A Horror Staple
As you can see from the headline, Sweet Home was a horror staple. The first thing I noticed in it was the editing of the monsters and the costumes. The team did really well with that. They deserve the highest compliments for that. It was really realistic to the point where I got scared. I am usually unfazed by watching horror shows or movies at 2 in the morning, but this was done so well that I could only watch one episode a day because it left me quite unsettled.Moving on to the story, I would say that it is not predictable at all. It was actually a tad bit hard to understand but after 7 episodes I finally got it. It was fairly well written, but the cliffhanger was one of the worsts (or should I say best) ever. I'm still waiting for a season two but there was and has been no activity about that announced yet.
As for the cast, I can't express how much I love each and every single one of the members. Let's start with Song Kang. His versatility is just beyond words~ from high school popular boy (in Love Alarm) to demonic and monstrous teen. Secondly, Lee Jin Wook really had that raw feeling to him. He portrayed the role really well and I can't see anyone else doing that role at the moment. Lee Shi Young just represents were character so well; she really brings emotions like desperation and characteristics from her character's firefighter experience to life. Lee Do Hyun (damn, he's hot) started climbing up my favorite actors list after this drama; at first, I thought he would be one of those actors that could only play funny roles but his duality was shown well here. Finally, Go Min Si portrayed my hero Lee Eun Yoo so well; she's such a badass naive teen and that's something I can only dream to be. Her acting, as always, is top-tier; I didn't expect any less. Honestly, whoever casted did a really great job *insert clapping soundtrack*!
Overall, I would RECCOMEND this drama if you like the zombie and horror concept.
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Let's start with the acting of the main leads. That was wonderful and now Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Si are some of my favorite actors of the new generation. Their characters and themselves are really different and the fact that they can play a role like this so well is amazing (I really enjoy Youth of May too). Song Kang is a really good actor but the type of character he played was not my favorite but he did a really good job! To be honest I was really impressed with the acting of everyone, even the support roles, and the children.
The plot was very interesting and the action scenes with Warriors by Imagine Dragons were so energetic. The monsters were really well made and realistic to the point that sometimes I was scared by them and the writers were really original with the choices of the features of the monsters.
This is the only drama that I rewatched and it feels like watching that for the first time every time, even a scene that I cried every time I rewatched that I cried but maybe it's only me because I cry very easily. Now I can't wait for the second season because I have so many questions that I want answers to and some theories that I want to be resolved. In the end, I really recommend this k-drama for all the people that want a really good horror drama and some different from the rom-com ones; and it's a really good starting for being a horror/thriller/crime dramas watchers as it did for me.
(Sorry if I made any writing mistake but I'm not a native English speaker)
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You should definitely watch this!
This is everything I didn't know I needed.One of the best dramas and tv shows overall I have ever watched. Story is amazing and shows what people are really capable of. Characters and their story are really well written and shown. Chemistry between characters is really wonderful. CGI effects and horror elements are chef's kiss and could not have been done better. Actors did their best and really gave it their all, showed characters emotions incredibly and their chemistry is over the roof. Second season will air this year so if you didn't watch already do it know because I guarantee you, you won't regret it! A must watch drama!
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GOOD STORY, SOMETIMES LACKS EXECUTION
The story has many great ideas but sometimes fails to deliver on the execution of said ideas...The cast is great, very good actors and their performances are definitely the standout of the series.The music was abominable, so bad I can't begin to describe it, that's why the rating is lower than it could be...Without keeping music in mind it would probably be a 9.25...
Overall, I recommend checking it out!
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A hopeful gore-fest about monsters and monsters within us
WOW. I just finished this.Let me start by saying it is definitely very gorey. If you can't stomach that, you should stay away from this drama.
But it is so much more than just gore: The monsters are, at least in the beginning, incredibly fun to watch. It has a certain comic/anime feel to it. The acting is incredibly good and the music fitting, both in action-loaded an emotional scenes.
