Drama Title: Sohn: The Guest

Broadcast: OCN

Episode: 16

Release Date: September 12 – November 1, 2018

Drama Poster:

Cast:

Kim Jae Wook as Choi Yoon

Kim Dong Wook as Yoon Hwa Pyung

Jung Eun Chae as Kang Gil Young

Plot:

Sohn is a very powerful demon and possesses the power to control other demons and allow them to possess weak people. The possessed people then go mad, kill their families, and stab themselves in the eye.

Twenty years ago, Sohn rose once again and possessed Hwa Pyung who is a descendant of powerful shaman. So many innocent lives are killed. Yoon Hwa Pyung, Choi Yoon, and Kang Gil Young also lose their families to Sohn and then Sohn disappeared.

Hwa Pyung, who is now a taxi driver is obsessed of finding Sohn and drive all around the country to find the demon. Although Hwa Pyung now lose his shamanic ability, he can see through the possessed eyes of the human inflicted by Sohn.

Choi Yoon has now become a Catholic priest. He is recognized for his abilities as an exorcist. He is cynical and cool-headed. He doesn’t like having relationships with others. Hwa Pyung always asks Choi Yoon for help to do exorcism on the possessed human he found.

Meanwhile, Kang Gil-Young who is a detective, doesn’t believe in evil spirts or exorcisms. But her views change because of Choi Yoon and Yoon Hwa-Pyung.

When Choi Yoon and Gil Young realize that they lose their families 20 years ago because of Sohn, both of them are determined to help Hwa Pyung find Sohn and eliminate the demon while trying to save so many lives around them.

Watch this drama with English subtitle

Dramacool / KissAsian

If you browse about this drama, you will find that its genre includes Supernatural, Horror, Thriller, Drama, Mystery. I think it’s about right because it includes all of the genre at once. I am not fond of Horror genre and always try to avoid watching any Horror movies. But I can watch this drama just fine without getting scared. Because the demon and evil spirit possessed real human so the one who does the killing is the human so it’s kinda like Thriller in this sense. We see the Supernatural aspect from the shamanism and exorcism done to drive away the evil spirit. The drama genre shows the relationship between not only the three main leads but also the people surround them and even the victims family. And the Mystery part, you don’t need to doubt about the execution of the mystery because this drama is directed by Kim Hong sun, who did terribly well maintaining the mystery in Voice Season 1.

I was very satisfied watching this drama ongoing at that time and it leaved me a lasting impression that even after many dramas came out with similar genre, I could still remember this drama as if it just ended yesterday. So I really recommend watching this drama. Give it a try even if you’re not a fan of Horror. Because I can enjoy it, so why can’t you?

What’s the attractive points of this drama?

It was greatly executed

The suspense is alive throughout the episodes until the last one. The mystery keeps you guessing on who is Sohn and where is he residing now? If you watch Voice, you will know how the director is really great in keeping secret. Not until episode 8, do we know who the killer is. And this time around, you will be guessing up until the last episode. Don’t think about silly thing like “I already know but why do they keep as if it’s still hidden and act stupidly” kind of thing like korean drama used to do. Just like the characters in the drama are driven crazy trying to find this Sohn, you will be as clueless as them following the journey and that’s the fun part of watching this drama.

It was wonderfully acted

You don’t need to doubt Kim Jae Wook, Kim Dong Wook, and Jung Eun Chae in bringing out their characters to life. They are deep into their roles. You can see them living as their characters and manage to show the pain and emotional scars they got after losing their families. Not only three of them, the suppporting actors surrounding Hwa Pyung, Choi Yoon, and Gil Young also did wonderful jobs. Kudos to all the actors who played the victims, and especially the possessed individuals. Their facial expressions and their body movements will show you how much thoughts they put into this drama. That includes the child actors.

The story is well thought-out

Haven’t I said that the mistery lives on until the last? That shows the power of the story. The three elements must be good for a drama to succeed, the directing, the acting, and the story. And I believe this drama fulfilled those three elements. The story is well crafted, not only on Sohn story as the focus here, but also each stories of the characters being presented well, including the story of the possessed people and their families.

I admit I watch this drama for Kim Jae Wook. When I saw him as the cast, I didn’t even have an ounce of doubt of watching it even if it’s going to be scary. But this drama is much better than just a scary factor. Watch it and you’ll know it.

This is the second time the director work with Kim Jae Wook after Voice. I guess he likes working with Jae Wook and was impressed with him. So he casts him again in The Guest, which is a great move because I like their synergy. Kim Jae Wook as always nails his role, this time as Choi Yoon and shows his multi layered aspect of personality. We can see his deep emotion as well as how his past influencing his cold personality. Despite being an Atheist, Kim Jae Wook is convincing as an exorcist priest. He did research for his role, interviewed exorcist priests, even visited Vatican City and Philippines in his personal time to learn about it.

In terms of visual, Kim Jae Wook is as usual handsome and sexy, even as a priest. You will start feeling guilty being attracted to a priest and begin to wonder: it’s an exorcism, but why does it look a bit sensual? LOL You’re not the only one who thinks like that because I read some comments about it and that question was also asked by the interviewer to Kim Jae Wook after the post production. I guess it’s his Demonic”MaseoungiJae”Charm in action again. You can’t blame him for that. So don’t blame yourself also. Just enjoy the show! 😁

Despite the drama being serious and dark, the casts are having a fun time filming. You can see it in their behind the scenes footages here in the playlist (no subtitle).

Credit: OCN

Here if you want to see their press conference (no subtitle):

Credit: Tong Tong TV