Coin Locker Girl (2015) User Reviews (16)

A rather unique movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 23 December 2018]

Being a big fan of Asian cinema, I did of course jump at the chance to watch "Coin Locker Girl" (aka "Cha-i-na-ta-un") when I was given the chance. Especially so since the South Korean cinema tends to pump out some really interesting and entertaining movies.

"Coin Locker Girl" was no different. This was definitely entertainment of the higher end. Not just because it is a South Korean movie, but because of the storyline, the pacing of the movie, and some very interesting and in-depth characters that you immediately took a liking or disliking to.

This particular movie has a lot to offer the audience, ranging from some very interesting character development and growth, to action and brutal violence, and also to the more subtle drama and superbly acted out portrayal of the characters.

Go-eun Kim, playing Il-Young, really carried the movie phenomenally with her performance. As did Hye-su Kim, playing Mom. It was a shame that the mom character didn't have more on-screen time, because I felt that her story was not even half-way presented throughout the movie.

Even if you are not a particular fan of the South Korean cinema, then "Coin Locker Girl" is the type of movie that you should take the time to sit down and watch.

Quite dark, but not really impactful

[KineticSeoul · 7/10 · 12 October 2015]

This movie sort of reminded me of the the movie "Hwayi: A Monster Boy", except I liked the story and direction of this movie. Even if there is less action in this one. I just thought the story as a whole worked better and the character actions was actually kind of interesting. I a pretty predictable movie, but I didn't really get bored or anything like that from start to finish. So the plot is about a baby girl that is found in a coin locker and is raised to be in a loan shark group. That interact with one another like a crazy super dysfunctional family. However she falls in love with a boy that owes money. The plot does get sort of emotionally depressing, but it didn't really leave an impact. It didn't really hit the core to the point it left an impression. But what this is, is a dark psychotic distraught movie about a girl turning to the dark side. Not really a character, but how the environment and parents can play a huge factor in a child. Overall, this is a movie that is quite watchable, but only once.

7/10

110 minutes that will keep you in your seat

[Musicianmagic · 8/10 · 22 May 2020]

I found this movie to be a bit violent (which I normally skip) but the characters so well thought & played, I didn't want to miss a minute. The cast is very good especially Go-eun Kim who was perfect in the role of the Coin Locker Girl. I really found an attachment which may be positive or negative to all the characters. That by itself drew me further into the story. I got a bit emotionally involved a few times. This movie does get slow at a few parts but I was kept focused as those parts always were on the character's story being told. If you can take a bit of blood & violence you will enjoy this movie as well. Its really more than a drama or thriller. Its a character study and their relationships between them all. I would have given it more than 8 stars but it was a little too sad in parts for myself.

Violent scary and very involving

[phd_travel · 7/10 · 5 July 2020]

This well directed thriller gets the viewer involved in the characters. It doesnt matter so much that Kim Go Eun is not expressive. There is a lot of violence. Park Bo Gum provides the brief romantic interest. That is until the violence starts. Maybe too much killing. Must almost everyone die? Still it is quite involving. The ending doesn't make much sense.

Strong performances, average script

[gbill-74877 · 6/10 · 25 February 2020]

A very grim tale about abandoned kids taken into a seedy underworld of crime, murder, and organ harvesting. At its best, there is tension in the scenes of violence, when it becomes clear that "mom" would just as soon kill her "adopted kids" as feed them. Unfortunately it's one dimensional this way, and not a whole lot of the rest of it makes much sense - the character actions, dialogue, and how it plays out. The cast is on the whole pretty solid, with Kim Hye-soo (the mom), Kim Go-eun (Il-Young, the protogee), and Go Kyung-pyo (Chi-do, her rival) all standing out, though the portrayal of the mentally challenged guy didn't feel all that authentic. I just wish the script had more depth, and was as good as the actors.

It hits you in the guts when you least expect

[lauhmalfoy · 9/10 · 15 September 2015]

Although this is not horror, I saw this film during a horror festival. Their idea was to introduce "horror" that was more related to crime/violence, rather than real horror. Was it a success? Yes. I usually lack words to describe what I like about films, especially when I really like them. I wanted this film to be good but I thought it would end up being a normal film - I was wrong. The acting was really good (from main to secondary characters), the crudeness of a life of crime was very clear, the confusion of the main character when facing a clarity that wasn't there before was heartbreaking and your heart will shrink and shrink an shrink as the story goes on. This is not a pretty story and it's not embellished. This is about a girl who was brought to a life of crime, dealing with lack of love and working to survive. It's a film about a human being that is trying to find her spot in this world of horror - horror done simply by people who are just evil.

As a last note, I would also like to add, since this is a Korean film, I was worried my friends wouldn't enjoy it (since a lot of times cultural differences are plastered in the films but unless you understand those differences you won't be truly able to appreciate the work before you), but they actually did. If you want to introduce yourself to Korean films (and if you like action and violence), this is a really good film. If you know something about Korean culture it won't hurt, but if you don't you won't find yourself lost in translation. Totally recommend watching this.

This was so close to being a great film.

[tccandler · 7/10 · 10 February 2021]

Wow... This was so close to being a great film. The first two thirds are riveting, as we follow the life of a young woman raised in a terrible world of violent crime. It builds nicely, until the final third, when the story loses all momentum and tension. The director allows the movie to slow to a crawl... ponderously marching to an almost inevitable conclusion. The pace evaporates. The plots becomes predictable. The mood becomes even more dour. If the final 30 minutes had built to a crescendo, "Coin Locker Girl" would have been a 9 or a 10. As it stands, it is a good movie... nothing more.

Blew me away

[gilbertdl · 10/10 · 12 January 2016]

The story is about an orphaned girl and an evil loan shark woman, and how she tries to survive in a world without love and full of murder.

