* Movie adaptation of the first story was released in 2023, and the other two are in development
Set in the moral hinterlands of contemporary society, this trio of novellas charts the dark terrain of misguided youth, where unseen forces enact a cruel justice for every rash deed and misstep.
After their high school graduation, three friends agree to exchange their darkest secrets as pledges of their undying friendship. But when one of their secrets comes up short, it is decided that before dawn breaks the young man in question must commit an act as shameful as those revealed by the others. He wavers between conscience and loyalty, until, goaded on by his comrades, he impulsively smashes a bottle over the head of a passerby, sparking a chain of events that spirals quickly out of control.
A man accepts an unusual proposition to absolve his debts to the mob: he promises to assume the life of the mob boss for one night, during which he must accept whatever fate befalls him, whether it be pleasure or pain, good fortune or a violent end. No one realizes, however, that this swapping of lives will unleash a disaster that extends far beyond the realms of the living.
While out joy riding one night, three youths without licenses accidentally strike a woman on a scooter. To avoid punishment, they kidnap the woman. As they debate whether or not to kill her, a mysterious man appears with a contract. If both parties agree to sign it, the woman is to be released unharmed on the condition that she promises not to report the incident to the police. Any party that violates the contract will pay an unimaginable price.
Built around motifs of promises, agreements, and equal exchanges, this trio of novellas from Giddens Ko is an exploration of the inhumane and often violent circumstances of late adolescence, and a grisly illustration of the prices we pay for our mistakes. Each swiftly developing narrative is marked by razor-sharp characterization and cynical humor, making them perfectly suited to discerning fans of crime, suspense, and dark fantasy.