aklaif
The best horror-themed drama I've watched
First off, let me say I'm a big horror buff. Mention a horror film title, there's a 90% chance I've seen it. I rarely find them scary anymore. As for horror type K-dramas? I've yet to find one even remotely scary. The Guest was the only one I found at least unsettling. While the actual 'ghosts' weren't really frightening, the cinematography, sound design, and scenery created this gritty, off-kilter feel I really enjoyed. Fair warning: it's a pretty dark watch, and doesn't shy away from gore/violence/death.
Story: I found the plot of this one really cool. It was smart and kept me guessing. I liked how it blended elements of traditional shamanism and Catholicism. There's a bit of a demon-of-the-week format as our trio track down the Big Bad, but I found each mini-story compelling and tied nicely to the main plot. The pacing is great, and the slow-but-steady reveals kept the mystery from dragging. Knocked a point off because the 'climax' and final exposition scene could've been handled better, and some of the conflicts felt a bit repetitive. The actual end was satisfying however, though I've read criticisms that it left too much unanswered. I was fine with it.
Acting/Cast: Perfection! From our incredible main trio, to the memorable side characters, to the portrayals of the possessed, the performances in this drama absolutely made this drama. Yes, our three heroes are incredibly flawed people, and I could see why some might find them frustrating. But I thought the show did a good job of explaining why they were that way, and it made their character and relationship development more realistic and satisfying. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because I found the human antagonist too over the top - she tended to come across as cartoonish rather than the sinister vibe I think they were going for.
I rarely give 10s, but I'm giving one here, despite the show's missteps, because I thoroughly enjoyed it beginning to end. It drew me into the world and made me care about almost every character. And the art direction was fantastic. Recommended if you're looking for something dark and a bit different.
Story: I found the plot of this one really cool. It was smart and kept me guessing. I liked how it blended elements of traditional shamanism and Catholicism. There's a bit of a demon-of-the-week format as our trio track down the Big Bad, but I found each mini-story compelling and tied nicely to the main plot. The pacing is great, and the slow-but-steady reveals kept the mystery from dragging. Knocked a point off because the 'climax' and final exposition scene could've been handled better, and some of the conflicts felt a bit repetitive. The actual end was satisfying however, though I've read criticisms that it left too much unanswered. I was fine with it.
Acting/Cast: Perfection! From our incredible main trio, to the memorable side characters, to the portrayals of the possessed, the performances in this drama absolutely made this drama. Yes, our three heroes are incredibly flawed people, and I could see why some might find them frustrating. But I thought the show did a good job of explaining why they were that way, and it made their character and relationship development more realistic and satisfying. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because I found the human antagonist too over the top - she tended to come across as cartoonish rather than the sinister vibe I think they were going for.
I rarely give 10s, but I'm giving one here, despite the show's missteps, because I thoroughly enjoyed it beginning to end. It drew me into the world and made me care about almost every character. And the art direction was fantastic. Recommended if you're looking for something dark and a bit different.
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