This movie was hard to watch for me. One scene in particular is so cruel and bloody that I had to stop and take a break to continue. I am still thinking about the movie which for me is a sign of a good movie, and would very much like to discuss it with an English speaking Korean, because it was difficult to understand with just the English translation. I review few movies but this one definitely deserves a 10. I will watch it again if I ever get the chance. The acting from Go-eun Kim is excellent. You can understand her feelings just by looking at her eyes and face. Translations aren't necessary. Mother, played by Hye-su Kim, is also very good, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see both nominated for some award.

Don't bother to watch it

[Misss25 · 1/10 · 9 October 2021]

It wasn't worth watching. It was predictable and plain. The lead actress acting is great, surprising, I haven't seen her in this way. I loved the loan shark lady acting mostly, it is just flawless, unbeatable.

Korean cinema at its best

[heniekb · 10/10 · 20 December 2018]

This was on of these movies that convinced me to go through Korean cinema again. A very interesting and original plot where nothing leads as you would have expected and many bodies will fall until you reach the end of this personal crusade. I needed few minutes to calm myself down after I finished watching the movie. I thought they can't surprise me anymore and here you go. Personal is an important word here. Whenever I watch Hollywood made movie I can never get that feeling, i can rarely relate to characters so much that by the end I feel like a character in the movie.

Lacking

[kanifuker-84708 · 1/10 · 31 March 2022]

Lacking something but not sure what. I watch hundreds of Korean films and this wasn't the best by far. It just seemed weird, strange and lacking something. Just one of those movies that could have been a lot better, a whole lot better in fact but it ended up more depressing the longer it went on.

excellent

[ginobean · 10/10 · 26 March 2016]

Characters are interesting and believable. The storyline is also interesting and, although I've never been part of a loan shark operation, what happens in the story makes sense and is also believable.

The movie kept my interest throughout and I was definitely rooting for the main character, who definitely had more than her fair share of hardship and misery in her life.

Although she's a loan shark gang member, her basic humanity shows throughout and made me like and sympathize with her. She was fundamentally decent and human, in a good way, throughout the movie.

Strong ensemble cast also helped establish the believability and credibility of the characters.

One of the best movies I've seen in a while.

what life could be under the circumstances of an abandoned child

[milafanway · 9/10 · 23 August 2015]

This movie for me is almost flawless, the story is showing us how's the life of a girl when everything goes wrong. With this movie you won't waste your time it lets you with a weird mood, maybe you're confused, sad and overall a bittersweet ending, nothing is perfect just life as life it is. If you're expecting romance or a comedy you're in the wrong place so go and search other, this isn't a light movie it's kind of heavy in some aspects but I don't regret watching it, very good movie.

The acting of the movie is perfect I mean everyone was so good and I wanted to watch this for Park Bo Gum but when I saw Kim Hye Soo I was blown away she has been always one of the best Korean actress in her range but wow just wow for me this was almost her best role, Kim Go Eun keeps being the actress which I keep looking for. The rest was great as usual but the funny part is that I think someone watched Park Bo Gum and Go Gyeon Pyo and thought "omg let's put them in reply 1988".

The music well it fits the movie nothing outstanding.

Rewatch value it's a movie you can re-watch but not a movie to watch if you're just bored.

If you liked Hwayi you will love this movie, kind of similar just that this movie is with a girl and hwayi is about a boy.

Once you decide, do it

[alaningle7 · 8/10 · 13 January 2024]

Kim Go-eun plays Ma Il-young who as a baby was left in a coin locker at a train station and found by vagrants who look after her. As a child she is taken by a corrupt police officer to Ma Woo-hee played by Kim Hyo-seo to pay of his gambling debt. Woo-hee is also called Mother by the people who work for her as she has taken them all in, although the moneylending business she runs is also in the trade of organ harvesting when people cannot pay. Go-eun happily carries out her violent roll in this set up until she meets Park Seok-hyun played by Park Bo-gum and instead of dealing with him develops feelings for him. Then the situation spirals out of control with friend fighting friend in a bloody, violent climax. It is quite violent and dark and once it starts doesn't let up but excellent drama about a desperately sad underbelly of people.

theres no mercy

[ops-52535 · 8/10 · 18 February 2020]

At all, theres no love at all, there are no police at alland there arent no hope at all. there arent much happiness in this korean crime drama, describing the dark side of the korean society. its a kinda mafia film, where street children are adopted and used for the benefit of money. the boss is mom and mom she is till the day she dies.

its a harsh description of life on the dark side. at times the cruelty are sickening, the bestialic actions unbelievably raw, and lots of the dynamics are hard to accept and understand. at the bottom line its a revengefilled flick, so if youre in for the revenge (and blood ) youre on the right track

the acting though are marvelous, its allthrough icecold, emotionless and completely anarchopsychopatic. the designsetup are well done, also the filmo and editing. what i question most is the pace of the game, extremely slow at times, just like a slow stab with a knife...

but the grumpy old man had an emotional journey, and will recommend, if youre guts can absorb this kind of violence and bloody gore

Great Movie Overall

[brandon-43284 · 8/10 · 26 November 2023]

I loved this movie overall. The tone it sets from the beginning and the ambiguity of the plot is what kept me glued to the tv for *almost* this entire movie. I say almost because I found myself, towards the end, getting ready for it to conclude. The last 15 minutes of the movie feel like 30, but I am also more than likely partial because I expected a big fight scene/shoot out "Ballerina-esque" type ending and that is simply just not this movie. There is violence and action, but it is few and far between. The ending is beautiful and very well acted, I just went into it with the wrong mindset. I would 100% recommend this movie have added it to increasingly growing list of amazing Korean cinema to come out the last 25-30+ years.