“Sweet Home 3” Review: Unnecessary Brutal Scenes, Tiring to Watch

On July 19, Netflix released still cuts from ‘Sweet Home 3‘. Netflix

In a world where everything has collapsed due to monsterization, Eun-yoo (Go Min-si), who left the stadium, heads back to it. The struggle to restore the consciousness of Cha Hyun-soo (Song Kang), who has turned into a monster, continues. Nam Sang-won, who has taken over Pyeon Sang-wook’s (Lee Jin-wook) body, aims to recruit a child (Kim Si-ah) with special abilities. Seo Yi-kyung (Lee Si-young), whose mind has been overtaken by monsters, fights a fierce battle within herself. At the same time sergeant Kim (Kim Mu-yeol) confronts Eun-hyuk (Lee Do-hyun) with great caution.

The first four episodes of “Sweet Home 3” pre-released to the media were extensive. It is evident that there was a lot of effort put into tying up the story that was expanded in the previous season. However, questions remain about the use of characters and the progression of the story. Although it was stated that the focus was on resolving the foreshadowing set up in season 2, the story is not well-executed. The numerous characters introduced in season 2 are not well-utilized, and the key characters, Cha Hyun-soo and Eun-hyuk, are also underutilized. The visuals remain provocative, with unnecessary brutal scenes that are too intense, causing viewers to frown.

Season 1 received praise for its seamless handling of the concept of desires manifesting as monsters, the relationships between characters, individual narratives, and the portrayal of human figures in disaster without any unnecessary elements. However, the subsequent seasons seem to have lost sight of the essence of “Sweet Home”. Season 2 focused on setting up foreshadowing, and season 3 seems to be purely about resolving it. Episodes 5 and beyond are expected to be more interesting with the reunion of Eun-hyuk, Eun-yoo, and Hyun-soo. 

Director Lee Eung-bok stated at the production presentation on the 17th, “We tried to return to the core of the story with a fresh perspective. Season 3 reflects enough feedback to be worth looking forward to.”

Should you watch “Sweet Home”?

If you liked the storyline of Eun-hyuk and Eun-yoo in season 1, you’ll be glad to see their reunion in season 3. With most of the original characters gone, this combination evokes nostalgia from season 1. For viewers who felt unsatisfied with season 2, season 3 might provide the answers. The improved VFX (visual effects) compared to the previous season is also noteworthy.

Should you skip “Sweet Home”?

Despite the emphasis on change, episodes 1-4 give a similar impression to season 2. Although it aims to resolve the foreshadowing, it doesn’t feel like a clean conclusion. The chaotic progression diminishes the individuality of the characters. Due to the lack of compelling storytelling, the only thing that remains in the mind is the brutal scenes. The introduction episodes (1-2) of the new season are particularly violent, which may make the series tiring to watch.

Source: Nate