The Guest (2018)

Un thriller de terror sobrenatural

‘The Guest’ es un gran K-Drama de suspense sobrenatural y terror, con un guión bien pensado y con un ritmo bastante bueno. Sí que hay un par de episodios que se me hicieron algo cuesta arriba, pero después sólo tienes ganas de ver cómo acaba, y descubrir quién es Park Il-do. Los actores están geniales, y a medida que avanza la serie, y sus personajes evolucionan, les coges un gran aprecio.

Si os gustan los thrillers de terror sobrenatural como ‘El Extraño’, ‘The Priests’, ‘El exorcista III’ y ‘Fallen’, o si habéis disfrutado de las series coreanas ‘Possessed’ y ‘The Cursed’, fijo que os gustará.

En el siguiente enlace podéis leer la crítica completa

https://lascronicasdedeckard.com/critica-serie-the-guest-un-thriller-de-terror-sobrenatural/

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Posesiones y exorcismos coreanos para todos.

'The Guest' entra directamente en mi podio de kdramas favoritos. Aguanta el paso de los episodios como un titán manteniendo el nivel en todos ellos gracias a distintas posesiones y situaciones. Todo ello envuelto en un constante halo de misterio respecto a la trama y de suspense en cuanto al tratamiento que te mantiene en velo durante todo su metraje. La evolución de los personajes es muy buena pasando del rechazo a la amistad forjada por combatir lo inexplicable y conectando sus distintos destinos de forma muy correcta. Otra virtud a destacar es lo imprevisible que resulta en más de un momento, tanto por el juego psicológico en esta especie de escondite constante, como por las decisiones de guion que se alejan de lugares comunes para abrazar lo nefasto cuando corresponde. En definitiva, un drama magnífico que hay que reivindicar para los amantes del terror y del suspense porque no se conoce tanto como debería.

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The drama features many themes and at first I was curious if they would be able to make me believe this world where ghosts exist. I was deeply immersed in the story and the world it built. The drama did a good job at establishing this world and had enough details and information to make the supernatural elements feel real and believable.

The mystery kept me on my edge till the end and the performances of the actors felt fitted to their roles. Kim Dong Wook proved himself as a good actor in other works before and his and the other's acting felt good and compelling. It's not easy to act something that doesn't have a real reference in life.
Those characters were humans with all their flaws and mistake and while one might judge some of their choices, this makes the characters feel more human in the end. The budding friendship and the bond of the three main characters was nice to watch and I'm so glad they drama stayed true to the characters by not forcing a conventional drama love line into it.

One of the reason that made this drama so good is also the music that contributed to the eery atmosphere and also gave a conflicted feeling of desperate and also hope at the same time. The songs were not overused and I never got tired of hearing them.

The drama was great and I would consider rewatching it in the future to let the story unfold in front of my eyes once again.

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I had no idea about what The Guest was about, it wasn't really on my radar, when I started watching it. Now, it is one of my fav shows of 2018.

The Guest is unlike any kdrama I've ever seen before. It's bloody and dark and overall just a really good horror show. They really went all out there with the horror sometimes and it was great. The story, way it was shot, the actors, and the music also worked so well together. Overall it was just a really fun drama to watch.

Many people found it difficult to watch because of the horror that was on display. I am very fond of this kind horror, with ghosts and demons and stuff, so I was kind of in my element. I switched off the lights and turned some candles on before (almost) every episode. I had a great time watching it.

The story was for the most part very well put together. It started of very strong (and because of that some of the following episodes felt a bit weaker in comparison), but there were a lot of interesting twists and turns in there and some really fun characters. The begrudging collaboration between the three main characters that, along the way, turned into some beautiful friendship was awesome.

Often when you thought you knew what was going on, or what was going to happen, the drama managed to twist it just a little bit. There were a few times when a episode ended and I just sat there watching the credits and just going; "oh, shit."

Some episode were a bit slower than other and sometimes those episodes felt like they were more fillers, especially towards the middle and right before the final episodes rolled around. But you also needed to slow things down from time to time and not have it all action. But there were also episodes were everything just clicked together and everything had a nice pace to it. The drama isn't perfect. No drama is.

