Troll Factory | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Hangul | 댓글부대 |
Hanja | 댓글部隊 |
Literal meaning | The Comments Army |
Revised Romanization | Daetguelbudae |
McCune–Reischauer | Taetkŭlbudae |
Directed by | Ahn Gooc-jin |
Screenplay by | Ahn Gooc-jin |
Based on | The Comments Army by Chang Kang-myoung |
Produced by | Seo Yeon |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Cho Hyung-rae |
Edited by | Han Mi-yeon |
Music by | Cho Young-wook |
Production company | Cinematic Moment |
Distributed by | Acemaker Movieworks |
Release date |
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Running time | 109 minutes[1] |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean |
Box office | US$6.7 million[2] |
Troll Factory (Korean: 댓글부대) is a 2024 South Korean crime drama film directed and written by Ahn Gooc-jin, and starring Son Suk-ku, Kim Sung-cheol, Kim Dong-hwi, and Hong Kyung. Based on the novel of the same Korean name by Chang Kang-myoung, a work based on the National Intelligence Service's illegal election intervention case. It is about a public opinion manipulation company that infiltrates Internet sites and manipulates public opinion by leaving malicious comments. It was released on March 27, 2024.
It follows the narrative of Im Sang-jin, a reporter who is suspended from his work for publishing an article exposing a huge corporation's tyranny, until an anonymous source comes and informs him about online public opinion manipulation.[3]
The film developed under the working title The Comments Army and director Ahn Gooc-jin, who directed Alice in Earnestland (2015) took the megaphone.[7]
It is produced by Cinematic Moment and distributed by Acemaker Movieworks.[8]
Son Suk-ku was offered the role of the main character in July 2022.[8]
The appearance of Son along with Kim Dong-hwi were confirmed in January 2023.[9][10] Followed by Kim Sung-cheol and Hong Kyung in February 2023.[11][12]
Art Director Hong Joo-hee, who worked on The School Nurse Files (2020), My Name (2021) and The Moon (2023), contributes to the film's unique visual identity with a realistic and original production design. Costume Designer Jo Sang-kyung, who worked on Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017), Squid Game (2020–present), and Hunt (2022), brings her expertise to craft unique and distinct character portrayals through the costumes.[13]
Principal photography began on March 6, 2023.[14]
Cinematographer Cho Hyung-rae, who worked on The Merciless (2017), Kingmaker (2022), Kill Boksoon (2023) and Concrete Utopia (2023), and Lighting Director Lee Gil-gyu who worked on Tune in for Love (2019), Kingmaker (2022), Concrete Utopia (2023) and Citizen of a Kind (2024) have combined their talents to craft the film's overall visual concept.[13]
Music Director Cho Young-wook, who worked on A Taxi Driver (2017), The Man Standing Next (2020), Hunt (2022), Decision to Leave (2022), Narco-Saints (2022) and Honey Sweet (2023), will compose the score, creating a unique atmosphere for the film to take place.[13]
Troll Factory was released on March 27, 2024.[15]