White Christmas

"The story I'm about to tell is about my fight with a monster.

I had to become a monster myself for 8 days to fight it."

  

The Korean drama White Christmas is played out in an empty school; except for eight students, a teacher, and a psychologist. Each character receives a letter, all carrying the same message; one claiming that each of them are guilty of killing a previous student. The scenario becomes worse, as they realize that one of them is a serial killer. The question is, who?

When I first read the summary of this story I was struck with the impression that it would be another Battle Royal type of story; a few students, a few weapons, cue creepy music aaaaand killing time, let's go! Oh how wrong I was (luckily, I would have gotten nightmares otherwise).

This story is a psychological one. Now before you back away without giving it a chance (at least that's what I usually do when there is a psychological theme), trust me on this one; it's worth the 8 hours and 40 minutes that it will take you to watch the entire series. The main question that leads the entire story is "Are monsters born or made?" focusing on whether those who sin are simply born that way or if they are pushed into sinning as a results of their surroundings, and if the later is true, should they be guilty of their actions or can society be blamed? These are questions that the students ask themselves over breakfast, not aware of the fact that they are soon to take part in an experiment; Can they, some of Korea's best students, be pushed into murder and thereby become monsters?

As psychological as it seems, luckily the story is over all easy to follow (except a few loose ends), the characters are interesting and, though sometimes slow, the storyline pulls you in and leaves you pondering on the true origin of 'monsters'.

★★★★☆