The Handmaiden (2016)

The Handmaiden (2016)

2016 145 Minutes

Thriller | Drama | Romance

Korea, 1930s. A con man hires a pickpocket to become the maid of a mysterious and fragile heiress, in an attempt to seize her wealth. But the story takes a twist when the lady falls in love with he...

Overall Rating

9 / 10
Verdict: Great

User Review

  • WHAT I LIKED: First and foremost, 'The Handmaiden,' is a perfectly engineered example of inventive and successful storytelling as it takes its source material and inventively re-tells it in a way that shocks and surprises and reveals itself in exciting and surprising ways. This doesn't just come from the brilliant alternate setting, but also from the act structure where the first half paints a brilliant picture and then reveals the real truth underneath in its second act, and again in its third. The result is a film that constantly subverts expectation and keeps you on tenterhooks, but what makes it engaging for the entirety of its lengthy run-time (and even longer run-time in the director's cut) is the characterisation where a roster of investing leads are brought to life with excellent performances from the entirety of this stellar cast. With that in place, this is definitely a film where more is more, as the way that the story unfolds works directly because the delivery is so considered and indulgent with lots of time taken to dwell on its surroundings to build a clear picture. In the end the result is something pretty profound and surprising that will have you transfixed for the entirety of its long run time, whichever version you can get your hands on.
    WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: There is a slight lack of emotional resonance despite the difficult themes it tackles, and that is largely a symptom of its brilliant storytelling mind-games.
    VERDICT: An engaging and magnificently-constructed thriller that reveals itself in very unusual ways, 'The Handmaiden,' is a real gem, and is destined to become one of the most under-appreciated films of 2017.