Reviews

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  ★★★½ review by William Lindus on Letterboxd

  It's hard to put into words what it is I enjoy about South Korean films. Many of the films from the region are depressing, emotional taxing works that feature characters put through the wringer. Characters that survive to the end of South Korean genre films often wish they hadn't, bearing emotional and physical scars that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

  With that in mind, welcome to the world of 'I Am Trash,' where a garbage collector must deal with his father and two brothers, all of whom are sexual deviants, abusers, and rapists. The third in a trilogy of sorts by director Sang-woo Lee, 'I Am Trash' is a *VERY* fucked up film.

  Be warned, there are plenty of scenes in this film that will make you uncomfortable. That said, the film isn't just shock for shock sake. In a society that is taught to value the family unit, the garbage collector must do everything in his power to his family in check.

  'I Am Trash' isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy really fucked up cinema, I'd say give this one a shot.

  Sidenote - I attended a Q/A with Sang-woo Lee following the screening of this film at Fantastic Fest 2014. Holy shit, easily the best Q/A I've ever attended. Sang-woo Lee is a hilarious, warped individual who is as excited about the themes of his film as he is about the backstory of the scenes that feature his dick.

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  ★★★★ review by aprimus on Letterboxd

  An unsettling but rewarding experience for anybody that's watched horribly bleak Korean genre movies and wondered what they'd look like if they hewed closer to reality.

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  ★★★½ review by dph on Letterboxd

  Countdown to Halloween, 2014
  
  Builds impediments and recreated Father is a Dog into a different point-of-view. Lee is better than Kim when making us feel sick of precepts. Singular, if strained. B

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  ★★★½ review by Jay H on Letterboxd

  3rd movie on Day 3 at FF2014. "Devastating" does not adequately describe how vile and horrifying these people are. Stomach turning depiction of real life events in South Korea, which makes this all the more sickening. Good thing director Lee Sang-woo is such a loveable guy albeit with a truly fucked up view on life. I AM TRASH completes his "family" trilogy that includes MOTHER IS A WHORE and FATHER IS A DOG to give some context. One of my top films at the festival but one I hope to never revisit. But I'll drink soju w/Sang-woo any day.

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  ★★★★ review by Josh H on Letterboxd

  This movie has a whole lot of dicks

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