User reviews

If you're expecting a high-paced thriller that leaps from one plot twist to another, "The Frog" might have you croaking in frustration. This miniseries is more of a slow, deliberate hop through murky waters, and you'll need the patience of a saint (or a snail) to fully appreciate it. The acting is solid, especially the lead with her psychotic charm, but boy, does this series take its sweet time.

The first half feels like you're in a fog, trying to connect timelines and wondering if the writers are as lost as you are. Characters chew loudly (yes, really) and the show drags in parts-enough to make you consider speed-watching, if only Netflix allowed it. But stick with it, and the pieces start to come together in a weirdly satisfying way.

It's not perfect, and it sure isn't for everyone, but if you like your mysteries with a side of confusion and a dash of "what-the-heck-was-that," then "The Frog" is worth a watch-just keep some snacks handy for those slow moments, because you'll need them.

After bing-watching the whole series today... It is true, it is slow paced (at least the first 3 episodes) However I find that necessary to build the tension, exactly the way it does.

Go Minsi's acting is formidable, which by the way, it is not a surprise. Her voice, visuals, acting skills... She nailed the role.

The series is really well written and you can feel the heavy atmosphere, I ran out of air a few times while watching it. It feels like a live action of a Stephen King's book. Everything is on point: from the actors and actresses to the story, from the photograpy to the music.

Give it a try, you won't regret it!

Those who gave this a bad review didn't understand the story at all. And don't have respect for the actors who played their respective roles in this intriguing narrative. The actress who played a psychopath did very well in this series, and I also applaud all the cast. Everyone was just great in their role! I like how it showed the aftermath of the murders - the psychological damage, the impact to the motel as a business, and the impending murders waiting to happen when you turn a blind eye. The pacing was just right for me. Though the rising action happened on episode 6, the happenings leading to the last three episodes were gripping. Well done! I wanted something a bit different and got it.

Sigh! These negative comments for a show that is far from being "garbage".

Unfortunately, in recent years especially, IMDB has become a cesspool of negativity and hate just like other sites.

Not only it seems some of the viewers didn't possibly give the show enough time but also if you have been more into Hollywood productions that mostly follow certain safe storylines then this can be too confusing, boring and slow. I am always amazed at the countless number of times I have seen comments about slowness of a show even from film critics as if that's a bad thing! Quite the opposite. Slow burn is usually what makes a show good because it takes its time to tell a story and build its characters.

As for the show, a slow burn, I found it to be more of a philosophical art-house type thriller/mystery because from the beginning we get to know one of the culprits and strongly suspect the other who committed the crimes. What slowly develops is how those crimes and the choices and actions or inaction of one can have severe physical, emotional and financial consequences that can even ripple effect through generations. This is told through two parallel unrelated stories at two different times that eventually converge towards the end because of shared themes of justice, shame, guilt, pain, looking the other way, etc. In the beginning episodes, it can be hard to connect all the dots because of the two timeframes and the constant sudden jumps between these two time frames and the unrelated stories but it will eventually all fall into place as the series goes on.

The acting, music score (especially the beginning theme song) and cinematography are top notch. I really got interested because Kim Yoon-seok from the movie The Chaser is in it. He is such a good actor and he doesn't disappoint here either.

I would recommend watching and giving it some time.

Watched this series on Netflix, just amazing story narrative. Go Min-si acting is outstanding and I think she deserves an award. All 8 episodes have gripping narration & story. Nice thing that this series is available in English. Direction, cinematography & background music are pretty good and well done. Go for it, it's worth it. I hope there will be season 2. All the characters acted well and in some episodes you are so engaged into the story that you will think of when the killer will be caught. In some scenes it looks cruel but that how you get so engaged into the story. Very well done by Director. Congratulations to the whole team.

This could have been a great miniseries. At its core, it's a good idea, but the creators dragged it out, added a bunch of silly and simplistic scenes, and ended up ruining the show's potential for high praise and ratings. The main character, who could solve all his problems with just a couple of straightforward answers but doesn't, completely frayed my nerves. By the fifth episode, I was already fast-forwarding just to see how it all ends.

I'd also like to add that the person who decided to make the main characters chew so loudly every time they eat, and to include noodle-slurping in almost every other scene, deserves a special place in hell.

