The Wailing (2016): The evil in the forest

ByFabian Bullitt

2016 • Na Hong-jin • 2.35:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Na Hong-jin‘s 2016 film The Wailing follows a police officer investigating a series of brutal murders linked to a mysterious illness in a rural village. Suspicion centres on a reclusive outsider whose arrival coincides with the start of the crimes. As the situation escalates, the investigation becomes intertwined with supernatural explanations and conflicting belief systems.

Combining elements of Korean folklore, Christianity and shamanistic traditions, the film features extended ritual sequences characterised by intense physical performances. Initially adopting a naturalistic approach, the film instils a subtle unease that gradually gives way to more explicit horror imagery.

The Wailing is a significant contemporary horror film, integrating local cultural elements into a globally accessible form and employing a procedural structure within a folk horror framework. Emphasising ambiguity over resolution, it is frequently cited as a defining example of 21st-century horror, prioritising atmosphere, thematic complexity, and interpretive openness over conventional narrative closure.

Technical Specs:

  • The Story: When a mysterious stranger arrives in a rural Korean village, a series of gruesome deaths and unexplained illnesses follow, sending a bumbling police officer on a desperate search for answers as paranoia and supernatural dread take hold. Read my review of The Wailing.
  • Actors: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee, Kim Hwan-hee, Jun Kunimura, Son Kang-guk.
  • Director: Na Hong-jin
  • Year: 2016
  • Cinematographer: Hong Kyung-pyo
  • Origin: Korean Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Genre: Horror & Supernatural
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