Squid game review, oh the series that got everyone go geez. And I was definitely one of those people.
Reviewing, thus, such an incredible masterpiece of a series is my truest pleasure.
Although in most of the other reviews, I may have been a bit lenient on giving away spoilers. This time, I think, there will not be any spoilers ahead. So, this review is for people who have seen it and who are still considering it.
Sure, like always we will go over the technicalities of movie making and its aspects with an emphasis on its writing and plot where the irony of a unique kind resides.
Squid game in its essence is a drama series with thrills hiding in betweens that send shivers through your body better than some of the thriller and horror movies. But in a much more different and subtle way that you would not necessarily call the series a drama.
Now let us get to reviewing the series. Perhaps drop some theories about what the series was trying to convey.
Squid Game Trailer
The film is made by a South Korean filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk who gets writing help himself only with actors like Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Greg Chun.
There is so much to talk about about this squid game review. And it is even hard to pick a part to start. Although this is an epic series from the start to the end. There are just these few episodes that crunch your bones and make you feel for the characters.
Without revealing much about them, let us first talk about how excellent the film’s technical aspects are.
The filmmaking in general is at a top level. Every single scene has a meaning and has been captured with the utmost care and passion.
There is this saying in the world of filmmaking, that I have mentioned many many times before and you may as well know if this is not your first time here at OnReplayTV
It states that movies should show and tell. That seems pretty straightforward to understand yet we keep seeing movies with a bunch of exposition and characters that exist only for the sake of exposition.
This series though is fully exempt from such attempts. Each and every character in the movie has more meaning and weight and place in the series than just existing for the sake of delivering some information.
The series is not totally free from flaws. It has its own share of gaffees. And some plot-holes it did not fill or failed to clear up.
Squid Game Series Review
The twists and the turns and an exceptional writing should probably be the first thing to start out the review with. For that is exactly what owed the audience the most. At least, that is what it was for me.
Of course there is not just one moment when you fall head over heels in love with the series. But it’s the multiplication of such beautiful moments gradually incrementing the level of excitement and interest you have for the Squid Game.
The movie sets up the characters as poor and needing money. These are the people who have tons of debt and are unable to pay it back. The main character is a father who loves his daughter like fathers do.
But his ex-wife and her new family is about to relocate to the States. That means he won’t be seeing his daughter any more.
Upon returning from asking his friend for some money, he encounters a mysterious stranger who offers to play some games. And drops some cash on it.
When he states he doesn’t have money to play anymore. The stranger slaps him and says he can pay with slaps, and gives him the money plus a visit card for the future if he wants to play some more games.
Realizing that he might be okay to get slapped a few times. He gives him a call when he ends up in a weird bunker bed where the guards wear red uniforms with PlayStation symbols on their face.
Soon, after the first game begins and it turns out to be not what he initially expected and something far far worse. However, it turns out if the majority of the players vote to leave the game. They can in fact leave the game. So they do.
Review Of Squid Game
When he turns back to the real world. He is left with all his problems and on top of that his mother is sick and might not make it through.
So, our man here has to find a way to get out of this rut and find a better life when he decides to go back as do most other characters from the show
One drawback here is when you are watching the series; The main character here aka our man kind of is boring.
I mean that in the best way possible, he is that passive-ish type especially in the beginning. It is not just the writing or the actor.
It is that, in reality, if a person is poor or in a difficult situation. They probably try to find a way to better themselves, or find something else to do. Well, at least, sacrificing yourself for the sake of your family doesn’t seem quite like a good idea.
Even when he is sacrificing himself, he is saved multiple times by the other players in the game.
This is not a big issue when you are watching it, most people won’t even feel it. But for me this is one of the only drawbacks that stood up to me.
Because if they had an active lead that would probably work out better. I am not saying stronger lead per se. But someone that despite his weaknesses and blunders overcomes them due to his own experiences.
Not because he gets help and saved. This is the farthest we go in terms of spoilers. But you could already guess that the main hero always survives and you probably won’t be mad knowing that he will.
The way he survives and makes it through the game was obvious as he is the main character.
Squid Game Review
It is really hard to review the series without spoiling it. Because there are so many good moments and scenes that somehow require me to tell a bit of backstory about it to understand.
Okay, let us take at least one of the most heartbreaking and at the same time shocking moments of the movie involving Ali.
He is a character that plays a supporting role, but boy does he play it well. Plus, his character arc is so well written that you literally remain with your mouth open for minutes after its complete.
The first impression that comes to your mind is a bit of hate towards the other characters then towards even the filmmakers.
That is at least how it was with me. After I was shocked, I started hating one other character whom I won’t name to not spoil it.
Then I was like; Why the ** would you make a movie if this was to happen to my favorite character?
After finally settling down. I started to appreciate the mastery of writing and how well they were able to squeeze in those twists and turns. Anyways, you should just go and watch the whole series yourself.
I give it 9 out of 10, because the series literally deserves it.
To Wrap Up
At the end of the review, I can easily say that Squid Game was a fun watch and writing about it was even more as it reminded me of all the emotions I experienced watching it.
Of course, I watched it from the point of view of the review and tried my best to not get into it very deeply. But I still ended up slipping in and forgetting that I was supposed to take notes.
In some sense it reminds of Parasite. Because even though you did not watch in a language you understand. The movie does a very good job of delivering everything just through the subtitles and the acting.
Meanwhile I know of many Hollywood movies that struggle to convey a meaningful dialogue even with the plain old english.
So, that just in and of itself is a great accomplishment for the filmmakers. That I thought I should at least mention before the end of the review.
If you are into movies with some of the best thrills. You should check out the best horror movies that are sure to scare the crap out of you.
