Reviews

Stalker meets Psycho, Average Thriller - Watch it for the Main Leads

This had been on my watchlist for Shin Hye Sun & Byun Yo Han & because of their sheer acting brilliance I rated this otherwise average thriller +1 than deserved. The film offers a captivating narrative with a steady pace, twists and turns, and a suspenseful soundtrack. However, it falls short of being truly memorable and often feels reminiscent of famous Hollywood movie adapted from a book, of similar theme/genre.

What sets this movie apart, though, is its poignant focus on the effects of social media on real life and the unusual habit of the male lead that spirals into trouble. It masterfully portrays how some individuals become so consumed by projecting a perfect life on social networks that they turn delusional, harming themselves and those around them. It also sheds light on how what one person might perceive as a harmless hobby could be viewed as disturbingly stalkerish behavior.

The ending was particularly striking, highlighting the absence of a true victim as the lines between protagonist and antagonist blur, each believing they were taking the right actions. It's a thought-provoking commentary on modern society's obsessions and the thin line between right and wrong.

Overall: Average Thriller - watch it if you don't have anything else AND/OR you are a fan like me of the two main leads ❤️

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Not bad

I found this movie and im pleasantly surprise.

I see many reviews stating it's mediocre at best but i find it not bad.

Story progresses pretty fast since it's a movie not a serries. Some typical drama cliches and cute moments. Little back story which can be explore a little bit more.
The romance did happen a bit tad fast but it's fine, Komatsu Nana dit a really really good job with her poker-face character. And when she did express emotions it's really adorable. The main lead was fine a typical handsome actor, the chemistry between Yuni and Haruka is not bad, i have seen worse.
Kissing scenes not sure if it's "japanese" wat of kissing but it seems to be a little off compared to kdramas and chinese.

All in all is not bad movie

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Feels like a work in progress

I was looking forward to the science fiction multiverse plot and in most ways it didn't disappoint - although there were scenes from the early promos that I liked MUCH better than the ones that actually made it into the movie - or at least the version of the movie I saw - there may be a different version in another part of the multiverse.

The unifying element of the multiple universes is Kath's consciousness of all the worlds and the relentlessness of her determination to be with Lin, and happy with Lin, in at least one of them. That seems a prospect with diminishing odds, given how many times and in how many random ways they are kept apart.

The sheer ambition of the number of scenarios had to be daunting for the production staff and feels like overreach in parts. It's not that they fail to entertain, because each scenario is compelling in itself. It's that, even at just over two hours running, there simply isn't enough time to do them all justice.

And it's that overreach that leaves the ending feeling rushed and ambiguous. It's hard to be reassured when right up to the end we're treated to the cinematic version of 50 ways to leave your lover.

PROS
High marks for story, soundtrack, action, and romance, and ultra high marks for angst.

The technical production was near flawless; the location scenery was beautiful; and the space mission special effects were impressive.

Freen Sarocha Chankimha's acting was outstanding, natural and engaging throughout, making each of her characters the focal point of shared scenes.

CONS
In the version I saw, the English dialog didn't match the English subtitles, which is just weird, and the Thai subtitles ran on top of the English subtitles, obscuring the dialog in places. Note: It's likely I saw a version that wasn't supposed to be publicly available. The prominent watermark visible throughout gives it away as a film festival copy.

The Tsunami CGI was awkwardly done.

The actor playing space mission commander is cartoonishly awful in his delivery, which ironically fits with the Spaceman Spiff level dialog he's given.

Co-lead Rebecca Patricia Armstrong's physical acting shows tremendous improvement from earlier projects, but her long term career prospects may hinge on getting some truly professional Hollywood level acting lessons to bring her dialog delivery up to standard.

The ending needed more breathing room. The director surely could have borrowed 30 seconds from somewhere to give the characters the resolution they deserved.

SUMMARY
Given the runtime limitations for a cinematic release, I have no doubt a lot of quality work was left on the metaphorical cutting room floor. A multipart series may have been a better vehicle for a project of this scope. If the cinematic release continues to have trouble getting its legs underneath it, maybe a re-edit into a series could give it new life.

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As soon as I saw that Kagawa Teruyuki acted in a main role here, I knew this would be excellent. I'd previously seen him in (the later produced) series "99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi" and "Roppongi Class".
And, as expected from any film shown on the JFF Theater platform, the actors are brilliant. They are indeed so brilliant that there is no need for dramatic music, or experimental camera work -- the actor's way of portraying their characters is what carries this film.

