Mystery and thriller writers long ago discovered that introducing an unreliable or biased narrator into the story helps keep readers and viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
If you are into this plot device, here are seven South Korean dramas that might be your jam. Beware, the characters and events of these thrillers are not what they seem.
Hell Is Other People (2019)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Where to stream: Disney+, Prime Video, Roku
Yoon Jong-woo, an aspiring crime novelist, is broke and new to the city, so he has to settle for a cheap dormitory with strange residents. Soon, ominous events begin to occur that make Jong-woo question his own sanity.
Psychopath Diary (2019)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Where to stream: Viki, Tubi
Yook Dong-sik is a spineless clerk who accidentally picks up a serial killer's diary and, after losing his memory, believes it is actually the citation of his own crimes. The belief that he is a psychopath changes Dong-sik's life and sends him on a mission to track down the real killer.
The King of Pigs (2022)
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Roku
The story of this thriller takes place in two timelines. In the present, two school friends reunite and recall their painful youth, when they were viciously bullied for being at the bottom of the food chain. The past shows the gruesome events that happened to them.
Beyond Evil (2021)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki
Lee Dong-sik and Han Joo-won are capable and determined detectives who are willing to go to great lengths to catch a serial killer. The evidence that keeps popping up in their investigation makes them question the innocence of absolutely everyone involved in the case.
The Guest (2018)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Where to stream: Netflix
The main antagonist of this K-drama is a powerful demon who possesses his victims and makes them kill their families before committing suicide. The protagonists, a psychic taxi driver, a Catholic exorcist, and a skeptical detective team up to hunt the demon, but can they trust the people involved in the case, or even each other?
Flower of Evil (2020)
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki
Cha Ji-won is a detective investigating a serial murder case who unexpectedly discovers that her own longtime husband is somehow connected to it and has a lot to hide about his past and identity, going to incredible lengths to do so.
Mouse (2021)
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Where to stream: Viki
A traumatized detective and his younger colleague delve deep into the psychopathic behaviors and genetic and social predispositions that make children grow up to be serial killers. The K-drama raises a lot of deep questions about human nature and has numerous twists that will keep you questioning the story throughout its entire run.