I loved the setting of this run-down house with all these characters that have somewhat lost their way in life but are rediscovering what it means to be human and alive.
In the end, the real monsters are not always those that have transformed, but those within us. The season finale was epic. I cannot wait for more. I also really really love Song Kang in this role - amazing acting with adorable monster eyes.
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Quite different from the webtoon, decent standalone.
Let me begin with telling you that Sweet Home as an adaptation starts of great, there’s a chilling feeling from the first episode and many similarities with the webtoon, but unfortunately things don’t quite stay along the same line. So if you go in with expectations that you will get something along the same lines as the webtoon, you’ll be disappointed. The characters that you might have loved while reading the comic have pretty much been sidelined and an extra character is introduced who is given a major plot line which starts to appear very funny (unintentional) after a point. I wanted to see the dynamics between many of the characters, but sadly there’s hardly any interaction between them. Few characters like Wook and Jisu were absolutely annihilated. Despite being the lead, we see Hyun Soo as a pushover. None of the nerdiness of Hyuk and his complex character is highlighted. His relationship with his younger sister (whose age seems to have been increased and a romantic angle with the lead is introduced) is hostile at best.It’s a little difficult for me to see how I would have felt if I hadn’t read the webtoon, perhaps I would have enjoyed it more but still been disappointed with the military arc that was introduced. Despite all the changes that I didn’t like, it’s still a decent watch. There’s a lot of gore and creepiness and lots of blood. Though it ends on a cliffhanger while the webtoon gives you more closure, it’s still a watchable story. The CGI takes a while to get used to, and the OST feels a little repetitive and out of place at times, but it’s all right.
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A must watch for those who like faster paced shows and drop slow paced shows.
This is now my favorite Korean drama of all time. And no, I'm not over exaggerating.One benefit of this show is that for people with short attention spans, this drama will keep you hooked. As someone with severe ADHD, I don't think I've ever finished a show without periods of time where I forgot about finishing the series. I have dropped so many shows. I have also taken months or a year to finish a show. Sweet Home is now the exception. If I could have, I probably would have finished it in one night. This show captivated me to where I was dying to finish it so I could know what happened. Except for the last episode because truthfully I was sad knowing it would be the last episode.
The downside to this faster pace is that a lot of viewers felt that the characters were not fleshed out fully. I can see how this might make sense for the explanations for some of the monsters and I do think that there was probably not enough time to go fully in depth considering this series was only 10 episodes compared to your typical 16 episodes. BUT I personally felt that the characters were actually very well-written (and especially well acted!) if you detach this show from the original webtoon. Plus the faster pace pays off more as a benefit than any of the downsides for me personally.
A second benefit of this show is the production and universe build. The universe isn't like other darker Korean dramas but is more like a Western superhero flick. One scene that stands out is a scene where Cha Hyunsu is shown fighting monsters to BewhY's Side by Side. I love this song, it kind of reminds me a bit of Kanye's Yeezus era. Personally those ballads have always been a huge turn off to me so the grittier, urban vibe was a major plus. I really hope that in the future we can see more dramas with hip hop OST songs as opposed to the cut+paste ballad. Also side note, we're just going to ignore that Imagine Dragons song. It never happened.
Lastly, the acting was incredible. I've read a lot of praise for Lee Dohyun, but let's get this straight--everyone was phenomenal. There was not a weak link in the acting. Even though some webtoon fans complained about Pyeon Wook's character's deviation, Lee Jinwook did an incredible job. It isn't much because I'm a terrible actor myself but at one point I had a moment watching him that I thought, "This is what excellent acting is." But great job to everyone involved. I loved this show so much and I hope there's a second season.
P.S. I read an interview where Lee Dohyun said he wants to be a king of romcoms. I really hope he considers other action/thriller roles because he shined more than ever in this role. Another case is Song Kang who is known for Love Alarm but also got to shine more than ever as Cha Hyunsu with his legitimate talent that you couldn't see as well in Love Alarm. Ik they'll never see this comment but if anyone can relay the message to give thought to taking more serious/challenging roles in the future please do so!
