The Wailing (film)
| The Wailing | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Na Hong-jin |
| Produced by | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Written by | Na Hong-jin[1] |
| Starring | Kwak Do-won Hwang Jung-min Chun Woo-hee |
| Music by | Jang Young-gyu Dalpalan[1] |
| Cinematography | Hong Kyung-pyo[1] |
| Edited by | Kim Sun-min[1] |
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Production
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Side Mirror
Fox International Production Korea |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox Korea |
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Release dates
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Running time
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156 minutes[1] |
| Country | South Korea[1] |
| Language | Korean Japanese |
| Budget | US$8 million |
| Box office | US$51.3 million[2] |
The Wailing (Hangul: 곡성; hanja: 哭聲; RR: Gokseong) is a 2016 South Korean horror film directed by Na Hong-jin about a policeman who investigates a series of mysterious killings and illnesses. It was both a commercial and critical success.[3]
Contents
Plot
A Japanese man has recently arrived at a little village in the mountains of South Korea, living in a secluded house. A mysterious disease starts spreading among the villagers, causing a rash which precedes violent murderous outbreaks followed by stupor and eventually death.
Police officer Jong-goo, who is investigating the case, meets a mysterious young woman called Moo-myeong (“no name” in Korean), who tells him about the Japanese stranger, and later disappears. A local hunter tells Jong-goo that he saw the near-naked stranger eating a deer, with glowing red eyes. Jong-goo is unsettled, as he has had dreams about this stranger, which the hunter had described to him. He enlists the help of another police officer, and a Japanese-speaking deacon to serve as an interpreter, and they investigate the stranger's house while he is away. The other police officer finds pictures of the infected and murdered residents and their belongings. He is too shocked to say anything to the others. The stranger's house guard dog attacks the deacon and Jong-goo. The stranger arrives and pacifies the dog, and the other three leave.
The police officer tells Jong-goo of what he saw, and hands over a shoe which belongs to Jong-goo's daughter, Hyo-jin. Soon, Hyo-jin becomes sick and displays similar symptoms as the other infected villagers. Jong-goo makes his way to the stranger’s house with the deacon in anger, but finds that the pictures and evidence have been burned. Infuriated, he destroys the stranger's worship room and kills the dog when it attacks him, ordering the stranger to leave the village.
Distraught about Hyo-jin's condition, Jong-goo's mother-in-law seeks help from a shaman, Il-gwang. As Il-gwang performs a ritual to exorcise the demon, the stranger performs a ritual in his house simultaneously. Jong-goo finds his daughter in pain and interrupts the ritual, taking her to a hospital instead. The following day, he gathers his friends to hunt down the stranger, believing that the stranger is responsible for the disease and murders. Jong-goo and his friends go after the stranger, and are attacked by another infected villager. After a chase they eventually end up hitting the stranger with their vehicle. They dispose of his body as Moo-myeong watches from the hills. When Jong-goo returns home, he finds that Hyo-jin's condition has seemingly improved. Il-gwang suspects they killed the wrong person; he later encounters Moo-myeong, and starts vomiting blood. He calls Jong-goo, telling him that Moo-myeong is the real demon.
Jong-goo finds Moo-myeong near his house. She requests Jong-goo to believe her, telling him she had set a trap for the demon, but the trap will not work if Jong-goo goes back to his house. Il-gwang calls Jong-goo and tells him not to believe Moo-myeong, while she in turn tells him Il-gwang is actually in league with the real demon. Confused and hesitant, Jong-goo eventually leaves to save his family, but Moo-myeong grabs him, her skin turning a ghostly white as he notices that she is wearing the personal items of some of the victims. He pulls himself away, and as he crosses his home's threshold, the floral trap withers.
The deacon encounters the still-alive Japanese stranger in a cave. After being photographed by the stranger, the deacon witnesses the stranger evolving into a demon. Back at his house, Jong-goo arrives to find that Hyo-jin has murdered their family. He calls out to her, but she stabs him and falls into a stupor. Il-gwang arrives at Jong-goo's house and takes photographs of the family. While returning to his car, he unintentionally drops a box filled with photos of the other victims.
As Jong-goo lies dying in his home, he sees visions of happier times with his daughter and assures her he will protect her.
