<Pluto> is a story about elite high school seniors, the top 1%, who are prepared to go to extremes to get into prestigious universities. A student who has ranked number one at an esteemed school dies in a remote mountain. Finding out why and the ultimate impact of his death make up the bulk of this thriller’s elaborate narrative, whose shocking conclusion could lead us to comment, “We’ve seen a devil.” Despite a structure that freely weaves together past and present, and a cast of appealing actors including Lee David, Gung Jun and Kim Kkot-bi, the most remarkable thing about the film is the theme itself. It touches on and raises the critical issue of the demands of Korea’s education system, which are becoming more extreme and competitive by the day. The sociological theme differentiates the film from horror films like <Whispering Corridors> and its sequels and coming-of-age dramas like Bleak Night. Director SHIN Su-won had been a middle school teacher for ten years until she started making films in earnest in 2002, so her films reflect her precious experiences. (JEON Chanil)