10/10 with no doubt
Strangers from hell is such a good series for people who are looking for a thriller type of kdrama. If that's your case, then you're 100% be interested in this series.The dark cinematography is not something that I usually enjoy, but it fits the story so much that I wasn't even bothered with it.
Even though some scenes might be very disturbing, I think they are what makes this kdrama different from other thrillers.
The soundtrack is on point for every scene and the characters are very well structured. There are little to no plot holes and everything fits like a big puzzle.
The only reason why I gave this drama a 9.5 of rewatch value instead of a 10 is because NOTHING equals to watching this for the first time, even if the series is still awesome on the second time you watch it, there won't be that feeling of surprise at every scene anymore.
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probably my favorite show i have watched.
me, personally, i love this show so much. i saw it on netflix when i starting using my friends and i immediately got interested. my favorite character is mun-jo of course because he is played by the beautiful and amazing lee dong wook. i was watching the first or second episode of this show and i got my mom into it so i couldn't watch it without her. we both loved the show. it took me a little longer than expected to watch this 10 episode show of an hour each because i had to watch it with my mom, but we still loved it.the acting was magnificent. the facial expressions, actions, everything was amazingly done. i have the OST playlist saved on my spotify, i listen to it all the time. the actor of the twin(s) did very well. the character was pulled off so nice by the actor. im glad that they took his role in the show. im siwan, my dude, you did a m a z i n g in this. lee hyun-wook also acted very well in this. im not going to list off everyone's name but long story short, i DEEPLY recommend this. of course if you are sensitive to violence, insanity, language, blood, etc, i would not recommend. even though it is a good show, it can be triggering to some people. over all else, i loved it and will most defiantly be watching again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Twists and turns around every corner and an ending that leaves you with your jaw on the floor. A creepy hostel where everyone in it is harboring some dark secret or evil side of themselves, but inside there are no rules. Yoon Jung-Woo moves in and slowly begins his decent into madness.--Spoilers Below --
Yoon Jung Woo when he's first introduced is a handsome, smart guy who is pursuing a job in tech. His girlfriend lives in a different city and is working for a large company. Jung Woo finds everyone in the hostel creepy and somewhat strange, but cannot find another place cheap enough, so he stays there. He slowly begins making friends with some of his neighbors, particularly a handsome dentist: Seo Moon Jo. As the months go by, Jung Woo finds his life dreary and finds everyone around him annoying and beneath him. His coworker speaks down on him, but is secretly a pervert. His boss who is supposed to be his friend... is trying to steal his girlfriend behind his back. He cuts every one off and begins spending more time with Moon Jo. Their relationship, although odd, was one of my favorites in the show. As more and more time progresses and the longer Jung Woo stays in the hostel, the more his mind goes crazy. It's hard to tell what's real and not real and in the end, he's the one who pays the price fully.
Seo Moon Jo is a serial killer who has been hiding in hostels with other killers moving around for years. He works as a dentist for his ordinary life and comes home to the hostel and is cannibal by night. He found solace in Eom Bok Soon and they begin running the hostel together as a cover for killing and eating people. They kill tourists and random people who come through, never being enough evidence for the hostel to be considered or they leave before the cops can come for them. He is more controlled with his killing and methodical and also wants to find a prodigy to pass on his talents and live on in them. Moon Jo slowly brainwashes Jung Woo and falls in love with him, making him do whatever he wants, and Jung Woo not even knowing. He knows what Jung Woo is capable of and brings it out of him. Towards the end as the cops zero in, he gets Jung Woo to kill him and completing his wish of living on inside of Jung Woo's mind.
I loved his character and the way Lee Dong Wook played him. Such a dark and evil character, but has such a charisma that even pulls you in as a viewer.
-- End of Spoilers --
I didn't care for the cop side of the story at all because the more interesting side of the story was in the hostel, in my opinion. I skipped through most of it and stuck with watching the main plotline. Other than that, I would say it's not one that you would be able to re-watch since the main mystery and thrill is gone, but it's still a great, easy, short watch.
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Creepy and intense
Strangers from hell started as a basic suspense story in the first 2 episodes, however things started taking a different turn when Lee Don Wook was introduced.Charming dentist and the strangers with their murderous intent in a residence, teams up to form a bunch of psychopath who kills for fun. The climax was a bit of twister, although it was a little predictable.
Nevertheless, Strangers from hell was an intensely suspense thriller, with lots of violence and craziness that sometimes maybe a bit difficult to consume.
My Rating : 8/10
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It makes you connected with the characters, and the ending was so twisted and Im shi wan acting was superb as always.
