Chapter 351
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 351
Chapter Title: Dream or Reality?
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The so-called dream ending.
An ending like a magic trick, undoing everything that had happened before.
In the case of *Survivors*, the perfect happy ending that moved everyone turned out to be a dream, while the bad ending that left everyone disheartened became reality. The public's reaction was even more intense because of it.
-Seeing his smiling face at the end made me think. Maybe the truly happy theatrical release was all Lee Hyunwoo’s dream.
-^ I agree. Honestly, it is a bit strange for everyone to survive without a single death.
-Surviving after being crushed by rocks is also weird.
-There are so many unrealistic things.
-It's a movie. A movie.
-But because it's a movie, it could all be a dream.
-Was it really a dream?! The theatrical version ㅠㅠ!
-A dream…! It was a dream…!
As expected, the chat was on fire.
Film Critic intervened at the right moment.
“Yes. Unlike the theatrical cut, which had a definitive happy ending, the director’s cut ends ambiguously. If you watch them separately, it doesn't matter, but if you connect them, it's an ending that makes you think. This brings up the first question: just how much of the unhinged Lee Hyunwoo's experience was a hallucination?”
At Film Critic's words, the chat stirred once more.
-I don't think it was a dream. I doubt Lee Hyunwoo could have fabricated Ian Weaver's past.
-^ I agree. A normal kid without that kind of past wouldn't have clung to Lee Hyunwoo like that.
-I don't know. Maybe Ian Weaver was just a sociable kid.
-I think so too. Ian Weaver's past was probably a hallucination created by Lee Hyunwoo.
-…Ian Weaver's past was a hallucination?
-…No… Now I'm starting to doubt the theatrical cut (screaming).
-^^^ Everything from start to finish is starting to seem suspicious (suspicious).
-For some reason, this reminds me of the play ‘The Mirror’.
-lololol
-Film Critic, do you think it was a dream?
Film Critic, briefly recalling the play ‘The Mirror’ which had made people unconsciously fixate on a stethoscope, smiled and replied.
“If you consider the two films separately, they could be parallel worlds diverging at the point of Ian Weaver’s death. If you consider them as one, it could be Lee Hyunwoo’s dream.”
-That's ambiguous.
“That’s the nature of film; personal interpretation is key. A definitive story is good, but I also think a film that gives you food for thought is great. Works like this come to mind during your daily life and right before you go to sleep.”
-Ugh. That's why I can't sleep.
-It's sad even if it's a parallel world, but it's even sadder if it's a dream ㅠㅠ
-I'm just going to think of it as a parallel world.
-^ I agree. If it's a dream, it's just too devoid of dreams and hope.
-Isn't a dream ending okay too?
-Yeah. It's not like it suddenly became a dream out of nowhere! They showed how Lee Hyunwoo was going insane beforehand.
-But if I think of it as a dream, I don't think I can watch the theatrical version anymore.
-Me too ㅠㅠ
“Whether the theatrical cut was a dream or a parallel world, I’ll leave that to your imagination. Now, for the second question about the director's cut ending. Did Lee Hyunwoo die? Or did he not? What do you think?”
-I don't think he died. We heard the flatline sound, but sometimes people can be revived with emergency treatment.
-^ I agree. The title is *Survivors*. It's plural, so at least one person has to survive.
-I think he died. The title might have just been matched to the theatrical version.
-True. It would've been weirder if it came out with a different title when the characters and plot are so similar.
-There were paramedics right next to him, so I don't think he died!
As opinions flew back and forth, Film Critic said with a smile.
“Director Jeffrey said something in an interview. He said there was a post-credits scene for the director’s cut to create a perfect bad ending.”
-I was so shocked by the 'it was all a dream' ending that nothing scares me anymore.
-I'm confident I won't cry no matter what comes out.
-What could be a worse ending than everyone dying?
Film Critic shrugged and said.
“It was a joint funeral scene.”
-ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
The chat, which had just declared it wouldn't cry no matter what, was instantly flooded with tears.
-A funeral ㅠㅠ Suddenly it hits home.
-I said I wouldn't cry ㅜㅜ
“He said they were going to show photos of Lee Hyunwoo, his parents, Raymond Wish, the Wish family, Jackson Miller, and Cynthia Lindberg.”
-…? Film Critic. Someone's missing, isn't there?
-What about our Ian?
“Now, let’s think about it.”
Director Jeffrey Rodox's interview only mentioned the ‘joint funeral’ and the ‘funeral portraits,’ but Film Critic delved deeper. It was his job to read the director's unseen intentions.
Film Critic lowered his voice.
“Who would know that Ian was even there?”
-? Lee Hyunwoo was there.
-He died, remember? The joint funeral.
-Oh, right.
-Raymond, Jackson, and Cynthia, who were with him, died too.
-The Weavers would know.
