Amantae's Weekend Movie Recommendations
Thriller [thril·ler], noun
1. A genre of literature, film, video game stories and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements.
2. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods, giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation,uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of this genre tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced.
Ah, yes. The thriller. It seems that South Korea's thirst for thrillers has no end - which explains why they spit out some pure masterpieces once in a while. These chosen ones are not amazingly popular, which makes them somehow even more special.
Here are some exciting thrillers that will have you gasping, staring widely at your lit up computer screen in the darkness of your 2 AM room, reaching for the half empty bag of potato chips (which is, of course, the most common situation for watching thrillers).
Midnight FM
Country: South Korea Year: 2010 Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Go Seon Yeong, a popular late-night radio host, is preparing for her last radio show before sending her daughter off to America when she suddenly receives a startling text message from a stranger. At her house, her ill daughter is being watched over by Seon Yeong's sister, Ah Yeong, when a stranger breaks in with a large wrench. From this moment on, Seon Yeong's sister and daughter are in serious danger and Seon Yeong must figure out a way to save her family following this sick man's instructions.
I watched this movie with a friend and we were honestly at the edge of our seats for the entire movie. We felt the frustration of the helpless Seon Yeong, along with the sister and the daughter scared to death. This movie is a 10/10 for me, and I'm sure anyone who will appreciate a good thriller will enjoy this as well.
Haeundae
Country: South Korea Year: 2009 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance, Thriller, Tragedy
Man Shik, a native of Haeundae, a popular vacation spot located on the East Sea coast, lost a co-worker on a deep-sea fishing trip four years ago. Now he runs a small sushi shop and prepares to propose to his long-term girlfriend Yeon Hee. One day, an expert on tsunamis notices a strange activity similar to previous tsunami strikes. Although he tries to warn the people, no one seems to believe him. Suddenly, a super tsunami starts in Tsushima, Japan, and is heading straight for the Korean peninsula. A call comes in, informing about an upcoming wave striking in only 10 minutes. While the vacationers and locals of Haeundae are enjoying a peaceful, sunny day, they only have 10 minutes to inform and evacuate the people.
I myself love some good disaster movies. This movie had all sorts of good elements: heartbreaking family disasters, the couple in danger, stressful exciting moments that will make your heart race. This movie has gotten the honor of carrying many genres on its back, so yeah, there's even funny moments - don't let that trick you! This movie will make you cry buckets. I watched this years ago, but it stuck with me.
A Million
Country: South Korea Year: 2009 Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
In this masterpiece of an adventure thriller, eight contestants are chosen to compete in a game show with the irresistible prize of 20 billion won. The contestants are then taken to the Australian dessert, where they'll participate in various challenges. When the loser of the previous challenge is found dead the day after, the contestants realize their lives are in danger and that escaping from someone is extremely hard when you're constantly being watched.
This movie takes intensity, insanity and a great plot to a whole new level. It's one of my favorites, definitely, and I will always have it close to my heart. If you want to introduce someone to Korean masterpieces, but they aren't all in for the lovey-dovey romcoms, this is a great way to shake them up and keep them constantly caught up in the story. This movie is amazing, mostly because it shows how desperate people holding on to their lives can actually be. A true masterpiece in my opinion.
That's it for this week, guys! I hope these seem as interesting to you as they seem to me. I absolutely loved these! I was never really a thriller person before me and my friend ended up watching thrillers or action movies together because that's what she likes. Now it's a tradition in our friendship and we always end up at 3 am in her basement with Asian candy binge-watching heart-racing Korean thrillers. That's the way we like it.
Ending note - have you guys ever found yourself desperately in love with the hot bad guy in a K-thriller? It happens to me too often. On the one hand, they just killed 3 people cold-heartedly, but on the other hand... you kind of want to date them.
(Hot bad guys will be the death of me)
