I loved the way the tension was built. The directing and the editing made the whole mood amd atmosphere unsettling and creepy. I couldn't help but feel nervous whenever a character was in some kind of danger with one of the residents. And the way the story ended was just *chef's kiss* Ambiguous and left enough room for doubt. Also, the soundtracks were all such a bop.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This movie should’ve been called: how to make a serial killer
I’ve seen many comment talking about how they disliked this show because it was either too long, or too fast. I think everyone has a right to their own opinion, but I think this show was a perfect length. As I finished watching each episode, I felt sad as I realized I was one step closer to the end. Maybe that’s because I’m simply a lover of mystery, intrigue, horror or thrill, but I think this show was just a good show.The plot:
I think a lot of people disliked how some characters weren’t expounded on enough, or some things just weren’t shown enough light on. I think this is silly, because the show really takes most things from Jong woo’s perspective. We are taken on a journey to see things from his point of view. We are put into his shoes, almost as if we are riding a roller coaster. I liked how there weren’t any “flashbacks” to the past to show a past memory. I like how there is still mystery and intrigue around some of the characters, as this gives the viewer the opportunity to really use their imagination. Some people enjoy concrete stories and facts, I like how some things were just left to the imagination.
Acting:
The acting on all parts was very good. I really liked Lee Dong Wook’s character in this, he had a really great chemistry with the main lead. The chemistry felt so believable, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the two characters had more than this love- hate relationship that was developed. I could really feel the frustration felt by Jong woo, as he fell more and more into an insane, psycho state of mind. It was really cool.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, I think people should really give this show a try. It may be one of those kinds of things that you either love, or hate. Whatever perspective you choose while watching this show, I hope it creates something more enjoyable for you to watch, and I hope you can appreciate it just about as much as I do.
Was this review helpful to you?
I must rewatch this drama
I'll rewatch this again, cause I seem misunderstood the story, i didn't get at first at episode 1-9, while at episode 10 it makes sense all the episode haha! but since its a genre of psychological and thriller, at the end of the drama, its so brutal that makes me speechless that I didn't expect that would be happen. So the killer's soul are now on the protagonist? or he delusion of himself cause of the experience that he through from the studio. And why the police woman, she didn't make a statement that she knew who's the killer of the landlady, the other twin, the porn addict and the dentist.Was this review helpful to you?
A keep you on the edge of your seat psychological thriller.
The drama's premise itself is very interesting. Immediately hooks the viewer and you invest in the not so likeable, suspicious main character because he is the only one you can really root for.The cast is incredible, a wide range of actors who all manage to get under your skin with their performances.
The soundtrack is engaging. The cinematography keeps you on the edge the entire time. Its an anxious, get your blood pumping kind of watch.
Overall its deeply unsettling and and delivers on the horror aspect without any cliche tropes.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is very well written. Every time you think you have something figured out it throws you for a loop but not in a "whhooooaah plot twist" way but in a "oh! I should have seen that coming because they hinted at it ealier! Thats so smart!" kind of way. The characters are interesting and the actors do a great job, especially the main villain . This show really does the unreliable narrator trope justice by having you root for the maim lead all through it, only to leave you wondering if it is a good thing he survived at all. Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Gruesome
From start to finish, the show was incredibly well pieced together. The main setting at them goshiwon really captured the creepy feeling of someone watching you at every moment. From Lee Dongwook creepily staring through a small hole in the wall to the camera panning over / through walls, you felt like another person peeping into hell. At certain points you pitied the characters, regardless of their "morals" (which it seemed every character was twisted). Some parts of the show are confusing leaving me with unanswered questions, but doesn't that just add to the suspense? The last episode is a long and bumpy ride leaving me wide-eyed and honestly begging for a season 2!Overall, it's a binge-worthy show that will leave you feeling all sorts of different emotions. Dramas like this are a big harder to come by specifically because of how swift-paced the show is. No long and boring introduction to the plot, no gaps between conflict, and nothing unnecessary to the plot. Even the soundtrack was very good!
Was this review helpful to you?
Disturbing yet interesting
This is probably one of the best kdrama thriller I've watched. I won't gonna ask for more and there's no need for season 2 because the series was all enough. I can't call whether it is masterpiece or not but all I can say is, good is just an understatement because it surely one of the great kdramas I've watched. The casts were chosen perfectly and they are all suitable to their respective roles. Plus the sound effects and osts made it creepier, the location seems fine for its genre and this is highly recommended for everyone who loves dark series.Few reasons to watch this series:
First, this is not a typical story about ghosts or supernaturals, it was about humans with their inhumane deeds. It simply tells us that our enemy is also the other people.
The casts potrayed their roles perfectly. I'm glad that all of them justified the characters from webtoon adaptation. I highly praised every casts there because they did a superb work! Im-Si Wan (Joong Woo) was really an effective protagonist, the way he speak and the way he express his anger captivates the viewers. Lee Dong Wook (Moon Jo) is such as versatile, I thought he only suit for romcoms but I was wrong. He proved that he can also portray being a serial killer, he used his charms to gaslights people. Lee Jung Eun (Bok Son) also did a great job! I really feel frighten whenever she tries to be generous then aftetwards there is some sort of change that you need to pay back. Park Jong Hwan (Deuk Jong) that crazy guy also one of my fave cast there and kudos for him doing such a double role. The way he laugh makes me laugh too. Lee Jong Ok (Nam Bok) that horny guy, I hated him throughout the series but I have to admit that his horrible personality actually added creeps.
It was confusing and leave you puzzled. I kept on binge watching it to the point that it took me just one and a half day just to finished it.
