The Wailing (2016; Gokseong) is a two and a half hour South Korean horror film that’s available to watch on Netflix. Set in a picturesque country town where it rains a lot, it starts off more as a comedy with the disinterested cop (Do-won Kwak) bumbling through crime scenes of a recent string of murders with rumours of contagion or demonic possession. However, when his daughter starts to act differently and is afflicted with a rash, is the exorcism of a shaman needed? Is everything connected to the Japanese stranger (Jun Kunimura) that has moved into town and lives like a hermit? This is a slow build of a movie but thoroughly engaging as it creates an atmosphere of fear, paranoia and distrust. The result is a memorably nerve racking and dark conclusion. Beautifully shot and acted, it’s directed and written by Hong-jin Na. Recommended.
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