Reviews

Not for Everyone’ Is Not an Argument

When a movie defends itself with “it’s not for everyone,” it’s already in trouble.

The issue here is not ambition or complexity, but a broken narrative contract. The film promises a visceral survival experience and then abandons it midway for a conceptual twist that rewrites the rules instead of deepening them.

Confusing abstraction with depth doesn’t make a story intelligent. True depth comes from consequences, not from invalidating what the audience has already lived through.

Understanding a movie does not obligate you to praise it. And in this case, understanding the twist doesn’t improve the experience—it weakens it.

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A Soft Zombie Thriller with Emotions

My Daughter Is a Zombie is a light thriller mixed with comedy, but what truly stands out is the beautiful father–daughter relationship at its core. Beyond the zombies and chaos, the film focuses more on family emotions, making it surprisingly touching.
The movie has emotional moments that work well without becoming overly dramatic. While it doesn’t reach the intensity or scale of classics like Train to Busan or All of Us Are Dead, it doesn’t try to compete with them either.
Instead, it offers a softer take on the zombie genre—blending thriller elements, humor, and heartfelt emotions. Because of this balance, the film feels more personal and family-oriented rather than purely horror-driven.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable watch—especially if you like zombie stories with emotional depth and light comedy. I genuinely enjoyed it.
⭐ Verdict: Not a genre-defining zombie film, but a warm and entertaining one.

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This Isn't The New Parasite

I’ve watched almost all films by Park Chan-wook—Thirsty, Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, and more. Compared to those, No Other Choice turned out to be a poor choice for me personally.
Many people are comparing this movie with the Oscar-winning Parasite, but honestly, I don’t understand why. The themes, impact, and emotional grip feel very different.
I was genuinely excited because of the stellar cast—Lee Byung-hun, Cha Seung-won, Park Hee-soon, and Son Ye-jin. With such powerful actors, my expectations were naturally high.
That said, I wouldn’t say the movie is bad. It just wasn’t my type of genre. The storytelling and tone didn’t connect with me the way Park Chan-wook’s darker, more intense films usually do.
In short, No Other Choice might work for some viewers, but for someone who loves Park Chan-wook’s earlier, more disturbing and emotionally charged cinema, this one felt underwhelming.
⭐ Personal verdict: Not bad, just not for me.

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Based on a very cliched premise, "Individual Circumstances" nevertheless had the potential to be an entertaining way to spend a slow evening.
A conflict based on miscomminucation, the inability to face your own insecurities, or external influences that stop one of the two main characters to act and resolve the conflict on time: This all has been done before in many, many dramas and novels. So, in order to stand out, you need to be meticulous in the writing and in the execution. The crew for this production was not.

There was much potential in the imagery -- the sterile house vs. the perfectly manicured garden, which Ha Yeonwoo crashes into, vs. the wide spaces of nature. There was good potential in the non-linear story-telling, so that we only get to know of their back story bit by bit. There was some potential in the meta-narrative where the feelings of our protagonists are mirrored in the feelings of the fictional couple.

Unfortunately, none of it was used well. It starts with the writing itself: The meta-narrative and non-linear story-telling interfered with each other and reduced the potential significance of each. Parts of the flashbacks seem at odds with each other -- at first there was something about a sweater, and later about a kiss; and both times I had the impression that this was the last time they had seen each other. Some scenes in the later part added nothing to the story (like when they broke into the museum) -- and considering that the whole runtime is just under two hours, the screen writer should have asked themselves: What story do I want to tell?

And in my opinion, the screenplay is the base for everything else -- if it already doesn't work, then the rest will struggle.
The thing is that "the rest" also doesn't work well. The cinematographer had an eye for nature shots (those were great) -- but that was it. The house, the garden and the world outside had interesting lines and light to use. None of it had any significance on screen.
Scenes were edited to be too long or ended abruptly. Microphones were seen on screen. At times, there were some audio issues. And let's not talk about the "kiss" in the "rain" at the end. (Not that I don't mind closed-mouth kisses per se, but here the camera held and held, until it felt awakward for everybody.)