When the desired answer appeared, Film Critic quickly asked.
“Do you think those parents would have come looking for the child they abandoned at the Galleria Mall?”
-They might not show up, afraid they'd be asked why they left the child alone.
-…Huh?
-That's true, isn't it?
-You'd think it couldn't get that bad, but reality is often crueler than movies.
-Can't they just find the body?
Film Critic began to speak with a meaningful expression.
“Lee Hyunwoo, as he was being carried away on a stretcher, told them. He gave the locations of Raymond Wish, Jackson Miller, and Cynthia Lindberg. But there was one place he didn’t mention.”
At Film Critic's low voice, the viewers perked up their ears.
“Because Lee Hyunwoo had already saved that child.”
The chat froze. Simultaneously, they recalled the baby doll, discarded like trash in the rescuer's hand.
-…Whoa…
-Since he'd already saved him (even if it was a hallucination), he wouldn't have thought to mention it ㅠㅠ
-Ian ㅠㅠ
-Still, wouldn't the rescue team have found him if they searched thoroughly?
“While the rescue team was searching for Ian Weaver’s body, would the Galleria Mall have remained in the same state? Buried bombs could have exploded, causing it to collapse, or a fire could have broken out. In real-life accidents like this, it’s not uncommon for bodies to never be found, right?”
-Ian ㅠㅠㅠ
-Lee Hyunwoo tried so hard ㅠㅠ
-But when Ian died, Lee Hyunwoo wasn't in his right mind, so he couldn't have remembered the way properly ㅠㅠ
-It's so sad ㅠㅠ Even in death, Ian has no one to cry for him or remember him.
-And with no photo at the funeral… truly, no one would know ㅠ
-Such a good kid, grew up being abused, only to die without being remembered by anyone ㅠㅠ
-He didn't just die, his very existence was erased ㅠㅠ
-No one will ever know that a kind and cute boy named Ian Weaver ever existed.
-He probably had so few happy memories in his short life ㅠㅠ
-ㅜThe tears just keep coming ㅠㅠ
“Originally, they planned a bad ending that included this post-credits scene, but they decided not to include it. With the removal of the scene that would have confirmed Lee Hyunwoo’s death, it became uncertain whether he lived or died.”
-Pre-edit: Lee Hyunwoo (critical condition) - Post-credits scene (Lee Hyunwoo's death) / Movie ends /
-Post-edit: Lee Hyunwoo (critical condition) / Movie ends / Post-credits scene (deleted)
-Oh. Thanks for the explanation.
-I'm going to forget about that bad ending post-credits scene. I feel too bad for Ian.
-^ I agree. I have to believe Lee Hyunwoo survived too.
-But it's also incredibly sad for him to be the only one who survived when everyone else died.
-ㅠㅠTears are blurring my vision ㅠㅠ
-So in the end, everyone died ㅠㅠ
-So it's not *Survivors*, but *(Those Who Had) Survived*?
-Oh…
Those Who Had Survived.
The title, which perfectly pierced the essence of the director's cut, sent a chill down their spines.
“They say *Survivors* filmed both the director’s cut and the theatrical cut on the same set on the same days. It was a film that made you marvel once again at the acting skills of the cast, who portrayed completely different characters despite having the same roles, a similar plot, and similar lines.”
* * *
[Plus+, 5 days since upload! What are the view counts for ‘Survivors - Director’s Cut’?]
[Full interview with ‘Survivors’ director Jeffrey Rodox (Translated)!]
[Davis Garrett and Lee Seojun's improvisation!]
[Revisions, revisions, and more revisions! The making of ‘Survivors’ during filming!]
[Parallel world or dream? The truth behind ‘Survivors’?]
[A new name for the ‘Survivors’ Director's Cut?]
-It's so hard to rewatch the director's cut.
-Honestly, I enjoyed it.
=^^^ It's like… the sweet and salty of the film world.
=More like sweet and spicy.
=And it's a spicy that's so intense it doesn't even make you cry… lol
=^^^ It was so absurd I couldn't even cry lolol
-It's a parallel world, right?
=Isn't it a dream?
=Just think whatever is better for your mental health lol
-I thought the theatrical version was so hopeful it was unrealistic, but the director's cut is way too realistic???
=From now on, I'm only watching unrealistic movies. Movies shouldn't be realistic!!
=I watched the theatrical version (dreams and hope) and just cried. Our Ian ㅠㅠ Hyunwoo ㅠㅠ
-I enjoyed it. Of course, I only think a bad ending is okay because it's a movie.
=^^ I enjoyed the director's cut too.
=I'm curious about Director Jeffrey's next project!
-What's the new name?
=(Those Who Had) Survived. It came up on Film Critic's live stream.
=The title itself gives me a bad feeling.
More than three weeks after its release, the audience for *Survivors*, which had been dwindling, began to increase once again. It was clearly the effect of the director's cut.
