Arang

Plot synopsis:
A veteran detective So-young and her rookie partner Hyun-ki come across an incendiary homicide case. They discover that the present case is related to the mysterious death of a girl ten years prior. So-young becomes plagued with nightmares in which the girl appears, and the killings continue.
The girl is actually Min-jeong, Hyun-ki's first love. Those who died are killed by Hyun-ki by giving them a cigarette that is inlaid with a gas which causes a simulated heart attack. Those who have the cigarette raped Min-jeong 10 years ago in an abandoned salt house. Hyun-ki was forced to tape the incident as he was emotionally wounded when he saw Min-jeong and her lover making out in the salt house at graduation day. Hurt, he agrees to tape the incident when the group who plans to rape Min-jeong persuaded him. Min-jeong's lover, who came by to save her, was killed by one of the group members. Min-jeong was said to have gone mad and disappeared after that incident, but in fact she was pregnant and buried under a mound of salt after one of the police officers who handled the rape incident tricked her into the salt house and locked her inside, burying her along with her unborn child.
Hyun-ki threatens the police officer to go to the salt house and dig out Min-jeong. So-young catches upon both of them and also threatens Hyun-ki to put down his gun. Hyun-ki pleads with So-young to kill him, but So-young refuses, saying that she will let him live in regret and make him watch his children suffer after him, whispering in his ear when he's dying and says that his life is no better than a stray dog. Hyun-ki states that he can't bear it, and afraid to live that kind of life, ends his life by committing suicide.
The water that rains down on that day washes away the salt that buried Min-jeong, and slowly, Min-jeong's body is revealed along with her dead baby between her legs. Her corpse is not rotten, thanks to the salt that preserved her body. The forensic doctor states that when a pregnant woman dies, gas formed inside the body. The gas pushes the baby out even after the mother is dead.
So-young was once violated by an unknown man with a scar on his right hand when she was young. She stated that the reason she became a police officer was to find that man and kill him. After the incident, the man who once violated her, now a father and a successful businessman, mysteriously dies in a hotel room. It is said that the night before the man died, So-young dreamed about the girl wearing a white dress, smiling and laughing together in the salt house. She concluded that the dream she had signified that Min-jeong had helped her take her revenge by killing the man, and after that So-young writes a novel and gets it published.
At the end of the film, there's a myth said to relate to the movie. The Legend of Arang 400 years ago states that there's a village full of new magistrates that are killed mysteriously. That is why no new magistrate dares to go to the village to be appointed. However, there's a new magistrate willing to go to the village. He found out that the spirit of Arang is full of hatred and revenge because she was raped and killed. After that, he helped the spirit to catch the culprit who raped and killed her, sending the culprit to justice. He found Arang's corpse and buried her. It was said that because of her hatred, her corpse did not rot when it is found after so many years.

Tags: suspenseful, murder, horror, haunting, flashback, tragedy, revenge

Review:
Arang is a copycat, but it's different enough to be entertaining.
So-Young is a seasoned female detective who is investigated a series of brutal and unexplainable deaths.
Assigned a new partner to take on the case, So-Young unleashes terrifying secrets from the past, which involve a mysterious salt house, and a stereotypical long-haired ghost, which looks as if it might have just walked off the set of The Shutter.
Anyway, the deeper So-Young digs for the truth, the more she realizes everyone involved might be a lot more connected that they think.Arang is one of a long line of Asian horror films that borrow from past successes, in terms of the scares, it's nothing you haven't seen already.
This isn't to say the film isn't suspenseful, but it is indicative of most K-Horror, in that it utilizes atmospherics and scary sounds to build tension.
There are a few genuinely scary parts (under the desk) but for the most part it's your standard K-horror fare.But, where Arang differs from past Asian horror is the way the film focuses more on the Detectives working the case than on lives of the actual murder victims.
In fact, the victims receive very little screen time and because of this the film resembles a detective story more than a horror story.
Asian Horror hounds may find this a little disappointing, but this is the main reason why I liked Arang so much.
Because while the horror elements are re-treads of familiar territory, the detective element is engaging and fun.Another reason to like Arang would be the amazing score, featuring mournful sounding piano, creepy atmospheric synths, and the creepiest ring-tone since One Missed Call, Jung Dong In's score was a highlight of the film (Someone seriously needs to start producing these soundtracks) and makes the film a much more enjoyable watch.The cinematography was also excellent, and I was blown away by some of the shots in the film, especially those including the beach and a lighthouse.
