"It came from the East Sea..."

As someone who loves, but is not easily scared by horror, this show is terrifying, in a beautiful, tragic way. Although it is visually horror and the initial plot is very similar to a typical ghost story, this show is so much more than just that. It is somewhere between genres, somewhere inexplicable. The fear that it evokes doesn't come from the images or jump-scares, it comes from the story and the acting. It's one of those shows that can't really be explained in its entirety because its much more than just plot and images, it's feeling and emotion.

I found myself on the edge of my seat the entire show, and finished it in 3 days. There was never once a dull moment. The acting was superb, from both the main leads and the side characters (including the possessed). Kim Jae Wook really outdid himself... I thought it was his best performance yet. The possessions were very realistic (if that's possible lol) and relied on acting as opposed to CGI. The story was well thought out and compelling. The music, often very experimental and ambient, was simply chilling and very fitting for the tone and atmosphere of the show. As I mentioned above, I'm not easily frightened by horror, but this show had my heart pounding. The jump-scares didn't shock me, the graphic nature of the violence didn't disturb me, however the suspense was inescapably nerve-wracking.

I don't recommend this show to the faint of heart, but I recommend it to anyone who can stand a bit of horror. This show leaves a lasting impression and won't be easily forgotten, not in a nightmarish way, but in the sense that it will leave a mark on the viewer. I feel like I've said a lot of nothingness, but this show is immensely difficult to describe in words. The only word that comes to mind, the only word that can adequately describe "The Guest" is...

haunting.