If Wishes Could Kill (2026) Review: A Chilling Horror That Stays With You

In recent times, we are seeing an uptick in horror shows and movies. Maybe it is just the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, but it does feel like more and more horror content is coming through. And the latest internet obsession? If Wishes Could Kill. Sounds ominous, right?

So is it anything more than a passing internet obsession, or is it something you genuinely must watch?

At a Glance

Show: If Wishes Could Kill
Platform: Netflix
Release Date: April 24, 2026
Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Teen Drama, Thriller
Core Hook: A wish granting cursed app that starts a countdown to death
Verdict: 3.5/5
Watch If You Like: Modern horror, curse-based storytelling, character-driven plots

The Premise: A Familiar Curse With a Modern Twist

If Wishes Could Kill is a Korean drama released on April 24th on Netflix, and it quickly became the talk of the internet, with reels and memes related to the Girigo app.

The plot is fairly simple, as it often is with the genre. There is a curse, and the curse is killing you. The hook is that this curse is high tech. Jokes aside, the show stays consistent with how curses are portrayed in many East Asian stories. Any object with enough resentment can become a curse. It does not need to be an ancient relic.

The story follows a group of high school students who come across an app that fulfills your wish if you truly, wholeheartedly want something. The catch is simple. Once your wish is fulfilled, your countdown to death begins. It is a fun concept that adds a fresh spin to a familiar formula, and it is executed in a creative way.

Dual Timelines That Actually Work

The show takes place across two timelines. When you hear that, you might expect decades between them, but not here. The timelines are separated by around three to four years. One shows when the curse first emerged, while the other follows the current group of students discovering the app.

We meet Jeon So-young as Yoo Se-ah, Kang Mi-na as Lim Na-ri, Baek Sun-ho as Kim Geon-woo, Hyun Woo-seok as Kang Ha-joon, and Lee Hyo-je as Choi Hyeong-wook. They are childhood friends now in high school, and like most teenage stories, there are relationships and unrequited feelings in the mix.

The tone shifts quickly once Hyeong-wook scores unexpectedly high in an exam and reveals that he used the Girigo app. Soon after, he starts seeing a timer on his phone and receives calls suggesting his friends are speaking badly about him. To his credit, Hyeong-wook trusts his friends and believes Se-ah would never say those things.

But the situation spirals, and he brutally takes his own life with a box opener in school, in front of everyone. Se-ah witnesses this, and the trauma hits hard.

When the Horror Escalates

Se-ah starts connecting the dots when another wish comes true. Her boyfriend Geon-woo had wished for her weekend practice to be cancelled, and it happened due to the sudden death of Hyeong-wook.

When Ha-joon, the tech-savvy friend, tries to remove the app, they realize this is no ordinary software. It persists even after wiping the phone. The ghost reacts aggressively. When they try to interfere with the system, the ghost possesses Geon-woo and attempts multiple murders.

Se-ah manages to stop him with a well-timed hit, but he ends up hospitalized. To save him, Se-ah makes a wish. At this point, you might feel the predictability creeping in. You are not wrong. The show follows familiar beats until it suddenly doesn’t.

The Best Characters in the Show

This is where the show really picks up. Ha-joon’s elder sister enters the story, bringing a paranormal angle. Jeon So-nee plays Kang Ha-young, also known as Haetsal, a shaman. Alongside her is Roh Jae-won as Bangwool. They are easily the coolest characters in the show.

They function as ghost hunters, and both carry enough mystery in their backstories to justify a potential spin-off. Based on the ending, that possibility feels very real. Ha-young handles the spiritual side, while Bangwool provides the comic relief.

Performances That Carry the Story

The show keeps you hooked with enough mystery to pull you through each episode. It does slow down in the middle, but that slowdown helps humanize the characters.

In terms of performances, there are a few standouts. Roh Jae-won delivers a particularly strong performance. It stands out clearly. Kang Mi-na as Lim Na-ri is another highlight. Seeing her transition into an impulsive antagonist role is genuinely engaging, especially if you remember her from Hotel Del Luna.

Jeon So-young as Se-ah is solid, even though her character makes questionable decisions at times. Those moments feel more like script-driven choices than performance issues. Jeon So-nee as Ha-young and Kim Si-Ah as Do Hye Ryeong play a key role in maintaining the tension and mystery surrounding the twists.

Horror That Relies on Atmosphere, Not Cheap Tricks

This is modern horror, and for anime fans or manhwa readers, the concept is not entirely new. Still, the execution works. The actors feel believable, and the special effects are realistic enough to maintain immersion. The show does not rely heavily on jump scares, which is always a plus.

Instead, it builds tension through atmosphere and storytelling. It keeps things easy to follow without drowning the viewer in complicated explanations. Yes, there are plot holes. You will notice them. But the show keeps its focus tight on the characters and the ghost, which makes it easier to overlook those gaps.

Final Verdict: Worth the Hype, But Not Perfect

If Wishes Could Kill manages to stay relevant beyond its initial internet buzz because it understands what makes horror engaging. It keeps things simple, builds tension steadily, and lets its characters carry the weight.

Rating:

I am giving it a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is fun and intriguing enough to keep you watching. There are a few moments designed to shock, but the real strength lies in its eerie tone and its use of folklore. The performances elevate the experience and make it more engaging than it could have been.

Should You Watch It?

If you enjoy modern horror with a clean concept and strong character focus, this is worth your time. It is not groundbreaking, but it is effective.

Give it a watch and see if the curse works on you too.

So, have you watched If Wishes Could Kill? What did you think of it? It is now streaming on Netflix. For more such reviews and breakdowns, keep checking The Watchlist Diaries.