Confounded. The story seems unique. The development of the characters is good. Confusing to say the least. The lead is manic. It keeps you guessing.
96 Reviews
It keeps you guessing.
antrikshnarang-439-89055815 March 2021
DAMN ASS GOOD!
pjkblue-3592627 June 2021
Watching any film or series from South Korea does take a bit of time to settle in but once it gets going and you are use to the characters, their inflections and the storyline...it's all good.
If Shin Ha-kyun doesn't have the best smile...I don't know what actor does.
It's basically a 10 rating, but a few parts did drag and were implausible, yet it's a blockbuster!
Too bad that 99% of the American public that are on Netflix will pass by a lot of foreign films and series because they can't seem to read subtitles.
Really?
It takes nano-second to do, yet to read a subtitle for most is like a huge undertaking.
Too bad for them...they are missing some amazing films and series.
If Shin Ha-kyun doesn't have the best smile...I don't know what actor does.
It's basically a 10 rating, but a few parts did drag and were implausible, yet it's a blockbuster!
Too bad that 99% of the American public that are on Netflix will pass by a lot of foreign films and series because they can't seem to read subtitles.
Really?
It takes nano-second to do, yet to read a subtitle for most is like a huge undertaking.
Too bad for them...they are missing some amazing films and series.
One of the best K-drama I watch this year!
NajmiSelamat18 June 2021
Personally I really like this drama. I just love the way how this drama was produced. The story was engaging from the first episode. I really like Shin Ha-kyun character in this drama which is Lee Dong-sik. He's giving a good vibe to this drama.
Iam speechless
aah-4815425 March 2021
I don't know how to say this in the right words but this drama is a rare masterpiece and it would be a crime to miss it , first , the story, it is just beyond good the style is so cinematically deep ,dark and heart breaking in the most artistic way ever.
The music, I actually consider it as one of the main characters in this drama because of how powerful and haunting the sound of it is and how it just makes the scene better if that is possible.
And for the main dish ( the acting) iam sure if shin hakyun was an American actor this guy would have made all the important awards easily his, one of the best character and acting I have seen in years, also Jin goo is doing a great job playing han juwon a character that I won't forget his gaze for a long time .
And for last we have THE CHEMISTRY I swear I didn't witness a chemistry like that since long years ago like !! Dong shik and juwon can just exist in the same place and their chemistry would be a burning fire , surely the one how picked them together is a genius.
To conclude it would be a shame if this drama didn't get the popularity it deserves because I have a good eye for this and i can say with confidence that we won't get anything like it for a long time so don't miss it.
Excellent *psychological thriller* which totally deserves the 3 awards at Baeksang for good reasons
MasonYoo18 June 2021
GENRE: This drama is a full package psychological thriller - one that focuses on psychological narratives in a thriller setting. Acting, writing, directing, cinematography and music all monstrously good. One is totally missing something if one just thinks it's a mere crime-solving / detective / find-the-culprit drama. Beyond Evil tells the story of the pain, sorrow and wounds of the families and friends of the victims who are left behind. Its key message is to bring out how the selfishness of one person could have a knock-on effect to turn everyone into a monster, how one mistake can grow into multiple bigger ones which inflict pain on people, as they find ways to cover things up (hence the title "monster" - the name of the drama in Korean, "gwemul", means "monster" literally. "Beyond Evil" is the official name of this drama in English). It also explores various issues like the loopholes and injustice of the legal system, and "necessary evil".
STARTING: It is one of those rare dramas that lingers long after it's ended. The first few episodes are slow-burning, focus on setting the scenes, laying the leads meticulously (so if you re-watch the first few episodes after finishing the whole series, you will find that all the dots are amazingly connected).
ACTING: The chemistry between Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo is no joke. The intense gazes, "hate-to-heal" dynamics just keep you on the edge of your seat! Shin Ha Kyun won the best actor award for his role in Baeksang Arts Award and Yeo Jin Goo, who is just 23-year-old now, is critically acclaimed for his mature performance in the drama. Han Ju Won played by Yeo Jin Goo is a complex character - someone who appears calm and cold about everything on the surface, someone who has a somewhat broken childhood, who holds up to his belief in justice, who is extremely startled but not shaken when the truth is unraveled. Yeo Jin Goo, who has been an actor for over 15 years despite his young age, shows you the change and growth in Han Ju Won with his excellent and natural acting. There is a heavy use of close-up shots - the director explained it is to show the subtle changes in gazes and micro-expressions of the actors/actresses such that various subtexts could be understood by viewers even they are not explicitly depicted by way of dialogues.
SCRIPT: Even though the "main dish" of the drama is the deeper psychological narratives, Beyond Evil delivers perfectly in the crime-solving side as well. There is a plot twist in basically every episode. But note that the twists are not unnecessary at all for the sake of creating suspense - every twist is meaningful and if you watch till the end you will marvel at how meticulously the dots are tied together so well. Even the seemingly "not-so-important" scenes embody certain subtexts! The amount of careful design is just breathtaking. Beyond Evil thrives so much on subtexts and deeper meanings which makes it so fun to watch.
DIRECTING: I usually prefer movies over dramas for the better cinematography (in general) but Beyond Evil really surprises me - excellent camera movement and mise-en-scène (roughly, the stage design and arrangement of actors). For example, in the scene where Han Ju Won learnt of something important, a train passed by at the backdrop quickly, as if Han Ju Won's complicated emotions were splashing out at that very moment. There are countless metaphors and stage-setting like this - one has to watch it to find them all out!
MUSIC: The OST just match very perfectly with the theme, from the song "That Night" which conveys loneliness and sadness to the instrumental background music designed for various scenes (especially the opening title - that's my favourite. To add, if you review the opening title after you have finished the whole drama, you will find a lot of clues and hints in it. Yes, this is how meticulous the whole production is!!!).
CONCLUSION: Beyond Evil is a masterpiece of acting, writing, directing, cinematography and music which carries very meaningful messages. It totally deserves the awards and positive reviews it got. I have watched it 3 times to date and every time I re-watch it, I find something new (either something I missed in my previous watching, or a metaphor/subtext that I come to realise a certain scene is getting at). It is definitely my "YOLO" drama and I would highly recommend it to you.
