This review may contain spoilers
translation issues aside, it was thrilling !
this was a great premise (the ring x excorism) so it gripped me right away. i love the horror genre and i think the series did great with its casting, the talent of its actors, the execution, and even the music/score elevated the intensity! this was like an exploration into the body horror genre as well~it was such a sad look at the reality of young adulthood, school bullies, difficult home life, and betrayal. i loved that shamanism was both criticized as well as framed with heroism; many series these days only paint shamanism in a bad light so i thought it was interesting to see how it could be used to “exorcise” demonic forces and intent instead of just being the cause of a curse. the way the spiritual world was executed, how the main characters had to get through the three doors and how haetsal helps guide them in the mortal world was cool asf i ate it upppp😈
a couple criticisms:
- the netflix translations were SO OFF. i’m not even fluent in korean but there were some lines in the english translation that weren’t even remotely said… it takes away from the emotional impact, i believe. the translations tried to explain what was happening instead of letting the audience connect to the characters through their actions and seeing their emotions on screen. sigh
- that ending???? i get you want to express that there may be a second season but it was kind of corny lol also if destroying the thing that caused the curse defeats the curse, why would the app still work? 🤐😭 i’d rather watch a second season that completely focuses on haetsal’s journey into being free from the spirits that are attached to her instead of diving into the app curse again
ALSO i do hope there was no generative AI use 😭 some scenes seemed a lil sus
anyway! i thought this was a pretty decent first season, even though it was so short. i will be seated for what’s next!
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This review may contain spoilers
Unique plot and loved the acting
It was a nice watch I have to say. I don’t usually watch horror kdrama and I only watched this one cause it got viral and I think it was worth it. The friend group was solid and I loved the bond the characters shared in the beginning. Nari was kinda annoying ngl and whether she survived or not is unclear. Seah’s and Geonwoo’s relationship is also really sweet and the series does well with showing how much he cares about her. The apps backstory is my fav part tho. The friendship between Siwon and Hyeryung in the begging is really strong but slowly falls apart cause of Siwon’s mum and it’s kinda sad. From the moment Siwon didn’t delete Hyeryung’s wish video I knew betrayal was coming and when it did I felt how much Siwon was hurt. Overall really nice drama and like I said the acting was top tier I highly recommendWas this review helpful to you?
Fast-Paced Horror That Grips, But Doesn’t Fully Stay With You
if Wishes Could Kill delivers a tense and engaging watch, especially for viewers who enjoy light horror without being overwhelmed. Despite an initially intimidating atmosphere (especially when watched at night)the series settles into a more manageable tone. It relies on familiar elements like jump scares and graphic moments, with certain scenes involving physical harm (like eye injuries) being more uncomfortable than genuinely terrifying.The drama benefits from a quick pace and a short episode format, keeping the story moving and maintaining attention throughout. Its central premise is intriguing, and while the narrative occasionally becomes confusing, it remains compelling enough to hold interest. The open ending hints at the possibility of a continuation, though it doesn’t leave a particularly strong anticipation for another season.
Where the series falls short is in its characters. Many of them feel frustrating or underdeveloped, with decisions that often seem illogical, a common trope in the genre. Emotional connection is lacking, and even key characters fail to leave a lasting impression. However, the origin story elements involving earlier events add a layer of intrigue.
Overall, If Wishes Could Kill is an entertaining, easy watch imperfect but engaging enough to keep you from losing interest, even if it doesn’t leave a strong impact afterward
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A Complete Trainwreck
Kudos only to the screenwriter, because the rest of the drama is a complete mess. I genuinely wonder how they even managed to secure funding for this project. Everyone in the cast, whom I’ve seen before, delivered the weakest performances of their careers.The biggest disappointment was Kang Mi Na, whom I had considered a potential Gen Z kdrama leading actress. Not anymore. On the other hand, this was my introduction to Jeon So Young, and she actually felt more grounded than KMN. Baek Sun Ho gave off major The Heirs LMH vibes (it's not a compliment), while Hyun Woo Seok still seems haunted by his role in Cheer Up.
