Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- harrowing
- depressed
- foreboding
- late night thriller viewing
- serious movie night
What critics said
Critics found a gripping but uneven Korean mystery thriller, praising its performances and emotional ambition while faulting its dour, lethargic structure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Im Dong-hwan's search for his mother's remains leads into long-buried family secrets.
Park Jeong-min and Kwon Hae-hyo portray different versions of Im Yeong-gyu, a major dramatic and interpretive feature.
The murder mystery is explicitly connected to deeper questions of beauty and self-worth.
Critics describe the film as a calibrated thriller with relentless energy, gripping immersion, and intimate character focus.
Films like The Ugly, and why
Decision to Leave
shared korean mystery thriller framework, family secrets, and emotionally bleak investigation
Memories of Murder
shared murder mystery structure, oppressive atmosphere, and morally disturbing revelations
The Wailing
shared intimate psychological thriller mode, fractured family dynamics, and unsettling identity themes
Movie Details
- Director
- Yeon Sang-ho
- Release Date
- 2025-09-11
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (40)
Cast
- Park Jeong-min
- Kwon Hae-hyo
- Han Ji-hyeon
- Im Sung-jae
- Shin Hyun-been
- Kim Jae-rok
- Cha Mi-kyung
- Joo Hae-eun
- Won Mi-won
- Park Myung-shin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Rakuten Viki
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Ugly about?
- A son’s search for his mother’s remains becomes a psychologically punishing investigation into identity, beauty, and the secrets a family preserves.
- What is The Ugly like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ugly as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Ugly violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Ugly as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Ugly?
- Critics found a gripping but uneven Korean mystery thriller, praising its performances and emotional ambition while faulting its dour, lethargic structure.
- Which films are like The Ugly?
- Films with a similar feel include Decision to Leave, Memories of Murder, and The Wailing.
- How long is The Ugly?
- The Ugly runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ugly?
- In United States, The Ugly streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
