Bluebeard was a film that I had done a little looking into before it hit stores but I wasn't too sure if it was a Korean film that I wanted to watch. Just so happen I ran across the film and decided,"what the heck. I'll watch this since I'm able to buy it in store." The film's cast is made up of Cho Jin Woong who I didn't start warming up to until very recently, Shin Goo(veteran actor.), then lastly Kim Dae Myung. You might call this film one of the more indie arthouse Korean films but it's still been praised by reviewers for the psychological content of the plot. Hence, some of the five star ratings have not been too good for the film. Reasons being the same ones I probably have.
A sergeant moves from Seoul to a small town to practice medicine. While doing surgery on a man under anesthesia, The man admits to a murder. He also tells the whereabouts of the corpse. The soon began to suspect the man's whole family of murder.
Bluebeard's plot is all about foreshadowing the events before they happen. You as the viewer can try to figure out whats going on. However, there's really no need because the main character does all the paranoid over reacting for you. The script is written in a way that you are afraid of the unseen. Not so much the future but a fake narrative created by your own fear. Things actually get on your nerves a bit if your the type of person that doesn't like to be strung around. Story progression gives you a suspect that seems suspicious enough. That is until all these other elements come into play. Korean film writers love creating films dealing with the murder of women. I guess its based on the real murders that happened in south Korea al those years ago. You don't focus too much on the murders while watching Bluebeard though. One initial question will pop up in your head: "Who is the crazy one here??". Questions like this was what had me on edge constantly throughout Bluebeard's duration. By the time you get to the conclusion, you wonder why life can be so sucky. Also, I thought of the saying that what goes around, comes around. People in this world can't do evil and expect to live life scotch free. That evil comes back around on you in different forms. You better believe that. The ending is what you make of it depending on how you feel about the events leading up to it.
Jin Woong has grown on me as an actor after watching Signal as well as a couple of other productions that he was in. He's a pretty vulnerable character here. His character so much like a fish out of water that you kinda wonder why. The character gets pulled around in a game against himself and a supposed murder family. Jin Woong does a solid performance connecting to human emotion of someone who's mind is unraveling. I'm used to seeing him play characters with power such as a gangster or a detective that uses comedy to make people around him laugh. Good thing that he's showing me that he can play various kinds of characters now. Kim Dae Myung and Shin Goo creeped me out in their performance as father and son. I didn't know what the hell they were doing in that Butcher shop but other films like Fried Green Tomatoes and Hannibal keep coming to my mind. That mysterious demeanor they had made me feel for Jin Woong's character's mental break down. They're hugely responsible for the hint of dark humor presented in the film.
Bluebeard was an alright film that's strenuous on the mind. I was all too happy when this film was over. In fact it felt super long for some reason. Give this film a watch if you're a fan of dark thrillers. Don't expect this film to be the best in the world. Just enjoy this film as something to pass the time. Bluebeard was directed and written by Lee Soo Yeon.
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