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The Evil Twin Movie Review

Don't let the title fool you into believing that The Evil Twin is run of the mill b-rate horror. To the contrary, it is full of twists, and quite unlike most horror films out there, despite the fact that many critics liken it to Japanese box office hits, The Ring and The Grudge. These comparisons couldn't be more off, the only similarity being the vengeful female ghost (which was by no means started by the aforementioned movies, and rather is traditional image of female ghosts in Asia).

It should also be pointed out that this is a Korean Horror film, not Japanese.


Brief Synopsis:
The Story is set in the Chosun Dynasty and focuses on So-yeon, a survivor of a terrible accident that left her comatose and killed her twin sister Hyo-jin.


She awakens 10 years later, with amnesia, even unable to remember Hyo-jin. Stranger still is that once she awoke, murders began to take place throughout the village.

To make things worse, So-yeon dreams about the murders while the take place, and evidence (muddy clothing, items found in her room) suggest that she is the murderer. The fact that So-yeon was known for her foul personality and wicked pranks in her youth adds to the hysteria in the village.


So-yeon also is plagued by a young woman claiming to be her neighbor, who brings up a secret that So-yeon cannot remember. On top of that, she has a pending engagement to Hyo-jins fiancé, Hyun-sik, a sullen young man who clearly would rather not marry So-yeon as a replacement for his first love, and resents So-yeon's strong feelings for him.


The murders continue to increase, as does So-yeons desperation and jealousy and anger towards the much loved and favored Hyo-jin. Why can't she recall her memories? What is the meaning of the evidence? And who is the phantom that gives reproaches to her from the dark....



Review:
First of all, as I mentioned earlier, The Evil Twin should not be compared to Japanese horror films such as The Ring or The Grudge. Nor should be likened to Korean horror film The Tale of Two Sisters.

That said, I really thought this film was a masterpiece in its own right.  It was a directorial debut for Kim Ji-hwan and which is amazing, as there is nothing amateurish about the film. The actors were convincing in their roles, and the suspense build up was slow but satisfying.

What I find most impressive about the film was that the actors did all of their own stunts. This may not sound like much unless you've watched the film and special features, but it is truly amazing. One scene in particular is filmed entirely under water, with supporting scuba divers being the only way the actors can get their air. I was really surprised about this, as I had thought it was done with a blue screen of some sort.


The ancient setting and beautiful scenery is another plus for the film. Ji-hwan makes good use of the environment, and has a few unconventional scares that might make even seasoned horror viewers have a few shivers up their spine. It should be pointed out though,
that this isn't a horror film in the conventional sense, and if one is looking for a scare-fest, they won't find it in this movie. It is more of an emotional drama than anything else. It is the only horror movie that brought me to tears by its finale. While their are a few antagonists, it isn't really about right and wrong, so much as understanding the feelings that the actions are a result of.


One point I found interesting about the film is the fact that the cast is almost entirely brought up of female characters. And, the male characters are for the most part an unimportant plot device (with the exception Hyun-Sik, who isn't particularly masculine). The theme of water as the feminine subconscious is another interesting facet of the film.


I think the only fault was that of the 10 year coma So-yeon, from which she recovered relatively quickly. Other than that though, The Evil Twin was an artistic and heartfelt dive into the realm of horror, one that I highly recommend to anyone.

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