In this era where attention span is at a steep decline among most of the people inhabiting our plain of existence, I can honestly say this show kept me hooked from the first episode.

I really liked the heavy, foggy and moody atmosphere and ambiance which coupled with Ko Min-Si's very surprising and natural acting made a very cool combination.

I have watched shows with her before but this role is the one in which she seems to shine the most. Maybe there's a natural drive under that acting? Who knows haha

If you expect some cheesy over-the-top show that's been done a thousand times before then this show is not for you. In that case just move along.

Plot just doesn't make sense, it assumes everyone around Ko Min-Si is moron to make a great thriller queen character strong.

I think the plot of this drama is like Japanese Isekai anime, where characters say "Is this the 'Table'? Incredible idea!"

Characters other than Ko just doesn't know things as easy as Table. I would say it is an insult to the viewers just like another review says.

The acting and mise en scene is great. Ko is portrayed really pretty and gives another reason to watch the drama till the end.

In conclusion, I would say there are better series to watch on Netflix if you don't understand Korean without subtitles or have special interest in Korean dramas.

Plot

A man's life unravels when a mysterious woman arrives at his motel one summer, forcing him to grasp tightly to what he cherishes most.

Cast

Everyone is great but Kim Yoon-seok and Go Min-si deliver standout performances.

Verdict

I'll be honest I'm at the stage now where I see a South Korean movie or tv show and I don't hesitate, they've been consistently knocking it out the park lately. Seeing The Frog released and seeing it be a limited series so no risk of a premature cancellation I leapt in excited but did it live up to my high Korean expectations? Not really, no.

You see The Frog tells quite the captivating tale and delivers fantastic performances but it's an extremely slow burn that suffers with one major glaring flaw. That the leading mans behavior is so illogical, so baffling, so unbelievable that it irreparably damages the whole thing. I spent each episode scratching my head, struggling to empathize with this gentleman as what he was doing was counter productive, he was bringing it all on himself stage after stage after stage and at no point did he do any of the things that could have brought his woes to an immediate halt.

Top that off with the analogies, the reason it's called The Frog is explained and touched upon lightly and it's positively awful. And don't even get me started with the line that the narrator opens with in every single episode, what was that all about? No I get it don't get me wrong, but it's such a wafer this metaphor it simply didn't work.

The Frog has its strengths and is worth a watch, but you must suspend a lot of disbelief and forgive it for some truly baffling writing decisions.

Rants

No spoilers here but really? Really!? How did he let it get to that stage. I can think off many ways to have cut that down straight out of the gate, I mean okay that wouldn't have allowed the show to happen but still! How weak do you need to be to allow people to behave like that with you? How far would you allow it to go? It baffles me. It's like bullying, I've never understood it on either side. I don't get the mentality of the bully and why they think their behavior is acceptable and I don't understand why the victim allows it. I just, don't get any of it.

The Good

Kim Yoon-seok and Go Min-si are excellent Some decent moments Slow burns well for the most part Great cinematography

The Bad

The writing is often deeply confusing Unbelievable in places The slow burn fumbles in places.

Truly interesting story with twists. It's entertaining to watch the story unfold and how the characters progress. Different approach than regular western storytelling so ease into it and be part of the ride. It's unique it's crazy it's complex and a bit weird but definitely worth your time.

Over the course of the episodes the story the pace is picking up and the story evolves. There are also some truly stunning picture compositions for example the dinner scenes between the older male lead and the younger female lead in the summer home is nice.

The show maintains a distinctly Korean sensibility, especially in its exploration of fate and consequence so do appreciate something different to your regular shows and give this a try it's worth it :)

As far in as episode 3 and what can I say, this is a good thriller, suspense crime series and it is quite the watch, acting is superb. Nevertheless, in all general point of interest, 6/10.

The suspense and mystery has been way more than the movie itself. I keep questioning the screenwriter or Netflix itself, what are we writing here? What's the point? Where is the head? Where's the tail? Where are we going? Finished episode 3 for an 8 episode series and I still don't know the point or the destination. They keep dragging it and I hope my movie taste doesn't become sour. I do hope it is worth the drag.

