On the Edge – Movie Review & Film Summary

On the Edge is a short Korean film with a neat little gimmick. It tells the same story three times. Every version features a different couple. Combo #1: a man and a woman. Combo #2: two men. And combo #3: two women. Everyone uses the exact same script and moves through the same scene.

The story begins with one character, Jun Hee, barging into the apartment. He or she is pissed off after finding out their best friend, Min Seo, is moving away. And of course, they are the last person to know. That revelation opens the floodgates. Accusations fly, and feelings spill out.

As they argue, the conversation becomes intense. They have known each other forever. Walking to school together. Sharing lunches. Staying up all night to help with exams. Being side by side felt so normal that neither of them questioned it at the time. Only now, with separation looming, they both realize this was never just friendship.

On The Edge has a unique concept. Three couples get the same script and have to act out an emotional scene. The twist? Each pairing is different! First, it's a man and a woman. Then, it's two men. Finally, it's two women. They all bring their own flavour to the performance. The fun comes from how the actors interpret the material and how the viewers react to them. We might find a line super romantic when a guy says it to another guy. Aww! That same dialogue could sound cheesy if a straight dude says it. Boo!

The movie sounds interesting on paper, but I'm actually not a fan of this format. Watching the same scene three times is boring, especially when the lines seem identical. I wish there were actual variation. If you're gonna give everyone the same scenario, at least let them improvise or change the script. Also, I'm looking for more of a storyline. I don't wanna watch a random moment in a couple's relationship. Instead, give me a romantic journey with a beginning, a middle, and an end. As it stands, this film feels too much like an acting workshop. I have no idea who any of these characters are. I'm not invested in them.

The first couple is the BG pairing. I thought the male actor was decent. I liked how he delivered the emotional lines with tears in his eyes, which made his performance persuasive. Plus, he's quite handsome, so I'd like to see him jump ship and star in a BL drama! However, his female co-star isn't as convincing. Her character doesn't seem that into him, so their romantic connection feels weak. Also, I don't care about the straight romance. There, I said it! Do we really need a male-female pair in this movie? Let's dedicate more time to the BL and GL plots instead.

Next, we have the BL couple. I thought the actor in the black shirt was being a little extra. Dude, you're doing too much with your performance! Dial it down a notch. He's so upset, almost turning this delicate moment into an angry confrontation. His co-star seems reserved. Since he doesn't match the intensity, the energy between them feels totally off. With that said, I actually liked the couple's kiss. My favourite part is when the white-shirt guy grabs his partner's necklace and pulls him in for a juicy kiss. Oh, that's perfect! He gets major points for the visual!

Finally, there's the GL romance. The girl with the short hair impressed me, especially when a single tear fell from her eyes during the kiss. That one teardrop trickling down her face? So cinematic! I also loved how the couple hesitated before they locked lips. That reaction felt realistic, like they were still slightly unsure of their feelings. Plus, I enjoyed getting some closure for once. The first two stories just finish immediately after the characters kiss. Here, they actually talk for a bit to solidify their relationship. This conclusion seems stronger than the others.

Due to its format, On the Edge basically wants us to compare the three versions. If I had to rank them, the GL story would be my favourite. After that, I'd put the BL couple over the other pair. Here at BL Watcher, straight romances will always end up in last place. 😌 However, none of the romances are memorable. We only get to watch a single scene, which isn't even that well-written. This movie needed a longer storyline. Also, it should make each couple more unique to reduce the repetition. Ultimately, On the Edge offered a cool gimmick, but I just didn't enjoy it all that much.