HIDDEN FACE (히든 페이스) (2024)

Genre: Erotic/Thriller
Director: Kim Dae-woo
Cast: Song Seung-heon, Cho Yeo-jeong, Park Ji-hyun 
Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins
Rating: R21 (Sexual Scenes and Homosexual Content)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 9 January 2025

Synopsis: Locked, Observed, Revealed… Su-yeon (Cho Yeo-jeong), a cellist in an orchestra led by her fiancé and conductor Sung-jin (Song Seung-heon), disappears one day, leaving behind only a video recording. Sung-jin is devasted over the loss of Su-yeon, but feels a strong attraction to Mi-ju (Park Ji-hyun), a cellist who fills in for his fiancée. Then one rainy night, Sung-jin and Mi-ju get swept away by their mutual desires for each other and commit an unforgivable act at Su-yeon’s house. Meanwhile, Su-yeon, who is thought to have gone missing, remains trapped in a secret room inside her house, and watches the naked truth unravel before her.

Movie Review:

This South Korean movie is marketed as an erotic thriller, so it shouldn’t have problems drawing curious viewers into the cinema to find out how (s)exciting things are going to get on the big screen.

Cranking up the sizzle factor isn’t a new feat for director Kim Dae-woo, who has helmed other titles of similar genre. If you have watched movies like The Servant (2010) and Obsessed (2014), you would know what to expect. In fact, Song Seung-heon and Cho Yeo-jeong were co stars in the latter, which makes their latest work a reunion that took a decade to happen.

Adapted from a 2011 Spanish Colombian movie of the same name, this version sees Song taking on the role of Sung-jin, an established orchestra conductor. When we first see him in the movie, he is bewildered by a video message left behind by his fiancée Su-yeon, who also happens to be the star cellist in the orchestra. Saying that she’s not ready to settle down, Su-yeon mentions that she leaving home and heading to Berlin.

But the show has to go on. Enter Mi-ju (Park Ji-hyun), a cellist who also happens to be Su-yeon’s old friend. She fills in Su-yeon’s position in the orchestra. You know where this is going. After a few coy encounters, Sung-jin and Mi-ju are engaging in hot sex - and this doesn’t happen just once. We don’t mean to be a wet blanket, but this handful of sex scenes are about as erotic as things can get for the 155 minute drama. From then on, most of the plot is about the outrageous dynamics between the three protagonists.

The movie works best if you haven’t seen the original version. Without giving away too much, you will watch with bated breath as it is revealed that Su-yeon is actually stuck in a sealed room where she could clearly see her fiancé and good friend turning up the heat between the sheets.

The plot uses flashback sequences to explain how and why things have turned out the way they are. Although the story may feel ludicrous, you can’t help but wonder what if you are put in Su-yeon’s unfortunate situation. Trying to survive on expired instant noodles and having to bear with not being to shower aside, how does it feel to see your fiancé and friend indulging in steamy pleasures in your own apartment?

Audiences may remember Song as the thorn among the roses in Corey Yuen’s So Close (2002) starring Shu Qi, Zhao Wei and Karen Mok. The guy may be 48 years old now, but he confidently shows off what he’s got with his sculpted body. His on screen sex partner Park (Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum) has no qualms about nudity, which also contributes to the movie’s R21 rating. Elsewhere, Cho (whom many will recognise from the award winning Parasite) stands out with her portrayal of a woman that is loud and borders on being obnoxious. It is a nice contrast with the sweet and demure persona Park brings to her character.

You know something is not right with these three people, and the movie is engaging enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen till the end to find the truth. 

Movie Rating:

(Come for the steamy intrigue, stay for the delicious melodrama)

Review by John Li