Autumn is upon us, and the cozy vibes are taking over. It is the perfect time to huddle up with a loved one, a pet, or just some snacks and binge-watch content that gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside. At the same time, with Halloween around the corner, we also need to feed our inner horror fanatics. So, if you've been looking for a comprehensive list of fall K-Dramas and films that will give you both butterflies and shivers, you've come to the right place.
For K-Dramas, we have divided our watchlist into 3 categories - "Sweater Weather" for warm and mellow romances that just feel nice and cozy, "Know Thyself" for introspective works about the human condition, and "Love In The Time Of Ghosts" for paranormal romance. As for films, we're recommending pure horror that will make you want to check your locks before sleeping at night.
Before further ado, here's our fall/Halloween watchlist curated just for you!
Note: This list is not a ranking.
Sweater Weather
"When The Weather Is Fine"
Set against the background of the rustic Korean countryside, "When The Weather Is Fine" tells the deferred love story of Mok HyeWon, played by Park MinYoung, and Lim EunSeob, played by Seo KangJoon. HyeWon is a cellist who returns to the countryside after being disillusioned by the big city, and EunSeob is a bookstore owner who has been in love with HyeWon since they were in school together. This is one of those K-Dramas that have something new to offer every time you watch it. In fall, you can truly appreciate the warmth and slow pace of the drama as well as its healing nature - just like a cup of warm cocoa in the chilly weather.
"True Beauty"
While "True Beauty", starring ASTRO's Cha EunWoo, Mun KaYoung, and Hwang InYoup, is a drama that can be enjoyed at any time of the year, it gets especially heart-warming in the fall. After all, the season permeates the story, and the cinematography features some of the most beautiful fall scenes throughout. The charming little manhwa cafe, which forms the center of the action on multiple occasions, is the very definition of "fall vibes". The tale of friendship and first love it weaves will certainly make you nostalgic too! Overall, this is the perfect Autumn watch (or re-watch), and we just can't get enough.
"Link: Eat, Love, Kill"
The title of this drama perfectly encapsulates in 3 words the predominant themes of the entire series: culinary goodness, dreamy romance, and chilling crime. While the first two bring out the very essence of Autumn, especially with just how adorable our central couple - Noh DaHyun (Mun KaYoung) and Eun GyeHoon (Yeo JinGoo) - is, the third gives you just the right kick of edgy thriller to put you in the mood for Halloween. In other words, if you're looking for something that is the best of both worlds, "Link: Eat, Love, Kill" is the way to go.
Know Thyself
"My Liberation Notes"
One of the most lauded K-Dramas of 2022, "My Liberation Notes", starring Kim JiWon, Son SukKu, Lee MinKi, and EL, is a contemplative, lyrical masterpiece that delves deep into the unseen crevices of the human psyche, bringing out the elegance of it all. It is indeed about liberation, but it is more importantly about recognizing one's own inhibitions, understanding where they stem from, and addressing them with maturity. One of the key concepts here is that of worship rather than love, and that itself explains the overall direction and purpose of the drama. This is an amazing drama to watch if you're in the mood for a little self-reflection before the year ends.
"My Mister"
When it comes to K-Dramas that will make you a better person, "My Mister" is undoubtedly on top of the list. Lee SunKyun and IU come together to create a poignant song of life, complete with all its sweetness and struggle. The drama is bittersweet but extremely gratifying and leaves you with a sense of continuation, a reminder that life goes on. It is a quiet revelation of emotions, a soft and slow process that gives you as much time to think about your own life as that of the characters. If you're the type of person to stay home and enjoy a quiet night in alone, "My Mister" can be your perfect companion.
"The Sound Of Magic"
"The Sound Of Magic" is a drama that is truly one of a kind. It plays out like a novel and keeps the viewer on their toes at all times while also pacing itself to allow for some gentle, wholesome moments. It can be best described as a modern fairy tale for the aching soul, and the cast (Ji ChangWook, Choi SungEun, Hwang InYoup) makes sure that its otherworldliness is immersive. By the end of the drama, you might be left debating the legitimacy of magic, but there won't be a doubt in your mind that you've been enchanted.
Love In The Time Of Ghosts
"Hotel Del Luna"
"Hotel Del Luna" is what I call peak fiction, and it lives up to the name to the fullest. Starring IU and Yeo JinGoo, this drama revolves around a hotel for the souls of the deceased, so they may rest before moving on to the light. As the name suggests, we meet umpteen characters who come with their own stories, each more emotionally moving than the next while also following our main characters as they unravel the knot of their own wounds. Love blooms in the midst and it is the most beautiful thing in the world, both this one and the next. Prepare to be scared one moment and swooning in the next.
