DESCRIPTION

MANGA HorrorGigi Goegoe

REVIEWS

• 

  Deago

  78/100
  A one-of-a-kind blend of surreal horror and social commentary

  ORIGINS

  Beauty Water is a loose movie adaptation of the popular South Korean Naver Webtoon 'Tales of the Unusual', which was written by Seong-dae, an author who drew inspiration from the work of the renowned writer Itou Junji. Known for his strange and eerie tales that go beyond the horror genre, Itou Junji's influence can be seen in Beauty Water as well. Despite the movie's positive reception in South Korea, it has not gained much recognition outside of the country due to limited international marketing efforts.

  INTERESTING PREMISE

  It is a rarity to come across anime that authentically and realistically depict the social problems that women face in their everyday lives. While some anime series, such as .hack//Sign and Welcome to the N.H.K., have done an admirable job of highlighting social issues, they remain few and far between. .hack//Sign, for instance, explores the topic of escapism through online video games, which is a problem that many people, including women, face in the modern world. Meanwhile, Welcome to the N.H.K. tackles the universal struggle of transitioning to adulthood, a topic that is relatable to both men and women. However, they are not specifically gender-focused, which means that the issues presented within them can be applied to both men and women. While this is not a problem in and of itself, it is important to recognise that women face unique social issues that are different from those faced by men.

  HUMAN SOCIETY

  'Boys don't cry, girls don't climb trees'

  Throughout human history, there has been a gendered expectation of what it means to be feminine or masculine. Men are expected to conform to ideals of emotional control, financial independence, and muscularity, while women are expected to embody virtues such as elegance, grace, attractiveness, and beauty. The social pressure to conform to these gendered ideals can be particularly difficult for young people, who often lack a broader perspective on life and may feel pressured to adopt certain behaviors or appearances in order to meet society's expectations. For women in particular, there is often an added layer of insecurity surrounding appearance that can make them more susceptible to exploitative messages from the media and advertisers. Advertisers and media outlets often perpetuate unrealistic and harmful beauty standards, leading to a culture that places excessive value on physical appearance. Women are often bombarded with messages that reinforce these ideals and can lead to a variety of negative outcomes, including eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and low self-esteem.

  BEAUTY AND SOCIETY

  Beauty Water is a thought-provoking social commentary that delves into various issues surrounding beauty. One of the key messages of the movie is how beauty can be used as a tool for achieving fame and wealth, which can result in a society that values appearance over substance. We see examples of this in our reality such as 'gold diggers', 'Twitch thots', and celebrities who have gained success solely based on their appearance, despite lacking any actual talent. This is a common phenomenon in the anime community as well, where many female characters are often judged primarily based on their physical appearance.

  Conversly, the movie also highlights the dark side of beauty and how society often mistreats those who do not meet its unrealistic beauty standards. Women, in particular, can become victims of social prejudice, bullying, and discrimination based on their appearance, which can have long-lasting psychological effects, this unfair treatment may even last from elementary school to adulthood. Being a victim of social prejudice for being ugly from a young age can be very psychologically damaging to a female individual, so a woman's obsession with pursuing beauty, despite knowing the cost and consequences, may appear justified. This can be seen in Yaeji's character, who faced social prejudice for being 'ugly' since she was a child, which drove her to become obsessed with her appearance as a means of improving her social and economic standing, losing sight of her true career as a ballet dancer, and ironically becoming a make up artist, believing that beauty is the only way to improve her socioeconomic standing.

  Yaeji's character arc highlights the damaging effects of society's obsession with beauty and the toll it can take on an individual's mental health. Additionally, the movie touches upon the issue of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a mental health condition that is commonly found in female young adults and teenagers. The symptoms of this disorder include spending a considerably long time in front of the mirror, excessive grooming, wearing certain clothes to hide flaws, and in extreme cases, it can lead to developing social anxiety and avoiding public activities due to shame and embarrassment. Throughout the movie, all of which aforementioned symptoms are exhibited by Yaeji.

  SURREALISM

  'I just want to be loved' — Yaeji

  The movie deliberately employs bizarre unrealism and surrealism to emphasise the extreme and often absurd lengths people will go to in order to meet society's beauty standards. By employing these techniques, the movie is able to criticise advertisers and celebrities for promoting unrealistic beauty standards, as well as the cosmetic industry for capitalising on people's insecurities to sell overpriced and often ineffective products. The titular 'Beauty Water' is a prime example of this critique; an expensive miraculous cosmetic solution product that allegedly makes one beautiful 'with no side effects', which was an obvious symoblism to plastic surgery and liposuction, promoting the idea that beauty can be achieved effortlessly and without consequences. With this symbolism, the movie highlights the potential economic, societal, and mental costs associated with the pursuit of physical beauty, especially for those who aren't mentally stable to begin with or who are ill-prepared.

  TRUTH IN TELEVISION

  In fact, South Korea has one of the highest rates of plastic surgery in the world, and it is often viewed as a means to achieve social and professional success. In South Korean society, physical attractiveness is highly valued, and people who are considered unattractive may be discriminated against in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and even social relationships. As a result, many people, particularly women, feel pressure to undergo cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance and increase their chances of success. This issue is not limited to South Korea, as discrimination based on physical appearance is a global issue. Many women around the world feel the need to change their appearance to meet societal standards and achieve success. In fact, the beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar global industry, and the media often promotes unrealistic beauty standards that can contribute to low self-esteem and body image issues among women. Yaeji, the protagonist in Beauty Water, is a reflection of these societal pressures and the unrealistic beauty standards that many women face; there are real-life women from all around the world who are unhappy with their appearances and believe that changing their appearances will lead to career advancement, so even if you despise Yaeji for her immature behaviours, Yaeji is a relatable character for many women who feel the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards, we can't deny how realistic her personality is and how easy it is to empathise with her.

