Door Lock (Korean Movie Review)


8/10

 The life of Kyung-min is a work-home-sleep routine and rarely varies. But out of nowhere unsettling incidents start creeping in. The door handle to her apartment turns in the middle of the night as if someone is trying to enter, repeatedly dialling the passcode of her door lock. Is it possible that someone enters her apartment when she is out at work or worse, when she is fast asleep? And how all this connected to the disappearance of a girl next door? Kyung-min will not rest until she finds out, even if it may cost her her life.

DOOR LOCK is loosely based on a Spanish movie SLEEP TIGHT which was rather a drama than a thriller. By changing the setting to a cold faceless suburb of Seoul the movie takes us into the heart of an urban nightmare where it’s easy to disappear and no-one will come looking for you. Kyung-min is an unlikable protagonist who is suffering from multiple phobias and is even ready to break certain rules to flirt with her clients, but she develops strength and resilience as the story progresses. Little by little she is turned into a warrior. 

Director Kwon Lee, who usually directs dramas and comedies, is one of many recent cases of genre switch that have had excellent results. Terror here is hidden beyond the repetitiveness of life, beyond the routines we follow without question. Being one of three credited screenwriters Kwon Lee fills the screen with dread, slowly and deliberately building to an action filled set peace of a finale. Following on the footsteps of recent Korean sensation PARASITE this is one of many of last year’s excellent Korean genre films.

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