A-i-deul...

The movie tells the story of what happened early 1990's in Korea, as 5 elementary school students never returned from their walk to a nearby mountain.

Based on true events and dedicated to the family who lost their children, this movie definitely succeeds at its goal. To make people be a witness of what happened 20 years ago and to be part of what emotional horror the family and everyone involved went through and still have to go through.

You will stay focused from the start to the end thanks to great directing and acting. Just when you think the movie will wrap up, it will make a sudden twist and turn everything upside down. Korea once again shows how to make a great movie that is based on true events.

Although this movie feels a lot like Memories of Murder (that also is based on true events in Korea), it is yet totally different and not as perfect, but still a great watch.

A must watch for anyone who enjoys a great crime movie.

My score: 9/10

I am a big admirer of Korean cinema. It has its distinct style of screenplay, characterization, storytelling and a definitive panache of humor. Movies like Memories of Murder, The Chaser, Mother, Voice of Murderer and Oldboy etc. There are several movies which has the cinematic tenets at its best.

Based on the true events, 'Children' depicts a case of 5 missing children in 1991. There begins a series investigations to search the children through many clues and clicks. The revelations are well timed and keep you at the edge of your seat.

The screenplay is water-tight which never loses the focus. Characterization is the key feature and it allows the viewers to connect with the characters, every character is so believable that you will feel their agony. The story has many folds and all the serendipitous discoveries are top notch.

The direction is perfect, it explores every occurrence immaculately. The desperation of media and incompetency of the police are portrayed flawlessly.

Acting is at its peak, every actor has played the part with utmost honesty and tangibility. The emotions, distress and panic of the characters are just believable.

A thriller like this is a benchmark for this genre.

Recommended

Koreans have been ruling for more than a decade with their modern-style approach to the plot with a classic touch and particularly the importance they give to the screenplay and "CHILDREN" is one such example of a timeless masterpiece ... For sure one should be a typical movie buff and mature enough to understand the ground reality based on the true story ... The movie was shot with outdated look of nostalgic 90's era with honest approach to the plot that was well researched based on a unsolved crime till today...while Ki-se Hoon's camera and Kim Chang's editing stores the soul of the movie... So sit tight and experience the true aroma of cinema as it has a lot of stuff to talk.

I have seen a lot of crime movies. This one with The Chaser and Memories of Murder is the best ever made.

Novelty in this suspenseful movie is the treatment of the relations with the media. It's a good idea from director to introduce some questions of ethics.

What a pleasure to be drawn into a story by such intelligent writing and outstanding acting. The story is told with impressive direction, plenty of details and realism to hook in most people. There's a real sense of place and time.

Can the movie be as beautiful, but at the same time be ugly. Like any dark mystery, the film simply raises questions, and gets the viewer to care about what happened to the kids.

Characters of parents, TV producer, professor, children, detectives, wives and many others, each and every one is so well casted it's hard to find anything to criticize.

The biggest pro for this feature is that they keep all the characters human by giving them a soft side. Nobody is either extremely good or bad, they just are humans making stupid choices and having to pay the price for it.

You have to see it to believe how perfect it is.

Anyone that can kill innocent children is pure evil. The horrors that must have been suffered by these little boys is unimaginable. The horrors their families are left to deal with are heart wrenching. There is a front row seat in hell waiting for whoever committed this crime and it is well deserved

Watching this as a mother of two boys, I couldn't help but feel the heartache the parents must live with. The actors gave great performances in their portrayals of the suffering of these people. The movie is filmed with the respect, dignity and remembrance it deserves. My only complaint about this film is that I wish it would've given us a look at who the boys were before they were killed. They were so much more than just "The Frog Boys" and without that look into their lives they are only remembered for their deaths. I would've liked to seen them being remembered for who they were when they were alive.

It's a great movie about a devastating loss of innocence. Check it out.