Black
Rose (Original Title: Chiem Doat) | 2023 | 1h 53m
Genre:
Drama/Thriller | Country: Vietnam
Director:
Thắng Vũ | Writers: Choi Hyo-bi, Tran Khanh Hoang, Kim Sang-woo
Cast:
Phương Anh Đào, Lãnh Thanh, Miu Lê
IMDB:
5.3
My
Rate: 7/10
My tries to take revenge by destroying Ha’s happiness, seducing her husband, Son. But misunderstandings unravel, leading to an obsession that turns dangerous.
Warning:
Contains scenes of violence, suicide, alcohol, smoking, sex, and nudity.Synopsis:
My
comes to Ha’s house with a gentle face and hidden intentions. She applies to be
a nanny for Ha’s child, but behind that lies a much darker plan — to infiltrate
and destroy the family she believes doesn’t deserve happiness after what
happened to her and her own family.
At
first, everything seems ordinary. My works well, slowly gaining Ha and Son’s
trust. But behind her friendly gaze, a quiet fire grows. Subtle seductions
begin to appear — slightly bolder clothing, a smile whose meaning is hard to
read. Son, who has always seemed loyal, slowly loses control.
When
secrets are revealed, Ha’s anger bursts out. But at the same time, Son’s dark
side, long buried, also starts to surface — exposing deeper wounds than anyone
expected. My then realizes her revenge doesn’t just consume Ha’s family… but
herself as well.
Is
this really the justice My was seeking?
Review:
Imagine
when revenge starts to eat away at who you are, and you’re willing to do
anything to get it. Black Rose isn’t just about revenge — it’s also
about love, trust, and obsession that turns dangerous. The film offers a
fascinating play of logic and manipulation, even with its simple premise.
The
story opens with Ha’s happy family — a seemingly perfect life, full of luxury,
wrapped in a grand wedding. But behind it, a mysterious figure appears with a
narration full of deep hatred. Slowly, the face behind that hatred is revealed:
My. Her eyes, facial expressions, and dialogue conceal wounds that cut deep. At
first, her motives aren’t clear, but the shadow of pain lingers in the air.
The
conflict builds slowly. My, who appears innocent, turns out to be the thorn in
the flesh. The pressure Son faces from his family — competition with his sister,
his craving for his father’s approval, and his strained relationship with Ha —
drives him to seek comfort in My. It’s at this point that Black Rose
shows its strength: an inner war not confined to one person, but spreading to
every wounded soul. External and internal conflicts feed each other until
everything burns together.
The
climax is handled very well. One by one, mysteries and misunderstandings
unfold, revealing the true faces of each character. My, who was once consumed
by rage, slowly learns to make peace with her emotions. Meanwhile, Son and Ha,
who once seemed happy, lose their footing — as if karma is finally collecting
its due. The twist at the end is satisfying, bringing a surprise that’s not
easy to predict.
Even
so, there’s one small flaw that lessens the impact: some major secrets are
revealed only to the audience, not the characters. For example, the tragedy
that happened to My’s sister only appears through brief flashes of memory — a
truth that we know, but My doesn’t. This creates an interesting
distance, though it slightly reduces the emotional connection between character
and viewer.
From
an acting standpoint, the cast delivers captivating performances. The
expressions and dialogue hit the right notes, especially when the secrets come
to light — the emotional shifts feel real, like two sides of a personality
switching places. Technically, the choice of music is also effective in
building tension and atmosphere.
However,
a few small details feel unrealistic, though they don’t disrupt much: Hoang’s
unlocked laptop, or Ha’s decision to let My wear such revealing clothes in her
home. These minor things could’ve been tightened to make the narrative more
solid.
Overall,
Black Rose delivers a gripping, emotional story, even if it still has
room for tighter logic and visual consistency. This film reminds us that every
human carries a dark side — something that never truly disappears, only sleeps,
waiting for the right time to resurface.
Like
a rose that looks beautiful and fragrant, its thorns can still hurt anyone who
holds it too tightly.
“Revenge never brings peace, even when it’s fulfilled.”
Memorable
Scene:
Despite
her fear of rejection, My finally opens up to Hoang about her background — her
family, her past wounds, and the reason behind her actions toward Ha. In that
moment, the mask she’s worn all along slowly falls off, replaced by fragile but
sincere honesty.
Behind
that confession, we see the real My — someone who only wanted to be understood,
not justified. She opens up to the one person she truly loves, as if believing
that love could hold all the pain that was never healed. In real life, everyone
has a side they want to hide — until they meet someone who makes them brave
enough to let it go. Sometimes, the most painful honesty is actually the purest
form of love.
Memorable Dialogue:
“If you haven’t figured it out, then it’s not yet a dead end.”
Ending:
Sad
Ending
Recommendation:
Worth
to Watch
(Aluna)
 – When Revenge Blooms into Obsession){kind=link}
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