09/05/2026

LYFE SATURDAY | MAY 9, 2026

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TV SHOW REVIEW

If Wishes Could Kill falls short in plot

o Show blends supernatural suspense, teen angst, digital dread into stylish thriller, though ambitious premise does not always reach full dark potential

N ETFLIX’S latest Korean original If Wishes Could Kill arrives with an irresistible premise: A mysterious mobile app grants users their deepest desires, but each fulfilled wish comes with a deadly countdown. It is an idea that cleverly fuses supernatural horror with modern digital anxiety, creating a series that feels culturally timely and emotionally gripping. Where supernatural horror meets digital-age anxiety The show’s strongest asset is its atmosphere. Director Park Youn-seo crafts an unsettling blend of teen drama, folklore and psychological suspense, transforming ordinary high school life into something increasingly sinister. The cursed Girigo app becomes more than just a horror device – it symbolises unchecked desire, impulsive decision-making and society’s obsession with instant gratification. Ű BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI

This underlying commentary gives the series a sharper edge than standard supernatural thrillers. The young ensemble cast, led by Jeon So-young, helps anchor the chaos with emotionally grounded performances. Their chemistry keeps the story engaging even when the plot leans into more exaggerated genre territory. The balance between friendship, betrayal and fear gives the show enough emotional stakes to maintain momentum, especially in its early episodes. Strong premise loses some bite midway While the concept is undeniably compelling, the series does not always push its darker themes as far as it could. As the story progresses, some of its more ambitious ideas begin to lose narrative force, with familiar young-adult tropes occasionally overshadowing its psychological depth. The mythology surrounding the app remains intriguing, but parts of the second half feel more restrained than truly

Jeon (middle) leads a young ensemble cast that brings emotional depth to this eerie blend of supernatural suspense and digital-age fear. – ALL PICS FROM IMDB

groundbreaking. Rather than fully embracing its potential as a bold exploration of fear and consequence, the drama sometimes settles for safer storytelling choices. Still, If Wishes Could Kill remains an entertaining and stylish binge-watch. Its mix of occult horror, emotional tension and social commentary makes it one of Netflix’s

0 Cast: Jeon So-young, Kang Mi-na, Baek Sun-ho, Hyun Woo seok, Lee Hyo je, Choi Ju-eun, Jeon So-nee, Roh Jae-won, Lee Sang-hee and Kim Si-a E-VALUE 8 ACTING 7.5 PLOT 7

The show also explores the pain and sorrow that arises from betrayals between friends and what it means to wish without thinking of the consequences. Final verdict If you enjoy series such as All of Us Are Dead or Black Mirror with a supernatural twist, this one is worth adding to your queue – even if its final wish does not entirely come true.

A cursed app, deadly wishes and rising tension turn ordinary teenage life into psychological horror in Netflix’s If Wishes Could Kill . more memorable Korean releases this year, even if it does not entirely fulfil the immense promise of its premise. For viewers drawn to eerie coming-of-age stories with a supernatural twist, it is well worth exploring.

If Wishes Could Kill explores the dark cost of instant gratification through a chilling mix of folklore, horror and social commentary.

F1 movie likely to get sequel as Apple hopes to grow in motorsports A sequel to Brad Pitt’s successful F1 movie is likely and Apple are also hoping to expand its Formula One involvement globally after securing the US broadcast rights, services senior vice-president Eddy Cue said recently. live coverage of all 24 rounds. Cue said he was thrilled with how the coverage had been received and said Apple intended to play a big role in growing the sport. replacing Tim Cook, would only strengthen the company’s relationship with Formula One.

“Ternus actually drives a Porsche and does amateur racing. He would actually be here this weekend, but he’s at Laguna Seca. So rest assured if anything he’s going to be at more races even than Cook. He’s a huge, huge fan of F1 and he’s known about this, he’s a huge supporter. “So you’ll continue to see full support from him. When we do something, we don’t do things halfway. The things that we do, we go all in. So we believe without a doubt that this is going to make a huge difference in what we can do to help motorsports,” he explained.

“The sport doesn’t get licensed on a global basis. Do I hope we are able to grow into other areas and markets? Yeah, I do. But starting in the US that is a huge market for us – and being able to build from there is definitely the right way to do it. “And that’s what we are focused on right now. The easiest way for us to continue to grow is to make sure we make this a huge success. And then of course it would be great to expand it.” Cue also said the appointment of John Ternus as new Apple CEO,

“I hope and expect there will be one,” Cue said when asked by Reuters at the Miami Grand Prix about a possible sequel to the Apple Original Films production. The movie cost an estimated US$200 million (RM794 million) to make and grossed US$634 million, according to online database IMDb. Apple TV took over from Walt Disney’s ESPN this season as exclusive US broadcaster of Formula One, with

Apple’s successful F1 movie is the company’s first step towards expanding its role in growing motorsports. – REUTERSPIC