"A Korean Odyssey"
"A Korean Odyssey" is written by the Hong Sisters. So, you already know that this is going to be the most incredible, grand, larger-than-life narrative that you've ever seen. On top of that, it is led by Lee SeungGi, Cha SeoungWon, and Oh YeonSeo - three powerhouses of the Korean entertainment industry. Your expectations should rightfully be sky-high, and the drama delivers. Based on the Chinese 16th-century epic, "Journey to the West", "A Korean Odyssey" blends mythology with reality, giving us an unforgettable mix. You do not want to miss this one.
"Scholar Who Walks The Night"
If your mythical being of choice is vampires and dark academia is your aesthetic, "Scholar Who Walks The Night" is the perfect K-Drama for you. Starring Lee JoonGi, Lee SooHyuk, and Lee YooBi, "Scholar Who Walks The Night" tells the story of a young woman who dresses up as a man to hide her identity and make a living by selling books. She meets a mysterious scholar Kim SungYeol, but their budding romance is obstructed by the evil vampire Gwi. Unbeknownst to her, SungYeol is also a vampire, but he belongs to the good side. Unique, impactful, and entertaining - this drama is a must-watch.
"Sell Your Haunted House"
This is a drama about a fraudulent exorcist and a real estate agent who make the profit of a lifetime selling haunted houses after exorcising the spirits haunting them. In the process, they also work through their own repressed trauma and find true love that helps them heal. Jang NaRa and CNBLUE's Jung YongHwa are a match made in drama heaven, and their chemistry is off the charts. However, that doesn't take away from the dark forces that linger around their characters, giving us scares that are perfectly fit for Halloween. "Sell You Haunted House" is criminally underrated, and we need to change that now.
Pure Horror
"Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum"
Finally, it's time for the bone-chilling horror movies that will turn your Halloween into a scare-fest. First up, we have "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum", a found footage film that is every bit as creepy, disturbing, and alarming as can be. Starring Wi HaJoon and Park JiHyun in the leading roles, this movie follows a crew of young people who set out to explore an abandoned psychiatric hospital for a web series. Now, if you're a fan of horror movies, you can already spot all the red flags in this situation but trust us when we say, it is more frightening than you can ever imagine.
"Urban Myths"
If all the horror binge-watching has left the K-Pop fan in you missing your idols, give "Urban Myths" a go. Starring MONSTA X’s ShowNu, Oh My Girl’s Arin, BTOB‘s MinHyuk, THE BOYZ’s Ju HakNyeon, Golden Child’s JaeHyun, Lovelyz’s JiSoo, WJSN’s SeolA and Exy, Lee HoWon, and AleXa, "Urban Myths" is a horror anthology about Korean urban legends that haunt the most ordinary and unexpected spaces. Each plot is immensely well-crafted, and the acting is absolutely top-notch, amplifying the immersion of the stories manifold. This one will definitely be appreciated years down the line too.
"Midnight"
What's a horror watchlist without a crime thriller? Incomplete. "Midnight", starring Jin KiJoo, Wi HaJoon, and Kim HyeYoon, follows a deaf woman who is targetted by a psychopathic serial killer after she witnesses him stabbing someone. The film has an air of breathlessness and suffocation, even more so because of the fast pacing and the vulnerable predicament of our protagonist, Kim KyungMi. Nevertheless, she is extremely smart and uses her intellect to her advantage. You can't help but watch "Midnight" with bated breath because it will quite literally choke you up. The jump scares are elite, to say the least, and the acting is some of the finest you'll ever see.
"White: Melody of Death"
Can't get enough of K-Pop in horror? "White: Melody of Death" is exactly what you need. This film tells the story of a rather unpopular fictional girl group Pink Dolls, who revive their career after releasing the remake of a strange unknown song named 'White'. As their popularity rises, toxic competition between the members leads to bullying and the eventual demise of whoever takes on the position of the lead singer. Realizing that 'White' may be cursed, one of the members, EunJoo (Ham EunJeong), tries to figure out how to end the vicious cycle and expose the truth. You can look forward to this one because it will certainly not disappoint!
"Bedevilled"
If you like your horror laced with feminism, "Bedevilled" needs to be on your watchlist. Horror, in and of itself, is a revolutionary genre, and when it is employed to send a social message, it simply hits different. Now, "Bedevilled" is not your usual run-of-the-mill horror movie. The "monsters" in this film are all too human, and they are veritably more sinister. Kim BokNam, played by Seo YoungHee, is our anti-heroine, tormented by society to the point where her sanity snaps. What follows is a gory rampage fuelled by female rage that will make your blood curdle. There simply couldn't have been a better movie to round out this watchlist.
Which other K-Dramas or films would you add to this list? Share your thoughts with Kpopmap in the comments section down below!
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