There was a time where I felt like we were a bit stuck running around in circles, where there was almost the 'possession of the weak' going on and a lot of the same turns of events were happening and some parts felt a little repetitive, but we were still gathering a lot of new information’s and clues while running around those circles, so I did not mind it too much.

I don't know if I will ever watch a kdrama quite like The Guest again. It felt like a unique viewing experience, even if the themes of exorcism and all of that aren’t new to horror movies or shows. I felt the Guest kind of tried to make it their own. For me it was something new and fresh compared to other kdramas. And I shall miss watching it.

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I'm usually someone who avoids everything tagged 'horror' but somehow I started this drama and I'm so glad I gave it a chance!
It was so hard to wait for new episodes!

The story is so good, it caught me from the very first episode. I really really hate horror stuff but this one just got me waiting for more. The development of the story, the characters, acting and effects were simply amazing. It lets you guess who the "guest" is until the last episode just to realise you got it wrong all the time and things aren't as simple as they seem.

This is now one of my favourite dramas for how unique the plot is, for the amazing acting and for how well it was made overall. Amazing production! 10/10

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Unique and Unforgettable

The only reason why this drama is not a perfect ten for me is because I probably would not watch the first half of episode 1 again, so the rewatch value isn't perfect. But everything else is freakin' dope in my humble opinion.

STORY: The writing is strong, and the plot unique. With the overflow of romance dramas in S.Korea, it's terribly hard to find a gem like this. This drama deals with exorcism (both the Christian and the shamanic exorcism), with very unique Korean traits. Even though the atmosphere is mostly dark and gruesome, the mystery and the characters' relationships pull you in. It has no romance at all, but the very strong family and friendship ties (*cough bromance cough*) make this story a lot more valuable and compelling.

There is foreshadowing in almost every episode, with some red herrings thrown here and there, but most would still point out to the crux of the mystery. My most favorite foreshadowing happened on Ep 8 where the main character, Hwa Pyung woke up in jail. The drunk guy next to him was murmuring something in his sleep, saying "It's all your fault. It's all you."

I'd never think that this scene would mean so much. It's just a passing comment meant to wake up our main character. But it actually does mean a lot for the ultimate twist in the end. There's a lot more foreshadowing that I appreciate (i.e. Yukgwang's fate revealed in Ep 2 and the death of crows in Ep 4, etc. ), but the "jail scene" above is my absolute favorite.

In my opinion, the ability to integrate a lot of meaningful foreshadowing to the story definitely shows the strength of the script. It shows that the people involved are not just shooting arrows into random baskets. They actually know where the story is going, and that's what makes this drama more substantial and impactful.

CHARACTERS: Aside form the strong story, the other thing I like most about this drama is its CHARACTERS. We're not only talking about the perfect casting but also how the story broke all stereotypes for all the main leads:

Psychic Taxi Driver Hwa Pyung - Despite the incredible childhood trauma this guy has experienced, he still remained kindhearted and open minded. His past is so dark and desperate, but his attitude is still sunny and laid back. He's also very gutsy and reckless. And very brave to a fault. He'll do anything to save a life. Not one to be bothered by any formalities, he'd always say what's on his mind. A very capable psychic but a very lousy taxi driver though. He never completed a single trip for any customer throughout the series.(smh)

Exorcist Priest Choi Yoon - TBH, even though this guy's a priest, that does not stop him from being the rudest and most straightforward person I've ever seen in any drama. Probably the most uptight one in the room, but still one of the most reliable friend to have around. But even with his poor bedside manners, he would still be the first one to literally sacrifice everything, including his priesthood and his life, to save people. Self-sacrificing to a fault and uncompromising.

Detective Gil Young - I loved that even though she’s the only female in the series, she isn’t no damsel in distress. In fact, she has the most action scenes in the story. Being the sole protector of the trio, this female lead's stubborn and brave. She's the muscle of the group also the brains, as her incredible intuition saves them most of the time. Has a huge problem with authority (according to her sunbae and chief), but an amazing detective nonetheless.

