This review may contain spoilers
Chills and Thrills in the Classroom
"Strange School Tales" is a Korean horror drama that attempts to blend eerie ghost stories with the everyday lives of students and teachers. While it delivers some moments of genuine suspense, the series overall struggles to stand out in the crowded horror genre.The drama revolves around a series of supernatural occurrences at a high school, with students and teachers finding themselves entangled in mysterious and often terrifying events. Each episode presents a different tale, exploring various urban legends and ghost stories that are linked to the school's dark past.
The series excels in creating an unsettling atmosphere, with effective use of lighting, sound, and set design to evoke a sense of dread. Some episodes manage to deliver solid scares and suspenseful moments, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The anthology format allows for a variety of stories, each bringing a unique twist to the overarching theme of haunted schools.
However, "Strange School Tales" is hampered by inconsistent storytelling and uneven pacing. Not all episodes maintain the same level of tension, and some plotlines feel rushed or underdeveloped. The character development is often shallow, with many characters serving as mere vehicles for the horror elements rather than fully fleshed-out individuals. This can make it difficult for viewers to form emotional connections or care deeply about their fates.
"Strange School Tales" offers a mix of chills and thrills, but ultimately falls short of being a standout horror series. Its strengths lie in its creepy atmosphere and occasional effective scares, but inconsistent storytelling and lack of character depth prevent it from achieving its full potential. For fans of the horror genre, it may provide some entertaining moments, but it might not leave a lasting impression.
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Strange school tales are things which we grow up with and gossip about presence of ghost in school, school built up over old graveyard and what not. So overall it is a good watch for horror . The three stories all happening in same high school but different plot point. Murder mystery to possessed high schooler
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Each cine-drama in the trio is set in a high school, depicting tales of old spirits and secrets that have been long buried in the scene - until now.
The third in the trio - Karma, what goes around comes around !
This is the last one ...and maybe the one I found a bit uninteresting ...tho that might not be the case for you ...maybe you’ve read about me telling you that I liked 8th anniversary the most ...I guess I know why ….it had this constant spree of ghost’s popping up on my screen ….which I really liked ..this one also has it similar ..but I guess my rational brain ( which should be working at all places except dramas but will do quite the opposite ) felt sad when it realized that things could be logically explained ….ahh I wanted them to have some more ghosts and less logic ….if you are confused about what I am talking ...just ignore me ...cuz if you understand ...you’d also be sad …!!
So in short the ghosts here can be logically explained …(does that even make sense …)
Well this one has this school backdrop but is more like a detective drama throughout ...where teachers instead of teaching do all sorts of nuisance ...but well it’s drama land and who said teachers can’t be part time electricians and detectives ?
It’s a good watch if you don’t think of it as a horror and ghost story ...the acting is decent and re-watch value ...quite less …none really ...
This one got a pinch of bullying again …( it’s like salt in the vegetable called school k-drama according to our writers…. how in the world does it fit you without salt )
What goes around comes around ..karma ..the central message is made impactful ...but I would still say this one was my least fav among the three ….but to each its own ...you’ll never know until you try !!
If you are watching it ...I hope you enjoy …
the other reviews for the series can be found on respective pages ...or maybe I'll drop a link in the comment ....(if you wish to read my opinion on them you can check the comment with spoiler tag)
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This review may contain spoilers
WHAT? THE GHOST HAS A CAMEO IN ITS OWN HORROR !? Haha
Like the other two in this Anthology, even this is a mix of Two Genres - Crime Mystery Thriller + Horror.(More of a Thriller than a Horror🤷🏻♀️)
Plot is Very Good n Very Interesting but Execution n Everything has gone wrong.
The least interesting one in this Anthology, While the other two are Very Good, Unique n refreshing to watch & so expected the same level from this.
Highly Disappointed!
***** WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I really Liked 1st miniseries n Admire 2nd one in this Anthology and was shocked to see this to be very bad n not upto the level of the other two.
(Watched the 4 episodes, 30 mins each Version)
The major complaint about this miniseries is PACING.
It's very slow, boring n a lot of Repetitive content.
Initially, Sloth-Paced to build the base of the story n to introduce the characters.
And even after, 80% of the run time (almost 3 eps out of 4), the concentration is still on building the base to the story, without any further Progression in the plot.
Instead of 4 eps, this could have been done better in 2-3 eps.
