Hanyo 2010

Tom Long, Detroit News: Writer-director Im Sang-Soo injects a certain sense of otherworldliness in the proceedings -- the final scene is straight from David Lynchland --- which may not make things mesmerizing, but does deliver a consistently odd angle. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Mr. Im's voluptuous visual palette combined with the dexterity of his cast is enough to hold your interest and, at times, to make you hold your breath. Read more

Keith Uhlich, Time Out: Follows the basic blueprint of Kim's film; some of the particulars, however, have been monkeyed with, to mostly shallow effect. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: "The Housemaid" glitters coldly, with its marble surfaces and scheming eyes, as it builds to its dramatic, unexpected climax. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: The Housemaid remains compelling mostly for Yun's performance, which is just as inscrutable, but ever-shifting-at times vaguely sinister, at others full of wisdom and quiet resolve. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: The secret weapon of "The Housemaid'' - the reason it works at all - is Jeon in the title role. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: The situation continues to fester, the balance of power shifts back and forth among some wonderfully defined characters. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: Sang-soo does with "The Housemaid" what many filmmakers do with remakes of influential genre films. He amps up the sex and smoothes down the stylistic edges of the original. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: It's a deliciously perverse melodrama. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: There's something nicely kinky in this lusciously photographed erotic Korean thriller by Im Sang-soo - at least for those who don't compare it to the far kinkier, out-there 1960 original by Kim Ki-young. Read more

Maggie Lee, Hollywood Reporter: A flamingly sexy soap opera whose satire on high society is sometimes as savage as Claude Chabrol's La ceremonie. Read more

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: Even with the piece wobbling between dark psychology and campy soap, the cast is compelling as it navigates the uncertainty. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The graphic sex scenes radiate an uncommon heat, and Im can pull off a hugely effective shock when he wants to. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: An often sexy and well-acted thriller, with rich bad people doing terrible things to nice poor ones. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: It is beautifully shot, with impeccable acting and visual detail. Now, if someone will just explain the brief, head-scratching coda. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: While the film grows increasingly preposterous in its final act, the enigmatic performances of Youn and Jeon carry the day. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: This story is told by writer-director Im Sang-soo with cool, elegant cinematography and sinuous visual movements. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: "The Housemaid" scores on so many levels it's hard to know where to begin. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The movie kowtows to the old truism that the rich are different - but it does it with a sardonic smile. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: An unnecessary remake of Kim Ki-young's 1960 Korean masterpiece. Read more

Justin Chang, Variety: This high-end softcore thriller is juicily watchable from start to over-the-top finish, but its gleeful skewering of the upper classes comes off as curiously passe, a luxe exercise in one-note nastiness. Read more

Nicolas Rapold, Village Voice: Despite eccentric touches, like a handheld street-shot overture and Grand Guignol Omen references, there's little difference between this story and soap-opera intrigue. Read more