STARTING: It is one of those rare dramas that lingers long after it's ended. The first few episodes are slow-burning, focus on setting the scenes, laying the leads meticulously (so if you re-watch the first few episodes after finishing the whole series, you will find that all the dots are amazingly connected).
ACTING: The chemistry between Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo is no joke. The intense gazes, "hate-to-heal" dynamics just keep you on the edge of your seat! Shin Ha Kyun won the best actor award for his role in Baeksang Arts Award and Yeo Jin Goo, who is just 23-year-old now, is critically acclaimed for his mature performance in the drama. Han Ju Won played by Yeo Jin Goo is a complex character - someone who appears calm and cold about everything on the surface, someone who has a somewhat broken childhood, who holds up to his belief in justice, who is extremely startled but not shaken when the truth is unraveled. Yeo Jin Goo, who has been an actor for over 15 years despite his young age, shows you the change and growth in Han Ju Won with his excellent and natural acting. There is a heavy use of close-up shots - the director explained it is to show the subtle changes in gazes and micro-expressions of the actors/actresses such that various subtexts could be understood by viewers even they are not explicitly depicted by way of dialogues.
SCRIPT: Even though the "main dish" of the drama is the deeper psychological narratives, Beyond Evil delivers perfectly in the crime-solving side as well. There is a plot twist in basically every episode. But note that the twists are not unnecessary at all for the sake of creating suspense - every twist is meaningful and if you watch till the end you will marvel at how meticulously the dots are tied together so well. Even the seemingly "not-so-important" scenes embody certain subtexts! The amount of careful design is just breathtaking. Beyond Evil thrives so much on subtexts and deeper meanings which makes it so fun to watch.
DIRECTING: I usually prefer movies over dramas for the better cinematography (in general) but Beyond Evil really surprises me - excellent camera movement and mise-en-scène (roughly, the stage design and arrangement of actors). For example, in the scene where Han Ju Won learnt of something important, a train passed by at the backdrop quickly, as if Han Ju Won's complicated emotions were splashing out at that very moment. There are countless metaphors and stage-setting like this - one has to watch it to find them all out!
MUSIC: The OST just match very perfectly with the theme, from the song "That Night" which conveys loneliness and sadness to the instrumental background music designed for various scenes (especially the opening title - that's my favourite. To add, if you review the opening title after you have finished the whole drama, you will find a lot of clues and hints in it. Yes, this is how meticulous the whole production is!!!).
CONCLUSION: Beyond Evil is a masterpiece of acting, writing, directing, cinematography and music which carries very meaningful messages. It totally deserves the awards and positive reviews it got. I have watched it 3 times to date and every time I re-watch it, I find something new (either something I missed in my previous watching, or a metaphor/subtext that I come to realise a certain scene is getting at). It is definitely my "YOLO" drama and I would highly recommend it to you.
A masterpiece you shouldn't miss.
jaimeter17 June 2021
Beyond Evil is not a typical crime or detective drama. It focuses not only who the culprit is but also how the incidents influence and change suspects' and victims' lives. Watching BE is like doing a difficult jigsaw puzzle. Patience is needed, but it's worth it. No plot holes, and all cast did a brilliant job. The music also goes well with the scenes. In addition, the cinematography is awesome. BE is a drama that makes you think a lot and gives you profound feelings especially during your second watch.
Can't miss it for the world - acting, directing, script, music, cinematography all top-notched
Movie_bin18 June 2021
Acting, directing, script, music, camera movement are all top-notched. It is not an everyday detective story that just focus on catching the killer - the messages the drama brings out are very meaningful and are the major focus. Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo have a pretty big age gap there but that was exactly why the chemistry was so well - the contrast in terms of age, personality, approach to issues brings out so much sparks and chemistry between them. The acting is natural yet impactful. The supporting actors/actresses all deliver very well. Music gives me goosebumps. Heavy use of metaphors, hidden meanings and subtexts. Clues and leads are set out in a subtle manner throughout - there is no meaningless or useless scenes if you understand the story correctly. It is one of a kind indeed. Highly recommended.
The drama Beyond Evil as a philosophical parable about human relationships.
kseniyakrasnova25 June 2021
The plot of Beyond Evil is well twisted, and a new intrigue is revealed behind each denouement. But at the same time, already in the first episodes, I felt that Beyond Evil could be more than just a good detective. And I was not wrong.
From the very first episodes, we plunge into the drama, like into a fabulous whirlpool. We get to know the life of a provincial town. We watch Lee Dong Sik intently, trying to figure out what is behind his extravagant behavior. Shin Ha Kyun in this role masterfully balances on the border of light and shadow, sober calculation and madness. In the meantime, we are wondering who he is - a "fallen angel" or a bright angel who fell from a height and broke his wings. We look into the faces of all the heroes, trying to determine which of them is the monster. And gradually we are imbued with the mesmerizing beauty of this world and its inhabitants.
At first, Han Joo Won was perceived as an outsider. "Young master" in an expensive suit, completely alien among the ordinary people of Manyang. And it's not just about social status. Han Joo Won chose this role for himself - an independent observer who looks from above at the ugliness of this world and does not touch the dirt. However, the further he progresses in his research, the more personal it becomes, and the mask of equanimity slips from his face. This is how a classic detective story turns into a psychological journey - to feelings and memories walled up in the basements of the soul, into a journey to someone else and to oneself. Because these two processes always go together - to find yourself, you need to see the other and be seen. Find your own reflection in the other person's eyes.
The drama Beyond Evil is a real maze of reflections. Each significant event, the history of each hero has its own reflection. Some of them are false, some of them are true, but all these fragments, put together, allow you to see the truth. There is such a method of image restoration - from several dull and even distorted reflections, you can recreate a real image. We recognize heroes by the way they are reflected in each other. And each new meeting, each new dialogue is another step towards finding a real face. This approach makes the image of each character multidimensional and deep.
