2 Old But Gold Korean Films Watch Free on Samsung Plus TV

Samsung has decided to join the list of providers offering free Korean content. Their selections include binge-worthy dramas, romance, crime, reality TV and variety shows, fantasy and science fiction.  They also have a collection of “Featured Movies” which includes hidden gems, i.e. films that are old but gold. You can stream for free via Samsung TV Plus On-Demand K-Content. Here are two movies to add to your watch list.

1. The Terror, LIVE (2013)

2. The Neighbors (2012)

Samsung TV Plus Becomes One of the Largest Providers of K-Content

(1) “The Terror, LIVE”(2013)

GENRE: Action, Crime, Thriller, and Suspense.

STORYLINE: In “The Terror, LIVE”, at one point in his career, Yoon Young-hwa was at the top of his game as a news anchor. But his fall from grace was swift, and resulted in not only losing his job, but his marriage ended in divorce. He can’t be choosy so he takes a job hosting a current affairs radio program. One day he receives a phone call during his show and the person says they will blow up the Mapo Bridge. This bridge is critical to South Korea’s economy as it crosses the Han River and connects Mapo District to Seoul’s main business and investment banking district. Yoon’s reaction and response are typical. He figures the caller is a prankster and flippantly tells him to go ahead and do it! When the bridge blows up, Yoon realizes that he has a real terrorist on the line.

Instead of thinking about the lives that could be lost, or the danger, Yoon Young-hwa seizes the opportunity to become a top news anchor once again. Instead of contacting law enforcement, he tries to cut a deal with his old boss to get his old job back! Sadly once others find out, i.e. the police, other news media companies, and the politicians in the Blue House – they try the exploit this dangerous situation to accomplish their own agenda.

Everybody wants to claim that their decisions and actions resulted in a victory over terrorism. All the while, the angry terrorist has his own agenda. Something tragic happened to him and others close to him.  He demands compensation for the families and wants a public apology. The terrorist makes it clear that he has no qualms about carrying out his threats even if other innocents have to die.

Main Characters:

• Yoon Young-Hwa (played by Ha Jung-Woo, “Hijack 1971”, “Along With the Gods 1 and 2”, “Narco-Saints”, “Nameless Gangster: Rules of The Time”)

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb rating: 7.1 out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: 8.1 out of 10 stars

NOTE: Received four nominations at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Film Review: The Terror Live | Hollywood Reporter

[Film Review] The Terror Live (2013) | Cinema Omnivore

Thriller ‘The Terror Live’ puts journalist on spot |Entertainment & Arts | The Korea Times

PiFan 2013: The Terror Live Can’t Quite Go the Distance | Modern Korean Cinema

TRAILER/TEASER:

Lotte Entertainment (International). “The Terror, Live.” YouTube, 25 Sept. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggqF7sskdlw.

♦

(2) “The Neighbors” (2012)

GENRE: Psychological Drama, Crime, Noir, Thriller, and Suspense; web-based comic book series adapted to film

STORYLINE: In “The Neighbors”, a serial killer lives in a small apartment building and the neighbors are unaware of his presence. A young girl about middle school age never came home from school. Several days later, her decapitated body is found, but the police did not catch the killer. However, the dead girl’s mom keeps saying that her dead daughter comes home after school every day. When she tells her husband he opens the door to the girl’s bedroom and shows her that nobody is there.

The husband tells his wife she is probably burdened with guilt because she was supposed to pick her daughter up from school the night she disappeared. She is being haunted by her guilty conscience.  The girl was not her biological child so she didn’t care as much as a real mother would have. By coincidence, there’s another young girl in the apartment building who looks just like the dead girl. When the stepmother sees her, she freaks out even more.

Meanwhile, the various tenants in the building have had limited interaction with the killer. Of course, they don’t know he’s a killer.

• The pizza delivery guy thinks he’s a nasty piece of work and although he’s not sure why, he’s suspicious of him.
• When the security guard discovered the dead girl’s clothing, it was too late! The killer had to get rid of him.
• A man operates a luggage store and the killer is his regular customer. He buys suitcases from him to put the body parts in and dispose of the victims’ remains.

Different apartment tenants suspect him but have no evidence to prove he’s the culprit. The security guard did find evidence, but unfortunately, he did not live to tell. Will the same thing happen to others who pursue their suspicions? The irony is that an ex-con also lives in the apartments and of course, he’s the likely suspect because he has a criminal record.

Main Characters:

• Ryu Seung-Hyuk (played by Kim Sung-Kyun, “Moving”)
• Song Gyung-Hee (played by Kim Yunjin, “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area”)
• Yoo Soo-Yeon / Won Yeo-Seon (played by Kim Sae-Ron, “Bloodhounds”)
• Ahn Hyuk-Mo (played by Ma Dong-Seok, “The Gangster, the Cop, and the Devil”)

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: 7.5 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 3.1 out of 5 stars

NOTE: 3 Awards: BaekSang Arts Awards; Daejong Film Awards ; Korean Association of Film Critics Awards

LINKS OF INTEREST:

The Neighbors (2012) ☆☆1/2(2.5) : They have a killer in their building | Seongyong’s Private Place

‘Neighbors’ brings unusual murder drama | The Korea Herald

TRAILER/TEASER:

Lotte Entertainment (International). “The Neighbors.” YouTube, 29 Sept. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l-T9Z5XXow.