Most of the film's value comes from how the characters react to their circumstances (or, rather how they try to shape them) -- which is why the actor's capabilities are so important.
I don't want to spoil anything about the plot and its little twists and turns. Maybe just this: This is not a "firework of jokes" kind of comedy -- yes, there are some scenes that made me laugh out loud, like right in the beginning, when Kanae Mizushima straightens her desk and then takes out a small vacuum cleaner for the finish; most of the comedic bits are more subtle.

And a short word about the romance -- yes, there is a romance story -- it was very cute. Two oddballs falling in love with each other, over their shared passion for plans and lists, was sweet to watch. And the hug in the end was everything.

As the best comedies do, this film also touches upon question of human existence: What is love? And what are you willing to do for it? What makes you "you"? How do you "know" who you are? And can you be an ethical killer?

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“ A Heartfelt and Hilariously Unique Take on Love, Loss, and Friendship"

Marry My Dead Body is an unexpected gem in the supernatural comedy genre. It cleverly balances comedy, emotional moments, and social themes, making it more than just a quirky ghost story. The setup—a ghost marriage between a living police officer and a spirit—sounds outlandish, but the show quickly proves that it has more depth than expected.

One of the drama’s strongest aspects is its character development. Both leads start off with their own flaws and biases, and their journey together is full of growth and unexpected friendship. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and they play off each other perfectly, providing a mix of laugh-out-loud humor and deeply touching moments. This contrast between comedic banter and genuine emotion keeps the story engaging and relatable, despite its fantastical premise.

The show also deserves credit for its sensitive handling of LGBTQ+ themes, which can be rare in Asian dramas. It addresses societal prejudices in a natural and thought-provoking way, allowing the story to go beyond surface-level humor and explore deeper questions about acceptance, identity, and love.

Visually, the drama is vibrant and well-crafted, with an effective use of special effects that enhance the supernatural elements without feeling overdone. The production quality is solid, and the pacing feels just right, keeping the story moving while giving us time to connect with the characters.

If there’s any minor downside, it might be that some plot points feel a bit predictable, or that certain comedic elements get repeated. But these are small critiques in an otherwise well-executed drama.

Overall: Marry My Dead Body is a heartfelt, funny, and refreshingly original drama that strikes a beautiful balance between humor, romance, and social commentary. It’s not afraid to tackle tough topics while still keeping things light and entertaining. For anyone looking for a unique drama with depth and humor, this is a must-watch.

Final Rating: 9.5/10

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Sweet, heartwarming story

Wish we had more movies/series like this one, it deserves a sequel. Even better than the manga in my opinion but the manga is good as well.
Beautiful scenery, excellent actors, characters that grow in a simple story without forced drama just for the sake of it. Good pacing for the story but maybe a bit slow for some, realistic, cute story of 2 characters falling in love, enjoyed their family dynamics as well.
The camera was shaky on purpose for a scene but it did not really work well in my opinion, the way it was filmed made me think it was a bit older then 2020, their love story was a bit rushed at the end, wish they had more romantic scenes.
Rewatched it, will see it again in the future.

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Very interesting for a first watch

The movie is quite interesting, storyline wise - I would say it is alright. I would not say it is the best story line but one that makes me question how can the "dad" in the movie try teach the kid a lesson that way?! I would definitely agree that it is like 100% the father's fault. You just do not leave your child alone in an unknown place just to "teach" the child! Donnie Yen definitely did a remarkable job portraying his role very well. The ending of the movie, definitely not expected, was a very sad ending.

There isn't much music noticed when watching the show. There are definitely on the toes moments and it keeps you wondering if the boy will be found in the end. But nonetheless, the movie is a great first time watch, however - for me personally - I would not go for a re-watch , no matter how much I love Donnie Yen's movies.

I would feel sad and sorry for any child or person who get lost in the wilderness, however, in this movie.... I would just say the fault of the parent. Bad parenting. Not the right way of teaching your kid - no matter how angry the kid made you.

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The most basic aspects of disabled people you should know already

This film shows you how a young man with cerebral palsy faces difficulty and discrimination, how he can be in despair because of it, and yet how he can have hope and dignity. That's like the most basic story you can write about disabled people. There aren't enough representations of people with cerebral palsy on media so this could still be meaningful to some people, but I didn't expect a film like this in the competition category at an international film festival. If they cast Jackson Yee because they prioritized getting more recognition for the cause I get it, and he seemed to have put in a lot of work for this role. But you must know it's not a competition material when a film like 37 seconds already exists. Watching an able-bodied actor play a person with cerebral palsy for two hours, including a dream sequence where he acts "normal" with a pretty girl he met earlier so conveniently, was not a pleasant experience for me.

