Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' named one of BBC's 10 must-see films of September

Director Na Hong-jin's film "Hope" has been named one of BBC's 10 must-see films opening in September.

According to BBC.com, the broadcaster selected "Hope" alongside "Heart of the Beast," an action film starring Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, as one of 10 notable new releases hitting British cinemas this month.

BBC described "Hope" as "the monster movie you must see this year," calling it a work that "encompasses a rugged western, a chilling horror, a wildly inventive action comedy and a space-set sci-fi epic all at once."

The broadcaster added that the film, written and directed by Na, follows a tough sheriff played by Hwang Jung-min who protects a small coastal village in Korea. "Within minutes of the film's opening, he is in pursuit of a colossal, all-destroying monster, and the chaos does not let up for the next two and a half hours," it said.

BBC also relayed a review by prominent British film critic John Bleasdale, published in Sight and Sound, the British Film Institute's critical journal. Bleasdale called it "an unrestrained, blazing action film packed with breathtaking car chases, horse chases, foot chases and monster chases," adding, "We can only hope that this audacious film — boasting brilliant direction and stunning cinematography — gets the sequel it so richly deserves."

The film is scheduled to open in the United States on Wednesday, in Australia on Thursday and in the United Kingdom on Sept. 25.

According to distributor Plus M Entertainment, "Hope" will open first in Vietnam on Friday. Earlier, on Tuesday and Wednesday, director Na and cast members including Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon traveled to Vietnam for press conferences and promotional interviews.

The director and cast are set to meet local audiences in major US cities — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin and San Francisco — from Monday through Sept. 15.