Fans are hailing the gruesome Korean drama Bargain as the next Squid Game, showcasing the dark world of organ harvesting. The series, now streaming on Paramount+, won Best Screenplay at the Canneseries Festival this year, making it the first Korean series to receive such recognition. However, Bargain is not for the faint-hearted, featuring sex scams, violent crime, and organized gangs.
The story begins with a teenage schoolgirl named Joo-young meeting a middle-aged man in a motel room, negotiating the price of her virginity. After settling on $70, a sudden twist forces the man into another negotiation. Blindfolded and strapped to a board, he becomes the subject of an organ auction. However, an earthquake interrupts the proceedings, leading all the characters to fight for their survival.
Bargain, the gruesome Korean drama streaming on Paramount+, is being hailed a ‘new Squid Game’ as characters battle for survival
This dark series is an expanded version of a 2015 short film that received numerous awards in South Korea. Director Jeon Woo-sung, who was involved in the original short film, initially had no plans to turn it into a longer series. However, after being approached by a production company, he considered expanding the story.
To his surprise, the finished series received widespread acclaim and collected multiple awards. Jeon expected only around 40 percent of the audience to appreciate it. The director describes all the characters in the series as rogues and villains, aiming to create some resonance with the audience despite their unfavorable qualities.
The drama begins with an earthquake in a motel where a middle-aged businessman was being offered up for organ harvesting
As a man is strapped to a board and blindfolded, with the location of his organs sketched out on his body, the young woman holds an auction for his body parts
Jeon explains that the decaying motel, which becomes unstable after the earthquake, serves as a metaphor for capitalism. He acknowledges the comparisons between Bargain and Squid Game in terms of violent content, disregard for life, and high-stakes rewards. Both explore the darker side of human nature in a dystopian setting.
Despite unintentional similarities, Jeon cites Hollywood blockbusters like 1917 and Birdman as his conscious influences, rather than Squid Game. He believes many Korean filmmakers contemplate the theme of capitalism, leading to reflections on individualism.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