There is also a shot done with CGI towards the end of the film that is outright beautiful.
In my book, the film deserves a viewing for that scene alone.All in all, Arang is a very entertaining piece, while it is bogged down in the typical K-Horror clichés, it's detective story, score, and creative plot twist (Not contrived) helps raise the film above the level of other K-horror copycats, and makes it a fun film.
Also considering that it's Ahn Sang Hoon's debut film, I will definitely keep an eye out for his work in the future.My Rating 7 out of 10: While Arang is a copycat, it's different enough to be entertaining..
Copycat K-horror with a welcome twist.
An ex-convict fresh out of prison, devoid of any means of financing his livelihood, situates himself in an expensive apartment.
Not soon after a black-eyed ghost with long black hair (hey...
it's a K-horror, so what did you expect) appears and the man is soon found dead burnt to a crisp and strangled.
Within days two of his former friends die in similar circumstances, whilst the fourth starts having similar deadly visions.
Can two detectives Dong-min (Jong Su-Lee) and Hyun-ki (Dong-Wong Lee) solve this supernaturally flavoured series of murders?
The movie starts out very disappointingly, as we are privy to watch yet another Asian ghost story, that initially seems to reek of repetitiveness.
Additionally some of the initial acting, dialogue as well as pasting together of scenes seems amateurish and rashly done.
The movie does however start to unravel into interesting directions and the cast + crew somehow start getting their act together to dispose of faults apparent in the opening sequences.
The dialogue does seem unfinished and misused at times, but apart from that the story starts to involve.Thanks largely to two key twists in the movie.
One concerns the construction of the story, which intermingles your typical ghost story into a police procedural thriller.
An idea so obvious and simple, but somehow I fail to remember anyone to have attempted this in the past.
The second twist would unravel too many mysteries, so the less said the better.I was however severely disappointed with the end scene of the movie.
After starting to heap on the praise for the solid attempt at twisting expectations the movie falls down into its own trap and gives a very crappy, disappointing end scene, which really should be cut for the sake of the viewers.Nonetheless a much more engaging movie than I was expecting.
Maybe disappointingly repetitive in the horror itself, but finely makes up for it in the mystery/police department..
Arang try it best being different, alas still fence in the very same old formula.
Based on Korean folk tales, Arang is the latest variation in the tradition of long-haired-ghost that long plaguing Korean movies.
Add some detective routine, Arang try it best being different, alas still fence in the very same old formula.A veteran female detective with troubled past, So-young (Song Yoon-ah, Face), is investigating a series of homicide case.
Assisted by a rookie cop, Hyun-gi (Lee Dong-wook), they try their best to reveal the killer.
Soon they found that every victim is received email from the same sender before they died.
They track the email from a website called 'Min-jung's Salt Storehouse'.
As the plot progress and some appearing of a Kayako clone, the truth comes as over-the-top as a sappy Korean melodrama.Yes, the director Ahn Sang-hoon, try to differ his works from the others Korean Horror with an attempt with a-whodunit-mystery.
But, he seems neglecting to throw out the elements that now being the very lame formula for Asian horror.
So, even the investigation routine somewhat interesting, the keep appearing of the ghost is irritating.
He should try with more original effort or stick to the tale instead, rather than make Arang into another trashy horror movie.I would not say Arang doesn't entertaining, because it does.
But, it's not enough to be a fine watch, because it somewhat fail for satisfying either horror or thriller.
If only it restraint to one objective and had more proper set-up and decent ending, I believe Arang will delivers..
This movie deserves a much higher rating.
When I read about "Arang" I thought it was a thriller about two cops catching some serial killer.
To my surprise it turns out to be horror movie.
OK,I must admit that it is not entirely original in using a Asian long haired girl as a ghost.
To be fair it remains creepy.
Even if I have seen it a dozen times earlier in other Asian horror flicks.
The long black hair,the scary eyes,the pale face.
Can you honestly say that such a sight doesn't get to you.
As long as all the other elements of the movie go into another direction thus creating a different kind of experience I don't see the harm in using this ghost.
