Hope 2026 Review: The First Half Hooks You, the Second Half Changes Everything

Once again, Na Hong-jin delivers a thrilling, fascinating, and insanely crazy sci-fi film, staying true to what he does best, as evident in his horror masterpiece, The Wailing (2016). 

Here is our version of Hope 2026 review, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and whether Na Hong-jin’s wild sci-fi experiment lives up to its enormous ambitions. 

Plot details of Hope (2026)

Hope is about a local police officer and his deputy who go on a hunt for mysterious creatures in the isolated coastal town of Hope Harbour. They are accompanied by a local hunter, who, with his team, searches the land and its jungle for more signs of the alienly creatures. 

However, they unfold a raging battle between the townspeople and the creatures who have invaded the place and are not ready to leave. 

Catch the adrenaline-fueled trailer here: 

Actors’ performances in Hope (2026)

Three performances stood out for me in the film. Hwang Jung-min as Ko Bum-seok, the local police chief who was constantly on the run to deal with the monsters. He was annoyed at times but kept everything together to take the monsters down for the safety of the townspeople. He was tired, sweaty, and injured but was stubborn about fulfilling his duty and keeping people safe at any cost.

Hoyeon’s Sung Ae might seem delicate but was a hard-core fighter. She was fierce, brave, and sharp-witted, and helped Bum-seok during the extraterrestrial crisis. It is reported that she performed her own physical stunts, which were stunningly executed. Handling weapons with vibrant energy, as if she were a pro, is something that only Joyeon could have pulled off gracefully. 

Zo In-sung, as Sung-ki, a local hunter and fisherman, delivers a fearless and high-energy performance who is not afraid to look into the monsters’ eyes and tell the monster that he is the biggest threat himself. Carrying the high-difficulty horseback scene with grace and brevity is equally commendable, as he had to complete intense physical sequences despite previous surgery and doctors’ warnings against heavy running. 

The film also gained traction due to the inclusion of Hollywood stars in the project. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, the real-life couple, play the alien characters through motion capture technology. Their attachment to the film brought a whole new energy, as I was mesmerized to see their faces and expressions that were recreated to match the aliens.  

What do critics add to Hope 2026 review?

The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes gives positive reviews for the film, as it says, 

“An unhinged sci-fi epic that boasts awe-inspiring production design and amusingly quaint visual effects, Na Hong-jin’s Hope gets the adrenaline pumping whenever it focuses on the unraveling of its hapless human heroes.” [Source]

Fans’ reaction

Fans are head over heels for the film, as they found Hope “entertaining” and “funny” at the same time. One of them clarified that this is the kind of film that asks for patience during its early minutes, or you will be walking out of the theater too soon. It is full of energy and electrifying action you won’t want to miss on the big screen. 

Is it worth watching?

Definitely, it is worth watching, and knowing it comes from The Chaser director, Na Hong-jin, it would be a sin to miss it. Despite some flaws in CGI, for which Hong-jin has his own reasons, the film is full of wild action and makes us feel as if the monsters are about to finish everything in a jiffy, even before we can blink. And that’s exactly why we don’t want to blink at all!

The first 50 minutes of the film are devoted almost entirely to building and sustaining suspense. The remarkable thing is that the tension never becomes boring. The monsters are barely shown, yet their terrifying presence hangs over every scene. The film constantly makes us feel that something horrifying is lurking beyond those town walls—and perhaps it would be wiser never to find out what it is.

But curiosity has always been humanity’s greatest weakness. We know that seeing what’s behind those walls could be the end of us, yet we desperately want to look anyway. The suspense becomes an irresistible temptation, filling us with an almost uncontrollable urge to finally see the monsters, whatever the cost. And when that moment finally comes, it feels like the film has made us earn the right to be terrified.

Now, the monsters are absolutely ruthless. They seem virtually impossible for humans to kill—although one does meet its end after being crushed under a truck. Guns and ammunition barely leave a scratch on them. They are unbelievably fast, terrifyingly persistent, and clearly not going anywhere anytime soon.

That said, the CGI can look underwhelming at times, and there is one particular moment that genuinely puzzled me. How can a creature that moves incredibly fast, even sprinting on all fours when necessary, fail to catch a man riding a horse? Is the horse somehow faster than the monster? The scene feels rather absurd, especially considering just how powerful and agile these creatures are supposed to be.

Still, there is probably a deliberate reason behind the way the director has designed these monsters and their abilities. Perhaps their apparent limitations are part of a larger idea that the film wants us to discover. Before the film was released, Hong-jin clarified that he took inspiration from 1950s, 60s, and 70s movies like Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), Die Hard (1988), and The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). The creature was meant to capture the retro essence of the older genre films, as the goal was never to make them technologically perfect.  

The director’s bigger aim was to present them as external threats for the purpose of exploring human fear, misunderstanding, prejudice, and the inability to comprehend the unfamiliar. The film, therefore, offers us a massive opportunity to look beyond the appearance and understand the deeper emotions. 

What we liked

• Ruthless monsters
• High-intensity action
• Strong sense of threat
• Intriguing creature design

What could be better

• Uneven CGI
• Questionable chase sequence
• Creature logic 

Here is a detailed breakdown of our rating for Hope (2026):

Story/plot	9/10
Characters and acting	9/10
Direction and pacing	9/10
Visuals and cinematography	7/10
Soundtrack/score	7/10
Themes and message	7/10
Emotional impact	7/10
Creativity and originality	7/10
Rewatchability	9/10

Our rating: 8.5/10

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Is Hope (2026) available to stream?

Neon distributes Hope (2026) (R-rated) in theaters from September 9, 2026, onwards, and it is currently not available to stream. 

Genre: Period drama, suspense, mystery, horror, action, sci-fi thriller

IMDb rating: 6.9

Rotten Tomatoes: 79 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 79 percent on Popcornmeter (audience’s score)

Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Hoyeon, Jung Ho-Yeon, Taylor Russell, Camerton Britton, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander

Director: Na Hong-jin

Writer: Na Hong-jin

Producers: Na Hong-jin, Saemi Kim, Searon Kim

Release date: September 9, 2026

Movie runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes