Along the lines of Tale of Two Sisters, Spider Forest requires your attention. Hint: It’s not about spiders. At least not directly, there is a web involved but one of the mind. Perhaps one even ensnaring the soul. One viewer mentions Kafka in relation to this film. They are not wrong.
That being said, be careful with this one. Remember; memories lie.
Spider Forest Story
A television reporter loses his wife. He is out hiking in the woods. There he finds a house and his “dying” wife. Going to get help, he is attacked.
The Cast
Kam Woo-seong is Kang-min.
Jung Suh is Min Su-jin
Kang Kyung-hun is Su-yeong.
Jeong Seung-gil is Detective Park.
Jo Sung-ha is Choi Jong-pil
Let’s Talk Spider Forest
Director/Co-writer Song Il-gon runs rings around the audience with this psychological thriller/mystery. In some ways it is like the splendid Guy Pearce film, Momento. Another web ensnared film where memories are treacherous and, if remembered, misleading.
Su-jin believes his wife is dead. Victim of a plane crash. In reality, she is a murder victim. On Su-jin’s journey of discovery, personal and otherwise, he revisits his childhood.
Almost.
This is a splendid ghost story and murder mystery. Wrapped up in webs of deceit and tangled tales of sorrow. Spider Forest works. South Korean actor Kam Woo-seong absolutely killed in R-Point; released the same year. Here, he swings for the fences and scores a solid home run.
Jung Suh played the lead in the 2000 film The Isle. She was devastating. Here, she too swings for the fences and slides into home base with ease.
It Works
Both these actors lead us on a merry and confusing journey. One where Kang-min must find out his own reality. The film is scary, but in a low key way. There is much made of the spiders but this is more window dressing than anything else. *The myth is, according to Su-jin, is that they are lost souls. The forest, she says, are full of them.*
The forest as a character helps to build the creepiness factor in rather well. It is here that most of the action takes place, or in the house there. Regardless of what we think we are seeing, the truth is not there. Yet.
As I mentioned previously, you really have to watch this one. Blink at the wrong moment and you’ll find yourself scrambling for the remote and rewind.
The Verdict
Spider Forest is a solid 5 stars. While this is not quite as complex as Tale of Two Sisters it comes darn close. Sadly, you’ll have to fork out and buy this one as it is not available to stream. Keep an eye out though, this one is an excellent film to watch.
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