Hey Lovelies,

Not so long ago I read a post by fellow blogger, Penny, of Little Space League. In her post, Penny wrote a review of the Korean kinky romance drama, Love & Leashes, and so I had to wonder for myself - is it really any good? I have to be honest and say that I'm a little too old (and perhaps a little too out of touch) for getting onboard with the K-pop trend, but nonetheless I am always open to new ideas. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Just wow, South Korea, just wow! What a heartwarming, educational, sensitive and just all-round amazing movie this is! It's so great that I'll hands up admit that I've already watched it twice so far, and I am far, far from being done with watching it! I like to think of kinky movies as being on something of a scale, with The Story Of O , 365 Dni and The Pet being somewhere down the far end, the Fifty Shades trilogy and Secretary being in the middle and my much-loved Preaching To The Perverted towards the top end. Love & Leashes though? That's off the scale!

As always, my review does contain spoilers so if you plan on watching the movie, stop here and go watch it now!

Love & Leashes: A Pervert's Review

1. The Movie Breaks The Third Wall Throughout

Instead of merely playing out a love story, the characters are teaching and sharing their story by smashing down that third wall. They share with you their experiences and what they have learned, as they have learned it. If you enjoy the way that I write and share with you on my blog, you're going to love this movie!

2. Love & Leashes Is Dubbed In English But Keeps Its South Korean Feel

This movie is set in South Korea, and everything about it stays iconically South Korean. From the traditional Korean barbeques at social gatherings to the impeccable mannerisms of the Korean people, it's these little touches that you don't see in Western films. It's dubbed in English, but that's as Western as it gets.

3. The Storyline Is A Bit Weak, But It Does Get One Thing Right

Two employees in an office with two very similar names, Jun Ji-Hoo (LeeJun-Young) and Jun Ji-Woo (Seohyun). One of their colleagues notes that the pair have similar names and should start dating, but Jung Ji-Woo dismisses the idea. There is a confusion over the mail which "outs" Jun Ji-Hoo to Jun Ji-Woo when she accidentally opens the dog collar that he has ordered for himself, and their story blossoms from there. Speaking as someone who once dated a man who shared my birthday, simimilarities like that are not enough for you to belong together, believe me. That being said, Jung Ji-Hoo holds a position of authority above Jung Ji-Woo, and yet he is submissive to her. As I have written before, then quite contrary to many media portrayals, people in positions of authority often prefer more submissive roles. Kudos to Gyeowool for getting this much right!

4. The Movie Pays A Great Credence To The Shame Felt By Many Kinky People

You'll note that I referred to myself as a "pervert" in the title, and that is because in the movie, Jun Ji-Hoo refers to himself as one. He expresses a shame for what he does and a fear of others who might degrade him if they find out. He apologises profusely to Jun Ji-Woo, who tells him that she doesn't believe he is weird and proceeds to rolemodel an acceptance and willingness to explore love and happiness, however that looks for them. As their relationship blossoms, she too begins to enjoy herself more and becomes more accepting of Jung Ji-Hoo's preferences.

5. Love & Leashes Is Sensual, Without Being Sexual

If you were planning to watch Love & Leashes with view in mind to some kinky Asian porn then I have some bad news; this is not that. Oh sure there is flogging, dog leashes and some trampling too, but there's no blowjobs, handjobs or any fucking in the office elevator. At best there's a kiss in bed and a bit of neck nibbling on a bench. Sorry to break it to you.

6. Jun Ji-Hoo's Character Is Oddly Familiar

Okay, as a former humiliatrix here, I'm going to share something that I'm usually quite careful about: there are a lot of submissives out there who are, quite frankly speaking, a bit scary. It's called subfrenzy and your enthusiasm is endearing, but your Dominant may still be trying to learn the ropes (no pun intended). Jun Ji-Hoo Is besotted with Jun Ji-Woo ever since she reveals that she can be a bit strong-willed and opinionated. He wants her to be his Master, and he's like an excited puppy around her because of that. Speaking from experience here, but I've certainly had submissives like that before. In fact, they were the inspiration behind this post.

