Beyond Evil (2021)

One of the most stunning tour de forces of acting you will ever see

If you tune into Beyond Evil for no other reason, then do it for Shin Ha-kyun's Baeksang winning performance as small town cop, Lee Dong-sik. Beyond Evil is an excellent, finely-written crime thriller. But even if this isn't your genre, you won't regret watching this acting masterclass unfold.

Accused of the murder of his sister and her friend while still a teenager, Lee Dong-sik has carved out a life for himself as a beat cop in his regional town. As Beyond Evil begins, this backwater is disrupted by the arrival of elite golden boy, Lieutenant Han Joo-won, who's been sent to the small town to avoid a scandal that could impact on the promotion of his high-profile father. Joo-won is convinced that Dong-sik is guilty: not just of the murder of Yoo-yeon and Joo-seon 20 years ago but of other, more recent, killings of illegal immigrants.

Yeo Jin-goo perfectly embodies an entitled member of a ruling class who’s long been led to believe he’s always the smartest person in the room and struggles to know how to act once he makes his first big mistake. And in any other drama, his performance would be considered exceptional. Unfortunately he's acting next to Shin Ha-kyun whose portrayal of this damaged and sometimes unhinged man is one of the most extraordinary I've ever seen.

There’s an air of Twin Peaks small town gothic to Beyond Evil; a sense of a facade of small town life hiding a darkness the denizens either ignore or deliberately plaster over in the name of community solidarity. And with the body parts piling up, it’s time for all those secrets to be dredged up too.

Beyond Evil is the whole package: the writing, acting, themes, music, production values are all top notch. But while it doesn't quite rival the true masterpieces in this genre - Forest of Secrets/Stranger for example - it is still worth every award it won this year. And Shin Ha-kyun has proven himself to be one of the best actors of his generation. And not just in Korea but anywhere.

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A psychological crime thriller of many layers

Beyond Evil definitely deserves recognition as one of the best dramas depicting psychological crime detective thriller.

With a dark gripping and highly thrilling plot to keep you at the edge of your seat.
the story first starts as a whodunit mystery of a 20 year old case that haunts our protagonist and essentially destroyed his family and life. and the story is written in a way that makes you doubt each character, if not for being the criminal, but for harboring evil and hiding a dark side in one way or the other. The first couple of episodes were a bit slow paced but serve a very important role in setting the stage, introducing the characters and the background story. The pace then steams up into a rollercoaster, you will be amazed at how each episode brings a new bomb of a revelation that leaves you shocked and intrigued. Starting halfway through the drama, I found myself constantly wondering "If all of this is revealed now so early on, how will the writer fill the rest of the drama?!", and each episode just proved me wrong. I will not say that the plot never loses steam, but let's just say that this drama left me feeling like peeling an onion. You think you've uncovered the truth, only to discover that you've only just hit the surface and a lot more is yet to unravel.

The story itself had many aspects which were all well balanced and perfectly written, it portrayed deep sorrow and hope, psychological pain and strength of character, vengeance and trust, frienship and enemosity. And the smart script, marvelous cinematography and direction helped bring out such a story in a gripping and truthful way (the story takes place in an undeveloped rural area, and I appreciated how the lighting especially in dark scenes was kept to a minimun to convey both the natural and mental feeling of darkness)

Above all the acting was one of the strongest points to the drama, thanks to solid performances by the two male leads, and their friends from the police force. In particular Shin Ha Kyun delievered a stellar almost-flawless performance, his acting was perfect shifting seamlessly from sad to mysterious to crazy to scary to evil to cute. He at times showed how broken and unstable he was, other times he was strong with a unwaveringsebse of justice, he was vengeful and other times forgiving. He had the best smile to send shivers down someone's spine. His acting alone could have carried the whole drama, but our second lead Yeo Jin Goo also delivered a very strong and believable performance that helped the viewer care for the two male leads' dinamic and how their relationship will evolve.

The music was very good with a lot of great tracks both instrumental and vocal that all fitted the atmosphere of the plot.

This is a strong recommendation to all crime/detective drama fans out there. Do not be fooled or put off by the slow paced plot the first couple if episodes, for you will be soon thrown down a dark pit of mystery and evil.

