Lotte Entertainment
"Sleep," the debut feature film by director Jason Yu, presents a captivating amalgamation of horror, romance, and mystery thriller, offering a fresh perspective on the genre by intertwining the unsettling tale of a sleepwalking couple with themes of marriage and family intricacies.
Yu's inaugural cinematic venture explores an innovative fusion of genres, evoking an eerie sense of the supernatural as it chronicles a newlywed couple's transition into parenthood.
Spanning three parts, the narrative follows Hyun-su (portrayed by Lee Sun-kyun), a budding actor, and Soo-jin (played by Jung Yu-mi), an expectant office worker in her final pregnancy month.
Set against the backdrop of their routine life in an aged apartment, their existence is disrupted when Hyun-su begins uttering cryptic phrases during his sleep, such as "Someone's inside."
Subsequently, Hyun-su's sleepwalking escalates, but he remains oblivious to the occurrences of the previous night.
Soo-jin becomes increasingly alarmed by her husband's peculiar behavior, which includes actions like scratching his skin until it draws blood, ingesting raw meat from the refrigerator, and exhibiting episodes of attempting to jump from their apartment, seemingly under an unsettling influence.
As the narrative progresses into its second part, the couple's stability teeters precariously as Soo-jin navigates her role as a mother to their newborn daughter.
Burdened with anxiety over Hyun-su's potential harm to himself or their child, Soo-jin grapples with sleeplessness. The situation intensifies, leading her mother to seek help from a shaman.
The shaman's diagnosis casts an ominous shadow. Soo-jin coexists with two male presences: her husband Hyun-su and an enigmatic male spirit that seeks to coexist with her, desiring an existence devoid of barking dogs or crying infants.
Initially skeptical, Soo-jin begins to entertain the shaman's assertion, subsequently yielding to the mounting presence of the spirit.
With unwavering determination, Soo-jin embarks on a relentless quest to unearth the origins of her husband's affliction, guided by the motto inscribed on a wooden plaque in their living room: "Together, there is nothing we can't overcome." However, her persistence begins to perturb Hyun-su.
Amidst accumulating stress, sleep deprivation, and postpartum emotional tumult, Soo-jin succumbs to paranoia and aggressive behavior, fueled by a fervent desire to safeguard her daughter.
The third act commences with Hyun-su's doctor pronouncing his sleep disorder cured, coinciding with Soo-jin's return from a psychiatric institution following extended treatment.
Reuniting in their home, the couple grapples with disagreements regarding restoring familial harmony, propelling the narrative toward an enthralling conclusion.
Set predominantly within their aging apartment, once a haven, the couple's abode progressively transforms into a setting of dread, fraught with latent peril.
Amidst the love that underpins their relationship, the unwavering faith in their marital bond and parental devotion yields unforeseen repercussions.
As the credits roll, "Sleep" leaves audiences with more queries than answers, delving into the essence of marriage and the evolution of supernatural beliefs in human lives.
Jason Yu, a former assistant to acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho, renowned for the Oscar-winning "Parasite," ingeniously crafts a horror tale intertwined with contemporary Korean culture, drawing from apartment living and shamanistic traditions that address spiritual origins of ailments.
Lee and Jung, familiar co-stars in Hong Sang Soo's films, bring to life the couple's evolving dynamics, skillfully blending dark comedy nuances into the movie's fabric.
Screened at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week section, focusing on emerging directorial talents, "Sleep" is set to captivate local audiences upon its September 6 release.
Sayart.net
Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com
Interweaving Supernatural Phenomena and Matrimonial Dynamics, 'Sleep' Offers a Refreshing Take on the Horror Genre
Lotte Entertainment
"Sleep," the debut feature film by director Jason Yu, presents a captivating amalgamation of horror, romance, and mystery thriller, offering a fresh perspective on the genre by intertwining the unsettling tale of a sleepwalking couple with themes of marriage and family intricacies.
Yu's inaugural cinematic venture explores an innovative fusion of genres, evoking an eerie sense of the supernatural as it chronicles a newlywed couple's transition into parenthood.
Spanning three parts, the narrative follows Hyun-su (portrayed by Lee Sun-kyun), a budding actor, and Soo-jin (played by Jung Yu-mi), an expectant office worker in her final pregnancy month.
Set against the backdrop of their routine life in an aged apartment, their existence is disrupted when Hyun-su begins uttering cryptic phrases during his sleep, such as "Someone's inside."
Subsequently, Hyun-su's sleepwalking escalates, but he remains oblivious to the occurrences of the previous night.
Soo-jin becomes increasingly alarmed by her husband's peculiar behavior, which includes actions like scratching his skin until it draws blood, ingesting raw meat from the refrigerator, and exhibiting episodes of attempting to jump from their apartment, seemingly under an unsettling influence.
As the narrative progresses into its second part, the couple's stability teeters precariously as Soo-jin navigates her role as a mother to their newborn daughter.
Burdened with anxiety over Hyun-su's potential harm to himself or their child, Soo-jin grapples with sleeplessness. The situation intensifies, leading her mother to seek help from a shaman.
The shaman's diagnosis casts an ominous shadow. Soo-jin coexists with two male presences: her husband Hyun-su and an enigmatic male spirit that seeks to coexist with her, desiring an existence devoid of barking dogs or crying infants.
Initially skeptical, Soo-jin begins to entertain the shaman's assertion, subsequently yielding to the mounting presence of the spirit.
With unwavering determination, Soo-jin embarks on a relentless quest to unearth the origins of her husband's affliction, guided by the motto inscribed on a wooden plaque in their living room: "Together, there is nothing we can't overcome." However, her persistence begins to perturb Hyun-su.
Amidst accumulating stress, sleep deprivation, and postpartum emotional tumult, Soo-jin succumbs to paranoia and aggressive behavior, fueled by a fervent desire to safeguard her daughter.
The third act commences with Hyun-su's doctor pronouncing his sleep disorder cured, coinciding with Soo-jin's return from a psychiatric institution following extended treatment.
Reuniting in their home, the couple grapples with disagreements regarding restoring familial harmony, propelling the narrative toward an enthralling conclusion.
Set predominantly within their aging apartment, once a haven, the couple's abode progressively transforms into a setting of dread, fraught with latent peril.
Amidst the love that underpins their relationship, the unwavering faith in their marital bond and parental devotion yields unforeseen repercussions.
As the credits roll, "Sleep" leaves audiences with more queries than answers, delving into the essence of marriage and the evolution of supernatural beliefs in human lives.
Jason Yu, a former assistant to acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho, renowned for the Oscar-winning "Parasite," ingeniously crafts a horror tale intertwined with contemporary Korean culture, drawing from apartment living and shamanistic traditions that address spiritual origins of ailments.
Lee and Jung, familiar co-stars in Hong Sang Soo's films, bring to life the couple's evolving dynamics, skillfully blending dark comedy nuances into the movie's fabric.
Screened at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week section, focusing on emerging directorial talents, "Sleep" is set to captivate local audiences upon its September 6 release.
Sayart.net
Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com
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