In this follow-up to his successful directorial debut Bungee Jumping of Their Own, noted filmmaker Kim Dae Sung brings us a shocking historical thriller set in 19th century Korea. Blood Rain tells the story of a slew of grisly murders plaguing a small, fairly isolated island village. However, it's not just the mounting death toll that's causing residents to worry, but the sadistic, methodical way in which the victims were killed. With the killer still on the loose, the government sends in special investigator Wong Gyu (Cha Seung Won, from Kick The Moon and Libera Me) to crack the case. While conducting his dogged investigation, he soon uncovers a myriad of hidden secrets, tracing the murders back to an incident that occurred some seven years earlier. The previous owner of the village's paper mill was executed as a Christian. Does that mean that the murdered man's spirit has come back to seek bloody retribution? The real truth, Wong Gyu learns, may be far more terrifying?
Although primarily a period thriller, Blood Rain contains an unconventional mix of styles. In stunning fashion, director Kim Dae Sung expertly weaves together the puzzle-box mystery plot traditionally associated with detective fiction, a little class-conscious social commentary, and a flair for gore rivaled only by American splatter films in telling his tale of gruesome murder. Gore issues aside, Blood Rain is a stunning film with lush cinematography, a picturesque setting, and an intricate set and costume design, giving the film a sense of beauty and grandeur. Mystery lovers will be thrilled with Blood Rain, a pulse pounding, blood curdling mystery set amidst the backdrop of the Joseon Dynasty.
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