(Movie Review) 'Handsome Guys': 'Accidental' slasher upends cliches in heartwarming, humorous way
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- The black comedy horror "Handsome Guys" offers lots of laughs even as the ending credits roll by cleverly twisting stereotypes and cliches. It also serves as a reminder of the timeless wisdom: "Don't judge a book by its cover."
Be warned, however, as it includes plenty of gory elements and buckets of blood.
Jae-phil (Lee Sung-min) and Sang-gu (Lee Hee-joon) have just bought their dream house deep in the woods and moved in. Both men genuinely believe themselves to be handsome, praising each other for their "dashing" and "sexy" good looks, oblivious to the fact that their actually rugged appearances lead people to assume they are, at the very least, ill-intentioned criminals.
As carpenters, wielding hammers and electric chainsaws, they begin renovating the old house, which had remained empty and been in a decrepit condition for many decades due to certain reasons. Meanwhile, a group of young friends are camping in a vacation home by the lake nearby.
One night, the two men rescue Mi-na (Gong Seung-yeon) who accidentally slips by the lakeside and falls into the water, bringing her into their house. But their well-intentioned actions are misconstrued as abduction due to their intimidating appearances.
Mi-na's friends arrive at the house under the guise of "saving" her, yet harboring a hidden agenda. Their mistaken belief that the duo are chainsaw-wielding serial killers leads to catastrophic outcomes, setting off a chain of unfortunate events that quickly escalates out of control, ultimately resulting in the untimely demise of the friends.
Amid the mounting deaths, an evil spirit locked in the basement awakens, adding further chaos and horror to the already nightmarish scenario.
Both veteran actors flawlessly deliver their comedic performances with a nonchalant, straight-faced approach, adding to the film's humor. They also exhibit excellent brotherly chemistry and a sweet disposition that endears viewers to them despite the bloody, hellish situation. The supporting actors, including a police officer highly suspicious of the men, confidently execute slapstick comedy.
The death scenes are gruesome and over the top, reaching the level often seen in outright gore films, which may cause some viewers to flinch. However, they are balanced by the endearing and humorous contrast between the protagonists' gruff exteriors and their gentle, kind natures. Lines like "Why do people keep showing up at our house just to die?" or "Hey, you're not dead yet!" instantly lighten up the otherwise grim and deadly situation, effortlessly inducing laughter.
The film is an adaptation of the American horror comedy "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" (2010) and marks director Nam Dong-hyub's feature debut. It's poised to be a much-needed treat for fans of the comedy and slasher genres who have endured a long drought of such films.
"Handsome Guys" is scheduled for domestic release on June 26.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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