[Review] Thrills and Chills in South Korean Horror, Midnight
Written and directed by Oh-Seung Kwon, Midnight is a horror-thriller starring Squid Games’ Wi Ha-Joon as a ruthless serial killer stalking the streets of South Korea. Upon witnessing a horrific crime, Kyung Mi (Ki-joo Jin), a young deaf woman, finds herself being stalked and hunted down by the serial killer terrorising the streets of their South Korean neighbourhood. Midnight is a stunning and hair-raising story of murder, captivating characters, and surviving in a world that isn’t designed for disabled bodies.
The start of the film introduces us to Do Shik; a young man turned serial killer who hunts young women who are alone at night. We witness Do Shik accost a young woman from his van (equipped with an insane number of weapons), later dragging her in and stabbing her violently. Even though we already know who the killer is, I absolutely love when films provide this detail from the start. While I love a good who dunnit, I appreciate how narratives unfold where we already know who the perpetrator is. It’s like we’re always waiting to see what they will do next. That's where the anticipation is built, rather than waiting for a big reveal.
Our protagonist, Kyung Mi, spends her days working as a sign language customer service representative who, like most of the women in her office, is jaded by her job. One evening on her way home with her deaf mother, Kyung Mi witnesses the grim attempted murder of an innocent young woman at the hands of a masked Do Shik. Having been seen by Do Shik hunts down Kyung Mi through the streets, this scene was masterful. There is something incredibly heart stopping about watching a woman outsmart a serial killer in the most instinctual way. Midnight absolutely floored me with its ability to show how Kyung Mi is a survivor, having to navigate her way in a situation where a hearing person has a terrifying upper hand. Midnight is incredibly intelligent at showing the societal gaps in the hearing world versus the deaf world and not in a way that feels inauthentic.
The story is incredibly fast-paced and climatic with moments of sheer terror. I often found myself holding my breath, especially in moments where the only sound is a heart beating rapidly. These moments were crafted so artistically, in the way that Korean horror cinema does in an enthralling way. Wi Ha-Joon and Ki-joo Jin portray their characters in a deep and stunning approach, it was hard to take my eyes away from the screen. Kyung Mi is an absolute badass final girl in Midnight with a performance that was captivating. Wi Ha-Joon is outstanding with his portrayal of a merciless and persistent serial killer out to protect his identity and keep his secret from getting out. Each character offers a wealth of depth and perspective that is vital to the development of the plot.
The story is incredibly fast-paced and climatic with moments of sheer terror. I often found myself holding my breath, especially in moments where the only sound is a heart beating rapidly. These moments were crafted so artistically, in the way that Korean horror cinema does in an enthralling way. Wi Ha-Joon and Ki-joo Jin portray their characters in a deep and stunning approach, it was hard to take my eyes away from the screen. Kyung Mi is an absolute badass final girl in Midnight with a performance that was captivating. Wi Ha-Joon is outstanding with his portrayal of a merciless and persistent serial killer out to protect his identity and keep his secret from getting out. Each character offers a wealth of depth and perspective that is vital to the development of the plot.
The sound design for Midnight is spine chilling, every sound makes a difference to the scope of the film. In a film that centres itself on deafness, it is chilling to hear how the sounds of footsteps, or the whining of a rusty lock can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Not only is the sound design superb, but the soundtrack is also a remarkable supporting piece to the gritty scenes that are captured in Midnight. The combination of blood pumping instrumental cutting to silence provided a juxtaposition that at times was more terrifying than Do Shik creeping through the streets.
Midnight is a beautifully shot and deep exploration of generational ties, how easily dismissed those who are deaf can be in a society that often fails the disabled, and how survival is the utter most instinctual and most common element between people. As a newcomer to Korean horror cinema, Midnight has been the introduction that I needed to get the ball rolling on more South Korean films. If you are after a fast-paced and gripping horror, Midnight should most definitely be on your list of must watch for your half-way to Halloween.
