Yeogo goedam (1998)

Yeogo goedam: Directed by Ki-hyeong Park. With Kang-hee Choi, Gyu-ri Kim, Min-Jung Kim, Roe-ha Kim. While investigating the school files, the frightened teacher Mrs. Park startles and calls the young teacher Eun-young Hur, telling her that the deceased Jin-ju Jang is back. The line dies and Mrs. Park is attacked and killed by a ghost. On the next morning, the teenager Jae-yi Yoon waits for her friend Ji-oh Lim, who has the ability to call the spirits, and they begin a close friendship. The abusive and aggressive Mr. Oh, a.k.a. Mad Dog, is the substitute of Mrs. Park and prohibits Ji-oh to paint and compares the performances of the pretty So-young Park and the weird Jung-sook Kim, raising a barrier between the two former friends. Miss Hur misses her former friend Jin-ju, who committed suicide, and while trying to contact her, she discloses a dark secret about the past of her friend and Mrs. Park.

“u0026#39;Whispering Corridorsu0026#39; is set in a South Korean all-girls high school, focusing on a senior class and four of its students. Although itu0026#39;s a horror film, Whispering Corridors seems to be a drama at heart. The school building is very atmospheric and eerie, and thereu0026#39;s some spooky shots of long corridors and deserted classrooms. Along with that, we also explore the extremely competitive and harsh South Korean education system, identity and reputation, and the relationships between the four students and one teacher.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAfter the suicide of Mrs Park (or u0026#39;Old Foxu0026#39; as sheu0026#39;s known amongst the pupils), rumours begin circulating around the school about what caused her death. Girls fall out, and come together; thereu0026#39;s a ghost who apparently haunts the old, disused art room, and people arenu0026#39;t who they first appear to be…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA thinking manu0026#39;s film indeed, this will have you scratching your head in some parts. Not a lot of blood, but some tense scenes of violence. A chilling atmosphere and setting endures throughout, the director certainly knows how to set a scene. He also gets the best of the cast, who are all exceptional. Mr Oh; aka Mad Dog, is a particular stand-out as a vile, abusive teacher. Altogether a very character and theme driven story, with interesting social commentary. If you like slow-burn, atmospheric, subtle horror, youu0026#39;ll like this. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eP.S. Thereu0026#39;s an intriguing quote towards the end, where a character says u0026quot;It didnu0026#39;t matter who I chose as long as I filled the seats.u0026quot; A comment on the emphasis upon status and reputation in the classroom, and thus, lack of identity? Or a jab at the thought that Asians look really similar? (At least to those from outside Asia.) Or both?”