“The director's cut is also number one in the movie category on Plus+.”
Hearing Song Yujeong, who was browsing through Plus+, Yim Yena nodded repeatedly.
“They say it’s number one overseas too! Ack. Yujeong. Look at this!”
Yim Yena shoved her phone toward Song Yujeong. Song Yujeong's eyes turned to the screen.
[Title: Did you see the thing about Ian Weaver? (Director’s Cut)]
It's so frustrating that in the director's cut, no one knows Ian Weaver's story.
Plus, in the post-credits scene (the one they didn't show), they said his body was never found?
I hate that more than the dream ending ㅠㅠ
-But there's something even more hellish.
=OP) What is it?
=Ian Weaver's insurance money.
=OP) Oh… (heavy cursing)
“Oh… crazy…”
“But don't you think that's what would really happen?”
“I know, right.”
Sitting next to Yim Yena, Song Yujeong also started reading interpretations and reviews of *Survivors* on her phone.
“Film Critic’s review was interesting, but other people’s interpretations are interesting too.”
“Ooh. Look at this.”
Yim Yena held out her phone again. Song Yujeong's eyes turned to the phone.
[Movie ‘Survivors’ Discussion Thread (Theatrical + Director’s Cut)]
-I was glad his mom and dad were alive. You could see people in hiking clothes near them during the video call. Looks like the other tourists survived too.
=Their clothes were so colorful they stood out lolol
-For a bomb having gone off, it seems like not that many of the people shown on screen actually died.
=That's because it's the mild version.
=^^ I really thought they cut out most of the bad stuff like blood and bodies to lower the age rating for the production company… I never expected they'd gather it all into a spicy version.
=After watching that, I realized just how happy the theatrical ending was.
-I'm just now realizing how much I love happy endings full of dreams and hope.
=^^ A definitive happy ending is the best. No one should ever die!
=When I watched the theatrical version, I complained, ‘Does this make sense? Everyone survived? Isn't that too unrealistic?’… but the spicy version is way too spicy?
=^^^ People who can't handle spice should just stick to the mild stuff.
=^^^^ I wrote the same thing in my review of *Survivors* lol <The actors' performances were great, but the fact that everyone survived lacked realism. At least someone should have died.> But after watching the director's cut, I went back to my review and formally apologized lolol
=^^^^^ I never thought they'd kill everyone.
=^^^^^^ I can't believe Ian Weaver died so quickly. And all the characters who had lines in the Galleria Mall died.
-I watched the director's cut and then the theatrical cut, and the baby doll is in the theatrical one too.
=^^ I just glanced past it when I first saw the theatrical version. I never imagined it would be used like this.
-The theatrical and director's cuts have a lot of similar scenes and lines, but they feel completely different.
=I love that dissonance lolol
=Oh… to each their own.
-It's really amazing. The location is the same, the music and characters are similar, but one event changes and everything is different.
=It feels like watching a completely different movie with the same characters.
=^^ Both are fun lolol
-You know that scene at the end where they show the rescue workers from above? In the theatrical cut, you can see people being carried out on stretchers, but in the director's cut, there aren't any stretchers at all.
=Oh… wow…
=That means there are no more survivors.
“I see.”
Song Yujeong nodded in admiration. She hadn't noticed a detail like that. Yim Yena said excitedly.
“Plus, in the final scene, the sunset is a much stronger color than in the theatrical cut. It’s totally blood-red!”
“Ugh. Let’s hurry up and watch.”
Today, the two of them had decided to watch *Survivors - Director's Cut* on the big television at Yim Yena's parents' house. As the Bearound logo appeared on the large screen, Song Yujeong and Yim Yena let out wry chuckles.
“After seeing the director’s cut for the first time, I was so shocked I thought I’d never watch it again.”
“Spicy things are addictive, you know.”
Song Yujeong and Yim Yena’s sparkling eyes turned to the television.
[California]
[LA]
Below, the pristine white Galleria Mall came into view.
“I want to see this in a movie theater.”
Yim Yena nodded in agreement at Song Yujeong’s words.
* * *
“Honey. Seojun. Look at that.”
At Seo Eunhye's words, Lee Minjun, who was behind the wheel, and Seojun, sitting in the back seat, looked where she was pointing. A bus was passing by on the passenger side where Seo Eunhye was sitting.
“Public taste is really something you can never predict.”
“I know.”
Seojun nodded in agreement with Lee Minjun's comment. Even Seojun hadn't expected this to happen. Seo Eunhye smiled and asked Seojun.
“Director Jeffrey must be happy, right?”
“Yeah. He’s thrilled.”
Recalling the excited call from Director Jeffrey, Seojun let out a small laugh and looked out the window again.
He could see an advertising poster on the side of the bus.
[Now Playing to Rave Reviews]
[Survivors]
[Director's Cut]
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