Review | The Sin movie review: Korean horror starring Kim Yoon-hye is stylish but underwhelming
- Korean director Han Dong-seok’s feature debut The Sin sees the filming of an experimental avant-garde movie break down when a series of bizarre events occur
- His film has a few crowd-pleasing elements, but they are too often eclipsed by puzzling twists and turns. Let’s hope his next production turns out better
2/5 stars
This debut feature from South Korean director Han Dong-seok broaches disparate themes, from nefarious supernatural forces to the filmmaking process itself.
These crowd-pleasing elements are too often eclipsed, however, by the artistic flourishes of a fledgling filmmaker still searching for a style to call his own – his film touches on various genres and shows a range of influences.
The Sin introduces aspiring ingénue Si-yeong (Kim Yoon-hye), who lands the role of a lifetime playing the lead in an experimental avant-garde film that hinges upon a hugely complicated dance routine, which she must perform perfectly on camera.
The production is to be shot on location at a remote, disused school, nestled deep in the woods far from the rest of society.
The film’s director, Hwi-wook (Park Ji-hoon), has been lauded on the international festival circuit, but Si-yeong soon discovers that he is woefully out of his depth and has no idea how to bring his bizarre vision to fruition.
