The Wailing (2016) (Korean Language)

Review

156min

Genre:      Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Director:   Hong-jin Na

Cast:        Do Won Kwak, Jun Kunimura, Woo-hee Chun…and more

Writer:     Hong-jin Na

-Synopsis-

When a series of grisly murders and a related mysterious sickness devastate an unsuspecting modern-day South Korean village; an inept and comically cowardly local cop must unravel the mystery of the dark cloud which has settled over his town and save his infant daughter before she becomes consumed by its evil, in a moody supernatural horror from director Hong-jin Na.

For those with an international cinematic eye, the rise of Asian cinema over the last couple of decades is a perfect example of the positive effects of globalisation on the film industry, with both established film nations like Japan and emerging ones like The Philippines taking proven Hollywood elements and adding their own distinct cultural twists, often to great effect.

No nation however is a greater recent example of a thriving international film business than South Korea; with a movie industry galvanised by directors like Chan-wook Park (Oldboy, Thirst) and making a mark on this year’s international film festival with zombie apocalypse horror ‘Train to Busan’, sexually-charged period drama ‘The Handmaiden’… and of course ‘The Wailing’. A nuanced, creepy and captivating supernatural horror, which could teach modern directors a thing or two about making a good horror film without exhaustive clichés, cheap CGI and maximum shock & awe.

In an aromatic cinematic Korean potpourri of classic Horror and Thriller elements, Do Won Kwak stars as “Jong-Goo”; a humble family man and local bumbling police sergeant, who struggles to overcome his natural cowardly disposition when several of the local townspeople inexplicably transform into murderous savages. Tasked with investigating the killings and a strange related sickness, and suspecting that a recently arrived mysterious Japanese stranger might be involved, “Jong-Goo” is thrown into a race against time and evil when his daughter is ominously taken ill.

From the start it’s clear the ‘The Wailing’ is not your average one-note horror picture which will stumble over clichés like so many before it; kicking off the story with a light and almost comedically goofy tone, as it fleshes out the characters and focuses on the often farcical and effeminate hero “Jong-Goo”, all against some dark and disturbing goings-on in “Goksung” village.

Although it retains some of its levity, the mood of the film then begins to change and becomes awash with foreboding and paranoia, as director Hong-jin Na begins to expertly weave together a clever narrative with any number familiar genre elements; from demonic possession and the supernatural occult, to a traditional “undead” zombie angle and a near neo-noir detective mystery. ‘The Wailing’ manages to steadily grip you throughout an unusually long horror film runtime, while providing genuine intrigue and creepiness without resorting to jump-scare gimmicks or drenching the audience in blood and gore.

‘The Wailing’ is an entertaining and distinctly effective mood piece, with a persistent air of fear and paranoia which is reminiscent of many a Cold War thriller and horror, event playing into faded but clearly present Korean anti-Japanese historical resentment. The film is also very much a father-daughter drama featuring moments of real poignancy, with “Jong-Goo” struggling with his many fears while determined to save his infant daughter, and star Do Won Kwak brings a very different horror protagonist to the screen, someone who’s as endearing as he is frustrating and sits somewhere between hero and victim… but in this game of “good vs. evil” there are no real heroes, and everyone’s a victim.

If you’re looking for instant gratification or maximum gore and carnage, ‘The Wailing’ might not be the film for you. This is a measured horror/thriller which builds over two-and-a-half hours, which however never feel overstretched or too long, ramping up the tension and menace throughout while the story twists and turns with misdirection, keeping the audience uneasy and guessing all the way to the end… and even beyond it.

The Bottom Line…

A thoroughly entertaining supernatural horror/thriller mystery and an expertly orchestrated mashup of familiar cinematic themes; ‘The Wailing’ is a delightfully unsettling little South Korean gem and perfect example of thriving Asian cinema, a lesson in how to creep-out and captivate an audience for well over two hours… without resorting to exhaustive blood & guts and cheap jump-scares.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Train to Busan (2016) (Korean Language)

The passengers on a high-speed South Korean train are inadvertently caught up in a “Zombie” apocalypse when a virulent virus quickly spreads across the country; but far from their coffin, the train proves their only hope for survival as they struggle against the ravenous hoards towards their final destination.

Directed by Sang-ho Yeon and starring Yoo Gong, Soo-an Kim and Yu-mi Jeong among others.

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