Cho Yeo-jeong and Jung Sung-il Star in Thrilling New Film 'Murderer Report'

Actress Cho Yeo-jeong and actor Jung Sung-il are set to captivate audiences with their intense thriller, 'Murderer Report'. The film features a unique setting where a one-on-one interview unfolds between a serial killer and a journalist in a confined space. Jo Yeo-jeong revealed that the tension during filming was so intense that it left her with a headache.

On the 12th, a production briefing for 'Murderer Report' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, attended by director Jo Young-jun and the lead actors Cho Yeo-jeong and Jung Sung-il.

'Murderer Report' is a thriller that follows veteran journalist Sun-joo (played by Cho Yeo-jeong) as she receives a request for an interview from psychiatrist Young-hoon (played by Jung Sung-il), who confesses to a series of murders.

Director Jo explained, "I didn't start with the idea of creating a serial killer and journalist character. One day, I saw a child looking at a tiger at the zoo. It was a peaceful scene, but I imagined how the atmosphere would change if the bars moved behind the child. I wanted to create a story with tension just by having two people in one space."

He described the film's allure as "a captivating nightmare," noting that while viewers may feel anxious and tense, they will want to savor the atmosphere, which will stimulate dopamine.

Regarding casting, Jo stated, "I didn't want to give a flat impression of 'this person is evil' or 'this person is good'. I wanted the characters to have complex dimensions, with one having more good traits and the other more evil traits. I thought Cho Yeo-jeong and Jung Sung-il matched the characters almost exactly." He added, "The film discusses good and evil, but it's up to the audience to decide who is good and who is evil."

Cho Yeo-jeong plays the role of Baek Sun-joo, a veteran journalist who engages in an interview game with a killer for an exclusive story. She shared, "It was a story I hadn't seen before. The script was so immersive that it filled two hours with tension and density. I was scared, wondering if I could pull it off. There was nowhere to hide, and I thought a lot about it." She added, "I wanted to reciprocate the trust placed in me."

Regarding her character, she said, "It's been a while since I played a professional character like a journalist. I wondered what kind of person would be bold enough to face a serial killer. I paid attention to the character's speech, ensuring it was distinct from an announcer while portraying a journalist."

Jo confessed that the tension during filming left her with a headache. "When I tried to sleep at the hotel, my forehead and brow hurt a lot. I realized how much I was invested in this character. The tension was significant," she admitted.

Jung Sung-il plays the role of Lee Young-hoon, a psychiatrist who initiates the murder confession interview game. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, "I received the script during a rehearsal break and couldn't put it down. I was afraid it might go to someone else, so I immediately called to express my interest." Having experienced tense and dense performances before, Jung noted, "This film had a similar level of completion."

Cho Yeo-jeong and Jung Sung-il previously worked together on the drama 'Woman of 9.9 Billion'. Jo remarked, "I felt I could do it with Sung-il oppa. I relied on him a lot during filming. I'm glad I took on this challenge."

Jung recalled, "I first met Yeo-jeong during 'Woman of 9.9 Billion'. At the time, she was sweeping awards with 'Parasite'. She welcomed me warmly on set, like meeting an old friend. We talked about acting right away, which was refreshing. I relied on her a lot then." He added, "I was relieved to hear we'd be working together again. We talked a lot during filming, and I received a lot of help from her."

Cho Yeo-jeong reflected on the filming process, "The events of a few hours in the story were shot over several months in one space. We had to communicate constantly to avoid gaps in emotion and connection, which made for a dense set." She added, "It was a project with a high sense of accomplishment."

Recently, Cho Yeo-jeong's film 'Zombie Daughter' has been a hit, and Jung Sung-il commented, "Seeing 'Zombie Daughter' doing well, I'm glad we worked together." He added, "I can't comment on Cho Yeo-jeong's acting skills. Her attitude, posture, and how she treats people on set are all things to learn from. I called her 'Teacher Jo' on set."

Cho Yeo-jeong humorously noted the charm of Jung Sung-il's character, "When I received a call, I thought, 'His voice is nice.' When the hotel door opened, I thought, 'He's handsome.' It's a twist that such a good-looking person is a serial killer."

Director Jo commented on 'Murderer Report', "I made it thinking that verbal wounds are greater than physical ones. Isn't that the case with debates? I get a thrilling experience watching debates. I wanted two people who wouldn't lose in a verbal battle to bring out each other's inner selves." He humorously suggested, "You'll feel drained after watching the movie. It might be good to have a nourishing meal like samgyetang before watching."

With the success of 'Zombie Daughter', Cho Yeo-jeong expressed, "I can only say it's good." She added, "'Murderer Report' has a completely different charm from 'Zombie Daughter'. I hope people find it interesting." Jung Sung-il joked, "Cho Yeo-jeong will handle the success," but confidently stated, "I'm confident in this film, not just because it's mine." Cho Yeo-jeong emphasized, "We did our best. It's a film worth visiting the theater for, offering a great cinematic experience."

'Murderer Report' is set to release on the 5th of next month.

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr