Gansin

This film is not an erotica for me. The mood is dark and morbid. The characters are not redeemable and most of the film is extremely violent. It was a difficult watch for me and I would not recommend this to someone seeking erotica. The story itself was intriguing and makes you want to finish the movie but curb your expectations.

If your an audience member that wants to see a historically accurate film about one of the most sadistic and tyrannical King in Korean history. This film will not be for you. However this is a color, vibrant and super erotic and sexual film. Sometimes the plot just didn't seem all that focused at times and I just didn't really know what direction this film was trying to go. Is it a vengeance movie or is this suppose to be an exploitation film like "Caligula". However it's a uncomfortable movie to sit through, because the cinematography and the design of the setting and costumes is done really well. So when it comes to the really uncomfortable sexual parts it can really grab the audiences attention. It's quite obvious the director wanted to arouse and shock the audiences and that is clearly the direction it was going despite the super oppressive elements of this movie. However there is porn for that, except this sometimes seemed like a really high quality porn with really good acting. Overall if you are looking for a fantasy like movie that takes place during the Joseon dynasty. And has a lot of uncomfortable sexual and erotic elements in it, this might be for you. Also nothing against the up and coming actress Lim Ji-Yeon that is hitting the big screen, but her acting just wasn't impactful enough to carry the climax. I say this since it would be nice to see Lim Ji-Yeon making other movies that doesn't revolve around her exposing herself to sell tickets. I give this movie a 6 because I didn't feel bored all the way through, and because of the good costume design, setting, acting and cinematography.

6/10

I didn't know anything about this being a true story, as some reviewers have said here, before watching this. As a narrative story I found this a little all over the place. I was never sure who was who and whose side they were all on, although I think that may be lost in translation and more of a 'me' thing.

The acting of the king was simply ridiculous, crazed one minute and crying the next.

The sets, the cinematography and the costumes are wonderful and although the story may be difficult at times, the film is always a delight to look at.

References to this being the Korean Caligula on the right track. This is not a film for the feint of heart.

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The Treacherous (2015) (South Korean Drama).

After being engulfed with insanity and revenge, a prince demands beautiful women (regardless of age, marriage status, or social class) to be rounded up for his personal pleasure – this caused widespread anger in the kingdom. One of the would-be sex slaves makes an impression, but his long-time friend also has eyes for her. This film has some serious balls, and will likely offend many viewers with its immoral male characters, its wild tonal shifts, and its depiction of women (who inexplicably become very willing to be sex slaves once they enter the palace). However, this is way more interesting than one might think. Although this is primarily a drama, it does have a few highly entertaining doses of humor. There's a lengthy, hilarious "training" sequence where the women are formally educated in the art of sexual pleasure. The prince is a psycho nutcase, which provides some entertainment value in itself. Of course, there are some disturbing moments of graphic violence mixed in, which creates those oddly captivating tonal shifts. Despite the plethora of sexual references, there are only a small handful of sex scenes shown (one of which is a fairly graphic girl-on-girl intercourse). Performances are solid; the story and characters have an engaging dynamic. This film is beautifully shot and has a great visual style about it, with outstanding production values and set designs. A particularly abrasive film from South Korea, but I couldn't stop watching.

I watched this movie not expecting much, considering it's probably not the best budget movie out there, but was really impressed with how the story caught me. It contains a good dose of intelligent political intrigue and and the beginning and the end are well chosen.

When the seemingly mad king orders a search for the "perfect beauty", it's subjects search around all the land for beautiful women and drag them to the palace offering them a royal life or, if they're not choose in the end, slavery.

It's a good depiction of the madness of an absolute power and as the story goes forward, the women contest become itself a political contest, for the ministries and other subjects in the palace know that the chosen girl will have a tremendous power over the crazy king. Eventually, different sides do whatever it takes to classify their favored candidates, and the king's madness has its peak when he finds about possible traitors inside the contest, adding to his paranoia.

After all, I found it to be very intelligent overall. The king's madness is shown progressing in the course of the movie, the scenario was beautifully recreated and the scenes (although they might be uncomfortable if you're not watching alone) are pretty good. All in all, it's a remarkable movie.