Time to Hunt (2020 Film)

Time to Hunt (Korean: 사냥의 시간; RR: Sanyangui Shigan) is a 2020 South Korean dystopian thriller film written and directed by Yoon Sung-Hyun. The film is set in a near-future, impoverished version of South Korea, where a group of friends attempts a dangerous heist to escape their bleak reality, only to find themselves pursued by a relentless killer.

Plot

Joon-Seok (Lee Je-Hoon) seeks to escape his impoverished city and start a new life. He orchestrates a high-stakes robbery, enlisting the help of his three friends: Ki-Hoon (Choi Woo-Sik), Jang-Ho (Ahn Jae-Hong), and Sang-Soo (Park Jeong-Min). The plan succeeds, but the group soon becomes the target of a mysterious and lethal pursuer known as Han (Park Hae-Soo).

Production

The film marked a reunion for director Yoon Sung-Hyun with actors Lee Je-Hoon and Park Jeong-Min, who had previously collaborated on the 2011 film Bleak Night. Principal photography took place in Incheon, South Korea, beginning on January 10, 2018, and concluding on July 15, 2018. During its development, the film was known by the working title The Night of the Hunter.

Release and Distribution

Time to Hunt held its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2020. Its domestic release in South Korea was originally scheduled for February 26, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was subsequently slated for a worldwide release on Netflix on April 10, 2020. However, a legal dispute arose when the distribution company Contents Panda filed an injunction, claiming it held the international distribution rights. Following a court-ordered delay, an agreement was reached between the studio, Little Big Pictures, and Contents Panda, allowing the film to be released on Netflix on April 23, 2020.