Adam Taylor A slow but creepy build up. Many moments that leave the characters and audience both wondering just what is real. A good mix of suspense and jump scares that aren't overdone or cheesy. And an ending that leaves you with answers and just the right questions.Overall Gok-seong (The Wailing in the west) was a gripping ghost story that delivered quality from start to finish. The characters were authentic and believable, not to mention relatable. The scares were on point, with a healthy mix of the subtle and the in your face. And the story was fleshed out and perfectly presented.This is one movie that will leave you sleeping with the lights on.

Sam Cannon The biggest strength the Wailing has is how deeply entrenched the story is in the setting. This film would not work in any other setting, because the story needs a town in South Korea to work, as the entire plot relies on South Korea's culture and history.The story begins as a police drama mystery, with our protagonist, Jong Goo, a bumbling, clumsy police officer and family man, who is confronted by a sudden increase in violence and murder in the town, which is seemingly linked to the arrival of a mysterious Japanese man. But as the film progresses, the story transforms into a supernatural horror film that is deeply entrenched in both Buddhist and Christian ideas of demons and the supernatural. When Jong Goo's daughter gets sick with what he believes to be a sickness linked to the supernatural, Jong enlists the help of both a Catholic deacon and a local Shaman to help him figure out what is going on, and how he can stop it.The horror aspects of the film truly shine out, with a next-to zero percent reliance on jump scares, the creepiness of the film comes through in slow pans, confronting gory scenes, closeups of things that aren't quite what they seem, and a sense of dread that builds consistently over the 2 1/2 hour running time.Right up to the end credits is a guessing game of who is responsible for the occurances of the film, and when the truth is finally revealed, it ties the entire film together. What once seemed contradictory now makes sense within the context of the full film.In conclusion, if you want something that will hold your attention for 2 1/2 hours, this film is a fantastic use of your time, and will keep you engaged for the full run time.

paulclaassen This possession tale is told very differently and more mysteriously, which becomes increasingly disturbing as we learn more about what is actually happening here. The film was actually really creepy. There's also a lot of hidden agendas so one has to watch carefully and read between the lines. The ending will no doubt leave you a bit confused, as it appears there's been more than one demon all along (or at least an apprentice) but this is not made very clear. A second viewing might solve some of your unanswered questions.I must admit I found Do-won Kwak's acting almost lazy. Maybe this was the story's intention to have him look incompetent, but his character as a policeman was not very credible. The police in general seemed clueless and inexperienced and that was a bit of a drawback for me. When they found all the evidence at the Japanese man's home, they simply left and did not even attempt an arrest or brought him in for questioning. That was just not believable. They also too easily believed gossip instead of evidence, and the whole investigation back story was a lackluster effort, to say the least. In contrast, Hwan-hee Kim was excellent as the possessed girl.

Prashast Singh Movie: The Wailing (15): Horror - KoreanPositives:The screenplay is brilliantly written with no major flaws to deviate you.The film's really scary at times and it succeeds as a horror thriller.Kwak Do-won's performance is a major highlight. Chun Woo-hee is also very impressive, as are Hwang Jung-min and Kunimura Jun.The cinematography is excellent and the film's technical aspects are strong.The unpredictability of the film is what makes it thought-provoking and memorable.The ending is as mindblowing as it is unpredictably excellent.Negatives:Well, not any.Repeat value: YesWithout a second thought, I can say that THE WAILING by Na Hong-jin is undoubtedly the best horror film of the decade, as it proves to be much more than a horror film and delivers something which not every film of this genre has. The film is unforgettable and you definitely won't be able to forget it.