Arang (2006)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Sang-hoon Ahn

Writers:

Sang-hoon Ahn, Seon-ju Jeong,

Stars:

So-yeong Choo, Won-joong Jung, Hae-in Kim

Cast

Credited cast:
So-yeong Choo
Won-joong Jung
Hae-in Kim
Ok-bin Kim
Dong-Wook Lee	...	Hyun-ki
Jong-su Lee	...	Dong-min
Yun-ah Song	...	So-young

Storyline

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?

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Plot Keywords:

death | salt | friend | assault | suspension | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [kr]

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Release Date:

28 June 2006 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Haunted Village

Filming Locations:

South Korea

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dream & Pictures, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

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.