Mikes Film Talk

Hide and Seek [Sum-bakk-og-jil] (2013) is a strange invasion film. Written and Directed by Jung Huh this offering appears to be his first ever feature film.  Hide and Seek is set against an urban myth of squatters in South Korea. These folks live illegally in homes while the owners are still in them. This is also the story of a successful business owner  attempting to find his estranged and missing brother.

The Story

The movie starts in a derelict section of town. A woman is talking to her boyfriend on her cell phone as she walks home. After almost being mugged, or assaulted, she says that she can no longer live in this neighborhood. As she gets in the lift, a stranger in black motorcycle gear gets on with her. Keeping a wary eye on the helmeted figure, she goes into her flat.

Entering flat, the woman discovers that someone has been in her apartment while she was out. She goes to confront her next door neighbor; the person in the helmet. Suddenly a mysterious figure shows up and murders the woman in her own home.

The businessman; Seong-soo owns a coffee shop/restaurant has OCD. He takes tablets that help to control his little problem. He has a normal family with two children and a wife. Someone calls him to say his estranged brother has gone missing . Once he hears this bit of information his OCD gets worse.

Seong-soo goes to collect his missing brother’s belongings and tries to track him down.

The Cast

Son Hyeon-ju is Seong-soo.

Moon Jeong-Hee is Joo-hee.

Jeon Mi-seon is Min-ji

Kim Ji-young is Pyung-hwa (Joo-hee’s daughter)

Let’s Talk Hide and Seek

The film is a combination of mystery, drama, thriller and horror. The “villain” in the film is terrifying enough to give the audience nightmares. Not because of their appearance but because of the level of their madness.

One viewer felt that Hide and Seek is a re-imagining of Dream Home. However, there is no basis for this at all. That 2010 Hong Kong horror film focuses on finding a home. It shows a desperate woman who uses murder as a way to get around the problem. The film is nightmare of over-expensive real estate. It bears no resemblance to this little treat from South Korea.

There are plenty of nail bitting moments in this 107 minute film. As a first effort for the director it does not fail to impress. All the actors convince in their various roles. There is a subplot of a brother’s guilt about telling a lie. Said lie gets his older sibling in trouble and just adds to the tension.

The two small children are excellent in the scenes where they are terrified. The two interact very well in others, so much so that they feel like a real brother and sister. Hide and Seek has several film plots and threads running simultaneously. It is to everyone’s credit that the film never gets confusing.  Great plot, performances and suspense. There are points where the viewer will be on the edge of their seat.

The Verdict

This is a real 5 star film. It is well worth the effort of watching even for viewers who may not like subtitled films. Hide and Seek is available on Fawesome at the moment. Go and check it out.

The Trailer