by Nushie Adhikari
‘The Wailing’ is a 2016 Korean horror film directed and written by Na Hong-jin, known for other films such as ‘The Chaser’ and ‘The Yellow Sea’. The movie was acclaimed by critics and viewers; receiving an IMDB rating of 7.4 and a rotten tomato score of nearly 99%.
Image from The Guardian
The story revolves around Jong-goo, a police officer looking into a string of killings connected to a mysterious virus that has been driving the villagers insane and violently killing their families. The characters discuss how the strange Japanese man and his dog arriving at the small South Korean mountain village appear to be the catalyst for the infection and, soon enough, he becomes the target of Jong-goo’s investigation. This discovery kicks off the compelling, 156-minute-long film.
The Korean title (the original) title of the film is 곡성, or Gokseong, which is the name of the town where the story takes place. Gokseong literally means wailing (a cry of anguish and grief) in Korean; combined with the Hong-jin fascination with spirituality and the sense of “living nature” from his experience visiting his grandmother’s village. This somberness and foreboding nature of the setting perfectly encapsulates the general atmosphere of the film. The original title of "The Wailing" almost seems to prepare you for what’s going to happen, and the English translation fails to emphasise the profoundness of what this really means.
The Wailing's plot appears fairly straightforward, but there is so much more going on behind the scenes that I believe seeing it just once isn't doing it justice. Upon rewatching it, I became aware of minor details that had escaped my attention on the first viewing. The film's atmosphere seamlessly blends biblical symbolism with Asian folklore, creating a spellbinding two-and-a-half-hour thriller that features ghosts, zombies, demonic curses, and Christian mythology without being a mess of horror cliches.
Image from the Asian Cinema Critic
Without resorting to cheap horror movie tricks or overusing jump scares, the plot always seems to be one step ahead of you and never fails to keep you captivated and glued to your seat. While watching the film, you are in Jong-goo’s shoes, who receives the same information as the audience and is gradually putting the story together at the same time as us. Fortunately for those of us with weaker hearts, policeman Jong-goo adds an element of comedy during the initial plot development. However, the humour gradually fades as the horror slowly infiltrates the story and seamlessly takes reign.
Aside from the eerie and frightening, the underlying themes involve an examination of faith, particularly unwavering faith. At many points in the film, the characters are faced with choices where their faith is challenged and have pivotal discussions on pure faith and nothing else. With the Christian symbolism at the forefront of the film, “The Wailing” examines the complexity of faith and religion, and considering the director’s Christian background, it makes sense that it is both prominent and lurks in the backdrop.
The film opens with a bible verse from Luke 24:37- 39 :
“They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
This opening statement is perfect for the movie because it captures the essence of its tone, themes, and meaning in the best possible way.
The horror film "The Wailing" is a masterwork that stays one step ahead of the viewer and its protagonist while avoiding cheap clichés and tropes. It is worth watching twice as I think the second viewing is better than the first. This film is ideal for a Halloween night and serves as a great introduction to Korean cinema, a genre that is often overlooked.
About the Author: Nushie Adhikari (she/her)
Heya, I’m Anusha aka Nushie, currently (trying to) study journalism and media studies! You will probably find me rambling about either myths and folklore or social issues that I am passionate about, but I put the rambles to good use by writing for this magazine!
(This piece was edited by Kearin Green)
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