00. Quick Thoughts
It’s been a while since I watched a spooky show. The last one I thoroughly enjoyed was Kingdom S1 but that one is zombie-centered. I wanted spirits and something eerie. I needed something to make me jump but not overtly spooky to keep me from sleeping at night. Cue Sell Your Haunted House! I knew right away this is a show I need to watch. Jang Na Ra + exorcism = perfection! Here’s my quick review on Sell Your Haunted House.
01. A Dive Into
Hong Ji Ah works in Daebak Reality as an exorcist who specializes in selling haunted houses and she’s good at it. Along the way, she encounters a con artist, Oh In Beom, who happened to be a gifted psychic. Together they fight ghosts and belligerent spirits and discover secrets from their pasts.
02. Meet the Characters
Jang Na Ra – Hong Ji Ah
Ji Ah is a no-nonsence exorcist and also the real estate agent of Daebak Realty. She’s cold, logical, and incredibly driven, mainly due to her personal vendetta—she’s haunted by her mother’s death during an exorcism.
Jung Yong Hwa – Oh In Beom
In Beom is a scam artist who only thinks about way of making money. Charming and smooth-talker, In Beom’s life turns upside down when he meets Ji Ah.
Kang Hong Suk – Heo Ji Cheol
A former police officer with experience in both handling and investigating crime scenes. He joins Daebak Realty to assist in the exorcisms and property cases.
Kang Mal Geum – Joo Hwa Jung
Ji-Ah’s loyal secretary and only confidante at Daebak Realty. She manages the business side of Daebak Realty and she’s the emotional anchor of Ji Ah.
Jang Na Ra has always been one of my go-to actresses if I wanted a good show. Although I haven’t watched the majority of her work, what I’ve seen from her has never disappointed me so far.
I have to admit that she’s the biggest reason why I decided to watch this. The last show I watched of hers is Hello Monster and that’s from 2015!Moving on . . .
I love her portrayal of Ji Ah. She’s very dark and charismatic.
I watched my fair share of kickass FL but Jang Na Ra has this appeal that other actresses cannot portray. In addition to that, her acting range is impeccable. You absorb all the emotions that she wants to convey onscreen which is impressive.
TBH, I never expected the scenes to be this fierce but she makes it look effortless. The way she performs her exorcisms is choreographed nicely. Her fighting scenes are intense yet I find her very sexy. The way she twirls her pin before exorcising is chef’s kiss.
The concept is simple yet with a great director/writer combo, it goes a long way. Although there are a number of side stories, it’s integrated with the main story arc nicely. It definitely shows because it never became boring throughout 16 episodes. Although it’s evident that there’s a bigger mystery, the intrigue is kept until the last episodes. Never felt any fluff so extra brownie points for the Sell Your Haunted House team.
I enjoyed the lore in the show. They took the good bits from Buffy/Supernatural/Ghost Whisperer and made it their own. The CG in this show is also perfection. It didn’t look cheap at all. OMG that egg ghost with that sound effect. Jezzzz!
I also need to highlight the beautiful tones of this drama. While the colors were gloomy, it was only dark enough to set the eerie vibe but not lessen viewing pleasure.
03. Plot Points & Popcorn Moments
Character Development
Throughout the length of the show, we witness the blossoming of characters. You notice the growing camaraderie and bond of the people from Daebal Real Estate. From strangers to partners to enemies to friends. It goes full circle. From Ji Ah and Secretary Jung to In Beom and his +1 to Ji Ah and In Beom.
We see how Ji Ah evolves from being aloof and feisty to warm and homely as she’s influenced by the people. In Beom becomes more than a con man and we see how impactful Ji Ah is in his life.
We also see how resentments and angst are resolved at their own pace. Given the history both leads had, it’s unsurprising how deep and raw their emotions are. The issues get explored and dissected making us understand and cry alongside them. They had Jang Na Ra and Jung Yong Hwa – they went all out so expect some tear-jerking moments.
No Romance
Speaking of Ji Ah and In Beom, I thank the production team for not adding any romantic elements to this show. It was not needed by the characters or the story. Yey for showing that a series can flourish without any romantic link between leads.
04. Is This My Cup of Ramyun?
Jung Yong Hwa
Okay, before you come at me with your pitchfork hear me out! I adore Yong Hwa having watched him in You’re Beautiful and Heartstring. I definitely was crushing hard during those times. As much as I liked him though, he needs to step up his acting.
I have the same issues with Hyeri from Reply 1988. But Yong Hwa has been leading for quite some time and his acting is still lacking. Not as bad Nam Joo Hyuk but still stiff. It definitely shows whenever he shares the screen with Jang Na Ra.
His portrayal of being possessed is awkward and wooden it’s jarring. To be fair, it’s hit and miss. There are episodes that I was proud of him but overall it’s meh. It may be unfair to compare his acting to hers but he definitely needs to take it up a notch. Granted that this is his first work after his service so he’s a bit rusty but still, it is apparent.
Having said that – it’s not a big deal – it wouldn’t hinder you from enjoying the show but still an issue enough to be pointed out IMO.
What I Wanted More
An exploration on the network of exorcist. It would have added more complexity to the story given that the “business” existed since who knows when. Later part of the series we also encounter a craftswoman for Ji Ah’s tools. Who is she other than the lady making her tool? Since this is not explored, it’s a missed opportunity. So sad.
05. Weekend Binge or Weeknight Dud?
Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed Sell Your Haunted House. It’s more than ghosts and exorcisms. It’s a heartwarming story that resonates with its viewers. A show that is unique enough with flesh-out lore to keep the viewers hooked. Talented actors to boot!
If you’re scared of ghosts or anything horror-related, Sell Your Haunted House should be an exemption. It’s quite enjoyable in addition to being humorous despite the jump scares.
What do you think about Sell Your Haunted House? Share it in the comments, and let’s talk about what makes this show special. Lights out, drama lovers!
Sell Your Haunted House
대박부동산
2021 | 1 hr. 10 min.| KBS2
8.3/10
MDL RATING
SUMMARY
Ji Ah, a woman who has inherited exorcism abilities from her mother, is the owner of Daebak Realty, a company that specializes in selling haunted houses. Ji Ah looks perfect and is also brilliant, but her hot temper makes her fists fly before her words. One day, Ji Ah encounters a conman named In Beom who specializes in exorcism fraud. Late at night when Daebak Realty operates, In Beom visits Ji Ah to make an offer. He suggests that they team up to exclusively sell houses that are haunted by vengeful spirits and lingering ghosts. Can the two get along well and deal with house prices, ghosts, and their sorrowful stories?
HORROR | THRILLER | FANTASY
DIRECTOR
Park Jin Suk
CAST
Jang Na Ra, Jung Yong Hwa, Kang Hong Suk, Kang Mal Geum..
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