The directing is also a mess. I can’t pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, but something about it just feels off. I might have taken this drama more seriously if the directing was better, but the amateur execution is impossible to ignore.
It leaves me, as a viewer, questioning what the drama was aiming for. It felt less like a serious horror and more like an parody film like a Scary Movie . Overall, this drama is the worst one I’ve seen since the Cashero.
If you’re a true horror fan, skip this one.
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Worth watching with friends
Well, dramas like this usually have the same kind of ending, so I’m used to it.I still liked it, though... there was blood everywhere, and we were eating while watching it, even though there was a warning, MYGHADD. 😭 But we still enjoyed it, and we loved their acting.
They really hooked us until the end (I watched it with my friends). 🫨
I just hope that in the next generation of dramas like this, they’ll change it and give us something new.
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It keeps you hooked!
If Wishes Could Kill is an eight-episode K-drama that, despite its imperfections, is a genuinely solid watch.The cast overall does a good job, though some performances felt less gripping than others. That said, the chemistry between geong Woo and Seoh ah is a definite highlight.
The story explores a chilling premise, you can make any wish, but it comes at the cost of your own life. It dives deep into how revenge, jealousy, and hatred can push people to make devastating choices, ultimately spiraling into something completely uncontrollable.
The narrative isn’t the most compelling, but it does what it needs to do to keep you engaged.
All in all, If Wishes Could Kill may not be perfect, but it hooks you in and keeps you watching till the end.
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I don’t get why people are giving low rating
I’ve seen a lot of recent reviews rating this below 5/10, and I understand why. The story does have quite a few plot holes. That said, I wouldn’t call it bad, but it’s definitely not perfect either.The first episode is actually really strong. It has a great hook and grabs your attention quickly. I usually get bored easily, but this kept me interested all the way until the end.
However, the story can be confusing, especially if you’re not used to multiverse-type plots. It requires a bit more focus to fully understand what’s going on.
As for the ending, it feels like it could be expanded more, possibly setting things up better for a second season.
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This review may contain spoilers
My Wish? For this show to be longer, more detailed, and less gorey
I’m here to give my first ever review of a supernatural, occult horror k-drama that was recommended to me on Netflix! Keep in mind I am writing this review several weeks after I’ve finished it, it's not completely fresh in my head, so hope you will understand if there are mixups or errors of any kind. As someone who typically goes for the familiar silly lighthearted rom-com or melodramatic tearjerker, I am actually proud to say that I conquered my fears of this genre and gave this one a shot.At first, I was thinking how glad I was this was a mini series with only 8 episodes because I didn't think my nervous system could’ve handled anything longer. I told myself I needed to power through only 8 and it’ll be over, but by the end, I somehow ended up wishing it was longer and less bingable LOL If you’re anything like me and feel hesitant to explore this genre, I will say give it a try as it's not a bad introductory show. The reason I chose to watch this was because there was something about this drama’s Netflix poster that immediately drew me in when I saw it. Perhaps it was the combo of high school and horror, or the ominous way they're standing in a dark, eerie classroom facing us, the audience. Put a bunch of high school students in a life-threatening situation caused by demonic technology and watch how they fight for their lives (flashbacks to “All of Us Are Dead”). Or perhaps, being a long-term I.O.I fan, it could've been my curiosity about Kang Mina and her new acting career that made me want to check this out (she absolutely killed it in her role as Nari though!).
To summarize, this drama primarily follows a high school friend group in Seorin High School. It all started when Hyeongwook, one of the boys in the group, discovers a mysterious app called Girigo that supposedly grants any wish you make through the app. He excitedly shows it to the rest of his friend group: Seah, Geonwoo, Nari and Hajoon, claiming that all you have to do is a film a video of yourself stating your wish with your “Saju”, essentially your name and birthdate/birthtime, written and it'll come true. The rest of his crew calls it bluff, until the unbelievable happens. The wish he made, to get a perfect score on his upcoming math test, really did come true just as he had wished for it through the app. Suddenly, a 24-hour countdown starts on his app screen. When the timer ends, he dies by a suicide.
