The Handmaiden (2016)

Set in 1930s Korea under Japanese occupation, The Handmaiden is a sumptuous, tension-filled psychological thriller about deception, desire and shifting power. A young Korean pickpocket, Sook‑hee, is hired as a handmaiden to the reclusive Japanese heiress Lady Hideko as part of an elaborate con: a charismatic impostor posing as Count Fujiwara plans to seduce Hideko, marry her, steal her fortune and consign her to an asylum. What begins as a cold, carefully staged scheme soon becomes messy and unpredictable when loyalties change and unexpected emotions blossom. Watching the film you’ll experience a slow-burning eroticism and mounting suspense framed by meticulous period detail — lavish costumes, ornate interiors and painterly cinematography that make every room feel like a character. The story unfolds with sharp tonal shifts and clever narrative reversals: intimacy and manipulation sit side by side, and the plot repeatedly turns in ways that surprise and unsettle. Performances are intense and intimate, and the film doesn’t shy away from explicit sexuality or moments of cruelty, so it’s both provocative and uncomfortable at times. Overall, The Handmaiden delivers a richly textured emotional ride: a suspenseful con tale, a tender and illicit romance, and a dark examination of power, class and freedom. Expect gorgeous visuals, moral ambiguity, twisting revelations and an ending that lingers emotionally. Suitable for mature viewers who appreciate erotic thrillers with artful direction and moral complexity.

Actors: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong

Director: Park Chan-Wook

Runtime: 145 min

Genres: Drama, Romance, Thriller

7.6 /10 85 /100 8.1 /10 8.1 /10