Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Street Fighter 6 Sagat

    Sagat Brings Depth And Approachability To ‘Street Fighter 6’

    08/07/2025
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » News » Well Go USA Acquires NA Rights to Yeon Sang-ho’s Thriller ‘The Ugly’

Well Go USA Acquires NA Rights to Yeon Sang-ho’s Thriller ‘The Ugly’

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez08/08/20254 Mins Read
The Ugly by Yang Sang-ho from Well GO USA
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Well Go USA, a leading international and indie film distributor, has acquired the North American rights to the Korean mystery thriller The Ugly. The leader in bringing genre films from Korea to the North American market and known for their action streaming service HI-YAH!, this acquisition continued to show the distributor’s impact. 

Eugene Kim, Head of Content at Plus M Entertainment, commented about the upcoming North American release in a release to press, “THE UGLY is a particularly special film, as it is director Yeon Sang-ho’s first theatrical release in five years. We could not be more assured about its North American release with Well Go, a veteran in distributing Asian cinema, handling this title. We look forward to seeing how audiences resonate with the message of this film.”  

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Directed by acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho, the film stars Park Jeong-min and Kwon Hae-hyo. The Ugly is scheduled to make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 9, 2025, before a theatrical release in the United States starting on September 26, 2025.

What is The Ugly?

The Ugly  by Yang Sang-ho from Well GO USA

The Ugly is a mystery thriller that delves into the themes of family and long-buried secrets. Based on a 2018 graphic novel, Face, which director Yeon also wrote. The story centers on Im Yeong-gyu, a master artisan who is blind, and his son, Dong-hwan. After his mother, who disappeared 40 years ago, is found as skeletal remains, Dong-hwan learns she may have been murdered.

He begins an investigation into her death, aided by a documentary producer named Su-jin. As they uncover memories from those who worked with his mother at a garment factory four decades prior, Dong-hwan confronts a long-hidden truth about his family.

“THE UGLY is a gripping mystery thriller that explores the dark undercurrents of family and long-buried secrets. With riveting performances from Park and Kwon and a masterfully layered script from Yeon Sang-ho, the film is a powerful testament to the emotional and narrative depth of global cinema. We’re proud to bring THE UGLY to North American audiences this September,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President/CEO of Well Go USA.

Cast and Characters

The Ugly  by Yang Sang-ho from Well GO USA

  • Kwon Hae-hyo as Im Yeong-gyu
  • Park Jeong-min as Dong-hwan

More about Yeon Sang-ho

Director Yeon Sang-ho
Director Yeon Sang-ho

Yeon Sang-ho directed, wrote, and produced The Ugly alongside WOWPOINT. Director Yeon made his feature debut with The King of Pigs (2011), the first Korean animated film ever invited to the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. He solidified his position with The Fake (2013), which won Best Animated Feature at the Sitges Film Festival.

Yeon’s transition to live-action films with the genre-defining zombie film Train to Busan (2016) and its sequel Peninsula (2020), both of which were invited to Cannes. His first series, Hellbound (2021), adapted from a graphic novel of the same name, was invited to the TIFF and has celebrated two well-received seasons on Netflix. 

About Hellbound, our critic said after its TIFF premiere, “Having directed Train to Busan, Yeon is no stranger to blending horror, violence, and drama into a unique and interesting narrative. And with Hellbound, he stretches this ability into a procedural format that allows him to pull noir elements into his supernatural and religious horror. ”

His recent works – including the series Parasyte: The Grey (2024), a series inspired by the manga classic, and the Netflix Original films JUNG_E (2023) and Revelations (2025) – have all been met with wide acclaim.

The Ugly is scheduled to make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 9, 2025, before a theatrical release in the United States starting on September 26, 2025.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Is Off To A Confusing Start
Next Article New Final Fantasy XII Board Game Blends Cuteness With Strategy
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

Aksun promotional image from Wayway Inc

Aksun Wants To Open Up a World of Korean Shamanic Folklore

08/08/2025
Twelve Disney But Why Tho 14

Disney+ Korean Series ‘Twelve’ Is Set To Be The Next Fantasy Hit

08/08/2025
Ashes of the Singularity II promotional key art

Ashes of the Singularity II Is On The Way, 10 Years After The First

08/08/2025
Tempest promotional image from Hulu

Anticipated K-Drama Thriller ‘Tempest’ Is A Reason To Get Hulu

08/08/2025
World of Tanks 15th Anniversary Celebration promotional key art

World of Tanks Celebrates 15 Years of Epic Tank Battles

08/08/2025
Final Fantasy Moogle Bounty Mayhem Board Game product image from Square Enix

New Final Fantasy XII Board Game Blends Cuteness With Strategy

08/08/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6
8.5
Anime

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 6 – “We Became A Family”

By Allyson Johnson08/07/2025

The Hayashi arrive to help perform an exorcism in the excellent and detailed DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6, “We Became a Family.”

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

Cover art for One World Under Doom Issue 6 Marvel Comics

REVIEW: ‘One World Under Doom’ Issue 6

By William Tucker08/06/2025

One World Under Doom Issue 6 finally breaks into Latveria, uncovering the truth behind Doctor Doom’s power source within his home.

Foundation Season 3 Episode 5 promo image from AppleTV+
7.0
SELECT A CATEGORY

RECAP: ‘Foundation’ Season 3 Episode 5 — “Where Tyrants Spend Eternity”

By Will Borger08/08/2025

At the midpoint, Foundation Season 3 Episode 5 falls back into bad habits when it should be soaring with the event between Gaal and Dawn.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here