CANNES, France — A decade after “The Wailing” cemented his status as one of cinema’s most unpredictable genre alchemists, South Korean director Na Hong-jin has returned with “Hope,” a blood-soaked, guns-blazing sci-fi creature feature that crashed the 2026 Cannes Film Festival like an alien invasion through a quiet coastal village.

World-premiering in competition on May 17 to a reported seven-minute standing ovation mixed with audible bewilderment, the 160-minute epic marks the first South Korean entry in the main slate since Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave” in 2022. It’s already polarizing audiences and critics, hailed by some as a delirious action masterpiece and dismissed by others as an overlong mess undone by questionable visual effects.

Set in the fictional Hope Harbor, a ramshackle South Korean hamlet perilously close to the Demilitarized Zone, the story opens with a grisly cow carcass and rumors of a man-eating tiger slipping south from the North. Local police chief Bum-seok, played with hangdog charisma and perfect comic timing by Hwang Jung-min, investigates alongside hot-headed hunter Sung-ki (Zo In-sung) and rookie officer Sung-ae (Jung Ho-yeon of “Squid Game” fame, delivering a breakout performance full of fire and frustration).

What starts as a rural procedural quickly explodes into all-out chaos when wildfires cut off communications and reinforcements, leaving the town’s elderly residents — and the handful of cops and civilians still standing — to face something far more terrifying than a big cat. Na, who also wrote the screenplay, keeps the first hour hurtling forward in one sustained, exhilarating set piece after another: cars flipping, walls crumbling, shotguns blazing through doors with darkly comic consequences.

Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo, reuniting with Na after “The Wailing,” captures the mayhem with gliding, insolent grace. Long tracking shots weave through narrow alleys and sunlit forests, turning the destruction into a balletic frenzy. Michael Abels’ throbbing score amplifies the panic, blending orchestral swells with guttural pulses that make daylight chases feel nightmarishly vivid.

The human stakes land thanks to a colorful ensemble of Korean actors who ground the escalating absurdity in recognizable small-town dynamics — bickering relatives, grizzled elders with shotguns, and bureaucratic headaches even amid apocalypse. Bawdy humor punctuates the gore: one botched monster hunt ends with mistaken identity and a perforated butcher, leading to a grimly funny sequence of an old man struggling to carry the body.

Yet “Hope” shifts gears dramatically in its middle act, introducing extraterrestrial elements and a hunting party’s forest ordeal. Here the film’s ambitions stretch — and occasionally snap. International stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell appear heavily disguised under motion-capture and CGI as alien figures, their performances largely buried. Cameron Britton also contributes to the creature work. While the casting choice invites cheeky readings about Hollywood othering, the effects themselves draw the sharpest criticism.

Reviewers have described some creature designs and VFX sequences as weightless or unfinished, evoking outdated video-game aesthetics or early-2000s blockbusters. Na reportedly rushed post-production to meet the Cannes deadline, and it shows in certain wide shots where physics feel off and integration falters. These shortcomings blunt momentum during expository stretches that pile on thin mythology and subplots.

Still, the final hour regains ferocious energy with a jaw-dropping highway chase that throws everything — vehicles, debris, sheer kinetic audacity — at the screen. Action aficionados are already calling sequences here potential Oscar contenders for stunt design, comparing the visceral thrill to “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Na’s direction never loses its sweaty, chaotic exuberance, even when narrative logic strains.

At a reported record budget for a Korean feature, “Hope” represents a massive gamble for Plus M Entertainment and distributor Neon, which snapped up North American rights. Early buzz suggests franchise potential, with Na hinting at expanded universe possibilities. The film is slated for a summer 2026 South Korean release, positioning it as a domestic blockbuster contender while testing international appetite for ambitious, unapologetically genre-driven cinema from Asia.

Cannes audiences left the Palais in a mix of exhaustion, laughter and debate. Some praised its refusal to be “respectable,” celebrating raw entertainment value in a festival often favoring restraint. Others found the tonal whiplash and technical hiccups exhausting rather than exhilarating.

Na Hong-jin, now 51, has described the project’s origins in a single vivid image that haunted him years ago. Collaborations with Alfonso Cuarón were reportedly discussed early on, and the production spanned locations in South Korea and Romania’s Retezat Mountains for sweeping forest and mountain sequences. Principal photography wrapped in 2023, but extensive VFX and editing delayed the rollout.

Performances elevate the material throughout. Hwang Jung-min anchors the film with weary authority and slapstick physicality. Zo In-sung brings intensity to the hunter role, while Jung Ho-yeon injects youthful defiance that cuts through the carnage. The Korean-language dialogue crackles with regional flavor and profanity that heightens the grounded absurdity before the sci-fi escalates.