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It has been a long while since crime drama has kept me at the edge of my seat, excited about how the story was unfolding. Not since Flower of Evil, almost a year ago. It has especially been a long while since not one but two crime dramas have managed to do so. As a crime genre lover, it has been a wild ride and I am living!! I will talk about Mouse in another post but since Beyond Evil is going to end this week I thought I should talk about it first.

Why you should watch it:
1. Fantastic OST
I usually talk about the cinematography and OSTs at the very end of the review but OST was the first thing that I noticed about Beyond Evil so I wanted to talk about it first. The drama starts with a piece of very upbeat music that looks out of place for a crime thriller. For at least two episodes I kept feeling weird about the OST choices because why are they playing such a happy sounding music

For at least two episodes I kept feeling weird about the music choices of this drama because why were they playing a very loud song after someone died? But as the story progressed – it just made sense. The OST of Beyond Evil is phenomenal and a masterpiece. It is very rare for a crime thriller to have an OST quite like Beyond Evil. I had a feeling that a lot of people might want to turn it off because of the song choices but I think you should watch this drama for the added craziness of the scene because of the OST.

2. Shin Ha Kyun and his smile
I don’t think I have to talk about how amazing Shin Ha Kyun is. Whenever he is on the screen, he sucks you in the world of the character and keeps you there. So let’s talk about the character he is playing in the drama – Lee Dong Sik. Lee Dong Sik is surrounded by mystery and suspense. When you look at his face you can actually see that he knows more than he is letting on. When he cries you want to believe him but when he smiles you want to run away.

The drama is going to finish this week and I still don’t know whether I am rooting for him or I am afraid of him. If I can describe Shin Ha Kyun’s acting in one word, it would be – outstanding. There is no other actor who would have been able to give life to the character of Lee Dong Sik other than Shin Ha Kyun.

3. Yeo Jin Goo
I have seen Yeo Jin Goo in many dramas playing many different characters but dare I say, this might be his best work to date. There is just something about the way he is standing out and shining in Beyond Evil, especially when you consider that he is sharing the screen with Shin Ha Kyun and other veteran actors. This role suits him so well and also looks amazing in the drama.

Yeo Jin Goo is playing the role of Han Joo Won who is an uptight, law-abiding detective. He is not friendly, he says what he means and does what he wants. From the outside he is the complete opposite of Lee Dong Sik but, like Dong Sik, there is something about Joo Won that doesn’t fit. I can’t explain how wonderful it is to watch Joo Won throughout this drama and actually see his character development.

4. Rest of the cast
Beyond Evil is the kind of drama where you will suspect every single character that is on screen – including the main leads. These may look a certain way, they may act in a certain way but there is always something that they are not saying. So needless to say, like our two main leads, the drama has great actors to play those characters. The team of Beyond Evil has done a wonderful job casting these characters.

5. Writing and Cinematography
The reason I absolutely love crime investigation kdramas is that this genre needs a very tight plot that does not leave a space for plot holes. When you have a strict 16-20 episode time to wrap every plot and make it make sense – it makes for a great viewing experience.

Like I have said earlier, this drama is made in such a way that every single character feels suspicious and it feels like there is something that is right around the corner but you can’t see. The drama is purposefully written and shot that way and it is mindblowing. The director and screenwriter made a choice to not show the audience everything. They are playing hide and seek with us. Trying to keep making us guess what will happen next. All this with an addition of an incredible OST this drama is an experience that you can only understand when you watch it.

6. A perfect drama to binge watch
Beyond Evil is about to end this week and if you have not seen it yet, lucky you! This is the perfect time to watch. Beyond Evil is made to binge-watch. Every single episode ends with a cliffhanger and you don’t have to spend your week pulling your hair out waiting for the new episodes. Get your snacks, turn off your lights for ambience, turn off your phone and start watching Beyond Evil.

CONCLUSION
I am planning on making a separate spoilery in-depth review of this drama because there is just so much that I need to talk about Beyond Evil that I can’t talk about here. So once you are done with this drama, make sure to come back and scream with me, please. In conclusion, if you are a crime genre lover like me, do yourself a favour and don’t miss out on Beyond Evil.

