Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy

Story: Kim Dok-ja (Ahn Hyo-seop) has always been mediocre at what he does. Thus, his contract with a company has just expired and wasn't renewed, nor was that of his colleague Sang-ah (Chae Soo-bin). At the same time, the final episode of a web novel Dok-ja has been reading since middle school has been released. The story, about the hero Yoo Joong-hyeok (Lee Min-ho), who tries to save humanity in a post-apocalyptic world, had been attracting fewer and fewer readers until Dok-ja was the only one still following it. He writes to the author, telling him he thinks the ending is terrible, as the hero had to sacrifice everything and is the only survivor. Dok-ja is on a train with Sang-ah when he receives a reply from the author, telling him to write his own ending then. The train suddenly stops, and an avatar-like figure, introducing himself as a Dokkaebi, explains the rules of an emerging apocalypse. Survival depends on completing various missions, called scenarios, and satisfying a supernatural audience from another dimension. Dok-ja, even more than anyone else, can't believe what's happening, because this is exactly how the web novel began! Before long, he actually sees Joong-hyeok, whom he desperately wants to warn because he knows the circumstances under which Joong-hyeok will die. Afterward, one of his special abilities will send him back to the beginning of the apocalypse. Should this happen, however, Dok-ja's reality would end, because the world can only continue with the story's hero in it. But Joong-hyeok doesn't believe Dok-ja...

Review: Once again, I wasn't sure what to make of the reviews of this webtoon adaptation. Most compared the adaptation to the original, pointing out flaws that are certainly undeniable, but by no means significant enough for those unfamiliar with the source material to spoil the fun. However, there are indeed major problems with the script, which lacks a clear direction, even if one accepts that the story can't be fully resolved in a single film and that some questions will inevitably remain unanswered. Furthermore, I couldn't warm to the special effects, even though "Omniscient Reader" undoubtedly has its own visual style, somewhere between a Marvel blockbuster and a comic book. But once you get used to the chaos unleashed on screen, you can have a surprising amount of fun with this sci-fi action flick. Perhaps not everyone will agree, but it's simply a matter of expectations. That said, it must be mentioned that similar stories have already been told far better.

One of the numerous parallels that naturally lends itself to being mentioned first would, for most, be "Squid Game". Simply because the series is so well-known. Strictly speaking, however, the games are more reminiscent of "Alice in Borderland", as is the supernatural/alien power that seems to be behind everything. Then there's the fact that every person can increase their attributes or unlock abilities with coins they've earned. This isn't really anything new anymore, and it was recently implemented so excitingly and interestingly in the anime "Solo Leveling" that this "mechanic" fades completely into the background in the series. There are simply no surprises here. When our hero acquires a broken sword so strongly reminiscent of Anduril that the producers have to be careful not to face a copyright strike, we already know that at the most critical moment, Dok-ja will receive the item he needs to repair the sword. Unfortunately, the path of the various materials required to gather a specific item, isn't structured in any logical manner.

"Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" once again highlights the dilemma of the different mediums in which a story can move smoothly. The events presented here simply fit better into the world of animation. Ultimately, the extensive CGI and numerous green screens prove exactly that. So, should every manga/webtoon really be adapted into a film? While the answer should be a resounding "no" when the special effects look so cheap that only Chinese streaming productions have to resort to even more ludicrous effects, there are plenty of examples where the mix of reality and over-the-top fantasy works brilliantly. Even Hollywood proved this with "Scott Pilgrim". Of course, one has to be able to embrace this style. That's precisely what I found somewhat difficult with "Omniscient Reader" at first. Still, once you get used to the meager quality of some of the effects, they even acquire their own unique comic-book style, and you can simply have a bit of fun.

As is sadly common with adaptations of webtoon series or manga, the director fails to convincingly draw all the characters three-dimensional within a two-hour movie. This means the story is overloaded with characters, yet we barely get to know any of them properly. This will likely be the biggest criticism for most viewers, especially those familiar with the original. We're only given hints that many of the characters struggle with trauma and their own shortcomings, preventing them from reaching their true potential. And in a world where this potential is synonymous with overwhelming abilities, that can be a game-changer. A good example is the group's "tank," who, while serving in the military, witnessed his comrade blow himself up with a hand grenade, powerless to do anything except escape to safety. Here you can sense that there lies a complex personality with its own particular insecurities behind this character, but it is not given the space to unfold in a meaningful way.

The list could go on endlessly. There's the sniper, played by Jisoo, a member of the girl group Blackpink, who is haunted by the fact that she had to do something terrible to survive. Nana ("Confession") plays arguably the coolest character with the best fight scenes, and Lee Min-ho ("Gangnam Blues") embodies the hero, who is actually more of an antagonist — something that could have been developed so much more. On a character level, however, lead actor Ahn Hyo-seop (from the boy band "One O One" and known from various drama series) is pretty convincing. He gives his character more depth than one would expect in this film and is thus a glimmer of light, but also a bitter reminder of how much more the movie could have been. The mystery surrounding the masterminds behind the apocalypse and a touch of social commentary linger in the background, as humanity's suffering is exploited for the benefit of an alien race's streaming services. The finale cranks things up to eleven, even if the CGI can't quite keep up. This makes my final conclusion rather difficult. I was surprisingly entertained, but at times the movie felt far too superficial, considering the interesting aspects actually hidden within the story. However, for light evening entertainment, this picture can be recommended (with reservations) to sci-fi action fans.

Buy this movie:

Follow @AsianMovieWeb