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The Wailing
곡성
2016 156 min South Korea, United States of America 16+
★7.8
Horror, Mystery
Director: Na Hong-jin
Trailers
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EN
Description
A stranger arrives in a little village and soon after a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman is drawn into the incident and is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.
Budget:
$10.95M
US Gross:
$786,633
Worldwide:
$49.85M
Starring
Jun Kunimura
Actor
Hwang Jung-min
Actor
Kwak Do-won
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2017
— Best Director
Asian Film Academy 2017
— Best Picture
Asian Film Academy 2017
— Best Supporting Actor
Saturn Awards 2017
— Best Blu-ray/DVD Edition
Key opinion
The Wailing is widely regarded as a visually stunning and atmospheric masterwork that revitalizes the horror genre through its unique fusion of detective, thriller, and shamanic elements. While its ambitious, genre-bending approach leaves some viewers feeling frustrated by its ambiguity and pacing, most acknowledge the film as a deeply unsettling and technically accomplished piece of South Korean cinema.
| Cinematography | Cinematography and visual design consistently deliver an oppressive, beautiful atmosphere that elevates the film's rural setting. | |
| Acting | Performances across the cast, particularly by Kim Hwan-hee and Jun Kunimura, are exceptional and anchor the film's emotional intensity. | |
| Runtime | The film's ambitious 2.5-hour runtime is a point of contention: supporters find the slow, meditative tempo essential for immersion, while critics view it as sluggish and excessive. | |
| Screenplay | The genre-blending script transitions from dark comedy to raw horror, which some praise as a unique, refreshing narrative structure and others find tonally jarring. | |
| Ending | The conclusion is highly divisive, with some audiences appreciating the lingering, unresolved mystery, while others find the lack of explicit answers frustrating and confusing. |