Netflix’s South Korean thriller “Mousetrap” centers on novelist Je Moon-jae, whose identity is stolen by a mysterious figure known as “The Rat.” The 10-episode series, adapted from a 2017 Kakao Webtoon and directed by Kim Hong-sun, explores the dark concept of identity fraud as Moon-jae loses access to his finances and becomes a fugitive while a detective and crime ring pursue him.
The Rat’s true identity is revealed to be Seo Yu-min, a former literary club acquaintance with a devastating history. Yu-min harbors deep resentment toward Moon-jae for plagiarizing his unpublished work and for fabricating rumors that drove their mutual friend So Min-yeong to social ostracism and eventual suicide. After undergoing plastic surgery and voice training, Yu-min executes an elaborate revenge scheme involving identity fraud, framing Moon-jae for murder, and orchestrating a complex web of deception that puts the detective—who was actually Moon-jae’s adopted brother—on his trail.
The finale reveals a shocking twist: Moon-jae himself is an unreliable narrator who had stolen Yu-min’s story to launch his literary career and doesn’t fully remember his cruel actions due to medication. During their confrontation aboard a ship returning to where their tragedy began, Moon-jae kills Yu-min. However, the closing scene ambiguously suggests Yu-min may still be alive, implying Moon-jae cannot escape the consequences of his past actions.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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