Official selection
New York Asian Film Festival 2021
Director
Kwon Oh-seung
Writer
Kwon Oh-seung
Cast
Wi Ha-jun, Jin Ki-joo, Gil Hae-yeon
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FINECUT
A wave of murders hits the city. The media suspects foreign workers, but apart from speculation, there are no leads. After a longer-than-expected business meeting, Kyung-mi heads off to meet her mother, who is waiting for her at a remote location so that they can get together easily. Meanwhile, Kyung-mi is spied on by a mysterious masked man, who decides instead to follow a young woman, So-jung, who crosses paths with them. When Kyung-mi finally arrives at her meeting place, she sees So-jung bloody and asking for help. The problem is that she is deaf, just like her mother, and cannot call for help. Lurking in the shadows, the murderer, Do-sik, has just identified his new prey and sets off in pursuit. Her deafness makes her vulnerable, but she knows all the resources at her disposal and manages to escape to her mother. Knowing now the handicap of his future victim, Do-sik removes his mask and connects with them despite the presence of the police, patiently waiting for the opportunity to satisfy his murderous thirst.
For many years, South Korea has been the go-to source for fans of dark, intense and unpredictable thrillers that deliver cutthroat tension. Kwon Oh-seung's debut feature, MIDNIGHT, follows in this tradition with a breathless tale reminiscent of THE CHASER, where a Machiavellian antagonist poses a constant threat even when unmasked. The sound design is hallucinatory, contrasting the silence heard by its heroines with the sounds they unknowingly make as they flee and those they don’t perceive as danger approaches. However, in this game of cat and mouse, every vulnerability hides an unsuspected strength. A well-crafted thriller that has fun testing the nerves of even the most seasoned viewers, MIDNIGHT will leave you speechless. - Translation: Rupert Bottenberg
Showings
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