Completely Mind Blowing!
**I watched and finished this back in 2019 and this review was taken from my blog, which has better formatting and images that go with the review. Please check it out: http://fearstreetzombiereviews.blogspot.com/2020/04/review.html **I'm coming out the gate here with a big 'ol: "HOLY SHIT!!!" If that offends you... I don't know what to tell you because this is a whole damn mood with this show! I wish I was kidding. Okay not really because this how was totally amazing and badass! Y'all, I have no idea how this show has been labeled as a flop! Whoever said that about this show is completely INSANE! There are only 10 episodes of this show and let me tell you, there wasn't a second of this show I was bored with. There wasn't a moment of "Oh I really need to go do this-this-or-this". Actually it was more of "If one more person interrupts me while I watch this, I might actually flip my lid." Pretty sure I looked like this by the ends of it all: O_O
Let's hope that's not what I really looked like though.. but let's face it, it probably was, because... what is sleep? Hahah And if you know me at all, you know this is the show I have been wanting to watch for MONTHS but could never get my hands on it, but I finally did and I DEVOURED it!! (Or did it devour me? ......?) And those that know me, know I hate mysteries/thrillers... of any kind. So for me to ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶LOVE something mystery/thriller, you know it HAS to be amazing, because I'm a purely horror kinda girl
Okay, back to the show, the acting was off the chart amazing. Y'all know me, there is always at least one person I tend to pick apart saying "Eh the acting could be better". That can't be said for this show! They ALL acted so well that I was constantly second guessing myself if I knew what the hell was going on or not. Even the most annoying character didn't get on my nerve as much as I thought he would because he was such a important character.
ougharwilughrwiuhgr UGHHH there is seriously so much I want to say but can't and that drives me nuts!!! hahah Because it was so freaking awesome!! I just want to go on and on about it. I mean EVEN THE SOUNDTRACK IS AMAZING!!! Please please if you get a chance, check out the soundtrack: H͇E͇R͇E͇. You won't regret it. The music fit the show so amazing. I admit there are a lot of movies and shows I have watched there i just roll my eyes and either say either some don't fit the show/movie, or I get mad because they add like 20 songs to the soundtrack that weren't even in the movie.
Every song here was in the show (least to my memory they were) and they all fit.
Everything about this show was such a freaking masterpiece that I'm like... WHY ISN'T THIS EVERYWHERE BY NOW?!!?! WHY IS THIS NOT TALKED ABOUT?!?!
The hype on this show is so low, it makes me want to cry.
This show is literally the KING of this genre! Fight meeeee if you think different! Lol Between the amazing actors and the setting, everything was complex and one of a kind yet... different. I'm not going to lie, shows and movies tend to have tons of "settings/locations/backgrounds" right? Kinda just... calls for it I guess? This show didn't have many setting locations, you can count them on your hands - Which brings me to this point, whoever set this up is a king. Because to be limited with places, they still knocked it out of the park while keeping ̶p̶e̶o̶p̶l̶e̶Me mind blown. I see these things. I can't help but notice and roll my eyes if someone constantly reuses a same setting through 60% of a show. Everything that usually makes me roll my eyes or kinda annoys me, didn't when it came to this show. Which is crazy to me. Sorry, I just can't hype this enough.
DUDE!!! The ending. Oh my gah the ending had me totally mind-fucked. Because I knew without a doubt that I knew how it would end. Lets face it, whether it's a book or show, when you read or what enough, you tend to just know how it will end by the middle. rhgilrghirugie That ending left me questioning my sanity because I was like "Oh! It's going to end hella different" then I was like "wait... maybe not" then back and forth.... I got tired trying to guess. hahaha That ending left me so mind-blown that I just looked at the screen like O______O 15 minutes after it was over. It's been longer now and my brain is still like: ekfjbgveirybvieuabvileuarbveiuvbfduivhbfdubvfdhyvbeiulvuqeibv
and me even writing this, I'm having to just pick words out of all this scramble and HOPE it all makes sense. If you EVER have the chance to watch this, I am actually BEGGING you to watch this. You might think I'm kidding but I'm not. This show has currently taken over my life to the point I want to keep it on repeat for the next few weeks to months. Lol Don't judge me. I can't help that I love it this much.
