Fuga da Meia-Noite (2021)

Stressful

This movie requires a huge leap of faith to be taken seriously. There’s just so much of illogical reasoning which made the movie seem draggy and unrealistic. To me, that is a huge flaw for a thriller/psychopath kind of movie. It could’ve been way better had the writer put more thought-out ideas in the script.

If we look past the questionable writing, the only saving point is the acting. The actors did a wonderful job, portraying their characters. I loved watching the scenes, just because of their stunning acting. The leads were perfect and I would love to see them act together again.

The direction is good too. The scenes are well-shot, creating suspense and dread within the watchers. The concept on paper seems good too but the execution was poor.

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A movie that had great potential and wasted it all

NO SPOILER FOR THE FIRST PART OF THIS REVIEW

The fact that some people are rating this movie higher than a 6.5 is honestly baffling. I usually never write reviews and prefer keeping my opinion to myself, but I felt the urge to do it for Midnight. So, here's my review of a movie that had amazing potential and could've been a really good thriller, but unfortunately ended up being a barely decent enough movie.

Midnight starts out well with its promising plot and heavy atmosphere efficiently set thanks to the scenography and brilliant acting. Many good stress-inducing mechanics are introduced to make us feel the anxiety and distress caused by the main character's, Kim Kyung Mi, deafness (e.g. audio detection devices, lights reacting to sound).
However, despite the potential and innovative ideas, it all crumbles down very early on. Yes, I was quite excited when I started watching Midnight, and was truly enjoying it. But if you have a good time during the first twenty minutes or so of the movie, you'll slowly become too frustrated to think about anything except how dumb these characters all are, completely ruining the thrill.

Every stressful situation is built upon questionable/idiotic decisions that no human being would ever make, even under that kind of pressure, because it simply goes against what survival instinct and common sense dictate. I'm sure there were ways to have the characters be gifted with intelligence and keep an interesting story still.

Overall, the movie is not completely bad and still enjoyable to a degree, simply thanks to the fact that it is entertaining enough to watch until the end. Still, it doesn't mean it's a good movie. The beginning is great, the ending is fine and everything in-between is... sort of a mess. If you were curious about it, I'd still advise you watch it, but be aware that your expectations will probably not be met, and if you won't be bored, you'll definitely be annoyed.


SECOND PART OF THE REVIEW, BEWARE OF SPOILERS BELOW

First of all, I'd like to mention that I'm usually not very nitpicky. I'll accept a lot of things when watching TV shows and movies, I won't necessarily notice every single detail or plot hole and I'm easy to satisfy. That being said, even taking this into account and letting my suspension of disbelief play its part, it wasn't enough. I'll now dive into it and detail what bothered me enough to write it down.

Okay, fine. I'll accept that the police have some prejudice against disabled people and that they can be utterly incompetent. It honestly wouldn't be that surprising or unheard of. It is frustrating, but not in a 100% unrealistic way.
Fine, I won't argue that it is possible for a crowd to not help someone in distress. Bystander effect, confusion, fear or simply not knowing what to do/how to react can all factor in on this. These people don't have the full story like we do, they just see a panicked girl who is not explaining what the problem is.
Sure, the military personnel bringing back Kyung Mi to Do Shik, thinking they're helping her "brother"... that's barely acceptable, but you know what? I'll let it slide because similar things can happen in a very unfortunate turn of events (e.g. Konerak Sinthasomphone).
Since all these characters are outsiders to the story and only get snippets of what we see, with which they have to piece everything together, I'll be lenient. It's all exaggerated for the sake of the plot anyway.

I won't even mention Do Shik's irrational and erratic behavior too much, for the obvious reason that he is a killer with, more likely than not, many many issues. Him being overconfident, thinking he can outsmart everyone (not like they're making it hard) even when being so careless, and get away with it scot free, is actually not that crazy or unbelievable.

But Jong Tak, this dude... my brother in christ, give me a break. He is by far the most frustrating and dumbest character in this entire movie. Here you have a grown man who has the ability to communicate freely, who knows exactly what's happening, but decides that calling the police is apparently overrated. Granted, they have proved they were dumb and incompetent, but still?
Or maybe that poor guy suffers from a disorder preventing him from doing two things at the same time and I'm just being very mean, who knows? Or well, maybe he can't use his brain, my two cents. I mean, seriously. Why can't he just run to Kyung Mi's house AND call the police at the same time. Same thing when he gives up on her after Do Shik "reveals" where his sister is.
And for the love of god, why does he take narrow little streets when trying to catch up with Do Shik, risking to lose his track, instead of properly following him? How is he even able to not lose sight of him that way? Or maybe he knows the area so well he has a mental map stuck in his head and can predict exactly where the killer and his victim will run to, even without seeing them. But in the unlikely scenario that were actually the case... then it should still be explained to the viewer.

