The story quite twisted at the first but it gradually revealed and the curse of bad spirit is soo scary. The ending is good and the actor done good job in this drama
I would suggest for those who like this genre and i become fan of kim dong wook after this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
I usually stay away from horror movies and anything that involves demonic situations because I'm a wuss and proud of it.I had to get myself to only watch two episodes a day. Since I had to work I had to break it up into one in the daytime and the other at night. Some episodes I wish I had waited till the daytime to watch.
I knew I was in for it after the first few episodes. They had me wanting to turn on every light in the house...heck I was even tempted to leave the refrigerator door open!
I suck at names and don't even get me started on foreign names but for some odd reason I will remember Park Il Do...Even though that name was constantly being mentioned I won't forget that name for a while.
The casts who played as if they were possessed did a phenomenal job! Especially the little girl. I was relieved to see that each child who had to endure demonic situations received proper counseling because thinking about how many takes each actor had to do over and over would have a huge impact on their mental state. I, myself, had to watch something light after each episode to keep this off of my mind. Especially when I go to bed. I didn't want that to be the last thing on my mind.
The make up and special effect scenes were spot on. It had a realness to it. I've heard of people being possessed and it's no joke!! It almost made me question whether the director and writer experienced something like this or they just did a phenomenal job in doing their research on possessions.
I did have some takeaways from this drama. As I said before I truly suck at names and foreign ones are no exception. The guy who played the young priest had no emotion AT ALL!! Plus to me, he looked too creepy to play a priest! It doesn't help that I just saw four seasons of Voice and he played the villain in the first drama. He plays creepy really well, so this priest role was truly wrong for him.
The bromance was just too light and the chemistry between the main and supporting characters was just too thin. Plus the situation between the main male lead being able to see dead people was barely touched on. We learned he had this ability when he was a kid but it was long forgotten and just added back at the 15th episode.
The story behind Park Il Do was like a run on sentence. The explanation of his existence was just thrown into a monologue in the 16th episode.
It went off as if it will continue. I don't see how it could work because it'll be like repeating the first 16 episodes all over again.
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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.
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A Haunting Horror Tale
This year was the year I dipped my fingers into the Horror genre. I tried a little bit of everything: indie, arthouse, 80's classics... While I liked most of what I saw, nothing the West could offer surpassed the kind of excellence "The Guest" was."The Guest" opens up with the most chilling, intense and horrifying 30 minutes and continues to build suspense and terror during the entire drama. The premise of this series is relatively simple: three people who share the trauma of the same harrowing night as children come together after 20 years to catch the spirit responsible for the tragedy. Still, this description falls short; nothing prepared for the grip "The Guest" would have on me. The series is masterfully crafted, it seamlessly blends mystery, thriller and horror into a dreadful game of cat-and-mouse.
The central characters are deeply flawed - they fight, they're stubborn and impulsive, but also compassionate and very human. The kind of bond that forms between these tragic heroes is one of mutual understanding and loyalty.
"The Guest" isn't just scary (it might not frighten you at all)- but it's petrifying. Not because of jumpscares and ghosts, but because you cannot help but feel for the possessed people and their awful lives. It's like watching a ticking time bomb finally explode and leave a trail of carnage and blood behind. The exorcism scenes were cathartic and mesmerizing to watch - each was tense and grisly, and the performances were truly immersive.
While the strength of "The Guest" definitively lies in the twists, turns and reveals of the storyline, none of it could be achieved without lighting and music. The red, orange, blue and purple hues contrasted nicely with the dark scenes. They were atmospheric and eye-pleasing, perfectly complimenting the cinematography. The lights worked in tandem with the music, too: the title track "Somewhere" was beautifully sorrowful, and the rest of the OST was as much haunting, nostalgic and melancholic.
One day I'll return to watch it again, to spot all the clues and gain a new perspective, but for now, I'll leave "The Guest" how it is - a masterful piece about humans and family tragedies.
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Creepy mystery.