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This review may contain spoilers
Tenants Unite!
For a while I viewed "Sweet Home" on Netflix but I kept passing it up and moving on to the next series. I guess I have seen a million zombie (creature) shows to the point that I no longer place priority on these shows. After the opening of season 2, I decided to catch up.Sweet Home takes place in a dystopian world where some humans have developed supernatural "curses" or infections that transform them into monsters. The story follows Cha Hyun-soo, a young man who finds himself stuck in a deserted apartment complex after a mysterious incident. Through the complex, Hyun-soo encounters several individuals who have become infected monstrous creatures.
A little of what makes this show interesting is that it allows you to get to know most of the characters before they are infected. In addition, they are infected in different ways. Neither the look nor the outcome is the same for all of them. Cast members are numerous in the apartment complex, but this number steadily diminishes as events unfold.
In terms of actors, Song Kang (Cha Hyun Soo) stands out. I almost didn't recognize him from "My Demon". Also, Lee Do Hyun from "The Glory", Go Young Jung from "Alchemy of Souls", and Park Gyo Young from "It's Okay Not to Be Okay". It is an interesting and diverse group of people living in the complex as they navigate the complex and struggle to survive while dealing with the hard fact that each one is becoming infected one by one.
In order to survive and uncover the truth behind the apocalyptic event, they must work together. The strongest and most compassionate of the infected is Cha Hyun Soo. His character brings depth to an already twisted atmosphere.
Visually, "Sweet Home" is pretty well done. Though the CGI is not exactly top-notch, it is acceptable. Set production design involving the complex has an eerie rugged immersive atmosphere.
I think "Sweet Home" is an impressive addition to the K-drama genre, it's definitely different. It delivered a thrilling and emotionally engaging story that kept my attention throughout. A compelling plot, outstanding performances, and visually stunning presentation make for an entertaining viewing experience.
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Entertaining survival drama with a good cast but some defaults in the writing and production
I quite enjoyed this drama but was a bit disappointed by its ending and some storytelling elements. It makes sense that the show has an open ending given the fact that it is planned as a first season with a second season coming up end 2023 (as well as apparently already a third season scheduled for 2024). Nevertheless, I was a bit frustrated by the fact that overall this first season is only a big introduction which does not provide any answer to anything really.Given the low number of episodes and the numerous protagonists, I appreciated their characterization but I would have loved to see more development for most of them. Story-wise, I also found some of the choices made by a few of the characters lacking of logic and seemingly were there more for theatrical effect and impact rather than making sense from a survival point of view.
The casting and acting is the strongest point of the series in my opinion. It was my first time seeing Song Kang and I found him great and touching in his role. He had really a strong charisma who was necessary to carry a part that could otherwise been seen as quite bleak and not as interesting. Similarly Go Min Si is a great discovery for me: she made an impactful performance, making a character that could have been detestable, a relatable and endearing one. It was also a real pleasure to see Lee Do Hyun as well as Go Youn Jung among the cast members even though they were a bit overshadowed by other actors/actresses with more flamboyant roles.
Production-wise, the series is a mixed bag. Sometimes the horror is good with some effective jump scares but a lot of time as well it is kind of a miss. I enjoy the almost circus / freak elements of some of the monsters (it felt a bit like Beetlejuice / Tim Burton style in a way) but some of the monster design choices are so over-the-top with questionable CGI that it become therefore much less frightening and more comical than anything. The soundtrack was good with some deep beat that really brought a lot of atmosphere to the drama.
I would recommend this to people looking for an action survival series with some horrific elements. Despite the flaws in the writing as well as some misses in the making, it is an entertaining show, very binge worthy and carried by a good cast. If you enjoyed the manga Attack on Titan, the Kdrama Happiness or some of the seasons of American Horror Story, you will likely appreciate this as well. In terms of gore and horror, they could have gone further but it was still pretty strong, so be mindful if you have any trigger.
