Director Mo Wan-il, renowned for his ability to leave audiences in shock with his signature plot twists, as seen in “The World of the Married,” applies the same technique in “The Frog.” This Netflix K-drama is no exception to his unsettling storytelling style. The series, penned by emerging talent Son Ho-young, merges psychological horror with a murder thriller, delving into the darkest fears of its viewers through intense violence and suspense. The narrative follows two vacation rental owners who find themselves entangled with two malevolent killers.
“The Frog” unfolds over eight episodes, presented in a non-linear format that alternates between the early 2000s and the early 2020s. Featuring a top-notch cast, including Go Min-si, Kim Yoon-seok, and Yoon Kye-sang in lead roles, the series also showcases K-pop star Chanyeol in a supporting role.
The story kicks off with a broad view of a secluded forest road and a vacation rental, prompting a thought-provoking question: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” In the 2020s, Yeong-ha (played by Kim Yoon-seok) runs a peaceful vacation spot in the woods. His life is disrupted when Seong-a (Go Min-si) arrives with a young boy. Initially, Yeong-ha suspects nothing amiss, but he soon discovers Seong-a’s disappearance and realizes she might have harmed the child. Although guilt-ridden, Yeong-ha decides to conceal the incident to protect his business, erasing all traces of the event.
A year later, Seong-a returns to Seoul, where she faces personal turmoil after her art is missing and her ex, Ha Jae-sik, reveals that Si-hyeon is his child. Fueled by rage, Seong-a revisits Yeong-ha’s rental and abducts his daughter, blackmailing Yeong-ha into assisting her. Despite his attempts to help, the police capture Seong-a, but she is later freed by her father’s lawyer. She then destroys her clothes to obliterate evidence while Yeong-ha’s daughter narrowly survives her ordeal.
The story escalates as police uncover multiple bodies in the woods. Seong-a is tracked down and confronted by Jae-sik, who, in a vengeful confrontation, shoots her multiple times. After Seong-a falls into a pool, Yeong-ha confirms her death as authorities recover her body, concluding the series with a grim resolution.