Thematically, “Hope” keeps things light. Allegories about DMZ tensions, isolation or humanity’s resilience flicker but never dominate. Na prioritizes spectacle and character beats over heavy subtext, a choice that feels refreshing — or shallow — depending on one’s expectations for festival fare. Bawdy scatological jokes and gallows humor further distance it from typical Palme d’Or contenders.

As awards buzz builds, “Hope” seems unlikely to claim the top prize but could generate conversation around genre boundaries at Cannes. Its commercial prospects look stronger: Neon’s track record with bold titles, combined with star power and viral action clips, positions it for strong summer box office in multiple territories.

Whether “Hope” ultimately lands as a cult classic or a noble misfire may depend on how audiences embrace its messiness. For now, it has accomplished something rare — waking up a sleepy festival with unhinged, blood-drenched energy. In an era of polished franchises, Na’s willingness to swing big, flaws and all, feels like a defiant roar.

Running at two hours and 40 minutes, the film tests patience during lulls but rewards with sequences of pure cinematic adrenaline. Early Rotten Tomatoes scores reflect the divide, with praise for ambition and action craftsmanship tempered by notes on pacing and effects.

As theaters prepare for wider release, “Hope” stands as a testament to bold filmmaking. It may not be perfect, but its wild heart beats loud enough to demand attention — and perhaps sequels. In Hope Harbor and beyond, the monster has arrived, and cinema feels a little more alive for it.

As President Donald Trump weighs a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, communication between Taipei and Washington remains ongoing, according to Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s Representative to the U.S.

“This is a constant thing,” Yui said. “It’s an ongoing dialogue. It’s not just if it doesn’t happen, it ends. It’s just a continuum of things.”

Taiwan is also increasing its own defense spending. Lawmakers recently approved a supplemental defense package worth roughly $25 billion, though Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te had pushed for closer to $40 billion.

TRUMP’S TAIWAN ‘NEGOTIATING CHIP’ REMARK SPARKS ALARM OVER HOW FAR HE’D SHIFT US-CHINA POLICY

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., right, greets Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s representative to the U.S., before a meeting in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“My government is doing what it can,” Yui said. “But again, I want to stress the determination of the Taiwanese people to defend ourselves through our own means and help from any other ally is more than welcome.”

Yui argued semiconductor production is one of the clearest reasons the U.S. should continue supporting Taiwan militarily. Taiwan produces roughly 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductor chips, forming what he described as a deeply interconnected global supply chain.

The Taipei 101 building and other buildings are illuminated at dusk in Taipei, Taiwan. (I-Hwa Cheng/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

CHINA PROMISES ‘COUNTERMEASURES’ TO US ARMS SALE TO TAIWAN

“The United States is very good at designing the chips, and we’re very good at scaling and fabricating the chips using machines from the United States, from the Netherlands, from Japan,” Yui said. “This triangle of partnership works very well.”

TAIWAN RAMPS UP COAST GUARD AND MILITARY READINESS IN FACE OF BEIJING’S ‘GRAY ZONE’ WARFARE

Taiwan has also pledged to invest $250 billion in semiconductor and technology manufacturing in the U.S. as Trump pushes to expand domestic chip production.

“It’s not that easy. But we’re trying to bring manufacturing to the United States again, because it also suits our interest to expand our manufacturing,” said Yui.

Taiwan has also pledged to invest $250 billion in semiconductor and technology manufacturing in the U.S. (Lyu Bin/VCG via Getty Images)

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Yui also pushed back on any suggestion that Taiwan is moving toward independence, saying the island’s government is working on maintaining the status quo.

“There is no Taiwan independence movement in Taiwan because there is no need. We in Taiwan [are] called Republic of China, we’re already a sovereign, independent nation,” Yui said. “We’re just trying to preserve the status quo as it is.”

Americans looking to retire this year may be considering relocating to a new city that allows their retirement savings to go further, and a new analysis by GOBankingRates spotlights five cities to consider.

The amount an individual or couple needs to have saved to retire can vary significantly across different parts of the country. 

A recent GOBankingRates report noted that the amount needed to retire in Oklahoma is $735,284, whereas the figure for Arizona would be $1,110,019 and illustrates how those amounts may differ depending on the location.

GOBankingRates identified five communities that people retiring in 2026 should consider given the cost of living, housing prices, quality of life and other amenities for seniors.

ONE TYPE OF PROPERTY IS QUIETLY SAVING AMERICANS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

Midland, Michigan

Main Street in Midland, Michigan. (Getty Images)

The low cost of living is a key reason Midland topped the rankings, as the community has a median home price of around $206,000 – well below the national average of about $360,000 which gives retirees the opportunity to save on housing costs.

