A Christmas Carol

Very dark, very painful but exceptional acting from the whole cast!

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS MOVIE CAN BE TRIGGERING AS IT DEALS WITH VERY DARK TOPICS SO WATCH WITH CAUTION SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO!

I really don't know how to critique or review a story/plot that was so deeply disturbing and uncomfortable for me. Was it good? I don't know. Was it bad? I don't know. All I know is my heart ached for these characters (specifically the twins and their friend) and loathed everyone else. I suppose in a way that makes it a great story because I was soooo immersed in it; every dark turn made me physically sick.

And that was kind of the problem. There were many parts of the story I hated but did I hate it because of the triggering nature of those scenes? Or is there something to critique about the plot itself? It's hard to distinguish for me. I do think the story flows well. The way they showed the present with the flashbacks of Wolwoo is done really, really well. There wasn't ever a point in the movie where I thought "huh this is jarring". Like I said, I was genuinely, intensely immersed.

I went to watch for Jinyoung. As a fan of his since Got7, I've followed his career pretty much from the beginning, and this was truly something special. He was phenomenal as both Ilwoo and Wolwoo. I forgot he was Jinyoung. I forgot everything and just wanted to jump into the screen and protect these boys. His heartbreak, pain and trauma were more than just believable, like I said, it made me really uncomfortable (due to the nature of the topics).

The whole cast was phenomenal.

So that's why I'm giving it a 10 solely for the acting.

I really can't say more about the plot than this because... there's a reason why the synopsis is so vague. Let's just say that.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if you are a fan of Jinyoung or any of these young actors. Or if you're a fan of dark, intense movies about vengeance.

Would I rewatch it? Absolutely not. I'm so sorry, Jinyoung, but once is enough. My heart can't take more.

Anyway, I don't know... Good luck if you do watch haha.

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“You’ll lose the one in your hand, trying to catch the one on the run.”

I actually…the more I think on it…genuinely liked this movie. Jinyoung acted his socks off, and for this, I think his future in acting will be rewarding and he’ll develop quite the repertoire. He isn’t just a pretty face.

While I liked this movie, it is dark for a Korean movie (if you’re used to watching their romance comedies and typical melodramas). But if you’ve seen your fair share of revenge flicks, and a good mix of British/American independent movies, you’re strong enough to watch “A Christmas Carol”.

The ending is satisfying enough to leave you pondering about your own life. What do you take for granted? How important is the goal you’re so dead set on completing? Do you want to become those who’ve hurt you?

Although you provide support to those you love by putting a roof over their head, actually showing them affection and support matters. Also, you must think about society, and who it’s left behind. Sometimes it’s even simply best to leave the bad guys getting their just deserts by fate and bad karma alone. No need to carry it out on your own and with force. There’s a favorite quote of mine that says something about choosing to forgive because it’s best for one’s peace of mind. And I consider this sentiment along with the idea that sometimes it’s best not knowing. It’ll drive you crazy.

Having said that, I must mention that I’m an identical twin, and this movie did hit home for me. There was one scene in particular that actually made me cry because I’d hate to see my twin sister in a pretty terrible situation due to the fact that she couldn’t share with me what was hurting her. Sometimes I hurt my sister’s feelings, and lash out at her due to stress. I’m so goal driven, but I hardly stop to take care of myself. So, how he pushed away his brother made me look at myself. Never take your loved ones for granted.

If you’re simply a fan of Park Jinyoung, or like a revenge flick…you’re in a for a big surprise. At first you may feel tricked, but in the end you will realize it was worth it. This movie will stay with me for quite sometime. And maybe my sister will one day stop asking me, “Why are you still going on about the movie? I thought you said it was too dark? I don’t want to see it.”

Therefore, I believe it’s a great watch if you’re a fan of movies that are different and make you think. Rewatch value depends on the individual. But the older I get I believe I just might re-watch this in the following years. Whether to see how far Park Jinyoung has come in his acting, or to remember why this movie has stayed with me for all these years.

