Mousetrap Review: The notion of your identity being stolen is terrifying enough, but the thought that even your trusty cell phone won’t be able to identify you is a terror in a league of its own! Jokes aside, Netflix K-drama Mousetrap takes the uncertainty and helplessness of your identity being stolen and takes it to another level as it follows reclusive novelist Je Moon-jae, who suddenly finds himself on the street after he loses everything.
The series is a completely paranoid watch that relentlessly runs in circles as Moon-jae and loan shark Noja try to figure out who the elusive Rat is.
Starring Ryu Jun-yeol, Sul Kyung-gu, and Lee Kyu-hyung, the series (들쥐) is directed by Kim Hong-seon and is adapted from the webtoon “Field Mouse” (들쥐) by Ludvico.
Mousetrap Review
A Brilliantly Uncomfortable Premise
The Netflix K-drama follows Moon-jae as his carefully controlled, repetitive life is upended when he is suddenly locked out of his phone, apartment, bank account, and identity. Repeated calls to his friend go unanswered, and he soon finds himself on the street with no identity – a ghost. The series eventually puts Noja on his tail, and we soon realise there’s something more sinister going on beneath the confusing situation Moon-jae finds himself in.
Mousetrap feels genuinely terrifying sometimes because it’s so dang confusing. The idea that one wouldn’t even be able to log into their phone is a shocking situation, mostly because you’d expect the phone to always be near you. As Moon-jae’s existence is brought into question, he is pursued by Noja, which brings another layer of threat to the situation. Trying to prove himself seems to be impossible, and the entire concept is well executed thanks to a relentless soundtrack and moody visuals.
The series is based on an old Korean folktale in which a rat becomes human after consuming human fingernail clippings. Mousetrap modernises that in an interesting manner, such that the two concepts merge with each other seamlessly. Rather than turning this into supernatural horror, the series leans more towards psychological horror with the use of technology, personal data and identity theft.
Ryu Jun-yeol Keeps the Mystery Alive
Ryu Jun-yeol is fantastic as Moon-jae, a man who suddenly finds his predictable life turning upside down. A man of strict rules, his life turning around thus feels sudden and shocking. Ryu, who is a fantastic performer in general, does a great job here as well and brings forth his character’s confusion with ease.
The problem, though, lies in the fact that we hardly know who Moon-jae is and, for what it’s worth in a 10-episode thriller, we don’t get to know much about him either. The series never really showcases much about him, other than the fact that his carefully orchestrated life becomes chaotic in the blink of an eye. But to understand, feel and relate to his predicament, viewers need more than just an overview of the chaos inside and outside, and we don’t get that. As a result, the series never really reaches that level of thrill and anticipation that you’d expect.
On the other hand is Sul Kyung-gu, although a fantastic performer, again doesn’t have enough to go on. All the characters somehow need more fleshing out, which is surprising for a series that is this long.
Stylish, Dark and Sometimes Too Slow
Director Kim Hong-seon does a great job of portraying the story with a stylish and moody flair. And although it looks and feels fantastic, the series is just so slow that it gets on your nerves. Every stare and every situation is given too much time, such that one simple scene takes forever to end. It’s the same with the storytelling; although the premise is interesting, the series takes so long to get to the point that viewers will find themselves losing patience.
The crime thriller elements suffer as a result as well, as the intensity is lost somewhere along the way. While some of the twists and turns are great, the series never really holds on to the anticipation of knowing what happens because it’s so dang slow. While slow burns are great, this one can turn into a test of patience, leaving viewers to skip through at certain times.
Does Mousetrap Live Up to Its Premise?
Mousetrap wants to know what gives a person their identity and how much of that is the people around us. It’s not about finding the Rat, but more so about what makes us who we are. The series takes that notion to the extreme and tests it in impossible ways. The series doesn’t rush towards the answers; in fact, it takes the long, winding road to a shocking answer that will make viewers piece together the clues. While the series doesn’t live up to its premise, it’s a fun watch just for the unique concept.
Final Verdict
In the end, Mousetrap has all the makings of an engaging psychological thriller, but its length and pacing take away the thrilling aspects and leave behind something that becomes a bit too slow. As a result, the series is unable to present its concept to its viewers in a way that will leave them on the edge of their seats. However, the fantastic performances do a good job of holding on to the intensity of the situation, as a result of which it feels thrilling in bursts.
Watch Mousetrap Kdrama on Netflix. What are your thoughts on the series? Let us know in the comments below!
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