For
the Occupy crowd and their allies in Congress, “I like it, I’ll forcibly take
it” is an economic policy. In South Korea, it is the stuff of horror movies, or
at least one very dark thriller. Violent and intrusive squatting has tormented
the residents of a shabby tenement, but the terror is about to move on up
George Jefferson-style in Huh Jung’s Hide and Seek (trailer
here), which
releases today on DVD from RAM Releasing, Film Movement’s relatively new genre
division.
Baek
Sung-soo has a lovely wife, two small children, and a mild case of germ-o-phobia.
He also has an older brother Sung-chul, who has apparently gone missing. They
were never very close, particularly after Baek inherited their parents’ entire
estate, even though he was the adopted one. Of course, there is a good reason
for that.
Visiting
his brother’s dilapidated building, Baek learns the tenants have been terrified
by a peeping tom, who has a knack invasive snooping. We also know from the
prologue at least one murder has been committed there. Brother clearly suspects
brother, as Baek Sung-chul’s backstory is revealed, but whoever that motorcycle
helmet wearing freak might be, he has followed the Baek family home to their
tony Seoul high-rise condo.
Granted,
most of the second act business is pretty straight forward
woman-and-children-in-jeopardy stuff and the big third act revelation stretches
credibility to the breaking point. However, it is Huh’s attention to creepy
details that really elevates Hide.
Shrewdly, he never overplays Baek’s OCD, using it for character development
rather than as a major plot device. He also fully establishes the two very different
housing complexes as distinct, physical locations, while steadily cranking up
the sense of paranoia.
Son
Hyun-joo’s Baek always looks appropriately haggard, as if he were constantly in
desperate need of an aspirin—even if he does just sort of plod along grimly.
Although his wife Min-ji initially comes across as a sort of ice queen-trophy accessory,
Jeon Mi-sun brings out the mother’s fierce protectiveness quite powerfully.
Yet, perhaps the most effective performance comes from young Kim Ji-young, as
little Pyeong-hwa, a neighbor of Sung-chul, who always turns up during
especially dramatic and dangerous times.
