#Forgotten
#KangHaNeu
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the penthouse of crime genres
I really can't think of a good rating for the writing, the 1st time I watched it I really thought it had alot of twists and progress that it was amazing, but during my rewatch that point was the weakest link. it just looked like a combination of 4 or so movies. too many things happened to the point that one would think "is this originality or is this The Penthouse"1st we had the brother's kidnapping, then he returns and he's being suspiciously unlike himself and that was the engaging part until the police station scene where we realize it's not 1997 and he's not 21
I think that's the point where most movies would've stopped, one bug plot twist is enough, but no we get another twist which is the ml is a murder suspect and we reach the 2nd big plot twist, it was an accidental murder.
but then they added another big twist that the husband planned the murder, but again worse twist the "brother" is the son and then they just end it with the biggest twist of all, THEY ALL COMMIT SUICIDE....................... wow just wow... I really see that as a cheap writing move, the writer couldn't think of "redemption" so they just killed off their main characters...
also at some points I was like, that song is so unfitting and annoying so again the "ost" was horrible as well
so why did I give this a 10? becasue at the time of my 1st watch it felt original and I loved the acting xD
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Revenge and Broken Minds
The film shows how the mind can be both scary and unreliable, changing the way characters see the world. What’s even scarier is how the people we trust, especially family, can hurt us more than anything else. The real villains aren’t strangers, but those who should care for us. The film plays with the idea that the mind can be both terrifying and unreliable, as it twists and distorts reality under enough pressure. It also explores what people are willing to do to get revenge or save their loved ones, pushing them to make unimaginable choices. It’s a film that leaves a lasting impression due to its strong performances, gripping storytelling, and unforgettable plot twists.Was this review helpful to you?
Where Hitchcock Ends, and East Asia Begins
At first, "Forgotten" feels like another thriller about memory loss, kidnapping, and piecing together fragments of a broken past.But like true Hitchcockian mastery, you think you're watching one kind of story — and by the time you realize what it really is, it’s too late to be safe.
In today’s age of fast emotional overload, true psychological horror — the kind that builds dread like a pressure system, quietly, patiently — is becoming rare.
Where Hitchcock’s suspense often lived in personal terror — the guilt of the individual, the terror of exposure — "Forgotten" evolves the formula.
"Forgotten" doesn’t just trap you inside one man’s fear. It traps you inside a culture’s understanding of community, family shame, and moral responsibility.
Here, guilt isn’t a solitary emotion. It echoes across generations, families, and public lives.
It’s a kind of horror that doesn’t just threaten your life — it threatens your worth, your belonging, your memory itself.
In an era that demands instant catharsis and louder emotions, "Forgotten" dares to haunt you slowly.
It trusts that real devastation — like real memory — happens not in shocks, but in silence.
Forgotten doesn’t scream. It whispers until the floor disappears beneath you.
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This review may contain spoilers
Acting and cast was great no doubt, I won't even talk about it. My question is, how did the case get cold. Why did the detectives not doubt the victims' husband/father if he bought a large amount of insurance. Typically in other dramas/movies they would suspect the spouse if it has a large amount of insurance.
Also, is it because of the timeline? How did the police not have a piece of evidence like fingerprint when he did the job so poorly like leaving the scene looking like that.
Did his real brother die? Too many unanswered questions for the sake of my curiosity.
For the music, I don't remember anything so I guess it did not stood out.
This is a mystery movie so rewatching would kind of be pointless because you won't be thrilled anymore (IMO). But it is a great twist and turn movie. Highly recommended
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This review may contain spoilers
A Thriller That Keeps You Guessing Until the End
I write really long reviews but here's a summary. Keep in mind this is just my opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone ❤️❗SPOILERS AHEAD❗
The Good
Twist After Twist After Twist
This movie knew how to mess with your mind in the best way possible. The plot twists had me questioning everything, just like Jin Seok. When his brother came back acting all strange, I was sure Yoo Seok was the villain. I had my own theory board going, but of course, I was wrong. And that journey to the truth? So worth it.
Edge-of-Your-Seat Suspense
The suspense in this movie was chef’s kiss. From the pencil inches away from Jin Seok’s eye to the creepy room with those weird noises—every scene had me on edge. What made it even more gripping was the feeling that everyone in the movie knew what was going on, except for us. No slow build here—it was intense right from the start.
The Psychological Element
Jin Seok’s mental struggle hit differently because, honestly, it’s not just fiction. When you experience extreme trauma, your brain sometimes blocks it out as a coping mechanism, even creating fake memories. That’s what happened to Jin Seok. His guilt over the family’s accidental deaths was so heavy, it was buried deep in his mind. And when the truth finally came back? Yikes. It’s fascinating in a deeply unsettling way.
A Tragic but Perfect Ending
This might sound grim, but when a character gets what they want and then dies? That hits. It’s tragic, sure, but also poetic. Yoo Seok’s mission was finally complete, and then he ended his life. It felt like a tragic, full-circle conclusion. The whole movie started with tragedy and ended with it—perfectly tied together, in the most haunting way.
No Time Wasted
One of the best things about Forgotten was how it didn’t waste any time. No slow build, no dragging out the plot—this movie got right to the point. I watched it with my dad and stepmom, both of whom hate slow movies, and even they were hooked from the beginning. That’s how you know the pacing was on point.
