The Handmaiden

Amazon Studios | Release Date: October 21, 2016

8.4	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 307 Ratings

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User Reviews

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TVJerryNov 14, 2016

A young woman is hired to work as the maid for a Japanese heiress in 30s Korea, but unexpected passion leads to deception all around. This sumptuous period drama is beautifully created by director Chan-wok Park (SNOWPIERCER & OLDBOY), but theA young woman is hired to work as the maid for a Japanese heiress in 30s Korea, but unexpected passion leads to deception all around. This sumptuous period drama is beautifully created by director Chan-wok Park (SNOWPIERCER & OLDBOY), but the pace is painfully slow and the exaggerated emotions wear thin. There's a large dose of somewhat explicit lesbian lovemaking (the film isn't rated), but their over-the-top reactions render them more stylized than passionate. For visual appeal and stately style, this film excels, but for pace and patience, it's a trial. In Korean & Japanese with subtitles.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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jj350Apr 20, 2017

Overrated, just an excuse to watch softcore lesbian porn and little else to it. People who love this must really be into that. Good cinematography, its really captured in the sex scenes, but it felt like a really long artistic porno in the end.

2 of 15 users found this helpful213

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Compi24Apr 4, 2023

Park Chan-wook delivers a solid — albeit occasionally indulgent — crime thriller, nailing the twists and turns with skill and framing it all with a deft hand. Call me puritan all you want, I just found this to be a bit *too* horny at times.Park Chan-wook delivers a solid — albeit occasionally indulgent — crime thriller, nailing the twists and turns with skill and framing it all with a deft hand. Call me puritan all you want, I just found this to be a bit *too* horny at times. Obviously some of the ideas at hand are purposefully perverse and controversial, but with the way some scenes and shots lingered, I couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable by things. Make no mistake, this isn't porn or anything. I just think that certain ideas behind certain scenes could have been streamlined. That aside however, I had a good time with this. The narrative is exquisitely dark, yet tender and well-constructed. You gotta love double-crosses that are followed swiftly by a double-double cross. Again, solid stuff overall. Just not sure I'd ever be able to recommend this to my parents without blushing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Mauro_LanariDec 8, 2019

(Mauro Lanari)
Sapphic softcore with long explanations as South Korean contribution to the "women power"? Naw: simple film adaptation of one of the many lesbian manga that invaded the West.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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CLeCromOct 13, 2020

A "lick" script, splendid music, the old Sino-Korean antagonism, and yet I never got attached to the characters.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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AmadouIraklidisOct 6, 2022

I did not find it as good as the score here did. That aside, it was a decent film. In terms of sensuality, I was a bit disappointed. It was all I could hear about the film, and how it would be tense, and when the tooth scene came up soI did not find it as good as the score here did. That aside, it was a decent film. In terms of sensuality, I was a bit disappointed. It was all I could hear about the film, and how it would be tense, and when the tooth scene came up so quickly and intensely, I was intrigued for the rest of the movie. But it let up, and there wasn't much sensuality that was as engaging aside from the first bed scene. I believe that the reception of the movie as extremely sexy perhaps has more to do with the lesbian aspect of the film as opposed to the actual sensual aspect. And perhaps that also has to do with lesbianism in South Korea, though I don't know much on the topic. Something disappointing as well was that the twists in the plot became somewhat predictable. The first one was surprising, though not in a way that sticks with the viewer. I think that they shot the scenes with different takes to change subtly change the interactions of the characters across the parts, like in American Psycho with Bale and Dafoe, but it's only my impression, I'm not sure. All in all, a pretty decent movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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moschidaeJan 16, 2023

As a lesbian myself, I have mixed feelings on this movie. I enjoyed the narrative fine on its own, and i even find myself thinking about it sometimes, plus as we all know this movie is visually stunning..... but its also CLEARLY written by aAs a lesbian myself, I have mixed feelings on this movie. I enjoyed the narrative fine on its own, and i even find myself thinking about it sometimes, plus as we all know this movie is visually stunning..... but its also CLEARLY written by a man. Especially the love scenes, it feels oppressively pornographic and kind of embarrassing to watch. There is also way too many scenes where a male character forces himself on a woman. I understand the point they went for here but sometimes its just too much (and really uncomfortable). I'm still not quite sure what the audience for this movie was supposed to be. I understand that this is a very important movie for korea- and it has a very happy ending! So its immediately way better than most english lesbian films, but uh anyways if youre like me you probably wont be as impressed with this film as most seem to be, so dont get your hopes too high because you saw the bathtub scene online (like me)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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