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A worthy Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor

Enough praises have been showered for this amazing thriller, and no wonder it’s a Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor. I feel that it’s even more amazing when this drama has an original script and not an adaptation of a novel or webtoon. Adaptations seem to be so common these days that original ideas from screenwriters have run dry. This genre is not usually my cup-of-tea and I was hesitant to watch even though I know it’s a masterpiece. I’m so glad this was assigned to me during a challenge and ‘forces’ me to witness the amazing acting of the whole cast.

Shin Ha Kyun’s award for Best Actor is so deserving. As a veteran, and mostly a movie veteran, he was perfectly casted as the “crazy” cop who was desperate to find his murdered sister’s missing body for over 20 years. Being accused of killing his sister and living a really hard life, Shin Ha Kyun was able to portray all the emotions of grief, guilt, regret, hate, and being loved by his found family. I was haunted by the evil grin and eyes he showed from time to time, but also cried for him when he’s been hurt so deeply by people close to him.

On another note, Yeo Jin Goo held his own playing opposite the amazing Shin Ha Kyun. He has grown so much as an actor and continues to amaze me whenever he’s in a serious drama. I first loved him as the young crown prince in “Moon Embracing the Sun” but really acknowledged his acting in “The Crowned Clown”. Although he is probably best known for his role in “Hotel del Luna”, I think with him being in “Beyond Evil” and playing with so many great veteran actors must be a very enjoyable process. Yeo Jin Goo’s character, Han Joo Won, might not be as multi-layered as Shin Ha Kyun’s character, Lee Dong Shik. Joo Won could be a little more emotionless but Yeo Jin Goo’s micro expressions and subtle yet emotional acting shines through. I might be more impressed by this young fella than the veterans.

But honestly, the whole cast from the found family of friends, to the villains who cause troubles, they are all amazing. The group of friends who hung out at the restaurant after work each night brings warmth to my heart. They care for and love each other, yet each harbors a secret that you will discover one by one. The villains are not cartoonish. They are so well-written that you don’t feel like you can hate them outright.

The friendship/partnership between the leads is fun to witness. Do they really trust each other as partners? Are they just using each other for their own purposes? Do they really care for each other? Is their next move to protect the partner? This drama keeps me guessing and I love both of them. I really want them to want to die and sacrifice for each other, even though you will never hear them say that out loud.

Lastly, the drama keeps me interested and engaged throughout. From my novice eyes, I love the plot and twists. I thought initially why they let me know the murderer so early on and then I realized, there’s so much more to the story. Different side plots seem to all intertwine into the main plot. It keeps me guessing but not guessing. It’s like you know who the big bad wolf is, but you wonder how the drama is going to show you. I enjoy the showing and not telling approach. There are some pretty intense scenes and a few pretty grueling visuals (after all this is about murders).

If I am going to be nick picky, there are a few minor questions I have about the storyline. Why would Ha Joo Won pick that certain someone for the sting operation? Why her? How did he know she would be chosen? What's the commonality of all the murder victims? Is there a reason to the madness? I would have loved to know more about the backstory of the murderer and what drove him into this madness.

I am really glad I watched this, even though I might have fallen asleep watching it because I was too tired from work. It’s not the fault of the drama, but it does require my focus and attention 100% because each scene and each facial expression is important. I strongly recommend this if you are a lover of this drama, or if you are a novice like me and want to start with something amazing.


Completed: 3/1/2024 - Review #412

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An intricate plot of 21 years worth of some dark secrets...

Hands down one of the best criminal dramas I've had the pleasure of following ever since it's release.

The premise for this drama was high as my expectations the minute I've heard about it, and glad to know it did not disappoint.

I've got to say, am sad that it's not having the hype it truly deserves, because this is a masterpiece to be appreciated.
The way the plot was made and how every single characters kept getting more interesting as the drama unfolded and the constant lies and deceit dwelled and made the viewer grew suspicious of the most unlikely character is astonishing...

Personally my favorite thing about this drama, is definitely the partnership of the two main characters, Dongsik and Juwon.
An uncommon duo that through their bickering and stubbornness, led the viewers into an adventure of traps and suspicions.
Two different characters and yet also similar, struggling with their own issues, both trying to find their right path and justice.