Towards the end of the movie, he fights Do Shik in a back alley, but looks away from him TWICE despite having been tricked into thinking he had fainted the first time already (after a 2 seconds chokehold, that is). Brilliant. And why doesn't he try to scream/get back to the main avenue to draw people's attention? It's not like Kyung Mi can do it for him. If I were that poor girl, I'd rather be stabbed in that alley and just end it already, instead of having to be "saved" by someone so useless.

Also, why does no one ever stay together? I lost count of how many times that happened, but it was way too much. I don't really get why Kyung Mi and Jong Tak's sister had to split. They were right next to the place where they can press a button that turns on every light in existence and blasts an alarm waking up the entire neighborhood, then puts them in direct communication with the police!
Later, Kyung Mi's mother and Jong Tak also split up, and after that him and her daughter did too.

Other details I'll skim over because this review is already too long:
-Right at the beginning of the movie, a woman (completely alone outside, at night) is approached by a guy being weirdly insistent about her getting in his car. Nevertheless, she walks to his suspiciously "deserted" van, that totally does not look like a set-up, a few minutes after? I assure you, no woman would ever behave like that. At least call someone at the same time, just to be safe;
-When Do Shik and Jong Tak were fighting in the police station, why did it take so long for Kim Kyung Mi and her mother to bring back the officers inside? It definitely shouldn't have taken this much time as they were standing quite literally 5 meters away from the entrance;
-How did said officers not hear the commotion inside?;
-After that incident, why were none of the characters kept under police protection, at least for the next 24 hours?;
-When Do Shik infiltrates Kyung Mi's house, he knocks many heavy things on the ground... that girl is deaf, not completely numb to the world. She would definitely feel the vibrations or something. I'm pretty sure your other senses are sharpened when you're lacking one;
-I believe most countries have a special number for deaf & mute people to contact the police through text messages. I might be wrong, but I doubt there's nothing like that in South Korea. Kyung Mi and her mother would definitely know about such a thing. Even when panicking, I'm sure that would still come to your mind.


There are still many things I could mention, or some criticism I don't necessarily agree with, but I think you got the rough idea already. Ultimately, I am angry not because of all the inconsistencies themselves. I spend my time watching shows that are full of them and still manage to have a good time. I am mad because this movie could have been something greater. It had so much potential, and seeing it all go to waste like that right in front of my eyes feels like betrayal. This movie has some good in it, but the bad easily overtakes it. Midnight would barely deserve a 5, if not for the atmosphere and acting. And if I'm being honest, I'm betting my life that if Wi Ha Joon wasn't in this movie (but was replaced by an equally talented yet less attractive actor), the ratings would be way lower.

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Let debunk slowly what happen actually.

Since there's lot of reviews but not all of it understanding. So here why, let see the first scene.

This movie the character is purely psychopath who just killing person right. The character shows he have kind of hunting the victim for fun, laughing and like mouse and cat.

I found a comment say ' why didn't the mother end the everything in Police Station? '. Yeah, that's right they can end everything on the spot. But not so fast 'he' know what is happening and try to control the situation. Even how much smart her mother is, she can't exposes that easily. Cause why? she doesn't want her daughter in danger. Her daughter is her priority.

'It doesn't make sense you can't realize there someone on your back'. Actually it possible you didn't realize, I didn't just talk. I can stand behind someone without they realize, breathing slowly and didn't make a big move. But you need to remember she deaf her world is quiet. It can possible when you to focus on phone you can't even realize your friend beside you.

'Why he run to the deaf woman house without calling a police first? '. In that situation you usually have two choices but the reflex usually kick first. He want find that bu*ted first, cause why? He think about her sister safety first that's why be became stupid to safe her with eagerly. He scared if he gonna lose her forever.

About the police, I just to frustrating to see them. So bad.

And at the street you can see Kyeong Mi eagerly need help, but no one is helping right. First you need to see the situation, all of the people there didn't understand what is happening. They make they own assumption by thought that girl might be crazy or something. Since you can just only see she holding knife and her shirt have a blood stain. They feel pity to her, that's why the 3 soldiers help Do Shik, without even realize they help the psychopath. Do Shik know how to act innocently in front of people, how can you know he psychopath when he can act that perfectly fine.

At the end you can see Kyeong Mi decided to act reverse, instead stab him she stab herself. Nothing can defeated him if you still act like naive to him. Cause he can flip that image easily.