Most of the movie is quite fast paced and very slick.
The thing I liked about this movie was the fact that they play around with the different genres.
At one hand it seems to be a horror movie and on the other hand the supernatural elements easily can be dismissed when some evidence is given to explain the audience that what we have seen did not happen.
It does require some imagination and you have to be forgiving in order to accept all of this.
Not being sure if the ghost is real or not is part of the fun.
The twists and turns make sure of it that we keep guessing until the end.
Quite a lot of scares and tricks may have been borrowed from other movies.
But in combination with some clever plot twists and good acting "Arang" does offer an original and fun viewing experience!.
It'll be better to see a ghost than a pervert..
A Korean horror film from first-time (not counting a short) writer/director Sang-hoon Ahn. It is also a first film for TV actress So-yeong Choo, who plays a detective coming off suspension.First, you would think the writers didn't miss a flick: The Grudge, One Missed Call, Shutter, or CSI.
Min (So-yeong Choo) has a new partner straight from a year in Forensics.
Can a film that borrows from so many present anything original?
Several men die under mysterious circumstances after being visited by a long-haired ghost.
Sound familiar.
They are tied to a dead some 10 years ago.What is good about the film is the cinematography and the sound, and the fact that it focuses on the detectives rather than the ghost or the victims.
Min has a secret that probably drove her to become a detective.Her partner has a secret, too..
A capable and stylish, but not outstanding horror film.
Let me preface by saying that I'm not really familiar with the Asian horror genre, and I can't tell you if the long-haired-ghost routine is, by now, trite and derivative.
I can tell you Arang is a pretty movie with well done visuals.
It also had a number of solid "jump" moments-- a scene near the beginning where the ghost appears only on film during a wedding is memorable, as is a still image of the bride twisting into a wicked, inhuman grin.
I was amused by the visual imagery of each supernatural murder, if not genuinely frightened.The movie is interesting because it represents a fusion of two genres: cop drama and ghost-horror.
It seems like such a natural match, I was astonished that I hadn't seen it on film previously.
A ghost is killing people, the cops are trying to solve the murders, and in the process discovering the connection between the killings and the reasons the ghost cannot rest.
The two genres tie together with an amusing twist 3/4 of the way through that re-contextualizes the relationship between the two genres to each other.Arang is a competently executed piece of genre fiction; it isn't groundbreaking, but it is entertaining, and I'm glad to have seen it..
A few scares, but nothing more.
I've been hoping that this movie will bring something new to the South Korean horror industry, but I was wrong.
The plot is basically the same as in tons of other Asian movies, dealing with an old grudge, that seeks retribution.
I would say the best part of the movie is it's beginning, as later on almost every scene is so predictable it makes it hard to watch.
The ghost is depicted as in a dozen Asian movies, a female with long black hair falling over her face, with "spooky" eyes.
A strange mix of Ringu an Ju-on, to be polite and not say rip-off.
There are twists in the plot, but again, the twist is so predictable it makes you laugh.
Even though, this is a good movie, it will entertain you for 90 minutes, but that's all.
You won't be talking about it and hoping to see it again.
As I'm a fan of Asian horrors, I was glad to watch this, but after seeing it I can't say I'm delighted.
A few scares, predictable plot and twists, long haired ghosts with "funny" eyes..
good but could be better.
Arang is a reasonably good story that tries to tie in the police investigation type drama into an essentially horror movie.
In this attempt, it has some originality, and i applaud that.
Also the idea of involving both the two cops investigating these murder in the original situation that led to the series of revenge murders is quite interesting.
However i would have liked to see more of the investigation side of the drama rather than the horror side.
There is far too many graphic images of the same ghosts that just keep coming back again and again and i feel it doesn't add anything to the story but to scare the audience.
The movie is very ambiguous as to how the victims did actually die, whether it's supernatural or cases of poisoning.
I find myself baffled many times how different things relate to each other, and i feel that again the director tries to confuse the audience deliberately to add to the suspense or scariness of the movie.
It kind of put me off because the story seems less convincing because of all the unexplained elements.
In summary, if you like horror, it's a movie that's worth having a watch if you've got the time.
Nothing groundbreaking, and for me it's plainly too much blood and gore without the necessity for it.