Wailing, The

Suspicion leads to hysteria when rural villagers link a series of brutal murders to the arrival of a mysterious stranger in the supernatural thriller The Wailing. A foreigner's mysterious appearance in a quiet, rural village causes suspicion among the locals —suspicion which quickly turns to hysteria as the townspeople begin killing each other in brutal outbursts for seemingly no reason. As the investigating officer watches his daughter fall under the same spell, he agrees to consult a shaman for answers—unknowingly escalating the situation into something far more dangerous. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 04:56) and the featurette The Beginning Of The Wailing (HD 01:51), a trailer, and upfront previews.

The 2.38:1 1080p AVC picture was photographed digitally using the Arri system. Image quality is quite natural during both daylight and night scenes. The color palette is naturally hued with lush greens of forested landscapes and village habitats. Hues are warm and rich, with natural fleshtones throughout. At times, colors pop to contrast with the otherwise earthy hues of the village. Contrast is well balanced with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is satisfying, with fine detail exhibited in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. Overall, the picture is satisfying, with just minor noise apparent in the darker scenes. (Gary Reber)

The Korean DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dialogue focused, but atmospherics and sound effects enhance the building suspense and the more violent episodes, with strong surround envelopment. Thunder and rain is often prominent and realistic, as is a scene of a waterfall. In one scene the sonics, which aggressively fill the soundfield, dramatically contrast between the Korean shaman and the mysterious Japanese stranger, for impressive effect. The music score provides the bulk of the strong, aggressive surround presence that excites the entire soundfield. Deep bass in the .1 LFE channel is extended at times for heightened drama. Dialogue is natural sounding but wanting in spatial integration. Generally speaking, the soundtrack is nicely complementary to the mysterious goings-on, for a satisfying sonic experience, especially as the intensity of the horror escalates. (Gary Reber)