[FILM REVIEW] Beauty Water (2020)

Ever wondered what it feels like to be beautiful in the eyes of many? Fret no more! With Beauty Water, achieving the look and body you have always gunned for is within reach. However, do remember to heed the instructions…

Beauty Water, originally from popular webtoon by Oh Seong Dae on Naver’s Tales of the Unusual, has now taken the form of an animated feature film. It took 6 years to produce South Korea’s first horror animated feature film and fans have been anticipating it ever since its announcement.

The film revolves around Yaeji, a fat and ugly woman in a world where beauty reigns. She works as a make-up artist to the celebrity Miri, who is the total opposite of her. While Miri is beautiful, she is spoiled and treats her staff nastily.

Jihoon is a new agency talent who compliments Yaeji’s unique eye colour upon their first meeting. Yaeji, who rarely receives compliments, is flattered to be complimented by a handsome man. She later sees Miri and Jihoon drive away in a car, solidifying her belief that the world only favours the rich and beautiful.

Yaeji spends her time scrolling through social media and leaves anonymous hate comments under Miri’s articles. However, an incident makes Yaeji a laughing stock, and her face is revealed on the Internet for all to see and mock at. Embarrassed, Yaeji locks herself up in her room; her parents’ pleas for her to get out falling on deaf ears.

Everything changes when Yaeji receives a sample of Beauty Water…

After experiencing wonderful results, Yaeji begs her parents for money to purchase more Beauty Water. While hesitant at first, Yaeji’s parents constantly give in to her demands throughout the movie. Her reliance on the miracle product makes Yaeji desperate and almost maniacal. Unfortunately for Yaeji, who longs for everyone to love her, her chase for fame and acceptance makes her blind to the fact that she already has two people who love her for who she truly is.

Yaeji finally makes her debut in the entertainment industry as Sulhye. She also gets together with Jihoon, who has since left the industry. However, just when Yaeji thinks that she finally has her life on track, something unexpected occurs…

Fans who read the webtoon on Naver will be able to see it come to life in cinemas on September 17. Fraught with frightening and bone-chilling scenes, Beauty Water will make viewers think twice about their own idea of beauty and how far they are willing to go to achieve it.

Running Time: 85 minutes
The Seoul Story’s Ratings: 5/5 

We would like to extend our huge thanks to Purple Plan for the invite! 

Picture Credit: M-LINE DISTRIBUTION & Purple Plan

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