Hon-ja (2015) User Reviews

Interesting but could've been better

[diaaasky · 6/10 · 5 March 2023]

Very interesting movie. I admit I had to used wiki to know what's going on.

I watch this on Tubi and I admit it was indeed a unexpected movie with different surprises.

It became clear when the kid appeared and the mom kept asking if he killed his girlfriend was the biggest clue. The opening had me on edge and I was expecting a "die and keep repeating your death" until you can break the cycle. What's here is different somewhat. The guy is weird and his upbringing made him a weirdo basically. I get it. But you kinda get tired of these types of Korean films. Sometimes its ok to show a screw up life and happiness. In the end the idea was there but I think the murderous angle wasn't needed.

A low budget indie movie made by a skilled directer, but without clear vision

[Obi-Wan-22 · 3/10 · 15 April 2016]

For a movie that had my attention rapt for the first hour it's amazing at how far it fell off by the end. A man sees an assault at a rooftop from across the street, but before he can call the authorities he is spotted and attempts to hide. The story alone worked well and the genre elements played with in the first part of the movie were very effective, but the movie was determined to completely undermine your assumptions as it progressed. And when that worked in conjunction with the story it was trying tell about a man in deep despair and depression it really worked. But then it slipped the rug out from under you again. And again. And again. And again. And eventually I didn't care anymore. There was a point when a particularly effective character arc was revealed in a bathroom that would have been a perfect ending point that would have left me puzzling over the movie long after I had left the theater. But the movie continued on at blisteringly slow pace for another half hour. Too bad, because the set up was very good.