One of the most interesting Korean horror films in recent times is Exhuma. The plot follows a group of shamans tasked with eliminating a strange curse that haunts one of South Korea's wealthiest families. However, as they investigate further, the threat seems to go deeper and back in time, rooted in the country’s past under Japanese colonialism.
For fans of found footage horror films, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a great choice. As the title suggests, the action takes place in an abandoned psychiatric hospital, supposedly one of the most terrifying places on the planet, which a group of young people visit to make a video. Beyond the common scares—of which there are plenty, and they are well executed—this movie presents very clever camera work, leading to a truly terrifying conclusion.
Another Korean movie rooted in national folklore that addresses a story of family trauma is The Mimic. The movie follows a family recovering from a tragedy, but soon, they start being haunted by the "Jangsan Tiger," a supernatural being capable of mimicking other people's voices to lure its prey. The sound design in this film will make you hallucinate.
A Korean movie that takes an original twist on the zombie genre, and which, unintentionally, echoed the lockdowns during the 2020 pandemic, #Alive follows a young video game streamer trapped in his apartment as a zombie apocalypse devastates South Korea. His struggle for survival is confined to the walls of his home, digital communication, and the decision of whether or not to let his neighbors in.
This film, selected at festivals like Cannes and Sitges (the most prestigious for horror and fantasy cinema), follows a pregnant woman increasingly disturbed by her husband's sleep disorders. Sleep is a chilling parable of domestic anxieties and the complications of marriage, taken to disturbing extremes.