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Watched for a mind f*ck, Got a mind f*ck

I saw some edits of this drama on TikTok and saw that it was just a movie. I had been looking for a sad movie to watch so I didn't have to invest 16 hours of my life into a sad Kdrama. And when I tell you this is not the movie for ice cream and cry time, I wouldn't be lying.

The story had a few plot holes and parts where I didn't understand what was going on, but that could also be held to the fact THAT I WAS IN TEARS for a majority of this drama. I really have no room to judge whatsoever on the plot of this movie. Due to that, I gave it a 10/10. I can't rate it lower just because "he died" or "why did it have to end like that" the whole point of this movie was to get that point across. It's not like it was a cute little romance movie and I'm now gonna write a hate review because the couple I wanted to get together, in the end, didn't. This movie was about a serious subject and I shall rate it accordingly.

When going in to watch this movie I was a little worried about Park Jin-Young being cast in it. I was extremely nervous with this movie's serious subject matter, that the movie would try to "sexualize" him too much. But I was very surprised by the fact that he wasn't portrayed as a super hot brother seeking revenge on his poor twin. They didn't make him look flawlessly attractive giving him perfect skin a gorgeous makeup. He wasn't ripped in all the scenes where his shirt was off, and they surely didn't give very many of those scenes. On top of that Park Jin-Young's acting as Wol Woo was unrecognizable. Every signal scene with Wol Woo had me bawling my eyes out. Overall, the acting of both twins was splendidly done by Park Jin-Young.

I think this movie could have been completely ruined if they had added some sappy sad songs over some of the scenes. The lack of music made this movie seem all more real. There was no dramatic fight scene music as Il Woo was fighting for his life. There was no a-cappella being sung over all of the SA scenes. The only music throughout the whole movie that really made an impression on me was the Christmas Carol.

While I do think this was a movie worth my watch to see Park Jin-Young's amazing acting. If he wasn't in it I probably would have never found it or even considered watching it. The chances of me rewatching this again a slim to none but I am thankful that I had the opportunity to watch this one time.

If you do plan on watching this movie I won't stop you, but be warned this movie holds no bounds and absolutely no room for happiness. So grab your box of tissues or your roll of toilet paper as I did, and prepare to be Mind F*cked.

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Well that was some deep dark mofo s@#t

Wow. I...I just don't know how and where to start with this movie. I wanted to watch this movie, but then again, I didn't because of some of the tags. This movie is not what I usually watch and maybe I should have stayed away from it as I read the tags. But I still gave it a go because Park Jinyoung starred in it.

And I must say...Park Jinyoung killed it. I always loved his acting in his previous series/ movies, but he was stellar in his dual role. The emotions that he went through and was able to portray, I felt them. The other actors also portrayed their role good as well. The amount of anger I had watching them - my blood was boiling. This movie is a roller coaster of emotions.

Now, here's the thing- would I recommend this movie to others? Sure, if you can handle the tags and also a fan of Park Jinyoung. If not, then no. I basically watched this just for him. If he was not starring in this (or any of my other fav actors), I know that I wouldn't watch it. The same way that I watched a series for another actor, but I knew it was not my genre.

I know that there is no way I would watch this movie again. I felt so emotional watching this the first time- so much anger, pain, hurt, sadness, etc. And because of that, I just can't give this movie a full 10. My suggested rating is an 8. But I am going to give this movie a 9.5 because it did keep my attention for the whole duration and the actors were all stellar portraying their characters.

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Park Jin Young is the real MVP!

'A Christmas Carol' is a story about a twin brother who goes to a juvenile detention center on his own to avenge the death of his twin brother. It's not Christmas-themed, more about an incident that happen during Christmas time. It's an intense movie filled with very VERY painful scenes, I felt a slow-burn suspense consistently. It looks very dark and gritty, a lot of beating and cursing so trigger warning. The flashbacks scenes are not confusing and it flows well with the plot. It's not just a movie about a crime investigation, it is also asking about whom and what do you take for granted in your life, how important revenge is and how far can you go.

