Apr 26, 2026 1:18pm IST
‘If Wishes Could Kill’ Review: Jeon So-young, Park Youn-seo’s Teen Horror With Elements of Shamanism Is an Above-Average Watch
When “Ring” was released in 1998, the horror flick around a home video captured the imagination of the whole world. In the Korean drama, “If Wishes Could Kill,” the conduit of a curse is an app created by school students. The Netflix show is one of the underhyped releases of the week, but it packs in quite a bit, merging teen horror and trauma with Korean shamanism in an eight-episode series that engages despite its flaws.
Yoo Se-ah (Jeon So Young), a gifted athlete, lives with her aunt after the tragic death of her parents. A high schooler whose life revolves around her four friends, people who helped her transition after the toughest phase of her life. Evil enters their life after the quintet downloads a seemingly innocuous app that grants off a wish after they feed in their saju (birth date in Korean). The horrific suicide of her friend, Choi Hyeon-wook (Lee Hyo-je) and subsequent near-death experience of her classmate and closeted boyfriend, Geon-woo (Baek Sun-Ho) compels Yoo Se-ah to investigate the origins of the app to put an end to the curse. Her classmate Kang Ha-jun (Hyun Woo-seok) and she seek assistance from the former's sister, Ha-young (Jeon So-nee), who is a shaman.
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Talking about the plot, “If Wishes Could Kill” is hardly novel, but what works is the screenplay and fast-paced narrative. You are engaged from the word go and the curiosity just keeps on building. Fans who have seen the movie “Exhuma” (2004) might be aware of Korean shamanism. “If Wishes Could Kill” is a deep dive into the world of spells, spirits and how divine warriors have to fight in different realms as part of the practices. This aspect makes it very interesting, especially for foreign audiences. It also briefly touches upon the stigma associated with shamans and how it impacts their near and dear ones. The director Park Youn-seo combines his elements in the right manner, which elevates the series.
The horror element of the series is created mostly by the gory imagery. For some, it might be scary, but for those who have watched shows like “All Of Us Are Dead,” it might come across as average. However, the cinematography, sound effects and lighting succeed in building that eerie mood for the greater part of the show. As the series progresses, the storytelling becomes more non-linear, which adds to the impact. There are a few jump scares, including one that comes at the climax.
Performance-wise, Jeon So-young is solid as Yoo Se-Ah, a teen dealing with survivor’s guilt. Jeon So-nee is also very good as Ha-young, the shaman. The star cast fits their characters and delivers effectively. There are some similarities with “All Of Us Are Dead,” given how the school becomes a place of horror, the interpersonal dynamics and the blood-splattered imagery on screen.
However, unlike the above-mentioned zombie thriller, “If Wishes Could Kill,” falters on the emotional front. The build-up to the tale of friendship and resentment, which leads to the original curse, does not invest you as it should. Also, while Yoo Se-ah is an orphan, we wonder where the parents of the other four kids are, even as they lie dying!
Yet, “If Wishes Could Kill” is better packaged than many recent Korean dramas. The open-ended climax means that the makers might explore a second season. So, while the series is not exactly for horror fanatics, it is quite watchable for those who like a combo of horror, occult, adventure and emotion.
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