The drama really captures all aspects of the relationship. Family relationships - healthy or toxic. Relations with oneself, relationships with the world, social relationships - the law and its implementation. Morality as the ability to contact. Breaking up relationships like disappearing. The attitude towards the deceased loved ones and the ways of dealing with loss, with death. Relationships are alive, supportive and healing. Relationships are codependent, burdensome and suffocating. Personality always lives in a relationship. Fencing off from the world, a person cuts off a part of himself and, ultimately, can completely die as a person. This is how a person turns into a monster.
"Everyone in the city is like one family," says Han Joo Won of the residents of Manyang. And he is absolutely right. All heroes are connected to each other by a whole network of threads. But somewhere these are the supporting threads of life, and somewhere they are suffocating fetters. The family image is central to the drama. Everything begins with it - everything ends with it. For each of the heroes, this word means something different - a project, a burden, a duty, a dream of absolute happiness. But for everyone, it carries a lot of weight. Thus, a small town turns out to be a global metaphor for a community, a social family, in which our humanity is born, but sometimes dies.
The density of connections and meanings in the drama is so great that not only each character, but the whole world of the drama is felt as something living, animated. The city of Manyang is not just a place of action, but an independent character. The whole city, as an integral living system, exists according to its own laws. The Beyond Evil story is the story of Manyang's illness and healing.
What's also great about the Beyond Evil is that there is no moralizing in it. Despite the great semantic load, the author does not reduce everything to one idea, does not teach, but shows reality in its complexity, even paradoxicality. Each character is a part of a big picture, an element of the inner life of an integral system. But also everyone is a separate unique person, with their own choice and responsibility for this choice. The story of the Beyond Evil is the story of Manyang, but it's just as much the story of two people meeting. It is no coincidence that all the main scenes are "doubled". If you look at the titles of the episodes, you can see that the pairing is "sewn" into the very structure of the script. As if the whole story is a long dialogue between two, a series of questions and answers. Each character in the drama is interesting. Each has its own story, its own drama, its own unique personality. But the main axis of the whole story is the meeting and dialogue of the two main characters.
Lee Dong Sik and Han Joo Won, so different, but equally extraordinary, strong in spirit, but practically buried under the rubble of their own psychological trauma. Throughout the drama, they continually drift apart and collide, let go and catch each other, meeting again each time on a deeper level. They go a long way from mutual irritation, exploitation, projecting their fears and expectations onto each other, to true mutual understanding. Throughout the entire drama, the characters stare at each other - with suspicion, with rage, with interest, admiration, tenderness. But invariably - with intense attention, as if looking for something very important in each other's eyes. And in the end they find and return to each other the opportunity to be themselves - whole, feeling, alive.
In my opinion, Beyond Evil, like no other drama, showed us an example of perfect human contact. At that difficultly attainable level, when you see and accept another as he is, in his true essence. The bromance of the main characters of the Beyond Evil is so beautiful that it overshadowed all the drama love lines for me. In fact, this is a "love story" - like the love of one soul for another soul. Someone sees them as a mentor and student. Someone sees them as father and son or even as a couple in love. In my opinion, we were specially shown these relations at such a level of generalization that each viewer is free to interpret them in his own way. For me, they are the embodiment of the idea of an existential meeting, beyond any categories.
The Beyond Evil is a theatrical chamber drama. But this simplicity of the means has a deep meaning. The real challenge for an artist is to show everyday reality as something magical, wonderful, and sometimes monstrous. And the Beyond Evil succeeded to create a heroic epic in the scenery of a small provincial town, where a butcher's shop, the basement of an old house or a reed field feel like a mystical place. Where dramatic battles and wonderful metamorphoses take place in the dialogues between the characters. Magic is created in the Beyond Evil, not taking away from reality, but immersing it in it. This is the fantasy world that really exists - in the space of the human psyche, in relationships between people.
This is a huge burden on the actors. They don't just need to play their characters, the actors pretty much create the world and atmosphere of the drama. And they also need to show the development and even the rebirth of their characters. Many characters in the drama wear masks. But in the end all the masks will be removed, ripped off or washed away by the rain. And under someone's mask we will find a monstrous grin, and under someone's - a beautiful face. Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo play characters whose faces change throughout the drama. In each new episode, they experience new trials, different emotions, but their eyes express not only situational emotions, but also profound personality changes. In some scenes, they need to act so subtly that it is like walking on a tightrope. A slightly different expression - and the impression would be wrong. But the actors are perfect in every shot.
The talent of all the participants has created an amazing artistic world. It's like the famous Doctor Who machine - more inside than outside. And you can dive into this depth over and over again, finding new nuances and meanings.
From the very first episodes, we plunge into the drama, like into a fabulous whirlpool. We get to know the life of a provincial town. We watch Lee Dong Sik intently, trying to figure out what is behind his extravagant behavior. Shin Ha Kyun in this role masterfully balances on the border of light and shadow, sober calculation and madness. In the meantime, we are wondering who he is - a "fallen angel" or a bright angel who fell from a height and broke his wings. We look into the faces of all the heroes, trying to determine which of them is the monster. And gradually we are imbued with the mesmerizing beauty of this world and its inhabitants.
At first, Han Joo Won was perceived as an outsider. "Young master" in an expensive suit, completely alien among the ordinary people of Manyang. And it's not just about social status. Han Joo Won chose this role for himself - an independent observer who looks from above at the ugliness of this world and does not touch the dirt. However, the further he progresses in his research, the more personal it becomes, and the mask of equanimity slips from his face. This is how a classic detective story turns into a psychological journey - to feelings and memories walled up in the basements of the soul, into a journey to someone else and to oneself. Because these two processes always go together - to find yourself, you need to see the other and be seen. Find your own reflection in the other person's eyes.
The drama Beyond Evil is a real maze of reflections. Each significant event, the history of each hero has its own reflection. Some of them are false, some of them are true, but all these fragments, put together, allow you to see the truth. There is such a method of image restoration - from several dull and even distorted reflections, you can recreate a real image. We recognize heroes by the way they are reflected in each other. And each new meeting, each new dialogue is another step towards finding a real face. This approach makes the image of each character multidimensional and deep.
The drama really captures all aspects of the relationship. Family relationships - healthy or toxic. Relations with oneself, relationships with the world, social relationships - the law and its implementation. Morality as the ability to contact. Breaking up relationships like disappearing. The attitude towards the deceased loved ones and the ways of dealing with loss, with death. Relationships are alive, supportive and healing. Relationships are codependent, burdensome and suffocating. Personality always lives in a relationship. Fencing off from the world, a person cuts off a part of himself and, ultimately, can completely die as a person. This is how a person turns into a monster.
"Everyone in the city is like one family," says Han Joo Won of the residents of Manyang. And he is absolutely right. All heroes are connected to each other by a whole network of threads. But somewhere these are the supporting threads of life, and somewhere they are suffocating fetters. The family image is central to the drama. Everything begins with it - everything ends with it. For each of the heroes, this word means something different - a project, a burden, a duty, a dream of absolute happiness. But for everyone, it carries a lot of weight. Thus, a small town turns out to be a global metaphor for a community, a social family, in which our humanity is born, but sometimes dies.
The density of connections and meanings in the drama is so great that not only each character, but the whole world of the drama is felt as something living, animated. The city of Manyang is not just a place of action, but an independent character. The whole city, as an integral living system, exists according to its own laws. The Beyond Evil story is the story of Manyang's illness and healing.
What's also great about the Beyond Evil is that there is no moralizing in it. Despite the great semantic load, the author does not reduce everything to one idea, does not teach, but shows reality in its complexity, even paradoxicality. Each character is a part of a big picture, an element of the inner life of an integral system. But also everyone is a separate unique person, with their own choice and responsibility for this choice. The story of the Beyond Evil is the story of Manyang, but it's just as much the story of two people meeting. It is no coincidence that all the main scenes are "doubled". If you look at the titles of the episodes, you can see that the pairing is "sewn" into the very structure of the script. As if the whole story is a long dialogue between two, a series of questions and answers. Each character in the drama is interesting. Each has its own story, its own drama, its own unique personality. But the main axis of the whole story is the meeting and dialogue of the two main characters.
Lee Dong Sik and Han Joo Won, so different, but equally extraordinary, strong in spirit, but practically buried under the rubble of their own psychological trauma. Throughout the drama, they continually drift apart and collide, let go and catch each other, meeting again each time on a deeper level. They go a long way from mutual irritation, exploitation, projecting their fears and expectations onto each other, to true mutual understanding. Throughout the entire drama, the characters stare at each other - with suspicion, with rage, with interest, admiration, tenderness. But invariably - with intense attention, as if looking for something very important in each other's eyes. And in the end they find and return to each other the opportunity to be themselves - whole, feeling, alive.
In my opinion, Beyond Evil, like no other drama, showed us an example of perfect human contact. At that difficultly attainable level, when you see and accept another as he is, in his true essence. The bromance of the main characters of the Beyond Evil is so beautiful that it overshadowed all the drama love lines for me. In fact, this is a "love story" - like the love of one soul for another soul. Someone sees them as a mentor and student. Someone sees them as father and son or even as a couple in love. In my opinion, we were specially shown these relations at such a level of generalization that each viewer is free to interpret them in his own way. For me, they are the embodiment of the idea of an existential meeting, beyond any categories.
The Beyond Evil is a theatrical chamber drama. But this simplicity of the means has a deep meaning. The real challenge for an artist is to show everyday reality as something magical, wonderful, and sometimes monstrous. And the Beyond Evil succeeded to create a heroic epic in the scenery of a small provincial town, where a butcher's shop, the basement of an old house or a reed field feel like a mystical place. Where dramatic battles and wonderful metamorphoses take place in the dialogues between the characters. Magic is created in the Beyond Evil, not taking away from reality, but immersing it in it. This is the fantasy world that really exists - in the space of the human psyche, in relationships between people.
This is a huge burden on the actors. They don't just need to play their characters, the actors pretty much create the world and atmosphere of the drama. And they also need to show the development and even the rebirth of their characters. Many characters in the drama wear masks. But in the end all the masks will be removed, ripped off or washed away by the rain. And under someone's mask we will find a monstrous grin, and under someone's - a beautiful face. Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo play characters whose faces change throughout the drama. In each new episode, they experience new trials, different emotions, but their eyes express not only situational emotions, but also profound personality changes. In some scenes, they need to act so subtly that it is like walking on a tightrope. A slightly different expression - and the impression would be wrong. But the actors are perfect in every shot.
The talent of all the participants has created an amazing artistic world. It's like the famous Doctor Who machine - more inside than outside. And you can dive into this depth over and over again, finding new nuances and meanings.
Wow!! one of the best series of this genre
imsds11 April 2021
Really enjoyed the series and all its twists, but most loved the acting - so very impressive! Not just that of the main actors, but the supporting roles too!
A not to be missed series for those who enjoy a good drama that's suspenseful and a psychological thriller!
I would have given it a 9 ½, as it's not exactly all perfect, but I chose to round up instead as overall I think they have done a great job!!
Definitely one of my recent favorites and highly recommend it.
A not to be missed series for those who enjoy a good drama that's suspenseful and a psychological thriller!
I would have given it a 9 ½, as it's not exactly all perfect, but I chose to round up instead as overall I think they have done a great job!!
Definitely one of my recent favorites and highly recommend it.
It's been a while
Alexandra_Vas_413 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILER FREE
Everyone can appreciate some aspects of this drama, like the acting or the OST, but plot-wise this is not a series for everyone. Beyond Evil is a character-driven drama, that some may find slow paced. Anyone who likes multilayered and morally gray characters will appreciate it. The acting (especially from the two main leads) is probably one of the best I have seen.
SPOILERS It's been a while since I saw such an intriguing series. Was it perfect without even a single flaw? No. However the flaws were minor, so I didn't really care about them.