By the climax, I got so angry and sad. It's a very unsettling reveal, so proceed with caution... it’s not a movie that leaves you feeling okay. For this reason, I won't recommend this to all, unless you want to see Jin Young's amazing acting nuance, at the same time ruining your inner child's fantasy on Santa Claus...

Though it’s great that I felt really emotional throughout, I had to suspend my disbelief for the real cause and execution of the main incident. It explains the meaning of foreshadowing scenes leading up to this climax, but I expect this particular scene could have been written better or more realistic. Nevertheless, I think this is a great movie because it manages to grabbed my heart and ruined it to pieces. I will need some time to heal and by re-watching Jin Young's other works. Hats off to you, Park Jin Young, I respect you very much!

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A horrid and depressing story of revenge

The first scene was just anguish overload. It introduced a grief-stricken Il-woo (Park Jin-young) seeking to avenge his twin brother's death. Park Jin-young's conveying raw emotions of grief and anger during the first 5 minutes was just flawless. It was just applauding that he was able to get rid of his flower boy Kpop idol persona and transform into a dirty, gritty, and morally-ambiguous character. "A Christmas Carol" is the pinnacle of his acting chops and just proved his versality. Basically, PJY is the highlight of this movie and deserves an award nomination at least.

For the plot, it had a stable direction while it focused much of its first half on the violence/revenge part then addressing the problem on the second half. There are several trigger warnings and some people won't be able to digest or feel the same rage as me while watching it. If one could be able to get past through the first hour without having the urge to end it, the second half, although darker, would be interesting to watch.

It was emotionally-investing to see Il-woo's journey in achieving justice for his brother's death. The flashback scenes shed some light but at the same time, just felt utter pity towards Wol-woo's plight. Il-woo's realization later on was just heart-breaking, as with most scenes towards the ending.

Could've been better in terms of tension build up especially when it was revealing who was behind the crime. The reveal was still good, it was somewhat surprising but it also felt disjointed in terms of its execution. But when everything was then connected, it now all made sense, and it being gory is such an understatement. For seasoned movie watchers though, the "plot twist" could be already seen a mile away.

Even with all the horrible events all throughout the movie, the ending still provided a glimpse of light. Only a glimpse, since it doesn't yet evoke a societal-level change and the court verdict was questionable, but still a glimpse, since it triggered a talk, if not a controversy about this movie and its story. Maybe it can be a catalyst for such gruesome incidents to be stopped and prevented in the future. With that in mind, I think this movie was able to tell its message to the viewers quite well aside from few wonky sequences and story telling on the later part.

It's not obvious based on the final outcome, but this movie actually faced severe restrictions from the Korean movie board and had to be revised four times before being finally released. Yet despite the fact, 크리스마스캐롤 ("A Christmas Carol") was still able to portray a horrid and depressing story of revenge.

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This is NOT a revenge movie (my opinion).

This film makes me angry, but not for the reason most people mention. It’s not the violence itself that unsettles me, nor the fact that it’s yet another dark revenge movie: it’s the illusion it carries. A Christmas Carol seems to ask me to cheer for vengeance; yet, watching it, I see something else entirely: a young man who isn’t seeking justice but is punishing himself for not being there.

Park Jin-young carries the entire film on his shoulders with a double role that feels like an indictment aimed directly at the audience. On one side, he portrays the neurodivergent brother: a contracted body, uneven breathing, eyes searching for connection in a world that shuts him out. On the other, he becomes Il-woo: clenched jaw, evasive stride, hollow gaze. His brilliance lies in the smallest details — the way his posture shifts, the way his voice either drops or hardens — and in making us feel that the two brothers aren’t true opposites, but rather two poles of the same solitude.

