Introduction
I like watching horror comedy, or in this case zombie comedy (zomcom), because it can blend fear with humor, offering a unique and entertaining experience that is both cathartic and socially relevant.
When I first heard about this movie and read what the story is about (without reading the Webtoon), I felt the story was unique from other zombie dramas/movies, which typically focus on zombie destruction and human survival.
In this movie’s case, I have watched the leading actors, Jo Jung Suk, who played the father, and Lee Jung Eun, who played the grandmother, in several dramas before, and I liked their acting.
Movie Info
Movie title: My Daughter Is a Zombie (Native title: 좀비딸 )
Alternative title: Jombi Ttal
Genres: Thriller, Comedy, Life, Supernatural
Released: Jul 30, 2025
Duration: 1 hr. 54 min.
Director: Pil Gam Seong ( 필감성 )
Screenwriters: Pil Gam Seong ( 필감성 ) and Kim Hyeon ( 김현 )
Adapted from the webtoon "My Daughter Is a Zombie" (좀비딸) by Lee Yoon Chang (이윤창)
Where to read: Webtoon (English translated)
Trailer
Synopsis
Lee Jeong Hwan, a fierce animal trainer, lives a chaotic daily life with his rebellious teenage daughter, Lee Su A, who is full of passion for dancing. One day, Su A becomes infected by a zombie virus that has swept across the globe. In a desperate bid to protect her, Jeong Hwan takes Su A to Eunbong-ri, a seaside village where his mother, Kim Bam Sun, lives.
Amid growing societal pressure to root out the infected, Jeong Hwan notices that Su A, despite being a zombie, vaguely understands human speech and reacts to her favorite things: dancing and her grandmother’s sharp but loving flicks of the hand. Refusing to give up on her, Jeong Hwan draws on his years of experience as a tiger trainer and begins an intensive training program for his zombie daughter.
A training journey more terrifying than handling a tiger and more difficult than dealing with teenage angst begins. The most heartwarming and hilarious top-secret project is about to unfold! (Source: MyDramaList)
Main Characters
Jo Jung Suk ( 조정석 ) as Lee Jeong Hwan
A “doting father” who tries to turn his zombie daughter back into a human. His main job is as a big cat specialist zookeeper.
Choi Yu Ri ( 최유리 ) as Lee Su A
Jeong Hwan’s middle school daughter, who had become a zombie.
Lee Jung Eun ( 이정은 ) as Kim Bam Sun
Lee Jeong Hwan’s mother and Lee Su A’s grandmother. The real power in the family who can restrain Su A who has become a zombie. Enjoys using a back scratcher.
Cho Yeo Jung ( 조여정 ) as Sin Yeon Hwa
Jeong Hwan’s first love returned after living in Seoul and being appointed as a teacher at Eunbong Middle School. She is a nationally certified zombie hunter.
Yoon Kyung Ho ( 윤경호 ) as Cho Dong Bae
The village pharmacist, who is also Jeong Hwan’s long-time friend. He helps Jeong Hwan try to tame his zombie daughter.
Geum Dong-i ( 금동이 ) as Ae Young-i
Jeong Hwan and Su A’s pet cat.
My Rating
My rating for this movie was based on MyDramaList’s scoring system, which is from 0.0 to 10.0. For any drama/movie/show I completed, I gave a minimum rating of 6.0 to appreciate the hard work of the production team, and to adjust to MyDramaList’s overall score base. From 6.0, this movie has additional scores of:
1.0 for the theme and ending (see Spoiler section after the Conclusion for the ending)
1.0 for the acting of Jo Jung Suk (Father), Lee Jung Eun (Grandma), Choi Yu Ri (Daughter), and the cat.
1.0 for zombie effects and village setting
My final rating was 9.0/10
I detailed my explanation as to why I gave such additional scores in the Review Section below
Reason to Watch
The Father’s Unconditional Love
The core theme of this movie is a father’s unwavering love for his daughter, even after she’s infected with a zombie virus. In a general tone is the acceptance and love for someone who has changed beyond recognition.
Unlike traditional zombie movies focused on the undead as a threat, My Daughter Is a Zombie aims to “save” the zombie, suggesting a theme of accepting and finding humanity within the infected. The movie distinguishes itself by focusing on affection and offering a fresh perspective on the zombie genre by prioritizing character-driven story over destruction (plot-driven).
