Sep. 09, 2020|South Korea|85 Min.|n/A
Genre: Animation;Drama;Horror
Description: Beauty Water is a 2020 animated horror-thriller film from Korea that gained significant attention in the international animated festival circuit. It is now being released in various markets, including Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Singapore. Based on the popular Naver Webtoon “Tales of the Unusual” by Oh Sung-dae, the film delves into the dark and unsettling societal pressures surrounding unattainable beauty standards. It critiques the destructive impact these standards have on individuals who obsessively strive to perfect their physical appearance. Through its compelling use of horror elements and unique animation style, Beauty Water offers an entertaining yet disturbing exploration of societal norms, pushing boundaries in unexpected ways.
The story centers around Yae-ji, an overweight makeup artist who faces relentless online bullying after appearing on a home-shopping channel to promote weight-loss pills. Desperate for a change, she responds to a mysterious advertisement offering a new life. She discovers a miraculous yet unbelievable product called “beauty water,” which allows the body to be reshaped effortlessly. After investing a large sum of money, Yae-ji transforms herself to fit society’s ideal beauty standards, achieving a petite face, large eyes, a slender figure, and an overall glamorous appearance.
Renaming herself Seol-hae, she quickly experiences the benefits of her newfound beauty, gaining access to opportunities with men and career advancements that were previously out of reach. However, her rapid transformation comes at a steep price. The risks to her safety and her family’s well-being escalate, and the new world she enters proves to be far more dangerous than the one she left behind. Beauty Water is a thought-provoking and visually striking tale that examines the dark consequences of society’s obsession with physical perfection.
Cast director: Cho Kyung-hun
Cast actor: Moon Nam-Sook, Jang Min-hyeok, Cho Hyun-jung, Kim Bo-young-II, Choi Seung-Hoon, Kim So-hyeong, Kang Si-hyun, Park Sung-kwang, Jung Yoo-jung, Hwang Chang-yeong
Original name: 기기괴괴 성형수