I came to this film because it's a Park Chan-Wook work and because of Song Kang-Ho. I wasn't disappointed in either. The supporting cast, especially Kim Ok-Bin, did a great job. This was a dark, comic, vampire love story and I enjoyed the many levels of the film. This movie is not for everyone: it's long, it lulls at points, and it's brutal and sexy. THIRST is definitely original and worth watching to the end.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
The plot jumps around so much it's hard to keep track of who is doing what, and what is going on. I was confused most of the time, and also quite bored. It was hard for me to even finish this movie and it seemed like it dragged on and on...
My advice is: If you have 2 and a half hours that you want to waste go ahead a watch it. If not then don't even bother.
Was this review helpful to you?
Wow.
First of all, I didn't read any summary before I went into this movie. I put it in and that was it; I let myself be pulled through the movie with what the director wanted us to see straight in the face. This is probably a decision that I'm very glad I made.
Not knowing what to expect allowed me to be pulled along on a string with wide eyes and open mouth. It allowed me to discover the movie with no prehibitions and I'm glad – if I'd read the mixed reviews and such before I'd watched it, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much.
It's dark and twisted. There's a semblance of heaven versus hell, trying to do good before you lose hope, finally giving up only to find hope again. There's something archaic about the tropes but Thirst somehow brings this around into a new form of horror.
Now the basic plot to this is very much that - basic. It's been done countless times before across all forms of horror and thriller and honestly I'm a little bit sick of it. However, there's something about the characters that makes this plot work; they bring the overdone trope back to life and make it something enjoyable and dark. It's something that holds placement inside the title of "cult classic" and "original".
I truly believe if the cast were anyone else, this would have been as amazing as it was.
This film is dark, poetic, sexual and raw. And it paid off. It worked and it's beautiful.
I don't think watching it again would be as amazing as the first time, however. Part of the charm is experiencing it for the first ever time, and I think some of that would be lost watching a second time around. However, I would definitely watch this again for the story line and the characters.
Was this review helpful to you?
It was quite a joy to watch Song Kang-ho and Kim Ok-bin's relationship develop from humble priest vampire and opressed housewife to the battle for lust and blood. A seductive game of right and wrong. They blended all the combining themes effortlessly with their chemistry.
Was this review helpful to you?
It's very disturbing yet worth it.
This movie is definitely not for minors. Its so disturbing that even an adult like me is having a hard time finishing the movie without getting really disturbed.This movie is so dark yet it makes you ask the same questions as the characters are asking themselves. The story is really well written, the characters are well built, you can really see the difference between each character. The cinematography is really really interesting, the way they use the camera angles as a POV/experimental shots just to make the viewers have the sensation of being a part of the film.
Was this review helpful to you?
Cliché Vampire Film With An Excellent Cast
I'm typically a sucker for anything vampire related, especially movies and dramas....so I was instantly drawn to this movie and the familiar cast. The visuals and effects were amazing, as well as the music and acting . But some scenes seemed too fast paced to the point I was lost in the plot and just, unrealistic?? I mean, I know its a supernatural movie so of course it's going to be fiction, but some scenes were just too awkward or weird to watch, and I didn't really like the traditional old-timey take on vampirism. I was left a bit unsatisfied when finishing the film, I guess it's because I started it with high expectations, ignoring the previous reviews I've read. I originally gave this an 8 rating, but after some thought I truly give this a 7.5.Overall, it's not a bad movie. I did genuinely enjoy most parts of the movie and the thriller aspects, but I wish some scenes were a bit different, and I honestly probably won't rewatch this anytime soon. Maybe one day to see if my opinions change :p
Was this review helpful to you?
Masterpiece
What is it with Park Chan-wook that makes him so talented?The guy clearly understands how to write and frame broken characters in a sympathetic way. It’s a delicate balance to be honest. If my appreciation of his movies are any indication, I should be thirsting for movies with broken characters as leads but... I’m not. In fact, I prefer flawed but ultimately good characters in general, not genuinely broken ones. But he just forces it on you, continuously, then makes it work so well it’s baffling to me. And heart-breaking.
He did it with Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Oldboy, and he did it again with what I consider his masterpiece, Thirst, a sort of Psychological/Horror/Romantic thriller. A movie about damn vampires of all things! I usually don’t like vampires, or vampire movies. Well, except this one. To say it’s merely a vampire movie would be doing it quite the disservice though. Also, The Handmaiden remains his most erotic movie overall but this is definitely the runner-up on that front.
It’s a movie about abuse, physical and psychological. Return to the primal. And about religion, and faith, and giving back. But strangely enough, there is a melancholic and coming of age aspect to it too—vampire stories often are coming of age stories in one way or another as it can be compared to another form of puberty. And lastly, and most importantly, it’s a movie about power, which drives most of the central relationships.
Song Kang-ho… not much left to say about him. Most people who are remotely familiar with Korean cinema know he’s a legend, and so I have to sing his praises again here. He makes the movie work on a number of levels because of his nuanced performance, what an amazing actor.
But the revelation here absolutely has to be Kim Ok-bin who promptly runs away with the movie. Outright theft in plain sight!
I can already imagine casting agents watching this movie back then going like holy fuck, the range on this one. Stoic, vulnerable, badass, romantic, resolute, in despair, faking all of the above... name it. I was already familiar with her because of The Villainess, and while that was great, this is on another level. The sheer intensity in her gaze at times reminded me of Brigitte Lin, who’s had a much, much more prolific career.
It’s somewhat quite deliberately paced, which may or may not be your cup of tea overall. Watching the beginning after the ending, it does feel odd. This movie is truly a journey of some sort.
And I love it.
Onward to Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. I don’t think one can watch them more outrageously out of order than I did, but whaddaya know...
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
