The Wailing (2016)

Because it was directed by Na Hong-jin, the mastermind behind The Wailing, one of the best movies of 2016, and marketed as the most expensive movie in South Korean history, I was excited to see Hope. However, despite it being one of the most visually impressive action movies I’ve ever seen, everything else fell short of my expectations.

The movie follows a group of hunters led by Sung-ki (Zo In-sung), and the police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) from a small harbor village near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as they investigate a mysterious creature wreaking havoc in their community. Believing the threat is a tiger, the chief investigates the village, while the hunters search the forest. I watched the film believing it was a standalone story, and I ended up disappointed by everything except the exquisite camerawork and high-speed, adrenaline-fueled action. Afterward, I discovered that Na Hong-jin plans a trilogy, with Hope as the first installment, and my disappointment only deepened.

Most of us are very familiar with or even nostalgic about Western horror movies. After all, everyone has heard about films like Scream, The Ring, Halloween, The Shining, and so many more their entire lives. However, you may be surprised to find out that quite a few of your favorites are actually influenced by or even remakes of Asian cinema! Yes, Asia is actually quite a large hub for amazing horror films even to this day, some people just never notice! Well, I'm here to change that. It's time to not let those words at the bottom of the screen scare you but instead be scared by some of the best horror you never knew about.

Premise: Seven years after the death of his wife, CEO Aoyama is invited to sit in on auditions for actresses. Yamazaki Asami catches his eye, a striking young woman with ballet training. However, Aoyama soon realizes she is not as reserved as he first thought.