I also liked how all of them almost lost their jobs because of their mission. Actually, Hwa Pyung lost his taxi driver gig in he middle of the series; Choi Yoon almost lost his priesthood; and Detective Kang Gil Young was suspended and reprimanded a lot of times -- all because of their involvement in the capture and termination of the evil spirit, Park-Il-Do. I like how realistic it got, how it definitely affected and dominated all the aspects of their lives and relationships.

ACTING: Not only the main leads, but even the supporting and minor characters have strong acting chops, especially all the possessed characters. Their realistic acting gripped your attention from start to finish, allowing you to feel both sympathy and righteous indignation to all the people who have hurt them.

MUSIC: It's really hard to pick a favorite aspect of the show when everything is just mind-blowing. From the opening soundtrack to the background music- to the terrifying rhythms and melodies of the rituals and scenes- everything is just flawlessly created. This drama has my favorite track of all time - "Somewhere", which is just hauntingly beautiful. Both the original and memory version of the song has that bittersweet and melancholic feel to it. I simply love it.

REWATCH: I've already rewatched this series many times. So the rewatch value is still definitely high. I just steer clear of the first half of episode 1. Because that episode almost made me "nope" out of watching it, TBH. I persevered thankfully.

TLDR: This is, so far, the best Korean drama I've watched. It exceeded all my expectations. The fact that I wasn't even into horror and gore and it still drew me in episode after episode is a huge thing for me. Really impactful and memorable. I will never forget this series. Thank you OCN for such a wonderful series.

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One Of The Best Korean Dramas In Years....

There has been a noticeable recent wave of South-Korean horror shows in recent years, and there’s no denying that OCN’s The Guest (2018) is not a byproduct of this recent trend.

Yet despite this label as a contemporary drama, The Guest truly plays upon something timelessly classic within its universal horror theme of primeval and the unknown through suspense and dread.

The story premise revolves around our main Male lead, psychic Hwa Pyung ( Kim Dong Wook) chasing after a malevolent demon called Sohn who disturbingly drives people insane. Under the non-conspicuous job occupation as a taxi driver, Hwa- Pyung’s journey to finding Sohn seemingly becomes closer when he is invariably connected with the mysterious Catholic priest Choi Yoon ( Kim Jae Wook) and cynical detective Kang Gil Young ( Jung Eun Chae) ; all of whom have mysterious links to Sohn through their pasts.

As our main lead,Kim Dong Wook seems an unlikely choice to play our main hero,however, his sense of genuine sincerity and anguish in his performance truly captured the essence of Hwa Pyung as a sincere and scarred individual. Alongside Dong Wook costar Kim Jae Wook’s role as the aloof and taciturn Catholic Priest Choi Yoon, truly captured the intrinsic and deeper questioning of a man shaped by traumas. Although less in the limelight than her fellows costars, Eun Chae channelled also the genuine cynicism and doubt of one of the few female officers in her department as well as an individual led by logic.

Yet beyond some more questionable acting performances by some members of the cast, The Guest’s beauty lay within its characterisation; Choi Yoon initially distrusts Hwa Pyung just as much as Eun Chae is doubtful of the “ mumbo jumbo” beliefs of the “ superstitious” duo on their first initial meeting. It is only when the entire trio are forced to rely heavily upon one another, that they begin to develop genuine friendships and bonds, trialed and tested repeatedly throughout the drama’s later revelations.

Adding to theme of horror , The Guest refreshingly did not rely upon cheap jump scares to generate the genuine bloodcurdling moments when demons transcended beyond the realms of nightmares to reality.

In one scene in particular when Hwa- Pyung is walking through a hospital, the specific usage of lucid lighting and an eery blue glow in the background will truly send shivers down your spine before the climax of the scene. In another scene in the show, Yoon’s quick walk down a district street in Seoul becomes contorted with distorted streetlights, a clear and purposefully ironic homage to The Exorcist (1973).

