![]() ![]() The Wailing stars Jun Kunimura whom you might recognize as Boss Tanaka from Kill Bill. The writing here is spot on, and Na has pulled some wonderful performances out of his actors. There’s a scene involving an exorcism(ish) ritual conducted outdoors in the daytime, and it still manages to be a very intense and overwhelming experience. The mystery is engaging and the ‘scary’ parts of the film are really effective and intense. The Wailing really works as a crime thriller, and a horror movie. ![]() There’s a lot of history to unpack there, which isn’t my intention in this article, but knowing this tension exists there makes a story where a Japanese man is believed to be a murdering ghost causing death in a Korean village understandable with that historical context. As it turns out, there is some serious hostility between Japan and Korea from past war crimes from Japan to Korea. In the film there is some immediate hostility towards a Japanese man who has come to town, and everyone seems more suspicious of him for being Japanese rather than a stranger. I admit, I had to ask a friend of mine, who is a self-professed expert on all things Asia, for some context here. It’s clear from the significant differences in these three films that Na is a filmmaker first, and a horror moviemaker second. Speaking of which, the writer and director here is Hong-jin Na, who also wrote and directed an excellent film called The Chaser and one I haven’t seen called The Yellow Sea. This feels very much like the story that the writer (and director) wanted to tell, and it comes across in a significant way. The story happens to be frightening and includes paranormal elements, and it’s not people trying to make a horror film, or trying to make it work for what sells. Much in the same way that The Exorcist does, if that helps to explain the reference. KILL BILL BOSS TANAKA SCENE MOVIEThis is one of those horror films that feels like a film first and a horror movie second. The setup is clean, and carries through without taking a tangent into brutal child abuse-looking at you, One Missed Call. The story is deep and complex, with a quick pace, kicking things off with an early bloody crime scene to get the adrenaline running. The Wailing is a whopping two hours and 35 minutes long, but it doesn’t feel like it. Through October you heard me complain and complain about movies being too long, you’ll probably be wondering why I don’t have that issue here. So, this time we’re talking about a movie you need to get your eyes on: The Wailing. This issue, we’re taking a trip back to South Korea, because Train To Busan has ignited a genuine interest in me and I just need more Korean cinema in my life. Come to think of it, honestly, not much is going to change other than the tag is done, so welcome back. Well, my #31DaysOfHorror are over, which means I’m back to reviewing…horror movies still. A policeman is drawn into the incident and is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter. Above: Photo via Ī stranger arrives in a little village and soon after a mysterious sickness starts spreading. ![]()
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