Most of the time, the actors tried to save the mess, and I do think that their abilities were the only thing that made me sit through this film. But even they dropped the ball near the end -- if you are that uncomfortable kissing your (male) colleague, then you should make sure to either not act in a production that requires kissing or at least make sure that it's not as obvious in the finished product.

Overall, I have the impression that most of the crew didn't want to be there and rushed through everything just to get it done. I wonder if they are able to take pride in the product?



Was it good?
No. There was potential but none of it was used.

Did I like it?
I liked two aspects; the rest was ... meh. It was short, though.

Would I recommend it?
No.

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Fantastic Dance Movie with BL flavor

This reviews contains major SPOILERS!

Before I begin, I should preface this by saying I love dance movies! Strictly Ballroom (1992) is one of my favorite movies ever, and I’ve watched it more times than I can count. After realizing the director of 10Dance made some references to it, I talked to someone about 10Dance and Strictly Ballroom. She reminded me of Shall We Dance? (1996), the iconic Japanese movie about falling in love with ballroom dance. So I bought it and rewatched it just now. Definite references to it as well, namely the dancing solo in the open square in the snow, as well as dancing on the train platform.

Two crucial messages from Strictly Ballroom and Shall We Dance are also present in 10Dance. From Strictly Ballroom, “dance is about love. If you cannot convey love and passion through the dance, it is inadequate.” From Shall We Dance?, “remember you are not dancing alone. Ballroom is about the connection between you and your partner.” (I am paraphrasing in both cases.) Both of these messages are crucial to understanding 10Dance and the relationship between Suzuki and Sugiki.

As such, I believe this is a dance movie more than a BL. If you do not enjoy watching dance, you will probably get bored. However, this is a superb dance movie. The actors did a phenomenal job training, and they truly look like professional ballroom dancers to me. (I’m not a trained ballroom dancer but I am a trained ballet dancer—or I once was. I can tell a really talented dancer when I see one.) It is not just that they are good dancers, though. They absolutely embody their characters through their different dance styles. Suzuki is passionate, wild, full to overflowing with love and desire for others and for life. Sugiki is controlled, disciplined, superbly trained and taught to act like an artistocrat. We see these character differences through how they move. We also see these differences in non-dance scenes as well, like when Sugiki takes Suzuki out to eat. (Quite a humorous scene yet also so insightful.) The restaurant is so button down and oozing wealth. On the flip side, when Suzuki takes Sugiki to see his home and “little Cuba” in Tokyo, we see the opposite side. Rundown surroundings, but joyful drinking, free-form dancing, wild behavior, and general abandonment. (The visit to “little Cuba” is also a direct reference to Strictly Ballroom, when the FL takes the ML to her poor neighborhood to meet her Spanish family and learn the true feel of Hispanic culture and ballroom dance.)

What’s important about the interaction between these characters is what they have to offer each other. They are both aware they are using each other, but also greatly admire each other, and may even be developing feelings of love for each other. Yes, the tension between them is palpable, but it isn’t only sexual. They are both searching the other for what they are missing in themselves. Sugiki is told by his mentor that there is no “love” when he dances. He later describes to Suzuki his compulsive need to keep dancing at when he was previously at Blackpool, even when his partner was falling apart. He calls himself “the grim reaper.” At first I didn’t understand this description, but I now believe he was thinking of how he killed any feelings—feelings he and his partner were experiencing in the past, in order to keep dancing. He sees himself as devoid of feeling. When Suzuki dismisses his story (the English subtitle was that’s “lame,” which I hate, but we get the gist.) Sugiki realizes in that moment that Suzuki is the key to unlocking feelings in himself, both through passion for each other and for the dance. (Again, back to Shall We Dance?, where the main characters are both the key to unlocking each other’s love for and devotion to dance.) After Sugiki’s realization, we get the iconic Japanese BL running scene, before a passionate kiss. This mislead me into thinking this would be more of a typical romance BL. Instead of becoming lovers, however, when we next see the two kissing and heading towards more, Sugiki says no. He is afraid if he gives in to passion he will lose his self-control. That self-control has brought him this far, and he relies on it. He is not ready to let it go. This was so disappointing as a romance viewer, but satisfying for the story because it shows Sugiki’s ultimate motivation and goal: to win above all else. Suzuki, ever emotional, however, cries.

