The Wailing (2016) [Film Review]

The Wailing; or, Something Wicked This Way Comes

     It wasn't just one or two people. He took pictures of them when they were alive and then went back for more when they went crazy and died.

The Wailing is a South Korean supernatural/mystery horror directed by Na Hong Jin (The Chaser (2008)). The year it was released, it gained both critical and commercial success as well as lots of awards at many film festivals. I remember being vaguely aware of the movie back in 2016, but it was this year when I finally had the time to sit down and calmly check it out. Needless to say, The Wailing blew me away with its gripping plot and unconventional storytelling.
Release Info

Directed by: Na Hong Jin Starring: Kwak Do Won, Kim Hwan Hee, Jun Kunimura, Chun Woo Hee

Language: Korean Original Title: 곡성 Runtime: 156 min

 

Synopsis

Jong Goo (Kwak Do Won) is a local police officer who investigates a series of brutal murders in his village. The perpetrators had a rash and behaved in a very violent manner only to fall into a stupor and die after committing a murder. Jong Goo’s investigation leads him to believe in rumours about the Japanese stranger living in the mountains (Jun Kunimura) who is responsible for the spread of an unknown disease. John Goo starts having dreams about the stranger and, soon after, his daughter, Hyo Jin (Kim Hwan Hee), falls ill. Desperate to cure Hyo Jin, John Goo succumbs to the gossip and confronts the Japanese stranger. In consequence, a series of supernatural events ensues which make the police officer doubt who to trust and who to fight.

 

The Exorcist 2.0

I have to say this out front: The Wailing is the best horror film I have seen in the last ten years. I know that giving it a label of pure “horror” may be debatable, but that was my primary impression after spending two hours and a half watching a village that descends into primal frenzy.

 

The greatest advantage of the film is its ambiguity. There are subtle moments, grand sequences, and bold playing with the language of film itself that made me think about David Lynch’s Lost Highway (1997) or Christopher Nolan’s Memento (2000). After watching the film, my mind was crammed with multiple theories about what really happened in the story. Did everyone go crazy because of bad mushrooms? Maybe there were some supernatural forces working behind the scenes? Suffice to say, I am not the only viewer with similar thoughts. The film is deconstructed again and again by its many fans.

 

Director Na Hong Jin allegedly devoted the whole 6 years for the production of this movie. To be honest, the meticulousness of his endeavour is clearly visible on the screen. Apart from playing with conventions, we get to see some folktale stuff as well as references to Buddhism and Christianity. The further the story goes, the more gripping it becomes, which only made me regret that I checked it out just now. What is more, the final climax… OMG (no spoilers), it left me absolutely gobsmacked.

 

With regard to performances, Kwak Do Won does a very good job as a clumsy cop/loving father lost in a maze of vagueness and ambivalence. Kim Hwan Hee is wonderful as a daughter in distress. Long have I waited and now I saw such a professional child actor. Nevertheless, the ultimate praise goes to Jun Kunimura for his supporting part. Seriously, he should have won an Oscar for his performance!

 

Recommendations

If you have not seen The Wailing yet, do not repeat my mistake and watch it now. As I said already, it is a beautifully crafted film that sent chills down my spine. I would go as far as to say that it eats the classic William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) on breakfast. The Wailing is in a league of its own. By the way, be extra careful when somebody wants to take a picture of you!

Overall score: 8/10