The Red Shoes (2005 film)

Did You Know?

• Ryan Daley from Bloody Disgusting noted that the film's plot machinations are 'all over the map', which added to the confusion of the story.
• The film's gore was described as 'solid and stylish' by Ryan Daley.
• Ryan Daley stated he was 'dying' to know how the film ended, even if he was a little overwhelmed by the final ambiguous twist.

Plot

Sun-jae walks out on her cheating husband Sung-joon and settles into an aging apartment with her daughter Tae-su. On a subway, she picks up a pair of vivid pink high heels, unaware they carry a curse. The shoes consume her, sparking envy and greed while haunting her with terrifying visions. Both Tae-su and Sun-jae’s close friend Kim Mi-hee become ensnared by the footwear, leading to panic and stealing.

Mi-hee dies after taking the shoes, and Sun-jae attempts to discard them, but the pink heels keep reappearing with Tae-su, deepening Sun-jae’s horror. With support from her new partner In-cheol, Sun-jae investigates the shoes’ origin to prevent her and Tae-su’s deaths. She learns that anyone who takes them will die with their feet severed. The trail leads to an elderly woman living in a basement beneath Sun-jae.

This woman calls Sun-jae “Oki,” leaving her puzzled. The story unfolds: during the final years of Japan’s occupation of Korea, the old woman served as a maid for a cruel, conceited dancer named Oki. Oki regularly abused her, leaving her hunchbacked and terrified. Oki envied a gifted dancer named Keiko, the daughter of a high-ranking officer.

Her jealousy worsened when a male dancer—once Oki’s lover—gave Keiko the pink shoes. Oki bribed the old woman to steal them. One night, a pregnant Keiko caught her lover with Oki. Heartbroken, she fled, and the man tried to stop her.

Realizing he loved Keiko and tired of being second, Oki killed Keiko and hid her body. The old woman witnessed the murder. Keiko’s ghost later avenged herself by killing both the man and Oki. The old woman warns Sun-jae that unless she returns the shoes to Keiko immediately, the same fate awaits her.