A masterfully made drama about insanity

I wrote this review in response to the underwhelming attention this show was getting. As a serious movie and TV show addict, having seen literally 1000s of shows from around the world, trust me, this show is a master piece.

Let me start of by saying, this show creeps me out, but in a way that leaves me wanting to know more. It isn't a supernatural horror show, but it sure feels like it. From the dark dingy rooms, to the close ups of the mad faces of the housemates, this show plunges the viewer into a world of madness the likes of which I have never experienced in a Korean drama before. I would dare say that some parts of the show remind me a little bit of 'The Shining', which is definitely high praise.

The acting quality by pretty much all the cast members are top notch, especially Im Si-wan, who literally nails every scene he is in, allowing viewers to relate to him and feel for him. Lee Dong‑wook also did a stellar job in breaking out of the stereotypical handsome guy roles, proving that he has what it takes to be a really f**cked up bad guy.

But I don't want to just praise the two leads, because each and every one of the tenants of Eden Studio performed wonderfully. It is their chemistry that left me in awe and made me want to keep coming back for more.

From a storytelling point of view, all the characters have interesting and distinct personalities that make you want to know more about their past and how they became the way they were. The pace is reasonably slow, but the fact that the show is only 10 episodes long made it a lot easier for viewers to stay interested. The plot is well spaced, though there are some loose ends that could have been tied up before the finale. Nonetheless, I was still left smiling when the show ended, even watching through the entire credit sequence (if you never do this, do it for this show, trust me).

But what truly hooked me was the music and cinematography. Part of the reason I enjoy Korean dramas is because of the masterful combination of music and video that one usually only sees in the theater. Well, this show featured a great combination of heavy music (both the rock and hip hop kind) that fit the dark theme of the movie. The cinematography is as expected from an OCN "Dramatic Cinema" show, very high end.

TLDR: I'll be honest, I was expecting a horror show with some jumpscares here and there. What I got was something far better than that. I got a show for true horror/thriller fans who want to experience claustrophobia and paranoia all in on go, and then just get their mind blown at the end.

Trust me, watch the show. You won't regret it.

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