A world invaded by monsters. Celestial observers meddling with humanity. Humans given the ability to upgrade their physical form by completing scenarios and defeating monsters, including acquiring specialty weapons. If this sounds like the 2016 web novel series Solo Leveling (also a popular anime), written by Chugong, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong, but this is actually a description of web novel-turned-live action film Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy (전지적 독자 시점), having its Canadian premiere in the Selection 2025 section of Fantasia International Film Festival ahead of its North American release in theaters August 1st. There are quite a few differences between the two tales, the most notable being its central thesis regarding why humanity suffers as much as it does, as well as the relationship between the characters and the system that surrounds them all. If one can shed the similarities from their mind and go in as openly as possible, The Prophecy is a marvelous fantasy adventure wherein one’s entertainment is about as limited as your respective imagination.
Ahn Hyo-seop as Kim Dokja in OMNISCIENT READER: THE PROPHECY. Photo courtesy of Capelight Pictures.
The one thing that made Kim Dokja’s (Ahn Hyo-seop) life easier was reading a regular weekly novel called Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse. Sometimes it was the only thing that helped him get through the days, spending his weekend re-reading past portions as an escape from his life. Until, one day, the story ends and not in the way Dokja, now an adult living a mediocre life, expected. Frustrated at having invested so much time into the novel, Dokja sends the author a message telling him as much. On his very last day of an internship, while riding a train car home, he receives a message from someone claiming to be the author, telling Dokja he should write his own ending. In that moment, his train car stops and an announcement comes on … just like in the novel. Now, seemingly being the only one who has read it, Dokja finds himself being able to stay one small step ahead of events, potentially carving out a way to survive. But with death at every turn and people scared, trust is in short supply and time is running out.
L-R: Lee Min-ho as Yoo Joonghyuk and Ahn Hyo-seop as Kim Dokja in OMNISCIENT READER: THE PROPHECY. Photo courtesy of Capelight Pictures.
Based on the web novel by singNsong, directed by Kim Byung-woo (The Terror Live), and scripted by Kim and Lee Jung-min, The Prophecy isn’t a direct adaptation of the 839-chapter series (core narrative, plus epilogue, and side stories), but a substantial kick-off into a rumored five-part series. Running just shy of two hours, Kim utilizes the runtime well, establishing characters, setting the scene and clear stakes, as well as including several action set pieces without either tiring out the audience with new information or overwhelming with spectacle. There’s a constant escalation of circumstance which, understandably, often feels like following a video game structure in which Dokja is tasked with clearing a room before being allowed to progress. What sets The Prophecy apart from other extinction-level fantasy adventure tales is that his character is well-aware of what’s happening, which significantly reduces the terror, even if not the tension. Part of this is also based on the characterization that Kim presents and Ahn brings to life. Dokja is not a hero, rather, he looks up to the hero of the story, Yoo Joonghyuk (Lee Min-ho), and Joonghyuk’s companions. This defines the narrative because so many audiences (whether reading or watching) view the protagonist of the story as their guide, as their hero, and Kim and Lee, by virtue of singNsong’s concept, seek to upend this by placing the reader (re: Dokja) on a quest wherein they become the protagonist of the story. In a way, Kim and Lee are not only interrogating the notion of what it means to be a hero, but also the ways in which “the gift of prophecy” only get one so far seeing as (1) prophecy is about interpretation and that can be influenced by individual perspective/presumption and that (2) meddling with a timeline via fore-knowledge can change the timeline in ways we can’t predict. So, while Dokja understands the rules of the novel and how they’ve been overlaid onto his own reality, this doesn’t mean that he’s Neo (Keanu Reeves), seeing the code of The Matrix and manipulating it as he needs, but that he’s able to read situations more easily and access upgrades more swiftly, creating an edge toward survival.
