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September promises to be a bloody month on SBS with Queen Mantis, a dark and intense thriller that marks the return of Go Hyun-jung in a role against the grain. Inspired by the French series The MantisThis South Korean drama promises a chilling atmosphere, explosive family tensions and a masterly performance from its protagonist.
A killer without remorse... but indispensable
Go Hyun-jung plays the role of Jung Yi-shin, a serial killer infamous for murdering 5 men 20 years earlier. Nicknamed "The Mantis", she has since languished behind bars, condemned to death. But when new murders with her macabre signature appear, the police have no choice but to call her in. Joining her : Cha Soo-yeol (Jang Dong-yoon), his own son turned detective, who has never forgiven his mother's crimes.
This mother-son duo, are forced to work together to stop the Copycat. A tense alliance, between visceral hatred and the need for truth, promises to be an emotional and unspoken exchange.
Go Hyun-jung's impressive metamorphosis
Unveiled in the first official imagesGo Hyun-jung's physical and emotional transformation is astonishing. With a blank stare and a closed face, she appears in a prison uniform, her hands tied to remind us that she remains, above all, a criminal under close surveillance.
The promotional posters leave no doubt as to the mood of the drama. One of them features a striking phrase: "Murder... it's the best thing I've done in my entire life" (Murder... it's the best thing I've ever done in my life), while another coldly proclaims: "The smell of blood? I like it." (The smell of blood? I like it). Lines that set the tone: Queen Mantis doesn't seek to soften its heroine, but to plunge into the abyss of her mind.
An expected performance, an intriguing drama
According to the production team, Go Hyun-jung put her heart and soul into the role, even transforming herself physically and psychologically to play a woman who has renounced everything... except her murderous instincts.
The drama will start on September 5 at 9:50pm (KST) on SBS. No confirmation has yet been given of its international release on OTT platforms, but no doubt anticipation is already high among fans of psychological thrillers.
