I've watched many horror films, and while I've been quite impressed with the brand new directors that have come out in recent years, I must admit that nothing has surprised me as much as my recent love for Korean cinema.
Korean cinema is very distinct, even if the plot might seem familiar, the execution is always different from what we'd expect. The Wailing, also known in Korea as Gokseong is a prime example of that, a dark horror film with sticking imagery that managed to get under my skin with how unsettling it was.
The Horrific Plot
The Wailing is a 2016 South Korean horror film directed by Na Hong-jin and starring Kwak Do-won as the main character, an actor I hadn't had the chance to meet and who did an amazing job. Na Hong-jin's fame did not let me down after his major hit film The Chaser.
In the small village of Goksung in South Korea after a Japanese stranger arrives, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. This leads police officer Jong-Goo, our main character, to investigate the intriguing phenomena, he tries to get to the bottom of this illness while the town is filled with rumors that something much more sinister is happening, they say that an evil spirit has taken over the town.
The Wailing was both a commercial and critical success even if it didn't have a big impact in America, having a budget of $8 million and gaining over $51.3 million. With the success of films like Parasyte, I hope that Korean cinema can spread to a wider audience.
Dread and Horror
This is a film that filled me with intrigue, dread, and even left me horrified with many scenes, perhaps this is why I chose it for this week's theme.
Something that amazes me about this movie is that it all feels very grounded and real. The characters are normal people with no special skills to make them unique, the film is able to make us sympathise with them, our protagonist is just an everyday man, a normal police officer in an extremely stressful and horrific situation. The beautiful main relationship between the protagonist and his daughter makes us root for him and we truly fear for the well-being of them both, especially the daughter, as she seems to be a potential victim.
The Wailing is a slow burn film, you have to be patient and take every bit of information in, as well as give it time to start surprising you until you are just at the edge of your seat.
The town is like its own character, it feels very vivid and real, the people being extremely superstitious as well as touching on the xenophobia, as they blame this mysterious Japanese stranger for the illness. This is also tied to the very sensitive topic of the relationship between Korea and Japan, as Korea was Japanese property from 1910 to 1945, during these years the Koreans were oppressed and humiliated, creating a tension between these two countries that is even felt today.
This m ovie also touches on the clashing of traditional Korean religion with the Catholic faith, something that I found very interesting.
The Wailing doesn't wear its heart on its sleeve, the viewer must pay attention to the details and try to fit each one of the puzzle pieces. This film is ambiguous, one might feel uncertain at times.
This movie also might have a lot of interpretations, being rich in metaphors and ambiguity.
A Film that Crawls Under Your Skin
The Wailing earned its spot as one of the best horror films out there. It has amazing actors, an interesting premise, great cinematography, and the best exorcism sequence I have seen since The Exorcist. This is a passion project.
This film is surreal, visceral, and exquisite. This is an astonishing film that struck a chord in me. I recommend you watch it if you like different horror films that aren't concerned with jumpscares but in a rich story and amazing imagery.
This is an entry for League of Movies (HIVE WRITING CONTEST): Fifth Edition | Week 02 - Into the Dark sponsored by
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