Beyond Evil is a gripping drama from the beginning. The plot is very well written and the characters are so interesting and complex. The acting is outstanding. Shin Ha Kyun delivered one of the best performances I have ever seen. He is an amazing actor, and Yeo Jin Goo was such a great choice to play Han Joo Won. I don't know who thought of putting Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo together in a series, but whoever did, thank you very much! This series would definitely not be the same without this great cast and the phenomenal chemistry of the two main leads.
Generally, I don't pay too much attention to the directing, since most of the times it is good or at least decent. Nonetheless, it was impossible not to notice the great directing of this series. I loved how it was like seeing the POV of another character and it led the viewers to certain assumptions to distract them from the truth. The color tones were all so dark yet not too dark, which made the series even more appealing and disturbing (especially in the first episodes). The OST fits the series in an unimaginably good way.
Did this get draggy, tiring or just not as good comparing to the first half? Kind of, but it was inevitable. This isn't a series that reveals everything on the last episode, so of course every single clue added a piece to the puzzle and when things started getting clearer it was natural for the series to not be as mysterious as it was in the first episodes.
What I really loved, is the fact that everything was revealed slowly but surely and we didn't wait till the last episode to find out who the killer is.
I loved how Beyond Evil tackled many issues like the stigma that follows a falsely accused person or the pain that people who are left behind are going through.
SPOILERS It's been a while since I saw such an intriguing series. Was it perfect without even a single flaw? No. However the flaws were minor, so I didn't really care about them.
Beyond Evil is a gripping drama from the beginning. The plot is very well written and the characters are so interesting and complex. The acting is outstanding. Shin Ha Kyun delivered one of the best performances I have ever seen. He is an amazing actor, and Yeo Jin Goo was such a great choice to play Han Joo Won. I don't know who thought of putting Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo together in a series, but whoever did, thank you very much! This series would definitely not be the same without this great cast and the phenomenal chemistry of the two main leads.
Generally, I don't pay too much attention to the directing, since most of the times it is good or at least decent. Nonetheless, it was impossible not to notice the great directing of this series. I loved how it was like seeing the POV of another character and it led the viewers to certain assumptions to distract them from the truth. The color tones were all so dark yet not too dark, which made the series even more appealing and disturbing (especially in the first episodes). The OST fits the series in an unimaginably good way.
Did this get draggy, tiring or just not as good comparing to the first half? Kind of, but it was inevitable. This isn't a series that reveals everything on the last episode, so of course every single clue added a piece to the puzzle and when things started getting clearer it was natural for the series to not be as mysterious as it was in the first episodes.
What I really loved, is the fact that everything was revealed slowly but surely and we didn't wait till the last episode to find out who the killer is.
I loved how Beyond Evil tackled many issues like the stigma that follows a falsely accused person or the pain that people who are left behind are going through.
Excellent Entertainment But I Felt That Something Was Missing
PriestMarmore16 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Let's get this out of the way, the acting was really good, there were no major flaws, at least that I noticed.
In relation to the story there are a lot o episode endings that lead you to believe something and then it isn't which can be a good suspense tool, however they overused it so I never believed what was showing on the end because I knew that it was super misleading.
Also worth noting that the final felt incomplete. There was no major interest in wanting to portray how they got arrested (we know how but we don't see some people getting arrested, we don't get a follow up of how those guys were doing in prison or how their imprisonment changed the redevelopment of the city for example) and what happened during the "time skip" at the last episode.
Overall I give this a 7/10 but I easily recommend this series.
In relation to the story there are a lot o episode endings that lead you to believe something and then it isn't which can be a good suspense tool, however they overused it so I never believed what was showing on the end because I knew that it was super misleading.
Also worth noting that the final felt incomplete. There was no major interest in wanting to portray how they got arrested (we know how but we don't see some people getting arrested, we don't get a follow up of how those guys were doing in prison or how their imprisonment changed the redevelopment of the city for example) and what happened during the "time skip" at the last episode.
Overall I give this a 7/10 but I easily recommend this series.
A therapeutic story about two men with good social messages
jemappelle19 June 2021
I did not hear much about Beyond Evil from the news and media in my country but my friend spoke so highly of it so I watched it on Netflix recently. It was so good that I just binge-watched it in 2 days! The story revolves around a small neighborhood called Manyang and the people who live there. It started off with a flashback to 20 years ago where Lee Dong Shik was accused of murdering the victims in a serial killing case. 20 years later, as an up-and-coming inspector Han Ju Won arrived at Manyang to re-open the investigation, another victim emerged, drawing resemblance with the serial killing case 20 years ago. The drama starts off with a slow pace with a major plot twist kicking in just at the end of the second episode. Thereafter there are decent twists and turns throughout, with Episode 8 being the end of the first major plot. While I wondered how the drama will develop after episode 8, as I went on I realised episode 8 was an important turning point that brings out the climax, which I am not going to spoil here. I can't explain more about why a psychological thriller drama can be a "therapeutic" one without spoiling so I will let you find out by watching it :)
A brilliant first half and a dramatic second !!
madhukar3030 June 2021
Phew, What a ride has it been since I started Gwimul about four days ago. Right from the start Gwimul sets the tone, it's intense and gripping, with a storyline filled with a lot of suspense and of many mysterious characters. There are a number of sub plots to keep the viewer very interested in bargain, The first ten episodes focuses on a serial killer genre like Hollywood's Silence of the lambs, and travels at a breakneck speed but then the director for some reasons unknown tries to pull an "à la Chinatown" from the eleventh episode onwards after which the series goes into a lazy cruise mode till the very end. The season one contains a whopping sixteen, hour long episodes and runs a little over seventeen hours for it to end.
Cinematography is brilliant and is very atypical of Korean movies in the recent years. Music and background score is good and grows on the viewer as the series progresses. Screenplay is both brilliant & terrific at times and confusing & boring at times, The writers gave away too much material early on but couldn't keep up the tempo after a while. Their usage and recall of a, unusually large number of character's names time and again, gets very confusing for non Korean viewers. Production design, costumes and makeup were decent. The editor makes a little impression in series that runs a whopping seventeen hours long. All the actors and the supporting actors were good and deliver some good performances, the many scenes where voices and tempers are raised are just terrific.