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I already could tell that strangers from hell was going to be good from the first episode but having just finished it all I can say is wow South Korea really is the master of the psychological and horror genre that other series just cant seem to compete .
Lee Dong Wook did one of the best jobs ive seen thus far taking on a psycho role but hat truly impressed me was the rest of the cast having not seen any of their work it was such a shock to see how real it was.
In all honesty I hate the crime and thriller dramas that center around politics and police coruption and what not so I was more than please to see that this had nothing to do with this and jjust focuse on the psychologocal factor.
The whole series was a masterpiece from start to finish but the ending was just the cherry on top really one of the best.
I guarntee that you will never look at strangers the same again after this watch.
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SIMPLESMENTE ÉPICO
esse foi um dos meus primeiros doramas e com certeza um dos melhores!a atuação, cenário, relações e história (que é muito bem desenvolvida) tornam a experiência de assitir esse drama uma coisa de outro mundo
nunca senti tanta ansiedade e agonia assistindo uma série que nem senti nessa, é incrível como tudo consegue te prender e te deixar completamente imersivo na história!
uma sensação de claustrofobia está presente na maioria das cenas, já que os cenários sao tao apertados e escuros (desde as ruas até o quarto do personagem principal) tenho que dar destaque aos corredores do prédio, isso sim me gerou muito desconforto em todas as cenas..
além de tudo ser muito bem gravado, conseguem transmitir uma sensação de que algo nunca estava certo e eu amo isso!!
a atuação nem se fala!! incrível como todos os vilões conseguem trazer a tona um ar de desconforto desde a primeira cena em que aparecem.
é isso, amo esse dorama e recomendo sempre!
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This review may contain spoilers
Never felt this awkward but in a good way watching a drama
Amazing. I love how this drama succeeded in making me feel anxious at each episode, but at the same time so satisfied.Story (9.5)
I think we can all agree it's not just a simple drama: it's an analysis of how a criminal mind can also arise from the most common person. The situation where Jong Woo finds himself was not his fault at all, but it has somehow unlocked something obscure that was hiding inside himself. The rage, the hate, the disgust, the anxiety, the mental instability, all come out when Moon Jo teased him.
The story was optimally carried out. Every episode left me with a sense of restlessness in my heart that I had never tried before. Each plot twist (especially the last) left me confused and shocked. And the ending, I can say it with certainty, is one of the best I've ever seen in a series. I felt extremely satisfied and happy for Jong Woo when I saw him just be himself. Moon Jo was right, doing what you really want is the best.
Also this quote: "Humans are the most fearful creatures"... God bless that woman for saying one of the truest things in this world. The story is literally built on this statement.
Acting/Cast (10)
I'm still new in the world of kdrama, but I think I already have a crush on Lee Dong Wook. How can he be so good and so hot at the same time? Like sir, calm down, please. It almost seemed that I was tortured instead of the characters in the story. Too good to be true.
For what concerns Im Si Wan, he did a really great job. His expressions, sometimes a little exaggerated, immediately captured my attention. I think his character, given his complexity, was really difficult to represent, but Si Wan did a really great job.
Even the rest of the cast did a great job: they were all capable of making me hate their characters soooo much, precisely because they seemed extremely natural.
Music (9)
When you have a story like this, the soundtrack needs to be good. And it is. The music really helped to make this series more anxious and realistic.
Rewatch Value (8)
Definitely would rewatch it, but not now and maybe when I'm not already stressed for something else lol
Overall (9.5)
In the end I really loved it, and I just hope there could be a s2 just for watching Jong Woo become a serious serial killer and murder some other people (Idk why I love the idea).
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INSANITY AT PEAK!!
So, hey guys! I have finished watching this drama not too long ago, and Lee Dong Wook's voice is still ringing in my ears whenever I close my eyes... I swear, now hearing the word 'Chagiya~' is no longer heart fluttering for me. All I remember is his creepy smile when those words left his mouth..After watching 'Goblin', I fell for Lee Dong Wook's cute role there. To be honest, I somewhat knew that he could pull out some dark roles, but his acting was beyond my expectations. The story is.. simply put.. WILD.
Yes!
