The Handmaiden (2016) — Riley Cross Reviews

A Movie Night for Your Worst Day

Look, I’ve been behind the massive beige plastic counter at that Blockbuster by the mall long enough to know that recommending a six-hour Korean erotic thriller without hyperventilating is a massive risk. But you need to trust me on this. *The Handmaiden* is strictly for the nights when you've had a rough week, you're wearing sweatpants that are one size too big, and you have absolutely zero desire to interact with another human being. It’s the perfect mask for a chaotic, sexy, and confusing weekend.

It’s 1930s Korea, and I tell ya—it moves like a trap. A pickpocket gets hired to be a handmaiden for a Japanese heiress, ostensibly to be a mistress, but the real trick involves a complete psychological switcheroo that Park Chan-wook pulls off with a straight face. The plot twists so hard you might hurt your neck if you’re leaning back too far. The director has this way of making a film that looks expensive but feels completely unhinged.

I’d watch this again just for the tension in one specific scene: the one inside the carriage where the women are talking about a book, but the way the frames are composed makes it look like a tense standoff rather than a conversation. It’s subtle, but your heart is gonna hammer against your ribs. There’s this sense of intimacy and menace coexisting that is frankly beautiful. You’ll be watching it on a bluray (which I totally still have) just to see how crisp those period costumes really are.

This is a pick for a rainy Saturday when you want to be dazzled, horrified, and turned on all at once.

Bottom line: A masterclass in erotic psychological warfare that demands you turn off your brain and enjoy the ride.