Movies Completed In 2023

It took me days to shake the feeling of gut-wrenching anger and sadness after sitting through this movie. The story doesn't let up for over two hours. There is no light. So is it a good movie? Without a doubt, but it's really the acting that makes this raw and unflinchingly dark ride worthwhile.

I've had my eye on Kim Dong Hwi ever since he wowed me with his performance in Journey To The Shore, and he doesn't disappoint here either. But this is Park Jin Youngs movie and his acting is mesmerizing. Yes, his all out portrayal of Joo Il Woo is impressive, but it was Joo Wol Woo, who had my whole heart in every scene. The amount of tears I cried for him.

Overall not a pleasant two hours spent, and the kind of movie you watch once and never want to endure again. I'd still recommend it highly. If nothing else, for the impressive acting. Now I just have to find a way to get the sound of Wol Woo singing that Christmas song out of my head.

Incredibly moving and comforting. Quiet, but never boring. Kind of uneventful, but packed with big themes and important lessons. Beautiful in all its simplicity.  I cried so hard at the end.

Whether they're lovers or friends, it does not matter. It's two people finding, healing and yes, loving each other. Their connection doesn't need a label. It's just so very...wholesome.

Fukushi Sota really shines in this role. His big, wide smile is so warm and infectious. Don't even hestitate to watch this movie. It's time well spent.

First part was strongest, but at the half way point, the twists and turns pile up so much, it becomes more silly than thrilling. Maybe it's because they'd used up every plot twist known to fiction at that point, but the finale got predictable. Solid performance by Kang Ha Neul, but had they only spent more time on character development, I'd have felt the impact of that brutal ending more. And that "don't scream" part made no sense whatsoever.

This was simultaneously completely unexpected and precisely what I'd imagined. To outperform a seasoned actor like Park Sung Woong is no small feat, but Oh Seung Hoon does just that and then some. He's downright alluring from beginning to end, and it's fascinating to watch him draw Jae Ha in, while he himself gets drawn in as well. They're helpless against the pull and so is their audience. I was too. Well done!

The movie's weakness is the running time. It's simply too short to effectively build an understanding of the way relationships and events develop and escalate. Instead we go from zero to a thousand in what feels like seconds. Even factoring in the insight we gain in terms of both of ML's modus operandi off and on stage, not letting the characters and the viewer breathe a little becomes an unfortunate disadvantage.

The constant shifts in the power balance between the ML's and the blurring of lines between acting and reality is simply outstanding and increasingly unsettling to watch. Especially at the end when we get to see the opening night of the play. It's not pleasant, but you can't look away either. I'll definitely keep an eye out for Oh Seung Hoon from now on. This is his movie.

In a word: wholesome.

Simple, unassuming, healing and so, so very heartwarming.

I liked their chemistry and how the relationship progressed slowly and in an undramatic way.
Strong acting all around, beautiful scenery and the main themes of the story were just lovely.
The cinematography and how everything seemed to become warmer as the story progressed was a really nice touch.

The emotional impact sneaks up on you, because of the quiet nature of the movie, but it's impossible not to be moved at the end. It's the kind of movie that should be watched at least twice to catch all the subtle details.

"Thank you for coming to this house". There was so much love in that statement.

I've heard stories about people getting up and leaving, because the movie was too disturbing, but this is the first time, I've witnessed it myself. And it wasn't just one or two people, it was more close to 10. I do understand why some wouldn't be able to stomach it, because this is a very dark and disturbing ride.

From the very beginning the viewer is subjected to some extremely horrifying scenes. Usually, I can handle a lot, but those scenes had me squirming in my seat. For the most part this story is more psychological dark, but it's the kind of darkness, where any inch of humanity is not welcome. I think, it's important to have this in mind, before going in.

While I found the premise very intriguing, I thought the whole setup fizzled out during the last part, and I didn't care at all for the introduction of the "girlfriend". Deftly handled cinematography and strong acting from Abe Sadawo in particular unfortunately couldn't carry this movie alone, and I left the theater feeling underwhelmed.