The Contorted House

Discomfort becomes something more disturbing when a comfortable space is threatened. The Contorted House is an orthodox house horror story that contains bizarre events happening in the new house. A family moves to a quiet and isolated place, but suffers from nightmares on their very first day in the new home. The wife (Seo Younghee) is anxious about a strange sound she hears in the warehouse, but her husband (Kim Minjae) ignores her concern. Meanwhile, the family’s nightmares are getting worse, to the point that they can hardly tell the difference between dream and reality. This movie, a kind of Korean version of The Conjuring, uses house horror genre devices freely and skillfully to create an eerie feeling that slowly permeates every frame. Along with the details of the scenes, which build up the chilling atmosphere one by one, the controlled pacing of suspense and shock is especially noteworthy. Likewise, the film’s use of sound to create a sense of unease, is excellent. (SONG Kyung-won)