Simon McEnteggart from the Korean movie review site Hanguk Yeonghwa gives Korvia.com his list of 5 Korean horror films that will make you lose sleep!
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K-horrors haven’t been especially successful recently, however there are some great scares to be had if you look back a few years. So, in no particularly order, here are 5 Korean horror films guaranteed to chill you to the bone.
A Tale of Two Sisters
A Tale of Two Sisters is arguably the best K-horror to emerge from the industry. Director Kim Jee-woon is a master of playing with genre, and his foray into horror is marked with an astounding use of colour and locations as well as expertly ramping up tension for scares that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. (Click here to read the review)
“…arguably the best K-horror to emerge from the industry.”
Bedevilled
Independent film Bedevilled begins more akin to a social drama, as the film explores the hardships of life experienced by kindly Bok-nam on a tiny island community. Yet as the story continues, and as Bok-nam’s punishments and tortures by the villages elders become increasingly severe, she suddenly snaps and begins a murderous – yet highly thrilling – rampage against those who’ve wronged her. (Click here to read the review)
“…one of those special cinematic events that occurs far too rarely in the film industry.”
R-Point
R-Point is an intriguing horror film as it deviates from typical features of the genre. Set in Vietnam in 1972, the film depicts a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Choi Tae-in as they search for survivors of conflict. As they prepare a base camp within an abandoned mansion, strange things begin happening to them all, and it’s not long before the death toll starts rising.
“The film is unique for the manner in which it blends horror and war.”
The Whispering Corridors Series
Ok, I’m cheating a little with this entry. There are 5 films in the series – Whispering Corridors, Memento Mori, Wishing Stairs, Voice, and A Blood Pledge – and everyone seems to have their own personal favourite so it’s tough to select just one. The films are horror tales set within all-girl’s high schools, although each of them are individual stories and not connected in any way. With ghosts, suicide, betrayals, and exams (!) on the agenda, high school has never been scarier.
“The series brilliantly explores teenage issues through horrific situations.”
Killer Toon (AKA The Webtoon)
Killer Toon was the most successful recent K-horror and it’s not hard to see why, especially with webtoons so popular in Korean culture. When a slew of grisly and bloody murders take place that resemble scenes from a famous webtoon, the detective on the case begins to suspect an artist of the shocking crimes…but is she responsible? (Click here to read the review)
“Killer Toon is one of the most refreshing additions to K-horror for quite some time.”
For a list of more great K-horrors, check out the horror section over at Hanguk Yeonghwa by clicking here.
Great suggestions! Looking forward to watching a few new horror movies from Korea this fall!