As Halloween is coming soon, if you don’t have plans to go out and have fun, don’t worry because the following 11 Korean horror movies are perfect for an evening in! Be ready to get under the blankets, prepare some snacks and pray that the lights in the house won’t go out suddenly!
1. I Saw The Devil
I Saw The Devil was included in the list of the Top 20 most frightening movies of all time by the American magazine Rolling Stones because of its brutal, realistic and horrifying on-screen mutilations. Without the classic jumpscares, I Saw The Devil successfully makes the viewers experience a variety of emotions from having their hearts racing, hands shaking, to sweating when watching the intense journey to revenge of secret agent Soo Hyun (Lee Byung Hun) against the serial killer who brutally murders his wife. The scene where the killer ruthlessly chops up the pregnant woman’s body while she is alive despite her earnest pleas is the most popular and most haunting scene in the movie.
2. Oldboy
Oldboy is considered one of the icons of Korean cinema. Not only is Oldboy often listed among the best movies of all time, the film also has one of the most shocking, disturbing, and dark twists that causes many viewers to 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 returning home for his daughter’s birthday, he wakes up in a strange room, blocked from all exits. Oh Dae Su’s 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 being held captive, he receives a phone call from his captor. Dae Su’s bloody and tearful revenge journey begins here.
3. The Wailing
The Wailing is one of the monuments of the exorcism genre in the hearts of Korean horror movie fans. An outbreak of a mysterious disease drives the villagers into a frenzy one day, and the locals’ suspicions fall on the old Japanese traveler (Jun Kunimura). To deal with this mysterious man, the townsfolk enlist the assistance of a well-known exorcist (Hwang Jung Min) from another province. Aside from the terrifying ceremonies, The Wailing provides a complex picture with implications regarding Korean culture, history, and religion.
4. The Call
The story of The Call begins 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 couldn’t connect to Seo Yeon’s phone, she grew enraged and began a series of terrible murders in the past, which had an influence on the future.
5. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum
“Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum” is said to be the scariest horror movie in Korea. The story takes place at Gonjiam hospital, an abandoned hospital which CNN selected as one of the “7 freakiest places on the planet”. Created as a found footage, this movie brings the realest feelings to the viewers through the actors’ camera angles. “Gonjiam” tells about the group of kids led by Ha Joon (Wi Ha Joon) entering Gonjiam to discover the spiritual phenomenons that happen at Gonjiam, the most-haunted hospital in Korea. They even bring equipment to summon spirits in order to see ghosts.
6. Metamorphosis
This horror film is called a true nightmare to those who enjoy spine-chilling images, bloody scenes, and bad endings. In fact, this film was banned in Vietnam because it was too terrifying. “Metamorphosis” tells about the family of the priest 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 murders themselves. There are many scenes that show killed animals and creepy dead bodies. In addition, audiences also get thrilled by the chases that make them feel “home is the most dangerous place”
7. 0.0MHz (2019)
0.0MHz is a horror film based on the webtoon by Jang Jak, revolving around supernatural phenomena experienced by members of a paranormal investigation club. The story begins when the group explores a haunted house in search of evidence linking radio frequencies to ghosts. According to the theory, when human brainwaves reach 0.0 MHz, they can see spirits. This leads to a deadly game, as the friends are thrust into terrifying moments, battling 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, it was banned from screening in Vietnam due to failing to meet local censorship standards.
8. The Wailing (2019)
The Wailing is set in a small mountain village plagued by a series of eerie murders and a mysterious epidemic. Officer Jong Goo (played by Kwak Do Won) is tasked with investigating these bizarre incidents. When a strange Japanese man arrives in the village, horrific events begin to unfold. Jong Goo is forced to confront fear and confusion as he tries to save his daughter from the supernatural force threatening 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 journey from Seoul to Busan. Throughout the bloody ordeal, they meet various passengers, each with their own stories and survival strategies. The film emphasizes themes of fatherly love, sacrifice, and teamwork amidst life-threatening danger.
10. The Closet (2020)
Sang Won (Ha Jung Woo) moves into a new house with his daughter, but she mysteriously disappears. Sang Won begins noticing strange occurrences related to a closet in their home. As he searches for his daughter, he discovers that the wardrobe in the bedroom may be 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 within.
11. The Mimic (2017)
The Mimic follows a mother, Hee Yeon (Shin Ji Hoon), searching for her missing daughter, Eun Hee (Kim Soo An), in a remote forest. After moving to the countryside for a fresh start, Hee Yeon encounters a mysterious creature capable of mimicking human voices. As strange events unfold, she realizes the creature might be linked to her daughter’s disappearance. Hee Yeon must face terrifying truths and uncover the dark secrets behind this demonic entity while trying to save her daughter and escape the deadly supernatural forces at play.
