Deranged

Deranged

Year: 2012

Runtime: 109 mins

Language: Korean

Director: Park Jung-woo

ThrillerDrama

A mysterious phenomenon grips a small town as residents uncontrollably binge eat and experience intense thirst. Driven to madness in their desperate search for water, they find themselves unable to resist a primal urge. This unsettling behavior stems from a parasitic brainwashing, turning the community against itself in a terrifying struggle for survival.

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Timeline & Setting – Deranged (2012)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Deranged (2012). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The narrative is set in contemporary times, within a modern South Korean city landscape shaped by a high-tech pharmaceutical industry and rapid information flows. Public health systems and government agencies respond to a sudden, unnerving outbreak. The period emphasizes current-style corporate and governmental dynamics rather than historical events.

Location

Seoul, South Korea, Han River, New York Harbor

The events unfold primarily in Seoul and along the Han River, where bodies appear and the outbreak is first investigated. As the crisis intensifies, the story moves through urban centers and government corridors across the country. The final twist shifts the scene to New York Harbor, underscoring the global reach of the crisis.

🌆 Urban Seoul 💧 River-centered outbreak 🗺️ International implications

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:45

Main Characters – Deranged (2012)

Meet the key characters of Deranged (2012), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jae-hyeok (Kim Myung-min)

A former biochemistry professor with a doctorate who now sells pharmaceuticals after financial ruin. His deep scientific knowledge and strong sense of family drive him to seek a cure when Windazole fails and his loved ones fall ill. Calm under pressure, he uses chemistry to deduce a viable path to treatment.

💡 Intelligent 🧬 Biochemist

Prime Minister (Jeon Kuk-hwan)

The national leader facing a cascading health crisis and political pressure. He must weigh public safety against powerful interests and ultimately works to thwart the manipulation scheme. His decisions shape the government's response to the outbreak.

🧭 Decisive 🛡️ Leader

Health Minister (Choi Jung-woo)

A key figure coordinating the health response, testing, and communication with the public. He grapples with resource shortages and the urgency of finding a cure while maintaining public trust. His actions reflect the complexity of managing a national health emergency.

💬 Communicative 🧪 Policy-minded

President (Choi Il-hwa)

The top political figure facing the crisis, balancing national security, economic impact, and public health. He appears as a symbol of institutional authority, navigating the crisis alongside the Prime Minister and Health Minister.

🏛️ Authoritative 🧭 Strategic

Researcher (Jo Han-chul)

A former ChoA Pharmaceuticals researcher who reveals the conspiracy behind the outbreak. His testimony exposes how stock manipulation and undisclosed research enabled the crisis. His role underscores the ethical fractures within scientific communities involved in corporate interests.

🧠 Insightful 🕵️‍♂️ Whistleblower

Dr. Hwang (Kang Shin-il)

A scientist involved in the initial research on Yeongasi who becomes entangled in the scheme. His actions reflect the moral ambiguity that can arise when science intersects with profiteering. He contributes to the crisis’s complexity through collaborative deceit.

🔬 Scientific 🕯️ Complicit

Chief Kim (Song Young-chang)

A government official who coordinates with health authorities during the outbreak. He plays a role in the crisis management and investigation, representing the enforcement and administrative side of the response.

📋 Administrativ 🛡️ Authority

Baby's Mother (Kim Sae-byuk)

A mother whose child is affected by the outbreak, embodying the personal stakes of the medical emergency. Her perspective highlights the human impact behind the statistical data and headlines.

👩‍👧 Protective 💞 Family-centered

Jae-pil

A detective haunted by past financial ruin and guilt, who partners with Jae-hyeok to safeguard his family. His practical instincts and determination help drive the investigation and crisis response forward.

🕵️‍♂️ Persistent 🧭 Loyal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:45

Major Themes – Deranged (2012)

Explore the central themes of Deranged (2012), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧬 Biotech Crisis

A mysterious parasite mutation triggers a nationwide health emergency, forcing scientists and officials to confront unknown biological threats. The plot centers on the tension between scientific curiosity and the race to find a cure. It highlights how fragile public health can be when driven by profit, secrecy, and rushed decision-making.

💼 Corporate Malfeasance

Windazole and the associated research are entangled in stock manipulation and corporate deceit. The narrative reveals how a company’s pursuit of profits can endanger thousands of lives when critical information is hidden or manipulated. Government oversight, accountability, and whistleblowing become pivotal to exposing the scam.

👪 Family Resilience

A family line—centered on Jae-hyeok and his brother—drives the emotional core of the story. The crisis tests familial bonds, courage, and ingenuity as they fight to protect loved ones. Personal sacrifice motivates scientific and moral choices, ultimately influencing the search for a cure.

😨 Public Panic

The outbreak catalyzes mass fear and chaotic behavior as hospitals fill and drug shortages spark desperation. Public trust in institutions is strained as officials scramble to contain the spread. The film explores how societies react under pressure and the dangers of misinformation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:45

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about societal collapse from a parasitic madness like Deranged

Stories where a mysterious outbreak causes a community to violently unravel.If you liked the paranoid unraveling in Deranged, explore more movies where a mysterious contagion or parasite drives a community to madness. These stories feature desperate survival, frantic scientific investigation, and the chilling spectacle of society collapsing from within.

paranoidgrippingdesperateoppressiveunsettlingchaoticanxious

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with a strange, localized phenomenon that quickly escalates into a public health crisis. The plot involves uncovering the cause—often a corporate or governmental conspiracy—while characters fight for survival against both the infected and the collapsing infrastructure around them. The journey is one of desperate investigation and grim revelations.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a high-intensity, fast-paced structure built around a biological threat. They create a cohesive experience through their oppressive mood, focus on scientific mystery, and the unsettling theme of losing control to a primal urge, making the recommendation set feel tightly connected.

Unsettling medical conspiracy thrillers similar to Deranged

Gripping stories where a medical discovery hides a terrifying corporate secret.Fans of Deranged will appreciate these similar medical thrillers where a scientific phenomenon masks a dark corporate or governmental plot. These movies share a fast pace, high stakes, and a biting critique of institutions that prioritize profit over people, leading to bittersweet or bleak conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows protagonists—often outsiders or experts—piecing together clues that connect strange events to a deliberate, hidden agenda. The conflict involves evading the conspirators while trying to expose or stop them, culminating in a confrontation that reveals the full, horrifying scope of the plot, often with globally ominous implications.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared mood of paranoid investigation, their focus on the theme of scientific hubris and corporate malfeasance, and their consistent tone of high-stakes tension. The similar pacing and emotional weight ensure a coherent viewing experience for users seeking this specific vibe.

Unlock the Full Story of Deranged

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Deranged Summary

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Deranged Summary

Deranged Timeline

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Deranged Timeline

Deranged Spoiler-Free Summary

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Deranged Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Deranged

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