Most of the time I tend to stay away from the horror genre because the writing is always last on the priority list and heavy on the jump-scares and gore. Not this one. This has an actual story which begins when a series of unexplained murders take place in a small coastal town in South Korea. After a series of tragic events that affect the lives of three children well into adulthood, they are once again reunited to solve a series of murders that are gruesomely tied to their past. Now a cop, a priest, and a taxi driver, these three must uncover the sinister secrets in order to solve the mysteries that have altered their lives and threaten to destroy their futures.The three MLs are well-developed characters masterfully played by Kim Dong Wook as the taxi driver, Kim Jae Wook as the priest, and Jung Eun Chae as the detective They are all damaged adults changed forever by tragic pasts and reunited in friendship to fight crime and battle their dysfunctional personalities. The cop is angry and unfulfilled by loss. She has a chip on her shoulder, a loner, and feels she needs to prove herself by catching the bad guys. She is a force to be reckoned with and that leads to trouble among her colleagues. Jung Eun Chae embraces her character and plays the abrasive and distant detective well, yet brings out a fiercely protective and caring side in the face of danger. Kim Dong Wook is the amateur sleuth taxi driver who is much more interested in solving mysteries than driving his clients to their destinations. His tragic losses have also kept him from forming meaningful relationships due to a struggle to trust others, including those who want the best for him. My favorite character, though, is Kim Jae Wook as the young priest. Jae Wook portrays his character as a quiet brooder, who is very courageous and vulnerable at the same time. He doesn't shy away from his duties no matter how much they affect him. He is ready to sacrifice himself for his friends to the point of pushing them away for their safety. (It also doesn't hurt that he looks so slim and appealing in his priestly garb!) These three are, in fact, masters at pushing each other away until they realize that they are much more effective as a team. The journey of blame and mistrust giving way to fierce friendship is one of the aspects I most appreciated in this story. Stellar performances even from the guest and supporting cast make this show a treat to watch despite the subject matter.
The writing is excellent for the most part. It is gruesome, disturbing,, and downright creepy. At a little over an hour per episode, I could only endure two episodes per day because it is a scary, edge-of-your-seat kind of show. The circumstances surrounding the mysteries keep you guessing until the very end as to whom the culprit might be, Even then there is a twist. The OST is awesome and carries the drama beautifully. This is definitely one to watch if you like creepy mysteries.
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Suspenseful, never boring and...great cinematography
Overall: I loved this one. It's visual quality and production is superb, with the gory and the scary, on par with Strangers From Hell. OST contributed so well to the overall atmosphere and is def worth your playlist. Which reminds me of myriads of emotions this drama made me go through. I was freaking scared (and I watch horrors w no problems), but also I connected to the characters so much that I found myself getting emotional at certain points. This drama does not get boring or monotonous from 1st to last episode, which says a lot on a drama that is based on a single, repeatable purpose, of catching a spirit. This makes it definitely is a worth watch. However, I do not find it rewatchable; while entertaining I did not take the message of the drama, which arguably could be familial love and loyalty as motivation for difficult steps (or revenge?), I did not find drama's message as something clear or meaningful enough for a rewatch. Just meh in that portion.Detailed Breakdown:
Actors: 8/10
Actors were great, especially main lead, the taxi driver. I forgot their names already but that does not take away from overall exceptional performance. This drama really stretched the characters across spectra of morality, preoccupation, emotions and relationships and I have to say that I trusted the characters 100%, they comfortably switched between one extreme to another.
Storyline: 7/10
The storyline was very refreshing. I thought that three main leads coming together against the spirit, that has ruined their families (and lives), was executed superbly. I did believe each character in their actions which means, for me, that characters were developed well, and they make the storyline.
Entertainment:9/10
I don't know why for so many people mention this drama was not scary. I was freaked out throughout. I find myself recently not finishing most of the dramas I start, I wane off around ep. 12. However, the writers of the Guest knew how to build up tension and make it every time feel different. It definitely kept me in my seat.
