Kate

Love the directing, editing, acting and aesthetic of this, but I was questioning some of the writer’s choices for both the characters and plot lines.

First, I don’t quite get the mother’s character. She switched from crazy to normal to crazy far too quickly without truly good reasoning. Matsuda Yusuke's massive love was at least weird. They tried to somehow explain it with the origin story, but even that brought more questions and annoyance.

So why do I have a problem with the origin of the newspaper? It had no place in such a short drama. With the past story, the whole new world of possibilities has been opened, but close to nothing was explored. The dynamics between characters have changed, but it was not organic enough for me to accept, it was a normal progression in the story. Sometimes not explaining every detail and keeping viewers in the dark till the end is a better choice. Nothing's more scary than the unknown.

The mechanics of the Terror Bulletin were also questionable: Can the same bulletin be delivered more than once? Why would past bulletins work? And wouldn't the last episode "cheat way out" not only not save her receiver but also create more victims?

I have to say though, I enjoyed Shiraishi Sei’s performance a lot. The character was well written and realistic. It showed some flaws and the bad/questioning choices were almost made. The will to survive and the empathy in her were a nice internal conflict that had me shocked a few times.

That said, the ending disappointed me greatly. It should have ended around 31 minutes in the last episode. That would be a nice commentary on how selfish people are, and the fact one good person cannot fight it on her own.

Do I think it’s scary? No. Not only that, but I believe some of the deaths could be seen as funny for few viewers. I found them disturbing and weird, but they never frightened me. The plot got a bit messy closer to the ending, but it was an enjoyable watch with a few good pictures created.

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I’m not sure what happened in the whole show? I was in love with episode one, but later my enthusiasm died down. The last two episodes brought it back though.

I loved how over the top and slapstick the comedy was at the beginning, but as more episodes came out, they were less grounded in the situation and plot, and more of mini comedy skits. That's not exactly my type of a show progression, but I still enjoyed it.

I really liked the dynamics between Nott, Pun and Arm. This type of love line was overdone so many times, but here, a simple take on the story was perfect, since the surroundings were so crazy. Not only that, Nott’s character was quite well written. His “what is love” scenes were surprisingly heartwarming and deep. For a sitcom like this they, quite straightforwardly, talked about consent when someone is intoxicated. Big plus. Overall, lots of depth under all that silly comedy.

I must say, I was quite impressed with Yoon’s acting too. All the supporting roles were overacted (that was a stylistic choice for the comedy bits) so the tone down and more natural acting delivered by the main cast balanced it well. I actually wanted to rewatch some scenes simply because I liked what Yoon did with Nott’s character.

WARNING FOR VIEWERS! The whole show is quite an “acid trip” in terms of editing. There are many weird sequences with flashing lights and loud sounds. If you are sensitive in terms of visual stimuli, I would suggest skipping this show completely.

Overall, it’s a light (borderline dumb with some bits) show that should never be taken seriously. If you don’t like sitcoms, you most likely won’t like this too. It’s extremely unrealistic and silly, but that's the charm and the point of it. Even with some over the top elements, it has quite a few nice messages hidden between the comedy skits.

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While I usually love some complexity for crime driven dramas, the setting of this one made it impossible to enjoy.

My expectation might have had a big impact on how I view it. I was hoping for a rather simple plot with some amazing characters to dig deep into. The sad truth is, the plot was "complex" but full of predictable traits. We had some amazing characters that were never really used to their full potential. It would be much better if the whole story truly revolved around the kids, and no adult was connected to the cases. If we could get the "kids can do evil, kids are not all innocent" kind of scenario.

The whole drama should focus more on what is happening in school, but it didn't. The more the plot progressed, the more side stories we've got: prosecutors’ story line, an investigation by the police, adults’ politics, corruption.

If you set your drama in the school, you should use this place to its full potential, and that's what they did at the beginning. We’ve got to know the dynamics and rules of their school life, the background for the main characters, how they interact with adults, who is the top dog and how they use their power. But the further we got into the plot, the more unnecessary grown ups doing adult stuff we've got. The drama switched from being "school" to "crime/corruption" kind of story.

How amazing and tragic of the ending we would get, if they didn't show Beom Jin's father much. If we weren’t sure if he was connected to the case, it could have been only Beom Jin's view of it. And when we finally get that last court scene, he truly was just helping Soo Ah and there was nothing more going on between them. We could see how Beom Jin's obsession about his image ruined him and his family. How the lack of communication and keeping secrets can lead to a tragedy. It would have more heart and value. The true ending was simply disappointing.

Overall, the drama was kind of enjoyable, but definitely not because of the plot, but rather a few characters I liked. I skipped some scenes, especially the investigation ones, which I often watched at 1.5x speed. The trend of mixing everything in the plot and making it more complex than it has to be is really popular lately in dramas, and this one is not an exception.

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This was sweet and funny, but at the same time left me thinking: what the heck have i just watched?
It felt a bit like nonalcoholic drink when you crave some percentage. It was so short, it did not really have time to set the mood, vibe and hit me in any way.

