Korean Cinema
Dubbed the 'new Hong Kong', Korean cinema has taken the international film world by storm with its brutal and confrontational style and original political perspectives. Encompassing both the North and South Korean industries it is the films from the south that have become worldwide hits. From border security thriller, 'JSA' to the haunting 'Oasis' to the mesmerising madness of 'Old Boy', Korean cinema is bold, diverse and here to stay.
Pictured: Horror-chiller already slated for an American remake, 'A Tale of Two Sisters'.
3 Extremes (2004)
6.3/10
Director: Takashi Miike, Chan-wook Park, Fruit Chan
Starring: Kyoko Hasegawa, Atsuro Watabe, Byung-hun Lee, Won-hee Lim, Hye-jeong Kang, Jung-...
Three of Asia's hottest directors join forces for this horror triple. Hong Kong's Fruit Chan, Korea's Park Chan-wook and Japan's Takashi Miike each co... Read more
3 Extremes 2 (2002)
Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan, Kim Jee-Woon, Nonzee Nimibutr
Starring: Hye-su Kim, Bo-seok Jeong, Suwinit Panjamawat, Leon Lai, Eric Tsang, Eugenia Yua...
Another collection of three chilling shorts from innovative Asian directors. From Korea Ji-woon Kim's, 'Memories' is about a woman (Hye-su Kim) who w... Read more
3-Iron (2004)
8.1/10
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Starring: Lee Seung-yeon, Jae Hee, Kwon Hyuk-ho
Breaking into mansions while the homeowners are away, an enigmatic drifter repays his hosts' unwitting hospitality by performing small chores in the r... Read more
A Bittersweet Life (2005)
7.6/10
Director: Kim Jee-Woon
Starring: Min-a Shin, Byung-hun Lee, Yeong-Cheol Kim
For the past seven years super-smooth Sun-woo (Byung-hun Lee) has served his gangster boss with unflinching loyalty. He is such a trusty that his bos... Read more
A Dirty Carnival (2006)
7.4/10
Director: Ha Yu
Starring: Zo In-Sung, Lee Bo-young, Namkoon Min
Director Ha Yu really knows the dark, gritty alleys behind Korea's gleaming skyscrapers. In this universe of thugs, Byung-doo is a small time crook ek... Read more
A Million (2009)
4.2/10
Director: Cho Min-ho
Starring: Park Hee-soon, Lee Chun-hee, Jung Yu-mi, Park Hae-il, Shin Mina, Lee Min-ki
Eight contestants compete for one million US dollars in a survival reality TV show in Australia. The challengers must spend seven days in the Australi... Read more
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
7.2/10
Director: Kim Jee-Woon
Starring: Su-jeong Lim, Geun-yeong Mun, Jung-ah Yum, Kap-su Kim
The Asian pop culture crossover continues with this eerie South Korean horror, with more than a shiver of recognition from the modern Japanese classic... Read more
A Werewolf Boy (2012)
7.4/10
Director: Sung-Hee Jo
Starring: Joong-ki Song, Bo-yeong Park
Summoned by an unexpected phone call, an elderly woman visits a cottage she used to live in as a child. She begins to recall her memories of a boy she... Read more
Aachi and Ssipak (2006)
6.9/10
Director: Jo Beom-Jin
Set in a futuristic world powered entirely by human excrement, and a government anxious to control this sole, important source of energy. Special sens... Read more
Arahan (2004)
6.8/10
Director: Seung-wan Ryoo
Starring: Seung-beom Ryu, So-yi Yoon, Sung-kee Ahn
Justice-seeking cop Sang-hwan, trying to rid the world of criminals, shuns no efforts to unravel the mysteries of Taoist power. Luck is on his side as... Read more