Horror fans are completely “mesmerised” by this Korean film set against the backdrop of a rural village, tucked away in the mountains, where mysterious deaths continue to occur.
The Wailing is a 2016 horror that found a new lease of life when it was released on streaming services, and fans can’t seem to say enough good things about it. With an impressive 99% overall score on the review site Rotten Tomatoes, it appears to live up to its rave reviews.
The award-winning Korean film focuses on a police officer who is investigating a series of deaths in his community. Locals of Gokseong, a mountainous village, are pointing the finger at a newcomer to the area as there continues to be paranormal activity unsettling the area.
No one seems safe from these deadly forces, not even the young daughter of the police officer, who begins to show signs of infection. More questions are being raised as the community is left in turmoil, and the investigation grows to be more dangerous and disruptive than they could have ever imagined.
A rave Rotten Tomatoes review states: “A horror film that runs over two and a half hours must be fully confident in the strength of its vision, and The Wailing certainly is. It keeps you hooked from start to finish, though often in a frustrating way: you’re exasperated by the choices some characters make, yet you desperately want them to survive. And that’s exactly what a great horror film should do: involve you, unsettle you, and frighten you.”
Another viewer said: “The Wailing begins with the tone of a dark comedy, luring you into a false sense of ease—then slowly unravels into something far more sinister. There are no cheap jump scares here, just a masterfully controlled descent into nightmarish chaos.”
Someone else described the movie to be “mesmerising, horrifying, and agonising”. They wrote: “This movie will stay with you long after the credits roll. Easily one of the most memorable and haunting horror films I’ve ever seen and well worth the lengthy runtime.”
Meanwhile, critics share a similar sentiment, with one writing: “The Wailing is one of my favourite horror films. It’s deeply unsettling in how Na Hong-jin uses sound, imagery, time, and costuming to build a layered story…”
At just over two and a half hours long, The Wailing manages to keep viewers “gripped” for each minute, thanks to the work of writer and director Na Hong-jin. The filmmaker is also the brains behind popular Korean films such as The Chaser and The Yellow Sea.
Kwak Do-won stars as the main character, Jong-goo, the policeman and father of Hyo-Jin, alongside Hwang Jung-min as Il-gwang, the shaman hired to protect the village.
Other cast members include Chun Woo-hee as the woman in white and Kim Hwan-hee playing Joo-goo’s daughter is Kim Hwan-hee.
If you’re looking for your next gripping watch, reccommended by countless Horror fans, The Wailing is avaliable to stream now on Amazon Prime.