Veterans’ Acting and Newcomer’s Breakthrough
The movie promises a range of emotions, from comedy to heartfelt tears, as the father struggles with his daughter’s condition and their changing relationship.
As the central figure, Jo Jung Suk is the emotional anchor of the movie. He fluidly transitioned between broad physical comedy and gut-wrenching emotion. His portrayal of an awkward but fiercely loving father, who uses his zookeeper skills to train his zombie daughter, is convincing and grounded for the movie.
FYI, in the Webtoon, Lee Jeong Hwan is not a zookeeper but a freelance translator, and he receives help from his old friend, Cho Dong Bae, who is a veterinarian. In the movie, Jeong Hwan, as an animal trainer and taking the lead in personally training his daughter, makes the story relatable.
This was Choi Yu Ri’s first main role and possibly her breakthrough performance. She was only 15 when filming this movie. I think she effectively portrayed Su A’s transition from a feral zombie to a more tame version under her father’s training. In the scene when the zombified Su A hears the song “Number 1” being played and starts dancing, the actress’s facial mannerisms and muscle twitches are noted as being particularly perfect.
Lee Jun Eun’s comedic timing as the grandmother is perfect. The scenes when she, as the grandmother, applies conventional child-rearing methods to her unconventional grandchild are hilarious.
Ae Young-i, The Cat
Ae Yong-i ( 애영이 ), the cat, means “favorite” or “beloved”. The cat is the mascot of the movie and a scene stealer. Her casting was also done through an audition. Geum Dong-i, her real name, amazed the production team and actors with unexpected concentration and acting skills on set. The acting done by the cat itself and the CG work are about 60/40, and the facial expressions were aided by CG.
The Zombie Effects
Before filming, the young actress Choi Yu Ri underwent 10 months acting training as a zombie. Celebrated choreographer Jeon Young ( 전영 ), who has shaped the terrifying realism of zombies in Korean dramas and movies for a decade, choreographed the intricate zombie movements (Source: preetir @ Instagram).
Below is the excerpt of TenAsia article on the zombie special effects (Source):
“To fully embody the character, Choi Yu Ri underwent an arduous 300-day special effects makeup process from pre-production to filming. The makeup, which took two hours to apply each day, was divided into four stages to reflect the character’s emotional changes throughout the film.”
“To achieve a realistic zombie look, the makeup team created custom lenses specifically for Su A. Traditional special lenses were too large and uncomfortable for long wear, so a U.S. company was commissioned to develop custom lenses that maintained the visual effect while reducing discomfort. Various lens concepts were created to express Su A’s changing emotions and situations, and after extensive testing, the most suitable lenses were selected for each scene.”
The Beautiful Seaside Village in Namhae
The filming location for My Daughter is a Zombie was Namhae in South Korea, chosen because the director wanted a quiet, beautiful seaside village to set the story’s conflict of hiding a zombie. The choice of Namhae was significant for its warm, comforting, and aesthetically pleasing scenery.
Under the hands of renowned production designer Chae Gyeong Seon ( 채경선 ), the warm and cozy Grandma Bam Sun’s house was built. (Source: ChosunBiz)
Original Soundtrack
This is not the main theme for the movie, but the 2003 BoA track “Number 1” emerges as a song that Lee Su A practiced dancing to for the competition. In addition, Jeong Hwan frequently turned to this song to revitalize Su A’s memory. Lastly, the song also came out in the ending credits.
Conclusion
In my opinion, My Daughter Is a Zombie is a well-produced movie, evidenced by its success at the Korean box office. The film has grossed $38 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing South Korean film of 2025 (Source: Wikipedia). With talented actors who deliver compelling performances, including the cat, the movie expertly blends emotional family drama with comedy, and can make audiences both laugh and cry.
Ending Spoiler
The ending of the movie may or may not be the reason to watch, especially if you’ve read the Webtoon before watching the movie.
What is the ending?
Happy ending. Su A is cured because Lee Jeong Hwan produced an antibody for the virus from the minor injuries caused by Su A. Lee Jeong Hwan is shot and is in a coma. Later, when Sin Yeon Hwa shows the comatose Jeong Hwan the video of Su A dancing in the school dance competition, hearing the music, his finger starts moving. The story is changed to imply that he will eventually regain consciousness.
How is the ending in the movie differ from the ending in the Webtoon?
In the original source, Lee Jeong Hwan is shot and dies on the spot.