His friends are petrified by his shocking fate and set out on a quest to uncover the truth behind the app. A few of them even tries using the app themselves, wondering if there was a way to bypass or stop the timer. Where did this app come from? What is happening to the bodies of those who uses it? Why did Hyeongwook die? This is when the mood of the drama shifts from a chill high school slice of life with light romance to thriller/horror as it starts diving into themes of curses, demonic possession, revenge, alternative spiritual dimension and exorcism. Once you get to episode 6, almost everything becomes clear - why this app exists, how it came to curse people, and how to break the curse. That was my favorite episode among them all because the storytelling was so well done and gripping. The actresses for Siwon and Hyerung did a phenomenal job in the origin story acting. Watching the tension in their friendship driven by Siwon’s broken relationship with her shaman mom get worse and worse and what it ultimately led to was extremely interesting. My other favorite scenes were those with the character Haetsal (Hajoon's sister) interacting with Seah. Seeing how committed she was to saving the lives of the kids touched my heart.
This is not a big issue, but there were some tiny concepts that felt a bit hard to grasp for me personally, like shamanism and exorcism, given my lack of experience with this genre. The ambiguous cliffhanger ending leaves you wondering if a second season will be coming anytime soon. I should also give a trigger warning that there were quite a bit gore and jump scares throughout the show. Unsurprising for a horror drama, but if anyone is sensitive to those visuals, it might be good to avoid or skip past those scenes. Overall, it was a really enjoyable watch. I wish the writers developed certain plot lines more, but I think they did what they can within 8 episodes. I will definitely remember this drama for years to come.
*This review was written without the assistance of AI
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A Fun Blend of Horror and Shamanism That Loses Some Steam Along the Way
I went into If Wishes Could Kill with fairly low expectations, and I ended up having a really enjoyable time with it. It was a fun and easy watch that surprised me with how strong it started. The opening episodes immediately pulled me in and did a great job setting up the mystery and introducing the supernatural elements.One of my favorite aspects of the drama was its use of horror and shamanism. Stories that explore folklore, rituals, and the supernatural have always been a favorite niche of mine, so I really appreciated seeing those themes incorporated into the show. Even though the overall story was relatively simple, the atmosphere and cultural elements made it stand out and kept things interesting.
The cast also deserves praise because everyone did an amazing job. The performances helped bring the emotional moments to life and made the characters enjoyable to follow. The chemistry between the cast and their ability to balance the lighter moments with the more unsettling ones added a lot to the experience.
My biggest issue with the drama was that it lost some of its momentum toward the end. While the beginning was strong and raised several intriguing questions, the latter half felt somewhat stale and didn't fully address all the mysteries and plot points that had been introduced. I was left wishing that some of the storylines had been explored more thoroughly and that the conclusion had provided clearer answers.
Despite those shortcomings, I still had a good time watching it. Not every drama needs to be groundbreaking to be enjoyable, and If Wishes Could Kill succeeds as an entertaining supernatural series with plenty of charm. It is the kind of drama that works perfectly as a palate cleanser between heavier shows. If you're a fan of horror, shamanism, and lighter supernatural mysteries, this one is definitely worth checking out.
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this kdrama was honestly rlly good
the storyline was rlly interesting..at some point you would think that she's in a horror game lol. This kdrama has many twists and would make u feel watch more and more.Definitely would recommend u to watch it if u love horror and suspense kdramas..
Here is a short warning that don't watch it during night or midnight time you might would not get sleep easily lol
and binge watch is perfect for it so, don't regret not watching it so just try it once!✨
my honest review overall would be : 9.5/10
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This review may contain spoilers
Berhati-hati dalam berberucap. Jangan gegabah, masalah bisa diselesaiin, rantai bisa diputus.
