The runtime had me thinking twice but once I started it the time honestly flew by. It's engrossing, thrilling, terrifying and amazingly enough, comedic! You're going to think you know what you're watching but it will keep you guessing until the very end. Once the credits started rolling I felt thoroughly creeped out and immensely satisfied. It's kind of like you've been sitting out in the woods by the fire at night and someone's told you a very old and very eerie folktale - and, uh, they told it so well you kind of wish they hadn't at all. (Lastly....how did this one tale manage to cram like 9 horror movies into one film?? Definitely gonna seek out more from this director).
Though it starts as a murder investigation in some lush, verdant, rural part of South Korea, The Wailing eventually turns into that country's equivalent of The Exorcist, and as for the mystery, it's a supernatural kind of whodunit - not just who is causing a plague of rage, madness and evil, but who in the village might be the ghost or demon. Everybody seems to comment on the length, and yes, I does feel a bit long (there, I've done it too), but it does allow for the kinds of twists - in story as well as genre - that elevate the film (and indeed, many of the best Korean films, a national output that often succeeds in confounding expectations). Personal stakes for the lead, a shlubby country cop, when his young daughter starts to go Linda Blair. Conflicting answers from ghosts and ghost breakers. Sin attracting sin, but nothing as simple as that. And luscious cinematography that nevertheless keeps things grounded in an every day reality that allows us to be non-believers like some of the characters in the drama. We perhaps get lied to once too many times, but the I think about The Wailing, the less than matters to me.
Very interesting movie. Some parts require you to pay a good amount of attention to properly follow what's going on - I definitely missed the meaning or implication of one or two key moments, though not in away that diminshed the experience at all.
A lot going on and a lot to get out of this movie. A lot of suspense built up an reasons to question your understanding of what's really happening throughout.
This was my most hyped Korean film of the year, and although I enjoyed it, I was left wanting much more. It's a definite step back from The Yellow Sea for director Hong-jin Na.
I loved the low-key performance by Jun Kunimura and the highly energetic performance of Jung-min Hwang. Kinda felt like the film was made with Kang-ho Song in mind for the main role, but they just couldn't scrape up the dollarinos for him and had to settle for Do-won Kwak.
The mystery in the film is pretty solid and it keeps developing beautifully throughout, but there are some really weak moments that feel highly out of place. The whole zombie shite was one of those I could've lived without. There were some truly unnerving scenes in the film that caught me by surprise, the scene where Jung-min Hwangs character starts spouting blood was truly terrific. The exorcism scenes were also some of the high points of the film.
Still got a few Korean pieces from 2016 to see, but this was the best of the year so far, but when your competition are movies like the God-awful softcore porn The Handmaiden and probably the worst Korean movie of all time Train to Busan, you haven't really impressed anyone.
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Comments 1 - 10 of 10
PrinceJax
The runtime had me thinking twice but once I started it the time honestly flew by. It's engrossing, thrilling, terrifying and amazingly enough, comedic! You're going to think you know what you're watching but it will keep you guessing until the very end. Once the credits started rolling I felt thoroughly creeped out and immensely satisfied. It's kind of like you've been sitting out in the woods by the fire at night and someone's told you a very old and very eerie folktale - and, uh, they told it so well you kind of wish they hadn't at all. (Lastly....how did this one tale manage to cram like 9 horror movies into one film?? Definitely gonna seek out more from this director).Musanna
Excellent. Hong Jin-Na is on one hell of a streak.One of my favorite directors working today for sure.
acoltismypassport
That was one hell of a ride, something of a combination of 'Moss' (2010), and 'Memories of Murder' (2003).Brilliant stuff.
Cynicus Rex
How am I supposed to sleep now.cinephile085
Well I did not see that comingonuryz
aka The WailingSiskoid
Though it starts as a murder investigation in some lush, verdant, rural part of South Korea, The Wailing eventually turns into that country's equivalent of The Exorcist, and as for the mystery, it's a supernatural kind of whodunit - not just who is causing a plague of rage, madness and evil, but who in the village might be the ghost or demon. Everybody seems to comment on the length, and yes, I does feel a bit long (there, I've done it too), but it does allow for the kinds of twists - in story as well as genre - that elevate the film (and indeed, many of the best Korean films, a national output that often succeeds in confounding expectations). Personal stakes for the lead, a shlubby country cop, when his young daughter starts to go Linda Blair. Conflicting answers from ghosts and ghost breakers. Sin attracting sin, but nothing as simple as that. And luscious cinematography that nevertheless keeps things grounded in an every day reality that allows us to be non-believers like some of the characters in the drama. We perhaps get lied to once too many times, but the I think about The Wailing, the less than matters to me.Tidorith
Very interesting movie. Some parts require you to pay a good amount of attention to properly follow what's going on - I definitely missed the meaning or implication of one or two key moments, though not in away that diminshed the experience at all.A lot going on and a lot to get out of this movie. A lot of suspense built up an reasons to question your understanding of what's really happening throughout.
allisoncm
On Shudderder Zorn Gottes
This was my most hyped Korean film of the year, and although I enjoyed it, I was left wanting much more. It's a definite step back from The Yellow Sea for director Hong-jin Na.I loved the low-key performance by Jun Kunimura and the highly energetic performance of Jung-min Hwang. Kinda felt like the film was made with Kang-ho Song in mind for the main role, but they just couldn't scrape up the dollarinos for him and had to settle for Do-won Kwak.
The mystery in the film is pretty solid and it keeps developing beautifully throughout, but there are some really weak moments that feel highly out of place. The whole zombie shite was one of those I could've lived without. There were some truly unnerving scenes in the film that caught me by surprise, the scene where Jung-min Hwangs character starts spouting blood was truly terrific. The exorcism scenes were also some of the high points of the film.
Still got a few Korean pieces from 2016 to see, but this was the best of the year so far, but when your competition are movies like the God-awful softcore porn The Handmaiden and probably the worst Korean movie of all time Train to Busan, you haven't really impressed anyone.