Watch Bedevilled

Bedevilled is a South Korean drama thriller directed by Jang Cheol-soo and starring Yeong-hie Seo, Seong-won Ji, and Min-ho Hwang. The film tells the story of a woman named Hae-won, who works as a bank clerk in Seoul and is unhappy with her life. Hae-won decides to take a vacation to her childhood home on a small island called Moo-do, where her old friend Bok-nam lives. Bok-nam is married to a abusive husband and is a victim of constant physical and emotional abuse. Hae-won, who was once a close friend of Bok-nam, slowly begins to uncover the shocking truth about Bok-nam's life on the island.

The movie begins with Hae-won, a cold and indifferent woman, dealing with a frustrating customer at her bank. Her co-workers advise her to take a vacation to relieve her stress, and Hae-won decides to visit the island where she spent her childhood. As soon as she arrives on the island, Hae-won is confronted with the poverty and neglect that is pervasive among the island's inhabitants. She is also confronted with Bok-nam's deteriorating mental state, as her friend begins to display signs of extreme stress and paranoia.

As the movie progresses, Hae-won begins to discover the extent of the abuse that Bok-nam is experiencing at the hands of her husband and the other men on the island. The inhabitants of Moo-do view women as property to be used and abused, and Bok-nam is seen as fair game due to her position as an outsider. The men on the island sexually assault her, beat her, and force her to do hard labor, while the other women ignore her plight or actively participate in her abuse.

As Bok-nam's life spirals deeper into hell, Hae-won is faced with a choice: intervene and risk her own safety, or turn a blind eye and return to her own life. She initially chooses the latter, but gradually begins to realize the enormity of the situation and becomes determined to help Bok-nam escape. However, Bok-nam's husband and the other men on the island are determined to hold onto their power over the women, and Hae-won soon finds herself embroiled in a violent struggle to free her friend.

Bedevilled is a harrowing portrayal of the brutalization of women in South Korean society. The movie is unflinching in its portrayal of the graphic violence and sexual assault that Bok-nam experiences, and is not recommended for the faint of heart. However, the movie is also a powerful statement about the importance of standing up for those who are marginalized and oppressed, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their own power and maintain the status quo.

Yeong-hie Seo is excellent in her role as Hae-won, portraying the character's transition from indifferent outsider to fierce defender with subtlety and nuance. Seong-won Ji is similarly powerful as Bok-nam, conveying the character's pain and desperation with heartbreaking realism. The supporting cast is also strong, particularly Min-ho Hwang as Bok-nam's abusive husband, who manages to be both terrifying and pitiable.

Overall, Bedevilled is a difficult but rewarding watch. It's a reminder that violence against women is a global problem, and that it is up to us as individuals to take action and fight against it. The film is a stark reminder that in some parts of the world, women are still treated as disposable objects to be used and discarded, and that this kind of violence will continue until those in power are willing to stand up and make a change.

Bedevilled is a 2010 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.