Yong-gyun Kim	...	(Director)
Hans Christian Andersen, Yong-gyun Kim	...	(Writer)
Hye-su Kim	...	Sun-jae
Seong-su Kim	...	In-cheol
Yeon-ah Park	...	Tae-su
Su-hee Go	...
Dae-hyeon Lee	...
Eol Lee	...
Hyeon-jin Sa	...
Byung-woo Lee	...	Composer

Comments: This is Top Ten K-Horror of the aughts for me. The plot's a little wobbly and interpretations are guessy, but that's K-Horror not a legit complaint. Other aspects of film are spot on: cinematography top notch--special mention to the choices of where and how to photograph; score is eerie and understated most of the time; Kim Hye-soo totally brings it, especially in the freaky parts

I actually double re-watched this, comparing the Theatrical to the Director's cut (avistaz). A couple of the bloody parts are a little bloodier, but without changing much UNTIL THE END, the director's cut feels meaner and darker, especially at the end

Instead of trailing off (and quitting, mostly) to the mythology of the ballet dancer who started the ball rolling and being wimpy about it we get a mini Suicide Club shot and more focus on the darkness in Kim Hye-soo's head. It's also a little interpretatively spongey but that's the nature of these weirdo flicks that want to scare by hedging on what's real and what's something else

Not that the DC ending changes the film but it certainly changes the ending, and upped the film's impact, imo


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The Red Shoes uses every Asian Horror motif we've seen many times before. Most notably the young, attractive, professional female lead who's got a cheating husband and a daughter that goes freaky. Its plot is constructed around some 'thing' that connects the natural and supernatural worlds via the kid. There's a hip, interested, and understanding 'other man' hanging around, helping when he can. The infamous J-Horror Goth Chick even makes appearances. If all this is a deal breaker with regards to your viewing pleasure, skip this one. If it's not, then add it your queue immediately.

The red shoes, usually referred to in the singular in the film, are really more of a fuchsia pink set of pumps. The "Red" is surely meant to symbolize blood, as in "blood on your hands", but I digress.

It's the production values of The Red Shoes that make it worthwhile. This is a good looking film whose creators clearly cared about doing it well. The cinematography is creepy and creative, accentuating the sense of dread with distortions, colors and inspired scene locations. The soundtrack is understated and almost peaceful—it's not used to create tension where none exists. And the script, typical of Asian Horror, is loose enough for the viewer to choose from a number of interpretive styles: is it a dream, a figment of some dreadful imagination, or is everybody a different aspect of a multiple personalty?

The Red Shoes doesn't break any new ground but if you are a fan of the genre this is a professionally put together package.

Summary: After catching her husband cheating with another woman, Sun Jae takes her young daughter and moves into a dilapidated old apartment building to start a new life. Heading home from work one day, Sun Jae finds a strange pair of high-heeled red shoes located inside her subway car, and decides to take them with her. Unfortunately, these shoes are cursed and cause unspeakable repercussions for those foolish enough to try them on.