Overall, Gwimul definitely entertains the viewer thoroughly for the major part of the series but strangely goes flat on the later part of the series. During the later episodes things are repeated over and over again, sometimes to very annoying levels. If one is a fan of serial killer or Korean movies, Gwimul would be a treat for sure, and is unmissable. I would advise viewers to binge watch the first ten episodes and watch not more than one episode per day after that, for better results. Trust me it will be easy on your head. It is not recommended for young audiences as the series features a lot of blood and gore. 6.9 stars out of 10 for a highly entertaining series, which could have been even better if edited well.
Cinematography is brilliant and is very atypical of Korean movies in the recent years. Music and background score is good and grows on the viewer as the series progresses. Screenplay is both brilliant & terrific at times and confusing & boring at times, The writers gave away too much material early on but couldn't keep up the tempo after a while. Their usage and recall of a, unusually large number of character's names time and again, gets very confusing for non Korean viewers. Production design, costumes and makeup were decent. The editor makes a little impression in series that runs a whopping seventeen hours long. All the actors and the supporting actors were good and deliver some good performances, the many scenes where voices and tempers are raised are just terrific.
Overall, Gwimul definitely entertains the viewer thoroughly for the major part of the series but strangely goes flat on the later part of the series. During the later episodes things are repeated over and over again, sometimes to very annoying levels. If one is a fan of serial killer or Korean movies, Gwimul would be a treat for sure, and is unmissable. I would advise viewers to binge watch the first ten episodes and watch not more than one episode per day after that, for better results. Trust me it will be easy on your head. It is not recommended for young audiences as the series features a lot of blood and gore. 6.9 stars out of 10 for a highly entertaining series, which could have been even better if edited well.
Get 2 for 1 drama
celinka2029 June 2021
I gave this drama five stars because the the first 8 episodes revolving around the serial murders was really quite well done. There were numerous plot twists, smoke screens, red herrings and all these plot devices kept me guessing. It was well acted, and pacing was just right.
The second half of the drama is about police and gov't corruption. This second storyline was dismal compared to the first. There was no creativity in it. It was complex to the point of dragging down the pacing. The eerie atmosphere of the first half had dissipated, but the suspenseful plot twists that one would expect from a drama about corruption just could not hold up.
Korean dramas need to stop recycling the corruption plot line. It's over-used and too predictable now.
The second half of the drama is about police and gov't corruption. This second storyline was dismal compared to the first. There was no creativity in it. It was complex to the point of dragging down the pacing. The eerie atmosphere of the first half had dissipated, but the suspenseful plot twists that one would expect from a drama about corruption just could not hold up.
Korean dramas need to stop recycling the corruption plot line. It's over-used and too predictable now.
MASTERPIECE
saahilmehta-5020411 April 2021
One of the best
nadiasamir-4803819 June 2021
It's good until the end
tawanchayc11 April 2021
A writer and an actor's dream series
dumsumdumfai20 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is obvious, the series is made for actors from the writer. The whole series is set of twins. Every 2 episode is a set, and 1-8 is one bigger set, then 9-16 is the second large set. And everything is combined as a whole. And of course, the two main characters are kind of twins that slowly merge together. The city counsel woman and the developer is another set of twins? Any more?
In the 1st 8 episode, the ground works are lay down for the next 8 episode. And the characters are built up, ever so slowly. The pace is tactfully slow since the events and reveals are at a faster pace, a thriller's pace. It gives the audience time to think (or to participate) about what is REALLY going on here.
The 2 main actors are excellent, especially the manic veteran cop. I'm reading subtitles, so the 2nd half has a bit more complex plot wise but not over done IMHO. The twists if any are relative minor and believable, but impactful. Well written.
The young leuitenent's sacrifice is well telegraphed, along with his crushing realization that he long syspected. Loud as the express train on a rainy night. But the manic cop's revenge plan is a bit more problematic. Much too calculated. But he's a bit crazy so I give you that.
The entire supporting cast is also excellent. The blues music score is very fitting. The serial killer themed type of thriller is only scratching the surface of the plot. I'm seeing lot of this onion layering recently in plot reveals and it's a effective tool in hooking the audience in. Here the writer also uses a simile of a new cop going into a small town's precinct, just like us, the audience going into the plot half blind and has to get to know the culture of the plot.
Very well done.
P.s. I'm rewatching the series again on Netflix and is catching more of the great writing with English subtitles instead of Chinese. The dialogue is just full of irony. Often from either the manic veteran cop or more often from the pretty boy. And all characters in the show are mulit dimensional too. From the substation chief, to Park Jeung-ji, the meat shop owner, down to the tertiary characters. They get meaningful dialogue and closeups to express their feelings, predicament and personality. In subtle ways. And the small town mentality is so spot on.
And the quiet meat shop gathering is very cozy... comes with a slogan too "Got money? No! Got good health? No !..."
In the 1st 8 episode, the ground works are lay down for the next 8 episode. And the characters are built up, ever so slowly. The pace is tactfully slow since the events and reveals are at a faster pace, a thriller's pace. It gives the audience time to think (or to participate) about what is REALLY going on here.
The 2 main actors are excellent, especially the manic veteran cop. I'm reading subtitles, so the 2nd half has a bit more complex plot wise but not over done IMHO. The twists if any are relative minor and believable, but impactful. Well written.
The young leuitenent's sacrifice is well telegraphed, along with his crushing realization that he long syspected. Loud as the express train on a rainy night. But the manic cop's revenge plan is a bit more problematic. Much too calculated. But he's a bit crazy so I give you that.
The entire supporting cast is also excellent. The blues music score is very fitting. The serial killer themed type of thriller is only scratching the surface of the plot. I'm seeing lot of this onion layering recently in plot reveals and it's a effective tool in hooking the audience in. Here the writer also uses a simile of a new cop going into a small town's precinct, just like us, the audience going into the plot half blind and has to get to know the culture of the plot.
Very well done.
P.s. I'm rewatching the series again on Netflix and is catching more of the great writing with English subtitles instead of Chinese. The dialogue is just full of irony. Often from either the manic veteran cop or more often from the pretty boy. And all characters in the show are mulit dimensional too. From the substation chief, to Park Jeung-ji, the meat shop owner, down to the tertiary characters. They get meaningful dialogue and closeups to express their feelings, predicament and personality. In subtle ways. And the small town mentality is so spot on.
And the quiet meat shop gathering is very cozy... comes with a slogan too "Got money? No! Got good health? No !..."
All he wants is to resolve his deep sorrow!
rawarauf24 March 2021
I have been waiting for this drama since they announced it, and I wasn't disappointed! In FACT, It's already made it's way to my all time favorite drama, regardless of how it will END...it really doesn't matter since it's gonna be LIT!
Psychological Thrillers are always a treat to those who love suspense and making things out in your mind before stuff happen on screen! To top that with a heart-wrenching emotional ride isn't the most common stuff coming out these days, so I urge you please, DON'T miss THIS ONE!!!Without further ado, let's get to the actual review,
STORY: It's a very DARK STORY-LINE. The main character (Dong Shik) who is a demoted detective, is suspected of killing his own sister, and the others on his team aren't totally innocent. The drama unfolds when a frightening murder happens which resembles ones happening in the span of 20 years to the past! And the young detective from Seoul vows to catch "Dong Shik" for he thinks it must be his doing and he must be the culprit of the serial murder case!
Acting/Characters: Lee Do Hyun gave an outstanding (tho very short) performance as the young Dong Shik.
Shin Ha Kyun's acting is stellar! Once again beyond words! His voice is so fitting, calming and apologetic, as if he have done the world wrong! Yet his laugh is so creepy, it's quite a thrill to look at him smirking. Jin Goo's character is usually cold and unwavering... yet with is amazing acting, he manages to make way into anyone's heart early in the drama! All the rest of the cast are doing immensely great job, with their acting naturally flowing in, very realistic and never feel forced! Special thanks to the lovely rookie actress, Choi Sung Eun as "Yoo Jae Yi" and much respect for the amazing portrayal of "Park Jung Je" by Choi Dae Hoon and "Oh Ji Hoon" by Nam Yoon Su.
Music: The score is DRAMATIC, SUSPENSEFUL and very pleasant to listen to. The main theme grabbed my attention from the opening scene, with the beautiful blend of the violin and the percussion. and as for the songs. The song "THAT NIGHT" is the PERFECT music to give anyone chills watching this PERFECT DRAMA! It feels like a sorrowful man's screams and says letting out his long held grudges to be heard by someone in a corner... An absolute classic masterpiece that would easily have won best music awards, was it released in 1990s! With those said, I just love the theme song so much I want it to win some awards of 2021 too! And the rest of the songs are all amazing, especially love "Timeless" by BIBI, will surely be in my playlist for a while!
LAST WORDS: This drama is GREATNESS beyond WORDS! and I'm quite bad with crafty expressions, so all I can do, to give this drama justice, is ask you to start watching the first episode RIGHT AWAY, and don't let anything get your attention till you're done with the first! The rest will be history, as a matter of fact, you won't be able to stop watching! Guaranteed!
**Unless you're the type who can't stand very dark and regretful stories!**
A MUST WATCH! If you're looking for a DEEP and FASCINATING HUMANE STORY.
Psychological Thrillers are always a treat to those who love suspense and making things out in your mind before stuff happen on screen! To top that with a heart-wrenching emotional ride isn't the most common stuff coming out these days, so I urge you please, DON'T miss THIS ONE!!!Without further ado, let's get to the actual review,
STORY: It's a very DARK STORY-LINE. The main character (Dong Shik) who is a demoted detective, is suspected of killing his own sister, and the others on his team aren't totally innocent. The drama unfolds when a frightening murder happens which resembles ones happening in the span of 20 years to the past! And the young detective from Seoul vows to catch "Dong Shik" for he thinks it must be his doing and he must be the culprit of the serial murder case!
Acting/Characters: Lee Do Hyun gave an outstanding (tho very short) performance as the young Dong Shik.
Shin Ha Kyun's acting is stellar! Once again beyond words! His voice is so fitting, calming and apologetic, as if he have done the world wrong! Yet his laugh is so creepy, it's quite a thrill to look at him smirking. Jin Goo's character is usually cold and unwavering... yet with is amazing acting, he manages to make way into anyone's heart early in the drama! All the rest of the cast are doing immensely great job, with their acting naturally flowing in, very realistic and never feel forced! Special thanks to the lovely rookie actress, Choi Sung Eun as "Yoo Jae Yi" and much respect for the amazing portrayal of "Park Jung Je" by Choi Dae Hoon and "Oh Ji Hoon" by Nam Yoon Su.
Music: The score is DRAMATIC, SUSPENSEFUL and very pleasant to listen to. The main theme grabbed my attention from the opening scene, with the beautiful blend of the violin and the percussion. and as for the songs. The song "THAT NIGHT" is the PERFECT music to give anyone chills watching this PERFECT DRAMA! It feels like a sorrowful man's screams and says letting out his long held grudges to be heard by someone in a corner... An absolute classic masterpiece that would easily have won best music awards, was it released in 1990s! With those said, I just love the theme song so much I want it to win some awards of 2021 too! And the rest of the songs are all amazing, especially love "Timeless" by BIBI, will surely be in my playlist for a while!
LAST WORDS: This drama is GREATNESS beyond WORDS! and I'm quite bad with crafty expressions, so all I can do, to give this drama justice, is ask you to start watching the first episode RIGHT AWAY, and don't let anything get your attention till you're done with the first! The rest will be history, as a matter of fact, you won't be able to stop watching! Guaranteed!
**Unless you're the type who can't stand very dark and regretful stories!**
A MUST WATCH! If you're looking for a DEEP and FASCINATING HUMANE STORY.
