First of all, simply WOW, I'm a great fan of Korean film and TV. How is it that they keep regularly rolling out some of the most talented and gorgeous women on this planet! Han So-Hee is superb. What can one say about Soo-Hyun! The cinematography is impeccable. Park Seo-Jun is also excellent as. Jang Tae-Sang. Choi Young-Joon and Hyun Bong-Sik are so perfectly evil.
The "Creature" is terrifyingly destructive and lethal. We learn of its creation and horrific human experimentation hidden in Onseong Hospital by the Japanese Military trying to develop a occupying Korea in 1945.
Note the early reference to Unit 731 during scenes in the Manchuria hospital, The US bombed Hiroshima on August 6, and Nagasaki on August 9. Japan offered its surrender on August 10. Cherry blossoms normally fall by the end of May, so I think the film takes place only little more than two months before Japan's surrender.
It seems the referenced experiments were looking for a decisive weapon to use in world war 2. That whole setting is important. I had for years suggested to Netflix that they consider expanding their Korean content. I still want to see them include Guardian and Descendants of the Sun.
I think they made the right choice and will hit it big with their new focus.
After watching the second season, I decided to add this. First, there are obviously a lot of Korean drama haters in this review thread. You can discount all of them. Korean drama is far better than any of the usual Hollywood formula garbage. You will always find much deeper treatment of life experiences in Korean dramas. I'd put them up against the top Hollywood offerings any day. The links to relevant issues the world is facing today are all over this series. I could clip and cite passages from all along the episodes. In the scene in Season 2, Episode 5, when Lady Maedea meets Master Jang, she refers to the "terrorist attack" he committed at Ongseong Hospital. He responds to her "We call it resistance." Go back and watch Season 1 carefully. I don't want to get into any political or social debates, but the historical and current allusions are extensive. Many don't like to be prodded into thinking. They just want the entertainment, usual Hollywood gratuitous violence and sex recipes provide. That's OK. If you're that kind of audience, Korean drama is not for you. I understand. I can enjoy Keanu, Cruise, and Marvel productions, too. Long ago, I tried watching subtitled foreign. TV and films: Fellini, Bergman, Truffaut, Delouch, and others. I discovered and highly enjoyed Bollywood productions, then about a decade ago I stumbled onto the Korean treasures.
This film is very well written, directed, and acted. It deserves the praise and high ratings it is getting. Han So-hee is an excellent young star. You will see her in a lot more great performances. Park Seo-joon has already proven himself a top notch actor. I was right when I highly recommended to Netflix to carry a lot more of the Korean content over ten years ago. They did. That move, I'm sure not only on my humble nobody suggestion, worked out very well for them. This one will go on my Netflix list of favorites. Don't leave it off your lists. You won't regret it.
