The Handmaiden

Name: The Handmaiden
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Romance
Released: October 21, 2016
Duration: 144 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Hae-suk Kim, Jin-woong Jo, Jung-woo Ha, Min-hee Kim, So-ri Moon

2016

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Universal acclaim based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 307 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 307 Ratings

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The Handmaiden

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Movie Details & Credits

Amazon Studios | Release Date: October 21, 2016 | Not Rated

Starring: Hae-suk Kim, Jin-woong Jo, Jung-woo Ha, Min-hee Kim, So-ri Moon, Tae Ri Kim

Summary: 1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl (Kim Tae-ri) is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress (Kim Min-hee) who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle (Jo Jin-woong). But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count (Ha1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl (Kim Tae-ri) is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress (Kim Min-hee) who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle (Jo Jin-woong). But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count (Ha Jung-woo) to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions.… Expand

Director: Chan-wook Park

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 144 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Andrew Lowry

Apr 3, 2017

The Handmaiden is at once a superlative thriller and a deeply erotic character study, but it’s the intelligence, mordant wit and depth of characterisation that are the real turn-ons. Read full review

100

Dominick Suzanne-Mayer

Oct 26, 2016

The Handmaiden is film at its most exhilarating by a director at the height of his powers, and it’s the kind of singular rarity that must be savored when it comes around. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Oct 26, 2016

A fiendishly clever, sinfully funny con-job melodrama, the kind that keeps yanking the rug out from under everyone on screen and off. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

May 21, 2016

No matter its overarching ridiculousness, The Handmaiden remains a hugely enjoyable dose of grotesque escapism from a master of the form. Read full review

Tom Huddleston

Oct 21, 2016

It doesn’t all work: The pace can feel a little slow, and there are points where Park tries to have his tasty feminist cake and eat it too. But mostly, this is smart, sumptuous and wonderfully indulgent. Read full review

Maggie Lee

May 21, 2016

It’s sybaritic, cruel and luridly mesmerizing. Read full review

The Telegraph Tim Robey

May 21, 2016

It’s hard to pinpoint the precise moment at which The Handmaiden, Park Chan-wook’s deviously kinky period thriller, shifts from being a lascivious slice of art-house delirium to a gruelling, dislikable contraption which meretriciously sells out its source material. But that’s what happens. Read full review

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User Reviews

DarkwingSchmuck

Jul 27, 2023

The Handmaiden is another masterpiece from director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy). This is an engrossing, intense, and erotic thriller ripe with compelling characters. The Handmaiden's mysteries will keep you absorbed from beginning to end in this near perfect film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

vishalgoradia27

Nov 30, 2016

This movie was one hell of a ride. I will not discuss any part of the plot. But I will say this: Story - 10, Acting - 9, Direction and Cinematography - 9.5, Pacing - 9.5

The movie is an experience. The story, the time, the colors, the music... Sublime.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

MoonshineGhoul

Oct 21, 2016

Amazing directing, beautiful cinematography and atmosphere, strong performances, and an impressive twisty script. [A] beautiful, groundbreaking, thrilling, "sexy as hell" film that is so close to a masterpiece.

11 of 12 users found this helpful111

AKthaBeast

Aug 27, 2018

This movie is perverted and classy at the same time with plot points that are predictable for some but unpredictable for most.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BariscanBozkurt

Oct 25, 2016

Uzun bir zamandan sonra tekrardan bir filmin dramını bu kadar etkileyici buldum. Film her ne kadar erotik psikolojik-gerilim olarak çıksa da bunun ötesinde bir iş koymuş ortaya. Açıkçası filmlerde gereksiz erotik sahneler gördüğümde o sahneleri geçen biriyim. Bu yüzden yönetmeni sevsem deUzun bir zamandan sonra tekrardan bir filmin dramını bu kadar etkileyici buldum. Film her ne kadar erotik psikolojik-gerilim olarak çıksa da bunun ötesinde bir iş koymuş ortaya. Açıkçası filmlerde gereksiz erotik sahneler gördüğümde o sahneleri geçen biriyim. Bu yüzden yönetmeni sevsem de film için pek beklentiye girmemiştim. Ama filmi izleyince gördüm ki ortaya gerçekten iyi bir iş koymuş. Entrikalarla dolu güzel bir hikâye, kaliteli sinematografi ve muazzam müziklerle seyir keyfi yüksek bir film oluşturmuş. Film herkesin kaldırabileceği bir film değil, bu yüzden herkese tavsiye edemeyeceğim. Ama daha önce Chan-wook Park'ın bir filmini izleyip sevdiyseniz bu filmi mutlaka tavsiye ederim.

Ayrıca filmin Japon erotik fantezisinin ne kadar iğrenç olduğunu gözler önüne sermesi de ayrı güzeldi. Ben de hepsini yakmak isterdim.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

keanex

Oct 15, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A movie by famed Oldboy director, The Handmaiden has many twists and turns that give the movie similar suspense, drama, and surprise. A film filled with treachory, unexpected romance, and just deserts for some involved. The Handmaiden is told in 3 parts, with the first part being the set-up, the second part exposing the double-trickery, and the third, showing the conniving spirit of two women. It's a fantastic movie, one with Oldboy's DNA all over it. While the story isn't the same, the feeling of mystery is felt throughout in similar fashion.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kaisa

Aug 15, 2023

The decision to watch this movie was instant and irreversible as soon as I read its description. After all, I immediately realized that this is a remake of Velvet Fingers, which I liked so much earlier. I'm not against remakes, it's always interesting how a familiar story will be shown fromThe decision to watch this movie was instant and irreversible as soon as I read its description. After all, I immediately realized that this is a remake of Velvet Fingers, which I liked so much earlier. I'm not against remakes, it's always interesting how a familiar story will be shown from the other side. But, alas, the fact that I was familiar with the original did not play into the hands of this film. And this is not only because the main plot twist did not come as a surprise to me. The director simply did not reveal the characters enough to make the motivation for their actions look compelling enough. As a result, their reaction to what is happening in places looks too affected. The picture is certainly very beautiful, but it does not cover the rest of the cons. Park Chan-wook definitely went too far with erotica, turning into light pornography, that you involuntarily begin to be embarrassed by what is happening on the screen - this transition is so swift. It would seem that the film should talk about love, how pure and beautiful it is, that it can literally save a person. And so it would be, but the emphasis on sexuality and inappropriate humor does not make the right impression. As a result, there is no sympathy for the difficult fate of the main characters, and it is almost a pity for a simple swindler. England - Korea 1:0.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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