The plot twist wasn't that really good because it is predictable but still the story line is great.
There were some scenes where it shows lacking but still applause to OCN for producing such this wonderful series.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not that amazing.
I am torn, the story begins as the synopsis indicates and that a young man - Yoon Jong‑woo - will live in a residence where his neighbors are more than suspicious.The problem is that there are only 10 episodes, and they could have made more use of them.
We practically have to wait for episode 3 to have a first interaction between our two protagonists, and it is neither memorable nor long. The build-up is slow, not much happens except the fact that we know from episode 1 what kind of people are his neighbors, it's a shame that it's not a surprise or a revelation for later, it would have been nice for the audience to wonder who is who.
So basically, until episode 7, the plot is slow - which is not a problem in other series - but here the interactions between our two characters are rare, there are no surprises and major revelations. Seems more like it's the build-up to why Yoon Jong‑woo freaks out and gets violent.
I agree with a review that says the show is all about insanity. The story isn't that amazing and it's really focused on our main protagonist going from normal young man to giving a free ride to his violence, the series has build-up only that.
I would have liked more, more between our characters who have a certain chemistry, that we understand more the motives of these characters since they are not mysterious.
All we have are two twins who giggle and are murderous, an equally murderous perv, the manager who seems just as crazy, and Seo Moon‑jo the creepy dentist. It feels more like these characters are here for the grand finale and when people will inevitably have to die.
I would say otherwise that the atmosphere and the tones of the series are well created, it's more or less scary, dark and horrifying. The overall production is good - but there are plot holes - and the actors, all without exception, fit into their roles perfectly, but none of the characters marked me personally.
Like I said already, the two protagonists interact very little, and suddenly Seo Moon‑jo decides that Yoon Jong‑woo is very special to him, without there being a tangible relationship between the two, except Seo Moon‑jo being creepy since the beginning and stalking Yoon Jong‑woo.
It's really the relationship that pops up, out of the blue, which is why I wish I had more episodes or else had them interact earlier so it doesn't seem so sudden.
The very end - the last ten minutes - is really the exciting part of the show, that ending is open ended, our character is inevitably changed, and there's a last minute twist, which leaves us with a possibility for a season 2 - even if I doubt it - and the return of a character.
But it's a nice crime series overall, it's not the scariest of the lot, nor the best scripted, but it's nice for those who like the genre, not a lot of mysteries though, it's more into the impact of scenes that are made to be scary and made us feel for Yoon Jong‑woo, but hey without suspense, it's hard to keep an interest.
The characters play their roles well even if I would have hoped for more, even coming from our two protagonists whose performance is good but nothing more.
Was this review helpful to you?
Amazing plot, great actors, awesome soundtracks and a rewatch value of 100%
So this is actually the first time i am writing a review but after watching this drama i just haad to write a review and praise this it. That being said, lets jump straight into the review. The plot of the drama was very well stocked, it started out pretty normally and slow so that you can get into the story step by step and then it adds to the intensity episode by episode. Every and i am saying every character was amazingly acted out by the wonderful actors/actresses and i want to praise one the most, which was the mentally disabled twins. That actor played his character so well i couldn't believe how he can keep up his role that well all the time. The scenery was greatly shot and i loved every moment of it. As soon as he entered the "Eden" Studio, that atmosphere of real creepiness instantly kicked in. The soundtracks backed up everything that was going on in the drama, they were just really filling that plot with creepiness. ONE THING and only this one thing that i missed in this drama was the background stories of every character living there, like i would have liked to know a bit more about them. I mean they tell how it got to that point and stuff but yeah more developed background stories would have been great. But maybe its more developed in the webtoon so yeah. All in all it's rewatchable and i will rewatch it for all the details i missed at the beginning of the drama when i didn't really know where it was going yet. So great work, hope to see more dramas like this!Was this review helpful to you?
disappointed
Well, the drama is very slow pace and it gets quite boring. It has high rating so I was expecting much more from it but I was disappointed. It only has 10 episodes but it felt like never ending story.The only thing I liked is the acting and OST. Its shame as the story was good if they just executed in better way.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Mind-blowing and Fantastic
Strangers from Hell was unlike anything I had seen before. Im Siwan's rent must have been due because he bodied JongU. The acting, especially Siwan's was impeccable. Lee Dongwook is my favorite acter and watching this after seeing him as Lee Yeon in Tale of the Nine-Tailed was crazy. The twists and turns in Strangers from Hell we're just twisty and turny enough to make it mind-blowing but not completely unbelievable. Strangers from Hell had one of the craziest endings in anything I'd ever seen. When I finished it for the first time, I was completely shocked by it. Watching JongU's sanity deteriorate was fascinating yet heartbreaking. Strangers from Hell is truly one of, not only Kdramas, but piece of media I've ever seen.Was this review helpful to you?
Very underwhelming and boring
First of all let me say Si Wan was the only reason this show was kind of entertaining. If he wasn't here this would've been a DRAG. I truly don't understand why y'all gave this show its flowers when it was in fact not deserved in the slightest. This was only 10 episodes long (I thought it was at least 16 episodes) but somehow went by so slow. 9/10 of the show was very repetitive for literally no reason and just wasn't needed? Like what's the point of being secretive about what's going on when we know damn well?? Like just get to the point please. The last episode is when things finally get going but by then it's way too late. The last couple of scenes were good though. The show wants to be creepy so bad but it only works in the first episode because of its subtleness. After that it just gets tiring. There was just no story here. The actors did the best they could with what they were given which wasn't much. Definitely wouldn't rewatch.Was this review helpful to you?
