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The Treacherous
간신
2015 133 min South Korea 18+
★6.4
Drama, History, Crime
Director: Kyu-dong Min
Trailers
Description
The story of Joseon's tyrant king Yeonsan who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures, his seemingly loyal retainer who controls him and all court dealings, and a woman who seeks vengeance.
Worldwide:
$6.91M
Starring
Ju Ji-hoon
Actor
Kim Kang-woo
Actor
Lim Ji-yeon
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 6 nominations total
Key opinion
The Treacherous is a visually meticulous and polarizing historical drama that utilizes graphic, often grotesque eroticism to critique corruption and power. While its artistic aesthetic and bold thematic ambition garner praise, the film's challenging tone and explicit nature may alienate general audiences.
| Production | The film utilizes a highly stylized and meticulous visual language, drawing inspiration from Eastern aesthetic traditions to craft frames that are both beautiful and repulsive. | |
| Theme | The narrative intentionally employs graphic eroticism and cruelty as a provocative tool to force the audience to confront themes of betrayal, vice, and moral decay. | |
| Originality | The film adopts a dark, postmodern, and often grotesque tone that intentionally subverts traditional historical drama expectations, making it unsuitable for fans of conventional romantic narratives. | |
| Pacing | The two-hour runtime and deliberate, contemplative tempo reward patient viewers who appreciate the composition, but risk becoming exhausting for others who find the pacing sluggish. | |
| Screenplay | The heavy reliance on explicit erotic content is a source of contention; some perceive it as an essential artistic component of the narrative, while others find that it occasionally distracts from the core drama. |