Written by: Our South Korea Correspondent (Inputs from GitacharYa)
The Matrix We Live In
We’re living in the Matrix created by MNCs, only that there’s no Neo in sight – wrote GitacharYa when writing the review of The Matrix Resurrections review with our US Correspondent. It’s not just a mere statement, it’s truth told in an unabashed manner. Ahn Gooc-jin, known for the black comedy drama Alice In The Earnestland, has come up with a film that not just alerts us to the world today we’re living in but also makes us terrified.
Social Media And Influencers
Troll Factory, the South Korean crime drama, dives deep into the disturbing world of online manipulation. We know nowadays several people possess their own Instagram account, YouTube channel and call themselves social media influencers. All they do is to gain audience attention for some sort of content creation. A girl just posts a picture of her showing a little bit of cleavage, eating something – Eating ma fav ice cream (and a few random emojis) – and you know what happens. Once these people gain some sort of followers, they are contacted by brand promotors.
There is nothing wrong in promoting brands and gain a few quick bucks. But what sort of brands or things these guys are promoting? This holds the key. Betting apps, online and at home works, and whatever. Some of those influencers are innocent and think their harmless promotions get them money and brands more than a few customers. But the influence can turn bad.
Coming to the modern day social media, there are hundreds of people who take sides of one thing or the other, and start promoting their or their sponsor’s interests. These social media warriors post attention grabbing and emotion manipulating posts almost everyday, and gain a lot of followers. All their work is to polarise the public opinion or to twist their opinions in concurrence with their masters. Not everyone is a volunteer, but you get the point.
Every Moment We Go Through Is Choreographed or Manipulated
Social media has become a powerful tool for betting apps, influencing both individual bettors and overall trends. Social media provides a platform for experts, influencers, and even regular people to share betting tips, news, and analysis. This can be valuable for making informed decisions or is it driving people towards gambling their money? Think of peer pressure or the effect of repeatedly being exposed to these things. Betting apps use influencers to promote their platforms. These endorsements can be persuasive, especially for younger audiences on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Hype and FOMO.
Nowadays twitter or Elon Musk’s X is giving a share of revenue to its users who create engaging content that keeps the audience online on the app. This has resulted in everyone who can type to come up,with polarising posts and make people engage in online wars so that their posts get more engagement, and hence more bucks. Oh and there are studies too. Some study or other says something and the term Scientific is taken as a synonym for authenticity. Is everything claimed as scientific really true?
Everywhere and every moment we go through is choreographed or manipulated by some influential people. Many bigger forces try to manipulate our attention for their own gains.
This is what Troll Factory is about
The film follows Im Sang-jin, a tenacious reporter, who stumbles upon a hidden network – a “troll factory” – that wields social media to influence public opinion for their own ends. The story follows Im Sang-jin, portrayed by Son Suk-ku, a reporter who investigates corruption within the Manjeon Group. After his findings are discredited online, he’s labeled a sensationalist journalist and promoting wrong notions for his personal fame. What happens in such situations? The management takes the easiest route. Im Sang-jin is suspended.
The plot thickens when a young man approaches Im with evidence of online manipulation by a “commenting squad” or troll factory, which leads to a confrontation between the pursuit of truth and the shadowy troll factory. He promises to disclose that a “commenting squad” (they could be bots) or Troll Factory is responsible for discrediting Im’s story through opinion manipulation. The man then blurts out that a couple of friends from the same team alongside him from the so-called Team Aleph engaged in unethical activities for personal gain.
Im Sang-jin then decides to take on those manipulators and the elusive Troll Factory. But finding proof for the existence of Troll Factory is next to impossible. What happens next is what the film about.
Unveiling the Underbelly of Social Media
Director Ahn Gooc-jin masterfully portrays the chilling efficiency of the troll factory. We see the young operators, codenamed Jjingbboekking, Chattatkat, and Paebtaek, churning out divisive comments and manipulating online discourse from a dingy basement.
But where the director makes this film a class apart is the way he doesn’t shy away from the emotional toll it takes on them. This added a layer of complexity to the narrative.
Son Suk-ku Delivers a Stellar Performance
As Sang-jin, Son Suk-ku delivers a captivating performance. He embodies the determination and frustration of a journalist chasing a truth that powerful forces want to bury. The supporting cast also shines, particularly Kim Sung-cheol as the conflicted Jjingbboekking.
A Timely Story with Global Resonance
Troll Factory isn’t just a Korean story. The issue of online manipulation plagues societies worldwide. The film compels us to question the information we consume online and the forces shaping our opinions.
The film has brisk pacing. The compelling chemistry among the cast members adds to the overall positive effect. It employs a bold editing style and heart-pounding sounds, blending virtual and real footage to explore the shaping of online opinions in South Korea. However, the movie’s finale can be described as anticlimactic, leaving the existence of the troll factory as an open question to the audience.
While the film excels in its suspense and social commentary, some may find the ending a bit ambiguous. However, this ambiguity allows viewers to ponder the film’s themes long after the credits roll.
Conclusion
Overall, Troll Factory is a must-watch for anyone concerned about the growing influence of online manipulation. It’s a thought-provoking and suspenseful film that will stay with you long after the viewing.
- The film is inspired by a 2015 novel of the same name (댓글부대) by former daily reporter Chang Kang-myoung.
NaThing Rating: 2.75 out of 4
