#lee chung ah
directed by Lee Soo-yeon (Secret Forest), starring veteran actors Jo Jin-woong (The Handmaiden, Signal) and Shin Gu, Bluebeard was a film I really wanted to like. but unlike other Korean thrillers that I had watched before (Door Lock,The Truth Beneath), the suspense in Bluebeard never eventually took off and instead felt like such a letdown.
Bluebeard is a character study with an unreliable narrator. having failed at operating his own clinic in Gangnam, Dr Byun (a fantastic Jo Jin-woong) relocates to Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do and frequently conducts endoscopies for elderly patients. the choice of Hwaseong is no coincidence - it is where the notorious Gyeonggi serial murders, a case that was cold for ~15 years, took place. when Dr Byun, a fan of mystery conspiracies, notices his neighbouring butchers’ suspicious behaviour, he begins to suspect that the recent disappearances and the 15 year old serial murders are relate to them.
at 2 hours’ long, it is quite disappointing that we spent a good 1 hour lingering in Jo’s perspective, when we knew that eventually we will be presented the flipside. and while typically one is surprised with alternative perspectives when the unreliable narrator is revealed, there was surprisingly little tension or anything gripping during the revelation. the twists were either obvious or weak - we didn’t need 1.5h to know that the head in the black bag was a lamb’s head, and i didn’t care that the supposed detective was actually Jo’s senior. the second plot twist at the last 5 minutes of the film was even more unnecessary - *spoilers ahead* what was the point of adjusting the story such that the first filipino wife was actually not killed, Jo had actually killed his creditor, and the butchers had actually killed Jo’s wife?!
Bluebeardsets out many plot turns and red herrings, but doesn’t execute any of them to satisfaction. Kim Dae-myung (Hospital Playlist), Lee Chung-ah & Song Yoon-ah (Sky Castle) feature in supporting roles too, but the film’s saving grace is undoubtedly Jo, who displayed fine detail and emotional range. –5/10
I’m actually pretty disapppointed for this drama right now for some reasons.
First, this drama was never officially confirmed despite the fact that we fans know they’ve already finished filming the first episode.
Second, they postponed (not cancelled) the filming citing the leads Lee Chung Ah and No Min Woo’s separate schedules. Min Woo had a Japan concert, Chung Ah with her movie’s promotions.
And lastly, to make everything worse at a different level, No Min Woo accepted the vacated role in upcoming SBS drama God’s Gift- 14 Days which Beast’s Lee Gi Kwang left due to his own schedule conflicts as well. This drama is set to air for the next 2-3 months, holy shiett you’ll make me wait for that long just to watch another Lee Chung Ah drama?
If that’s the case, I hope Lee Chung Ah will do the same, pick some random drama appearance here or there so I can just watch her.
Nevertheless, I’m still hopeful though I’m totally bugged right now because of the so much delays of its airing.
What do you say hwanjas?
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Boys in these kinds of dramas are okay, cute, or handsome but got that toxic unchangeable decorum. This lead got that disposition. The girl is hopeless romantic and that’s perfect for the plot lol. Though it’s obvious who is going to be the endgame, I’m just surprised that though I watched this 7 yrs ago, I did not know that the lead guys has a ‘kinship’. However, this is an 11 year old drama with best soundtracks, humor and cast. Still a must watch and recommended.
Flower Boy Ramen Shop (2011)
