A Thrill a Minute in Jung Huh's Hide and Seek: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a DVD screener of this film was provided by Ram Releasing.

Director/writer: Jung Huh.

Cast: Mi-seon Jeon, Jung-Hee Moon and Hyeon-ju Son.

Hide and Seek is a Korean horror and thriller film from director Jung Huh. This film is more than just these two genres, though. It is also a mystery. A motorcycle helmet wearing killer is making a poor neighbour, in a run down apartment block. But, this film is not a simple slasher. Instead, Hide and Seek blends a couple of plotlines together in an intriguing fashion. Hide and Seek is one of the best Asian films this reviewer has seen in quite awhile.

The film begins with a sideplot. A woman is tracked and attacked in an early scene. Then, the film begins a second, more central plot. Seong-soo (Hyeon-ju Son) is searching for his brother, who has recently gone missing. A friendly neighbour invites Seong-soo over for tea and clues begin to turn up over the next several scenes. Events get a little twisted and bodies begin to turn up. Eventually, Seong-soo meets another person who is searching for his girlfriend and squatters might be to blame for all of the disappearances.


This film fan has enjoyed the few horror titles that have come from Korea. From The Host (2006) to A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), Korean cinema offers a lot of mystery in its tales. Plot events are, generally, not revealed quickly and they are left in darkness. The same situation occurs in Jung Huh's Hide and Seek. A killer's identity is kept in mystery, but so are the whereabouts of several victims. Motivations are also kept in darkness, until the third act. In the climax, a lot is revealed and the violence continues late into the picture. The bloodshed is kept light and often left offscreen as Huh focuses on the characters here. Korean cinema continues to entertain this viewer.

The consistent mystery is what will spark viewer's curiousity. A hooded killer is no stranger to horror. But, this malefactor often appears in elevators, car parks and playgrounds. This character is often looming in the background. The hood is not taken off until late in the picture and people might be wondering the villain's identity. However, this viewer enjoyed the tension created by keeping the antagonist hidden. As well, the film's story is based on a strange myth, in which squatters live in the homes of the unknowing. It is also unknown where these deadly squatters will live next. Their constant change of addresses keeps events unsettling. Hide and Seek has a few surprises in store for even the more astute cinema buffs.

Hide and Seek is an enjoyable viewing experience. The film has high production values. From shooting styles to music, everything is well built and delivered. Hyeon-Ju Son as an obsessive compulsive restaurant owner is a believable performance. Other performances are also well delivered. Action elements are sporadic and unexpected, with Huh capturing all of the choreography in a compelling fashion. There is little not to like in this thrilling outing. And, Hide and Seek flies by as characters battle it out for ownership of several different locations.

Hide and Seek has already released on several video-on-demand formats (Comcast, TimeWarner) and this tale will appeal to a wide variety of audiences. The film captures many genres in its 100 plus minute runtime. All of the genres come together fluidly to tell a couple of strange tales. The film's central myth is an exciting one and it plays out well in this latest title from Korea. Hide and Seek will haunt most, well after the credits roll.

Overall: 7.75 out of 10 (good characterizations, an open conclusion, lots of subplots colliding).

*a release date for Canada has not been announced.

Film details can be found here:

Hide and Seek at Ram Releasing


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