Since Halloween is upon us, if you’re not planning on going out and having fun, don’t worry because the following 11 Korean horror movies are perfect for a night in! Get ready to crawl under the covers, prepare some snacks and pray that the lights in your house don’t suddenly go out!
1. I saw the devil
I saw the devil was included in the list of the 20 scariest films of all time by the American Rolling Stones magazine due to its brutal, realistic and terrifying on-screen mutilations. Without the classic jumpscares, I saw the devil makes viewers feel a variety of emotions, from racing heartbeats to shaking hands to sweating as they watch the secret agent’s intense journey to revenge Soo Hyun (Lee Byung Hun) against the serial killer who brutally kills his wife. The scene where the killer mercilessly tears apart the pregnant woman’s body while she is alive despite her sincere pleas is the most popular and disturbing scene in the film.
2. Old boy
Old man she is considered one of the icons of Korean cinema. Not only is it Old man often listed among the best films of all time, the film also has one of the most shocking, disturbing and dark twists that makes many viewers refuse to watch it a second time because they don’t have enough courage. The film depicts the life of Oh Dae Su (Choi Min Sik), after a drunken night, when he returns home for his daughter’s birthday, he wakes up in an unfamiliar room, blocked from all exits. Oh Dae SuHis pain increasingly reaches its peak when he learns that his wife has been murdered and he is the number 1 suspect while his daughter is sent abroad. After 15 years of captivity, he receives a phone call from his captor. Dae SuThe bloody and tearful journey of revenge begins here.
3. The Lament
The Lament is one of the monuments of the exorcism genre in the hearts of Korean horror film fans. One day the epidemic of a mysterious disease drives the villagers into a frenzy, and the suspicions of the locals fall on the old Japanese traveler (Jun Kunimura). To deal with this mysterious man, the citizens enlist the assistance of a well-known exorcist (Hwang Jung Min) from another province. Aside from the terrifying ceremonies, The Lament provides a complex picture with implications regarding Korean culture, history and religion.
4. The call
The history of the call starts when Seo Yeon (Park Shin Hye) receives calls for help from a girl named Young Sook (Jeon Jong Seo). Although the two became “best friends”, when Young Sook unable to connect to Seo Yeon‘s phone, he became angry and began a series of terrible murders in the past, which would have an influence on the future.
5. Gonjiam: haunted mental asylum
“Gonjiam: haunted asylum“It is said to be the scariest horror film in Korea. The story is set in Gonjiam Hospital, an abandoned hospital that CNN selected as one of the “7 strangest places on the planet”. Created as a found footage film, this film conveys the most real feelings to viewers through the camera angles of the actors. “Gonjiam” tells of the group of boys led by Oh Joon (Wi Ha Joon) enters Gonjiam to discover the spiritual phenomena happening in Gonjiam, the most haunted hospital in Korea. They even carry equipment to summon spirits and see ghosts.
6. Metamorphosis
This horror film is called a real nightmare for those who love chilling images, bloody scenes and bad endings. In fact, this film was banned in Vietnam for being too terrifying. “Metamorphosis” says the priest’s family Jung Soo (Bae Sung Woo). Since he fails to exorcise the devil, his family members are controlled by it. The devil makes the members doubt each other and kill each other. There are many scenes showing killed animals and disturbing corpses. Furthermore, audiences also get excited about chases that make them feel “home is the most dangerous place“
7.0.0 MHz (2019)
0.0MHz is a horror film based on the Jang Jak webtoon, focusing on the supernatural phenomena experienced by members of a paranormal investigation club. The story begins as the group explores a haunted house looking for evidence linking radio frequencies to ghosts. According to the theory, when human brain waves reach 0.0 MHz, they can see spirits. This leads to a deadly game, where friends are thrown into terrifying moments, battling against an unimaginable supernatural force.
The film, directed by Yoo Seon Dong, stars Jung Eun Ji, Sung Yeol, Choi Yoon Yoong, Shin Joo Hwan and Jung Won Chang. However, the screening was banned in Vietnam due to failure to meet local censorship standards.
8. The Crying (2019)
The Lament is set in a small mountain village plagued by a series of disturbing murders and a mysterious epidemic. Officer Jong Goo (played by Kwak Do Won) is tasked with investigating these bizarre incidents. When a strange Japanese arrives in the village, horrible events begin to occur. Jong Goo is forced to face fear and confusion as he tries to save his daughter from the supernatural force that threatens the entire community.
9. Train to Busan (2016)
Train to Busan reveals a zombie outbreak in South Korea. Seok Woo (Gong Yoo) and his daughter Soo An (Jung Yoo Mi) face deadly situations on a train ride from Seoul to Busan. During the bloody ordeal, they encounter various passengers, each with their own stories and survival strategies. The film emphasizes themes of fatherly love, sacrifice and teamwork in the midst of mortal danger.
10. The Wardrobe (2020)
Sang Won (Ha Jung Woo) moves to a new house with his daughter, but she mysteriously disappears. Sang Won begins to notice strange occurrences related to a closet in their house. While searching for his daughter, he discovers that the bedroom closet may hold the key to the bizarre supernatural events happening around him. With the help of a psychologist, Sang Won uncovers the dark mysteries of the closet and the spirits trapped inside.
11. The Mimic (2017)
The Mimic follows a mother, Hee Yeon (Shin Ji Hoon), as she searches for her missing daughter, Eun Hee (Kim Soo An), in a remote forest. After moving to the countryside to start over, Hee Yeon encounters a mysterious creature capable of imitating human voices. As strange events unfold, he realizes that the creature may be connected to his daughter’s disappearance. Hee Yeon must face terrifying truths and uncover the dark secrets behind this demonic entity as she tries to save her daughter and escape the deadly supernatural forces at play.
