The Wailing

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The Wailing

Released May 20, 2016

2h 36m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

86 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Kunimura Jun).

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Critics Consensus

The Wailing delivers an atmospheric, cleverly constructed mystery whose supernatural thrills more than justify its imposing length.

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

The Blue Lenses

The Wailing's is a world where histories, identities, cultures, realities and generic codes and conventions collapse in spectacular, unforgettable style.

Aug 25, 2018

Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Very crazy, very Korean, very long: 156 minutes of murder, diabolism, exorcism and things that go bump by day and night.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 27, 2016

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Kate Muir

Times (UK)

A complex Korean horror with the surreal village feel of Twin Peaks.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 29, 2016

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Carolyn Hinds

JoySauce.com

Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, The Wailing is one of my favorite horror films. It’s deeply unsettling in how Na Hong-jin uses sound, imagery, time, and costuming to build a layered story...

Nov 9, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Na's film belongs on a shortlist of horror titles that question everything, forcing the realization that most people know nothing for certain and yet still behave with conviction. What could be more frightening?

Rated: 4/4

Feb 18, 2022

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Toussaint Egan

Polygon

It's a masterpiece of mood, and a 156 minutes, a parade of every horror trope imaginable.

Oct 20, 2021

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Alex T

This one's a slow burn, but if you're patient, it's got a lot to offer. It's not your typical horror flick-it's more psychological, almost dreamlike at times. The story follows a woman dealing with a tragic past and a mysterious presence that may or may not be real. It's more about dread than scares, and it really leans into the emotional side of horror. Ester Expósito is really strong in the lead role-she carries the whole film, and you can feel every ounce of her trauma and fear. The visuals are gorgeous too, even when they're showing something horrifying. There's this eerie beauty to it all that sticks with you. It does get a little confusing toward the end, and there are definitely some moments that feel a bit too ambiguous. But I actually liked that-it left me thinking about it after it ended. If you're into slow, atmospheric horror with a bit of mystery, this one's worth checking out. Just don't expect jump scares or a neatly wrapped-up story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

Full Review

Scott M

Mesmerizing, horrifying, and agonizing. This movie will stay with you long after the credits roll. Easily one of the most memorable and haunting horror films I've ever seen and well worth the lengthy runtime.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

Full Review

Milinda P

What a plot twist horror movie i ever seen

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

Full Review

Riya S

The movie was great ,it was scary at some point but I have seen other disturbing movies like I saw the devil and I was disturbed very much whenever i used to think about it I felt scared , I found it disturbing few times and after watching this l would say this movie has great flow , amazing story, unexpected ending and overall I did not feel bored r anything even for a moment ,I was totally engaged in it

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

Full Review

Esra Y

Movie builds itself slowly but director makes it chilly all the way through. It's unsettling, creepy and Movie stays with you for some time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

Full Review

K Y

Korean horror thriller masterpiece.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

Full Review

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Na Hong-jin

Director

Kwak Do-won

Sgt. Jeon Jong-gu

Jun Kunimura

The Stranger

Hwang Jung-min

Il-Gwang

Chun Woo-hee

Moo-myeong

Kim Hwan-hee

Hyo-jin

The Wailing: Official Clip - The Bloody Ritual

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The Wailing: Official Clip - Psycho Woman

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The Wailing: Official Clip - Zombie in the Woods

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The Wailing: Official Clip - Fighting a Dog

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The Wailing: Official Clip - Puking Blood

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The Wailing: Official Clip - The Evil Shrine

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The Wailing: Official Clip - The Death Hex

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The Wailing: Official Clip - Demon in the Cave

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The Wailing: Official Clip - Struck by Lightning

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The Wailing: Official Clip - Cleansing Ceremony

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The Wailing: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Kunimura Jun).

Director: Na Hong-jin
Screenwriter: Na Hong-jin
Distributor: Well Go USA
Production Co: 20th Century Fox International, Ivanhoe Pictures, Side Mirror
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: Korean
Release Date (Theaters): May 20, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $785.4K
Runtime: 2h 36m

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