It makes you cover your eyes and plug your ears in fear. This is what is said about 'Noise', perfect for this summer.
The movie 'Noise' (Director Kim Soo-jin) is a reality horror thriller where Juyoung (Lee Sun-bin) embarks on a journey to find her missing younger sister in a noisy apartment complex plagued by floor noise every day.
Juyoung's sister Juhui (Han Soo-ah) suffers from unidentified floor noise coming from somewhere in the apartment. Living in a company dormitory, Juyoung rushes home after hearing that she has lost contact with her sister. Together with Juhui's boyfriend Gi-hun (Kim Min-seok), they struggle to find the missing sister.
The man from the apartment below, who has been tormented by the floor noise (Ryu Kyung-soo), comes to Juyoung and leaves a death threat, leading Juyoung to suspect him.
‘Noise’ draws empathy from the recently emerging social issue of floor noise. The sounds of dragging chairs, loud footsteps, and knocking on the front door create a realistic tension. Additionally, the bizarre noises heard when Juyoung, who has hearing impairment, wears a hearing aid are frightening, but the fear that comes when there is no sound is equally significant.
The visual horror is also substantial. The sudden use of jump scare techniques with music and scene transitions effectively surprises the audience. The warning message, “I am suffering. Does my statement sound like a joke? I strongly warn you,” adds to the tension.
Above all, the actors' passionate performances enhance the immersion. Lee Sun-bin, who challenges her first horror genre, portrays Juyoung, who becomes increasingly sensitive and sharp as she suffers from noise and struggles to uncover her sister's whereabouts. Han Soo-ah convincingly depicts Juhui, who is tormented by floor noise from the very beginning, capturing the audience's attention. Kim Min-seok delivers a stable performance, and Ryu Kyung-soo's chilling portrayal is intense.
Through Director Kim Soo-jin's direction and the actors' passionate performances, 'Noise' successfully delivers extreme horror until the end. There are moments in the latter part where the plausibility may be questioned, but the film fully utilizes the charm of the horror genre, making it easy to immerse oneself. Released on the 25th. Rated for ages 15 and up. Running time 93 minutes.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
