Welcome to the Movie Club! Today’s movie is Na Hong-jin’s sprawling folk horror nightmare, The Wailing (2016)! This movie also has a bit of a special connection to the movie club, as discussing it with Pangaea in the weekly movie thread is what inspired this all to begin with.
The Wailing follows Jong-goo, a police officer in a small village called Gokseong, as he investigates a series of murders and a mysterious illness that is afflicting his young daughter. These strange occurrences build slowly over time and are seemingly connected to a strange Japanese man that has recently moved into the village. The Wailing is a slow burn, and as the movie progresses it begins to blend together multiple horror tropes, eventually throwing in both a zombie and exorcism into its genre stew.
The Wailing was released on May 12, 2016 in South Korea, with a staggered international release throughout the rest of the summer. It netted a healthy $51.3 million USD against a budget that’s reported to be anywhere from $6 to $10 million (there’s no accurate source on this)1, and released to widespread critical acclaim, earning a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and a number of awards at various ceremonies and festivals around the world2. In my personal experience, this movie was a huge hit with horror fans as well, and while not without its fair share of critics, most of the praise I’ve seen for this movie online is typically quite ecstatic.
Trivia3:
- There is a deleted ending scene that shows the Japanese man being picked up in a car by the Shaman, while Moo-Myeong watches them drive away. You can watch it on YouTube:
- Add this to the list of haunted film productions: The film’s cinematographer, Hong Kyung Pyo, cut down the branch of a ginkgo tree that was blocking a shot. This tree is considered the “guardian tree” of the village and after doing so, Na Hong-jin claims they started having nightmares and went to a shaman for a purification ritual.
- Not trivia, I just liked this quote from the director:
I have no idea what kind of person you are to watch my film. Nevertheless, I tried to make a film for you. Whatever ideas come to you while you watch the film, they’re yours. I want this film to be your own. On the other hand, there is one thing I wish everyone who watches this film to feel, regardless of who they are: a condolence for those who disappeared after having fallen as victims of the world, and for those who are left behind. I sincerely wish this film gives you some time for condolences.
What did you think? Share your thoughts below!
Up Next: The Halloween season continues with our next movie, which asks the question, “Can you make an entire movie based around the scenes in Halloween where Michael Myers watches Laurie?” It turns out you can, because up next is David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows (2014)!
USA
- Stream: Prime Video, AMC TV, Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock, Shudder, Tubi
- Rent or Buy: Amazon, Apple TV, Microsoft Store, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Canada
- Stream: Prime Video, AMC TV, CTV, Hoopla, Netflix, Pluto TV, Tubi
- Rent or Buy: Apple TV, Microsoft Store, Google Play, YouTube
UK
- Stream: Icon Film, Plex
- Rent or Buy: Amazon, Apple TV, Microsoft Store, Google Play, YouTube, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, Curzon