Author Archives: kaist455

Queer My Friends (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Following her gay friend’s struggle

Posted on August 14, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “Queer My Friends” follows the personal struggle of one young South Korean gay man who simply wants to be alive and true to himself. Although his story is presented mainly via the rather distant viewpoint of … Continue reading →

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Speak No Evil (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their disturbing hosts

Posted on August 12, 2023 by kaist455

“Speak No Evil” warns us right from the very beginning that something bad will happen sooner or later, and that turns out to be quite disturbing to say the least. Starting from one sunny and pleasant environment, the movie eventually … Continue reading →

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Concrete Utopia (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): An apartment building which survives

Posted on August 9, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Concrete Utopia” is a dark but compelling apocalyptic thriller coupled with some biting social satire to be savored. While it feels conventional on the surface at times, the movie efficiently handles its story and characters in addition … Continue reading →

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Spoiler Alert (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their real-life love story

Posted on August 7, 2023 by kaist455

“Spoiler Alert” is a familiar love story which turns out to be more enjoyable and poignant than expected. Mainly revolving around the ups and downs of one ordinary gay couple, the movie swings back and forth between comedy and drama … Continue reading →

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The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tale of one infected mattress

Posted on August 6, 2023 by kaist455

My head goes blank for a while as mulling over how the hell I can describe or explain to you on South Korean film “The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra”, which is, in my inconsequential opinion, one of the most singular films … Continue reading →

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Greenhouse (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): She has desperate issues…

Posted on August 6, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Greenhouse” is mainly about one deeply troubled woman’s misery and despair – and how she comes to resort to some serious criminal measures because of that. While it is rather typical in terms of story and character, … Continue reading →

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The Moon (2023) ☆☆(2/4): A middling space drama with lots of squeezed tears

Posted on August 3, 2023 by kaist455

My mind instantly went back to several different space drama films as watching South Korean film “The Moon”, which is incidentally not a remake of Duncan Jones’ acclaimed 2009 SF drama film of the same name. While its first act … Continue reading →

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Ransomed (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A risky unofficial operation in Beirut

Posted on August 3, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Ransomed” is a disappointment in more than one aspect. As a thriller, it is not particularly tense or engaging in my humble opinion, and I only came to discern more of many fictional embellishments on a real-life … Continue reading →

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The Blackening (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Which one is more, uh, black?

Posted on July 31, 2023 by kaist455

As a South Korean audience who does not know that much about the African American culture, I may not be an ideal one for “The Blackening”, but it amused and entertained me enough as a humorously self-conscious genre exercise. Although … Continue reading →

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Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): …And then it becomes deadly for all of them

Posted on July 31, 2023 by kaist455

“Bodies Bodies Bodies”, which is currently available on Netflix in South Korea, a nasty but humorous comedy thriller film which will amuse you in more than one way. On the surface, it looks like your average woman-in-danger flick, but it … Continue reading →

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