choi Yu-jeong, Park Jung-hak, and Bae Jae-young played the roles of the women's association president, a YouTuber, a shaman, and a civil service exam student/religious follower, respectively.
The combination of Du-on (Lee Ji-hoon), a lawyer, and Se-on (Cha Woo-jin), a police officer, who appear as Geoul's siblings, also adds vitality to the drama. The scenes where the three siblings bicker yet protect each other at decisive moments complete the emotional tone of the film. Among the residents, Kim Joo-ryoung played the women's association president, Choi Yu-jeong played the YouTuber, Park Jung-hak played the shaman, and Bae Jae-young played the civil service exam student and religious follower.