Context matters. In Korea, anyone perceived as “different” pays a heavy price: disability, mental health struggles, being an orphan… all carry stigma. The film doesn’t turn this into an overt manifesto, but the trace is there: both brothers are already marked as losers before the story even tightens its grip. And here is what burns the most for me: I understand Il-woo’s exhaustion. Living alongside someone vulnerable can be draining; fatigue wins sometimes. But there’s a difference between fatigue and indifference. And Il-woo, as I see it, crosses that line: he stops looking, stops listening, stops being present.

SPOILER. The younger brother’s death is not “just” the result of beatings and bullying. If you watch without expecting catharsis, the film clearly shows sexual violence as the real cause. And it isn’t inflicted by the usual convenient villains, but by someone trusted — a figure Il-woo never even thinks to suspect. Here lies the decisive point: the “revenge” he pursues doesn’t arise from the truth of what happened; it comes from an attempt to numb his guilt. He cannot (or will not) see what really occurred, because he would first have to look inward and admit that he had already abandoned his brother while he was alive. If that boy had come home with bruises, I fear Il-woo would not have noticed. He had already lost him the moment he chose to turn away.

That is why I cannot read this as a “successful” revenge film. Everything that follows is pure substitution: Il-woo creates a visible enemy so he doesn’t have to face the invisible one; he turns pain into a mission because a mission provides meaning, whereas grief does not. The violence he inflicts on the world isn’t justice, it’s self-punishment disguised as action. It doesn’t “fix” anything; it simply puts distance between him and the only truth that matters: he failed to protect the one who depended on him.

The direction (cold, claustrophobic) underscores how much moral myopia pervades the story: corridors that close in, spaces that compress, a staging that pretends to breathe action but really suffocates. Even when the plot accelerates, I don’t feel release: I feel delay. Every act of retribution comes too late, aimed at the wrong target. It’s a chain of substitutions: striking what can be struck, because what must be named is untouchable — by shame, by fear, by impotence.

If I must explain why Park Jin-young’s performance feels so powerful to me, it’s also because Il-woo is never a “tragic hero.” He is a guilty figure in the most human and painful sense: he didn’t commit the violence himself, but he allowed it to happen in his absence. And when he finally acts, he does so too late and in the wrong direction. The double role becomes a merciless device: in every frame, it feels like witnessing an inner trial where both the defendant and the victim share the same face.

Those who want revenge here will find action. Those who seek the truth will find a void. And it’s that void that angers me: not because the film “offers no answers,” but because it shows the wrong answer becoming the narrative. The result is not redemption — not even effective vengeance — but a grief that can never complete itself. No balance is restored, no order returns: there remains only a boy who understands too late, too poorly, and has no idea where to put his hands.

To me, A Christmas Carol is this: not the muscular tale of someone “taking justice into his own hands,” but the confession of someone who cannot say I’m sorry to the right person at the right time. So he speaks with fists, with knives, with fury — because speaking with guilt requires a courage the film, deliberately, never grants. There is no redemption where pain was ignored before it was violated.

Seen this way, my anger makes sense. Not against the film as such — which is harsh, consistent in its chill, superbly acted — but against the comfortable idea that vengeance equals understanding. Here, nothing is understood: there is only punishment. And punishment, as we know, is never healing.

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If there was a God, would he know about this shit?

Another hard-hitting film from South Korea that talks about bullying, injustice, abuse of power, and the struggling youth. The movie would embed itself into your head hours after you had watched it. The progression of the movie was just right, I absolutely loved the cinematography and the way the music and silence were used throughout the film. I believe they helped in the storytelling, allowing us to feel Il-Woo's emptiness.

I believe the little details in the background of each cut are also worth mentioning, as this immensely helped shape the film. The script and the individual characters themselves were very well-written, the way Chon Son Woo's character shifted after the event had passed was so real you could have convinced me it was true. You could tell that they studied prior to creating the script.