***
Direction, Pacing n Story progression are bad.
Camera effects & lighting in haunting or mystery scenes are a NO, horrible🙊
Everything n in every category, this is terrible.
***
Even the Ghost faces (whether FL's hallucinations or true haunting or the pranks by her students) are terrible.
It's a 2020 series, better CGI is in reach to the film makers these days🤷🏻♀️
***
Even BGM in the horror scenes, is loud n bad.
Bad Jump Scares.
***
The ending, the last episode is rushed to conclude the story.
Spoilt a good potential story n the talent of the cast.
Oops for being harsh, maybe, If this is directed by the ones of the other 2 in this anthology, even this miniseries would be excellent in all categories 👌🏻🤷🏻♀️
***** WHAT I LIKED:
Initially, there is a story build up that everything is done by some vengeful spirit, identity unknown, haunting the characters n so, it's purely horror vibes.
Here the Suspense about below, is Interesting:
1) About the ghost's identity.
2) Whether FL's parents are mentally disturbed n have hallucinations all the time or really they are experiencing ghost haunting n are possessed.
3) Whether all the haunting experiences of FL are a true haunting or just her hallucinations bcz of her trauma or not a haunting but done by someone around her.
Later, the story turns like most of the crimes are done by humans n not the ghost (Predictable 🤷🏻♀️)
So, the story of pure Horror turned into a complete Crime Thriller 😂
The real ghost haunting is in the climax (for few minutes only 😳)
So by the end, the Story is a Mix of Two Genres - Crime thriller n Horror 😂🤷🏻♀️
These subtle Twists n Turns are good.
The Story is Well Written like an Intertwined Stories of Crime Mystery and Horror 👌🏻
Every character looks suspicious bcz of this suspense n twists (I suspected everyone 😂)
This Mystery n Suspense is maintained well but Very Slow Story progression n too many Repetitions of the same point, made it uninteresting.
***
This is not a High School setting like the other 2 in this anthology.
It's a haunted house setting with high school students and teachers involved.
Whatever happened to the FL's family and everyone is bad n sad 😑
This is A SAD STORY OF STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE IN THIS WORLD OF COMPETITION N SELFISHNESS! 😑 Fighting against the selfishness n greed of people and to the extent how they would go to make people go insane n ruin families, to favour themselves.
School Bullying, cheating, fraud, dirty politics in an educational institution, unacceptable personal favours etc are depicted here, which are sad.
Overall, The Story is Excellent and the Actors performed very well.
(Me, No complaints or no Ranting about these, haha😂)
***
Narration is Good 👌🏻
The past n present of FL are depicted back n forth, almost like one scene of present n the next is one from past.
Present story is narrated by FL n the Past is narrated by her dad.
***
Cinematography is good at times but mostly bad.
Locations are beautiful
Production, Screenplay are good enough.
***
Finally, There is no loose end left out.
By the end, every point has been given a clarity (but rushed to explain in just 1-2 mins only in finale ep 😳🤦🏻♀️)
In the end, everyone received whatever they deserve.
Only sad that the school gal took an unnecessary punishment to atone on behalf of her family n for the sin of ruining the FL's family
***** WHAT I FOUND FUNNY:
The Ghost has a Cameo appearance in its own horror movie !? 🤔😲
What? 😳😂🤣
This is promoted as a horror n just for that sake n not to disappoint horror genre lovers, looks like, a ghost character is given a minor role here😂
U can actually see the real ghost haunting for just 4 mins in ep 4 😲😂🤦🏻♀️
It would be better, if this is made as a sad family drama + crime thriller, instead of including horror elements 🤷🏻♀️
***
U can see Narration (of past by FL's dad) in another Narration (of present by FL)😂
***
FL's dad n her colleague, those actors are handsome. Except seeing their handsome faces, there's nothing else to watch or rewatch this🤦🏻♀️😂
(I'm being sarcastic here!)
***
Everyone is Suspicious at the beginning,
Everyone is Crazy half way n
Everyone (except FL) RIP by the end😳😂🤦🏻♀️
*****
My RATING is 7 / 10
(Bcz of Bad Execution.
Would be 9 for the Plot)
Watched it, just to finish this Anthology of 3 miniseries.
If one can tolerate the Sloth-Paced story progression, can give a try for the interesting story or to pass the time🤷🏻♀️
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