The Wailing (2016)

The Wailing (2016) is a slow-burning South Korean horror-mystery about a quiet mountain village thrown into chaos after a strange outsider arrives. When a string of brutal murders and a fast-spreading, unexplained illness begin to ravage Goksung, local police sergeant Jong‑goo is drawn deeper into the case after his young daughter, Hyo‑jin, becomes sick. As superstition, gossip and fear escalate, Jong‑goo pursues the truth through a tangle of suspects — a reclusive foreigner, a panicked community, a desperate shaman, and a fragile priest — with the lines between human malice and supernatural evil growing ever more blurred. Watching The Wailing, you’ll feel a mounting sense of dread rather than conventional jump-scare thrills. The film builds tension through atmospheric cinematography, unsettling sound design and sudden, often brutal bursts of violence. It alternates intimate, heartbreaking scenes of a father fighting to save his child with surreal, folkloric set pieces — rituals, visions and confrontations that force viewers to question what is real. The story refuses easy answers; its moral ambiguity and ambiguous finale leave you unsettled and thinking long after the credits roll. Tone-wise, expect a mix of folk-horror, police procedural and psychological thriller: slow, patient world-building; grotesque, shocking incidents; moments of dark humor; and performances that sell both paranoia and sorrow. Themes include grief, faith, superstition versus reason, and how fear can warp judgment. The film can be intense and disturbing, with graphic images and mature content. Recommended for viewers who appreciate atmospheric, intelligent horror that prioritizes mood, mystery and emotional stakes over straightforward exposition. If you prefer clear resolutions or light scares, this one may frustrate — but for those who enjoy being unsettled and provoked, The Wailing is a haunting, memorable experience.

Actors: Jun Kunimura, Jung-min Hwang, Kwak Do-won

Director: Na Hong-jin

Runtime: 156 min

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

6.5 /10 81 /100 7.4 /10 7.3 /10