Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

bob the moo Last year I loved the mix of intrigue and sexual tension which drove the beautiful-looking 'The Handmaiden'. It was this film that made me look to another film from Park of similar style, Stoker. Set in suburbia the film joins a family after the strange suicide of the father of the house. Quickly the mother has started sharing the house with her husband's estranged brother, while her daughter looks on in disgust. Within this dynamic tensions and secrets start to rise.Stoker is a beautifully shot film, with a consistently great look and shot framing. It is deliberately cold and crisp in a way that produces a frosty environment of tension and superficiality. On this front I liked the film a lot, however the content isn't there to match it. The cold nature of the film doesn't adequately hint and reveal at deeper, and the delivery of most of the film lacks spark and tension. The specific twists and violent moments in and of themselves add energy, but they come over like standalone episodes in some way. This feeling draws in the cast too, and I didn't think they made their characters work, in context or out of it, which is a shame considering the talent.Stoker is a handsome film in its construction, and it has dramatic moments, but mostly it doesn't work particularly, and lacks spark.

Smoreni Zmaj The first half an hour story (or lack of it) was quite boring and I was thinking of giving up, but camera and directing got a hold of me. Later this dark and bizarre drama turns into a decent thriller, but, although surprises are not predictable, the story has been quite ineffective for me until the end. What rises this film above mediocrity is excellent cinematography, acting and music, which build the atmosphere much stronger and more chilling than the story itself. I have only two objections. The first is a waste of Nicole Kidman. They should've given her more space or throw her out completely. The second flaw is song that goes with the final scene. This song does not fit with the rest of the music nor the scene itself, and it literally struck me from the trance in which the movie put me in and spoiled overall impression.7,5/10

tedg Having seen and been unhealthily engaged in 'Thirst' I acquired this.It reminded me of a similar disappointment. One of my most trusted filmmakers is Kar Wai Wong, someone who has expanded my electric cage. His first non-English film 'Blueberry Night' was every bit as ambitious as, say, 'Chun King Express," but had none of the adventure. None of the crazy veers past the guard rail. I suppose it was because at home, his crew understood intuitive shifting as you go. His borrowed US crew had no idea, so he just had to plow through the seafood to the nauseous end.This is less of a failure. Many of the themes, urges and cinematic devices from 'Thirst' are here. The actress seems to understand, but she's just too much of a person where she needs to be a simple container of undirected, temporarily knotted desires. The Charlie in this one isn't much different than Hitchcock's Uncle Charlie, more mad, but as much in control. Too much control for what I think Chan-wook Park had in mind. But he had a script, and not the room to intuitively embellish. Does simply using US assets kill non-character oriented improvisation?

cheergal I am not a fan of the psycho thrillers. However, I did some research on their behaviors which I was intrigued by. I think I have more insights than general misconceptions. This movie on that front is well-interpreted.This movie is well-made throughout the cinematography. The dialogue was short and concise which it should be in this genre. It's a movie giving audiences visible senses without directly tell them verbally. The well-planned settings pretty much preceded the story. I would say the right casts and settings made this movie half way success already. It has the thrilling effects like those Hitchcock's movies. It abandoned those techniques most thriller movies used nowadays i.e. grossly terrified themes. They usually left no room for audiences to image. If you are not a thriller seeker, you will like this one.