The Wailing

I don't know what it is about the South Korean film industry that has me so addicted to their beautifully rendered films and near-perfect cinematography. My kick with these films began back when I first laid eyes on Park Chan-wook's 2003 hit Oldboy, and my obsession continued by diving into the other two films in the director's vengeance trilogy. I followed the path into I Saw The Devil, and from there my curiosity just kept me going and going and going. Several films later I am now here with a fantasy-horror film The Wailing. 

The Wailing is directed by Na Hong-jin, an on-the-rise director in South Korea whose had two very successful films so far: The Chaser and The Yellow Sea. Both were fairly dark pictures but stayed well within the realm of reality. With The Wailing, Na Hong-jin took a tale of possession and turned it into both a mystery, fantasy, and horror film all-in-one. 

The film follows Officer Jong-goo who is investigating a series of disturbances and murders within his village. Superstitions arise that an old Japanese man who just moved into the village is the cause of the outbreaks, while others suggest it's because of mushrooms. It's when his daughter is caught with the same plague that has been afflicting the other residents that Jong-goo gets fairly overwhelmed. Not knowing what to do, he takes matters into his own hands seeking vengeance, and also calling on a shaman for help.

For starters, the film is long - about two and a half hours - and will most likely bore the hell out of the typical horror watcher who is just looking for action, gore, guts, and all the like. It will also bore people who are looking for your typical tale of possession; this movie is neither of those. This is it's own beast, but the pacing is excellent.


When I first met Jong-goo, he was a despicable coward who could only command around others to carry away attackers. He couldn't defend himself and even looking at a still, creepy mask in a box would make him jump. It was interesting to watch him, however, go from coward to a man of action all in the name of his daughter. That character transformation, the almost insane approach Jong-goo takes on his way to figure out what is plaguing both his daughter and his village, was intriguing.

The Wailing is the kind of film that keeps you guessing throughout its entire duration. I questioned to myself several times throughout my viewing of the film as to whether or not there were demons really at play, or if everything was just being blown out of proportion. It's only till later in the film that we receive our definite answer.

Jong-goo is constantly feels threatened throughout the duration of the film by three main forces: The Japanese stranger, the Shaman, and a  mysterious woman Moo-Myeong who says she saw what happened at one of the murder scenes. While Jong-goo combats the Japanese stranger, enlists and shoos off the shaman, and speaks with Moo-Myeong, it gets harder and harder throughout the film figuring out who is trying to help and who - or what - is trying to destroy Jong-goo. The finale of the film is stuttering in some senses, fantastical in others, but cleanses all answers from the plate.

The Wailing is another grand South Korean film with a well drawn out presentation and scoping shots. There's an edge of comedy to the film that dies down as matters get worse and worse, almost reflecting Jong-goo's mind decay. This is a film for those who love a good mystery and want to be kept on the tips of their toes for the entire ride. 

The Wailing is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon as well as other major retailers.