L-R: Shin Seung-ho as Hyeonseo, Kwon Eun-sung as Gilyeong, Ahn Hyo-seop as Kim Dokja, and Chae Soo-bin as Sangah in OMNISCIENT READER: THE PROPHECY. Photo courtesy of Capelight Pictures.
The emotional throughline is somewhat standard, but it’s elevated by Ahn’s (K-Pop Demon Hunters) performance. We believe in Dokja’s backstory as someone who struggled against bullies, who lacked a spark, not of motivation, but of self-worth, preventing him from finding alternate ways of handling bullies and stress. Between the opening sequence in which Dokja explains the premise of Three Ways while setting up his past via narration and the flashbacks, the audience obtains a fairly clear sense as to who Dokja is and why he responds to situations the way he does. Smartly, the story doesn’t tell us everything, so there are surprises which help contextualize Dokja’s choices further. But, before it does that, we get to see his cleverness, which enables him to not only survive but bring people with him (a coworker on her last day (Sangah portrayed by Chae Soo-bin), a young boy to whom Dokja owes his life (Gilyeong portrayed by Kwon Eun-sung), and one of Joonghyuk’s teammates (Hyeonseo portrayed by Shin Seung-ho)), in action. Admittedly, it becomes obvious quickly that Dokja is meant as both a reflection of and a deviation from Joonhyuk — the hero of the story is a loner due to loss whereas Dokja tries repeatedly to save who he can — but it’s the way in which the two are compared and contrasted throughout that keeps the characters interesting and the audience guessing. Quick shoutout to Nana (The Killers) as Huiwon whose inclusion (both as a character and the actor portraying them) only increases the enjoyment of any scene they’re in.
Nana as Huiwon in OMNISCIENT READER: THE PROPHECY. Photo courtesy of Capelight Pictures.
With The Prophecy being an action film, it’s worth stating that the stunt work impresses, even when the CG is inconsistent. That is, the more practical the execution of the set piece, the more it pulls the audience in. When Dokja goes toe-to-toe with one of Joonghyuk’s future teammates early in the transition from reality to the novel world, one believes in both Dokja’s terror and subsequent confidence upon applying the level-up system as Ahn convincingly conveys the transformation from wallflower to video game-like brawler. The presentations of the scenario screens, virtual store, and other CG HUD-like systems fit nicely, appearing naturally within the space; whereas the depiction of the dokkaebi (inspired by Korean mythology as a form of goblins/spirits) is more rubbery, as are the dog-like creatures that frequently attack humans in various scenarios. Even when the CG becomes more video game cut scene-like, there’s still a constant sense of wonder, so the illusion of the story doesn’t fully break, even if we can see the cracks. Thankfully, the cast appear more than capable, whether it’s melee or gun-based combat, in maintain the illusion.
L-R: Shin Seung-ho as Hyeonseo, Kwon Eun-sung as Gilyeong, Ahn Hyo-seop as Kim Dokja, Chae Soo-bin as Sangah, and Nana as Huiwon in OMNISCIENT READER: THE PROPHECY. Photo courtesy of Capelight Pictures.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy is ambitious for a number of reasons. The most obvious being that success or failure of this first story will determine if more come. Less so is the notion that courses within it that humanity may deserve what’s happening to them — transformed from rulers of Earth into performers for other-worldly intelligences with humans given chances to upgrade themselves on their own merits or accept gifts (re: sponsorships) from The Powers That Be with costs to come later. In a world where all lives are pit against each other for the pleasure of others, rebellion is banded together to refuse to follow those rules. Too much of humanity now is dead set on winning life, forgetting that existence doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. There is a way in which we all win, but we have to be willing to see beyond our own selfishness to achieve it. It may not be the most original or inspired lesson, but it’s one worth repeating and the packaging here does, at the very least, inspire curiosity to see what Kim and Lee think are the pathways to utopia.
Screening during Fantasia International Film Festival 2025.
In North American theaters August 1st, 2025.
For more information, head either to the official Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy Fantasia International Film Festival webpage or Capelight Pictures webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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