Unlocked (2023)

Technology is a scary factor

New Korean content on Netflix, Unlocked, is an interesting and thought provoking movie about being heavily consumed by smartphones these days. While this is not the first movie to tackle this subject, it did a good job in delivering a realistic wake up call about the dangers of social media without any sugarcoating.

The pacing was good and the story delivered an unexpected twist in the end. It was suspenseful, it was urgent, and it was generally well made. Si-wan as the antagonist was convincing, although I felt that the thrill could have been more given it's genre. If you’re looking for a thrilling watch instead of a bubbly rom-com this February, Unlocked is one to turn your attention to.



My Rating : 7/10

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O tema tinha muito potencial

O filme é interessante e prende a atenção, é realmente assustador pensar que isso pode acontecer, não da forma como retratam no filme, contudo, não é algo muito distante da realidade. Ainda assim, eu acho que faltou mais coragem e ousadia no roteiro. Conhecendo o cinema sul coreano, eu sei que eles poderiam ter ido muito mais longe. Claro que toda a situação causa um grande desconforto no telespectador e é isso que guia a trama, porém as possibilidades eram bem maiores, não entendo porquê não foram além, aqui eles nos entregaram uma obra que é apenas boa e eu sinto que tinha potencial para ser muito mais. Destaque para a atuação do Yim Si Wan, esse ator é insano.

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Unmemorable thriller(with no thrill)

The movie wasn't good but it also not bad. It was something maybe I could watch in the background while doing some laundry. It was a textbook "serial killer" movie. The stalking, thinking the victim initiated it and the memorabilia, but what it lacked was any information about who the killer. The build up is that the true identity of the killer is the detective's son, but it turns out that he was his victim.
The character arch of the female lead made no sense, she was the quiet, every-woman and (I am using this term quiet often because that is the exact opinion I felt) but suddenly she becomes this badass strong avenger.
And the cherry on the top. No character dies. Yes there are deaths of his previous victims but no character we are introduced to dies. The father who she thinks dies, doesn't so...... it becomes a happy ending(this is a personal choice, I need me some misery).
I have been going on about what is bad, but there are two good things:-
1. Im Shi Won - though his acting skills could be challenged in much more way( again, though he was great, his acting was average.
2. The POV of the phone - the movie has multiple instances where the POV that the audience gets is that of the phone which is a cool cinematographic quirk,

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Review of Unlocked: 8/10 Stars

"Unlocked" is a gripping thriller that delves into the perils of digital privacy breaches. The film follows a woman whose life is upended when her lost smartphone falls into the hands of a hacker.

The lead actress delivers a standout performance, capturing both fear and resilience. The plot is engaging and keeps viewers on edge, offering timely commentary on technology and privacy.

Overall, "Unlocked" is a compelling and relevant thriller that earns its 8 stars with strong acting and a suspenseful storyline. It's a must-watch for fans of tech-driven suspense.

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An okay attempt at something bigger

This film has a-lot A-LOT of potential. On the surface it's quite cheesy, I think it's something that anyone could make if I'm being honest. The concept itself, I think is very relevant and if thought about more could've turned out to be a great social commentary on the use of cell phones and our privacy, but it falls short. Parts of the story are often rushed, characters like more than one trait, and overall not really add much to the film (I hate the detective) The videography does carry the film, it's very beautiful and at times is the main thing that turns up the eeriness of scenes. (Editing was 10/10) I think that tied with our ML's acting, which was pulled off great as he really does do a good job of creating an uncomfortable environment with his two-sidedness. However, that is just not enough to make this film good, and I don't have any urge to rewatch it.

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A REALLY WELL-DONE THRILLER

(I’ll try to keep this to minimal spoilers, if not any.)

Unlocked starts off with a really creative introduction. It shows us how we practically use our phones for everything and anything. Life would be hard without our phones.. The whole movie shows us that we have to be careful with our phones, laptops and other devices. Just one click on a file, link or whatever, can literally ruin your life. The fact this woman was being watched, and she didn’t even realise, it’s just scary,

The storyline is really good, and I’ll be honest, I was a bit put off by the ratings but each to their own! I enjoyed this movie a lot but I wasn’t really hooked until 20-30 minutes in and I guess that would’ve been long enough to drop it and forget about it but I’m glad I didn’t! It’s creepy. Really creepy, you see how manipulative he is but he planned it all out so well. It’s not just a man simply stalking a woman through her phone, it’s so much more.

I was really scared for the dad though. he’s really sweet to his daughter. AND he knew smth was off abt that man.. honestly parents know best

The acting was phenomenal. I’m really impressed by Chun woohee, she’s a rlly talented actress. Seeing her in atypical family, 8 show and here, she’s perfect for each of her roles and wow, she’s diverse in playing characters. Yim siwan did great as well, honestly he managed to be so creepy in such a believable way.

