Well made and acted, but...

Rating: 8/10 (10 March 2020)

Generally interesting if you bookend the acts and scenes.
Interesting that it's coming as a series as it seemed more suited for such. As if there was more to see which would make it more compelling. I've had that recently where a poor or neutral film would make a better series.
For instance, the whole process of the poor family getting themselves jobs took up too much time in a movie. Although they are introduced quickly and are likeable, I didn't get the full sense if they were just struggling or were grifters. My guess is grifters. But I shouldn't be guessing. I should be told.
The second half when the former maid shows up felt very manufactured. Why did they let her in? The underground bunker was original but how we got there was more it trying to write itself out of a corner. But both would have worked in a series.
The maid turning the tables on them was fine once you were in the underground space, but arriving there was forced. Then the rich family returning was a bit much. Plausible but a bit much.
When the maid is kicked down the steps, I thought she was dead from the head wound. So it was odd when the poor husband said "Thank God" when he checked if she was breathing after seeing the blood on the back of her head. Conversely, being that she was bleeding but still breathing, he didn't take it seriously enough.
The element of the rich father saying the poor father smelled like radishes was a set-up for the ending, but it wasn't enough. When it came, I didn't buy it.
The sex scene between the rich couple was awkward and unnecessary.
I did see the motivation of the underground man attacking the poor family. But like I said before, I didn't see why the poor father would attack the rich man. And it was obvious where he went afterwards.
Not sure why the mother and the son were prosecuted as I didn't see any direct evidence against them. The underground was still unknown to the police. Confused if the rich man died. The father's morse code attempts were very awkward, much less the son seeing them.
In the end it was very well made but whatever the message was muddled. Clearly suggested classism but only touched on it at best. I've seen Bong Joon Ho's Snowpiercer, his segment in Tokyo!, The Host, Memories of Murder and Mother. (Surprised there was so many when I looked him up.) Thought about the same of those: well done but not seeing the hype.