I really liked almost everything about this revenge thriller... Especially Esom, who is superb in the lead role. However, the plot is wildly implausible, so it takes an astronomical amount of cinematic forgiveness to truly care. Well made, but slightly crazy.
11 Reviews
OK EROTIC THRILLER.
andrewchristianjr26 May 2023
Tons of faults in its narrative, but remains a treat for the eye for various reasons (lmao) and definitely deserves a watch, particularly from those that enjoy erotic thrillers.
Synopsis: 8 years ago, University Professor Hak-Kyu (Jung Woo-Sung) moved to a small town because of a scandal. He worked as a literature instructor at a culture center. He fell in love with a young woman, Deok-Yi (Esom), who worked at an old amusement park. Once, Hak-Kyu was reinstated at the university he left the town for Seoul and left behind Deok-Yi.
Now, Hak-Kyu is a popular writer, but his Cheong (Park So-Young) blames him for her mother committing suicide. Hak-Kyu is also losing his eyesight to a disease. He is barely able to see. At this time, Se-Jung moves in next door. Nobody realizes Se-Jung is actually Deok-Yi, the woman Hak-Kyu betrayed 8 years ago.
Synopsis: 8 years ago, University Professor Hak-Kyu (Jung Woo-Sung) moved to a small town because of a scandal. He worked as a literature instructor at a culture center. He fell in love with a young woman, Deok-Yi (Esom), who worked at an old amusement park. Once, Hak-Kyu was reinstated at the university he left the town for Seoul and left behind Deok-Yi.
Now, Hak-Kyu is a popular writer, but his Cheong (Park So-Young) blames him for her mother committing suicide. Hak-Kyu is also losing his eyesight to a disease. He is barely able to see. At this time, Se-Jung moves in next door. Nobody realizes Se-Jung is actually Deok-Yi, the woman Hak-Kyu betrayed 8 years ago.
Scarlet is Boring
rajnot7 January 2022
Actually. It is not as amazing as all reviewers said so. I have watched least 20 -30 Korean movies and this one of my lows.
Koreans make excellent thrillers and I don't understand why they gave high reviews for this movie.
Koreans make excellent thrillers and I don't understand why they gave high reviews for this movie.
Depressing
AJx9119 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Yikes, this was extremely depressing. Acting was FANTASTIC, but man. Not a slither of hope in this ending, and constant sadness throughout.
A lot of life lessons can be learned from it. But I rather watch something else.
A lot of life lessons can be learned from it. But I rather watch something else.
Don't be blinded by love, don't be obsessed in revenge!
Rifat_Sharna31 August 2015
"Scarlet innocence" is a romance-thriller movie that is loosely based on a Korean Pansori folklore tale "Simcheongga" which mainly tells a story of a daughter's devotion to her blind father. But this director and script writer was crazy enough to blend different genres into one movie focusing a woman Deokee who seduced or was seduced by that father Hak-Kyu and the tone of an ancient story is just freakishly changed. I took it for a look mainly for the appearance of handsome hero of "Daisy" Jung Woo-Sung. The movie's currently got an average mediocre rating of 6/10 from 225 users on IMDb, so I was even doubtful if the movie was actually worth watching. However he played here the role of a professor who went to small town after being accused of sexual harassment. There he met an innocent looking girl, fall in passionate love with her and then their relationship blossomed with suspense, betrayal, revenge and other controversial issues.
The two leading Jung Woo-Sung and Esom revealed during promotion of film that they had consulted with their father and mother before shooting those close scenes. Esom later said that her mother was so convinced by her performance as pitiful Deokee that she cried a lot (One netizen commented on the news- "If it was me, my mother would kill me right there-LOL!") However a BTS also revealed that they were actually playful and enjoyed the shooting. Perhaps that's why good chemistry was developed under optimized direction & overall acting was that realistic even from the professor's daughter and other side characters' side. Jung as an experienced actor met up expectation from his controversial role charmingly. And Esom being a newbie actress portrayed duality of leading lady role (innocence & femme fatality) who was once betrayed by her love and then sought for sick revenge very judgmentally and that was one of the strongest part of this thriller along with some colorful cinematic visualizations and movements – she was really worth of her nominations as best new actress for that realistic and touching performance.
Don't be blinded by love, don't be obsessed in revenge- otherwise some shitty things can happen and if the total storyline is presented realistically with some beautiful cinematography, so many turns in the plot, natural acting and insane direction, I who wasn't prepared to be haunted by such thriller with erotic tone can give it a damn solid rating of 8. OK, now for God's sake, I wanna get rid of such gratuitous realism!