Graphic and Aesthetic Quality: 9/10
This show did not hold back on presenting murders in the most graphic way possible. Also the whole demonic-exorcist procedures going on were in intense, and they really used the names of real figures in Catholicism while performing exorcism. This is 2018, but it's gory quality reminded me a bit of Strangers From Hell.
OST: 10/10
The main OST really contributed to the experience of the drama. I absolutely loved how they used their music.
Rewatch: 5/10I am certain that I will go back to the OST, but while it is entertaining and a great experience, I don't feel the need to rewatch it.
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Thanks for reading!
Have a good one,
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this show is on lists of most recommended k-dramas everywhere for a reason, PERIODT!
wow.where TF do i even begin to describe my admiration for this immaculate drama?!
first of all, i would never have watched this drama for its genre if not because of its title that keeps popping up on lists of most recommended k-dramas everywhere on the internet.
finally when i realise that k-drama fanatics aren't playing when most of them are agreeable in saying that this is a must watch, i relented with a heavy heart thinking 'i am doing this to tick off a to-do list. ughh it really feels like a chore, God help me'.
i remember it was around ep. 4 that i finally warmed up to the story and its lead characters, and by ep. 6, the phenomenal performance by the young possessed woman completely won me over, AND I WAS SOLD!
after that bingewatching this one after the next is a very easy thing to do, LOL.
as a little sidetrack, a new horror Netflix k-drama series, All of Us are Dead just released. i got curious about it, but sadly the review sucked. whenever considering a drama, the story is the most important thing for me, and because of that i feel like my respect and admiration for the writer-director combo for this drama has only deepened.
I'D SAY THIS IS A TRULY PHENOMENAL DRAMA ON EVERY LEVEL.
the pacing is good. mystery/suspense element is good. horror element is good. scriptwriting is excellent. directing is outstanding. casting, chemistry and acting, phenomenal. wow!
i feel the possessed people were build or progressed in a way that they become creepier and unexpected as the story goes on. and as someone who really do not watch this genre almost at all, i can still feel the shiver inside my chest just thinking about them LOL.
also, the finale. i was a bit lost about what happened in the last exorcism scene between Mateo and Hwa Pyung but someone in the comment section clarified that part for me so i'm all good now, haha. i was about to minus 0.5 points if they ruined the ending, kekeke.
WHAT A TRUE MASTERPIECE. this drama truly converted me for its genre and i'm so freaking glad i gave this a chance.
also, the trio's friendship truly warms my heart. i can't wait to rewatch this masterpiece again in the future.
signing out. ^^
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Amazing Series
This series was recommended to me so Thank you who ever did thatI love the supernatural and from A different cultures I was not Disappointed
All the Actors were wonderful and Played there parts to perfection
The 3 Leads In this Show Were simply Amazing You could really feel what they were going through
the way they formed the own little Family even thou they were brought together by Tragedy
and Loss but yet some How managed to put the needs of others over them selves
Especially when It cam to there little Trio They would go Hell and Back for each other
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An Exhausting Watch! I need a shoulder massage after this. It's too stressful, in a Good way!
Subjective Enjoyment Rating: 8.5Objective Drama Rating: 9.0-9.5
Disclaimer: Horror is usually the genre I avoid as it’s not really my cup of tea. I am a scaredy cat, though I am Ok with violence. My review is from a novice perspective.
I want to emphasize that this is a very stressful drama-watching experience for me. My shoulders were all tensed up from Ep 1 to Ep 16. I am not sure if it’s because I am a novice and not used to this, or if this drama is just so exciting and full of plot twists. This is a whole new experience for me and I’ve watched many, many dramas in the last 3-4 years, though not this genre.
The acting is excellent - from the youngest to the oldest, from the main cast to those with very minor roles. It’s nice to see Kim Dong Wook play a regular dude, not a CEO or professional. This is a side of him I haven’t seen before, and he’s much more expressive than when I saw him in his last drama, “My Perfect Stranger”. It’s also great to see my beloved Kim Jae Wook, not as the perfect boyfriend but as a stoic priest who really needs to act to show a range of subtle emotions. Jung Eun Chae as the main female member held her own in the trio. It’s so great to see a badass female cop who actually could come in and save the day physically, and not a damsel in distress. Additionally, this drama also has a pretty stacked veteran supporting cast.
