This is a movie that may offend a lot of viewers, but I could understand where the director is coming from to a certain degree. Yeon Sang-ho seems to take certain negative aspects about real life and sort of blows it out of proportion. And gives a really tormenting and bleak perspective on these negative real life situations. His first film was about school bullying. And this one is about a cynical religious con to trick the villagers out of there money, with the promise of them going to heaven. And it's up to a very very dislikable main character to try and prove that the villagers are being tricked. It's good to root for the cause of showing the truth to the villagers. But the main character is almost as dislikable as the people who are in on the con. The plot revolves around manipulation, trickery and cynical elements. The movie can be appalling at times, like how the characters get tricked into such nonsense that has "you are being conned" all over it. But again this is something that actually happens in real life. The message I think was to show how even something positive can be twisted into something very horrible. However, I just didn't find this movie intense or hits the core and just goes in a bleak, somewhat nihilistic and depressing direction with it all. I could tell where the director was trying to go, but the execution was just poorly contructed. None of the characters are likable at all in this film. With characters being either malicious, brutish and cynical to being way too dumb and submissive. Overall, this just came off as a depressing movie that has more weakness than strengths.

6.5/10

One of the most in your face, brutally honest and also oddest films I've seen in awhile. It's obviously an indictment on the relation between the hopeless, rural poverty, Christianity invading eastern culture and blind religious faith. It shows a fine example of how people can be easily swindled, lied to and robbed by fantastical claims and promises when there seems to be no other options in this life; so they're setting all their bets on the next. The only real gripe with the movie, and its a large one, is the despicable, loathsome, evil, foul-mouthed, wife beating, child abusing, drunkard anti-hero of the film who isn't really a hero in any sense. I mean, yeah he was the only one who really saw the church for what it really was, but I think he only knew they because its easy to spot your own kind; even if they are dressed in white robes. I can't even begin to describe how much you will hate this character and wish him due harm even though in his own misguided way he is trying to expose the lies of the church, but don't be fooled for a moment that its for some honorable purpose of protecting the rural folk from swindlers. In the beginning of the film, he steals his daughter's savings she had in her room, the only money she had to pay for her college tuition by way, and spent it all on a night of binge drinking and gambling. While at a bar, he sees a guy he just doesn't happen to like the way he looks and picks a fight with him and that person gets the best of him with a brick to the face. Just so happens to be that lying swindling church pastor. So his motivation isn't for the greater good of the town, it's basically for revenge against a guy who got the best of him in a fight in the bathroom. I'll say this about the film, its got REAL characters. There's no caricatures here. For better or worst everybody has motivation for what they do. From the girl who becomes a prostitute for the "Lord", to the dying wife who says she must give all her money to the church in order to get to heaven (they are taught there are only 144,000 seats in heaven and that they have to give their worldly possessions away to get there) to the church pastor (of course his is very basic) money is pretty awesome and these people are easy targets) to the people who think they have to suffer terribly in this life to get some type of reward in the next. There's a certain crudeness even in how the film looks. It has that old school Japanese hand drawn animation style I haven't seen since the late 90's which i'll admit added to the over all experience. I'll leave with this, its a nasty, bloody, profane, honest film that will rub many viewers the wrong way, even those not of faith. However, you cant deny it's power or its no bars hold approach to the material. They are no heroes here. There are no winners. Hell if you ask me there's no real moral to the story. Just a glimpse at a real social and cultural crisis that has been plaguing South Korea for the past century or so. This is a story that has happened many times in many different ways. Even if you hate the film, it will definitely leave a lasting impact on you for days to come. As it did me. (The Fake is in Korean with English subtitles).

This South Korean anime does not make for easy viewing, it's dark, depressing and bleak yet at the very same time has moments of pure genius.

Telling the story of a man newly out of prison who returns home to discover his town are under the spell of a corrupt pastor and are being financially milked dry by them.

Is this the hero the town needs though? Absolutely not. In fact herein lies the films biggest issue, there are no likable characters throughout. From a drunk woman beater to a conman to a pedophile all flanked by an army of brainwashed gullible fools. So we find ourselves watching a film with nobody to root for, nobody to get behind.

The movies portrayal of religion is perfect and quite inspired, it identifies how it gets under peoples skin with promises of great things yet identifies the damage it does while those peddling the fictional wares reap the benefits.

You don't expect anything from Korea to be cheery and this sure as hell isn't, but it's watchable and quite gripping especially near the end.