Kim Ji-woon (The Good, the Bad, the Weird & I Saw the Devil) directs this tale of two sisters who are put in a mental institution
after the death of their mother. When the sisters are bought back home by their
father, they not only have to deal with their difficult new stepmother but also
strange goings on inside the house.
The film confused the hell out of me and despite just
watching it and then reading the plot synopsis online; I’m not entirely
convinced I’ve fully understood it! I think it is a film that would benefit
from a second viewing. You are never really sure what is real, what is imagined
and what is misdirection and it takes a lot of effort to stay with what’s going
on. The confusion isn’t aided by a fairly drawn out and slow first act in which
very little happens. The third act more than makes up for the slow and dull
beginning however. It is frantic and edgy and had my head spinning.
The horror element is more psychological than jumpy and
there are very few visual scares. The film uses sound to good effect though to
help raise and maintain tension. Kim Ji-woon’s directorial style is plastered
all over the place. The film is incredibly stylish and uses some wonderfully
beautiful and technically brilliant camera angles and sweeps. It is worth
watching just for Kim’s technical ability behind the camera.
Another reason I’d recommend the film is because of the
fantastic performances. In particular those of Im Su-Jeong (I’m a Cyborg…) as one of the sisters and
Yeom Jeong-ah as the mother in law. Both performances are excellent and helped
to keep me gripped while I was struggling with the plot.
Unsurprisingly, as with so many other Asian horror movies of
its time, the film was remade in
This film is by no means a masterpiece but features a
confusing story which should keep you gripped. The acting is great and the
direction, superb.
6/10