Special effects, creepy and scary sound effects, hair and makeup, all added to the overall viewing experience. This is a top notch production and there’s really nothing I can pick on. From a horror perspective, it’s not too scary for me. I think the horror aspects are more visual (violence, gore, blood). It’s less of a psychological horror, thus, I wasn’t really scared at all. But if you don’t like violence and gore, I would not recommend this drama for you. Those exorcism scenes are quite a sight to behold.
Even though I was tense from the beginning to the end (what a crazy, exciting and an emotional last episode), I do feel that the pacing of some episodes is somewhat slow. These are hour-long episodes and at times, they felt longer than one hour. There are also times when not much happened and the main cast was running around in circles. I actually wanted more action. I also don’t feel the urge to keep on pressing the “play” button to go to the next episode.
For someone who is inexperienced in this genre, I do think this is a great drama. I am not going to pretend I have a very enjoyable time, because I was stressed out and exhausted. I definitely do not recommend binge watching this. But if horror is your thing, please do check this out. If you don’t like violence, gore and lots of blood, then skip this one.
Other Random Observations:
1. Hwa Pyung reminded me of Harry Potter, and Park Il Do reminded me of Voldemort. LOL.
2. I keep thinking the three main characters plus all their friends and relatives should all carry a cross with them at all times.
3. Shamanism working hand-in-hand with Catholicism? That’s interesting.
Completed: 2/5/2024 - Review #401
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I am glad that the kdrama are now open in this kind of drama about paranormal. I love horror and paranormal movies.Asian are still the best in this genre. Watching The Guest is really refreshing in kdramaland. I love everthything about this drama. The three main lead were great as an individual or as a group. One of the reason why I give this 10 because of the side stories of people being possesed. They were possesed without a reason and I liked how they showcase the weaknesses of human beings feeling sad, anger,envy, lust, grief, devastated, emptiness and loneliness.
Realization in this drama is LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL BUT THE WORLD IS CRUEL.
Even the world is cruel,Life is always have a purpose.
The other reason why I give this 10 because of the twist of the story. Hehe.. I thought that my conclusion was right but in the end the big revelation revealed unexpected..I watched so many mystery drama and I am easily solved it but in this drama its give me a rollercoaster ride. .You will thought that you finally seeing the full picture but they will give you other hint that make you think more about it. Haha..
Better to watch this it's really something new.
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This review may contain spoilers
Worth every minute of your time!
This drama has surprised me sooo much. After watching the first episode which was almost like a movie on its own I was completely hooked. I enjoyed each episode so much that I rewatched certain scenes several times. I haven't seen such great character chemistry in a very long time. They're just perfect together. Sometimes you meet people and you know they're gonna stick with you no matter what and it doesn't matter whether you've only just met them. This is a story of an incredible bond between 3 completely different people whose lives were cruelly marked by supernatural powers in their childhood. Carrying this heavy burden into adulthood, fate brings them together again and they set on a journey to fight the evil which dwells in each of us waiting for the right moment to wake up. This TV series celebrates classic horror themes such as exorcism and shamanism but even though it's meant to be one of the main features it doesn't overpower the initialy subtle line of friendship which only grows stonger and in the end takes over. This aspect gave this series the emotional dimension it needed whithout a need for filler romance which would only ruin the atmosphere. All actors have outdone themselves in portraying their characters. Exorcism spiced up by Korean shamanism was so incredibly interesting that I found myself craving for more Korean lore and traditions knowledge. It spiked my interest and has served as a great tool to flesh out the plot. The music has artfully supported the ambience and is deeply stuck in my mind. Now I just hope I will be able to find it on Spotify ? To conclude this drama will pay you back for your time with more than you expect. Definitely one of my top 5 dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
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