It's a full journey from the minute they met, until the very end. And I must say, their development of caracter, their own growth truly shines in the very last episode. In that one heartbreaking scene inside the house that depicts their overall progress, and how much they've changed and committed to their very beliefs, finding right and wrong. It's raw, and emotional and brilliant.

This is a gruesome drama, albeit there might be worse than this one, description is advised.
Still if you watch for the criminal and judicial terms and themes, then this drama is right for you.

One thing is certain it won't leave you bored. It's realistic, and shows how greedy and deceitful people are, even those one can least expect too. It has it's moments that might mess around with your assumptions, and definitely has some Psycho definitions, and yet if you're one to assume or create theories maybe you might get right on some, and others will make you doubtful, because nothing is for granted here until the end.

The OST is okay, I liked it. It matches well the drama. But what engaged me more was the plot.
Maybe I am being biased because I really enjoy these kind of dramas, and because the acting of Yeo JinGoo here is remarkable just as Shin HaKyun, but then again every single one the cast did their roles well. I've got no complains on that regard.

So, I highly recommend for criminal/thriller enthusiasts. It's definitely a must on your list ;)

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It exceed my expectation

I don’t have to habit of rating drama but I think this one needs to get the recognization. It has a great story, outstanding acting from every single actors, music are on point, the cinematic is just really pleasing and smart. Maybe it’s a bit slow at the first 4 eps but after ep 5 everything went quick and intense. The writer got me “wow” at the end of every single ep. Tbh, that’s awesome timing. Shin Hakyun and Yeo Jin Goo performance is ace. The chemistry is overflowing, expression on their faces are so on point. The supporting actors did well too. The ending is the most satisfied ending I have not seen from kdrama for a while. I got teary eyes and it’s not predictable as well as boring. The script is solid from the beginning till the end. Must watch!

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Amazing series! A must watch!

This series is truly breathtaking and keeps you in the edge throughout the whole run.

Every actor in this series have delivered in the most impeccable manner and no one falls short in delivering. Yet, a special shout-out to the two main actors (Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo) must be given for their baeksang worthy performance. The bromance are intricately developed and I like how their relationship develop throughout the series.

I truly love this series because there are no unnecessary romance or any unnecessary theme, and the darkness in the story is carried out without being cheap or silly.

It drags during the first episode but after that it has been nothing but a gift that keeps on giving. I will definitely rewatch this series, and as much as I'm wishing for another sequel, the series has given us a truly satisfying ending.

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A tale of twisted characters.

I am honestly in awe how refreshing and gripping Beyond Evil was - even taking into consideration how, at times, it follows rather well known scenarios and clichés. The key to its success lies in the versatile characters and dynamic relationships between them.

The plot gives us the same old story of a serial killer on the loose, detectives with personal stakes and bits of political scheming surrounding it. Does not sound that groundbreaking, does it? Thanks to the complex, amazingly written and dynamic characters, the story is not as simple as we might have initially thought.

Each character had their own story, secrets and goals. There were no noble good guys, but we did get a lot of amazingly gray characters and a variety of villains, each of them having a unique reasoning behind their actions and wrongdoings. Slowly we gathered more puzzle pieces that form a complex picture that goes beyond the actions of just one person. I am truly incapable of describing how perfect the set of characters in this show was. They were all so unique and intriguing, I could literally watch them just talk to each other, and it would be entertaining.

That said, the explanation of the big mystery felt flat. With how amazingly the tension was building, how we could not predict which of the characters were involved - the answers just didn’t do it for me. For some aspect, I just didn’t get any explanation. To avoid spoiling the show, more about it in the comment under the review :)

As for the acting, Shin Ha Kyun went beyond what’s humanly possible in delivering us the compelling character - Lee Dong Shik. There are not enough positive adjectives in the dictionary to truly describe this performance - he was simply talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before… you know what’s up. The acting gave me the best type of goosebumps - some scenes were worth rewatching countless times.

