I think if I were to touch upon every single thing that I loved about Strangers from Hell, I would be writing a novel instead of a review. I've actually seen this drama twice now because I started to re-watch it the day after I finished it. Actions sometimes speak louder than words, so let that sink in as I try to best express the amount of love I have for this show while also keeping it as brief and coherent as I can possibly can.

For me, watching Strangers from Hell was the equivalent of picking away at a scab you might have on your knee or elbow. It is immensely satisfying to peel back the layers of skin, no matter how gross or painful it might be. Except, in this case, the scab was the human psyche, and there was no hesitation whatsoever when it came to ripping apart these layers. This show was dark. It was gory. It was terrifying, and it left an ache in my bones and a hollow feeling in my chest after I finished the very last episode. There were moments when the show seemed to be hinting at going into a certain direction, and I would often think to myself, 'This show is already dark enough, there's no way they're actually going to do that,' AND THEN THEY DID, so I would have to let out an audible gasp for how daring the showrunners were. I think for the last five or six episodes, I watched them with my hand cupped over my mouth while also keeping the lights on because of how scared I was while watching.

I think one of the things that really worked well in Strangers from Hell and that helped to make it so enjoyable were the two main leads, Yoon Jongwoo and Seo Moonjo, played by Im Siwan and Lee Dongwook respectively. The acting was spectacular; I don't think anyone else could have played these roles. Jongwoo was especially interesting to me in the sense that he was somewhat relatable. Not relatable in the sense that I'm slowly going crazy (hopefully), but relatable in the sense that adulthood is difficult, people are difficult, and work is difficult. I'd also like to point out that I am currently living in a university residential hall with a communal bathroom - on the third floor, no less! - and I wasn't even assigned a roommate for this semester so it can get quite lonely at times in my room. I think this greatly affected my own opinion when watching Strangers in Hell and why and I was able to relate to Jongwoo.

Also, the amount of gas-lighting that was present in the show was insane. Not only did we get to see it with Jongwoo and the residents of Eden, but we also get to see it with Jongwoo and his awful co-workers, Jongwoo and his girlfriend, his girlfriend and her own terrible co-workers, as well as with the female police officer, Seo Junghwa, as she dealt with the detectives. I think this show did a really great job representing what gas-lighting is and how that can affect the mental state of a person, as well as stressing the fact that it can come in many different forms. This was most evident in the character of Jongwoo. I've seen some people complain about how this could have been a movie because of the slow-pacing, but I believe that it was the pacing of the show that truly allows the audience to see the changes that Jongwoo was going through, and I don't think a movie would be enough time to explore and justify Jongwoo's actions. Personally, I did not find the pacing slow at all and I found every scene, from dialogue to action sequences, to be thrilling.

Then there is Seo Moonjo, the sexy dentist of my dreams. He was wonderfully creepy and strange; I couldn't help but be drawn to him. I would physically get chills all over my arms whenever he smiled. His relationship with Jongwoo was so interesting to watch unfold. I could probably write a whole essay on that aspect alone but I will resist. Just know that this character was extremely well-written and that he drove me crazy in the best way possible. The supporting cast, too, was amazing. The actors must have put in a lot of work in order to prepare themselves to play these characters, the absolute darkest representation of human nature.

Another thing I really liked was the music. It was so haunting and eerie. It really helped to establish the creepy atmosphere of the show.

The camera work here was also really interesting to me, It was kind of shaky at times, though that didn't really bother me. Sometimes there would be shots that I think were meant to give you the impression that what you were looking at was the point of view of someone physically watching the scenes that were unfolding on the screen while also remaining hidden, kind of like a stalker. That was a really nice touch that helped to keep me on the edge of my seat.

And oh my gosh, the ending? What was that? I don't know, but I loved every single second of it. I think it really helped drive in the point of how Jongwoo is essentially an unreliable narrator, and it's up to the viewer to decide how much they want to trust his side of the story. It's definitely an ending that keeps you thinking about it for days on end, and I found it even more satisfying during my second watch.

Overall, if you enjoy watching shows that are psychological and horrific in nature, then I would recommend Strangers from Hell with all of my heart. The grip this show still has over me even after I've finished is still holding strong, so I have a feeling that this story will stick with me for a very, very long time.