SYNOPSICS
Arang (2006) is a Korean movie. Sang-hoon Ahn has directed this movie. So-yeong Choo,Lee Dong-Wook,Lim Il-Gyu,Won-joong Jung are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2006. Arang (2006) is considered one of the best Horror,Thriller movie in India and around the world.
A salt storehouse near the sea may be haunted. A penniless ex-con dies a gristly death in a house he can ill afford. The detectives assigned the case are Min, newly reinstated after a suspension, and Lee, a new transfer from forensics. Min has nightmares: a sexual assault that haunts her. She and Lee work well together, but soon two more deaths occur - each mysteriously poisoned, both friends of the ex-con. A fourth friend, a newly married doctor, is a suspect. But what has all this to do with the salt storehouse, a death ten years ago, and a missing girl? Can Min and Lee get to the bottom of it, or is the supernatural beyond a cop's reach?
More
Arang (2006) Reviews
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.