Movies News Talk
Fans of Bong Joon-ho's Academy Award-winning "Parasite" (2019) should definitely check Jason Yu's shockingly South Korean horror film "Sleep" (2023). Although "Parasite" is generally agreed to be one of the most successful standalone South Korean films of all time, "Sleep" is a fascinating 2023 film that would be the ideal follow-up to "Parasite" because of its themes and narrative resonance. Being the first foreign-language film to do so, Bong Joon-ho's highly praised suspense-thriller won the 2020 Oscar for Best Picture, so confirming South Korea's place on the world cinematic scene. With his debut film, "Sleep," first-time director Jason Yu now follows in Bong's footsteps once more highlighting South Korea's skill for masterful, edge-of- your-seat filmmaking and launching a new generation of Korean horror movie directors.
Unquestionably, South Korea has led the way in exciting, high-quality film in recent years, frequently fusing shocking images, social commentary, and gripping narratives to enthrall viewers from all around. "Sleep" follows this tendency. The film centers on Soo-jin, a pregnant woman who finds her newlywed husband, Hyeon-soo, sleepwalking at night. What first seems to be a harmless habit gets progressively dangerous. From self-inflicted scratches to almost falling out of a window, Hyeon-soo's nightly actions compromise his family's and his own life, creating a tense narrative that mirrors "Parasite's" strongest points.
"Parasite" shockingly has a lot of funny moments, as does "Sleep." While keeping a great sense of suspense all through, both movies use black comedy. But one of the main similarities between the movies is their capacity to challenge audience expectations by surprising turns as the story advances. For example, "Parasite" opens as a rather simple rags-to- riches narrative but progressively, via its second-act twist, becomes a multifarious investigation of South Korea's class inequality and wealth disparity. Likewise, "Sleep" exposes its underlying ideas by surprising turns.
"Sleep" starts the movie with concentrating on its two main characters, Soo-jin and Hyeon-soo. Audiences quickly find, though, that someone else is engaged in this mystery. The narrative adds a supernatural component as it progresses when a shaman says that possession as retribution by their dead neighbor causes Hyeon-soo's sleepwalking. This terrible revelation turns a darkly funny domestic drama into a ghostly possession revenge tale. Like "Parasite," Jason Yu deftly transforms an apparently straightforward narrative into a closer examination of social concerns, so validating his skills as a horror genre director.
Apart from being nominated for the Grand Prix and Caméra d'Or Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Jason Yu's low-budget horror film made $10.7 million at the domestic box office, representing 38.7% of ticket sales on its first weekend release, so proving a commercial success. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie also received a 91% rating; many reviews praised Yu for his superb direction. An observer (UK) review of "Sleep" praised Yu's ability to combine the "claustrophobic tension" in the later half with the comedy in the first half.
Bong's critical praise of the movie could mean fantastic opportunities for Jason Yu going forward, maybe launching Yu into the mainstream.
Claiming "the most unique horror film and smartest debut film" he has seen in years, Bong Joon-ho personally has also spoken highly of "Sleep" (Screen Daily). Not only has Bong directed one of the Best South Korean Thrills of the 2010s, but he is also among the most well-known directors working in the business now worldwide. With Bong's critical praise and support of the movie, Jason Yu could have fantastic future prospects—perhaps even a nomination for an Academy Award in the not too distant future—that would propel Yu into the mainstream.
The way Late Actor Lee Sun-kyun portrayed the main husband in "Sleep" was outstanding in bringing the movie to life. But without Bong Joon-ho's support, this achievement would not have been feasible. Working as a sound-mixing coordinator on the 2017 action-adventure film "Okja," Jason Yu's professional connection with Bong started. Bong strongly suggested Lee Sun-kyun for the lead role during Yu's pre-production, so helping to ensure the success and global appeal of the film.
Yu said in an interview with The Korea Herald that before "Sleep's" premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, she was experiencing "overwhelming stress and anxiety". But it's quite evident that this gifted newcomer has already shown his horror directing abilities, enthralling viewers all around. Supported by Korean film master and "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho, Yu is sure to keep creating suspenseful and exciting films like "Sleep," so confirming South Korea's leadership in the worldwide film scene.
Source: observer (UK), screen daily, The Korea Herald