What’s more, I genuinely believe this is the best performance we have seen from Yeo Jin Goo. Just the fact he was able to keep up with Shin Ha Kyun and his performance did not feel flat at all, but rather I saw it as gripping and convincing, means a lot.

Of all the main and supporting actors, I did have a small beef with Son Sang Gyu in episode 11 and 12 - the acting was just not right. There was too much going on for my liking. Taking into consideration this was his first role, and he was surrounded by quite experienced actors, I am not mad about the end result and I am willing to let it slide.

The production value was pure perfection. Not one frame felt off, not one detail has been out of place. From camera work, to editing, up to soundtrack - everything crafted in a way to elevate the story to an artistic level. With no hint of exaggeration, Beyond Evil has one of the best soundtracks in the history of kdramas. Choi Baek Ho’s “The Night” is simply a masterpiece.

Overall, it’s a characters and relationships driven drama, with the plot serving as the background for us to understand and enjoy the ever changing dynamics between them. Beyond Evil might not seem as a masterpiece for people preferring fast paced shows, that said, with how gripping and fascinating the characters and performances are, I would highly recommend everyone to at least give it a chance.

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Bromance

the chemistry between the 2 male lead is amazing.
we need a lot of drama like that. that have good Ost and story and OMG Excellent acting, their facial expressions 10/10
and the gaze looks at each other eye.





I can say that the director and the camera angle are perfect, I love the scene even I repeat it like 1000000 times with my UwU face ( the uwu slap face )

the poster is sexy or is that is my wild imagination, the two of them tied each other in handcuffs. like: you will not run from me, my love. we will be forever in the bad and in the good.

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one of the best of 2021

one of the best dramas of 2021!!! the plot may not be extravagant but the cast, i swear they are beyond excellent! special mention to lee dong shik, park jeong je and han ju won. i am a fan of character-driven dramas, and i love the fact that despite this being plot driven, the characters werent set aside. you could still feel every pain and sorrow that they are going through. and the actors were superb. dont even get me started with dong shik and jeong je. i just just loved loved everything about this drama.

honestly, what i expected is like super dark vibes, but it wasnt like that. the atmosphere was lighter that what i have thought but the things that are happening, esp in dong shik's life arent as bright as that.

i'd say that the plot is simpler than what i had expected, but this drama did well with the mind games and the tricks they're hiding in their sleeves. it managed to maintain the suspense even though the culprits were revealed pretty quickly.

and how the actors delivered that ending... beyond touching. the ending wasnt even a scene that will supposedly makes me cry, but i dont know why i did. i was literally teary eyed while watching that scene. i just want to hug everyone and keep them safe. dong shik and ju won's friendship was so beautiful i feel like towards the end it became more of a familial love. i'm glad that despite everything that happened in their past, they were able to form such an amazing bond and helped each other recover.

so if you're hesitating to watch this , dont. GO AND WATCH THIS BEYOND EXCELLENT SHOW. you won't regret it.

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"Can you still hear the cry of that deer?"

Because of my love for Shin Ha Kyun I jumped into this drama right after the airing of the first episode. I just had to watch this so badly, even if it wouldn’t be a good production. But really, what else is there to say about Beyond Evil other than it’s the best drama of 2021 for now.

The direction is so cinematically poetic, dark, deep, metaphoric.

The story is very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. Nothing was forced, every episode made sense.

Some people might complain about the music, because it doesn't get every person into a serious mood, but for me it was so powerful it haunts me to this day.

The acting! Oh, the acting is beyond good... Shin Ha Kyun had definitely shown us the creepiest smile with the saddest eyes, so much pain hidden inside. And what’s even more amazing, Yeo Jin Goo wasn’t overshadowed by this veteran actor who always steals all of the attention. He also showed us marvelous emotional performance (especially with his heartbreaking gaze in a few scenes). AND THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THOSE TWO. I really don’t know how to say this, but it’s just something we probably won’t see anytime soon in the upcoming dramas. They played so extremely well together that it’s a crime to miss it.
And let’s not forget about the rest of the actors… even they were so immensely great! (Choi Dae Hoon especially resonated with me) It’s scary how I don’t have anything to complain about…

It’s just beyond good. I loved every second of it. This show is epic.

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