The Bad
The House Was Just… There?
Why was Jin Seok in that house? I get it’s part of Yoo Seok’s trap, but it didn’t really help Jin Seok recover his memories. He didn’t start remembering until after he left. The house felt more like a weird psychological manipulation tool with no real payoff, rather than a meaningful part of the plot.
Lack of Flow
I love a good mystery, but Forgotten took it too far. The twists worked because they blindsided us, but the clues were nonexistent. We were trying to solve for A or B, only to be hit with an answer we didn’t even know was possible. The kidnapping? Juicy, but pointless. And the brother’s personality switch was just confusing—didn’t tie into anything. It was like they were so focused on making him suspicious that they forgot about the bigger plan.
Plot Overload
This movie couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. The two major plots—the kidnapping and the murder—competed for attention. They ended up just getting thrown at us in phases, with no real resolution. The kidnapping took way too much focus, especially considering how insignificant it turned out to be. Maybe they could’ve focused on one plot or expanded the story to give everything the attention it deserved.
The Trailer Lied (a Little)
Not a huge deal, but the trailer totally sold this as a "my-brother-isn’t-my-brother" thriller, and that wasn’t even the main plot. It definitely misled me, but I’m glad the movie still held up despite the bait-and-switch.
Final Thoughts
This movie is one of my top-rated thrillers. It hooked me from the start, with twists and a hauntingly poetic ending. A solid 9/10 from me.
But once you look closer, the cracks start showing—like the multiple main plots fighting for attention, and the kidnapping arc that didn’t really go anywhere. It’s one of those movies where the first watch is a rollercoaster, but on a second go, you’ll catch a few eyebrow-raising moments.
Still, no movie is perfect. Forgotten delivered where it counted. It’s the kind of thriller you wish you could experience for the first time again. And if you do rewatch it, just don’t think too hard about the plot holes—gasp dramatically, pretend you didn’t see them, and keep the popcorn coming.
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Let me warn you: You will not to come to a conclusion on your own.
At every step of the movie you'll get small hints and big twists and turns. I personally love a plot twist that I can't predict, so this movie turned out to be a great surprise.
My mouth shaped nothing more that a silent Wow, through out all the movie, and I was constantly feeling that the story was betraying me for not allowing me to believe in what I was watching.
As for the negative aspects, even though I loved the movie, maybe some revelations were a "bit" too excessive? Like they were hard to actually happened in our day-to-day basis. Was it the only way to connect all the dots or is it that weirdness what made this movie so different and good to watch? I have no idea, but if you give it a go, I think you won't regret it!
If the end is good or bad, expected or unexpected, I'll leave it for you to find out! ;)
IsaP
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When I started to see it I thought it was a typical Korean film, that for those who have been watching this genre for a while now, the movie could be very predictable ... but let me tell you that it is not.
I loved the performance of Kang Ha Neul - even though I hate him in Scarlet Heart - and the turn of the story is very good.
From the beginning it catches you, and I insist, you think that you already know what will happen when in truth you have no idea and as you look at it you want it to move faster and know what is happening.
Super recommended :)
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Expect to stay on the edge of your seat
There was NOTHING in this story that I could have predicted. It makes you question what the hell is going on from beginning to end and when things come to light, the truth just leaves you shocked.Stellar acting by Kang Ha Neul and Kim Moo Yeol. Music did it's job creating the right atmosphere but nothing memorable.
I agree with what another reviewer said about rewatching being rather pointless since the mystery is what makes this movie - unless you're rewatching to look out for the details you might have missed the first time around, or to observe someone else's reactions/journey (that should be fun).
I'd also say that once you're lying in bed replaying the plot in your mind you might start noticing and questioning some plot points. But that didn't dampen my overall enjoyment of the movie.
Am really surprised I didn't hear about this movie before (found it in "more like this" from The Call and watched it because of MDL reviews and Ha Neul) - it truly deserves more attention.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the best plot twist ever. Very well written and protrayed. All characters were spectacular and I was drawn by the story right away. Didn't see it coming even though I tried to understand I still didn't predict anything. The only thing I'm not a fan of was the ending for one of our main characters. It wasn't satisfying imo just unfair and leave you with a bittersweet taste... Though it was realistic in that way even though not everything was really realistic in the plot lmao Was this review helpful to you?
Potential
If you're just getting into psychological thrillers or enjoy plot twists this is the movie for you. I truly enjoy psychological thrillers and that causes problems here. I've seen so many that I unfortunately saw a good bit of everything coming. There were definitely a few parts that caught me off guard and legit I almost crapped myself BUT overall I feel this movie was lacking serious potential. I enjoyed it none the less and it definitely is a huge mind f***. Acting was pretty spot on given the plot and my re-watch value is fairly decent. No doubt this movie deserves the high score it has. Be sure to pay attention or you might get lost...only for awhile, luckily.Was this review helpful to you?
I recently just watched When Camellia Blooms and I am in love with Kang Ha-neul, so I was trying to find a movie with him in it. I must say that I do not see any Yong-sik or Ha-neul in this character. Kang Ha-neul totally transformed into someone else and it is brilliant. I am in love even more.
It is a very well done movie, definitely a must-see!
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