Variety has learned that The Ugly, the latest mystery thriller from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho, has secured North American distribution with Well Go USA ahead of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month. The film, starring Park Jeong-min (Decision to Leave) and Kwon Hae-hyo (Peninsula), is slated for a U.S. theatrical release on September 26, hot on the heels of its Toronto debut.
Described as a gripping exploration of familial secrets and buried trauma, The Ugly follows Im Yeong-gyu (Kwon), a blind artisan renowned for his exquisitely carved seals, whose quiet life is shattered when his son Dong-hwan (Park) receives a chilling call from the police. The skeletal remains of Young-hee—Yeong-gyu’s wife and Dong-hwan’s mother, who vanished four decades earlier—have been discovered, and the evidence points to murder. As Dong-hwan teams up with documentary producer Su-jin to unravel the truth, their investigation leads them to the forgotten workers of a garment factory, forcing them to confront a past more horrifying than they could have imagined.
For Yeon, the film marks a return to theatrical releases after five years—his last being Peninsula, the 2020 sequel to Train to Busan. Based on his own 2018 graphic novel Face, The Ugly continues the director’s penchant for blending psychological depth with visceral storytelling. “This is a particularly special film,” said Eugene Kim of Plus M Entertainment, which handles international sales. He praised Well Go USA’s legacy in distributing Asian cinema, expressing confidence that audiences will connect with the film’s haunting themes.
Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go USA, echoed the sentiment, calling The Ugly “a powerful testament to the emotional and narrative depth of global cinema.” She highlighted Yeon’s layered script and the “riveting performances” of its leads as key draws for viewers.
Since his 2011 debut The King of Pigs—the first Korean animated film invited to Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight—Yeon has cemented himself as a master of genre-bending storytelling. From the zombie apocalypse of Train to Busan to the supernatural terror of Hellbound, his work consistently pushes boundaries. The Ugly promises to be no exception, delving into the grotesque beauty of human frailty and the shadows lurking beneath familial love.
With production by Wowpoint (The Bequeathed, Parasyte: The Grey) and Yeon’s singular vision at the helm, The Ugly is poised to be one of the fall’s most talked-about thrillers. As Toronto prepares for its premiere, one thing is certain: Yeon Sang-ho is about to take audiences on another unforgettable—and deeply unsettling—ride.
Hye Rin Choi is a writer and entrepreneur from Seoul, South Korea. She breathes Korean culture and history. She’s passionate and committed to helping people learn more about her fascinating country.