When we are finally reunited with both Suzuki and Sugiki in Blackpool after 6 months, they compete in their respective categories as if nothing has changed between them. But then the demonstration or honor dance arrives, and shockingly (ok, maybe not that shocking), Sugiki picks Suzuki as his dance partner. They then dance like we have never seen them dance before, with restraint on Suzuki’s side, abandon on Sugiki’s, joy in their faces, and a new level of overall mastery. We see what they can achieve as a couple, as partners. Then we are left with the lovely kiss and that (heartbreaking) line “until 10Dance,” leaving us drooling and wishing for more as dance fans and as romantics. But I guess we can’t have it all. Yet, I hope.

Besides this wonderful story, we have a film with two truly phenomenal actors who convey this story almost exclusively through movement and facial expressions, while making us believe they are in fact Suzuki and Sugiki. We also have a director who knows how to film dance. He gives us full-body views to show off the choreography, facial close-ups to convey the emotions, and overhead shots to enhance the beauty of the movement. The cinematography in general is beautiful, with so many atmospheric shots of the different locations and their accompanying emotional beats. The music, while largely traditional ballroom music, was also perfect.

So while I am desperate for a sequel, I cannot really find much fault with this film. It delivered two of my favorite things, dance and romance, in an exquisite package. I really hope others can see what I see here. And I hope for a sequel, of course.

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"Don't ditch when I get serious"

Two hot guys sizzling as they Waltz and do the Cha Cha Cha while staring into each other’s eye? That’s pretty much the plot of 10 Dance and yet the actors made it next to impossible to look away.

Suzuki Shinya is the Japanese Latin dance champion while Sugiki Shinya is the Ballroom dancing champion. Both are competitive and seek to be the best. While Suzuki and his partner, Aki, are loose and have fun, Sugiki rigidly controls everything, never cracking a smile. Sugiki doesn’t hesitate to berate his partner, Fusako. “The Grim Reaper” puts forth a plan to Suzuki that they teach each other their different styles and compete in the 10 Dance that requires both Ballroom and Latin dance skills. Tentative at first, Suzuki agrees and the enemies become something a little more friendly.

I have not read the manga so I can only comment on what was shown on the screen. The plot was as thin as a sheet of music. I really wish we’d gotten to know more about the two characters than one was overtly rigid and the other enjoyed food, drink, and multiple women. Thankfully, the two actors were able to elevate their characters above the script. Takeuchi Ryoma gave a wonderful performance as the passionate Suzuki. He displayed a wide array of emotions, digging deep when he found himself falling for his cold rival. He also had a habit of taking his shirt off which I wasn’t mad about. Machida Keita as Sugiki had to work hard to convey his conflicted feelings in his character’s overtly disciplined body and mind. Just a shallow note, I miss his long hair from Glass Heart. Doi Shiori made the most of her screen time bringing the loyal Aki to life. Poor Ishii Anna’s character was mostly relegated to a pretty face.

I know nothing about ballroom dancing, but enjoyed the various dance styles and the rigorous training behind them. Most importantly, for a romantic dance film, Takeuchi and Machida’s chemistry was sensual and palpable. The ending seemed to leave room open for a sequel and I will certainly buy a ticket to watch these two dance again.

19 December 2025
Trigger warning: Nudity early in the film, nekkid buttocks and suggestive breast images

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Dry eyes from unblinking.

Wow, what a movie!
I am just gonna play some music and dance, waking up the whole neighbourhood at nearly 3 am.
I am a chemist and I should tell you all that we have the reaction but not enough reagents to satisfy us. Where is my 10 fk dance they worked so hard for? Where is the first champion title ? Where is the movie we waited so much for?
I felt like I am seeing a manga with audio. And we all know how manga can be Hella confusing.
It was a slow burn without the flame, it was an enemies to lovers without the ferocity.
I want to see some deeper connection after that making out scene like a different dynamic in thier dance, or even a smile, but they immediately introduced the ex.
The beginning was strong to the first half ( that scene when he switched the dance was so captivating), the shots, the scenario, the music, then it goes down, and then it keeps going down ( STAY forever) to the disappointment of an ending leaving so many things unresolved. I really wanted to know the lady's opinion in his dance with Suzuki, and there had to be some talking between the Ballroom couple. And of course the 10 dance competition.
The actors were good. that suzuki guy was amazing together with his girl.
Machida Keita was so tense.
But it was a 10. guys, you should definitely go see it.
Not very clean though, as it could have been.

