Violence isn’t the only way to thrill people, and while that’s been the primary technique for writer/director Chan-wook Park in the past, he leans more heavily on that other tried-and-true method in The Handmaiden: sex.
Working from the novel “Fingersmith” by Sarah Waters, Park and co-writer Seo-Kyung Chung change the setting from Victorian era Britain to 1930s Korea. What is retained is the scheming maid and shifting perspectives, which serve to keep the audience on their toes throughout. The deception at the story’s heart is sure to be complicated by the unexpected love affair between the maid and her mark, which is only one of the many sexual relationships teased in this trailer.
All this erotic material doesn’t mean that the film will devolve into a tawdry piece, though. Park has previously used explicit violence and sex in award-winning films like Oldboy and Thirst, so there’s no reason to think that The Handmaiden won’t have something underneath all the smut.
Still, the explicit material, including S&M and fetish scenes, will be too much for some viewers. Take that as your warning, but if you’re truly looking for a thrilling time at the movies, then The Handmaiden will likely be a good film to seek out.
The Handmaiden is directed by Chan-wook Park and stars Min-hee Kim, Kim Tae-ri, and Jung-woo Ha. It will be released in the U.S. on October 14th, 2016 and in the U.K. on February 17th, 2017. For international release dates, click here.
Do you think The Handmaiden will live up to Park’s extreme reputation? Let us know in the comments!
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