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The Wailing

Play trailer 1:50 Poster for The Wailing 2016 2h 36m Mystery & Thriller Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
99% Tomatometer 87 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Kunimura Jun).

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The Wailing

The Wailing

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Critics Consensus

The Wailing delivers an atmospheric, cleverly constructed mystery whose supernatural thrills more than justify its imposing length.

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Critics Reviews

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Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Blue Lenses Aug 25, 2018
The Wailing's is a world where histories, identities, cultures, realities and generic codes and conventions collapse in spectacular, unforgettable style. Go to Full Review
Nigel Andrews Financial Times Dec 27, 2016
4/5
Very crazy, very Korean, very long: 156 minutes of murder, diabolism, exorcism and things that go bump by day and night. Go to Full Review
Kate Muir The Times (UK) Nov 29, 2016
4/5
A complex Korean horror with the surreal village feel of Twin Peaks. Go to Full Review
Isaiah Colbert io9.com Nov 24, 2025
It’s a film that haunts you long after the credits roll, not because it screams, but because it speaks plainly. And what it says is terrifying. Go to Full Review
David Day Horror Movie Talk Sep 23, 2025
8/10
I would call The Wailing the Indiana Jones of horror movies. It’s constantly throwing new stuff your way. It’s hard to know what’s around the next bend, but you can bet that it will be exciting, terrifying, or totally shocking. Go to Full Review
Carolyn Hinds JoySauce.com Nov 9, 2022
Written and directed by Na Hong-jin, The Wailing is one of my favorite horror films. It’s deeply unsettling in how Na Hong-jin uses sound, imagery, time, and costuming to build a layered story... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Mark C @RT46032481 16 hrs ago Despite the ambiguity towards the end, I applaud this film's commitment to taking this seriously. No "fun zombie", popcorn film type stuff going on here. And for that, it sets a dreading tone that is effective. The ending, well, let's just say the image will stay in my head for a while and whatever I think back to this film. See more Danny P @RT53909239 2 days ago Worth watching, you will get deceived See more Aya K @RT47179923 Sep 7, 2026 at least other shitty films have the decency to only be an hour and a half, instead of 2 and half hours of pure bull. it’s like the directors forgot who they wanted the bad guy to be towards the end and so none of the plot adds up. to add to that the main protagonist is a moron the entire film, and does a series of actions no competent person would do. please for the love of god do not watch this film. save yourself 2.5 hours of life please. See more Thomas N @SleepingDuke Aug 27, 2026 The biggest lie the devil ever created was to make people believe he doesn’t exist. The Wailing takes this idea one step further: What if the devil makes you believe in him — but convinces you that he is someone else? This movie creates explanations permanently to destroy them in the next moment. Absolute fantastic movie. I liked it very much. See more SETTHUURAMAN S @RT75273163 Aug 22, 2026 This was a pure joke. I don’t know what these reviewers are smoking on but y’all are on something else. The whole time I was watching, I was trying to understand the situation. Yes, I am not familiar with the cultural significance and beliefs… however, that shouldn’t be a gateway to throw a nothing burger on the viewers and let people make assumptions off of it. It wasn’t scary, disturbing nor clever. I only completed it because at that point I just wanna know if there’s any saving factor. ALL THAT FOR THAT ENDING? THIS WAS BAD AND IM SO UPSET. Great actors tho cuz if i knew that was the script I wouldn’t be on the set. It’s ok to say it’s a bad movie when it is. THIS WAS A HORRIBLE FILM AND ITS OKAY TO SAY IT See more Paul S @PaulIsAll Aug 15, 2026 Utter dogsh*t. Plot twists make absolutely zero sense and I'm left wondering how it's possible that this movie was ever made, let alone why there are people on this planet that highly recommend it. Proof I'll never understand reality. See more Read all reviews
The Wailing

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The Wailing

The Wailing: Official Clip - The Bloody Ritual The Wailing: Official Clip - The Bloody Ritual 3:29 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - Psycho Woman The Wailing: Official Clip - Psycho Woman 1:45 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - Zombie in the Woods The Wailing: Official Clip - Zombie in the Woods 3:22 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - Fighting a Dog The Wailing: Official Clip - Fighting a Dog 3:38 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - Puking Blood The Wailing: Official Clip - Puking Blood 2:22 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - The Evil Shrine The Wailing: Official Clip - The Evil Shrine 3:37 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - The Death Hex The Wailing: Official Clip - The Death Hex 2:51 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - Demon in the Cave The Wailing: Official Clip - Demon in the Cave 1:17 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - Struck by Lightning The Wailing: Official Clip - Struck by Lightning 3:00 Now Playing The Wailing: Official Clip - Cleansing Ceremony The Wailing: Official Clip - Cleansing Ceremony 3:22 Now Playing View more videos

Movie Info

Synopsis Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Kunimura Jun).
Director
Na Hong-jin
Screenwriter
Na Hong-jin
Distributor
Well Go USA
Production Co
20th Century Fox International, Ivanhoe Pictures, Side Mirror
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
May 20, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$785.4K
Runtime
2h 36m
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