Yay, udah namatin series ini. Aku bukan tipikal yg suka ngereview, tapiii karena ini bagus, jadi aku nulis review. Seruu banget!! awalnya cuma penasaran aja, karena sering lewat masuk di top trending apk, pas ngikutin seruuu banget. Ga ekspektasi kalo ada series yg ngangkat cerita kayaj gini. Pas pertama kali tau series ini, aku langsung keinget sama konten Diary Misteri Sara. Bener-bener hampir plek-ketiplek kayak gini dehh kalo DMS di visualisasiin saat penelusuran gituu? aku penonto DMS dari lama, dari mereka yg cuma penelusuran sampe skill mereka makin meningkat bisa nyelametin/bantu arwah ke tempat yg lebih baik. Walaupun di series ini engga sampe ke arah condong kayak gitu, tapi dg mutus benang merah, menggali cerita, masuk ke dalam dunianya (dg segala manipulasi ya), sampai klimaks hantunya nyadarin kalo ada penyusup. huaa keren bgttt.Akting mereka bagus2 menurutku, ceritanya bagus, jalan cerita bagus, ngevisualisasiinnya bagus, emosinya dapet (jujur ikut ngos2an juga HAHA). 9/10 drama genre thriller horror yg terkesan banget di tahun 2026kuuu. Aku juga sempet beberapa kali mempertanyakan series yg serupa kayak gini, tapi sepertinya engga pernah yg kayak gini banget ga sih? kalopun ada yg hampir serupa, paling drama Karm, itupun juga engga mengangkat ke arah se-horror ini? sama-sama mengangkat benang merahnya.
Kepercayaan budaya Korea masih kental mengenai per-dukunan, tapi menurutku yaa nyambung2 aja siih dg dimana kepercayaannya. Seperti kalo di Indonesia kan banyak pakar-pakarnya, ada ustadz, praktisi supranatural, dukun, dll. Dan menurutku itu kalo di kerucutkan itu semua hampir sama loo gimana mereka memandangnya. Sebagai pribadi, aku percaya sih dg adanya berbagai alam didunia ini, termasuk dunia lain. Ngomongin soal dunia lain aku juga amazed dg suguhan eps 8, dimana Se-ah notice kalo ada sesuatu (dunia) yg berbeda.
Pelajaran yg bisa diambil dari series ini adalah jangan gegabah. Padahal komunikasi Kwon Siwon sama ibunya bisa dibicarain, eh malah jerat Di Haeryeonh masuk ke dalam lingkaran keluarganya. Kwon Siwon juga egois bgt, dibantuin malah gatau diri + bully. jadilahh bikin lingkaran benang merah kutukan.
Kalo ga kamu yg berhentiin, maka ga berhenti.
Kalo ga berhenti di kamu, terus di siapa lagi?
Aahhh! pokoknya aku seneng bangettt nemuin dan namatin series ini. Kayaknya kutukannya bisa digali lagi, season 2 juseyooo 🙏🏻
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Be Careful What You Wish For
I’ve had this series sitting in my Netflix downloads for such a long time, but I finally finished it last week. Lol. Honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The idea of an app that can grant your wish but eventually takes your life is actually pretty interesting, and the first few episodes immediately pulled me in. It was creepy, suspenseful, and surprisingly emotional without relying too much on gore or cheap jump scares.
I also liked how the series was not only about the curse itself, but also about the jealousy, guilt, secrets, and insecurities that already existed between the characters. Some of their decisions were definitely frustrating, but they still felt understandable because they were just scared teenagers dealing with something completely beyond them. Bang-wool was easily one of my favorite characters because he brought some humor and warmth into such a dark story. The middle part became a little slower when they started investigating the history of the curse, and I wish Na-ri’s storyline had received a clearer and more satisfying conclusion.
Still, I really enjoyed watching it, and now I honestly can’t wait for a sequel. That ending clearly suggests that the curse is not over yet, so I’m really curious about what will happen next. I guess Na-ri might become the next Si-won? or maybe she will have an even bigger role in continuing the curse? Either way, I need Season 2 because they cannot just leave us with that many unanswered questions!
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