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Unexpected but also FRUSTRATION?

The backstory of stumbling across this was thinking it was reality TV about dance competition...

Oh boy how wrong was I - but can't complain, of course.

I went into the trailer expecting reality tv > then assuming it was a trope of "let's use each other but we end up falling in love along the way"

To an extent, yes. But the story and characters ended up being so so much more than that. It was this aspect that had heavy influence on the final rating. And it's these kinds of stories that toss me in the unexpected end up being the most memorable.

I had to sit with my thoughts for a while before writing this review, and the last time I did this was Method (that itself is a rabbit hole).

The beauty of this movie is not solely for the romance that YES, we BL enthusiasts swarmed to like moths to light.

It was the subtle artistic choices by the director that couldn't be overlooked - such as for example, there were multiple shots of Sugiki being in the darkness when engaging in conversation with Suzuki, who remained in the light in some way (the studio, where he stood at the mezzanine, looking down at Suzuki).

Sugiki finally smiling at the end despite losing when he was stoic as a bamboo pole throughout the film.

The nuanced touches spoke volumes about their characters and particularly Sugiki's obsession with perfection, that everything else related to the human touch, is viewed as a distraction. Love is such the case for him, that he doesn't realise he remains in darkness, despite the prestige he has earned in the ballroom world.

To put it plainly, there is just overwhelming layers of depth that begs for a rewatch.

It goes without saying the chemistry between the two leads just sparked upon the first practice session. The tension in the struggles between ego, power, and control is so palpable it could drive one mad sitting through it. What started as a cutthroat masterclass became almost bregrudingly, a waltz of flowering emotions both are so adamant to NOT admit but continued to partake. The power dynamic, facial expressions of yearning and reluctance were delightful to watch.

I think what was surprising (as someone who hadn't read the manga) was the reasoning behind the romance. It was more than the bond through partnership that was expected reading the premise. It was Suzuki seeing Sugiki's pain and obsession for the one thing he believed would be his salvation, the need for perfection that was crippling him inside out. It was Sugiki watching Suzuki dance and realised the latter had something he yearned but couldn't understand.

10Dance just felt like watching a variation of Sherlock and Watson, ruthless machine and a compassionate doctor, both filling in the gaps where the other lacked, but ultimately, it was acceptance and understanding without dialogue, that truly made me realise how beautifully executed this movie is.

Honestly BLs are just getting better. This is no exception. But the ending is surely a perfect opening for a sequel...? TT

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A shame

I saw the trailer for this movie and got so hyped. I literally couldn't wait for it, so I read the entire manga beforehand. I loved the manga and was excited to see it as a series....oh, wait, a movie? Ok movie it is then. In my opinion making a series out of the initial story would've been a better fit, but I digress.

There are both negative and positive points about this movie, which I will get into shortly. But if you'd like a short answer, if it's worth watching: It depends. I could see someone absolutely falling in love with this movie, so at least give it a shot. But, to be honest, it could also be a bit confusing.

As for what I disliked:
- Storytelling & Character depth: hhhh, not to be a hater, but I think with this movie adaption they kinda missed the whole point. What I especially liked about the manga was, ofc, the dynamic between the two leads. Both, respectively, have some fierceness to them. They are both used to being a leader. What happens when two people in charge clash? Conflicting feelings, passion and lot's of emotion. I just didn't see that in this movie from a story telling perspective. (The actors themselves were actually great, more later). That's actually why I was so confused to see this as a movie instead of a series. The lead's feelings built up over a long time and many dance parctises, time you don't have in a movie. I get if they wanted to put the focus more on the dancing itself, but for me it is so closely tied to all of their complicated feelings. They said it themselves in the movie: Only love makes the dance complete. But imo there was no time for love.