I still appreciate how they managed to give some nice and relatable messages that can apply to many different contexts, not just a specific one presented by the customers. Universal takes that could make your life better.

The acting was also good for a short web drama like this. Especially impressed with Kim Wook in episode 2 and his quick and effective change of performance.

My biggest issue? Lackluster production. The music was too loud, the cat sounds were cute, but at some point overwhelming. I was bombarded with different auditory stimuli, I struggled with focusing on what I was watching.

That said, I loved the fake cat paws. That was probably one of my favorite small details from the whole show.

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Good execution of a basic story.

While the movie has high production value, good writing and great cast, it brings exactly nothing to the table. We have seen this story in a similar setting quite a few times.

These are always the same questions: What does it mean to be human? How far can we go to survive? What can we do for power and control? What makes some movies tackling these ideas stand out more than the others are cast/performance and the unique setting. Medical trials on clones is not exactly an out of the box idea. And with that, the movie is interesting and enjoyable, but easily forgettable. Sure, a few scenes showcasing Seobok’s special abilities were fun and more unique takes on the typical clone scenario, but surely not enough to make this production outstanding in any manner.

Gong Yoo carried the whole film on his shoulders. The performance saved a rather stereotypical character. On the other hand, as much as I like Park Bo Gum, he made me feel exactly nothing as I was watching Seobok. What’s worth mentioning - the small beef between Chief Ahn and Kim Cheon Woo was probably the most entertaining aspect for me.

The production was great. A high budget movie delivering high quality effects and action scenes.

Overall, a good watch, one that most would enjoy. Will I remember it to later recommend to others? Probably not.

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So good and fun it should have been a series.

It still works perfectly fine as a movie, but there is just so much to explore and both the characters and connections between them could have been more deep and engaging, if this was more than just a movie.

I finished it, liked it, was entertained from the beginning till the end, liked the characters, even ones I was skeptical about at the beginning, and yet the last thought I had - I needed more.

The characters were too diverse for this length. I did not get enough well paced character development from Mikado Kosuke, not enough in-depth exploration of Hiyakawa Rihito’s trauma and how he dealt with it for years, not enough time to truly understand and accept Hiura Erika’s actions. I wanted more background about the past events for the 3 main characters. More conversation about the power of belief in contrast to the power of not believing.

So many cool concepts, ideas and stories that could easily fill a short series. The source material was made for it, and yet all we’ve got was a movie. A good movie, but it could have been great.

On the note of source material, I tried to read it, but the sexualization of the connection the main leads had was just distracting and a bit ridiculous. The sensual exorcisms just made me laugh, so on that aspect, I’m actually happy the movie changed things up. I would appreciate a clearer indication of the feelings they had for each other, but there should be a middle ground between what was in the manga, and how much the cut out for the movie.

Acting was great. Shison Jun’s emotional scenes got me good. Especially the one after he passed out. The build up of the emotions the character was experiencing in these few minutes was delivered in a perfect fashion.

What’s more - the film was beautiful. Maybe it just fits my aesthetics, but I loved every frame of it. I also appreciate the gore that was excessive at times, but not gross and cartoonish.

One thing I would complain about was the soundtrack going from church choir to old school games. At times it completely did not match the scene it was played for.

Overall, I would recommend it. If you know the source material and expect a BL, this ain’t that. But it’s a nice story that vaguely touches on some interesting concepts.

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Basic plot sandwiched between fun opening comedy and great ending action.

Been awhile since I laughed so much during the opening few scenes of a movie. Does not happen a lot that I rewatch action sequences. Both happened as I was watching Mission Possible, sadly only at the beginning and the end.

It’s a goofy and lighthearted comedy with a small twist that could have made it even better, if it was used to its full potential. I wish they used the duality of Woo Su Han more - it would serve for both great comedy and great action.

There is nothing truly special about the plot, but with action comedy, it’s not a bad thing. I honestly believe the complex plot should not be distracting viewers from the entertainment a simple comedy delivers.

Acting was great. Especially liked Kim Young Kwang’s performance. I knew from the start the character he is playing is not what he presents himself to be and the acting perfectly carried the “unexpected” situations.

Overall, it’s a simple comedy with simple characters and nicely done action and choreographies. I wish they pushed a little bit harder on the jokes, kept the slapstick from the beginning more present till the end. The middle part just felt a bit empty and stagnant.

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It’s just a fun compilation of different characters dying because they were unlucky enough to step foot in the cursed house. - more or less that’s the plot.

If this is your first Ju-On movie, you won’t get much history and background of the curse and how it was born. There are some hints, but they do not serve as a cohesive set up for the story. That said, I strongly believe we don’t need that here.

In horror less often means more, especially if we talk about the supernatural. The harder the story tries to explain things, the more convoluted and boring it gets. I appreciate how we get none of that here. Just a creepy lady with a creepy meowing kid killing people because they are pissed about their crap life. That kid… personally scared me more than the pro yoga mother rolling down the stairs.