Although not flawless from several moments of lacklustre acting and undeniably slow pacing in earlier episodes, The Guest was undeniably a brilliant show filled with intriguing storyline, characters and true spine tingling moments as well. Certainly one of the best Korean Dramas in a long time.

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It's hard to put into words why I loved this drama so much and maybe my attempt will fail to capture its special attribute. I'll try anyway and perhaps get some more people at least interested in it. I admit I shied away from this at first because despite its good feedback, I was somewhat scared to start it. I know, totally insane.

For those who don't have any idea of what they might get themselves into, here's a short comparison:

Imagine your favorite horror folklore movie paired with your favorite horror folklore game (i.e. "Project Zero" - if you remember that game, you definitely belong to the older generation :p), then get a 16 hour extension of that, and you'll get "Guest". That's how I felt about the story.

(And I was also reminded of The Wailing and The Priests, if that makes it a bit clearer for you)

What makes this drama different from other ones is also its major input of Christianity. I don't recall many shows that use this in such a way. It has always been mentioned here and there, of course. But The Guest is one of the few which utilizes its traits more intensely and combines it successfully with Korea's folklore. The result displays a well balanced mix of Western and Eastern culture.

If you look at the overall tale, the story might be nothing new. Humans' weaknesses lure the devil. It's been a believe since the year one. But the production team still manages to make you involved in the story, be moved by its characters and let the legend get to you (or because we just can't resist watching others fall for their weaknesses). It's hard to not exaggerate, but the visual effects, the setting, the atmosphere, the music... Everything works so well together and lets you enter a totally different yet somewhat familiar world (since we always seek to overcome our own faults/the darkness - or get tricked by evil spirits and fall into despair/snap). In the end it all circles back to us, the human.

Besides its message, the drama tells the story of three individuals who each experienced great tragedy in their past. While trying to deal with and overcome their miseries, they eventually clash years later, not knowing the connection they bear to each other. While pursuing their own goals and always trying to push the other parties out, circumstances force them to work together nonetheless, which in the end results in an unexpected friendship. Due to their pasts, they had chosen to be alone all their lives. But having experienced the same calamity and chasing a mutual enemy ultimately binds them together. A precious, unbreakable bond emerges which is not defined by words but through actions and expressions. You can see and feel how much they cherish each other and how much they would sacrifice.

I actually don't want to write about acting performances and such things, because it's kind of too technical for this review. Let me just say that every one of them did a brilliant job with their character (every supporting role included, even the period ones).

The story telling is neat and follows a wide path without any detours. Of course, you have single cases as well, but all of them are part of the bigger picture. Unexpected twists and turns confuse you all the time and the major mystery stays hidden until the very last moment. But if you keep a close eye, all your questions will be answered when the credits show up. I've heard people say that there are major plot holes. Well, I didn't see them. I noticed some minor things, but those were circumstantial and didn't lessen my excitement.

I'm glad I started this drama. I would have missed a true gem otherwise. If you're scared to watch this, well... I was as well. The first two episodes are the most powerful ones because you don't know what's awaiting you. But the rest is slightly less frightening and you get used to the horror style. Having experienced other OCN dramas, you'll know that they don't hold back with gore elements. There's quite a noticeable amount of it. And despite the crucial parts being blurred out, it actually stimulates your fantasy even more.

Thus, the overall composition with perfectly timed horror elements presents you a lasting adventure whose core doesn't depict a scary legend but what great sadness, despair, willpower and self-sacrifice can unleash.

That being said: Switch off the light, get yourselves some candles and have a great time!
(if you're daring enough - horror gurus might even find this one a relaxing watch)

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I've watched plenty of dramas, and this is the first review I'm writing, for good reason.

Going into this drama, I really had no idea what it was about. I typically stay away from horror or scary things, but after one episode I was hooked. The acting in this is unbelievable. Every part was played so well, even just the secondary characters. Hwa Pyung is one of my favorite characters that I have ever seen, along with Choi Yoon. The actors portrayed the characters so well. I could feel their pain through the screen. Also, they were very good looking. That's always a plus.

