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.
❗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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