The ending though, I really would NOT have expected that. most unexpected plot twist ever I swear. This sounds sarcastic but I’m being serious.

DISLIKES:

I do think that it was a bit rushed and random when she found out it was through the phone and that it was him. Like all that build up all just for her to look at her phone and connect everything in her head? I would’ve thought there’d be a bit more to how she would realise.

OVERALL:
I think this is worth watching and giving a try. I’m giving it an 8.5 because it was great and I’d probably rewatch this with a friend. but a missing 1.5 because of certain flaws the movie had. If you like plot twists, watch this. and I mean chun woohee. Why would you not watch? But just as a reminder, this is all just my opinion. You may think this movie is trash and that’s fine! Because it’s totally up to you!

If you do watch this, I hope you enjoy it! :)

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Typical movie, but I enjoyed the concept

I was initially drawn to the phones and social media concept. Putting yourself out there too much leaves you prone danger.

But, the plot started as stupid as the main girl giving her PASSWORD for someone to repair her phone screen. That is not something that would be asked, and she never even questioned it. She was your typical dense girl for the sake of creating the plot. She would blame her friend she's known for years than the random stranger she met for a couple days.

I think they spent the most details on the beginning shot sequence, which was really well done.

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Must Watch

Unlocked" is an intense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The movie's fast-paced will keep you engaged throughout, with plenty of twists and turns.

One of the standout elements of "Unlocked" is its direction. The film's pacing is also expertly crafted, with the tension steadily building throughout the film until it reaches a stunning climax.

The cast of "Unlocked" is also excellent, delivering a compelling performance.

Overall, "Unlocked" is a wonderful movie that I highly recommend. The direction is top-notch, the acting is superb, and the plot is thrilling and engaging. If you're a fan of thriller movies, this one is definitely worth a watch.

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GOOD!

AMAZING! I haven't watched much of Siwans work but he always does well! He just always seems to have great chemistry with all of his coworkers! The main actress also did well and I really enjoyed her acting. The movie was so intriguing and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The way the story unravelled and how the movie kept you guessing if the killer is the detectives son or not or if the main characters father would survive or not. SOOOO GOOD! I recommend it! Plus its really fun to watch at night for bonus effect. It reminded me a lot of Strangers from hell. I loved how many conflicting moments there are in the movie, i guess thats all that its about...

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Thriller timide malgré un solide casting

Unlocked n'offre pas de nouveautés tant sur ses personnages que son intrigue.
Basé sur le roman japonais de Akira Shiga (que je n'ai pas lu ce sera donc un avis sur le film uniquement), il manque de corps et de matière pour devenir haletant et palpitant à souhait.

Malgré un solide casting, il reste une flamme timide qui peine à se démarquer du reste.
Tout d'abord, Im Si Wan en tant que Oh Jun Yeong, le tueur. Je n'ai jamais caché mon affection pour cet acteur et j'attends toujours avec impatience ses nouveaux projets. S'il reste brillant dans son interprétation, son personnage devient vite fade. On est sur le portrait type du tueur méthodique dépourvu d'empathie et cultivant le silence comme un mort (oui, j'ose la faire celle-ci). Parfois, on le fait passer pour un fou. Une idée qui aurait pu fonctionner, mais qui est mal amenée et perd donc de son intérêt. D'une certaine façon, c'était plus facile de mettre ses actions sur le compte de la folie plutôt que de lui donner un réel fond.
Ensuite, Chun Woo Hee en tant que Lee Na Mi. C'est une belle jeune femme qui aime passer du temps avec ses amies, elle travaille dure et utilise son smartphone en permanence. On nous dresse rapidement un portrait simple, mais efficace. Pourtant, c'est un personnage qui ne semble rien tirer de ses mésaventures. Peu importe le nombre d'ennuis qu'elle connaît, elle ne se remet pas en question. Si on peut se prendre d'affection pour elle, on change vite d'avis. Comme la majorité des caractères du film, elle manque aussi de profondeur et caractère.
Pour finir, Kim Hee Won dans la peau de Woo Ji Man. Là aussi, on prend peu de risque avec le cliché du détective qui s'implique corps et âme dans une affaire afin d'oublier la culpabilité qui le ronge.
En réalité, l'ensemble du casting est très bon, les personnages le sont moins.

Unlocked n'est pas mauvais, mais il ne sort pas des sentiers battus. S'il possède tous les codes du thriller, il ne prend aucun risque ce qui ne le rend ni haletant ni stressant. Cependant, il aura le mérite de rappeler les dangers que peuvent avoir le numérique lorsqu'on s'y attend le moins.

(et ok, j'aime voir Im Si Wan, mais est-ce un argument valable ? Ahah)

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