“The Treacherous was originally titled Elegy for a Broken Bird. Director Miles Decker was removed from the final cut by producer Julian Vane, who is credited as ‘Creative Consultant.’ Decker’s only condition for not suing was that his name remain on the film as director. He has not worked in Hollywood since.”
To flesh that out: The film stars (famous for Kingdom and Princess Hours ) as Im Sung-jae, a corrupt minister navigating the reign of the notoriously unstable King Yeonsan (played with terrifying mania by Kim Kang-woo ). Set in 1506, the story follows Im Sung-jae’s manipulation of the king’s bloodlust to eliminate his political rivals. The "treachery" of the title is multi-layered—every character betrays everyone else. the treacherous 2015 imdb
: The production utilized a massive budget to recreate 15th-century Korea, featuring elaborate costumes, large-scale palace sets, and over 10,000 extras. This visual opulence stands in jarring contrast to the moral decay of the characters, creating a "disturbing yet you cannot look away" atmosphere. “The Treacherous was originally titled Elegy for a
The film’s portrayal of sex is intentionally disturbing. Unlike Western films like The Favourite (2018), which use intimacy to explore vulnerability, The Treacherous uses it to explore domination. The "erotic" elements are frequently punctuated by violence, creating a tone of unease. This juxtaposition is central to understanding the film's divided reception on IMDb; casual viewers seeking titillation are often met with the harsh reality of the film's tragic conclusion. Set in 1506, the story follows Im Sung-jae’s