I felt intense frustration at times.. This drama is very provoking, I must admit. The main lead's acting is just fantabulous! Wait... Fantabulous? Is that even a word? Don't know.. I lost one fourth of my sanity after watching that drama!
The way the gruesome scenes were acted out, with the creepy background music slowly paving it's way under my skin.. gosh!
I literally had to keep the curtains open most of the time so that I don't feel surrounded by darkness...
And the ending of the drama.. it will leave you to hang and die... why? Cause, you know very well that you won't be able to watch another drama like this. You know what I mean?
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was this a horror or BL drama ????? like
um loved the acting so much, lee dong wook slays once again, i‘ve never seen any of yim si wan’s other work but he was also amazing in this! the plot is very interesting, story moved along quick enough that i didn’t feel like skipping around or watching on 2x speed. i honestly am not too surprised by the ending but i didn’t expect it that way ? if that makes any sense idrk i’m trying not to spoil anything haha. i’m not usually a fan of horror at all, but i loved the ingenuity of both main characters and the battle between them trying to outsmart one another. definitely could be confused as a minorly toxic BL drama though ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ really liked this show i think if you’re on the fence you should just start watching it! it’s not too long and it gets you hooked pretty earlyWas this review helpful to you?
Acting/Cast: I was on edge the whole time! This is the type of acting where you forget they are actors, you're just convinced they are the character.
Music: Only rated this as 8 because I was too absorbed in the show to notice.
Rewatch Value: Although I just finished, and have only watched once, I know this is very rewatchable.
Overall: After seeing this show, I want to go back and rate all the other shows I've seen as 0. Seriously. I say this as a very picky person, this show was ideal in every way. An absolute masterpiece. Watch it, even if you are doubting it.
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This review may contain spoilers
I have stated this before and I am sying it again- I threw caution to the wind and watched this series asit was clearly not a genre that I watched. I basically only watched this due to the actor Lee Dong Wook as I watched two series with h and loved him dearly in them! This character is TOTALLY different from his other characters but he kept me enthralled with his acting!Story-10/10
The storyline was excellent! It went in a direction that I never saw coming. I mean, I started this on 11th May and finished it on the 12th May. That's how entertaining it was.
Acting/Cast-10/10
All the actors were excellent in the characters that they played. It also showed me a different side of Lee Dong Wook that I didn't know he had. He is truly a superb actor and I need to see more series/ shows with him starring in it.
Music-8/10
The music was awesome and addictive.
Rewatch Valu-1/10
Stated it before. This is not a usual genre that I watched. I basically only watched it for Lee Dong Wook. There is no way whatsoever that I will watch it again.
Overall-8/10
The suggested overall is 7.5/10. However, this series was good, so I am going to give it an 8. I will recommend this series to people who actually like this genre or who wants to see Lee Dong Wook in another acting role that isn't Goblin or Tale of the Nine-Tailed.
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This review may contain spoilers
WTF DID I JUST WATCH?!
*SPOILERS BELOW*Yoon Jung-woo moves to Seoul for work and stumbles upon Eden Studio, a cheap apartment. Though not thrilled to be living in the place, he decides to stick it out until he has enough money to move. When mysterious events emerge at the apartment and people go missing, Jong-woo begins to fear for his life.
There are no exact words to describe what this series is actually like, but after completing the show, you will feel empty, wondering wtf you just watched. If you love psychological thrillers and want to be creeped out, you need to watch this RIGHT NOW!
Likes:
- The acting is phenomenal! Strangers From Hell is part of a small collection of shows where I like all of the actors. Usually, there is one actor whose acting I can not stand, but not in this show!
- I have never really been a Lee Dong-wook fan, but he nailed the role of a psychopath! And, of course, Si-wan did a terrific job as well.
- It was fascinating to watch Jong-woo slowly descend into insanity. There are times in the show when you wonder if it was all in his head, but it becomes apparent that he was living in a serial killer hot spot.
- The show has an interesting story and was not repetitive or cliche.
- The cinematography is excellent and intensifies the eerie tone of the show.
- Trust me when I say this: you will be creeped out! I do not get scared easily, but the camera editing makes scenes so creepy and disturbing. My heart was racing the whole time.
