HotHamlet

Oldboy is a great psychological thriller that will leave a mark on its viewers. The film's premise is really interesting as it revolves around a man inexplicably imprisoned in a cell for 15 years, without any knowledge of his captor's motives. Upon his sudden release he has a quest for vengeance. At the heart of Oldboy lies an amazing cast that each deliver great performances. Choi Min-sik's portrayal of Oh Dae-su is emotionally charged brilliance and Yoo Ji-tae's portrayal of Lee Woo-jin is very impressive.

One notable aspect that falls short however is the action. This is evidently apparent in the infamous hallway fight scene. While the concept of a single unbroken take to capture a action scene is interesting in premise, the execution feels extremely lacking. The choreography comes across as overly staged and it detracts from the overall impact of the movie. Every other action scene is passable, but there isn't a single action scene in this movie that is good.

That being said where this movie truly shines is in its ending scene. It is open to interpretation and will leave you pondering long after the credits roll. It's a testament to Park Chan-Wook's masterful storytelling that the conclusion feels both satisfying and unsettling.

Overall, Oldboy is a very interesting movie that offers a gripping narrative and amazing performances. The ending is positively thought-provoking and lingers in the mind long after viewing. While it may stumble in its action sequences, its overall impact is impressive.

This movie is by far the absolute worst thing i have ever laid my eyes upon. Watching this movie made me reconsider every 1/10 review i have given. I am shocked that this movie even exists. The best acting in this movie was terrible, the best plot point was abysmal and the ending was incomprehensibly offensive to not only the eyes but all of my senses.

Story: The story of this movie was absolutely atrocious.

Characters: The cast are utterly repulsive.

Action: The action was nonsensical.

Overall: Terrible, Abysmal, Trash, Horrible, Offensive, Dreadful, Awful, Appalling, Horrific, Horrifying, Distressing, Atrocious, Abhorrent, Foul.

The portrayal of mental health in this movie is rather interesting. Rather than sensationalizing it the film depicts it in more realistic light. Now obviously people experience this stuff differently but i love how down to earth they're trying to make it feel. That being said i do fee like the movie was missing key moments of health decline. The best way to describe this without spoilers i believe is this. While watching the movie it feels like the creators tried too hard to make it realistic that it became boring and uninteresting. I possibly believe that they lacked the creativity to truly make a movie of this calibre. Although as far as he acting goes the two main leads are great. MacLeod Andrews and Evan Dumouchel deliver standout performances. They are by far the best acted characters in the entire movie. I believe they are let down slightly by the script they had to work with. Every other characters was acted fine, but these two are the standouts here no question.

The movies biggest strength is in its very minimalist approach to horror. Instead of relying on jumpscares they rely more on atmosphere. This was a great decision for this type of movie i do believe. Slowly building tension until it becomes almost unbearable in certain scenes is very well done, however it doesn't always hit. There is a moment halfway through the movie that was meant to be "tense" but was anything but. I will say the vast majority of the time it was acceptable however. If you want to watch the movie for horror alone then this is not the movie for you. The movie is not at all scary. The opening sequence with its haunting imagery is the only time i was frightened and sets the tone perfectly. It immediately draws viewers into the story and is one of the best introductions to any movie i have seen for a while. I find the first couple of seconds so good that the rest of the movies goes downhill simply due to the fact that this is done so well. That being said the ending feels rushed and unsatisfactory. It leaves many questions unanswered and not in a good interesting i'll theory craft kinda way. It seemed to just end suddenly for no discernible reason.

Overall, They Like People is a interesting look at mental health and friendship elevated by strong performances and a subtle approach to horror. While it's not without its flaws, it's still worth watching at least once.

HotHamlet - 4/10.