Wow...
jasminn_tan18 September 2021
This was incredible. The story is compelling and it's a show that keeps you guessing. The characters are unpredictable and there are hidden and darker sides to them that we get glimpses of as the show progresses, like the layers of an onion being peeled. The show is definitely confusing at some parts but everything gets revealed in due time.
And the character development of Han Juwon and Lee Dongsik is so satisfying as they work together to unravel the truth of what happened 20+ years ago. And the actors who played them were phenomenal. What I really liked about this show is how it makes you think about the things people are willing to do to save themselves or to achieve a goal, and what lengths they'll go to to keep their reputation. It strips humanity's ugliest parts and incorporates them into this crime and mystery show, showing that ordinary people are more than capable of doing evil things to each other.
And the character development of Han Juwon and Lee Dongsik is so satisfying as they work together to unravel the truth of what happened 20+ years ago. And the actors who played them were phenomenal. What I really liked about this show is how it makes you think about the things people are willing to do to save themselves or to achieve a goal, and what lengths they'll go to to keep their reputation. It strips humanity's ugliest parts and incorporates them into this crime and mystery show, showing that ordinary people are more than capable of doing evil things to each other.
Almost Perfect
abdalazizahmad21 August 2021
This is a top-notch TV series ruined by its final couple of episodes where things turn a bit too melodramatic. It seems like a common feature of Korean TV series to have soap opera like finales which is such a shame because the show was so fresh and original.
The soundtrack is amazing, and so is the acting. Shin Ha-kyun, in particular, gives a hypnotising performance.
The soundtrack is amazing, and so is the acting. Shin Ha-kyun, in particular, gives a hypnotising performance.
Excellent production. Every episode is like a movie.
astrid123419 June 2021
* Beyond Evil is among the most cinematic korean dramas I have watched. Some of the camera movements and detailed stage setting are normally found in movies only. The music is so profound and the blue tone of the OSTs is just perfect for the theme. I feel like watching 16 movies (which are tightly tied together). Hands down a masterpiece.
* In terms of acting, the performances of the actors and actresses (basically everyone, regardless of whether it's the main or supporting) far exceeded my expectations. I have always known the two male leads Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jingoo are excellent actors, each of which has won a number of major awards for their good acting skills. I can't imagine anyone else playing Lee Dong Sik or Han Ju Won after watching the whole series. They are the characters themselves.
* In terms of plot, there is no major plot hole. A lot of suspense and questions were thrown out in the first part of the drama but all of these questions were answered in the subsequent episodes. As such the drama is not difficult to understand at all because you will be given the answers if you follow through even if you do not understand everything at first.
* Most importantly the director and writer did not forget a good drama cannot come without meaningful messages that provoke the reflection and thinking of the audience. This is also the reason why I think notwithstanding a number of other K-dramas were also very well done in this year, Beyond Evil is simply on another level because it is able to deliver an intriguing story with perfect execution of the actors/actresses while not losing sight of giving audience a thought-provoking message.
* In terms of acting, the performances of the actors and actresses (basically everyone, regardless of whether it's the main or supporting) far exceeded my expectations. I have always known the two male leads Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jingoo are excellent actors, each of which has won a number of major awards for their good acting skills. I can't imagine anyone else playing Lee Dong Sik or Han Ju Won after watching the whole series. They are the characters themselves.
* In terms of plot, there is no major plot hole. A lot of suspense and questions were thrown out in the first part of the drama but all of these questions were answered in the subsequent episodes. As such the drama is not difficult to understand at all because you will be given the answers if you follow through even if you do not understand everything at first.
* Most importantly the director and writer did not forget a good drama cannot come without meaningful messages that provoke the reflection and thinking of the audience. This is also the reason why I think notwithstanding a number of other K-dramas were also very well done in this year, Beyond Evil is simply on another level because it is able to deliver an intriguing story with perfect execution of the actors/actresses while not losing sight of giving audience a thought-provoking message.
The silence of the deers
alaningle723 June 2021
A successful young police officer with powerful connections joins a substation and becomes involved in solving the murder 20 years earlier of one his colleagues sister. Is it a serial killer who is still operating and what are the dark secrets that the members of the station and local community are hiding. Interesting plot, well acted but too many psychological problems for all the actors and little real character development makes it a little heavy going.
Strong detective film but slow
Glue2Screen23 March 2022
Started off really great kept my attention with a whodunit, dark, crime, mystery series. However this is very much a slow burn type series snd can be complicated with all the different characters. The hard part with the series is that you end up not having a favourite character because, like the Korean title means it Monster, every character is portrayed with a dark side. Thus with a slow burn and the disconnect with characters, it's really hard to really engage.
Biggest complaint is it tends to be very slow, especially after the seventh episode it seems to have lost a lot of its momentum. Overall 6.5/10, I have seen better slow burn detective thriller dramas that is cohesive throughout.
Biggest complaint is it tends to be very slow, especially after the seventh episode it seems to have lost a lot of its momentum. Overall 6.5/10, I have seen better slow burn detective thriller dramas that is cohesive throughout.
Watch it.
floydmaxwinchester18 June 2021
Saw some weird ass reviews here calling Yeo Jin Goo ugly and what not. Jin-goo is one of the most celebrated young veteran actor. So people who will scream "Beyond Evil is overhyped " but then turn around and watch the "actually overhyped dramas with just good looking leads but not much acting and plot", let's not delude ourselves here, ok ?
And to the people looking for reviews and thinking whether they should watch it, I'd say give it a shot.
Beyond Evil is a PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. I always put the genre in caps so that it's clear for everyone and they get an idea of what to expect from the drama. Watching it once isn't even enough to be honest because you don't end up catching all the details during the first watch. I really don't have anything to say about the acting because the performance of the actors speak for themselves. Just that you're in for a ride !!!
And to the people looking for reviews and thinking whether they should watch it, I'd say give it a shot.
Beyond Evil is a PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. I always put the genre in caps so that it's clear for everyone and they get an idea of what to expect from the drama. Watching it once isn't even enough to be honest because you don't end up catching all the details during the first watch. I really don't have anything to say about the acting because the performance of the actors speak for themselves. Just that you're in for a ride !!!
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