‘If Wishes Could Kill’ (2026) Netflix Series Review - A Chilling High School Horror

If Wishes Could Kill has come across as a good horror drama for those who have missed watching a good one for a prolonged time. The plot revolves around a mysterious smartphone app that could grant one's deepest desires. Sounds fun, right? But that is where the plot twist hits you: in return, it starts a 24-hour countdown to your own death. So now the question is: will you actually wait to get your desires fulfilled in the pretext of your own death? In the backdrop of Seorin High School, this eight-episode series blends teen anxiety with the digital age that today’s teenagers are living in. There are five students whose ordinary school life changes when they discover the Girigo app. Initially, they don’t believe it themselves, thinking it's some kind of urban folklore. But once the wishes start coming true one after the other with the consequences no one was prepared to see, the group is now forced to race against time to uncover the truth surrounding the course and the app. As the world gets modernized, so does the ghost genre. Instead of going with the age-old concepts of ghostly houses that are haunted by spirits, the makers have shown how, with the help of notifications.

Somewhere while watching If Wishes Could Kill, you are reminded of the 2014 fiasco of “Blue Whale” that also took many lives of young people. But this is what I also liked about the show: the makers have shown more than just a haunting story: the concept of greed, desires, impatience, etc., is shown to capture the young minds. Clearly, when they are shown this, they tend to think about the consequences later as they are more engrossed in getting their desires fulfilled.

When it comes to visuals, If Wishes Could Kill manages to create a spooky atmosphere, even though the so-called haunting ghost is in a mobile app. There are many times when you will experience jump scares that are enough to make you understand how seriously the haunting has been dealt with by the makers of the show.

When it comes to pacing, the show is evenly paced. This helps to keep the heart rate fast as and when we are shown a spooky scene. It goes without saying that a horror or a psychological thriller must have good pacing; otherwise, the entire fun of watching something goes away. Thankfully, the makers of If Wishes Could Kill have understood this and given a good-paced show that we can actually enjoy. Also, it is refreshing to see something apart from the zombie apocalypse that has taken over the K-drama world of late. I, for once, loved the idea that technology gives us jump scares.

Coming to acting, the cast has done a great job. Jeon So-young as Yoo Se-ah gives us a good run in portraying the character.  Kang Mi-na provides that layer in the story by being the character who brings warmth to the whole ordeal. The rest of the cast brings other dynamics such as jealousy, fear, friendships, etc.

Of course, If Wishes Could Kill is not without its share of flaws. For example, the plot sometimes fumbles in between as the mystery around the apps tends to get deeper and deeper. However, that is one area that can be easily ignored. So all in all, this show can be a great weekend watch for you with just eight episodes to watch.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times