It’s short, but effective for a midnight watch in a dark room.

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A whole bunch of nothing...

The movie was basically like these "haunted lactation explorations" tv shows, where nothing happens for 40 minutes, but then they exaggerate the reaction for the smallest whisper or a creak. It starts well introducing the case and building the atmosphere, but then it plateaus till the end and gets more and more boring with every minute.

Have to say though, the directing truly made it seem like a realistic reportage. Appreciate how each footage they showed made sense, and I never questioned "who filmed it?" - these small things that completely ruin the immersive experience.

The acting was also good. Because of the intentional often low quality shots and shaky camera, we could not really grasp the full performance with all its detail, but it was good enough for what it wanted to present.

They way they presented the story itself was painfully basic.

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The thing is, this was such a brainless fluff I wish they were more cliche and used more typical rom-com tropes. More pining, more silly jealousy - fill that screen time with more variety of situations, because the second half kind of became repetitive.

That said, the chemistry was amazing. I think my favorite aspect of the show was how the characters were completely different from the initial impression they gave. Miura Manatsu is not this cold and detached dude who is completely not interested in his partner and Haruta Ami is not this innocent pushover. There is a great amount of mutual push and pull and flirting/bickering. The dynamics were great, all thanks to great performances.

I also appreciate how the show put a twist on some characters and their reaction to the relationship - this was refreshing.

Overall, perfect as a palate cleanser between more complex/serious dramas - there to appreciate the romance and give your brain a break.

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Could have just called it Momo and be done with marketing.

Anyone slightly familiar with creepy pastas will right away see the similarities between the supernatural being in Stare and the urban legend of Momo - long dark hair, slim long face, big and creepy eyes. You hear about her, she shoes up, you have a stare showdown, you die - that’s the movie.

I don’t think there was more to it to be honest. It had great potential to be great with better and slower directing. Stretch these starting into her eyes scenes longer, build that tension, but in the actual film it all passed way too quickly. The whole origin got messy, the importance of some characters forgotten, who was in on it, who just told the scary story thinking there is nothing more to it? All too blurry.

Acting was fine, so were the effects. I would appreciate less blowing up eyes, since that aspect was rather lackluster in presentation.

Overall, a decent watch when you feel like watching horror, but also want some simple and short entertainment.

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Perfect type of a mess.

The movie fits just right into the “so bad it’s good” category - with elements and plot that could last for at least 3 separate movies, it makes for a perfect late night brainless entertainment.

While the first 25 minutes are rather dull, following typical ghost and cursed storylines we have seen in hundreds of movies, the moment the ghost hunters duo shows up, that's when magic and crack happens.

There is no logic in this film - none. It’s impossible to make sense of the 80% of scenes and dialogues. They drop random supernatural lingo and we as the viewers need to just accept it all makes sense.

The acting was surprisingly not bad - improved with every minute. Honestly, delivering some of the lines in a serious matter seems like a miracle to me.

Production was… C class at best and that’s one of the fun and charming aspects of the movie. It’s made for people who can enjoy cringe and poor effects.

Overall, what an acid trip it was.

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A bit basic, but still fairly entertaining.

There was nothing truly wrong about the movie, but nothing stood out in a positive way either.

What starts as a comedy, ventures into more sad territory closer to the end. We know how Koreans are - nothing is just a comedy. I must say, I actually really like where the plot went and the given conclusion, I just hoped it would be set up better and more hints have been given.

On the comedy side - I did not really laugh once. Maybe smiled a few times, but that’s it. The jokes were just really mediocre and they did not take full advantage of the scenario they created.

The acting was good, especially from Han Seung Yeon who is able to deliver both the comedy (even if limited by the script) and drama.

Overall, it's light, short and fun enough to watch and not feel like you wasted time.

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It wanted to have this uncanny feel to it, but since they never truly committed to it, we’ve got a mediocre result.

What’s the plot? Two teens have to live with their grandparents for a short period of time, but why does the old couple keep acting bizarre? All we need to add is a strange hole in a wall and a few other random plot aspects like: cheerleading, bullying, harassment, ghosts, wormhole theory, revenge of the grandpa. Most of it felt like an unnecessary filler.

Speaking of the hole, every scene that presented what’s inside was just laughably bad. The effects and styling was just ridiculous. Realistically speaking, they should have never shown the viewers what’s in it, and create a spooky atmosphere around the feeling of the unknown.

The dialogues are probably the thing that annoyed me the most. Am I an idiot? Did they truly have to explain every little detail to me through them? It was not hard to figure out, so by the point the characters were discussing it, I as a viewer was already aware of the situation they were talking about…

For the acting, not exactly convincing. For the younger cast it seemed like a lack of skill. Not as easy to judge the older actors. Maybe it was hard to build a solid performance on a script like that?

Overall, way too long for a story like this. Some plotlines were not needed and did not bring much to the story at all. It had its moments, and I cannot say I dislike every minute of it, but these few scenes that were interesting were not worth watching the whole 2 hour movie.

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