The Wailing

*Movie Review      I've seen many foreign films and this one was one of the strangest - but it was good. Today's review: The Wailing.

     It all begins with an illness. Similar to a plague, the sickness spreads, ending in multiple, violent deaths. Jong-goo, the investigating officer is set onto the case, expected to wrap things up straight away. Sadly he can't. Strange incidents, one after another, are happening and the link ties to, of all things, a demon! 

     No one believes Jong-goo and it's not until his own daughter is affected that he acts on his own accord. He has to do battle with the demon, practically alone, in order to save his daughter and family. If there's still time...

     Though there's a great ending, this is one of the craziest movies I've seen in a long time. You have to see it all to believe it.  There's a bit of comedic relief, which really wasn't necessary, but this is a serious movie.  It's also very dramatic, as with most Asian pictures. There's a scene when Jong-goo, responding to a a tip on the case, where he 
​ destroys a man's home- because of what he believes.  It was near heartbreaking, but the layers of this movie prevents too much attachment; my heart couldn't get in to it. Also, just when you want to take the movie serious, there's a bit of silliness that distracts. I don't know if it was intentional, but it threw me off. That said, was the movie good? It was; not great, but hauntingly good.

     If you're looking for a ghostly Korean film, this is one may be for you. The Wailing is available anywhere you want to stream or rent videos. The Wailing
Directed by Na Hong-jin
Produced by Suh Dong-hyun, Kim Ho-sung
Written by Na Hong-jin
Starring: Kwak Do-wang, Hwang Jung-min & Chung Woo-hee