The story itself had a perfect mixture of comedy along with the horror and tragedy. I found myself laughing in each episode as well as crying and hugging my pillow in fear. I have now related the demon's name to that of Voldemort, something that should never be said out loud. The villain and the heroes were perfectly matched for each other.

Unlike most endings that make you regret watching the drama, I was holding out watching even as the after credits appeared. I was so amazed and absolutely shook, trust me when I say that if you choose to watch this you will not regret it. I can see myself rewatching this show again, and I never rewatch anything. Also, this made me want to believe in God while watching it. That's how good of a show it is.

Please watch it!!!

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We all know horror-related movies and series can easily turn tacky quickly. This one did a good job at maintaining balance between the horror elements and actually having a plot. If you've ever watched the Exorcist, it has that type of feel for obvious reasons.

I can understand why this series has the fairly high ratings it has, especially for this genre. The twisted connection between the three main actors and the development of their relationship was done well. I also very much appreciated how the supporting actors did incredibly well with their shifts from a normal human being to just plain creepy.

This isn't one of those "let me shock you into fear" or "let me disgust you so much that it will hopefully leave an impact" kind of show, which is nice. And although there were scattered moments of drag, there was enough depth to the story and characters where I still looked forward to the next episode. The ending felt a bit rushed and you'll have some unanswered questions or explanations but I was pleasantly surprised at the enjoyment factor.

Bonus points were given to the score because this genre is particularly difficult to do well.

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Who’s the enemy? Park Il-do or stupidity?

I love horror movies a lot. I get creeped out really easily and cheap scares work on me so well. But I still love anything horror related. So naturally, I was excited about this show and I’m somewhat glad I watched it. But, ultimately, I feel like what’s supposed to be a straight up horror mystery got messy and boring because of the main characters.

What’s good.

- It’s a horror show. ?
- I liked the way the show set up the main bad demon and the folklore of Park Il-do and the possession of Hwa-pyung. It established the character’s motivation and you sympathize with him.
- I liked having a main demon spirit that’s controlling other spirits. It’s fun to guess which spirit is which.
- The way all three characters had shared tragic history.
- Great side characters even though I think they were definitely under used, especially, Yuk-gwang.
- At the end, the least suspected character turned out to be the bad guy… and then there’s another twist! It was clumsy but still pretty good.
- Some possession cases like the one with a little girl were great.
- I liked Park Hong-ju character who’s just evil without being possessed.
- Some twists were good and unexpected.

What’s not good.

- Three main characters almost ruined it for me. Their initial character traits basically remained the same. A hot head, a stiff emotional priest who shows no emotion and an angry detective who demands evidence after evidence to believe.
- The way characters argue about same things episodes after episodes. It took so long for Det. Kang to believe even after Hwa-pyung was right over and over again.
- The same mistakes over and over again resulting in people’s deaths. They would interview victims/witnesses and leave them unprotected over and over again. Sure enough, they get killed. Almost as if they press reset button at the end of each episode and start fresh every time. It gets old fast.
- These people have no detective skills. They can’t deduce anything. They just can’t put two and two together! Sometimes, evidence is staring at them but they don’t see it. When people act strange, nobody notices like when Det. Koh got possessed and Det. Kang had no clue sitting in the same car!
- This show has the worst chase scenes. Main characters are strangely slow but the bad guys are super fast. If they’re chasing someone, 100% guaranteed that bad guys will get away.
- Cases got unnecessarily dragged out because people kept others in the dark for no reason. Just another lazy way to advance the plot.
- Characters just stand there with mouth open instead of reacting to what’s happening around them.
- They ignored conventional wisdom when convenient. Like how busy hospital is virtually empty just so the bad guys can go in/out undetected.
- Park Il-do seemed to be a few steps ahead of the main characters at all time. How? Is he omnipresent or does he have his underlings everywhere watching them? It’s not explained well. Toward the end, you wonder if Park Il-do is actually omnipotent, too, as he can “possess” multiple people at the same time.
- Understandably, they try to keep you guessing on who Park Il-do is but the way they try to bait and switch is pretty clumsy. If the show wants you to believe something, you know it’s not the case.
- Once again, people at the top are corrupt and cowardly. What’s new? Koreans really hate people in power, don’t they?
- Please, please, turn the lights on! Wait until the daytime to do things.
- The ending is kinda wanky. It would’ve been better if they left Hwa-pyung dead but I guess they wanted a happy ending for everyone.