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I finished this in a day
I'm 16, and not used to watching horrors, so before I'd watched this drama, I was kind of unsure whether I should actually watch it. Up until then, I'd only ever seen dramas based around romance, so I wasn't sure if I'd like this drama.Oh boy, was I wrong.
I actually started watching this drama because I love Song Kang and my friend had recommended it, so I really love the character that Song Kang portrayed. It really showed his duality because I was so used to seeing him in romance.
The first episode kind of shocked me, because this drama does contain horror scenes, and if I'm being honest with you, I'm not one for horror, even if this isn't really as horrific as most. There were a lot of scenes where it had me on the edge of my seat, and it literally had me screaming half the time(not out of fear, but just because some scenes are so cool).
I really enjoyed the acting and the story, as I think the characters development and progression throughout the plot did improve greatly. The way the drama started off was good as well, how it had shown a scene from later in the show, before coming back to the beginning and how it had all started. That part kind of got me through episode one, because I wanted to see how it happened (which is technically the reason they put that part at the beginning I think). I really enjoyed the casting as well, and the fight scenes. I enjoyed the music too, mainly because I love imagine dragons which was the song I heard more frequently then the others, and I think the song really matched the feeling of the show.
Overall, I would recommend this for anyone, no matter if you only watch romance dramas, or melodramas or thriller. this is a good watch for everyone, and I desperately need season 2 A.S.A.P!!
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Worth watching
It was pretty amazing. Nowadays in K-dramaworld, Jst a few dramas are made of this genre and even if they make it , the casts are usually some action-based actors. But in this one they casted Song Kang and Lee Do Hyun , both of them are my favs and I've always watched their romance-genre dramas... So it was really a thrilling experience for me, watching them in this series. And as usual, both of them proved their worth, by acting perfectly.Since i haven't read the webtoon yet. So ,the story was really good and interesting . But as the episodes goes , somehow when it reached at the middle of the story, the monsters were gone. And there it focused mostly on themselves fighting with the bad guys/enemy(whatever) and the ending left me on cliffhanger.
So Im obviously in need of another season so that it can explain me -
1. Why and how Do hyun/Eun hyuk was killed (as he could've gone to that tunnel again)
2. Why did the Si yeong/firefighter girl changed herself with the millitary?
3. Song kang was saved by that another monster friend?
4. What happened after Song kang/he was taken away?
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Right off the bat in the first episode we’re introduced to some of the characters and we get to know surroundings. So we have this shabby old building filled with weird characters that we don’t know what they’ll do next. They are absolutely white cards and often they turn out to be not what we first think them to be. All characters are a bit (or actually very) weird and honestly, it’s hard to trust anybody, even when we get to know them a bit better.
This drama is equally amazing as it is confusing. We don’t get the whole spectrum of informations, we don’t know what’s going outside of building, what’s the reason for monster invasion, what is the reason not everyone turning into monsters. This is the reason why this drama is so unpredictable.
And let’s talk about special effects. They’re not perfect but they’re enough to get the atmosphere absolutely right. Sometimes they look like a stop motion animation but they look very good. Together with lightning and scenography they give us the feeling of an old fashioned gore horror.
Plus music and we have a perfect combination. The soundtrack will stay with me for a long time, especially Warriors by Imagine Dragons. Even though it’s my husband’s ringtone, from now on, I’ll only think about those epic episode ending scenes that this song was a perfect background music to.
And let’s talk about acting. Because Song Kang, among others does such great job here, that I had to actually google him to check where I’ve seen him before because his acting was just so different here comparing to Love Alarm that I haven’t recognise him right away. Along with him we have Lee Do Hyun, who even though very young is already a recognisable face in drama world, and also does amazing job. Them both plus couple of other actors (if I had to list all good actors here, this review would turn out to be too long) and we have very good, very balanced cast where all members create very unique characters.
So if you like monster horrors, are not afraid of blood and intestines basically everywhere and have like ten hours of your life to spare I guess you should definitely watch Sweet Home.
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