- Loved the music! The Rose is one of my favorite Korean bands, so I was excited when I heard they would be on the OST.
Dislikes:
- Strangers From Hell is a slow burn series, so it will be slow at times. However, I did not mind that. In fact, most psychological thrillers, which is my favorite genre, are slow burns.
- Other than the slowness, I have no other dislikes!
Strangers From Hell is a hidden gem, and I rate it a 10/10, which is very rare for me. The acting, cinematography, and story are outstanding, and this show definitely has not gotten the recognition it deserves. The first episode may be a bit slow, but it picks up if you give it 2-3 episodes. If you are tired of cliche, cheesy k-dramas and want to watch a show with a dark theme, consider adding this bloody fantastic psychological thriller to your watchlist. I full-heartedly believe that you will not be disappointed!
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First things first: The story
From the first few minutes I was got so captured and I couldn’t let go anymore. The characters were so well executed and the pacing of the story was just great. As a person who read the webtoon I was skeptical at first cuz the whole progress of our Jungwoo turning crazy would be so hard to express. But the producers didn’t disappoint at all. At first I thought they’d change the ending but when the plot twist came- holy moly, I liked the drama version even better. It was even more of a shock.
THE MESSAGE: it stands over everything, it’s such an important thing to point out these days, mental loneliness is so deadly. And how everyone can get their dark side turned upwards when they’re around the wrong people.
The acting: guys when I say, this is high class acting, I mean it that way. As I mentioned earlier I wasn’t sure at first if they’d be able to deliver the same emotions that I felt while reading the Webtoon, but my doubts got pretty fast thrown away and i was so hooked up onto the performances since first episode. Plus the way the actors fitted onto the characters from the book- amazing.
Now my favorite point: The MUSIC.
Holy god dayum, I immediately downloaded every song from this show! That never happened before, since I’m also a high critic of OST because I often feel like it’s out of place, doesn’t fit here and there or in horror movies I just want to turn of or skip this creepy passages because it makes me feel uncomfortable. But in this drama, when Jungwoo walked through the dark and oppressive corridors and you just expect a jump scare around the corner, it made me keep on watching it, through the music I got so caught up in this.
Rewatch value: what can I say, I already rewatched 3 times and I’m sure there’ll be some more.
OVER ALL: A great drama with great actors, the right amount of splatter and an amazing message on top. What do you want more?
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The most perfect tv show production I've ever watched, and not just in Kdrama land
I honestly don't think I've ever seen a TV Show executed so perfectly from the world building to the storyline to the acting to the ost and atmosphere creation to the banger ending!! I spent 2 weeks completely crazy scratching my brain trying to piece together what REALLY happened in the ending!! But most importantly actor Siwan takes you on a journey of slowly losing your own mind with him slowly bit by bit, episode by episode. You will feel how he reaches the boiling point as a result of the combination of two things: the environment he was thrown into, and a part of his own self buried deep inside that the environment brought out of him!! Seriously, it's a journey you have to take! The chemistry between dongwook and siwan was also palpable! All the neighbour characters were written and executed so well!! Just cinematic perfection!! The only TV show I've ever watched that got a 10/10 from me.Was this review helpful to you?
Great and insane, this terrified me.
The story tries to dwell on the psychological impact of a person's surroundings. After a few episodes, you can't help but want to know how it all ends as the ML is continued to be harassed. Some said this was not for the fainthearted and coward that I am I should have believed them. I should not have let my bias for Lee Dong Wook get the better of me.Almost everyone contributed to condition of the ML in the end. It was not just the people in that fatal apartment. It really showed the premise that hell is other people and it's up to a person to look out for himself. I never thought Lee Dong Wook could ever look that creepy. He was still handsome and sexy but in a scary way. I would never be able to see him as an absolute hunk as I did in the past. Im Siwan was totally believeable as the ML who was struggling to overcome his obstacles. If only he received the help that he needed when he needed it, he wouldn't have ended up in that condition.
The story has some loopholes and is too insane to happen IRL. I also would have wanted some backstory on Munjo so I've rated it only 7/10. But the acting and music used were perfect for what this drama was depicting, how scary humans can be. I don't think I would ever rewatch this again. Call me a coward but this was too terrifying.
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