The two leading Jung Woo-Sung and Esom revealed during promotion of film that they had consulted with their father and mother before shooting those close scenes. Esom later said that her mother was so convinced by her performance as pitiful Deokee that she cried a lot (One netizen commented on the news- "If it was me, my mother would kill me right there-LOL!") However a BTS also revealed that they were actually playful and enjoyed the shooting. Perhaps that's why good chemistry was developed under optimized direction & overall acting was that realistic even from the professor's daughter and other side characters' side. Jung as an experienced actor met up expectation from his controversial role charmingly. And Esom being a newbie actress portrayed duality of leading lady role (innocence & femme fatality) who was once betrayed by her love and then sought for sick revenge very judgmentally and that was one of the strongest part of this thriller along with some colorful cinematic visualizations and movements – she was really worth of her nominations as best new actress for that realistic and touching performance.
Don't be blinded by love, don't be obsessed in revenge- otherwise some shitty things can happen and if the total storyline is presented realistically with some beautiful cinematography, so many turns in the plot, natural acting and insane direction, I who wasn't prepared to be haunted by such thriller with erotic tone can give it a damn solid rating of 8. OK, now for God's sake, I wanna get rid of such gratuitous realism!
Well at least it was somewhat intriguing
KineticSeoul30 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
After "Innocent Thing" which is another movie that is about an affair between a student and a teacher. This one heads in the similar direction, except it has more of a dark and sexual tone going for it. And rather than it being about obsession, it's more about lust and vengeance. With the first half being about an affair between a student and a charming teacher and the second half being about vengeance. And emotional turmoil that each characters are dealing with. This is one of those really far-fetched and ridiculous movie. That is still intriguing because I was wondering where they were going to go with this. Movies like this show that if girls don't use guys and guys don't give girls false hope, things would be more peaceful. At least when it comes to relationships, but people just can't do that. Overall this was a alright watch when it comes to one of those erotic movies. But still pretty forgettable and it fails to leave a lasting impact. I give this movie a 6.8/10 because I did agree with how even the nicest people can change. When they face the bitterness of life and how it can sometime fuel hatred and vengeance. Especially when you feel used and manipulated.
8/10.
8/10.
Filled With Many Plot Twists
annetschumper29 February 2020
This is definitely a disturbing title. Scarlet Innocence takes you through the mind of main character Se-Jung as she seeks revenge on Hak-Kyu for taking her innocence. Many hidden yet somewhat predictable twists appear throughout the movie, which adds a sense of uncomfort throughout. I found myself asking, "When is this twist going to reveal itself?" throughout the movie. The ending for me personally left me unsatisfied, however, it's certainly hard to put an end to a thriller like that. I would say 20% romance, 50% thriller, and 30% psychological horror.
Erotic+ Cheated +Revenge another Awesom Korean movie
jsaleem-897059 January 2020
South korean film industry at best ,another amazing Story ,Great direction,solid script,Awesom Acting by all cast especially one of my favouritie South korean Actor Jung Woo- Sung lead in this movie & once again he not disappoint me, want to mentioned movie have graphic sex scenes soo better to watch alone,
Good thriller - watch it to the end
phd_travel18 April 2020
A Korean thriller has a good unpredictable story. And unusually for this kind of Fatal Attraction type thriller there is a feel good ending. Jung Woo Sung plays a flawed professor of literature who is a womanizer. He embarks on an affair with a student in a small town. But things take a tragic twist that's quite unexpected. The next part has an interesting revenge plot. Finally a twist that makes everything feel good kind of. You get a lot of bang for your buck here - maybe a bit too much. The love scenes are too protracted.
Worth a watch even in this well trodden genre.
Worth a watch even in this well trodden genre.
Innocence lust love Trilling masterpiece
murali-8276114 December 2021
Love is blind
kosmasp3 October 2021
Well if you missed my puns ... here they are. Those aside though, the movie is quite strong and takes us in different directions ... and really takes our feeling and spins them around ... and around ... and around. Korean cinema does not care what you expect or what you want to see on screen - it delivers on a different level.
Of course that may not be true of all the movies, but it true for the movies that really make an impact. Even more so than some movies do from other countries, where you can guess the direction the movie is going a few minutes into it. I doubt you could do that here - it may even surprise you in the final minutes to be honest.
That all said, there is a quite some sexual tension and some situations of that nature. Just in case that matters one way or another to you. But it is the human drama that really is the thing that will impact you ... you will be feeling different things ... and those feelings may contradict themselves too ... that is not a bad thing. Morally speaking the definition of good and bad may differ also ... obsession is never a good thing though - that is safe to say (again with the puns)
Of course that may not be true of all the movies, but it true for the movies that really make an impact. Even more so than some movies do from other countries, where you can guess the direction the movie is going a few minutes into it. I doubt you could do that here - it may even surprise you in the final minutes to be honest.
That all said, there is a quite some sexual tension and some situations of that nature. Just in case that matters one way or another to you. But it is the human drama that really is the thing that will impact you ... you will be feeling different things ... and those feelings may contradict themselves too ... that is not a bad thing. Morally speaking the definition of good and bad may differ also ... obsession is never a good thing though - that is safe to say (again with the puns)
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
