The traditional folk tale that "if a rat eats human fingernails, it turns into that person" is being reborn as the Netflix series Mousetrap, starring actors Ryu Jun Yeol, Sul Kyung-gu, and Lee Kyoo-hyung.

Mousetrap is a mystery thriller that follows Mun-jae (Ryu Jun Yeol), a novelist who has his name, face, and entire life stolen by a mysterious entity known as a "field rat"; No-ja (Sul Kyung-gu), a loan shark trying to recover lost money; and Soon-yong (Lee Kyoo-hyung), a detective tracking down the true identity of the rat. On the 24th, Netflix raised anticipation by releasing stills based on the "field rat that ate fingernails" folk tale, which serves as the motif for Mousetrap.

The released stills capture Mun-jae trimming his own fingernails, as well as Mun-jae and the field rat—sharing the exact same face—facing each other across a barbed-wire fence, foreshadowing ultimate suspense.

Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, the series delves into the loopholes of modern society where individuals are verified by mere appearances and a few pieces of personal information. Ryu Jun Yeol shared, "I thought how modern society—where we are inevitably defined by a few things like outward appearance, identification cards, and things around us that prove who we are—is well-melted into Mousetrap." Sul Kyung-gu also explained, "The chill of how easily one can be socially erased when not authenticated within the official notarization system, and how easily people are swayed by outward appearances, are attributes of modern society."

Lee Kyoo-hyung further noted, "It gave me goosebumps thinking that, due to overflowing personal information, someone could potentially steal my life too if they put their mind to it." Director Kim Hong-sun, who is at the helm, expressed confidence in the series' high level of immersion, stating, "Similar things are actually happening, and with more people living alone, I think it is a completely plausible scenario."

Combining a familiar folk tale with the sophisticated anxieties of modern society, the tracking thriller Mousetrap consists of 10 episodes and will be released via Netflix this coming Friday, the 28th.

(Photo: Netflix)

Reporter Kang Sun-ae

(SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kang Sun-ae)