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ITS INSANE
I just completed this drama. The ending left me wondering. What the hell was that? I was not really expecting it. This drama is beyond creepy. It is a work of insanity. As if one insane killer is not creepy enough , we have a gang of them. Many scenes were spooky and it gave me chills. I almost lost it when I saw that bracelet made of human teeth. How did they even come up with that? Its just crazy. I have to say , the storywriter is brilliant. The actors did a great job as well. I was literally cursing at the characters. I hated almost everyone around the male lead. Humans are definitely the scariest creature of all.Was this review helpful to you?
So creepy, The Stuff of Nightmares
This drama has such an excellent atmosphere, the music, and the boarding house, so creepy, so dark. All the acting was fantastic, the story is depressing as hell, and parts are horrifying. I would have liked to know more about the other inhabitants of the Eden Boarding House and I will say that I found a few things to be so difficult to believe that it broke the story's spell on me, but overall this is a must-watch if you like thrillers or horror--or Lee Dong Wook. As this story unfolds there are so many moments where our MC is almost able to escape bad things we know are coming for him, but his chances to evade fate are always stopped--this makes for great tension.Was this review helpful to you?
Not a spoiler review
Review of "Strangers From Hell""Strangers From Hell,"is a 2019 South Korean psychological thriller.The plot centers around Yoon Jong-woo (Im Si-wan), a young aspiring writer who moves to Seoul to pursue his dreams. Struggling financially, he decides to rent a cheap room in an old, dilapidated dormitory called Eden Studio. The dormitory is populated by a strange and unsettling group of residents, each with their own eerie quirks and unsettling behavior. As Jong-woo becomes increasingly unnerved by his neighbors, he finds himself trapped in a nightmarish situation where reality and paranoia blur.
One of the series' strengths lies in its atmosphere. From the moment Jong-woo steps into Eden Studio, there is an overwhelming sense of unease. The narrow, dimly lit hallways, the oppressive silence, and the unnerving behavior of the residents create a claustrophobic environment that mirrors Jong-woo's deteriorating mental state. The setting itself becomes a character in the story, contributing to the sense of dread that permeates every episode.
Im Si-wan delivers a stellar performance as Yoon Jong-woo. His portrayal of a man slowly descending into madness is both convincing and terrifying. As the series progresses, Jong-woo's initial discomfort turns into full-blown paranoia, and Im Si-wan masterfully captures this transformation. His ability to convey fear, desperation, and anger with subtlety adds depth to the character and keeps the audience invested in his fate.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly Lee Dong-wook as Seo Moon-jo, the enigmatic dentist who lives next door to Jong-woo. Lee Dong-wook's portrayal of Moon-jo is chilling, exuding a quiet menace that is both captivating and disturbing. His character is the embodiment of the evil that lurks behind the façade of normalcy, and his interactions with Jong-woo are some of the most intense moments in the series.
*"Strangers From Hell"* is not just a horror series; it is a commentary on the alienation and isolation that can arise from living in a densely populated, yet emotionally disconnected, urban environment. The series explores themes of loneliness, social anxiety, and the fear of the unknown, all of which are amplified in the oppressive atmosphere of Eden Studio. The residents of the dormitory represent different facets of this isolation, each one a reflection of the darker aspects of human nature.
The series also delves into the concept of hell as a state of mind. As Jong-woo becomes more entangled in the web of madness surrounding him, he realizes that the true horror lies not in the physical world, but in the psychological torment inflicted by his own fears and the malevolent influence of those around him.
However, *"Strangers From Hell"* is not without its flaws. The pacing can be slow at times
In conclusion, *"Strangers From Hell"* is a gripping psychological thriller that offers a haunting exploration of the human psyche. Its intense atmosphere, strong performances, and thought-provoking themes make it a must-watch for fans of horror and psychological drama. While it may not appeal to everyone, those who appreciate a slow-burning, character-driven narrative will find much to admire in this dark, unsettling series.
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This review may contain spoilers
Ok this was... really really good??!
I went into this show with very low expectations, but by the end I was totally immersed and impressed by how well-crafted and rattling it was.Story: psychologically twisted while still retaining some realistic and relatable elements. The premise is far-fetched, but at its core, is grounded in the dark realities of human behavior. It successfully conveys how deeply ones' mental state can be polluted and transformed by their circumstances, and how strangers harbor evil in its various forms - envy, narcissism, gluttony, lust - that can infect you and latch onto your weaknesses and traumas. This is a reflection of a disturbing and mysterious reality that exists in every social and cultural space, and in all walks of life. The show did an excellent job of portraying what happens when these situations collide and spiral out of control, with focus on how they are allowed to fester and metastasize in lower class communities in particular.
The characters are all uniquely crafted, and the acting was mostly stellar across the board. The apartment dwellers were all so sickening, but I was most impressed by Moon Jo, played by Lee Dong Wook whose performance was masterful and chilling. The role suited him so perfectly, that it was clearly made for him. I had only seen LDW in Goblin before this, which was very forgettable for me, but he shines in this role. I now understand his appeal – not because he plays a psychopath so well, but because his immense versatility as an actor was on full display.
