The film ‘Apartment: Ripley’s World’ (directed by Chae Soo-eung), which garnered global attention at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, is set to release simultaneously as an interactive cinema and a 2D film in the first half of 2026, unveiling a powerful casting lineup.
Set in 2080, where the memory preservation system ‘Mind Upload’ has become mainstream, ‘Apartment: Ripley’s World’ is an interactive thriller in which a detective enters the memories of a brain-dead boy, the sole witness to an unsolved murder from 2009, to uncover the truth behind the distorted recollections of a boy experiencing ‘Ripley Syndrome.’
This unique interactive cinema allows the audience to dive into the boy’s memories to find the real perpetrator and choose the truth. It marks director Chae Soo-eung’s return to Venice after six years.
As the only Korean entry among 26 competitive works invited to the immersive competition section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival, it showcased a new innovation in K-content, being recognized for its competitive edge in both technology and narrative.
Praised as an innovative viewing experience, the film connects all theatergoers to the process where their real-time decisions influence the story’s progress.
Actors Jang Hyuk, Jo Bok-rae, Song Jae-hee, Moon Ju-yeon, Cho Yoon-seo, Jo Young-eun, and Q portray characters that fill the narrative with an original worldview. Jang Hyuk, with his profound acting repertoire and solid credibility, takes on the role of a detective who enters the boy’s memories, presenting a strong sense of immersion as he faces the confusion within the distorted memories and ‘Ripley Syndrome.’
Jo Bok-rae, known for his versatile performances, plays Dr. Kim Nam-joon, the developer of the ‘Mind Upload’ technology, and serves as the main pillar of the worldview exploring the afterlife through the Ripley Project.
Adding weight to the drama with a solid presence, Song Jae-hee plays a neuroscientist following Dr. Kim Nam-joon in exploring the unknown realm of the afterlife, adding depth to the film’s narrative.
Moon Ju-yeon, noted for her impressive performances in ‘Revelation’ and ‘Parasite: The Grey,’ plays a psychology professor studying ‘Ripley Syndrome,’ leaving a chilling impression as she explores clues to the unsolved murder through the ‘Mind Upload’ system.
Cho Yoon-seo, with limitless potential as seen in ‘The History of the Wordless,’ ‘Welcome to Samdari,’ and ‘Owl,’ takes on the role of the warm and comforting mother in the boy’s memories, moving between truth and memory.
Model and notable figure from SBS’s ‘Gol’s Hitting Her’ and Netflix’s ‘Physical 100,’ Jo Young-eun appears as Ari, a highly advanced robot nurse developed by Dr. Kim Nam-joon, leaving a mark with her performance.
Q from The Boyz, making his acting debut, plays Ji Chan-seong, the idol trainee and neighbor to the boy, providing a strong impression as a character who cares for the boy as both a friend and a mother figure.
Incorporating complex narrative genres such as thriller, mystery, and drama, the film immerses audiences into the screen through the combination of thrilling storytelling and audience participation. The synergy among the trustworthy and fresh-faced actors enhances the film’s dimensionality.
‘Apartment: Ripley’s World’ attracts significant attention as it is the first film to be released in both interactive and 2D formats.
It is set to establish a new milestone in Korean cinema with its planning and filming aimed at realizing interactive cinema.
Notably, offering both a version where the audience directly decides the progression and a 2D format with a complete narrative offers fresh appeal to a diverse audience.
Attracting attention for its intriguing storyline and the innovative fun expected of interactive cinema, ‘Apartment: Ripley’s World’ expands the cinematic landscape by offering experiences never seen before.
‘Apartment: Ripley’s World’ will be available in theaters in the first half of 2026.
Image source: Aria Studio
