Mousetrap Review: A Stylish Thriller Tangled in Too Many Twists

Netflix has officially brought the webtoon Mousetrap to the screen, offering a gritty psychological thriller that starts with a high stakes premise. The story follows Je Moon jae, a successful author hiding from the world due to severe trauma. His quiet life falls apart when an identity thief known as the Rat steals his life, forcing him into an unlikely alliance with a ruthless loan shark named No ja to hunt the culprit down.

Ryu Jun yeol carries much of the weight here, delivering a fantastic dual performance that distinguishes between the anxious, withdrawn Moon jae and the confident, manipulative Rat. Alongside him, Sul Kyung gu brings a grounded intensity to the role of No ja. Watching their dynamic shift as they track a mystery that keeps changing shapes is initially gripping, backed by striking visual choices that reflect the protagonist's fragile mental state.

However, the series eventually buckles under the weight of its own ambition. While the show aims for constant surprise, it relies too heavily on plot twists that feel more like hurdles than clever storytelling. The middle episodes become bogged down by unnecessary character expansions and a bloated script. These detours drag the pacing to a crawl, making it difficult to maintain the tension established in the opening.

Despite the frustrations of the middle act, the final two episodes deliver a surprisingly resonant conclusion that highlights what the show could have been. If the producers had trimmed the excess and tightened the focus, this could have been a true masterpiece of the genre. As it stands, Mousetrap is a visually interesting ride that occasionally loses its way in its own maze of plot points.