7. Hands Up, Love & Leashes Makes Pet Play Look Like A Boatload Of Fun!

I am familiar with pet play (where the submissive partner acts like a puppy, kitten etc), and while it's never been something that I've ruled off, it's not something that I've been crazy for, either. I've always felt as though I have a more feline side to me, and I bite, nibble and generally play with Matt in very kittenish ways, but I've never explored pet play though and through. In the movie, a puppy play scene takes place in a hotel room in which Jun Ji-Woo has Jun Ji-Hoo put his collar on, and she has him bark like a dog and feed out of her hand. To be able to let go of my inhibitions and to live freely for an hour or two? There's no denying that does things - and it looks fun!

8. The Movie Does Put Undue Pressure On Dominants To Be "Perfect"

In the movie, Jun Ji-Woo tells the viewer that "it's important for the Dominant to look perfect to the submissive", but this is wrong. A Dominant should look good to a submissive (Marvel t-shirts just don't cut it fellas, sorry), and they should look structured (speaking from experience again here, a submissive cannot both submit and lead at the same time), but perfection is a lot to strive for, for anyone, regardless of your role. Nobody is perfect, and if I don't like it when my partner expects me to be perfect then I can't expect my partner to be perfect, ether. Besides, what even is a perfect Dominant, anyway? It's different strokes for different folks here. Kind of quite literally, when you think about it.

9. Love & Leashes Teaches On Symbolic Jewellery And Non-Sexual BDSM

Hallelujah! There are two things that feature in this movie that I love, and love exploring: symbolic jewellery, and non-sexual BDSM. Thanks to porn (and the porn industry, more widely), BDSM is often associated with sex and big, heavy leather collars. While they may be for some people, they're not personally for me. Jun-Ji-Woo presents Jun Ji-Hoo with a pair of glasses, which she instructs him to wear anytime he wants her to lead over him. Not only, but the movie touches on non-sexual acts of service like massage, as well as exercises to build trust between a Dominant and a submissive, and the need for a submissive to trust a Dominant at all times.

10. There Are Still A Few Questionable Scenes, However

There is at least one flogging scene in which Jun Ji-Woo flogs Jun Ji-Hoo on his back, but the throngs of the flogger criss-cross over his spine. When I was taught to flog, I was always taught to avoid the spine and to focus on the shoulder blades instead, so unfortunately this movie does nothing to teach or promote safe practices there. Later in the movie - during the aftercare scene - Jun Ji-Hoo's back is cut up, which suggests either a hard flogging or a cheaply made flogger, perhaps one with sharp edges on the throngs. Personally, I don't know many Dominants (myself included) who want or like bleeding cuts on their floggees. Furthermore, at the end of the movie then Jun Ji-Woo appears to whip Jun Ji-Hoo across the face, just before the end credits roll. Please never, ever, ever whip your partner in or near the face - that's how someone loses an eye!

Second to this, there are some glaring isues with consent. While the couple have a contract that generally appears to work well, they haven't discussed any off-limits, which is a problem. If there is one thing that Fifty Shades did get right (and that I love it for), it's this contract-related, boundary-setting meeting scene - it's kinda sexy!

11. There's A Confusing Scene Almost Smack Bang In The Centre Of Love & Leashes

Jun-Hi-Hoo develops a sense of jealousy towards a co-worker who works with and develops feelings for Jun Ji-Woo, and Jun Ji-Hoo confesses it to Jun Ji-Woo. Jun Ji-Woo chastises him, after which Jun Ji-Hoo dares to suggest that Jun Ji-Woo should punish him. In the BDSM community this is called "topping from the bottom" and it can be particularly bothersome to many Dominants. As Jun Ji-Hoo debases him and drags him around the office, shouting insults at him and telling him how pathetic he is, lights flash, music plays and torn paper confetti falls from the ceiling. It feels like something from a K-Pop music video, because right in that moment, it kind of is.

