It's about religious fear, but also about the fear of the outsider. 'The Wailing' is a story full of ghosts, zombies, and demons that, despite a 156-minute runtime, never gets boring. He's desperate for a solution, and his family eventually turns to a shaman for some kind of answer.īut this situation is much more complicated, and an exorcism can't solve things. As the body count rises and his daughter becomes infected, police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) begins digging into the truth behind the disease.

The string of murders are linked to the arrival of a Japanese man (Jun Kunimura) who lives on the outskirts of town. In the small rural town of Gokseong, a strange disease is infecting residents, making them go mad and commit violent crimes.

This list will highlight the best horror films that Korean filmmakers have to offer, which encompass everything from revenge thrillers to creature features to ghost stories. Korean horror films are masterclasses in building dread and tension, leading to deeply disturbing movies that offer twisted perspectives on the human condition. Before 'Stoker,' Park made 'Oldboy,' as well as the rest of his Vengeance Trilogy. Before 'Parasite,' Bong directed the environmental disaster film 'The Host'. Everyone can be the villain.ĭirectors like Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook made names for themselves in the Korean horror scene, using the genre to create their own unique spins on well-worn tropes. Violence is treated like an art form, beautifully choreographed in films like 'Oldboy' and 'I Saw The Devil' that illustrate the evil any person is capable of in these movies, there isn't one explicit bad guy. These films are not as concerned with quick cuts and jump scares, but rather digging into the deepest parts of the human subconscious, where dark thoughts grow like poisonous mushrooms.

The brand of horror found in Korean cinema contradicts much of what we expect from mainstream American movies. Korean horror movies are brutal, funny, and in a completely different league.

Korean movies to watch