A Cinematic Masterpiece: The Wailing
The 2016 work of Na Hong-jin, The Wailing, is a South Korean horror film and explores the intersection of faith and the supernatural with superstition. The storyline unfolds in a rural location. It features the character of a police officer, Jong-goo, and follows the plot of him trying to solve a case involving a Japanese stranger and series of mysterious deaths and illnesses. The stranger’s presence is blamed on the deaths and illnesses, and during this chaotic time, Jong-goo’s daughter becomes infected, and Jong-goo starts doubting his faith.
The film was widely praised and achieved commercial success, complimenting the film on its unique storytelling and exceptional portrayal of characters and establishing The Wailing as a horror film of the decade.
Kwak Do-won: From Officer to Father
Kwak Do-won shows his range as an actor, moving from officer to father, as he plays the role of the father in the film, Jong-goo. Kwak Do-won plays a devoted and bumbling policeman, despite the character being a policeman he serves as a devoted father in a family. The character being a father in a family is being put in a surreal horror situation in the story, he is trying to defend his family from hostile supernatural powers.
Professionally, Kwak Do-won is also known for his extraordinary range and for the thoroughness with which he approaches his roles. Prior to The Wailing, he had already become recognized for his work within South Korean cinema. In The Wailing, he portrayed the character Jong-goo, who required the actor to access and manage a profound emotional spectrum consonant with the character’s horrific circumstances, which included a juxtaposition of comedic aspects.
Kwak’s preparation for this role of a police officer under extreme stress included a ride along with police officers which helped him to authentically internalize the role for the film. This preparation undoubtedly contributed to the recognition of the role for elaboration and emotional realism.
Chun Woo-hee: The Enigmatic Moo-myung
In the film, Chun Woo-hee is cast for the role of Moo-myung, the mysterious woman of white who seems to know the supernatural occurrences afflicting the village. The character is beguiling and disturbing, further complicating the narrative with her inclusion.
Chun’s journey to this role included a considerable amount of personal struggle. She experienced a period of career stagnation before The Wailing, which was later followed by a series of innovative role choices that attested to her passion, versatility, and depth.
Regarding The Wailing, Chun researched the psychological components of her character as well as the shamanistic practices. In the characterisation of Moo-myung, Chun designed ambiguity, so the character collaborated closely with the director to form Moo-myung’s shimmering presence in the film.
Jun Kunimura: The Japanese Stranger
Jun Kunimura, the Vetern actor, plays the Japanese Stranger. In the film, this character is enveloped in the mists of wonder and suspicion as he is the unknown outsider in the village, and this causes fear. His presence in the village creates fear and chaos in the order.
Jun’s career has been several decades in the making and he has been in the of Japanese films and in world cinema. His part as the stranger has been shaped by the various culture he has worked in and he has a diverse perspective in character.
Jun also prepared the part by understanding the Japan-Korea conflict as well as the historical and the social. To construct a sensitive and as rich as possible in covering the character, he spoke with historians and cultural experts. This allowed him to move to the stereotypes and to add realness to the role.
The Director’s Vision: Na Hong-jin
Na Hong-jin’s vision for The Wailing was to craft a unique combination of horror cinema and a contemplation of humanity and belief. He sought to cultivate an atmosphere of confusion and darkness for the cast and crew, attempting to evoke the feelings of the people trapped in the story.
As a director, Na personally guided the actors and shaped their performances. He trained them to penetrate the psyche of their roles and scale the heights and depths of terror, belief, and conscience. The combination of these factors led to the production of a film that, while terrifying, is also genuinely intriguing and philosophical.
Behind the Scenes: Challenges and Triumphs
Production of The Wailing was difficult and challenging in many ways. The film’s remote areas, where The Wailing was shot, subjected cast and crew to extreme weather, isolation, and harsh living conditions. Even when facing adversity, the team showed incredible dedication and a positive attitude when attempting to manifest Na’s vision.
Another important challenge was the film’s long shooting schedule. The supernatural scenes were complex, requiring a great deal of planning and designing. Minimally, there were special effects used, the rest were practical effects with atmospheric cinematography that created a sense of dread.
The commitment of the cast and crew was rewarded when The Wailing received both critical and commercial acclaim. The film even shaped conversations outside of the film industry, influencing how modern cinema treated folklore and superstition.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The Wailing’s audience engagement was surely in part due to the horror elements of the film, but most importantly, the film’s engagement with culture and society was unparalleled. The Wailing reverses the effects of modernity, examining how fear and sociocultural beliefs and constructs impact and shape human behavior.
In South Korea, the film opened up audiences to conversations on superstition’s place in contemporary society, and also received international attention, with audiences first exposed to Korean horror cinema.
The performances by lead actors Kwak Do-won, Chun Woo-hee, and Jun Kunimura were outstanding, and each of the performances received accolades. Each actor’s ability to portray the complexity of their characters was an additional layer to the film that transformed it from a simple horror story to a complex examination of the human condition.