The cinematography was creative without being excessively stylized or over-the-top. I appreciated the liberties they took with camera movements and color treatments that made the torment of living in such a horrible, disgusting, cramped space feel tangible.
Some criticisms: Jung Woo's overall arc and development had a nice, arguably sluggish, gradual build up only to be very rushed by the end. His acting was on point 95% of the time when it didn't look like he was trying too hard. I do wish the show included more background info on the dynamics of the apartment dwellers, maybe through some flashbacks that show us how they met and wound up living there, but I also understand why the writers wouldn't want to include this, as to not undercut the main theme of coping with mysterious presence of strangers. The show was riddled with some pretty dumb character choices, a few predictable twists, but none to really put me off completely. The end also felt a little bit rushed and sloppy. Brief allusions to The Metamorphosis by Kafka were nice, I just wish they explored this more.
Overall, very disturbing but highly recommended if you can stomach it! It's one of those shows that stuck with me for days after finishing it and gave me a lot to think and lose sleep over.
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Disturbing yet interesting
This is probably one of the best kdrama thriller I've watched. I won't gonna ask for more and there's no need for season 2 because the series was all enough. I can't call whether it is masterpiece or not but all I can say is, good is just an understatement because it surely one of the great kdramas I've watched. The casts were chosen perfectly and they are all suitable to their respective roles. Plus the sound effects and osts made it creepier, the location seems fine for its genre and this is highly recommended for everyone who loves dark series.Few reasons to watch this series:
First, this is not a typical story about ghosts or supernaturals, it was about humans with their inhumane deeds. It simply tells us that our enemy is also the other people.
The casts potrayed their roles perfectly. I'm glad that all of them justified the characters from webtoon adaptation. I highly praised every casts there because they did a superb work! Im-Si Wan (Joong Woo) was really an effective protagonist, the way he speak and the way he express his anger captivates the viewers. Lee Dong Wook (Moon Jo) is such as versatile, I thought he only suit for romcoms but I was wrong. He proved that he can also portray being a serial killer, he used his charms to gaslights people. Lee Jung Eun (Bok Son) also did a great job! I really feel frighten whenever she tries to be generous then aftetwards there is some sort of change that you need to pay back. Park Jong Hwan (Deuk Jong) that crazy guy also one of my fave cast there and kudos for him doing such a double role. The way he laugh makes me laugh too. Lee Jong Ok (Nam Bok) that horny guy, I hated him throughout the series but I have to admit that his horrible personality actually added creeps.
It was confusing and leave you puzzled. I kept on binge watching it to the point that it took me just one and a half day just to finished it.
The plot twist wasn't that really good because it is predictable but still the story line is great.
There were some scenes where it shows lacking but still applause to OCN for producing such this wonderful series.
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The most unsettling drama i've ever watched
Wow. I just finished this drama and needed a few minutes to process everything. I actually dropped this drama for months when I was at the 4th episode cause I felt like things were too slow for me. I picked it up today and decided to binge the rest of the episodes cause I had nothing better to do. I believe it was starting to really pick itself towards the end of the drama and by the 8-10 episode I was completely absorbed into this. This was one of the most unsettling dramas I've ever seen. The acting was phenomenal and the eery atmosphere of this drama had made me sit at the edge of my seat. This drama really did get better the more you watch it. The only reason I gave it an 8.5 was the fact it was a bit too slow for me, in the beginning, I was struggling to get through the episode and I was growing impatient waiting for it to pick up. BUT IT DID PICK ITSELF UP.If you're questioning whether you want to give this drama a chance or not. I would just advise you to be mindful, this show is heavy in gore and can be a lot to watch, please make sure to be aware of the warnings before proceeding. To those who find this drama slow or boring at the start, I assure you this drama does indeed pick itself up and get so much better. If you ever get uncomfortable or feel like a scene is too much, stop the drama, The scenes are unsettling and heavy to watch and they don't get better or less grotesque, BUT STILL to those who LOVE psychological thriller and horror, I RECOMMEND THIS DRAMA. It is BRILLIANT.
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A slow trip down the rabbit hole of insanity
What an amazing drama! The gripping atmosphere, the intense music, the story-telling, the top-notch acting and so much more. Everything was just a masterpiece. Granted that there were a few instances where you, the viewer, will have to overlook minor plot instances and go with it. However, I believe that a drama need not cover all the minor plot holes and should be seen for what a drama is supposed to be - entertainment.If you're looking for something that will keep you at the edge of your seat, holding onto your every breath and possibly questioning your own sanity, this is what you're looking for.
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