12. The Movie Highlights The Fake Doms Out There

Fake Doms, unfortunately, are not uncommon in our community. They are not true Dominants because they lack the grace and maturity to know and understand that they don't know everything, that we all start somewhere, and that it makes you a much better Dominant to admit that you don't know everything than to go around acting as though you do. At their very worst, fake Doms are even dangerous, and there have sadly been rapists and murderers posing online as Dominants. This movie highlights what can heppen if you meet a fake Dom in a private setting, and why it is always important to vet somebody in public first, at least once. Not only, but it underscores the fact that, even here in the West where many communities enjoy protections frm hate crimes, then a lot of kinky people don't feel as though they can go to the police to report assaults and rapes for fear of their kinky nature being held against them. Friends, our work is not done.

13. Sadly, Love & Leashes Also Pays A Nod To The Stigma That Some Kinky People Experience In Their Relationships

People like myself know how lucky we are, we have a partner(s) who is knowledgeable of and accepts our kinky proclivities, but not everyone is that lucky. In the movie, Jun-Ji-Hoo's ex girlfriend, Hanna, often berates him for his preferences. She tells him that he is disgusting, that he is incapable of love and that he will never find love because of his desire to be submissive. She trashes a dinner date that Jun Ji-Hoo is setting up for Jun Ji-Woo, and when she arrives, his apartment is a mess. Jun Ji-Woo listens and tells him that "you can't hate someone you don't like" which, on the back of my past relationship, certainly left me to go away and thing about a few things.

14. The Movie Does Point Out The Problem With Playing In Public

In one scene, Jung Ji-Woo suggests to Jung Ji-Hoo that they go for a walk through a park and stop for a sandwich and some tea. Before they leave the car though, Jung Ji-Woo handcuffs Jung Ji-Hoo to herself, forcing him to walk alongside her all day. When Jung Ji-Hoo tries to eat with his free hand, he struggles, forcing Jung Ji-Woo to have to feed him. Other customers in the cafe notice and begin to comment on them being cuffed together, and awkwardness ensues. Having been bullied through much of my life, then this is one of the reasons that I personally don't do public play.

15. The Ending Does Feel A Bit Turbulent (And Farfetched)

The end of the movie features a formal disciplinary hearing, with Jun Ji-Woo and Jun Ji-Hoo having been recorded with a recording pen during one of their encounters. During the hearing, the all-male panel make a series of lewd comments at the couple, particularly of Jun Ji-Woo. I don't know about in South Korea and so I can't really comment there, but it does feel like something that wouldn't generally be tolerated in most companies. Upon the closure of the hearing, we then learn of the consequences for the couple and that the couple's boss too is having extra-marital relations at work, and so the whole end of the movie feels like an attempt to fit in as much drama and excitement before the end credits roll. Not only, but it ends with colleagues wishing Jung Ji-Woo and Jung Ji-Hoo happiness in their relationship and their D/s journey, which unfortunately, is somrthing that is exceptionally unlikely to ever happen in the real world.

16. Overall, Love & Leashes Promotes The Idea That Love And Kink Really Can Coincide

Because really, nothing feels as good as having that someone (or someones) in your life who accepts you exactly as you are. No two kinky relationshps ever look exactly the same, and really, that's okay. Love & Leashes teaches us that, no matter what you might be into, there really is someone out there for everyone. Someone who will love you both for who you are, and however you wish to be loved.

Conclusion

Over all, Love & Leashes is a great feel good film with a dash of kink and plenty of educational value. It's sexy, sensual and empowering, if slightly too dreamy at times. Nonetheless, it's still easy viewing, entertaining and enjoyable, earning it a solid four and a half stars from us.

That's it for this post, Twisties. Have you watched Love & Leashes yet? What did you think? Will you be watching it? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!

Stay safe & have fun,