Strangers from hell is bold. The themes it delves into and its unorthodox out of norm storytelling establishes it as perhaps one of the most experimental korean dramas ever.

Its a must watch for any psychological enthusiasts. Its littered with subliminal messages and symbolises throughout.

Story: First of, the story is absolutely flawless. Watching the main character slowly descend into the depths of madness as his deranged compulsions are motivated by the main villian. The writing here is insanely well done.
The show isnt over indulgent nor is it pretentious. All the set pieces are handled perfectly.

The ending aswell, without any spoilers, leaves much upto viewer interpretation. Many conclusions are feasible with this open ended plot.

Soundtrack: The soundtrack, nothing short of perfect. Its immersive, with theme sending shivers down my spine days after finishing the show. It fits perfectly with the eerie paranomical style of the movie.

Acting: The actors absolutely killed it. Lee Dong Wook nailed his role as the psychopathic serial killer, and i would expect nothing else from the highly acclaimed actor. But the one who shines the most here is the mc, Im Shi Wan. His potrayal of a man at the brink of insanity, while being reserved and submissive is oscar worthy.

The whole cast overall did an extremely good job here. All played their roles really well, and I dont think anyone else but them could've executed it better.

Directing/Visuals: Another aspect where Strangers From Hell shows excellence. All the scenes, be it the outdoors or inside the residence where shot with alot of care no doubt. Especially with the frequent use of tracking shots and well placed cuts, the momentum is never lost.

Overall, Stranger From Hell is masterclass in storytelling. With a solid soundtrack and a wonderful cast, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.

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Does alot of things better than season 1.

Bad Guys: City Evil is a tough cookie to crack. Sometimes it can feel jarring with excessive fight scenes, lots of unnecessary violence (not a problem for heavy action fans) and weak character development on the main cast during the first half, but man, its really an engaging and thrilling experience.

Lets begin with the characters. The casting is perfect. I doubt anyone could play these respective roles better than the assigned cast. They all have their own unique motives for their actions, which nicely connects to the over arching plotline, as well as compliment each other.

First half undoubtedly was a weak point in character development. Much of the cast was barely explored, and towards the end of the show, alot of them still remain unfulfilled. I wish we had a few more episodes dedicated to just the cast itself. Instead of chasing the plot to the end. Would've loved to see flashbacks of Heo working for Jo. Jang Sung Cheol's relationship with Pil Su and how far back they go. So many things i wish were explained/shown. But its really not a deal breaker. The plotline is so much more engaging and well written, it helps overshadow these cons.

Moving onto the story. Brilliantly written. Fantastic twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat at all times. Devastating losses, and thrilling moments, really cements it as a superb action show. The primary villain of the show, Jo Young, is insanely well realised. Even though he may come off as a one dimensional baddie at times, he still helps bring an ominous intimidating factor to the show. One downside is the latter half of the show, where his character is ruined, the writers really took a massive dump on him. The first half is action heavy, if your'e a fan of fantastic fight choreography and large scale combat, this is a wet dream. So very well shot. Done alot better than most shows. Though sometimes the awful zoom shots can really disorient viewers sitting close to their screens. I love the gruesome imagery with really bloody makeup on the cast. They dont have a perfect face by the end of most fight scenes, which makes it alot more realisitc. The impact of weapons and punches is gritty and really hits you on your nerves. They didnt hold back for viewers weak to heavy violence. And i love it. The fight scenes do dim down as the show progresses. The quieter and arguably better paced second half helps balance the show and give it a much needed relief moment.

The direction? Really good. Loved the fantastic camera placements and still shots throughout the show. Really helps capture the moment and immerse the audience. Moments that are quiet, have good shot selection and emphasis on characters. Nice use of depth of field to blurr the background and keep ample focus on the cast. Wide shots capturing the entire set is probably my favourite. Those moments really awe me.

Soundtrack? Solid. Nice composition which fits the theme. Nice mixing and timing for selected music during scenes. Overall. Nothing wrong at all in this aspect.

Bad Guys: Vile City in my opinion, is, superior to the first show and most ways. It improves via a better and well thought out storyline, better pacing, better direction, even if the characters fall short.

I believe this show would've been perfect if it ended a couple of episodes before the final ep. And the rest was left to explore characters, and chemistry on a episodic story basis. But alas what we have is nothing short of brilliant.

Thank you.

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