A Werewolf Boy (2012 Film)

A Werewolf Boy (Korean: 늑대소년; RR: Neukdae Sonyeon) is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romance film written and directed by Jo Sung-Hee. The film stars Song Joong-Ki as a feral boy and Park Bo-Young as a young woman who discovers him.

A Werewolf Boy promotional poster — Promotional poster for A Werewolf Boy.

Plot

The story follows a mother who moves with her two daughters, Soon-Yi (Park Bo-Young) and Soon-Ja (Kim Hyang-Gi), to a rural home for the sake of Soon-Yi's health. The property is provided by Ji-Tae (Yoo Yeon-Seok), the son of a business associate of the family's late father. While settling in, the family discovers a wild, feral boy (Song Joong-Ki) living in a locked room in the barn. They take him in, initially believing him to be an orphan with limited social skills. As the boy begins to form a bond with Soon-Yi, the family faces complications involving Ji-Tae's ulterior motives.

Song Joong-Ki as Chul-Soo — Song Joong-Ki portrays the titular character, Chul-Soo.

Production and Release

Principal photography for the film began on December 21, 2011, in Jeonju, South Korea. The film was released in South Korea on October 31, 2012, and was distributed by CJ Entertainment. A novelization of the film, authored by Kim Mi-Ri and published by Esoope Publishing, was released concurrently with the film's theatrical debut.

A director's cut, extending the runtime from 125 minutes to 127 minutes and featuring an additional final scene, was released in South Korean cinemas on December 6, 2012.

Park Bo-Young as Soon-Yi — Park Bo-Young stars as Soon-Yi.

Reception

A Werewolf Boy achieved significant commercial success in South Korea. During its opening weekend (November 2–4, 2012), it topped the domestic box office, selling over 1,030,000 tickets. By November 15, 2012, the film surpassed 4.1 million ticket sales, becoming the highest-grossing romance film in South Korean history at that time.

Yoo Yeon-Seok as Ji-Tae — Yoo Yeon-Seok plays the antagonist, Ji-Tae.

Jang Young-Nam as the mother — Jang Young-Nam plays the mother of the family.

Kim Hyang-Gi as Soon-Ja — Kim Hyang-Gi plays the younger sister, Soon-Ja.

Scene from the film — A scene from the film featuring the main characters.

Cast and director at the Busan International Film Festival — Cast and director at the 2012 Busan International Film Festival.