The suspense isn't created by deduction and missing pieces, but the fact you have no idea when the characters will make dumb decisions. This is one of those movie that try to be "artistic" and "philosophical" but failed because it lacks logic and depth. It try to make sense of things with superficial memory and trauma: some very cliche background stories without much resolutions. Though not all scenes and arcs are terribly made, a few are enough to ruin the entire plot. Also I'm sick of having cheap boring psychopathic villains, who had no depth and kill for fun. It's just lazy writing with zero effort. If you're looking for suspense and thriller, Signal and Voice are both much better than this, though they also suffer from boring villains.

I am both impressed and yet confused by this show and I want to give it more stars but I can't. It's 8 episodes so 8 hours long, the first half seems to work on some mixed up character building with confusing timelines that one assumes will all pull together at some point. They sort of do but the relevance is missing if at all there. I'm not sure if the writing is artistically brilliant or a fine line of creativity meets irrelevance but it still drags you in, however there's definitely something missing or not quite developed properly. It is worth watching for the lead characters sexy psychotic crazy her performance and character steals the show. Great scenery, acting, production, certainly could have been better but not sure how. It might have been trying for something off beat but didn't quite hit the mark. You'll have to watch all of it to understand, then you might still be confused.

At a remote woodland motel the owners family lives fall apart after an horrendous event and twenty years later we return with a new owner. Jeon Yeong-Ha (Kim Yun-Seok) is the new owner who leads a relaxed life renting rooms until Yoo Seong-A (Go Min-Si) arrives and from that point his life descends into a downward spiral. I really enjoyed parts of the show particularly when Go Min-Si was on screen but felt overall the pacing was too slow at the beginning and with fewer episodes would have been much better. There are interesting connections with the people from both events and even though it has some plot holes the outstanding acting of the full cast as the plot picks up draws you in.

This 8-episode series made my weekend fly by. I was gripping my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next or yelling at the screen the whole time. The direction, writing and acting were all top notch. If you're looking for something to watch while multitasking, this is not it. You will need to pay attention if you want to understand what's going on. There are great performances by great actors in this show. They agreed to act in a production when they weren't even main characters. I believe that shows you what a quality mystery/thriller this is. I plan to watch again just to make sure I didn't miss any interesting tidbits.

As someone who's spent the majority of their screen time watching thrillers & mysteries (with Korean greats like The Vengeance Trilogy by Park Chan-wook & Memories of Murder by Bong Joon-ho being among my favorite films), I have no issues with a great story taking its time to be revealed if the ride is worth it.

A happy medium for myself is 6 episodes if it's a TV Series (BBC Series being the best at this structure) or 3 hours for Films. I'll agree, to an extent, that this series could have likely been condensed into 6 episodes easily without any major issues to the plot. Where I tend to disagree with most people is I didn't find myself bored at any point or in a rush to get all of the major pieces of the story.

The biggest flaw is with the present day timeline - specifically in regards to the events that begin at the "pension house". It felt as though it was going to more heavily tie in with the events taking place in the timeline involving the Lake View Motel. There is some overlap between the two, as well as possible hints of a particular character being more tied to both timelines/events (but ultimately ends up being unexplored outside of an article of clothing worn at both, an autobiographical manuscript, & a phone call at the very end).

Overall, I quite enjoyed the series, but wish certain plot pieces had been expanded more vs. Screen time given to one character who ultimately ends up being very one dimensional. This causes the end to be very rushed after the first 6 episodes, and takes away from the rest of the series.

Korean Drama '' The Frog '' is a thriller being told through a dual narrative of two different time periods.

The drama has its moments, with the cinematography being solid and beautifully haunting at times, but, more often than not, the drama becomes a classic case of looks over substance.

The two timelines, moreover, did not blend together smoothly, especially since the one of the past was often put aside and hardly developed.

Also, the twists and turns of the plot got tiring after a while, though there were some substantial suspenseful moments.

Finally, the performances were all great by everyone in the cast.

So, overall, six out of ten.

Pros :

Cinematography and Tone

One of the standout aspects of The Frog is its cinematography. The visuals are striking, with thoughtful use of lighting and framing that help to establish an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere. The grading further enhances the film's tone, contributing to a consistent mood that keeps the viewer on edge. Despite its narrative flaws, the tone successfully evokes a sense of tension, and the visual storytelling is a strong point of the film.

