evileyereviews Sorum is a movie that dances around genres with a fear of commitment that only adds to the grim details of our character's lives. Maybe it can best described as a horror film without the H. Unlike other movies, it does not fall prey to the contrived necessity to reveal the complete back plot by way of ostensible flashbacks. Instead it relies on the intelligence of the audience to figure it out, or not. The characters here are a shifty lot, creating a splendid layer of suspicion as to who is going to be the bad guy, if such a creature is to make an appearance. Likable the characters are not. Set in about as dreary a housing complex that has ever existed, this home ground symbolizes the lives of our players, a corrupt morality where life's baggage keeps piling up unattended, with stagnation sure to seek rot as its faithful companion. This is the setting for a typical South Korean cinematic affair, a convoluted tale of shady characters whose shenanigans are sure to catch up with them. The only question is what form will their dirty deeds manifest in order to play havoc on the remainder of their lives. The acting was strong; they all captivated my whole attention in that I wanted to know just what sort of past could have created such misery. Director Jong-chan Yun's debut is a solid one. He crafts a creepy tale that relies on filming basics, eschewing any need for tricky tactics to mask any shortcomings. Not a film for everyone, but for those that enjoy a slow burner with lots of character meat to chew on, Sorum is sure to satisfy us in one way while challenging us in another.Genruk of Evil Eye Reviews

sstocker1 Based on the mixed reviews that I found on the web, I wasn't expecting too much from Sorum, but I was very pleasantly surprised-although 'pleasant' isn't exactly the right word for this movie. I've included it in my unofficial list of overlooked masterpieces, including "The Third Page" by Zeki Demirkubuz, "Last Images of the Shipwreck" by Eliseo Subiela, and "Straight Through the Heart" by Doris Dörrie. Sorum is not for everyone. The emphasis is on character development rather than shocks or special effects. The characters are not particularly likable, although I related to all of them in one way or another. The pacing is deliberate-until the end, when the various subplots snap into place to form the big picture. Like the unfortunate author in the movie who is writing a novel about the events occurring around him, I found the ending very satisfying. You have to pay attention, though, particularly during a scene when the main character is having a haircut in a barbershop. (Unfortunately, this is when the white subtitles appear over a light background, which makes them hard to read.) When the movie ended, I was confused, but as I thought about it, the ending became clear and I started laughing, just the author before he got punched.

carmstro I've never seen anything quite like this picture before - it's an amalgamation of suspense, supernatural, and social realist genres and is well worth seeking out.The film chronicles the various goings-on in the lives of several tenants of a crumbling Seoul highrise, primarily through the eyes of a new leasee who becomes caught up in their morally compromised existences. As the film progresses, we come to realize we know less about our narrator then we thought, and that he may be as capable of evil as the other characters.To sum this film up is difficult, and I haven't even scratched the surface here. It's beautifully written, acted, and directed (by a first-time helmer no less!) and worthy of attention.

cha21269 South Korea is rapidly gaining on established Asian moviemaking countries like Japan and Hong Kong by producing a number of distinct high caliber films in recent years. Though it's advertising makes it seem like a horror movie, "Sorum" is probably more accurately described as a psychological drama/ character study.A young man moves into a run-down apartment building and soon gets into a relationship with a neighbor. Both the characters and the building have traumatic histories, and over time the ghosts of their past come to light. Viewers expecting a horror movie are likely to be disappointed, but "Sorum" is a subtle and atmospheric drama highlighted by fine direction and action. My main criticism would be that the "secret" of the main character is rather obvious, and telegraphed early on. But this is a minor point, and "Sorum" is recommended for those open to a creepy and challenging drama. 7/10