Writer: Vedansh Varshney (Delhi, India)

Editor: Tahoora Charfare (Fahaheel, Kuwait)

Are you looking for thrilling movies full of unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time? Engaging plots that will keep your eyes glued to the screen while tickling your curiosity and giving you that adrenaline rush you’ve been craving? Well, look no further because we’ve compiled a list of seven intriguing psychological thriller movies from South Korea that will give you the thrill and excitement you’ve been searching for and will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. So, buckle up and enjoy the journey!

^{Picture Credits: the dailystar net}

1. Forgotten

” Do you know what happens when a lie becomes truth?”

Among the numerous psychological thriller movies I’ve watched to date, “Forgotten” definitely holds a special place in my heart for the marvelous viewing experience it gave me. A 2017 release directed by Jang Hang-jun, the movie features a 21-year-old protagonist, Jin-seok, who has recently moved with his family. If the creeping sense of eeriness that he felt in his new home wasn’t enough, to his horror, he also had to witness his older brother Yoo-seok getting kidnapped one night out of nowhere.

What’s more shocking is that after nineteen days of disappearance, Jin-seok’s older brother returns home, but completely lacking any memories about the incident. Noticing that something about Yoo-seok’s personality has changed drastically, Jin-seok decides to chase the truth behind his brother’s disappearance.  

2. THE Call

” Past and present are connected. You change one, you change everything.”

Imagine receiving a random phone call that can transform your current reality, even bringing your loved ones back from the dead. Sounds like a blessing, right? Or could it be a horrifying curse that could turn your life into a living Hell, putting your own life at stake? Choose your answer and watch Lee Chung-hyun’s “Call” to figure out whether you were right or wrong.

Based on the 2011 British and Puerto Rican supernatural horror film “The Caller”, this 2020 release revolves around two characters – Kim Seo-yeon and Oh Young-sook, who live in the same house but 20 years apart. A phone call provides them the ability to connect across time and change each other’s realities. However, if you decide to mess with time, there’s always a price to pay. But who pays the bigger price here – Seo-yeon or Young-sook? 

3. A Tale of Two Sisters

” Some things won’t stay buried.”

Based on a Korean folktale from the Joseon era known as “Janghwa Hongryeon Jeon” (The Story of Red Flower and Red Lotus), which also happens to be one of the most well-known ghost stories in South Korea, this psychological horror thriller is a must-watch for its chilling and engaging plot. Directed by Kim Jee-won, “A Tale of Two Sisters” narrates the tale of a teenage girl, Su-mi, undergoing treatment in a mental hospital.

Upon being released, she reunites with her beloved sister Su-yeon and returns to her family’s countryside estate, only to find out that her widower father has remarried. Trying to adjust to their new family situation, unusual things start to happen around the house. Is it the stepmother’s evil plan or the presence of an evil spirit?

4. Parasite

” You know what kind of plan never fails? No plan at all!”

The only South Korean movie to have won an Oscar, the global and commercial success of Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 release “Parasite” was a groundbreaking victory for South Korea. A dark comedy that revolves around the symbiotic relationship between the poor and the wealthy formed through schemes of fraud, Parasite explores the themes of poverty and social inequality through clever comical satire, capturing the brutality of our real world.

Parasite’s worldwide success and recognition strengthened South Korea’s position in the film industry on a global level and also brought significant interest and curiosity to the Korean culture, attracting both viewers and non-viewers.

5. The Handmaiden 

” A woman’s voice can be like poison.”

Considered as director Park Chan-wook’s best work to date and one of the greatest movies in the history of South Korean cinema, “The Handmaiden” easily made it onto the Top 10 list of numerous critics around the world. Taking inspiration from the Welsh writer Sara Waters’ novel “Fingersmith”, the story takes place in Japanese-occupied Korea in the 1930s.

A young Korean woman, Seok-hee, is employed as a handmaiden to Lady Hideko, a young Japanese heiress who is set to marry her domineering uncle against her will. But the heiress is oblivious to the maid’s ulterior motives – her involvement with a con man planning to steal her entire fortune. An excellently devised and duplicitous plan moves towards success until Seok-hee and Lady Hideko find themselves trapped in an unforeseen situation that will change the trajectory of their lives forever.

6. Memories of Murder

” Memories are unreliable. They fade, twist, and deceive.”

Another widely acclaimed release by Bong Joon-ho made it onto this list as it was able to capture the audience’s attention with its compelling screenplay and direction, and the cast’s praiseworthy performance. Based on Kim Kwag-rim’s play “Come to See Me” released in 1996, while also incorporating some elements from Bong Joon-ho’s personal life, “Memories of Murder” is set in a rural province of South Korea in 1986 where a case of serial murders has left the local police both shocked and perplexed.

Unable to make any progress, Seo Tae-yoon, a special detective, is appointed from Seoul to help catch the murderer on the loose. Even with his improved investigation techniques, the police department’s efforts are still in vain, yielding no clues. A new dead body is found. Has a pattern finally emerged?

7. Oldboy

” If you are into the abyss long enough, the abyss stares back.”

Imagine getting abducted while you were drunk and dazed, only to land in some random room without windows where you’ll be imprisoned for the next 15 years without any explanation. No human contact, only a television to give you company. That sounds even worse than being in an actual prison, right? However, suddenly you’re released! Allowed to walk free after spending 15 years in complete isolation. Why? Why is any of this happening? 

Another spectacular work of Park Chan-wook, intended to be a part of his trilogy, “Oldboy” is an adaptation of the Japanese manga that also goes by the same name. The movie narrates the story of Oh Dae-su, who is determined to seek revenge against his captors and unravel the mystery behind his imprisonment. The movie achieved worldwide success and recognition and was also one of South Korea’s highest-grossing films for the year it was released.

Do you like psychological thrillers? Have you watched these masterclass suspense movies? Do let us know in the comments section.