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The Wailing

Play trailer 1:50 Poster for The Wailing 2016 2h 36m Mystery & Thriller Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
99% Tomatometer 87 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Kunimura Jun).

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The Wailing

The Wailing

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Critics Consensus

The Wailing delivers an atmospheric, cleverly constructed mystery whose supernatural thrills more than justify its imposing length.

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Critics Reviews

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Blue Lenses 08/25/2018
The Wailing's is a world where histories, identities, cultures, realities and generic codes and conventions collapse in spectacular, unforgettable style. Go to Full Review
Nigel Andrews Financial Times 12/27/2016
4/5
Very crazy, very Korean, very long: 156 minutes of murder, diabolism, exorcism and things that go bump by day and night. Go to Full Review
Kate Muir The Times (UK) 11/29/2016
4/5
A complex Korean horror with the surreal village feel of Twin Peaks. Go to Full Review
Isaiah Colbert io9.com Nov 24
It’s a film that haunts you long after the credits roll, not because it screams, but because it speaks plainly. And what it says is terrifying. Go to Full Review
David Day Horror Movie Talk Sep 23
8/10
I would call The Wailing the Indiana Jones of horror movies. It’s constantly throwing new stuff your way. It’s hard to know what’s around the next bend, but you can bet that it will be exciting, terrifying, or totally shocking. Go to Full Review
Carolyn Hinds JoySauce.com 11/09/2022
Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, The Wailing is one of my favorite horror films. It’s deeply unsettling in how Na Hong-jin uses sound, imagery, time, and costuming to build a layered story... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Tanner J. @TannerJohnson55 2h The only problem with this film is that you have to actually watch it. Which is hard for a lot of people. It is not a simple selection to sit on and watch casually. It’s a purposeful film, and in its purpose, it’s masterful. Slow and methodical as one film of this type should be. It plays with you as if you are the main character, drawing you in, messing with you, and playing it off as if you are insane. It’s chaotic, confusing, messy, trippy, but thats what the main character has is going through. When you understand that, the pay off is an expertly done psychological horror film you may wish you forgot. See more Mr. L. @RT69799319 Apr 11 Looooong. Boring. Strange scene cuts that don’t make sense. Characters making obviously poor choices that don’t enhance the story. I’d have given it three stars if it was 90 mins long. See more Farah R. @Farah Apr 6 The Wailing is a well-acted, atmospheric masterpiece of South Korean cinema that values slow, psychological torment over the traditional jump-scare. The film impressively combines elements from Japanese demonic folklore, shamanistic rituals, Christian undertones, and zombie-like infection, without losing its narrative thread. My only critique is the long runtime, particularly the ritual scene and the third act, which were too extended. See more Kath S @RT29122855 Apr 5 One of the scariest films ever. It has everything; demons, zombies, possession and a kickass exorcism. Plus! I want to see this again very soon to pick up on what I missed the first time. See more Jaisibi S @RT14436527 Mar 22 The Wailing is a gripping psychological thriller that slowly transforms from a crime investigation into a deeply unsettling supernatural mystery. The film’s biggest strength lies in its complex storytelling, constantly making you question who is right and who is wrong. Every character feels suspicious, and the screenplay intentionally keeps you confused, which makes the experience highly engaging. The tension builds steadily, and I did not feel like skipping any part. The performances are excellent, especially the protagonist’s shift from a normal policeman to a desperate father. The music is average on its own but works well within the film’s eerie atmosphere. The ending is sad, impactful, and extremely confusing, leaving you thinking long after it’s over. Overall, The Wailing is a disturbing and memorable thriller that rewards patience. See more Peter C @RT59700763 Mar 16 The Wailing is a longer movie, but did a great job with story telling. The CGI used for the possession of characters was a bit corny, but the story covered it and explained it very well. The main actor or father in the movie can be overwhelming in his role at times where his reactions don't really fit the scene. The daughter did an incredible job in her role. The ending has so many twists and turns that one minute you think you figured out who is who, who is right, who is wrong, but then the next minute you question yourself again. This movie ended very strong piecing the entire movie together, but also left it ambiguous to where you still ask yourself what happened or what will happen next if there were a sequel. Definitely worth the watch. See more Read all reviews
The Wailing

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Movie Info

Synopsis Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Kunimura Jun).
Director
Na Hong-jin
Screenwriter
Na Hong-jin
Distributor
Well Go USA
Production Co
20th Century Fox International, Ivanhoe Pictures, Side Mirror
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
May 20, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$785.4K
Runtime
2h 36m
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