I ready to talk if you want more explanation

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There are some things I appreciate about this movie, but...

There are some things I appreciate about this movie because they were good. So I'll start with them. First of all, the actors did a really great job. But I did not expect anything else, because I know the possibilities of each of them. I really liked the transitions between scenes with and without sound. The scenes without sound showed the perspective of the deaf mother and daughter better, and I think it was a well-thought-out move. The last good thing is that the ending was satisfying enough.

Now let's get to the things I don't like about this movie. It was boring until the end when Kyung Mi confused the killer. It was basically a cat-and-mouse chase throughout the movie. With people around who couldn't recognize the situation.

Despite some good things, I'll probably soon forget about this movie. Obviously, a good general idea combined with not knowing how to develop it always results in a boring production.

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So much potential

DAMN!! This had so much potential but alas it did not live up to it.

The premise is excellent, the cast is great and the setting perfect, so why was this movie so meh??

The first 40 minutes of the movie were hands down some of the best tension setting I have ever watched but it all went downhill after that. The movie is meh b/c of the stupid actions by the police, the victim, the brother of one of the victims and random people on the street.

The best thing about this movie was the actors. Wi Ha Joon is excellent as the serial killer. I had only seen him in Squid Game and I liked him there but he played the psychotic murderer very well. I only wish we knew what his motivations were. I guess we get a glimpse of it when the old drunk at the police station questions his upbringing but I needed a little more information. The lead actress, Jin Ki Joo and the actress playing her mother were really good too. I haven't seen the FL in anything else either but I look forward too seeing something else.

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Tried to imitate HUSH and SHINING but totally failed

It was one of the anticipated movie in my watch list but it's just such a mess.
It just left me questioning the whole situation.
1. Why are deaf people walking at 10 pm alone in the streets ? Isn't it dangerous?
2. The mother could have just made a noise or hinted out the things in his bag and it would have been done and dusted but no
she cannot even do that in a POLICE STATION.
3. There are literally no police officers in police station so anybody can fight over there. Even when mother and her deaf daughter inform them then they are not even reacting to that?? What king of police officers are they?
4. Do you want to be alone at home when you know that murderer is trying to kill you? She could have gone with her mother.
And the most stupid thing at that dangerous situation is to forget to lock the door. Seriously?
5. She can't really sense a person behind her really, you want us to buy that?
6. The brother character could have easily made a phone call to police while searching for his sister but no just leaves the deaf girl.
7. Most stupid thing is SHE IS SCARED AND BLEEDING. No matter what at least even one person would be suspicious of her condition and try to help her. Though this movie wanted to potray the way we treat handicapped people but this is far too fetched. Even army people just present her to him.
8. Lastly, when deaf girl was saying she wants to live more in sign language. Do you think serial killer will whole heartly understand that? As a viewer if there were not subtitles then couldn't have understood anything so how can he.

One positive I found is Wi Ha-joon's ( serial killer) acting other than nothing is good. Just wasted my time.

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I had so much expectations..

I read about the concept of the movie and was immediatelly very hyped. I enjoy most of the movies containing a stalker / psycho. But this one seems like an exception..

I still got to say that the soundtrack was very great during intense scenes ; the idea of the two FL being deaf / mute was very great in the context, which made it more thrilling. The plot was simple in my opnion and I expected a more twisted ending.. I have to be frank about the fact that it was weird for me to see the actor playing ML as a psycho when I watched him playing in more cheerful roles as in "Bad and Crazy" which, in my opinion, suits him better. (But that's subjective). Overall, this movie had a lot of potential, I saw it was very well rated, but I guess it's better to watch a movie without having much expectations before.

A great movie in the concept and a great soundtrack but it's a flop for me.

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the characters in this were really well developed, Kyung Mi was a normal fragile girl next door but that didn't mean she was not capable.
she was smart, she was scared and she was so sweet hearted honestly she was too precious!
Kyung Mi's mom was also smart, honestly most movies make the female characters too naive or dumb and easily fooled but both mother and daughter used their brains and they communicated.
there were small details in their relationship that made them so endearing and believable, like the mom pulling Kyung Mi behind her as if that tiny fragile older lady can "shield" her taller youthful daughter, but it was such a mom thing to do

Do Shik as a psychopath was so captivating, psychopath's lie and he did it so well, like the way he switched characters to fit the scenarios and make the public believe him and even get away with the murder he reported, that was a great move
it also made his downfall even more satisfying.