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Cure on Crack

Cure if Kurosawa was on crack, as the same hypnosis aspect and a very similar feeling throughout especially in the direction and cinematography. The last 20 minutes is pretty ridiculous but in an endearingly overly dramatic way so you can't get mad at it kinda ruining the rest of the movie. All of the suicides manage to be very effective and memorable scenes though, I was pretty surprised how much they stuck with me, particularly the scene with Dvorak's 'From the New World'. I really liked Masayuki Ochiai's directing here, I'm keen to watch more from him.

The first stage of the credits with the names of the stars is so overly dramatic it's awesome. Also, it's probably just a coincidence, but it was interesting seeing someone with exactly the same design as Lilico in the 2012 Helter Skelter movie.

If you want an interesting but a bit campy horror movie or something to scratch the Cure itch, I recommend.

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Are choices really choices.

This movie deserves a 10 because it is not only beautifully executed, but the story is complex enough to warrant way more than a single viewer perspective. Most reviews touch upon the juxtaposition of the FL’s non-conformism with the compromises of her peers and former friends. And that is striking, especially on the backdrop of such a conservative society. Her condition causes her only to “go gray prematurely” but that is unlikely. Premature graying is usually associated with stress. Either psychological or physiological, and stress wreaks havoc on the body. It might not be her choice, she might need to take things slow and tread lightly not to pay the ultimate price. Through that lens, her non-confrontational nature might not exactly be her second nature. And the drama raises the question of whether she can prosteticize with her friends who go to extraordinary lengths to provide for themselves and their families, can she be a benefactor of that while she doesn't participate in the grueling routines and personality-undermining decisions? All the while we are shown her friends are exhausted and don't have space to accommodate a freeloader. The movie is about how little space for individual compassion, cooperation, and compromise such a society leaves.

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really good, easy to watch thriller!

I just came around to watch it, I wasn't sure if I should watch it at first.
If it will be good, but I'm sooo freaking glad I did watch this movie.
the story was really well written imo, the cast was perfectly chosen.
from the beginning until the end it had me hanging in there to see more. I wish I could have seen more at the end of Na-Mi after everything. but maybe if that would have happend it would make the movie less good, sometimes it's better to end like this.
all 117 mins were packed with important story und visuals, I didn't feel like any minute had any kind of filler reason.
idk why I was sometimes rooting for the villan to not get caught, tbh only until the end in the end I was totally rooting for the victim!
the actor playing the "villan" was a good choice, he made the charakter really believable! Great work.
I highly recommend to watch this movie, even if just once it's really well made.
thanks to the Filmmakers behind it for the work they put in and also to all the main and supporting actors who put there work into it.

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Watch it for the insights into South Korean society.

This film, from 2001, is in my eyes more interesting for its historical value and the insights it gives into South Korean society then -- and now -- than for its own merit.

The story itself is okay-ish, I did not laugh that much even if it was supposed to be a comedy (there was too much violence against innocents for that). In the storytelling, the directing and the camera work we can see the roots of today's masterpieces, it's still uneven but there are also brilliant scenes.

For that, and the insights into society, I'll give eight stars.

I have been thinking for a while now that violence seems to pervade South Korean's society (which is not that surprising, considering people lived under a military regime until 1987, and also the strictly hierarchical structure that's still there). In this movie, this idea was confirmed.

Yes, it's a film about gangsters, and a comedy, so a certain amount of violence is to be expected. But let's have a look at the different situations where people use force:

1. The violence amongst the gangsters is, as I said, expected. But I want to point out one aspect -- the boss casually slaps around his subordinate. If you've seen other K-Dramas, you've probably seen this kind of violence a lot. It's only interesting in the light of ...

... 2. the bullying of the newbie by the class bully and his cronies, which is probably intended as funny. The roles are inverted, the boss is now the victim and can't fight back (because he, in turn, is pressured by HIS boss to get an education). The bully, in turn is ...

... 3. bullied by another gangs of students. Violence begets violence -- but this circle of violence is not even worth mentioning for the protagonists. Instead the main character "defeats" the bullies by beating them up.

4. Teachers slap their students around habitually. This was, until a few years ago, a practice condoned by society in South Korea. I don't know if it still is. Slapping, beating students when they are already on the ground, beating them with sticks -- all of it is obvously "okay".

4. The violence against teachers (by students, by parents) is, in contrast, very much condemned.

So, violence against subordinates, against those lower in seniority, against those lower in status -- this is absolutely all right in this movie. As media are just a mirror of society, this is what people who are now adults, have learned. You can see this in the interaction between fathers and sons, between bosses and subordinates. It becomes clear when an older man in a drama has difficulties to understand that young people (especially women, but that's a whole other kettle of fish) are allowed to speak their minds.

If you, dear reader of this review, watch your next K-Drama, maybe keep this in mind while interpreting the drama, you might see certain scenes in a new light.

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