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The Handmaiden

Play trailer 1:04 Poster for The Handmaiden 2016 2h 24m Mystery & Thriller Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 226 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
With help from an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri), a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) devises an elaborate plot to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman (Kim Min-hee) out of her inheritance.
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The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden

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Critics Consensus

The Handmaiden uses a Victorian crime novel as the loose inspiration for another visually sumptuous and absorbingly idiosyncratic outing from director Park Chan-wook.

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Critics Reviews

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Li Sian Goh Bitch Media 02/11/2021
The drama combines the sumptuous art direction and black humor of Park's past work with a warmth and compassion that feeds the soul. Go to Full Review
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Blue Lenses 08/25/2018
Once again Park finds himself immersed in a world of woman-driven intrigue, and like Stoker before it The Handmaiden is concerned with the power dynamics between women in what are contextually configured as sexually transgressive scenarios. Go to Full Review
K. Austin Collins The Ringer 08/10/2017
The Handmaiden is exemplary proof of Park's mastery, a high point from a director known for his purposeful aesthetic care, even in matters of overwrought sexual melodrama. Go to Full Review
Stephen A. Russell sbs.com.au 12/20/2024
This deliberately mischievous mix and each act’s limberly acrobatic flip ensures The Handmaiden keeps a tight grip on our attentions. Magnificent performances all round ensure our eye is pulled not just by their flesh, but also by their knotty intentions. Go to Full Review
JD Duran InSession Film 08/08/2024
The performances, the score, the craftsmanship, it’s all impeccable... Go to Full Review
Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film 07/30/2024
5/5
Fiercely intelligent, unapologetically erotic and endlessly stylish, The Handmaiden is a perfect film that toys with the audience’s expectations and formed beliefs. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jeney Vieve M @RT51824224 5d Mind-bending, made me question my film predictability score (and my sanity of course.) See more Leprechaun K @LeprechaunKing Apr 29 Like Park's other movies, Handmaiden is written for sheer shock values with gimmicky plot twists that lack substance and depth. The director's usual theme of perversion serves as the building block of the story and the movie as a whole is pretentious at best. Quite frankly, some of the scenes are simply appalling and disgusting. All the twists and turns seem illogical and forced. It is grossly overrated to say the least. See more F P @Effeppi Apr 28 Definitely a great movie and plot, on the other hand tho, It seemed to me like a very elaborate way for Park Chan-wook to express some repressed sexual fantasy. See more Brian D @Brianwd2 Mar 17 78%. 3/14/26. Was dozing off a bit so didn't follow the film as well as I would have liked. I enjoyed it, I just didn't love it. I was a bit confused by the story initially. It did get better and better throughout. A pretty messed up story about an uncle that torments his niece and people playing tricks on each other before the two women fall for each other and screw over the man. Love the Korean/Japanese culture and setting, but the subtitles got more taxing since it was a little complicated initially. Definitely a memorable film and should rewatch down the road. 4/5 rewatch See more Lina V @viktorijalina Dec 15 One of the best movies out there. The plot is completely unpredictable, the characters are revealed very meticulously and new information keeps showing up until the last minute. Also the cinematography is just generally great See more Juanita V @RT45481434 Nov 27 Watch it, won’t regret it! See more Read all reviews
The Handmaiden

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Movie Info

Synopsis With help from an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri), a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) devises an elaborate plot to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman (Kim Min-hee) out of her inheritance.
Director
Park Chan-wook
Producer
Park Chan-wook, Syd Lim
Screenwriter
Jeong Seo-kyeong
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures, Amazon Studios
Production Co
CJ Entertainment, Yong Film, Moho Film
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Romance
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 21, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 30, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.0M
Runtime
2h 24m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital