The Wailing’ (2016) Story, cast and Trailer: On May 12, 2016, The Wailing was released in South Korea. On May 18, 2016, it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France as part of the Out of Competition section. On May 27, 2016, it was released in the United States. A while later, the film made its way onto Netflix, but it has already been removed. Fandango Now, Vudu, Hulu, and Apple TV are just some of the streaming platforms that have started carrying The Wailing.
The Wailing’ (2016) Story
In 2016, the South Korean horror-thriller “The Wailing” was released. Na Hong-jin was the film’s director, and it was both a critical and financial success. The film’s plot centers on a small rural community that experiences a mysterious and deadly epidemic that causes paranoia, suspicion, and paranormal activities. The following provides a summary of the action (spoilers ahead): The movie takes place in the made-up South Korean village of Gokseong, also referred to as “The Strangers.” The quiet village is rocked by a string of bizarre deaths and horrific murders.
The villagers grow more fearful and superstitious as the number of victims rises, attributing the deaths to a malicious ghost or a cursed Japanese stranger who recently moved to the area. A police officer named Jong-goo (played by Kwak Do-won) is asked to look into the unsolved deaths and serves as the film’s main character. He sees the horrific aftermath of the deaths and learns that the victims had displayed strange, extraterrestrial symptoms prior to their passing. Jong-goo comes across a mysterious woman named Moo-myung (played by Chun Woo-hee) as he digs deeper into the investigation and learns more about the odd events. The investigation is further complicated and the mystery surrounding the events is increased by Moo-cryptic myung’s communications and actions.
Hyo-jin (played by Kim Hwan-hee), Jong-daughter, goo’s became ill and began displaying symptoms similar to those of the other victims as the paranoia and fear spread throughout the village. Jong-goo turns to a mysterious shaman named Il-gwang for assistance after becoming desperate to find a solution and save his daughter (played by Hwang Jung-min). Il-gwang agrees to perform an exorcism ritual to free Hyo-jin because he claims to have dealt with spirits of this nature in the past. As the lines between reality and the supernatural begin to blur, the movie takes a dark and unexpected turn.
As the plot develops, Jong-goo and the audience are left wondering about the backgrounds and motivations of the various characters. Fear, paranoia, the conflict between modernity and traditional beliefs, and the effects of human behavior are some of the themes explored in “The Wailing.” It delivers a chilling and thought-provoking narrative and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats the entire time. But because the movie leaves some things up for interpretation, both viewers and critics have been debating it and analyzing it extensively.
The Wailing’ (2016) Cast
- Kwak Do-won as Jong-goo, policeman and father of Hyo-Jin.
- Hwang Jung-min as Il-gwang, a shaman hired to protect the village.
- Chun Woo-hee as Moo-myung, the woman in white.
- Jun Kunimura as a Japanese stranger.
- Kim Hwan-hee as Hyo-jin, Jong-goo’s daughter.
- Her Jin as Jong-goo’s mother-in-law.
- Jang So-yeon as Jong-goo’s wife.
- Kim Do-yoon as Yang I-sam, a Japanese-speaking deacon.
- Son Gang-guk as Oh Seong-bok, Jong-goo’s police partner.
- Park Sung-yeon as Kwon Myeong-joo.
- Kil Chang-gyoo as Park Choon-bae
- Jeon Bae-soo as Deok-gi.
- Jeong Mi-nam as Heung-gook.
- Choi Gwi-hwa as Byeong-gyoo.
- Lee Seon-hee as Byeong-gyu’s wife
- Jo Yeon-hee as Bar hostess.
- Baek Seung-cheol as Friend.
- Kwon Hyeok-joon as Friend.
- Park Chae-ik as Friend.
- Kim Gi-cheon as Dispatch captain.
- Yoo Soon-woong as Chief of police.
- Jo Han-cheol as Detective 1.
- Kim Song-il as Police.
- Bae Yong-geun as Police.
- Im Jae-il as Police.
- Lee In-cheol as Father.
- Jo Seon-joo as Bar hostess.
- Lee Chang-hoon as Doctor.
- Kim Ji-won as Nurse.