  UGLY ANIMATION

  Beauty Water uses a unique combination of 2D and 3D CGI animation, while the environments and objects are beautifully drawn, the characters, except for some background characters, are mostly 3D animated, which may not appeal to fans of traditional 2D animation. The colour palette in Beauty Water is vibrant and eye-catching, with an ability to shift from light and bright to dark and moody, depending on the tone of the scene. The use of colours also effectively conveys the themes and messages of the movie; such as the vibrant pink hues emphasising the focus on femininity and beauty. However, the animation quality can be inconsistent, and some may find it lacking in detail and fluidity, especially in the few action sequences. It is worth noting that Beauty Water is not a big-budget animated movie, so it is unfair to expect it to on par with the likes of the Disney or Pixar movies. However, the visuals are not the movie's strongest aspect, and those who are particularly sensitive to poor animation may find it difficult to enjoy the movie.

  CYNICISM

  At first glance, Beauty Water may appear to be an innocent movie due to its art style, but in reality, it is an adult film with graphic violence, mature themes, horrific scenes, and nudity. The movie does not shy away from exploring darker themes such as the societal pressure for women to conform to beauty standards and the consequences of such pressure. While works of a similar setting often fall into the romance genre, present idealistic views and other shoujo manga tropes, Beauty Water manages to stand out by conveying a pessimistic message, although the movie includes elements of romance and generic shoujo tropes, its focus on social issues from darker perspective sets itself apart. Instead of offering solutions or preaching about right and wrong, the movie simply acknowledges the unfairness of life and leaves it up to the viewer to deal with it. This nihilistic approach may not be for everyone, as some viewers may prefer a more uplifting or positive message in their movies.

  IMPERFECTION IS UGLY

  While Beauty Water's unique blend of animation and its message may be its strengths, this movie is not without its flaws, it heavily relies on cliches and misused character tropes, which was disappointing. The secondary cast of characters, in particular, are often one-dimensional archetypes, lacking depth and complexity. We see characters like the 'beautiful outside but cruel inside', the 'mother's boy', 'the musclehead' and the 'horny perverts and molesters'. Luckly, the movie does a decent job of allocating screentime between characters. The more important the character, the more screentime they get, which helps to keep the focus on the protagonist and her psychological journey. In fact, the movie's character-driven narrative is its strongest asset, it is not just about the themes, but also about how the protagonist deals with them and how she is affected by them.

  AIM

  Whilst it may be easy to view and interpret the movie as a criticism of plastic surgery, I believe that this is not entirely the case; the movie recognises that in a society where beauty is linked to social and economic status, plastic surgery can have advantages. However, it also serves as a warning that plastic surgery is not a panacea. For instance, Yaeji inflicts pain and suffering on those around her, including herself, not because she undergoes cosmetic changes, but because she mistakenly believes that such alterations will solve all her problems. Beauty Water effectively delivers a message that may resonate with individuals who view plastic surgery as the sole solution to their problems, as the movie's underlying message is that transforming one's appearance does not necessarily lead to a change in personality. Yaeji goes through a cosmatic change to conform to society's beauty standards and improve her socioeconomic standing. However, despite her new look, she still struggles with the same internal conflicts and problems she had before the procedures.

  VALUE

  While the movie touches on related themes such as the impact of social media, celebrity culture, and commercialism in the beauty industry, these topics are not fully explored. Nevertheless, it is understandable that the movie's duration of 85 minutes may not have allowed for a more in-depth exploration of these themes without negatively impacting the pacing. The premise is a fascinating one that delves into the connection between beauty and self, and it is a testament to the writer's skill that the story is relevant not just in South Korea, but globally. The movie's exploration of the societal pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards is a topic that resonates with many individuals, regardless of their country or culture. The premise evokes a variety of related social issues that stem from society's expectations of the individual, these expectations are not just limited to physical appearance but extend to inner beauty as well; society places a great deal of pressure on individuals to be 'good' or morally upright, and this can be a difficult expectation to fulfill as moral relativism is a collective and ever-changing concept. The movie's examination of beauty as societal pressure is only an example of societal expectations on individuals, this pressure to conform can manifest in a variety of ways, including mental health issues, social isolation, and low self-esteem, it also raises important questions about the societal pressure to conform and the negative consequences that can result from this pressure, which may encourage individuals to look beyond societal expectations and to focus on developing their own unique sense of self.

  OVERVIEW

  Overall, Beauty Water uses surrealism and unrealism with horror to make a strong statement about the unrealistic and often harmful expectations placed on individuals, particularly women, to meet society's beauty standards. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of plastic surgery and the importance of self-acceptance, and encourages you to question these beauty standards and to prioritise their mental and physical health over their appearance, it highlights the message that a person's true beauty comes from within and that physical alterations are not a solution to underlying problems. The pacing of was well-done, I was never bored throughout the movie as it managed to keep me engaged without ever feeling sluggish or rushed. The strategic use of foreshadowing was effective in preventing plot conveniences or 'asspulls' that can feel forced or unearned. But what I appreciated most about Beauty Water was its focus on exploring meaningful themes rather than relying on mindless entertainment or horror. The movie's thoughtful examination of self-image, societal expectations, and cosmetic surgery provided a thought-provoking viewing experience. In summary, it was an excellent example of how anime can be used to tell engaging stories while also exploring complex themes, the movie presents these themes in an engaging and thought-provoking manner, making it hidden gem and a must-watch for individuals who may be contemplating plastic surgery or struggling with self-image issues.

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