The 8th Night Netflix Latest Korean Horror Movie Review

Movie Review

There is something inherently creepy about Asian horror. Netflix's latest Korean horror film, 8th Night, has both of these in abundance. It's also armed with a pretty interesting story that's somewhat let down by a lack of characterization for some of the supporting players.

  While there aren't any overtly scary or weird moments (and no jump scares to boot), this is a moody horror. This atmosphere is specifically designed to play on paranoia and tension, which it does well.

  At the heart of it all is a reawakened millennial spirit determined to wreak havoc once again. In order to become whole, this spirit takes the form of different people. These are all self-proclaimed stepping stones to the ultimate goal - virginity. This virgin, as our heroes believe, is a quiet girl named Ae-Ran.

  Given the blood and destruction it leaves behind, this spirit draws the attention of several different characters who intertwine during the final conflict at Buk-San.

  Before we get there, the film is essentially split in half, with lead detective Ho-Tae following a trail of bodies in his hunt to uncover the truth. 

 In parallel, junior monk Cheonseok takes a vow of silence and sets off to visit his fellow countryman Seon-hwa. He doesn't take kindly to the boy (for reasons explained at the end), but begrudgingly bonds with him nonetheless.

  An additional hook here is the 8-day countdown. It takes 8 days for the spirit in question to find and possess the virgin. By doing so, it can cause suffering for everyone in its wake. Our monks, of course, try to prevent this at all costs. As the days pass and the struggle becomes more desperate, it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

 

No Spoilers 

 Of course, there are no spoilers here, but there are some nicely done twists towards the end that lead to a definitive but somewhat ambiguous ending that has people talking about what it means. (We will cover this separately in another article!)

  Those expecting an outright horror fest will be disappointed. Despite some creepy moments during its 2-hour run, this film is closer to a thriller than a horror. A lot of that creepiness comes from the acting, which those with this spirit do a great job of turning their facial features into ghostly grins and wide-eyed stares.

Worth Watch

  If you're in the mood for a thrilling horror, 8th Night is definitely worth a watch. The story is compelling enough to keep you going for a long time, while the countdown helps keep things on a knife edge. It's not without problems, but 8th Night is easy on the eyes.