Review of Bargain

Bargain (2022–2023)
7/10
Raw, violent, dark, and funny
25 September 2023
A man believes he is buying sex with a virgin but ends up strapped to a table for the public auction of his own internal organs. The tables are constantly being turned in this raw, irreverent, quirky, offbeat, and violent K-television series. Almost as soon as the organ auction starts there is an earthquake and the pecking order is thrown into chaos again. People fall through a hole in the hotel floor to an underground butcher room inhabited by a pair of dimwitted and murderous psychos. Don't get too attached to any character for each of them is a villain in their own way.

This cathartic and cheeky series first appeared in Cannes. I am not a fan of the unsteady camera work and long takes (the three episodes actually contain 53 cuts, but it is made to look like one long and continuous take). Despite this, the series is a great deal of fun and I never knew what to expect next. I enjoyed the dark humor.

Director Jeon Woo-sung was present for this North American premiere screening in Toronto of the first three episodes in the series. "As you watch the series you might wonder if you should laugh," he said "you should."
18 out of 21 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed