'Four Eyes, One Disability' — Shin Min-a Proves Her 'Thriller Queen' Title in Gripping Dual Role for 'The Eyes'

 Acclaimed actress Shin Min-a has officially stepped into the psychological thriller genre, delivering a powerhouse performance in a demanding dual role as visually impaired twin sisters. Over the course of the film’s 1-hour-and-40-minute runtime, Shin delivers a nuanced performance that firmly solidifies her status as a reigning "thriller queen."

On the afternoon of June 15, a press screening and media conference for the upcoming suspense thriller The Eyes (directed by Yeom Ji-ho) was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Director Yeom, alongside lead actors Shin Min-a and Kim Nam-hee, attended the event to share insights into the production.

A Gripping Premise of Sight and Survival

The Eyes follows Seo-jin, a woman gradually losing her sight due to a hereditary disease, who uncovers a web of terrifying truths while investigating the mysterious death of her twin sister. The film is an official adaptation of the acclaimed Spanish thriller Julia's Eyes.

Shin Min-a undergoes a dramatic transformation into Park Seo-jin, a photographer targeted by a stalker, while simultaneously portraying her visually impaired twin sister, Park Seo-in, who meets a suspicious demise. Co-star Kim Nam-hee delivers a compelling performance alongside her as Detective Lee Do-hyuk.

The film serves as a showcase for Shin’s expansive acting spectrum. She masterfully portrays extreme anxiety while being hunted by a stalker, shifts into raw grief over her sister’s death, and maintains a trembling yet resolute determination while chasing the truth.

Furthermore, her convincing portrayal of a visually impaired woman transitions into high-stakes intensity, culminating in raw, unrefined action sequences where her character wields a knife in self-defense.

"I focused heavily on effectively conveying Seo-jin's shifting emotions and terror as her vision deteriorates," Shin explained during the conference. "I even experimented with progressively altering the physical positioning of my gaze to reflect her worsening condition."

Navigating the Dark: Acting Blindfolded

In the latter half of the film, Seo-jin is pushed to an absolute emotional and physical extreme after undergoing eye surgery, leaving her face wrapped in bandages. Shin had to execute these intense scenes completely blindfolded.

"Because I couldn't actually see, I became hyper-sensitive to even the smallest sounds," Shin recalled. "Even though I had memorized the blocking and layout of the set before closing my eyes, the sheer terror made me feel as though my physical location kept changing during filming."

Marking her first time headlining a thriller in a dual role, Shin emphasized her approach to separating the two characters: "I viewed Seo-jin and Seo-in as entirely distinct individuals, and I deliberately established contrasting emotional arcs for each of them."

Regarding Seo-jin, Shin noted, "They share the same face, but their personalities and desires are polar opposites. Seo-jin harbors a sense of emotional void; she feels a protective instinct toward Seo-in, yet envies her at the same time. I worked hard to capture that internal complexity."

As for the sister, Seo-in, Shin described her as "someone entirely consumed by her art, yet burdened by the fear of becoming a liability to her older sister. I wanted the audience to deeply resonate with the intricate dynamics of their sisterhood."

A Radical Transformation for Kim Nam-hee

Co-star Kim Nam-hee, who shares the marquee with Shin, also delivers a daring performance. Marking the most intense and radical transformation of his filmography to date, Kim matches Shin’s dual-role intensity with a complex character of his own.

"When talking to friends, I often joke that I only ever play extreme characters—either someone completely unhinged or a fool. I honestly can't remember the last time I played a 'normal' person," Kim laughed. "This project is definitely the pinnacle of that trajectory."

Closing the conference, the cast and director expressed their high hopes for the release. "I am incredibly happy that we can premiere this film in theaters," Shin concluded. "I hope The Eyes receives a lot of love from thriller enthusiasts."

Director Yeom added, "We poured an immense amount of effort into the sound design and cinematography," urging audiences to experience the film on the big screen.

Kim Nam-hee concluded, "I hope that for 1 hour and 40 minutes, audiences can completely lose themselves in entertainment. If we achieve that, I will be more than satisfied. Thank you in advance to everyone who comes to see it."

The Eyes is scheduled to hit theaters on June 24.