Jong Tak and his sister felt underdeveloped, tbh even that full long running sequence mixed with him getting fooled and leaving Kyung Mi the 1st time made me reduce my points because that was obviously a ploy for the length of the movie
it's not bad, like the movie happens in "one night", if not even around 4 hours. Kyung Mi and her mom met, the psychopath came in, they went to the station, he followed them home at around 12am


the saddest part was those army kids.. if you see a scared girl, you don't return her to the guy that's following her, even if he played it well and pretended to be her worried brother. heck I've helped lost kids at the mall find their parents and I still wait and check if that's their parents even if just by action, I'm not anticipating a kidnapping but when someone cries and can't talk, you need to observe the situation

I also loved those danger poles, I hope those are real, I've never seen a movie brave enough to add that especially since it can "solve" the chase. though in this case it added depth to the struggles of people with hearing impairment.
though I didn't like how people almost treated her like she's dumb or like a kid. she just couldn't hear or talk, there was no problems with her coherent thoughts
though it also does add the depth of how people treat "different" people

as for the "music" I really loved the times they showed how the world "looked" like from her silent pov, that was a great touch and overall I think the director used the deaf part to enhance the story, and not made it an excuse for the hero to fall. I also liked how they had their phones with them

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I liked the movie a lot and now I will explain why.

I see many people frustrated because people around didn't help the girl. Well there are several points to be clarified: First of all, in South-Korea most people don't help those in trouble on the street, because they often get blamed. There have been many cases of people who stopped to help those in distress and found themselves being charged because they were believed to be the culprits. And yes, people definitely saw the scared girl or the man covered in blood, however I repeat that so many people try to mind their own business so they don't get into trouble. It's frustrating I know and that's exactly why I think this film was a complaint to how people behave in these cases.
Second of all, it exists the bystander effect, also referred to as bystander apathy or the witness effect: this is a phenomenon in social psychology that refers to cases where individuals offer no help to a person in distress, in an emergency situation, when other people are also present. The probability of intervention is inversely related to the number of onlookers. In other words, the greater the number of bystanders, the lower the probability that any of them will render help. Several variables are involved in determining the bystander effect. They include ambiguity, social cohesion and diffusion of responsibility. This does not make us bad people; simply when certain incidents occur, we are inclined to see what others do before we intervene.
Then the fact that she couldn't speak is actually a point against her. Try to think about who the killers are: they are deeply disturbed, narcissistic and manipulative people. The fact that she was deaf and unable to speak properly made it all the more amusing for him: She was trying to communicate, but no one understood her; he was elated, especially because then he could be an actor like he has never been before. That's why I find the film very realistic and especially provocative. I still break a lance in favor of those who criticize the film, because indeed the policemen were not that smart.
As for "the cat-to-mouse chase", I didn't find it wrong. The girl several times was caught by the killer, however, one thing that stood out from the beginning was that she was smart. Plus unlike the victims, she knew about him and in fact he never managed to sneak up on her except once. I don't know what to add except that probably in her situation I would not have known what to do and would have been killed instantly. Plus many choices she made were to try to protect her mother.
As for the character who was the brother of one of the victims, I basically understand and forgive him... Would you sacrifice your sister to protect a stranger or would you sacrifice a stranger to save your sister? It ain't so easy for anyone. Clearly the killer was lying, but when you are desperate and you love someone so much, what chance do you actually have? And even if he caught him, he already knew that he would never reveal to him where his sister was.
The music was undoubtedly flawless. I madly loved the "silent moments" and when suddenly something would pop out, because for a few seconds it was like I was living in the girl's shoes.
In conclusion, i must have a sort of trauma, 'cause pussy was clenching through out the whole movie, no lie.
They should stop casting hot actors as psychopaths. I can't handle it, but at the same time i don't mind *COUGH*

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Best Korean thriller, period.

Nerve racking, not even a second wasted. This movie is the best Korean thriller. The acting from FL and ML is top notch. They get into the skin of their characters. You feel for the FL, root for her, and go to this roller coaster ride. What happens next? That’s the question in your head for the entire movies runtime. There is a good emotional connect between FL and her mom too. This is a masterpiece. Nowadays in the name of thrillers I see lot of Korean movies selling sex and some half assed story. Midnight is however no Nonsense thriller. This deserves a whole hearted 10/10. MDL viewers decided to park this in 8-9 category I guess.

Some ranting
There are lot of Korean thrillers that people are crazy about. When going through YouTube comments section, I found people going crazy over Old Boy, handmaiden claiming them to be epic thrillers. My opinion, Old boy and Handmaiden are bull shit in the context of thriller genre. Midnight however is a masterpiece in the thriller genre.

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