Some of the most popular and innocent children's games in the 1970's and 1980's South Korea (played in the alleys) get reinvented (modern day) as a mysterious survival game with a 45.6 billion won cash prize for the winner. There's a catch however: losers must pay... with their lives!
As a group of 456 financially desperate people voluntarily risk their lives for the penultimate prize by participating in six twisted games Squid Game, in the words of writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk, is a dark and macabre take on 'modern capitalism' that depicts extreme competition while still being able to incorporate emotional, dramatic & theatrical aspect to the tale.
Magnificently portrayed by Lee Jung Jae, the 'just-fired-from-job' lead protagonist alongwith the compelling characters sets the screen ablaze with commendable acting backed up by a gripping plot, stunning camerawork with flawless (art) direction (the sets are breathtakingly surreal so much so that the actors could not stop clicking photos on-set and according to some it was like being in a 'fantasy world..well beyond their expectation & imagination') accompanied by a remarkable screenplay.
An air of foreboding and enigma prevails since the very first game Red Light, Green Light (took Hwang nearly six months to write merely the first two episodes), this edge-of-the-seat binge worthy thriller is on its way to becoming the biggest non-English show on Netflix or perhaps 'our biggest show ever', says co-CEO Netflix, Ted Sarandos.
Drama Series of the Year, folks!!! And brace yourselves for a major plot twist towards the end !