It’s October, so it’s time for the spooky season! And what better way to get into the spirit than some Korean horror? Here are a few shows and films to get you in a haunting mood!
Strangers From Hell (2019)
Trigger warnings: elements of gore, indirect cannibalism, PTSD
Based on the popular webtoon, this thriller series stars Im Si-wan as Jong-woo, a 20-something who moves into the elusive Eden Dormitory. There, he meets his neighbors, including the owner Bok-soon (played by Lee Jung-eun of Parasite); creepy twin brothers Deuk-jong and Deuk-soo (played by Park Jong-hwan in dual roles); and the seemingly-kind dentist Moon-jo (played by Lee Dong-wook). Soon, however, Jong-woo realizes that not everything is what it seems and he starts to rethink his decision of finding a cheap place to live.
With stellar cinematography and nail-biting tension, Strangers From Hell is one of the best psychological thriller shows I have ever seen. Also, the chemistry between Im Si-wan and Lee Dong-wook is just amazing. Although this show doesn’t feature any supernatural happenings, it goes to show that hell truly is other people. You can find this series on Amazon or wherever you get your K-dramas.
All Of Us Are Dead (2022)
Trigger warnings: violence/gore, body horror, sexual assault, school violence
Zombies seem to be making their way to mainstream media again, but K-dramas and K-movies’ approach to the undead monsters is quite unique. Another webtoon adaptation, Netflix’s All Of Us Are Dead is a coming-of-age horror drama centered on a group of high school students fighting for survival amidst a zombie outbreak originating from their school. The drama features an ensemble cast, including Yoon Chan-young as the charismatic Cheong-san; Lomon as reformed delinquent Su-hyeok; Park Ji-hu as Cheong-san’s childhood friend On-jo; and Cho Yi-hyun as class president Nam-ra.
The tense storytelling and action will have you on the edge of your seat, as there is no telling who will survive and who will die. An easily binge-able series, you’ll find yourself flying through these 12 episodes in no time. And for those who are big fans of the show, Netflix did announce that a second season is underway!
Train to Busan (2016)
Trigger warnings: blood and gore, violence
One of the most iconic Korean movies of all time, Train To Busan is an action-horror starring Gong Yoo as Seok-woo, a recent divorcee who takes his daughter to Busan to see her mother. The film wastes no time getting into the zombie apocalypse, as an infected woman hobbles her way onto the train and starts to infect the staff onboard.
With the resurgence of zombie cinema and television, Train To Busan is a must-watch for fans of The Last of Us, The Walking Dead, or World War Z. You can watch this film on Amazon Prime or anywhere you get your movies.
The Call (2020)
Trigger warnings: violence, blood, mild gore, murder
Fans of Signal would definitely get a kick out of The Call, a psychological thriller starring Park Shin-hye and Jeon Jong-seo. Park stars as Seo-yeon, who is visiting her ill mother in the countryside. While there, she finds a decades-old cordless phone. To her bewilderment, she receives calls from a woman named Young-sook— who lived in the same house in 1999.
As Seo-yeon starts to investigate who Young-sook is, she feeds her information that drastically changes their lives. When Young-sook’s life goes downhill, Seo-yeon finds herself on the phone with a serial killer. You can watch this film exclusively on Netflix.
Did we miss some of your favorite spooky stories? Check out our article on what to add to your watchlist, or let us know on our Instagram or Twitter!