Overall, it was a serviceable horror show with some good moments and a lot more WTH moments. I wish they had a clear way to end the show but after meandering for 14+ episodes, they realized they only had one or two episodes to tie it all together. They ended up spending way too much time on exposition as they basically had to explain all their plot holes just before the show was over. And that ending… it’s like everything was for naught after what they all went through. This seems like an ongoing problem with lots of K-drama.

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M.A.S.T.E.R.P.I.E.C.E

Honestly, I cannot put into words how perfect this drama was. I’m huge fan of horror movies so of course this drama wasn’t scary for me at all. For those people who doesn’t watch this drama because of that…please! Give it a change!
I was going to watch this drama because of Kim Jae Wook and OCN..yeah! It’s the best channel around there. After watching Voice OCN never disappoints. BUT…When I saw the official poster I noticed the female lead and I was like WHAT? Who is she? YEAH! That woman is GORGEOUS! Coming back to my senses…For me, the drama wasn’t slow at all. I enjoyed every single episode. When I was on episode 4 I said to myself that this drama will become a masterpiece. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. This drama was perfection since the beginning. Can you guys believe that?

Story: The plot is amazing. I couldn’t believe how a priest, a psychic and a detective could become a team to defeat a demon. But the writer showed me how perfect the idea was! Demons, priests, detectives, shamans and possessed people were a great combination. The antagonist of this show is a dreadful and strong demon that possesses people and controls weaker spirits. So, there were scenes brilliantly done even though we don’t know how real they were and we will never know. Exorcism is a topic too far from us. But besides that, those scenes were creepy and well-acted.
Anyway, what I enjoyed the most about this drama was the friendship between our leads. I just I just I just….loved it!! Even though this a horror drama, I didn’t feel it like that. Most of the times I couldn’t stop laughing, there were many funny moments that I enjoyed very much…I think it was because I paid attention to every single detail in the episodes. Hwa, Mateo and Gil, those three were really stubborn and similar. Watching them interact with each other was very pleasant to watch. It was hard for Gil to accept those possessions believes at the beginning, yes she is the detective…her reactions at first were hilarious. But at the end she was into this kind of things haha I still remember how she couldn’t explain those situations to her sunbae. Something that I don’t understand yet is why Gil didn’t have a gun I mean she’s a cop right?
On the other hand, there were sad moments “many” that you could say pain was their destiny, especially for Hwa. He’s the one that suffered the most. But this trio was there to console each other.

Acting/Cast: Absolutely divine!! Every single actor was remarkable on their roles! This is the very first time in my life watching k-dramas that I could see a great chemistry between THREE LEADS! As friends, they were perfect for each other. They’ve grown fond and took care of each other even though the circumstances they were going through. The actors portrayed their characters brilliantly. I could feel their pain which made me loving them more through the episodes. Regarding the supporting actors, they were amazing. Acting as a possessed person should be really hard so my feelings of respect and admiration for all the actors and actresses of this drama. THEY WERE TERRIFIC!

Music: It suited perfectly! I remember when we were on the first five episodes, the viewers, included me, wanted THAT SONG to be released. Sorrow in the dark in my heart, in my soul to see. Ahh…It was perfect!

Rewatch value: It is definitely a yes yes!! I would love to watch this drama again but in SUPER HIGH QUALITY! Perhaps in a couple of years, when I don’t remember anything. (Note: If you have a link to download it. I’m all ears!)

Final verdict: This is definitely my type of drama. No romance but friendship, truly friendship. Of course, this drama is not for everyone but it is a must watch drama. One of the best around there. Please! Watch it! You won’t regret it!

Cheers
Mabe

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