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The South Korean Netflix series The Frog, starring Go Min-si, Kim Yun-seok, Lee Jung-eun, and Yoon Kye-sang, aired on Netflix on August 23, 2024. The show follows Jeon Yeong-ha, played by Kim Yun-seok, who runs a vacation house deep inside the forest of a rural town. Jeon Yeong-ha’s life takes a major turn for the worse when a mysterious customer, Yoo Seong-a, depicted by Go Min-si, rents the house for a night.
The Frog also features another story that took place in the early 2000s, when Koo Sang-jun, portrayed by Yoon Kye-sang, ran a motel in the same town. Koo Sang-jun lost everything overnight when a tragic event occurred.
Meanwhile, Yoon Bo-min, played by Ha Yoon-kyung, started working as a police officer in a station near Koo Sang-jun’s motel. Yoon Bo-min (Lee Jung-eun) is back at the same station after 20 years and becomes a link between Jeon Yeong-ha and Koo Sang-jun’s case.
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The Frog is helmed by renowned director Mo Wan-il and written by writer Son Ho-young. It is an intriguing thriller that may not lure viewers in during the first half. However, it captivates them in the second half with its unpredictable, gripping plotline. Moreover, the cast members’ phenomenal performances keep viewers on the hook.
The Frog review: A thought-provoking crime thriller worth your time
The Frog follows a twisted progression of the storyline, showcasing two incidents from both the present and the past in an unclear manner, jumping back and forth without revealing the exact date and time. This may make the viewer skeptical about continuing the show and make it difficult to keep up.
Regardless of how slow and ambiguous it may seem in the beginning, the story only gets interesting in the later half. With new characters introduced in every other episode, the mystery gets solved and the timeline gets clearer. Furthermore, the interlinking of the incidents from the past and the present will keep the viewers on their toes.
Besides this, the stellar cast of the Netflix series will allure till the end, especially Go Min-si, who channeled her psychotic, unhinged artist character Yoo Seong-a in this drama. From visuals to her appearance in fancy costumes in each episode, Go Min-si seamlessly enthralls the viewers.
Other actors like Kim Yun-seok, Lee Jung-eun, Yoon Kye-sang, Roh Yoon-seo, and many more left a lasting impression with their remarkable performances.
The Frog's Korean title, “In a forest with no one around,” may seem unrelated to the English name, however, the show justifies the title. The thriller drama constantly emphasized the phrase:
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
This concept is mirrored in the character of Jeon Yeong-ha, who is in denial about the murder in his rental house and seemingly tries to justify it. If he looked away, then the murder did not in the real sense happen. Another interesting phrase reasoning the English title was:
“A frog dies from a stone thrown inadvertently.”
The characters often found themselves in a situation where they became the frogs who were hurt as a consequence of someone else's foolish actions.
The cinematography of The Frog captures the beauty of the countryside in Summer, especially with Jeong Yeong-ha’s vacation house in the middle of the forest. Another interesting point to be noted is the transitioning of the Mise-en-scène of Jeong Yeong-ha’s rental house.
In the beginning, when Yoo Seong-a was a first-time guest, Jeong Yeong-ha felt at home, and nothing changed. However, when Yoo Seong-a returns after the murder and is willing to not leave the place. She attempted to claim the place by changing the interior of the house with plants and her paintings. She also changed the outer visual of the house by painting it in her style.
Final verdict: The suspense drama gains momentum in the second half of the show, so sticking out till the end may be the best option. The final episode came off as surprising, as not only did all the characters get closure but it also served a satisfactory ending. If you are looking for a one-sitting crime thriller binge, then The Frog should be on your watchlist. Newcomers may also enjoy the show, given the compelling theme of the story.
All episodes of The Frog are now streaming on Netflix.