HOWEVER, there were some absolute beautiful things about this movie. Namely, cinematography and acting.
- Cinematography: Istg just visually, the whole movie was absolutely stunning. The locations, the costumes, the camera work, the coloring - chef's kiss.
- Dancing: Again, visually, so nicely done. There's always a chance of movies coming of as pretentious when depicting difficult technical skills like dancing, but it was so beautifully done. I believed that they were dance champions.
- Acting: Probably my favorite part. The acting was beyond everything else!! Both of the ML's were amazing portraying the characters, but especially the guy playing Suzuki had me on the floor. I loved everything from his facial to his body expression. Small but: This at the same time saddens me. Because you have actors who deliver, yet because of the story telling, pacing, directing or idk what the issue was, I just didn't feel it. Their chemistry could've been deadly, but somehow it wasn't.

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English and Portuguese Review

𝐀 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 (No spoilers for the ending)
From the very beginning, The Merciless already grabs your attention with its concept. An undercover cop who gets too involved with the criminal he’s supposed to watch and ends up stuck between two sides. That alone creates a really strong sense of tension.

The movie takes a bit of time to fully get going. The plans take a while to unfold, and at times it feels like the story is moving slower than it should. We follow the protagonist deliberately getting himself arrested to get close to a certain character, and that relationship starts to go beyond just work. He forms a real bond there, and that begins to completely mess with his choices.

The timeline can be a little confusing, so it’s worth paying attention so you don’t miss important details. But once things start connecting, the impact hits much harder. The plot twists are great and genuinely surprising, constantly making you change how you see the characters. You can really feel the protagonist’s inner conflict, and it’s impossible not to empathize with him.

The atmosphere is heavy and tense from start to finish. The ending makes sense within the film’s proposal and does what it needs to do, but the way it wraps up left me feeling like it could have been better. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but that feeling is still there.

Overall, it’s a dense film, full of tension, betrayal, and difficult choices. It’s not fast or easy, but if you’re into this kind of story, it’s definitely worth watching.

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𝐔𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 (Sem spoilers do final)
Desde o começo, The Merciless já chama atenção pela ideia. Um policial infiltrado que acaba se envolvendo demais com o criminoso que deveria observar e fica preso entre dois lados. Só isso já cria uma tensão muito boa.

O filme demora um pouco para engrenar. Os planos levam tempo para acontecer e, em alguns momentos, dá a sensação de que a história está andando mais devagar do que deveria. Acompanhamos o protagonista sendo preso de propósito pra se aproximar de um certo personagem, e essa relação começa a ir além do trabalho. Ele cria um vínculo real ali, e isso começa a bagunçar completamente as escolhas dele.

A linha do tempo é um pouco confusa, então é bom prestar atenção pra não perder detalhes importantes. Mas quando as coisas começam a se conectar, o impacto é bem maior. Os plot twists são ótimos e realmente pegam de surpresa, fazendo você mudar de opinião sobre os personagens o tempo todo. Dá pra sentir o conflito interno do protagonista, e é impossível não criar empatia por ele.

O clima do filme é pesado e tenso do começo ao fim. O final faz sentido dentro da proposta e entrega o que precisava entregar, mas a forma como termina acabou me deixando com um gostinho de que poderia ter sido melhor. Não chega a estragar, mas deixa essa sensação.

No geral, é um filme denso, cheio de tensão, traições e escolhas difíceis. Não é rápido nem fácil, mas se você curte esse tipo de história, vale muito a pena.

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An episode feeler!

Don’t worry, even if you do not watch it, you are not missing out on anything grand!🥺, it is enough to watch as an episode feeler. If you are patient enough the storyline is okayish to keep you watching till the end but not great enough to rewatch!

I found the editing a bit awkward at some points. It felt as if some scenes were cut probably leading to absence of smooth transitions but you can look past these if you are more interested in the plot.

I would recommend this movie if you are up for something light. Do not watch this if you are up for a deep/ intense or nerve wracking type of natural disaster plot! Moreover, the flood and how deeply it impacted everything as a natural disaster was not the intense type. I mean you wouldn’t say, “ Wow, indeed that was the great flood” after watching the drama!😂😭It felt so dry therefore you may easily feel bored or triggered to drop it.

At some point we do get the message they wanted to convey but it ended up as a miss.😭

However, Dami and Park Hae-soo nailed their roles and that can’t be overlooked!

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