Located inland from Saginaw Bay, Midland has nearly 43,000 residents and has been noted for its walkability and access to nature, with the area also experiencing diverse seasons in Michigan’s climate to allow locals to take part in winter activities. Midland topped U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the best communities for retirees.

Homosassa Springs, Florida

A view of Homosassa beach in Homosassa, Florida. (Getty Images)

Florida is a popular destination for retirees and the small community of Homosassa Springs ranked highly for its affordability as well as its location on the state’s western coast north of Tampa.

Homosassa Springs also has low housing costs, with a median price of about $220,000, while also offering easy access to the coast along with the warmer climate and no state income taxes.

HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED TO RETIRE? A STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN

The Woodlands, Texas

A waterway winding through the business district of The Woodlands, Texas. (Getty Images)

Located north of Houston, The Woodlands is near the city’s world-class healthcare facilities, a range of housing options and also low tax burdens with Texas not having a state income tax.

The cost of living is relatively higher than the smaller communities at the top of the list, with the suburb’s median home value coming in at $474,000, above the national average.

Rio Rancho, New Mexico

A view of Sandia Mountain with the expanding sprawl of Albuquerque’s suburb of Rio Rancho in the foreground. (Getty Images)

New Mexico is known for its dry, sunny weather, which makes it an appealing destination for retirees – particularly those who enjoy outdoor recreation. 

Rio Rancho is a suburb of Albuquerque and is near healthcare facilities and is relatively affordable in terms of housing, with a median home value of $310,000.

RETIREMENT ‘MAGIC NUMBER’ JUMPS AS AMERICANS GROW ANXIOUS ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina, made the list of top retirement destinations in 2026. (iStock)

Located in the mountainous western portion of North Carolina, Asheville has around 95,000 residents and offers residents access to amenities found in smaller metro areas along with access to outdoor activities and healthcare.

The median home price in Asheville is listed at $442,000 according to Redfin, so housing is relatively affordable even though it may be less so than other locations on the list.

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The 10-year Treasury yield, the benchmark for global borrowing costs, climbed to its highest level since February 2025 earlier in the session as continued worries about the disruption of oil supplies stoked concerns that high inflation would keep borrowing costs elevated. U.S. crude settled up ‌more than 3% after ⁠a ⁠volatile session. Oil pared gains after settlement when U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that he was holding off on a planned military attack on Iran scheduled for Tuesday, ​while efforts continued to reach a deal. But he added the United States was ready to resume attacks in the absence of a deal.

“It seems ​like the one issue that’s been moving markets on a day-to-day basis is oil prices. The main variable is the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz that pushes oil higher and increases the risk in the longer run of inflation expectations becoming unanchored. That lifts Treasury ​yields,” said Burns McKinney, portfolio manager at NFJ Investment Group in Dallas, adding that higher ⁠yields are “particularly bad ‌for long-duration stocks, like the tech sector and a lot of the high-flying chip stocks.”

RALLY PAUSE

The Nasdaq posted ​its second straight ​decline as investors took a break from a rally that started in late March. The S&P closed Thursday’s ⁠session up more than 18% from its March 30 finish, which was its lowest ​close since the Iran war began in late February. In the same timeframe, the Nasdaq gained ​28% as enthusiasm about artificial intelligence and solid technology earnings helped investors look past inflationary threats.

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“There’s concern about the rally we’ve had in a short period of time, and there’s some profit taking,” said Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder in New York.
According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 4.90 points, or 0.07%, to end at 7,403.60 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 135.79 points, or 0.52%, to 26,089.35. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 159.52 points, or 0.33%, to 49,688.25.The heavyweight information technology sector led declines among the S&P ‌500’s 11 major industry sectors with chip stocks among the biggest drags. Energy was the biggest sector gainer during the session.

Traders are pricing in a 37.8% chance that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by ​25 basis points ​by year-end, according to CME’s FedWatch tool, ⁠after last week’s hotter-than-expected inflation readings.

NVIDIA RESULTS IN FOCUS

The world’s most valuable company, Nvidia, is scheduled to report results on Wednesday.

Expectations are high for the company, whose shares have risen sharply from a March low, while the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index has surged this year on ​strong demand for AI-related chips.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is also expected to report earnings this week, which could offer a clearer picture of how U.S. consumers are coping with high energy prices and broader inflation.

Dominion Energy shares jumped after power firm NextEra Energy said it would buy the utility in an all-stock deal valued at about $66.8 billion. NextEra’s shares fell. Shares of Regeneron tumbled as the drugmaker’s experimental treatment missed the main goal in a late-stage trial in patients with advanced melanoma, a type of skin cancer.