Cons :

Pacing and Direction

the film's pacing is a significant issue. The first four episodes are slow and filled with unnecessary scenes and excessive cuts that do little to propel the plot forward. The direction feels lackluster, as if the director struggles to keep the story focused and engaging. Rather than building suspense, the pacing becomes frustrating, which detracts from the film's potential to captivate its audience.

The characters' decisions are often puzzling and illogical, with many actions feeling forced and lacking motivation. While the actors themselves don't necessarily give poor performances, their portrayals are hindered by awkward direction. With weak character development and no clear direction for their actions, the emotional connection to the characters is lost, making it difficult for the film to have any lasting impact.

At its core, The Frog has a compelling concept, and its cinematic execution is a definite strength. The grading, tone, and visuals create a rich atmosphere, but the film ultimately falters due to poor pacing, uneven direction, and weak character development. The director's inability to effectively guide the story and characters leaves The Frog feeling like a missed opportunity. What could have been a tense psychological thriller ends up lacking depth and coherence.

In conclusion, while The Frog shows promise with its visuals and atmosphere, the execution fails to live up to its potential. It is a film that might have been more effective with tighter direction and a clearer focus, making it ultimately feel like a missed opportunity in the thriller genre.

THE TITLE THE FROG DOESN'T QUITE FIT THE TONE OR NATURE OF THE FILM. GIVEN THE ABSURDITY OF THE CHARACTERS' DECISIONS AND THE SOMETIMES RIDICULOUS PLOT POINTS, A MORE FITTING TITLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHEN A SERIAL KILLER MEETS AN IDIOT GUY. THIS TITLE WOULD BETTER REFLECT THE ILLOGICAL ACTIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE CHARACTERS, ESPECIALLY THE PROTAGONIST, WHOSE CHOICES OFTEN SEEM TO DEFY ANY LOGICAL REASONING.

The current title does not seem to capture the film's underlying tone or its mishandling of its central narrative.

At its core, The Frog has a compelling concept, and its cinematic execution is a definite strength. The grading, tone, and visuals create a rich atmosphere, but the film ultimately falters due to poor pacing, uneven direction, and weak character development. The director's inability to effectively guide the story and characters leaves The Frog feeling like a missed opportunity. What could have been a tense psychological thriller ends up lacking depth and coherence.

In conclusion, while The Frog shows promise with its visuals and atmosphere, the execution fails to live up to its potential. It is a film that might have been more effective with tighter direction and a clearer focus, making it ultimately feel like a missed opportunity in the thriller genre.

The Frog

Seeing the title what comes in our mind is exactly the story. Always focused on what writer intended to tell from the very beginning of the series.

Actors are true to their work. No fancy romances, no loud actions, still an old man carries us to his struggle to life.

The time lines running parallelly creating suspense which is as expected as per the latest trend.

Sometimes feels that the music is missing but this imphasis the main character and his true nature.

But only part that I didnt like was the story of a family where the male serial killer visits. That was hard to digest.

I can say a must watch series for whom who are searching new subject.

Won't beat around the bush with this one, it wasn't good. I could see myself liking it at times but it just failed to keep me invested.

Part of that is due to the fact that it was juggling two storyline's. That's why I felt the early episodes were a bit clunky in terms of how they had to constantly flip back and forth in between storylines.

I guess they both serve the theme of the show but it'd be better if they just only focused on one story so then it would be fully developed and fleshed out.

That's like the main root of the problems of this show because a lot of stuff gets underdeveloped because it has to share time and it is annoying because a lot of what is set up is actually interesting but it just doesn't get fully realized or it gets rushed.

I think the episodes individually (minus the finale) are good but with the context of the whole season and how it was structured, it feels like they just missed out on having a good suspenseful thriller.

It starts off a bit slow paced but the speed picks up very soon.

The only problem is that I don't think it was straight forward. There were too many unnecessary bits which didn't have to be there. I had no idea why a past story was brought together so much so that it was confusing to watch.

Otherwise the actors did a great job and the acting itself was amazing. One of the quotes and the main takeaway of the show is a Korean quote about a frog that can get hit and die by a random stone. It means to say sometimes bad things happen to people for no reason and explores to see how it affects their lives. This was a great takeaway. But it could've been told more directly.