You could feel how genuine, volatile, empty, and desperate each character was throughout the film, creating this experience that just leaves you pained and flustered. It was simply so raw, and emotional. I've watched Heo Dong Won from Insider, Park Jin Young from The Devil Judge, and Song Geon Hee from Alice: The Final Weapon. But I truly believe that this film stands as their best film, with such a short amount of time they managed to create a story that was so painful it leaves you with a spot inside your brain that you could never itch.

As much as I loved this film, I believe it isn't something that anyone could digest. It talks about:
- S*xual Abuse
- Bullying
- Abandonment
- Murder
- Abuse of Power
- Mental Illness

So, if you find any of these triggering, I sincerely would like to ask you to stay away from this film as the scenes aren't downplayed and are portrayed realistically. This is the same reason I rated it very low for it's rewatch value, simply because I don't think it would be a healthy choice for me to watch it again.

This film stands as one of the best examples to justify just how amazing an actor Park Jin Young is.

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A disgusting masterpiece that you only watch once

I went into this k-movie blind because I saw comments saying they wouldn't recommend it to anyone, and that it left them sick or ruined. I, of course, wanted to see for myself.

Now, I advice that you please read the trigger warnings first as this movie does deal with very triggering and traumatic events. It's not as graphic, but it will still leave a lasting effect if you're not in the right head space.

When you start the movie, it's a bit overwhelming. Depending on if you went in blind or not, you're going to be a bit lost. All you'll know is Il-Woo has a twin brother who was found dead and the three alleged perpetrators are in the juvenile detention center Il-Woo got sent to. And then from there, the story starts to gradually unfold, and you realize just how absolutely sick and twisted everything is.

The storyline is honestly really nice. I enjoy it's uniqueness. The acting was especially exceptional, especially Jin Young's role as the autistic brother. It's not easy acting out a role that includes a disability or neurodivergency and getting as accurate as he did. He really deserves his flowers because he was the main show for the whole movie.

The plot twist was... Definitely a plot twist. It had me shocked and honestly sick when they played the flashbacks. But I wish they had built up a bit more on the tension and climax, because it was just suddenly.. Dropped. It didn't feel as shocking as I wanted it to be. But it was still really good.

I wouldn't really recommend this. It was good, yes, and if you're a type of person who likes dark movies and dramas, then by all means. But for a casual watcher, I would not recommend it. Even though it was not as graphic as I thought it'd be, it was still really disturbing and the topics being portrayed and discussed were honestly a bit hard to sit through.

'A Christmas Carol' wasn't as jolly as the name suggests. No, it wasn't jolly at ALL. It was a brother who came to 'avenge' his twin brother by dealing with the culprits while simultaneously still beating himself up and partially blaming himself for the outcome of his twin brother's death.

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Wanted to love it, a bit disappointed

Disclaimer: I watched this as a pick me up on a shitty day, feeling very much meh, so it could be a factor in my less effusive appreciation.

As others have said, this movie deals with dark, heavy themes (bullying, sexual assault, violence, and rape) so watch at your own risk! Also worth to note the autistic portrayal (story wise) may be upsetting so take that into consideration as well.

I watched this for Jin Young (and the whump, fine), and the acting, generally speaking, is consistent throughout, as I've come to expect broadly speaking from Korean productions. I couldn't help but compare the Joo Wol Woo portrayal to Moon Sang Tae from It's Okay Not To Be Okay which I felt was more artfully done, but to be fair it was a series, not a movie, so the range, depth, and exposure was longer.

The themes are nothing new from other dramas and movies exploring violence, bullying, and systemic violence, definitely heavy handed in an "everybody swears all the time" kind of way (on top of all the other dark shit). The cinematography echoes that dark grittiness but it's not mind-blowing good (but it was an indie budget wasn't it?).

I was a bit let down by the story... immersion? It wasn't very clear of the boys' relationships from the start, where they knew each other from, I got confused in terms of places and who went where, when. Maybe that was more the subtitles, I'll never know. I did see a twist coming, which is good (the crumbs they give do lead to the right road), and the ending works for the story they've told.

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