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.”
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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 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
- Kwon Hae-hyo as Im Yeong-gyu
- Park Jeong-min as Dong-hwan
More about 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 made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 9, 2025. Check out our review and interview with Yeon Sang-ho and the cast. It will have its theatrical release in the United States starting on September 26, 2025.
