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The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra

Play trailer Poster for The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra 2022 1h 2m Drama Mystery & Thriller Fantasy Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A creature born in an abandoned mattress travels around the country feasting on its victims' vertebrae, struggling to break free from the bed, the mold, and its past.

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The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra

Critics Reviews

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Katelyn Nelson Daily Grindhouse 08/04/2024
The atmosphere of Vertebra lives in the liminal space between softly romantic and violent, as the creature develops along its lifecycle into something desperate to make sense of its complexities and the subtleties of the world around it. Go to Full Review Pierce Conran ScreenAnarchy 06/16/2024
Park's film is all about tone and sensation and while its loose story does thread several episodes together, it's merely a sounding board for the work's principal preoccupations - modern malaise and alienation. Go to Full Review Josh Bell Crooked Marquee 10/24/2023
B-
It's less a creature feature than a meditation on the inexorable passage of time. Go to Full Review Michael Talbot-Haynes Film Threat 10/20/2023
10/10
The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra is the most magnificent malevolent mutant mushroom mattress movie made yet. One small step by an old mattress is a giant leap forward for the horror kind. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Logan D Jun 24 A fungus like creature is formed in a mattress and feasts on the spines of anyone that lays upon it. Probably the most gonzo film to ever come out of Korea! I reveled in the ridiculous oddity of the idea and how beautifully abhorrent this film is. Loved the red washes. Favorite exchange: "Can we still be friends?" "Yes, friends that never meet forever." See more Phil F 10/23/2024 A fungus among us. Whereas Thailand filmmaker Weerasethakul's "Uncle Boonmee" film exquisitely explores the theme of reincarnation, South Korea filmmaker Park Syeyoung's unique movie explores the idea of life becoming and what that may mean. A short film, but just long enough, that has elements of Cronenberg body horror, a dash of Murakami's fantasy romanticism and all wrapped in a dreamlike Linklater "Slacker" vibe. Some of the most personal relationship moments among couples and individuals are in a bedroom, which here, the thing in the mattress witnesses as it is brought to biological singularity. A very unique film, strangely brilliant and sad with its take on being an isolated creature in a modern world. See more Read all reviews
The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra

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Cast & Crew

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Park Syeyoung

Director

Park Sye-young

Director

Mun Hye-in

Gyeol

Ham Sukyoung

Yoon

On Jeong Yeon

Yul

Jung Soo-min

Jun
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The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra

The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra (2023) The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra (2023) The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra (2023) The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra (2023) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A creature born in an abandoned mattress travels around the country feasting on its victims' vertebrae, struggling to break free from the bed, the mold, and its past.
Director
Park Syeyoung, Park Sye-young
Producer
Jeong San-hee
Screenwriter
Park Syeyoung, Park Sye-young
Production Co
Moonstone Pictures
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Original Language
Korean
Runtime
1h 2m
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