Psychokinesis (2018)

Psychokinesis is special because it treats superpowers less like a victory lap and more like a second chance—an everyday man’s clumsy, hard-earned attempt to become the father and neighbor he should’ve been all along. Yeon Sang-ho stages the action with a scrappy, street-level energy, where telekinesis feels tactile and mischievous, and the thrills land because they’re rooted in real people fighting to keep their lives from being bulldozed. Ryu Seung-ryong brings warmth and self-deprecating humanity to a hero who isn’t cool, isn’t chosen, and isn’t sure he deserves redemption, while the film’s humor and righteous anger mingle in a tone that’s part crowd-pleasing comic-book romp, part heartfelt social fable. If you want a glossy, world-saving spectacle, this isn’t that—but if you’re open to a superhero movie with bruises, heart, and something to say, it’s a genuinely refreshing ride.

Psychokinesis is clearly aiming for a scrappy, socially minded superhero story about an absentee dad trying to earn redemption while taking on corrupt power with newfound telekinesis. The problem is it often plays like two movies fighting for control: a grounded, angry community drama and a broad, sometimes silly action-comedy, with pacing that can feel uneven and a lot of beats you’ll see coming. If you want tight plotting, escalating stakes, and a finale that really lands, you may find the last stretch oddly muted and the character choices a bit convenient. Still, there’s a likable underdog energy, some inventive power gags, and a sincere father-daughter core that might work for you if you’re patient and don’t expect a sleek, Marvel-style ride.