Cast
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- Kwak Do-won as Jong-goo
- Hwang Jung-min as Il-gwang
- Chun Woo-hee as Moo-myung
- Jun Kunimura as Japanese stranger
- Kim Hwan-hee as Hyo-jin
- Her Jin as Mother-in-law
- Jang So-yeon as Wife
- Kim Do-yoon as Yang I-sam
- Son Kang-gook as Oh Seong-bok
- Park Seong-yeon as Kwon Myeong-joo
- Kil Chang-gyoo as Park Choon-bae
- Jeon Bae-soo as Deok-gi
- Jeong Mi-nam as Heung-gook
- Choi Gwi-hwa as Byeong-gyoo
- Baek Seung-cheol as Friend
- Kwon Hyeok-joon as Friend
- Park Chae-ik as Friend
- Kim Gi-cheon as Dispatch captain
- Yoo Soon-woong as Chief of police
- Jo Han-cheol as Detective 1
- Kim Song-il as Police
- Bae Yong-geun as Police
- Im Jae-il as Police
- Lee In-cheol as Father
- Jo Seon-joo as Bar hostess
- Lee Chang-hoon as Doctor
- Kim Ji-won as Nurse
Production and release
Filming began August 31, 2014 and finished February 28, 2015.[citation needed]
The Wailing was released in South Korea on May 12, 2016.[4] The film was shown in the Out of Competition section at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, and received a release in the United States on May 27.[4]
Reception
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The Wailing received widespread critical acclaim. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a "certified fresh" 99% approval rating and a rating average of 8/10, based on 79 reviews.[5] On review aggregator website Metacritic, the film has an average rating of 81/100 based on 19 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[6] Jada Yuan of Vulture.com described the film as "operating on a level that makes most American cinema seem clunky and unimaginative".[7]
Remake
In January 2017, it was announced that UK-based Scott Free Productions is in talks to remake the film.[8]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 25th Buil Film Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated |
| Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Kwak Do-won | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Hwang Jung-min | Nominated | ||
| Jun Kunimura | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Chun Woo-hee | Nominated | ||
| Best New Actress | Kim Hwan-hee | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Hong Kyong-pyo | Nominated | ||
| Best Art Direction | Lee Hoo-kyeong | Nominated | ||
| Best Music | Jang Young-gyu & Dalpalan | Nominated | ||
| 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Kwak Do-won | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jun Kunimura | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Chun Woo-hee | Nominated | ||
| Best New Actress | Kim Hwan-hee | Nominated | ||
| Popularity Award | Jun Kunimura | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay | Na Hong-jin | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Hong Kyong-pyo | Nominated | ||
| Best Editing | Kim Sun-min | Won | ||
| Best Art Direction | Lee Hoo-kyeong | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting | Kim Chang-ho | Nominated | ||
| Best Music | Jang Yeong-gyoo and Dalpalan | Won | ||
| Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Audience Award | The Wailing | Won | |
| Best of Bucheon Award | Na Hong-jin | Won | ||
| Fantasia International Film Festival | Prix AQCC | Won | ||
| Audience Award for Best Asian Feature | 3rd place | |||
| 53rd Grand Bell Awards | Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Kwak Do-won | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Hwang Jung-min | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Chun Woo-hee | Nominated | ||
| Best New Actress | Kim Hwan-hee | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Hong Kyung-pyo | Won | ||
| Best Recording | Kim Shin-yong | Won | ||
| Best Lightning | Kim Chang-ho | Won | ||
| Best Editing | Kim Sun-min | Won | ||
| 36th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Top Films of the Year | The Wailing | Won | |
| Korean Film Actor's Association Awards | Top Director Award | Na Hong-jin | Won | |
| Top Star Award | Kwak Do-won | Won | ||
| Korean Film Producers Association Awards | Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Won | |
| Best Cinematography | Hong Kyung-pyo | Won | ||
| Best Lighting | Kim Chang-ho | Won | ||
| Phoenix Critics Circle | Best International Film | The Wailing | Nominated | |
| Sitges Film Festival | Focus Asia Award | Na Hong-jin | Won | |
| Best Cinematography | Hong Kyung-pyo | Won | ||
| BloodGuts UK Horror Awards | Best International Film | The Wailing | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in an International Film | Kwak Do-won | Won | ||
| Hwang Jung-min | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in an International Film | Chun Woo-hee | Nominated | ||
| Molins de Rei Horror Film Festival | Special Mention | Hong Kyung-pyo | Won | |
| Best Film | The Wailing | Nominated | ||
| Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival | Honourable Mention | Won | ||
| CPH:PIX | Politiken's Audience Award | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | 11th Asian Film Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jun Kunimura | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound | Kim Dong-han | Nominated | ||
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | The Wailing | Nominated | |
| KOFRA Film Awards | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Won | ||
| Seattle Film Critics Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | The Wailing | Nominated | |
| Korea Cable TV Awards | Cable VOD Grand Prize (Film) | Won | ||
| Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Foreign-Language Film | Nominated | ||
| 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards[9][10] | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Na Hong-jin | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Kwak Do-won | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Chun Woo-hee | Nominated | ||
| Best New Actress | Kim Hwan-hee | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Na Hong-jin | Nominated | ||
| 22nd Chunsa Film Awards[11] | Best Director | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Kwak Do-won | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Hwang Jung-min | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Chun Woo-hee | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Na Hong-jin | Nominated | ||
| Technical Award | Jang Yeong-gyoo and Dalpalan | Nominated | ||
| Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films | Best DVD/Blu-Ray Release | The Wailing | Nominated | |
| iHorror Awards | Best Foreign Horror | Nominated |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/inside-men-the-wailing-korea-blue-dragon-awards-1201926853/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/scott-free-productions-talks-remake-south-korean-film-wailing-967236
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links
- 2016 films
- Articles containing Korean-language text
- Articles with unsourced statements from February 2017
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- Articles using small message boxes
- South Korean films
- 2016 horror films
- South Korean horror films
- South Korean thriller films
- South Korean mystery films
- 2010s psychological thriller films
- Supernatural horror films
- 20th Century Fox films
- The Devil in fiction
