The Wailing Ending Explained, Plot, Cast, and More
by Tamilchandran | Updated Apr 25, 2023
The Wailing Korean Movie
Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, and Chun Woo-hee star in Na Hong-jin's 2016 South Korean horror movie The Wailing. The main character of the movie is a police officer who, in an effort to save his daughter, looks into a string of unexplained illnesses and killings in the far-flung Korean village of Gokseong. The movie was a box office and critical hit. On May 12, 2016, The Wailing was made available in South Korea.
The movie premiered in the United States on May 27 after premiering on May 18 in the Out of Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival in France. The movie was eventually made available on Netflix, but it has since been removed from the service. Other streaming providers including Fandango Now, VUDU, Hulu, and Apple TV also offered The Wailing for viewing.
The Wailing Ending Explained
The Wailing's conclusion is ambiguous and has generated a lot of discussion among viewers. In the climactic sequences, Jong-goo, the main character, faces off against the enigmatic Japanese stranger who is thought to be a supernatural force behind a string of horrifying killings in his hamlet. Jong-goo has a knife in his hand, but the stranger disables him with an unidentified power before he can attack. Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter, who had been possessed by demonic spirits the entire movie, shows up and appears to defend the stranger.
The stranger tells Jong-goo's friend Il-gwang that Hyo-jin is really responsible for the killings before Il-gwang comes and seems to kill him with a shot. In the film's concluding scene, Jong-goo and Hyo-jin are left alone in a distant cave, and the plot is left open-ended. The Wailing's conclusion is purposefully ambiguous and open-ended to allow for several interpretations. The following are some explanations for the conclusion:
Psychological vs. Supernatural Interpretation:
One interpretation is that rather than being strictly supernatural phenomena, the events in the movie are a representation of the protagonists' moral and psychological struggles. As Jong-goo ultimately fails to shield his daughter from her possession and the effects of her acts, the conclusion could be interpreted as a representation of his personal battle with guilt and his inner demons.
The futility of violence:
The movie might possibly be making a point about the violence's vicious cycle and the ineffectiveness of employing violence to address issues. The fact that Jong-goo finally fails to defeat the evil and save his daughter despite his valiant efforts to use physical force to combat the supernatural threat suggests that violence may not always be the best course of action.
Moral Ambiguity:
The Wailing's conclusion prompts discussion of the nature of good and evil as well as the hazy boundaries between the two. The viewer's beliefs in children's innocence and the idea of absolute morality are called into question by the revelation that Hyo-jin is the real murderer. The movie also examines cultural and religious issues, such as the conflict between traditional Korean shamanism and Christianity and the effects of past and present conflicts between Korea and Japan.
The conclusion, which leaves viewers to determine its relevance, could be interpreted as a statement on the complexity of these cultural and religious influences. Finally, The Wailing's climax purposefully leaves room for viewers to engage in their own interpretation and speculation. It is a challenging and ambiguous ending that encourages additional contemplation of the movie's themes and ideas, making it a frightening and unforgettable cinematic experience.
The Wailing Plot
The Wailing is a South Korean horror film directed by Na Hong-jin that centers on a tiny town where a number of unexplained murders have been occurring. The story follows the inept local police officer Jong-goo as he looks into the horrific deaths. He runs into a Japanese stranger who is thought to be a supernatural force behind the killings as the case develops.
Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter, too becomes unwell and shows signs of possession, forcing him to deal with an evil force that is beginning to endanger his family and neighborhood. Jong-goo encounters moral conundrums, cultural confrontations, and the hazy boundaries between good and evil as he explores deeper into the mystery. As Jong-goo races against time to discover the truth and face the evil force that has befallen his community, the plot is full of turns and twists that heighten tension and suspense.
The Wailing Plot Twist
The Wailing is renowned for its complex storyline and multiple unexpected turns that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The discovery that Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter, is the real murderer is one of the movie's main plot shocks. Jong-goo becomes fixated on finding the Japanese stranger throughout the duration of the movie because he thinks he is to blame for the fatalities in his community.
But as the plot develops, it gradually becomes clear that Hyo-jin, who has been acting possessed, is the one responsible for the murders. It is a surprising sequence of events that challenges Jong-goo's assumptions and flips his investigation on its head.
The Wailing Cast
Kwak Do-won
Jong-goo, the policeman and father of Hyo-Jin
Hwang Jung-min
Il-gwang, a shaman hired to protect the village
Chun Woo-hee
Moo-myung, the woman in white
Jun Kunimura
A Japanese stranger
Kim Hwan-hee
Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter
Her Jin
Jong-goo's mother-in-law
Jang So-yeon
Jong-goo's wife
Kim Do-yoon
Yang I-sam, a Japanese-speaking deacon
Son Gang-guk
Oh Seong-bok, Jong-goo's police partner
Park Sung-yeon
Kwon Myeong-joo
Kil Chang-gyoo
Park Choon-bae
Jeon Bae-soo
Deok-gi
Jeong Mi-nam
Heung-gook
Choi Gwi-hwa
Byeong-gyoo
Lee Seon-hee
Byeong-gyu's wife
Jo Yeon-hee
Bar hostess
Baek Seung-cheol
Friend I
Kwon Hyeok-joon
Friend II
Park Chae-ik
Friend III
Kim Gi-cheon
Dispatch captain
Yoo Soon-woong
Chief of Police
Jo Han-cheol
Detective 1
Kim Song-il
Police I
Bae Yong-geun
Police II
Im Jae-il
Police III
Lee In-cheol
Father
Jo Seon-joo
Bar hostess
Lee Chang-hoon
Doctor
Kim Ji-won
Nurse
Cast
Character
The Wailing Where to Watch?
In certain countries, you may watch the movie The Wailing on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc. Other streaming providers including VUDU, Hulu, and Apple TV also offered The Wailing for viewing.
The Wailing Netflix
The Wailing Prime Video:
The Wailing Ending Explained - FAQs
The dark spirit in The Wailing is Moo-myung. He tells Jong-goo to head home immediately. That will set the trap free, he is aware. When Moo-myung first encounters Jong-goo, he warns him that his family would all perish if he returns home.
The unidentified woman in The Wailing is named Woo-hee Chun.
When rural villagers connect a string of gruesome killings to the entrance of a mystery visitor, suspicion turns into a frenzy.
The use of ambiguity in The Wailing is the secret to its terrifying effectiveness.
The 156-minute running duration of The Wailing is entirely worth watching.